Behind the Bastards

CZM Rewind: The Zizians: How Harry Potter Fanfic Inspired a Death Cult & The Zizians: Birth of a Cult Leader

Part One: Earlier this year a Border Patrol officer was killed in a shoot-out with people who have been described as members of a trans vegan AI death cult. But who are the Zizians, really? Robert sits down with David Gborie to trace their development, from part of the Bay Area Rationalist subculture to killers.   Part Two: Robert tells David Gborie about the early life of Ziz LaSota, a bright young girl from Alaska who came to the Bay Area with dreams of saving the cosmos or destroying it, all based on her obsession with Rationalist blogs and fanfic. Sources:  1. https://medium.com/@sefashapiro/a-community-warning-about-ziz-76c100180509 [https://medium.com/@sefashapiro/a-community-warning-about-ziz-76c100180509] 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130318/https://sinceriously.fyi/rationalist-fleet/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130318/https:/sinceriously.fyi/rationalist-fleet/] 3. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/infohazard [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/infohazard] 4. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130316/https://sinceriously.fyi/net-negative/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130316/https:/sinceriously.fyi/net-negative/] 5. Wayback Machine [https://archive.is/hgTdD] 6. The Zizians [https://zizians.info/] 7. Spectral Sight [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130302/https:/sinceriously.fyi/glossary#spectral-sight] 8. True Hero Contract [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130302/https:/sinceriously.fyi/glossary#true-hero-contract] 9. Schelling Orders – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20230202013351/https:/sinceriously.fyi/schelling-orders/] 10. Glossary – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130302/https:/sinceriously.fyi/glossary/#zentraidon] 11.  https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130330/https://sinceriously.fyi/my-journey-to-the-dark-side/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130330/https:/sinceriously.fyi/my-journey-to-the-dark-side/] 12. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130302/https://sinceriously.fyi/glossary/#zentraidon [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130302/https:/sinceriously.fyi/glossary/#zentraidon] 13. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130259/https://sinceriously.fyi/vampires-and-more-undeath/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130259/https:/sinceriously.fyi/vampires-and-more-undeath/] 14. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130316/https://sinceriously.fyi/net-negative/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130316/https:/sinceriously.fyi/net-negative/] 15. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130318/https://sinceriously.fyi/rationalist-fleet/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130318/https:/sinceriously.fyi/rationalist-fleet/] 16. https://x.com/orellanin?s=21&t=F-n6cTZFsKgvr1yQ7oHXRg [https://x.com/orellanin?s=21&t=F-n6cTZFsKgvr1yQ7oHXRg] 17. https://zizians.info/ [https://zizians.info/] 18. according to The Boston Globe [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/11/metro/6-violent-deaths-tied-to-radical-vegan-cult-based-in-california/] 19. Inside the ‘Zizians’: How a cultish crew of radical vegans became linked to killings across the United States | The Independent [https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/zizian-murders-david-maland-curtis-lind-b2701101.html] 20. Silicon Valley ‘Rationalists’ Linked to 6 Deaths [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/ziz-silicon-valley-rationalist-deaths-1235278765/] 21. The Delirious, Violent, Impossible True Story of the Zizians | WIRED [https://archive.is/4HAtn] 22. Good Group and Pasek’s Doom – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130336/https:/sinceriously.fyi/good-group-and-paseks-doom/] 23. Glossary – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130302/https:/sinceriously.fyi/glossary/#zentraidon] 24. Mana – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20230201130331/https:/sinceriously.fyi/mana/] 25. Effective Altruism’s Problems Go Beyond Sam Bankman-Fried - Bloomberg [https://archive.is/xhV0S] 26. The Zizian Facts - Google Docs [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RpAvd5TO5eMhJrdr2kz43dxT3nNm0XtuPcaW9kBIZL8/edit?tab=t.0] 27. Several free CFAR summer programs on rationality and AI safety - LessWrong 2.0 viewer [https://www.greaterwrong.com/posts/LLQYp53vop5BuyKBF/several-free-cfar-summer-programs-on-rationality-and-ai] 28. This guy thinks killing video game characters is immoral | Vox [https://www.vox.com/2014/4/23/5643418/this-guy-thinks-killing-video-game-characters-is-immoral] 29. Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck [https://web.archive.org/web/20230128221733/https:/equilibriabook.com/] 30. Eliezer Yudkowsky comments on On Terminal Goals and Virtue Ethics - LessWrong 2.0 viewer [https://www.greaterwrong.com/posts/gR6H3egpRPNYnoTrA/on-terminal-goals-and-virtue-ethics/comment/mZTPvwcA3DEDCcC7w]                                                                                                    31. Effective Altruism’s Problems Go Beyond Sam Bankman-Fried - Bloomberg [https://archive.is/xhV0S] 32. SquirrelInHell: Happiness Is a Chore [https://squirrelinhell.blogspot.com/2017/12/happiness-is-chore.html#more] 33. PLUM OF DISCORD — I Became a Full-time Internet Pest and May Not... [https://web.archive.org/web/20220217023845/https:/www.plumofdiscord.com/post/675855867193769984/i-became-a-full-time-internet-pest-and-may-not] 34. Roko Harassment of PlumOfDiscord Composited – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20211009234142/https:/sinceriously.fyi/roko-harassment-of-plumofdiscord-composited/#comment-4671] 35. Intersex Brains And Conceptual Warfare – Sinceriously [https://archive.is/czxD3] 36. Infohazardous Glossary – Sinceriously [https://sinceriously.blog-mirror.com/infohazardous-glossary#debucketing] 37. SquirrelInHell-Decision-Theory-and-Suicide.pdf - Google Drive [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MFJli_QLM75fF4yUGtllNJ-z76FeHZ7x/view] 38. The Matrix is a System – Sinceriously [https://web.archive.org/web/20230202013352/https:/sinceriously.fyi/the-matrix-is-a-system/] 39. A community alert about Ziz. Police investigations, violence, and… | by SefaShapiro | Medium [https://archive.ph/h7j3v] 40. Intersex Brains And Conceptual Warfare – Sinceriously [https://archive.ph/iOmFI] 41. A community alert about Ziz. Police investigations, violence, and… | by SefaShapiro | Medium [https://medium.com/@sefashapiro/a-community-warning-about-ziz-76c100180509] 42. PLUM OF DISCORD (Posts tagged cw-abuse) [https://web.archive.org/web/20220521125057/https:/www.plumofdiscord.com/tagged/cw-abuse] 43. Timeline: Violence surrounding the Zizians leading to Border Patrol agent shooting [https://archive.ph/mHiKh] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Part Three: X-Mas Special: The Heroes Who Ended The Slave Trade

We conclude the story of how Britain ended its role in the Atlantic Slave Trade. Against the State by James Stout available for preorder here: https://www.akpress.org/against-the-state.html [https://www.akpress.org/against-the-state.html]  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Part Two: X-Mas Special: The Heroes Who Ended The Slave Trade

In this episode we introduce two great heroes: freed slave and adventurer Olaudah Equiano, and crusading abolitionist lawyer Granville Sharp. Against the State by James Stout available for preorder here: https://www.akpress.org/against-the-state.html [https://www.akpress.org/against-the-state.html]  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Part One: X-Mas Special: The Heroes Who Ended The Slave Trade

In our annual holiday reverse episode, Robert introduces James Stout to the heroes who fought to end the Atlantic Slave trade. (3 part series) Against the State by James Stout available for preorder here: https://www.akpress.org/against-the-state.html [https://www.akpress.org/against-the-state.html]  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

It Could Happen Here Weekly 213

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.  - The Tech Fascist Takeover of the Media - Strikes, Walkouts, and Union Busting At Nestlé's Blue Bottle - Grenada with Andrew, Pt. 1 - Grenada with Andrew, Pt. 2 - Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #46 You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone [http://apple.co/coolerzone] Sources/Links: The Tech Fascist Takeover of the Media https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nbc-and-cbs-cuts-hit-race-and-culture-verticals/ [https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nbc-and-cbs-cuts-hit-race-and-culture-verticals/] https://archive.ph/gg6UO#selection-471.223-471.275 [https://archive.ph/gg6UO#selection-471.223-471.275] https://tech.yahoo.com/social-media/articles/elon-musk-reportedly-helped-larry-112145682.html [https://tech.yahoo.com/social-media/articles/elon-musk-reportedly-helped-larry-112145682.html] https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/ceos-everything-david-larry-ellison-oracle-skydance-paramount-kimmel-carr.php [https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/ceos-everything-david-larry-ellison-oracle-skydance-paramount-kimmel-carr.php] https://archive.ph/xBjST [https://archive.ph/xBjST] https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nbc-and-cbs-cuts-hit-race-and-culture-verticals/ [https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nbc-and-cbs-cuts-hit-race-and-culture-verticals/] https://www.theroot.com/massive-black-firings-at-cbs-but-what-about-gayle-king-2000070868 [https://www.theroot.com/massive-black-firings-at-cbs-but-what-about-gayle-king-2000070868] https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/media/ellison-wbd-trump-warner-bros-discovery-bid [https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/media/ellison-wbd-trump-warner-bros-discovery-bid] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/gayle-king-leaving-cbs-mornings-b2855747.html [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/gayle-king-leaving-cbs-mornings-b2855747.html] https://www.status.news/p/washington-post-layoffs-cuts-morale [https://www.status.news/p/washington-post-layoffs-cuts-morale] https://x.com/JeffBezos/status/1894757287052362088 [https://x.com/JeffBezos/status/1894757287052362088] https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/07/nyt-opinion-bennet-resigns-cotton-op-ed-306317 [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/07/nyt-opinion-bennet-resigns-cotton-op-ed-306317] https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/media/trump-cnn-sold-paramount-warner-bros-netflix [https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/media/trump-cnn-sold-paramount-warner-bros-netflix] https://fortune.com/2025/09/28/larry-ellison-ai-surveillance-oracle-tiktok-deal-social-media/ [https://fortune.com/2025/09/28/larry-ellison-ai-surveillance-oracle-tiktok-deal-social-media/] https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/14/new-york-times-bari-weiss-resigns-360730 [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/14/new-york-times-bari-weiss-resigns-360730] https://newrepublic.com/article/203758/bari-weiss-cbs-news-strategy [https://newrepublic.com/article/203758/bari-weiss-cbs-news-strategy] https://nwasianweekly.com/2025/10/nbc-news-dissolves-asian-america-blk-latino-and-out-teams-in-sweeping-cuts/ [https://nwasianweekly.com/2025/10/nbc-news-dissolves-asian-america-blk-latino-and-out-teams-in-sweeping-cuts/] Strikes, Walkouts, and Union Busting At Nestlé's Blue Bottle Website: bluebottleunion.org [bluebottleunion.org] Strike fund: tinyurl.com/bbiu-strike [tinyurl.com/bbiu-strike] Want to organize your store? Email us at bluebottleunion@gmail.com with the Subject Line: [Your city] Barista Interest Grenada with Andrew Grenada: Revolution and Invasion by Patsy Lewis et al None Shall Escape by Fundi Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #46 https://gothamist.com/news/ice-enters-nyc-shelters-armed-and-without-judicial-warrants-reports-show [https://gothamist.com/news/ice-enters-nyc-shelters-armed-and-without-judicial-warrants-reports-show] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/designating-fentanyl-as-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/ [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/designating-fentanyl-as-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/]  https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/ [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/]  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70255703/united-states-v-dugan/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70255703/united-states-v-dugan/]  https://bsky.app/profile/klasfeldreports.com/post/3ma4gf7vm772z [https://bsky.app/profile/klasfeldreports.com/post/3ma4gf7vm772z]  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71930356/pablo-pablo-v-lyons/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71930356/pablo-pablo-v-lyons/]   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g562vz34ro [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g562vz34ro] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.