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Johnny Rapp

Background​

  • Close friend and collaborator of Gary Sheng
  • Self-educated, passionate about reinventing education
  • Founder of Human brand and NYC creative space
  • Gen Z voice and cultural ambassador
  • Financial struggles while building cultural movements ($1,200 in bank account as of May 2025)
  • Has been developing education platform concepts since 2020

Professional Experience​

Entertainment Industry​

  • Helped produce hit albums for major singers/rappers
  • Managed Jennifer Lopez's social media
  • Produced Family Style Fest (15k attendees, acquired by Complex)
  • Planning potential Madison Square Garden event
  • Strong connections with major producers and managers

Creative & Technical Skills​

  • Creative direction and graphic design
  • Marketing and brand development
  • Event production and experience design
  • Uses AI tools for ideation and workflow
  • Has team (possibly in Vietnam) for 3D rendering and avatar creation
  • Website development (learning to use GitHub)
  • Family documentary production and storytelling
  • Cross-cultural community building and bridge-making

Human Brand Movement​

Philosophy​

Core Message: "This is what human is about. About creativity. We're about maintaining art. About focusing on the light, which is hue. The light, and us. And not cursing the darkness."

NYC Creative Space Success (as of May 2025)​

  • 8-hour album listening sessions with artists staying 6:00 PM to midnight
  • Attracts photographers, videographers, painters, recording artists
  • Creating transformative impact: people crying, rediscovering desire to create art
  • Spontaneous collaborations and artwork creation
  • "It's a movement"

Business Model​

  • One-of-one art pieces painted with friends
  • Art comes bundled with album
  • Not releasing on DSPs initially - direct sales only
  • Planning human.com/shop
  • Merchandise includes painted shirts, skateboards, custom pieces

Educational Vision​

Critique of Alpha Schools Marketing​

Key Quote: "Mackenzie Price is not the face of education. She's the face of mothers that maybe care about education. The face of education is people that went through school with social media and technology at fingertips."

Strong opinions:

  • Current Alpha leadership missing Gen Z demographic
  • Believes he and Eddie should be the faces of educational revolution
  • Wants MacKenzie's daughter to be focal point instead
  • Critical of spending priorities vs. cultural investment

Educational Innovation Concepts​

  • Music production education via Twitch streaming
  • Custom tablets with:
    • Music recording capabilities
    • Fashion design tools
    • Gardening applications
    • AI-powered educational games
    • Natural world curriculum
  • Different rooms for different creative disciplines
  • Real-world experiential learning opportunities

Connections & Relationships​

Core Network​

  • Gary Sheng: Close friend and collaborator, co-founder of Heirloom Media family documentary project
  • Eddie: Musical partner, flying to NYC, co-voice for Gen Z
  • Jason (Photographer): Primary collaborator on Wellness Check documentary project and Heirloom Media, 10+ years professional experience
  • Mayernick Family: Nashville philanthropist family, inaugural subject for Heirloom Media project through long-standing friendship with son Michael
  • Don Milan: Mentor and author of "Eyewitness Bloody Sunday," inspiration for community-centric storytelling approach
  • Jay Shetty's Production Team: Described as "family"
  • Lauren: Connected regarding Alpha School families
  • Marcus: Collaborator on educational concepts from 2020

Entertainment Industry​

  • Rick Rubin (potential connection)
  • John Monopoly (potential connection)
  • ASAP Ferg (potential connection)
  • Various major producers for Twitch education initiative

Special Projects​

  • Make-A-Wish collaboration: 9 kids with cancer visiting to make music

Philosophical Perspectives​

  • "Focus on the light, don't curse the darkness"
  • Views himself as doing "what my ancestors actually did... run around and connect with people and tell them what the future is"
  • Non-indoctrination approach to community building
  • Believes in human creativity as antidote to AI age
  • "Living for a living" rather than work-focused identity

Spiritual & Cultural Philosophy (August 2025)​

Gratitude as Spiritual Technology​

Systematic Appreciation Practice: "The antidote for stress is always gratitude. And you have to be creative with your gratitude, I think, to keep revisiting that action." Energy Transmission: Believes gratitude affects others around you and changes nervous systems of people with anxiety/autism Divine Connection: "I try to think of God when I'm in the sunlight... I feel like I'm being washed with this golden light, because I am. That is God energy."

Dopamine Reformation Theory​

Cheap vs. Wealthy Dopamine: Transition from social media addiction to "wealthier forms of dopamine" through journaling, reading, and creative work Media Brain Rot Antidote: Using entertainment industry skills to create opposite of destructive content Attention Economy Critique: "The only way that you can get this terrible stuff to stop is to literally halt. Giving it attention"

Multi-Cultural Spiritual Integration​

Four Colors of Humanity: Native American teaching about racial harmony and spiritual leadership across cultures Global Family Documentation: Vision for documenting exemplary families across religions and cultures Cultural Healing Mission: Using media to demonstrate shared human values rather than promote division

Reverence and Ritual Philosophy​

Japanese Gratitude Practice: Appreciation for systematic cultural practices that acknowledge life's interconnectedness Spiritual Vocabulary: Developing language that helps people "appreciate life more consistently, more ritualistically" Nature as Divine Communication: Seeing animals, sunlight, and natural phenomena as spiritual messages

Communication Style​

  • Stream-of-consciousness delivery
  • Passionate and emotionally expressive
  • Direct and sometimes confrontational about inequities
  • Uses "bro" frequently in conversation
  • Mixes profound insights with street vernacular

Current Challenges & Opportunities​

Financial​

  • Negative bank account recently, now ~$1,200
  • Investing everything into artists and movement
  • Seeking acknowledgment and support from Alpha
  • Wants donation structure if bringing families to Alpha

Strategic Positioning​

  • Positions self and Eddie as essential Gen Z voices
  • Ready to speak publicly about Alpha and education reform
  • Building cultural momentum independently
  • Other educational platforms approaching him

Current Status (November 2025)​

Location and Living Situation​

  • Currently in Puerto Rico: Staying at friends' place while they're away, watching their cats
  • NYC Apartment Crisis: Planning to move out due to roommate not paying rent for 2 months ($5,200 owed)
  • Temporary Arrangement: Has access to friends' Jeep and house in PR whenever they travel

Personal Development​

  • Recently turned 28, describing it as "time to become a man" with prefrontal cortex fully developed
  • Depression Recovery: Emerged from 2-month "depressive dark hole" in NYC
  • Morning Routine: 6 AM wake up, 4-hour walks without phone, calisthenics on beach
  • Focused on spiritual, mental, and financial wealth
  • Actively seeking romantic partnership and considering biological duties/procreation

NYC Disillusionment​

  • Dark apartment with no windows contributed to depression
  • Romantic devastation: Woman with "hundred serendipities" cut contact citing "too much energy"
  • Financial drain: "$20-40 spent every time you step outside"
  • Social isolation: "It's so hard to have one conversation with one fucking person"
  • Existential crisis: "I don't even know if I want to feed into the capitalistic beast anymore"

Wellness Check Media Project​

  • Season 1: Already completed filming with photographer Jason
  • Season 2: Scheduled to begin October 2025 with budget secured
  • Vision: Creating "real human centric media company" as alternative to brain rot content
  • Format: Documentary-style wellness checks on inspiring individuals
  • Self-Funded: Independent production with Jason, rejecting corporate backing
  • Global Scope: Planning international episodes (Thailand family structures vs. American)

Documentary Philosophy​

  • Mission: Exploring "how to live and why to live" through different cultural contexts
  • Anti-Mainstream: Explicit rejection of superficial social media and traditional media
  • Community Events: Planning screening events around episodes to build local community
  • Collaboration: Seeking Gary as co-producer and strategic partner

Interaction History​

  • 2025-03-31: First meeting on Gary's call with Josh Landy
  • 2025-04-03: Philosophical phone conversation with Gary
  • 2025-04-18: Visited Alpha School, met key personnel
  • 2025-04-19: Alpha School conversations with Vudumu family
  • 2025-04-21: Walking conversation about American Renaissance art
  • 2025-05-26: Phone call revealing Human brand success, education vision, and Alpha critique. Discussed website development, financial struggles, and strategic positioning as Gen Z voice
  • 2025-08-21: Extended wellness check conversation with Gary covering personal growth, spiritual development, media company vision, and documentary collaboration plans
  • 2025-08-23: HEIRLOOM MEDIA BREAKTHROUGH - Historic strategic conversation crystallizing "Heirloom Media" vision for family-centered documentary content. Developed comprehensive framework for documenting exemplary families worldwide, identified Mayernick family as ideal inaugural subject, and created regenerative economics model that financially benefits documented families. Explored integration of technology, spirituality, and media to combat cultural family breakdown. Johnny introduced profound spiritual philosophy around gratitude as "antidote to stress" and shared deep insights about dopamine reformation. Both participants demonstrated significant spiritual maturation and mission clarity around family formation and cultural healing.
  • 2025-11-13: POST-CAPITALISM AWAKENING - Profound conversation revealing mutual disillusionment with tech/startup culture and vision for alternative community living. Johnny shared deep depression from NYC experience including romantic devastation, housing crisis with unpaid rent, and existential questioning of capitalism. Gary discussed spiritual sabbatical, "deep spiritual pain" regarding traditional employment, and new vision for tokenizing real world assets. Both converged on kibbutz-style community building, with Johnny offering to be "steward/farmer" on Gary's land. Discussed elderly influencer content concept for The Villages, AI revealing internet's meaninglessness, and shared recognition that "humanity won't thrive without kibbutz-style living." Marked turning point toward abandoning conventional careers for spiritual and community pursuits.

Future Plans​

  • Heirloom Media Launch: Primary focus on family-centered documentary project with Gary and Jason
  • Mayernick Family Documentation: Inaugural project documenting Nashville family's radical discipleship during patriarch's ALS journey
  • Global Family Network: Systematic documentation of exemplary families across cultures, religions, and geographies
  • Regenerative Economics Platform: Development of technology systems that financially benefit documented families
  • Thailand Documentary: Planning international episode exploring family structures and anti-stress culture through established connections
  • Media Company Development: Building independent alternative to mainstream media with Jason
  • Community Screenings: Organizing local events around documentary episodes
  • Three-Way Collaboration: Coordinating with Gary and Jason on expanded documentary vision
  • Building human.com with shop functionality
  • The Villages Elderly Influencer Project: Teaching technology to retirees on donation basis ($10-15K/month potential)
  • "Elder Influencer" Content: Meta Ray-Ban documentation of elderly community life
  • Kibbutz/Community Development: Potential collaboration with Gary on land acquisition and village building
  • Homesteading Vision: Seeking 1-2 acres for personal homestead with animals and farming
  • Mercenary Lifestyle: Save $40-50K to travel minimally and volunteer globally
  • Moving out of NYC: Immediate plan to leave dark apartment, possible stay with Mimi
  • Teaching music production via Twitch
  • Developing custom educational hardware

Key Quotes​

  • "I'm embodying human. I'm embodying all of it. The whole universe of what is human."
  • "We're gonna really be the pinnacle of the music industry, but we're gonna really important things to share"
  • "People have spent up platforms all the time... they ain't giving me shit"
  • "This Human Bro is the brand, bro. During this age of AI."
  • "Time to be a man. I'm here to help. I'm here to be a good person. Be spiritually wealthy, mentally wealthy. Financially wealthy." (August 2025)
  • "How to live and why to live... that's the question" (Documentary mission statement)
  • "We need to be curious again about how to live. Because whatever the fuck's happening is not it." (August 2025)
  • "The antidote for stress is always gratitude. And you have to be creative with your gratitude, I think, to keep revisiting that action." (August 2025)
  • "I learned how to proliferate. Brain rot to the maximum capacity. So now... how can I do something just as big as I did? But it's the opposite of brain rot." (August 2025)
  • "We have the antidote to. We know the antidote to this radical self that people are experiencing with radical ego and echo chamber." (August 2025)
  • "I don't even know if I want to feed into the capitalistic beast anymore." (November 2025)
  • "Where the fuck has everyone gone? Where is everyone? Like, we're all, like, checked out." (November 2025)
  • "I don't think humanity will thrive if we don't get back into some kibbutz-style living." (November 2025)
  • "Internet and all content on the internet is basically like bullshit." (November 2025)
  • "If you do that, I'll be a steward on your land. I'll be a farmer." (November 2025)

Spiritual Assessment (from Marcus Noel)​

  • 2025-07-09: In a conversation with Gary Sheng, Marcus Noel provided a deep and critical spiritual analysis of Johnny Rapp.
    • Core Assessment: "Johnny is unwilling to talk about evil because he's evil inside... He doesn't want to acknowledge his own evil... because he would be revealed."
    • Shapeshifter Identity: Marcus identifies Johnny as a "shapeshifter," a term Johnny himself has used, which Marcus equates with demonic influence. "He was like, look, I could be an Italian. I can be this. I can be Irish. And he used the word shapeshifter. And that's like the same word of demons."
    • Avoidance of Darkness: His tendency to "focus on the light" is seen as a defense mechanism to avoid confronting his inner darkness. "Anytime he wants to dodge the darkness, it's because it's like the question is like, well, Johnny, what are you denying and upholding?"
    • Opportunistic Energy: Marcus describes his energy as opportunistic and drawn to hype. "Johnny is like a hype beast type guy. Like he's going to go where the energy is... When we're all the way turned up and God has the light fully on. He's going to sit next to the light."
    • Past Conflict: Marcus revealed a past incident where he called Johnny a "snake," which deeply offended him. "He got mad at me. Because I basically caught him a snake... that really got under his skin because, you know, he wants to be a good person."
    • Path to Healing: Marcus believes Johnny is on a path to healing his DNA but his biggest test is "emitting who he actually is." He believes no one can convince Johnny; he must come to this realization himself.
    • Discernment: Due to this assessment, Marcus has intentionally kept Johnny away from the core of the GODWAVE collective, identifying a "Judas spirit" in him.

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary
2025-11-13-gary-johnny-spiritual-disillusionment-community-vision2025-11-13Post-capitalism awakening conversation exploring spiritual disillusionment and community building vision
2025-08-23-gary-johnny-heirloom-media-family-documentary-vision2025-08-23Historic conversation crystallizing "Heirloom Media" vision for family-centered documentary content
2025-08-21-gary-sheng-johnny-rapp-wellness-check-media-vision2025-08-21Wellness check and media vision conversation covering personal development and documentary collaboration
2025-05-26-johnny-rapp-human-brand2025-05-26Discussion on Human brand success, NYC creative space, education critique, and financial frustrations
2025-04-21_morning_gary-sheng_johnny-rapp2025-04-21Morning conversation about spiritual insights, creative projects, and cultural commentary
2025-04-19-saturday-visit-vidyasagar-vudumu2025-04-19Saturday Visit with Vidyasagar Vudumu & Daughters
2025-04-18-final-conversations-alpha-school2025-04-18Alpha School tour and discussions with Gary, engineering team, and prospective family
2025-04-18-late-afternoon-conversations-alpha-school2025-04-18Late afternoon conversations and introductions at Alpha School
2025-04-18-alpha-school-tour-with-carson2025-04-18Campus tour explaining educational philosophy and introducing engineering team
2025-04-03-gary-sheng-johnny-rapp2025-04-03Free-flowing philosophical conversation covering contentment vs. excitement, relationships, creative ideas, and cultural commentary
2025-03-31-josh-landy-johnny-rapp-gifted-savings2025-03-31Meeting with Josh Landy discussing Gifted Savings program and creative collaboration opportunities