09: Mat Says: "Mute The Media"

TIKTok FAMOUS™: The Stories Behind the Scroll

In this episode of the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast, host Meredyth Willits sits down with creator, deconstructor, and digital disruptor Mat, the voice behind the viral platform @mutethemedia3.0. Known for his bold critiques of capitalism, media, and the American political spectrum, Mat doesn’t just call out the system—he breaks it down so you can see the wires.

With his sharp, thoughtful takes, Mat challenges both the right and the left, but not from the center—from a deeper, human-rights-rooted radicalism shaped by lived experience, family history, and relentless study. From Iranian resistance to American propaganda, from Christianity to capitalism, nothing is off limits in this conversation.

Together, they dive into:

✅ Why calling out both sides isn’t “centrist,” it’s truth-telling ✅ How his father’s activism and Iranian roots shaped his worldview ✅ The dangerous myths of American exceptionalism and rugged individualism ✅ Why capitalism is incompatible with basic human rights ✅ The difference between misinformation, disinformation, and soft censorship

They also touch on religion as a tool of manipulation, the crisis of digital overwhelm, and why media literacy might be one of the most important skills of this generation. If you’ve ever felt like something is off, but you couldn’t quite name it—Mat will help you decode it.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Mat is:

✨ Challenging indoctrination—left, right, and everywhere in between ✨ Using content to foster real conversations, not culty echo chambers ✨ Breaking down power structures through media, not just memes ✨ Helping you recognize the matrix without screaming into the void

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00:00 Introduction to the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast 00:45 Meet Mat: creator of Mute the Media and radical truth-teller 02:30 Why both the left and right get called out—and why nuance matters 05:00 His father’s activism in Iran and its influence on his worldview 07:30 From conservative youth to post-Marxist analysis: the journey 10:00 Realizing how indoctrination happens at every dinner table 13:00 Breaking the cycle: stories from friends that changed everything 15:30 How lived experience led to unlearning racism, homophobia, and shame 18:00 The role of education, exposure, and empathy in deconstruction 21:00 Capitalism explained in plain terms—and why it’s failing humanity 25:00 From systemic oppression to individual complacency: the missing link 28:00 Religion as propaganda, the weaponization of Jesus, and false nationalism 32:00 The American identity myth and fear-based information control 35:00 Information overload, emotional burnout, and surviving the scroll 38:00 Media literacy, Substack, and the real goal behind “Mute the Media” 41:00 Why “We are the system” is both the problem and the solution 45:00 When rage fuels courage—and when creators need to take breaks 48:00 The kerfuffle with Trapt (yes, that Trapt) and how Mat pulled up 51:00 Death threats, self-censorship, and protecting peace in a broken world 54:00 Why “touching the stove” is how real truth-tellers are made 57:00 Final thoughts on hope, community, and holding everyone’s feet to the fire

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🔗 Connect with Mat / Mute the Media

TikTok: @mutethemedia3.0 Instagram: @mute.the.media

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🎙 Stay in the Loop with Meredyth Willits

Facebook: Meredyth Willits Instagram: @meredyth_willits TikTok: @meredyth_with_a_why YouTube: Meredyth Willits YouTube

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👉 Feel like you’re waking up from the noise? Subscribe to the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who’s ready to stop scrolling and start seeing—clearly.