John Perkins
John Perkins is an author and activist whose 10 books on global intrigue, shamanism, and transformation including Touching the Jaguar, Shapeshifting, and the classic Confessions of an Economic Hit Man have been on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 70 weeks, sold over 2 million copies and are published in at least 35 languages.
As chief economist at a major consulting firm, John advised the World Bank, United Nations, Fortune 500 corporations, US, and other governments. He regularly speaks at universities, economic forums, and shamanic gatherings around the world and is a founder and board member of the Pachamama Alliance and Dream Change, nonprofit organizations that partner with indigenous people to protect environments and that offer global programs to change the destructive ways of industrial societies.
John advises corporations, executives, and entrepreneurs on ways to make the transition from a Death Economy (exploiting resources that are declining at accelerating rates) to a Life Economy (cleaning up pollution, recycling, and other technologies that create regenerative life-styles and economies) — a subject that is detailed in Touching the Jaguar.
John has lived four lives: as an economic hit man (EHM); as the CEO of a successful alternative energy company, who was rewarded for not disclosing his EHM past; as an expert on indigenous cultures and shamanism, a teacher and writer who used this expertise to promote ecology and sustainability while continuing to honor his vow of silence about his life as an EHM; and as a writer who, in telling the real-life story about his extraordinary dealings as an EHM, has exposed the world of international intrigue and corruption that is turning the American republic into a global empire despised by increasing numbers of people around the planet.
John’s Books:
854: John Perkins, part 2: Book Preview: The Art of the Steal (and restoring American ideals)
John returns to describe his upcoming book The Art of the Steal: Trump and the Economic Hit Man Presidency, described as his best book of the Economic Hit Man series. I’m honored that he came to this podcast first.
Longtime listeners and readers know how much of an impression Confessions of an Economic Hit Man made on me. Regular blog readers know from my descriptions of my upcoming book how much imperialism factors into it. John’s book couldn’t have come at a better time.
Listen to this whole conversation. He starts by describing the new book, then puts it in context of how what he wrote about decades ago is happening more than ever, and by the US government on its own citizens. I think you’ll feel as I do that I’d rather it weren’t happening but since it is, I’d rather know than not know.
I say to listen to the whole episode, especially if you’re listening around the date I publish (July 3, 2026) because none of what he says or writes is complaining. He shares how everything he says and writes is to restore American ideals like liberty, freedom, equality, democracy, and national security. He states it better than I can.
329: John Perkins: Touching the Jaguar
A great joy of podcast success is talking to people who changed your life. I read John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man about ten years ago. I couldn’t put it down—as much from the writing as the stories and content. It led me to see the world differently, especially government, corporations, America, money, what my taxes support, politics. It recalled Upton Sinclair and Henry Thoreau.
He is about to release a new book, Touching the Jaguar. He’s written several books on shamanism, his experiences relevant to shamanism from before his economic hit man path, how the worlds interact, bringing them together, and showing how they are relevant today—including during a virus.
If you’re here just after I posted it, listen for the workshop he’s offering April 29th.
On a personal note, I hope you share what happened with me listening to him. I thought of the fears I’ve been facing lately, for example sharing my past on this podcast, if you listened to my episode Bruce Springsteen inspired to start talking about Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll. I can’t imagine I’m the only one holding back from facing a fear and acting on it that I know it’s time for.
John talked about changing perception and things that might sound small, like tweeting or emailing companies about actions of theirs you don’t like. Almost everyone I talk to says little things like that don’t make a difference so they don’t act. They’re letting their beliefs limit them—what they do, how they live.
As I understood John, he’s saying that those beliefs and actions build on each other. They did with George Washington, as he describes. They did with everyone who made a difference.
I recommend listening with the question in mind: What am I perceiving that I could perceive differently?