Behind the Bastards

Part One: How Jeffrey Epstein Helped Build the Modern World

February 17, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The episode of "Behind the Bastards," "Part One: How Jeffrey Epstein Helped Build the Modern World," focuses on Epstein's surprising influence in creating modern phenomena like cryptocurrency, Gamergate, the 2008 financial crash, and the growth of far-right media. 
  • Newly released Epstein files contain evidence implicating Donald Trump, including an email suggesting he took the 'Lolita Express' multiple times and an anecdote where Epstein joked about a victim to Trump, who allegedly nodded in agreement. 
  • The discussion introduces Brock Pierce, a former child actor from *The Mighty Ducks*, whose later business ventures—including the precursor to YouTube (DEN) and the gold-farming company IGE—involved deeply problematic associations and laid groundwork for later technological and political shifts. 
  • Jeffrey Epstein's perceived 'radicalizing moment' stemmed from his anger toward victims, feminists, and reporters, leading him to seek cultural changes that would silence critics. 
  • Epstein's attempt to whitewash his reputation via the 'Mind Shift Conference' on his island, hosted by con man Al Seckel, inadvertently connected him to the world of cryptocurrency through Brock Pierce. 
  • Epstein actively pursued contact with key figures in the early cryptocurrency scene, including Brock Pierce and Bitcoin developer Gavin Andresen, shortly before Andresen briefed the CIA, suggesting an early interest in leveraging crypto for illicit purposes. 

Segments

Epstein Files Context and Trump
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed the only reason for delaying the Epstein file release was to check for criminal implications against President Trump.
  • Summary: The release of 3 million new Epstein files was preceded by a statement from Todd Blanche asserting the Justice Department’s sole delay was checking for criminal implications against President Trump. Older files already contained an email alleging Trump was on the ‘Lolita Express’ multiple times with a 20-year-old female passenger. An FBI interview detailed an incident at Mar-a-Lago where Epstein elbowed Trump while introducing a 14-year-old victim, asking, ’this is a good one, right?’ and Trump nodded in agreement.
Epstein’s Modern World Influence
Copied to clipboard!
(00:11:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Epstein was central to creating the modern world’s worst aspects, including cryptocurrency’s far-right connection and the birth of Gamergate.
  • Summary: The focus of the series is how Epstein helped build the worst parts of the modern world, specifically influencing the development of cryptocurrency tied to the far right and acting as an early domino for Gamergate. He is also implicated in the growth of right-wing media by sharing fringe articles with his powerful friends. Epstein’s influence extended to heavily pushing the idea of microtransactions in video games to industry contacts.
Brock Pierce’s Early Life
Copied to clipboard!
(00:18:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Former child actor Brock Pierce, known for The Mighty Ducks, exhibited sociopathic ambition by age 14, wanting to be a producer rather than an actor.
  • Summary: Brock Jeffrey Pierce, born in 1980, left acting after 13 years, culminating in the film First Kid, where he visited the White House. At age 14, he expressed a desire to stop performing and instead ‘write my own script’ as a producer, indicating an early focus on power. His acting career ended at 16, after which he co-founded the video streaming precursor company, Digital Entertainment Network (DEN).
DEN Founders and Mansion Parties
Copied to clipboard!
(00:31:25)
  • Key Takeaway: DEN co-founder Mark Collins Rector, 40, had a sexual relationship with 16-year-old co-founder Chad Shackley, which his parents mistakenly believed was purely business.
  • Summary: DEN’s manifesto aimed to create the ’last network’ by targeting narrow subcultures, including gay teenagers, showing some prescient media insight mixed with deeply abusive behavior from the 40-year-old visionary, Collins Rector. Rector had a history of failed businesses and changing his name, straddling the line between entrepreneur and con man. The company raised $88 million, funding a lavish lifestyle in an Encino mansion where allegations of sexual assault against young men, including by Pierce, occurred.
IGE, Bannon, and Gold Farming
Copied to clipboard!
(00:46:10)
  • Key Takeaway: After the DEN collapse, Brock Pierce founded IGE, which established gold farming, and later brought in Steve Bannon to secure investment from Goldman Sachs.
  • Summary: IGE became the primary company establishing gold farming in games like World of Warcraft, operating against developer rules in a ‘digital sweatshop’ in China where workers earned 25 cents an hour. Bannon replaced Pierce as CEO and secured a $60 million investment from Goldman Sachs by convincing investors the gray-market business was viable. Bannon became fascinated by the collective power of angry gamers in chat rooms, realizing they could be ‘unleashed as a weapon.’
Epstein’s Radicalization
Copied to clipboard!
(00:58:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor served as his radicalizing moment, leading him to push for cultural changes that would protect elites from accountability.
  • Summary: By 2010, despite being a pariah to the public, Epstein remained influential among the power elite, which frustrated him because he felt he had not done anything wrong. He viewed the combination of busybody feminists, meddlesome reporters, and his victims as enemies threatening his life. Epstein’s perceived solution was to use his influence to foster a culture where victims were more frightened to speak up and journalists had less interest in reporting such crimes.
Epstein’s Enemies and Radicalization
Copied to clipboard!
(00:59:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Epstein viewed the growing public awareness of his crimes by victims, feminists, and reporters as an alliance of enemies that spurred him toward cultural manipulation.
  • Summary: Epstein’s understanding of his crimes coalesced slowly after his conviction, but he perceived the rising awareness as a threat. He decided his response was to push for cultural changes that would make journalists less interested, frighten women from speaking up, and reduce victim rights. This reaction is framed as his radicalizing moment.
Mind Shift Conference Failure
Copied to clipboard!
(01:01:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Epstein hired scammer Al Seckel to erase his online presence, which escalated into funding the ‘Mind Shift Conference’ on his island about technology and philosophy.
  • Summary: Epstein tasked Al Seckel, who was dating Ghislaine Maxwell’s sister, with wiping the internet of his sins, turning a small job into a $45,000 expense plus a conference. Epstein intended the Mind Shift Conference to be his personal ‘TED Talks’ platform, hosted on Little St. James, covering topics including cryptocurrency.
Crypto Introduction via Brock Pierce
Copied to clipboard!
(01:03:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Brock Pierce’s presentation on cryptocurrency at the failed Mind Shift Conference captured Epstein’s interest, shifting his view from crypto being only for criminals to a potentially useful tool.
  • Summary: Brock Pierce was an invited speaker at the conference, and Epstein found the young entrepreneur interesting, marking the beginning of his interest in crypto. Previously, Epstein considered Bitcoin only useful for criminals, but his own recent conviction may have made him reconsider its utility.
Epstein Contacts Bitcoin Developer
Copied to clipboard!
(01:04:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Epstein began emailing Gavin Andresen, Satoshi Nakamoto’s successor, shortly before Andresen planned to present Bitcoin to the CIA, indicating Epstein’s deep dive into the crypto world.
  • Summary: Epstein started emailing Gavin Andresen in June 2007, corresponding with him just two days before Andresen spoke to the CIA at Langley. This contact occurred despite the controversy within libertarian crypto circles regarding cooperation with state agencies like the CIA.
Epstein Provides Girls to Pierce
Copied to clipboard!
(01:08:36)
  • Key Takeaway: By the spring of 2012, documented email evidence confirms Jeffrey Epstein was providing girls to Brock Pierce, solidifying a transactional relationship beyond financial advice.
  • Summary: Epstein and Pierce maintained a friendship where Epstein offered financial advice, helping Pierce resolve tax issues. An email chain from 2012 shows Epstein arranging for ‘Victim name and victim name’ to be alone in LA for Pierce, with Pierce confirming he broke up with his girlfriend so he could participate.
Future Connections and Plugs
Copied to clipboard!
(01:10:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Epstein’s expanding relationship with Brock Pierce and cryptocurrency will lead him into the orbit of major figures on the new right, such as Steve Bannon.
  • Summary: The hosts preview that the next part of the series will detail how Epstein’s crypto involvement brings him closer to figures like Steve Bannon. The segment concludes with plugs for Andrew Ti’s premium show, Starter Trek, and a local Portland charity, AMPPDX.org.