Evan Jaqua joins us from Portland!Evan Jaqua joins us from Portland!
The Peace On Drugs
Host Aaron Akulis and guest Evan Jaqua talk about democracy, media and power through the lens of addiction, both societal and personal. The conversation links political reform, mental health and everyday choices around substances and habits, aiming for a more peaceful and aware way of living.
1:36:13•27 Jul 2026
Democracy, Addiction and Inner Peace with Evan Jaqua
Episode Overview
- Democracy relies on a genuine competition of ideas, which is undermined when politicians are primarily focused on staying in power.
- Addiction extends beyond substances to behaviours like news consumption, gambling and social media, and can quietly drive both personal and political harm.
- Reforming journalism through certification, grading and independent support could rebuild trust and reduce emotionally manipulative "entertainment news".
- Single-term limits for elected officials are proposed as a way to reduce careerism, weaken special interest influence and encourage more principled decision-making.
- Early education about addiction, including its warning signs and many forms, may help protect future generations and support healthier choices in recovery.
“The most addictive thing of all I believe is power. Once people get power, they don't want to give it up.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation between host Aaron Akulis and guest Evan Jaqua pulls that question into a much wider lens, connecting personal habits with global politics. Evan, an international business development specialist who’s lived in Japan, China and Peru, talks about why he thinks democracy is "in trouble" and why he sees our current moment as critical.
He argues that one core issue is the human brain’s vulnerability to addiction: "We can get addicted to drugs… to social media… to junk food… but the most addictive thing of all I believe is power." From there, he links political power, corporate influence and media polarisation into the same addictive loop. You’ll hear Evan outline ideas like single-term limits for politicians, reforming how judges are chosen, and creating systems that reward honest journalism instead of emotional clickbait.
He describes news that has turned into "entertainment channels" feeding people a daily "negative emotion fix", and suggests grading and certifying journalists to rebuild public trust. For anyone dealing with addiction or trying to live alcohol-free, there’s a striking parallel: both Aaron and Evan keep returning to the importance of self-awareness and moderation.
Evan talks about family alcoholism, calling his father "a great example of a bad example", and stresses teaching children about addiction early on, including a proposed national "addiction day" in schools. Aaron reflects on his own shift away from drinking, how social pressure makes alcohol feel "expected", and how focusing on inner wellbeing changes how he relates to news, politics and stress.
This episode suits people in recovery who are curious about how personal change connects with bigger social issues, and anyone who wants to think critically about media, politics and the habits that shape their life. It might leave you asking: which "addictions"—to substances, screens or outrage—are quietly steering your choices, and what do you want to do about them?
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