The Porcupine Report with Eric Brakey

Eric talks with Tyler and Sarah, the new innkeepers of the Independence Inn in Strafford, New Hampshire, to talk about their journey from California and New York to the Free State. They share how a simple vacation turned into taking over the historic inn and opening The Jefferson restaurant, built around scratch-made food, local sourcing, and personal responsibility. They share how their business...

Eric sits down with documentary filmmaker Reinita Susman to talk about her path to New Hampshire and the spark behind her documentary, FREE STATE . She shares how living in California during the COVID era pushed her to start capturing the real stories of people impacted by lockdowns. The conversation centers on her multi-episode project exploring the Free State movement through the lives of homest...

Merry Christmas from The Porcupine Report! Please enjoy our Christmas special from 2024. Eric is joined by a panel of regulars to the show to talk about Christmas spirit in New Hampshire. They celebrate New Hampshire's rank as the state with the most Christmas spirit, due to the many holiday events that happen annually as well as activities such as snowmobiling, ice fishing, skiing, and ice sk...

Eric talks with Tyler and Sarah, the new innkeepers of the Independence Inn in Strafford, New Hampshire, to talk about their journey from California and New York to the Free State. They share how a simple vacation turned into taking over the historic inn and opening The Jefferson restaurant, built around scratch-made food, local sourcing, and personal responsibility. They share how their business...

Matt Whitlock shares his journey from discovering libertarian ideas during the Ron Paul Revolution to ultimately moving to New Hampshire in 2010. He describes how the Free State community helped cultivate one of the earliest and most active Bitcoin ecosystems in the world, including the weekly Bitcoin meetups and his role in building one of the first prototype Bitcoin ATMs. Matt explains his invol...

Eric catches up with Carla Gericke—President Emeritus and current Board Chair of the Free State Project—to talk about the movement’s growth and direction. They dive into why Free Staters are increasingly recognized as the  best neighbors  in New Hampshire, despite critics’ attempts to paint them otherwise. Carla shares insights on building local resilience, expanding liberty culture, and strengthe...

This episode dives into the spirit of gratitude at the heart of the Free State community, highlighting the relationships, support, and shared purpose that make New Hampshire feel like home for liberty lovers. Eric and Chris reflect on the unique strength of this movement—one built not just on political wins, but on real human connection and a culture of showing up for one another. They explore how...

Eric unveils major updates for the Free State movement, including the official launch of ticket sales for the 2026 New Hampshire Liberty Forum. He’s joined by Free State Project founder Jason Sorens to explore the event’s history, new dialog series, and the “Build Freedom” theme shaping this year’s programming. Together, they break down what attendees can expect—from main-stage speakers like econo...

Eric welcomes Jaime Hussey, a new mover to New Hampshire and a passionate Free Stater from Maine. Jaime shares how her frustration with Maine’s increasing government control—from the loss of vaccine exemptions to red flag gun laws—led her family to join the Free State movement. Now deeply involved in New Hampshire’s liberty community, she helps lead the “Pal” welcome program and supports outreach...

Eric celebrates November 5th with big news for the Free State Project — the launch of its brand-new website, FSP.org , and companion community hub, community.fsp.org . Joined by IT Director Brian Becker and design strategist Miranda Animus, Eric dives into how these new platforms make it easier for liberty lovers to learn, connect, and get involved in New Hampshire’s growing Free State movement. M...

Eric welcomes back Free Stater and Argentina expert Skot Sheller to discuss Javier Milei’s stunning midterm election victory. Schiller explains how Milei’s libertarian party defied expectations, gaining seats and momentum after previous setbacks. They dive into the economic impact of the win, the surge in Argentina’s markets, and what it means for liberty movements worldwide. Skot also breaks down...

Eric welcomes back political commentator Jack Hunter for a wide-ranging discussion on liberty and current national events. They begin by celebrating the potential downfall of former national security advisor John Bolton, calling it long-overdue justice for his role in past foreign policy disasters. The two dive into Donald Trump’s recent attacks on liberty-minded figures like Rand Paul and Thomas...

Eric welcomes longtime Free Stater and author Ian Underwood to discuss his journey of building a self-sufficient life in New Hampshire. Ian shares how he and his friends founded Bardo Farm, living off the grid and fostering a culture of independence and community. He also dives into his series of books challenging conventional ideas about fairness, funding, and fun in education—arguing that school...

New mover Pedro Serra joins Eric to share his journey from Puerto Rico to New Hampshire and why he believes the Free State Project is one of the most important liberty movements in the world. Pedro reflects on his years as a business owner facing endless government red tape and how that inspired his passion for economic freedom. He and Eric discuss how the Free State Project serves as a real-world...

(Originally aired 8/27/25) On this episode of The Porcupine Report, Eric sits down with Constance Spencer to dive into the magic of Fall Fest, one of the Free State community’s beloved traditions. What started as a simple corn maze hangout has grown into a full weekend of apple picking, ax throwing, hikes, and even the world’s largest arcade—all set against New Hampshire’s breathtaking autumn colo...

Eric welcomes back Free Stater Skot Sheller, known in the liberty movement for his deep knowledge of Argentina and President Javier Milei. Skot breaks down Milei’s ambitious reforms—slashing inflation, cutting government spending, and pushing back against decades of Peronist control—while also highlighting the resistance he faces in a weak legislature and hostile media. They compare Argentina’s to...

Bitcoin and liberty advocate, Bruce Fenton, joins Eric for a wide-ranging conversation. He reflects on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, warning how political violence endangers free speech and civil discourse. Bruce shares his journey from traditional finance into Bitcoin and how that path led him to New Hampshire’s Free State Project. They discuss the dangers of “team sports” politics,...

In this episode, Eric talks with Sarah Scott, Deputy State Director of Americans for Prosperity–New Hampshire. They dive into the wave of liberty victories in the state, from expanding Education Freedom Accounts to every child, to eliminating mandatory annual car inspections. Sarah explains how New Hampshire is leading on issues like healthcare choice with expanded “Right to Try,” free market zoni...

In this episode of The Porcupine Report , Eric welcomes Spike Cohen, founder of You Are The Power , to discuss his organization’s fight against government overreach. Cohen highlights the heartbreaking case of the Hernandez family, who lost their children after doctors misdiagnosed a medical condition as abuse. By mobilizing viral campaigns and public pressure, You Are The Power not only reunited f...

On this episode of The Porcupine Report, Eric sits down with Constance Spencer to dive into the magic of Fall Fest, one of the Free State community’s beloved traditions. What started as a simple corn maze hangout has grown into a full weekend of apple picking, ax throwing, hikes, and even the world’s largest arcade—all set against New Hampshire’s breathtaking autumn colors. Constance shares heartw...

In this episode of “The Porcupine Report”, Eric broadcasts from Ron Paul’s 90th birthday celebration in Lake Jackson, Texas. He reflects on Ron Paul’s legacy in sparking the modern liberty movement and highlights the success of the Free State Project in New Hampshire. Brakey is joined by Lynn Ulbricht, who discusses her new organization, Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing (MACS), which fights agains...

Mike ter Maat joins Eric to discuss his vision for America’s future, emphasizing liberty, personal responsibility, and principled leadership. As a Libertarian presidential candidate, he critiques the failures of both major parties in protecting individual freedoms and promoting sound economic policies. Ter Maat outlines his stance on issues like ending endless wars, reducing government overreach,...

Eric welcomes Jack Hunter to reflect on the legacy of Ron Paul and the evolution of the liberty movement. They explore how Ron Paul's anti-war stance during the 2008 Republican debates broke through neocon orthodoxy and helped reshape conservative foreign policy thinking. Jack shares how Paul’s principled message influenced a generation of libertarians and even parts of the MAGA base. They als...

Brian Nichols, host of *The Brian Nichols Show*, joins Eric to discuss how liberty-focused messaging can become more persuasive and impactful. He breaks down the importance of meeting people where they are—focusing on solutions to real problems rather than abstract ideology. Using his sales background, Brian emphasizes tailoring messages to different audiences, like moms worried about school safet...

John Papola shares his journey from working at Spike TV to creating liberty-themed media content. His work, such as the "Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek" rap battles, has become influential in introducing economic ideas to younger audiences. He emphasizes the power of creative storytelling to make complex ideas accessible and impactful. John shares a clip from his latest video, Ba...