Interlude: We're moving to Wyoming

I've been extremely quiet online for the past 6 months. A couple posts have leaked out, but my projects Samsara Diagnostics and Moloch Theory have mostly been silent. Some friends have even asked me if I've quit entirely (I have not!).

The longer my digital silence has persisted the more averse I've become to hitting the 'send' button on anything at all. – "Is this good enough? Is this even worth bothering them all about? Who am I really speaking to with these ideas?" I'll wonder all these things to myself, and then simply put the draft away. It's like when you don't text someone for a while, so you feel awkward reaching out, and then you keep putting off texting them, which only increases the awkwardness (I can't have been the only one who has felt this way, right?).

But, here I am, hitting 'send' on something much more personal than usual. I'm delighted to (finally!) share an update about what I've been working on, as well as a big piece of news about my family's future.

What I've been working on...

Rather than posting my ideas publicly, I've been devoting my attention to projects of a more illegible nature. This makes my work more difficult to share about in the context-less context of the internet. Please accept this bulleted list as a crude effort to bring you up to speed on what I'm been working on:

• I spent six weeks writing about Nick Land, peak oil, and why I think we will miss the AI singularity. Expect to find this piece in Theory Underground's upcoming Underground Theory, Vol 3, likely releasing in August.
• I delivered a lecture on Masanobu Fukuoka's book The One-Straw Revolution for Theory Underground's 'Philosophy of Stewardship' students.
• My family and I spent a week at the Theory Underground farm in northern Idaho learning about preparing garden beds, transplanting sprouts, taking care of chickens, harvesting spinach, and much more. If you want to learn about regenerative agriculture, I recommend the McKerracher Farms internship!
• I spoke at a live podcast event at The Big Dipper in Spokane, WA where we held three rounds of intellectual conversation punctuated by live music provided by local artists Slowwalker and Glimmer Ditch. An uncut and unedited audio recording of the whole evening is now up on YouTube.
• I delivered an 'Introduction to Foucault' lecture for Theory Underground's 'Intro to Theory' students last Saturday.
• In June, I'll be teaching 'A (Brief) History of the CIA' seminar at Theory Underground. The seminar will run for 4 weeks, and together we'll learn some interesting history while thinking about concepts in elite theory and the deep state. No tin foil hats necessary! Simply sign up for a monthly subscription at Theory Underground to gain access in June.
• I'm also working closely with Theory Underground's press to publish a curated collection of my writings here at Samsara Diagnostics since 2023. (Dan Garner of O.G. Rose sent me his Foreword just the other night, and wow, what a treat).
• I've been working with the transitional leadership team at Incite Seminars to help usher IS into its next phase of growth and development. I have the honor and delight of working with Joseph Turner, Hannes Schumacher, and Carlos Cavalie as we carry forward what Glen Wallis has built for the past 6 years.

... and what is happening now.

All of that was a preamble to the news which I intended to share when I started composing this email – I'm thrilled to announce that I've accepted a an opportunity to lead the events and hospitality operations at The Wagon Box, a 20+ acre property in Story, WY boasting a restaurant, lodge, campground, trailers, and more (did I mention the sauna?).

Nestled in the Bighorn Mountains, just 25 minutes from Sheridan, WY, the Wagon Box property has two creeks running through it, and is covered with ponderosa pines. In less than two months, my family and I will living on-site while I spend my days running the lodging operations, increasing the business' overall profitability, and organizing private events bringing scholars and creatives together.

While this role offers a welcome departure from my past 8 years managing enterprise software implementations, it also draws on that experience in fresh ways, meaning that I don't have to leave my last decade behind – I'm carrying it forward into a new context. This is the pivot I've been working towards, without even realizing it. In my mind, it's a clear sign of God's gracious provision.

Further, this role also represents a concrete step towards advancing the vision I presented in my piece The Extended Learning Universe a few months ago: "I see my calling less about making a name for myself or my ideas, and more as cultivating this ecosystem as a whole." I'm now taking an active part in organizing and supporting the kind of events and conversations I want to see happen. The Wagon Box offers a unique setting for other writers, creatives, and scholars to envision and experiment with new forms of learning and inquiry.

The Wagon Box is more than just a restaurant and lodge – it's a cultural hub forging the next frontier of American intellectual and literary culture. Dave McKerracher put it best in his recent piece "The Fourth Frontier" (in which he references a conversation with the Wagon Box's owner, Paul McNiel) where he describes The Wagon Box as part of the next wave of internet organizing – "Internet 4.0" – a place where internet communities can begin to build a cultural memory and connection to place, forging deeper connections, and sustaining more nuanced and ongoing conversations.

The Wagon Box has enjoyed the presence of many literary figures, such as Paul Kingsnorth, Walter Kirn, and Jonathan Keeperman (L0mez), as well as hosting events like Doomer Optimism's annual campout or "Dawn in the West" with DC Miller, James Pogue, and more. I first encountered this space and its vibrant culture when Justin Murphy's Other Life community held its annual meetup at The Wagon Box in 2024 – I've stayed connected to the project ever since. Now, I believe in it so much that I'm moving my family there.

Upcoming events

My promise to you: this newsletter will not be a marketing channel for the Wagon Box, except insofar as the people and ideas I encounter there become a part of my own reflections. I hope you'll permit me though to briefly share about upcoming opportunities to come and see what all the buzz is about. We've got a couple events confirmed for the season, and I'm continuing to fill the pipeline with new and exciting happenings. Also, if you'd like to plan a small conference or symposium, a group retreat, a family reunion, or some other event idea, please let me know. I'd love to connect about your idea.

Doomer Optimism's camp out "America 250" will be taking place on June 5-7. This jamboree will celebrate American's semiquincentennial with a fun and family-friendly gathering for eating together, enjoying the outdoors, playing games, sharing crafts and handiwork, dancing, drinking, and much more! You'll likely to meet people who will become life-long friends. So come out and celebrate with us!

Anthony Morley has pulled together a stellar lineup of speakers for the "Wyoming Economic Forum: God, Man, Money," which will meet Friday August 21-23 (the same time as the Jackson Hole Federal Reserve Policy Forum!). Come out to hear from James Poulos, Joe Allen, Alex Priou, and Rob Rhinehart. Wake up with a cold plunge and sauna, then dive into a day blending speeches, discussions, and outdoor activities. Keep the conversations going over delicious meals, and stay up late having fun at the lodge or the bar! Registration for this event will open in the coming days, so keep an eye on the Wagon Box's Substack for an upcoming announcement.

Outro

My projects Samsara Diagnostics and Moloch Theory will carry on in some form here, although what that will entail remains unclear to me. I can't stop writing; it's who I am. But what am I writing for? What is worth putting my hand to? Right now I feel that I'm in a phase of consolidating what I've done to make it accessible to those who are just discovering my work for the first time. However, balancing that with continuing to undertake novel inquiry presents a distinct challenge. Once I pass through this chaotic time of transition, I'll be working on building new habits and structures to support my scholarly work going forward. I hope you'll stick around to see where that leads.