In part one of the series, Jake divulges the unusual upbringing and surprising early life trajectory that gave rise to John Brown, arguably one of the most underrated and important figures in US history. Understanding who Brown was involves understanding the complexity of questions such as when violence is or is not morally justifiable, if all forms of religious extremism are truly equal to each other, and what separates someone who tries to work within the system from someone who tries to overthrow it from the outside.

Jake discusses the foundations of what makes for a coherent anarchist perspective in the 21st century. He touches on real-world examples of anarchism in practice, ways of separating anarchism from the common ways it is misdefined, the moral untenability of hierarchical governments, social contract theory, speed limits, and what it means to call oneself an "anarchist" in 2025.