photo c/o associated press

After high school Van Heckler attended a nearby college on Pell grants. His two favorite subjects, History and English, were also for him the most contentious. Having learned everything he thought he should know online, Van was cynical and dismissive.

In a modern history course he argued with the professor over Cuba and Nicaragua. “Read a book, young man,” the mature gentleman from an obsolete era– wearing a suit– told him. “Read. Books.”

In a contemporary literature course Van asked, “Where are the American authors? Instead we get dull Europeans. Knausgaard? Bernhard? Houellebecq? What is this? Where are we living? What country are we in? Do we have a country?”

“Which author do you want me to teach, Mr. Heckler?” the young instructor asked, curious.

“Robert E. Howard,” the brash student responded.

Van had already developed a persona: arrogant and combative, with short hair and a clean shaven face. He wore trench coats, like one of his historical idols.

After two years Van dropped out to start his podcast, For half-a-decade he’d been a regular in right-wing chatrooms, increasing his alt-right reputation. This gave him a built-in audience. His studio was in the basement of his mom’s small white painted wood frame house. With a green-screen backdrop turned into an image of a futuristic metropolis, sitting behind a cardboard prop desk, Van did two four-hour broadcasts a day. The remainder of his 100-hour workweek was spent promoting the podcast on social media. He took nothing for granted. His enthusiasm, along with his mother’s encouragement, pots of always-brewing coffee and the prejudices of his audience, sustained him.

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(The paperback version of The Loud Boys is now available, here.)