Untitled Episode

Eric Marquette

Alright folks, welcome to the very first episode of "What I Think." This is a space for, well, exactly that—what you're thinking. We're not here to shove opinions down your throat or tell you what to believe. No, this is a place to air it all out—the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Chip Carson

And, let's be real, sometimes the in-between is where all the fun happens, right?

Eric Marquette

Exactly. The idea here isn't to focus on just one topic or push some kind of agenda. We're talking about whatever's on your mind—whatever's on our minds. Politics? Sure, if it's on the table. Life? Absolutely. Your thoughts about, I don't know… the weird noise your car makes when it rains? Why not?

Chip Carson

Okay, but if the noise is a problem, I think we should probably call a mechanic. Just saying.

Eric Marquette

Fair enough, Chip. But jokes aside, this show is about connection. It's about making noise together, engaging in real discussions and maybe, just maybe, creating some change. Not in a preachy kind of way, but in a "let's do this together" kind of way.

Chip Carson

Yeah, because doing it alone just sounds—uh, what's the word?—exhausting.

Eric Marquette

Right. And I want to make something clear from the start: This isn't a political podcast. I mean, are there things we'll talk about that touch on politics? Sure. But this is about what you're thinking. We're not here to tell you to pick a side or vote one way or another—

Chip Carson

Nope. The only side we're on is the side of, you know, getting people to care again. How's that sound?

Eric Marquette

It sounds spot on. We want to remind people that it’s okay to speak up, to ask questions, and to put the pressure on the people who are supposed to be working for us. That’s what "What I Think" is all about.

Eric Marquette

You know, Chip, this is exactly why getting people to care again matters so much. We've got to start looking at the bigger picture—because right now, there’s this disconnect, almost like a fog. Every election feels like it’s about picking the lesser of two evils instead of someone we can really believe in.

Chip Carson

Oh, absolutely. And can we just admit how exhausting that is? Like, "Yay, my guy won... but only 'cause I couldn’t stomach the other one."

Eric Marquette

Right. And it’s not just about elections—it’s the system underneath it all. Corruption and greed aren’t buzzwords anymore; they’re, unfortunately, the reality we’ve kinda come to expect.

Chip Carson

Yeah, we’ve basically gone from "Land of the Free" to "Land of the Lobbyists." It’s like, where’s the outrage? Where’s the "we’ve had enough" moment?

Eric Marquette

Exactly. And I can’t help but wonder—have we just gotten too comfortable? You know, like when you see the same problems day after day, they start to feel normal, even though deep down you know they shouldn’t?

Chip Carson

Kinda like that drawer in your house? You know the one—you tell yourself, “I’ll deal with this later.” Then, two years later, it’s just, like, a permanent black hole. Except, uh, this is an entire country.

Eric Marquette

Yeah, except this is way more dangerous than mismatched Tupperware lids. This is the structural stuff—the promises that were made, the ideals we grew up believing in. They’re slowly unraveling.

Chip Carson

Man, that’s heavy. But here’s the question—where do you even start fixing something like that? I mean, it’s easy to say, "Wake up," but people are either too busy surviving or they’ve just, what, tuned out completely?

Eric Marquette

And that’s the dangerous part, isn’t it? When people tune out, the ones in power get away with more. It becomes this endless cycle of disillusionment feeding apathy, and apathy feeding disillusionment. Meanwhile, the problems...? They just fester.

Eric Marquette

I love my country. Always have, always will. And that’s why it’s so hard to see this cycle—this disillusionment feeding apathy—play out. I mean, I served it, sacrificed for it—and yeah, I even bled for it. But lately I keep asking, "Is this the country I was fighting for? Is this what those freedom-loving people envisioned all those years ago?" It feels like we’re losing sight of those promises we were built on.

Chip Carson

Right? You look around today, and it's like... I don’t know... does any of this even feel remotely close to the dream we were sold?

Eric Marquette

Exactly. And it’s not just nostalgia talking here. Our history is full of hard-fought victories and people willing to push through the impossible. But now, it kinda feels like we’ve forgotten what that fight was all about. Does this feel like the same America our founders envisioned? Does it feel like the country we, I don’t know, even told ourselves we wanted to be?

Chip Carson

Oof, heavy question, Eric. And yeah, maybe it’s not nostalgia, but there’s definitely... I don’t know, like, a disconnect, you know?

Eric Marquette

Yeah, a disconnect. That’s exactly it. It feels like somewhere along the line, we stopped striving for greatness and started settling—even convincing ourselves that this... this status quo is "good enough."

Chip Carson

Which it’s not. It's—it's totally not. Like, good enough for who? Certainly not, you know, the folks still hustling day in and day out just to keep the lights on.

Eric Marquette

Right. The ideals we grew up believing in—freedom, equality, opportunity—they’ve been replaced by headlines about dysfunction and division. I mean, are we even aiming for the same goals anymore, or are we just stuck in survival mode?

Chip Carson

Or worse, autopilot. People just going through the motions—wake up, work, sleep, repeat. And don’t forget to plug in for your daily dose of outrage somewhere in there, right?

Eric Marquette

Exactly. Outrage has become this... well, almost a commodity, hasn’t it? It keeps us distracted, keeps us from asking the tough questions about what the hell’s really going on. It's like we're more concerned with... I don't know, winning arguments than finding solutions.

Chip Carson

You know, I’ve always believed Americans are fighters. Like, historically, we’ve been the people who roll up our sleeves and get stuff done. So, uh, what happened? Where’d that go?

Eric Marquette

Good question. And maybe that’s what we should be asking ourselves more often: What happened, and how do we get back to where we want to be? Because—and this is the part that stings, Chip—the truth is, I’m not so sure anymore. I just don’t know if we’re even asking the right questions.

Eric Marquette

You know, when I think about those questions—what happened, where did we go wrong—I can’t help but trace it back to some of the decisions that shaped us. Not all of them were noble or rooted in those ideals we talked about. Actually, some of them were downright disturbing, like shadows we just don’t like to talk about. But it’s time we do. Some of this stuff, Chip—it’s not just "interesting." It’s chilling.

Chip Carson

You mean like "let's-see-what-happens-when-we-break-basic-human-decency" kind of decisions?

Eric Marquette

Exactly. Take the Tuskegee syphilis study, for example. From 1932 to 1972, the government ran an experiment on hundreds of African-American men under the pretense of free healthcare. But in reality, these men were left untreated for syphilis—even after a cure was discovered—just to study the effects of the disease.

Chip Carson

Wait, hold up. They had the cure? And just... didn’t use it?

Eric Marquette

That’s right. They knowingly let people suffer—let them die—so they could, what, write a report? It’s cruel, inexcusable, and honestly, terrifying to think about.

Chip Carson

Man, that goes from "terrifying" to "outright evil." I mean, you grow up thinking experiments like that are the kind of thing bad guys do in movies, not your own government.

Eric Marquette

Right? And it doesn’t stop there. You’ve got MKUltra—

Chip Carson

Oh, oh, the mind control thing, right? Total conspiracy-theory fodder, but then—surprise—it’s real.

Eric Marquette

Exactly. The CIA conducted experiments with LSD and other methods, all in the name of, well... basically trying to figure out how to control people. They targeted unsuspecting citizens, soldiers, even prisoners. And for years, it was all completely under the radar.

Chip Carson

It’s wild. Like, who wakes up and thinks, "You know what we should do today? Dose random people with psychedelic drugs and see what happens!"

Eric Marquette

And that wasn’t even close to the limit. There were secret radiation experiments conducted during the Cold War, where individuals were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation without their knowledge. All in the name of "national security."

Chip Carson

Okay, but this is starting to sound like the script for a bad sci-fi movie—or a really, really sketchy government handbook.

Eric Marquette

It does, doesn’t it? But the most disturbing part is how these weren’t isolated incidents. It’s a pattern. A pattern of prioritizing control or scientific curiosity over human life and basic ethics.

Chip Carson

Yeah, and the whole "trust your government" thing? Kinda hard when you hear stuff like this. Like, where does it stop?

Eric Marquette

That’s the million-dollar question, Chip. Because these are just the examples we know about. Who’s to say what else we haven’t uncovered?

Eric Marquette

You know, Chip, after diving into those stories and digging through some truly dark chapters of history, I can't help but feel both a little unnerved and grateful. Unnerved because, wow, the things we uncovered today were heavy. Grateful because conversations like this matter. And that wraps up our very first episode of "What I Think." Seriously, thank you all for tuning in and letting us be a part of your day. It’s been an unforgettable start, and I hope you’ll stick with us for the journey ahead.

Chip Carson

Yeah, honestly, it’s been kinda surreal. Like, we went from throwing around ideas about this show to actually recording it, and here we are—first episode in the bag.

Eric Marquette

Right? And the best part is, this is just the beginning. We’ve got so much more to dive into together. From the tough, messy conversations to the lighter, just-for-fun moments—it’s all fair game.

Chip Carson

Yep! And let’s be real, if you liked it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, uh, still tell a friend. Just, you know, tell them we’re a "work in progress." Ha!

Eric Marquette

Absolutely. And as for you out there listening, don’t be a stranger. Share your thoughts, your ideas, even your questions—whatever’s on your mind. After all, this isn’t just "What I Think." It’s "What We Think."

Chip Carson

Alright, folks, until next time—stay curious, stay bold, and maybe, just maybe, stay a little skeptical too.

Eric Marquette

And remember, your voice matters. So let’s make some noise together, Tell us what you think by sending us an email to CCwhat.i.think@gmail.com Take care, everyone.