Welcome, beautiful humans! In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Scott Carney—investigative journalist, bestselling author, and all-around truth-seeker—to pull back the curtain on the wild world of wellness influencers, online gurus, and the sometimes murky business of “authenticity” in the digital age.

If you’ve ever wondered who you can trust in the wellness space, how to spot a scam, or what it really takes to make a living with integrity, this conversation is for you. We get real about the challenges of staying true to yourself, the traps of capitalism, and why supporting independent creators (like me!) matters more than ever.

Listen to learn:

* What red flags to watch for when it comes to wellness gurus, influencers, and online health advice.

* How scammers and “grifters” use a mix of truth and lies to build trust…and how you can protect yourself.

* Why authenticity and integrity are so hard to maintain in today’s online business world (and what it really costs).

* What it actually takes to make a living as a creator without selling out (and why “enough” might be the new dream).

* How supporting independent creators (like on Patreon) can change the game for everyone, and why your choices matter more than you think.

* And finally, why hope, connection, and personal values might be the most powerful tools we have. Even in a world that feels rigged!

About Scott Carney

* YouTube: Scott Carney Investigates

* Magnetic North, Scott Carney’s Substack

* Scott Carney on Patreon

* Website: scottcarney.com

Special Offer: Patreon Relaunch!

I’m relaunching my Patreon with a special offer: get exclusive livestream access to my upcoming live music medicine event in Cape Town (for those who can’t make it in person). Join the community, support my work, and get access to behind-the-scenes content, early releases, and more.

* Patreon: https://alreadyfree.me/patreon

* Access the patron-only bonus chat for this episode right here

* Event details: https://alreadyfree.me/acoustic

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it, leaving a review, or joining the Patreon family. Your support helps me keep creating honest, heart-centred content for you.

Social media apps are designed to capture your attention, devouring hours of your life every day. In this solo episode, I share my struggle with digital distraction and offer a clear, grounded path back to freedom through clarity, connection, and creation. This episode is a call to wake up, reclaim your focus, and live deliberately—because we are already free!

What You’ll Learn

* Why social media isn’t just a harmless time sink—it’s designed to trap your attention and data.

* How distraction fuels disconnection, fear, and exhaustion.

* Three essentials for a good life: clarity of purpose, human connection, and creative presence.

* An inspiring apple tree analogy for understanding true purpose.

* How practical steps, like deleting apps, are boosting my creativity and presence.

* Why the world needs more people coming alive in their unique gifts—not just “successful” people.

* Details on the free 21-Day Dopamine Detox Challenge starting July 22nd, designed to help you build healthy boundaries with technology.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction: Dealing with Digital Distraction

0:25 How Social Media Steals Our Time and Attention

1:26 Personal Struggles with Social Media Addiction

2:24 The Impact: From Connection to Disconnection

3:50 Three Keys to a Good Life: Clarity, Connection, Creation

4:26 Understanding True Purpose: The Apple Tree Analogy

5:16 The Importance of Human Connection

6:22 Reclaiming Creativity and Presence

8:45 Making a Difference: Beyond Traditional Success

9:31 21-Day Dopamine Detox Challenge

10:36 Call to Action: Join the Free Reset Program

Resources & Links

* Join the 21-Day Dopamine Detox Challenge (Free): https://alreadyfree.me/reset

* Starts July 22nd — daily prompts + weekly live gatherings.

* Recommended reading that informed this episode:

* Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

* Indistractable by Nir Eyal

* Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

Why Listen?

If you often catch yourself “just checking” your phone only to lose hours, this episode is for you. I cut through the guilt and confusion around social media use, offering an honest look at how these platforms drain your life force—and how you can step back into freedom. It’s a grounded invitation to reclaim your attention and creativity, allowing you to live with greater presence, purpose, and genuine connection.

Next Step

Take back your attention. Join the free 21-Day Dopamine Detox challenge today at https://alreadyfree.me/reset

Feeling crushed by the content-every-day hustle culture mantra? I’m sharing why I’m stepping off the treadmill, how hustle culture is part of the problem fracturing our attention and destroying our connection with Spirit, and what a slower, soul-led path might look like…for you and for me!

Hi, I’m Nathan Maingard—a heartist, troubadour, guide, and wordsmith—and I am fekin’ DONE with sacrificing my life on the altar of algorithmic insanity!

Listen to this episode of We Are Already Free to learn the first step in getting off the infinite wheel of death by doomscroll.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

* Attention vs. Algorithms – why your screen is farmed for clicks, not care.

* A Patreon Burnout Story – lessons from my collapse after “success”.

* Slow Down, Change Faster – how nervous-system safety unlocks real growth.

* Self → Other → All – the cycle of self-care, service, and Divine union.

* 21-Day Dopamine Detox – a free, community-held reset starting Tuesday 22 July 2025.

🛠️ Resources & Links

* Join the Dopamine Detox (free): https://alreadyfree.me/g14o

* Previous chat with Keri Nola on abundance & receptivity

🤝 Take Part

* Sign up for the dopamine detox before 22 July.

* Share this episode with someone scrolling their life away.

* Subscribe on Substack or YouTube for the longer-form, slow-dopamine content I am creating.

Thank you for being here with me.

With love,Nathan

PS: I’m doing something super vulnerable here: no editing! This video is all raw, all me. Stumbles, pauses, checking my notes. It’s all here. Does it resonate? Are you with me in wanting more of the raw and real in this life? Or not? Lmk.