This episode starts with a courtroom, a traffic stop, and a guy insisting that he’s "traveling" not "driving" because his vehicle is a private conveyance and the law doesn’t apply to him. That moment, that bizarre blend of internet confidence and legal gibberish, is what launched this entire podcast. Not because I believed it but because I couldn’t stop watching.
Before I explored gene editing, ancient mysteries, or MKUltra, I was completely obsessed with sovereign citizens. The flag fringe truthers. The UCC code whisperers. The people who think their birth certificate is secretly worth millions if they just file the right form. This was the rabbit hole that started it all. In this episode, I break down what sovereign citizens actually believe, why they believe it, and how I tried to build a character around that mindset... until I realized I’d rather just be myself.
It’s part legal parody, part internet anthropology, and part personal reflection. Because while the ideas might sound ridiculous, the emotions behind them are real: fear, frustration, and a deep desire to feel in control of a world that doesn’t make sense. And maybe, just maybe, that’s what we’re really exploring here.
So if you've ever wondered how someone ends up shouting "I do not consent!" at a traffic stop, or how that moment inspired an entire podcast, this is the episode that ties it all together.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!