Sacred Lessons in Masculinity, AI, and Democracy (with Mike de la Rocha)

Sacred Lessons: Masculinity, AI, and the Great Law of Peace (with Mike de la Rocha) What if the story we inherited — that being a man, or a nation, means holding it all together alone — is exactly backwards? Recorded live at the BOOST Conference in Baratunde's adopted hometown of Palm Springs, this is his conversation with Mike de la Rocha on Mike's podcast Sacred Lessons. They get into masculinity and America's founding story, the doctrine that justified conquest, and the much older democratic wisdom that was already here: the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace, and what changes when you put peace, care, and women at the center of how we govern ourselves. Then they follow it into the present: broken men in power, the men building our AI, and whether this technology pulls us apart or finally forces us to reconnect. Before you listen: Baratunde is co-hosting a virtual gathering, Declaring Interdependence, with Valarie Kaur and Indigenous elders José Barreiro and Katsi Cook on Tuesday, June 9 (5pm PT / 8pm ET) — the live companion to everything in this episode. Register below. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome back — and an invitation to Declaring Interdependence03:49 Sacred Lessons begins: the story we inherit about being a man07:31 America's big awkward birthday party08:07 The country as a story — and the doctrine of discovery10:20 The Haudenosaunee and the Great Law of Peace16:55 The book: American Indigenous Democracy19:25 The five principles, starting with women at the center24:34 Spirit, the unseen, and what his mother taught him29:30 Practicing interdependence (yes, even with the moths)31:07 Broken men, power, and refusing to mirror the cruelty36:55 AI, Elon, and the trap of control44:25 A better use of the tech: self-knowledge as a shield48:14 Living with AI: agency vs. power55:25 For the young man who idolizes the billionaire57:55 Prepping for the apocalypse — with guns, or with neighbors01:01:50 From a declaration of independence to interdependence01:02:39 The Sacred Five01:13:00 Closing: the book, June 9, and what's next on the feed LINKS Declaring Interdependence (virtual, June 9, 5pm PT / 8pm ET): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/declaring-interdependence-a-gathering-for-the-250th-tickets-1990529062008American Indigenous Democracy: A Call for Interdependence (foreword by Baratunde): https://americanindigenousdemocracy.comSacred Lessons with Mike de la Rocha: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-sacred-lessons-with-mike-304426528/Life With Machines: https://lifewithmachines.mediaEverything Baratunde: https://baratunde.com Recorded live at the BOOST Conference. Next up on the feed: my friend Jon Alexander, ahead of his turn on TED's democracy stage in Philadelphia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.