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The dip in global population is something that's been gaining attention as of late, but mostly in the abstract. Something concrete in that dip is about to come due this fall, a staggering drop in the number of available 18+ year olds for the traditional college path. The first bellwether in what my guest for this episode labeled in a piece that, America is about to go over the ‘demographic cliff'. Journalist Jon Marcus, joins for this episode to explore the intersection of demographic shifts, higher education, and the implications for the workforce. The conversation highlights the decline in birth rates, the resulting impact on college enrollment, and the broader economic consequences of college closures. We also get into the cultural perceptions of the value of a college degree and the challenges faced by institutions in adapting to these changes. Before ending on potential strategies for colleges to navigate the impending demographic cliff and its effects on education and the economy.

An update on what's happening with expert in the region from UCLA James Gelvin. He's joining us 5 years on from his last episode to give an update on what's occurred, and what's to come. We delve into the complexities of global conflicts, particularly focusing on the Israel-Palestine situation, by exploring the historical context of U.S.-Israel relations, the implications of arms sales, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following the October 7th attack. Professor Gelvin emphasizes the challenges and uncertainties facing the region, with a sobering outlook for the future.

With only raw materials, could you recreate a toaster? Now could you do it considering the source of your materials, the effect extracting them has on the world, along with the use and inevitable destruction of it. This episode's guest did just that. Starting with the extraction of the materials, including learning 15th century techniques for smelting, created a toaster. Reflecting upon that project in today's world, is the topic of this episode. Where we dive into the philosophy of design needing a refresh in todays world in order to live in better harmony with our reality. Thomas Thwaites, Artist and Designer, joins me for this conversation. Check out his website for all of his projects, his TED talk and the project he's currently working on, a harmless car.

Here we unpack the legacies of Julius Caesar and Augustus, exploring the complexities of the two, the nature of historical narratives, and the challenges of leadership in ancient Rome. My guest, Adrian Goldsworthy, emphasizes the importance of context in understanding these historical figures and reflects on the lessons that can be drawn from their lives and governance. We also chat about the inevitability of Rome's transition from a republic to an empire, the cultural shock of experiencing ancient Rome, and the lasting impact of Roman civilization on modern society. Before chatting about the importance of personality in leadership, the efficiency of Roman administration, and the enduring legacy of Roman culture and language. Check out Adrian's YouTube channel, or

When you think of sharks, do you think Jaws? Or a creature with enough understanding to seek help from a person? Would you be surprised to know, that someone has been working with sharks for years to the point, that they allow her to take out hooks lodged in their skin? Given our misconceptions of the creatures, I'd imagine you would be. Cristina Zenato is that person, who's a master diver and expert on sharks. She's built an amazing relationship with the sharks around the Bahamas, creating a deep connection with them, to a degree I can only understand through bonds we build with more familiar animals. In this interview Cristina gives us a deeper understanding of sharks, her ability to work with them, the virtue in knowing a single place deeply, the reality of the marine environment that's facing environmental destruction, and some wisdom from the sharks. Credit to Kewin Lorenzen as videographer and Cristina Zenato for the image and videos accompanying this episode. (00:00) - Understanding Fear and the Unknown (03:14) - Building Trust with Sharks (10:51) - Establishing Relationships with Marine Life (18:06) - The Reality of Shark Encounters (25:07) - The Role of Humans in Shark Behavior (32:36) - Sharks in the Anthropocene (34:11) - Sharks and Human Interaction (37:22) - Shark Population Decline (42:30) - Conservation Efforts and Education (45:30) - Lessons from Sharks (54:22) - Living in Symbiosis with Nature

A reality of our contemporary time, is the American President is increasingly acting as an Emperor. This interview explores the evolution of the imperial presidency, the implications of increased executive power, and a look behind the scenes of the West Wing in how it plays out in the day to day. We also get tangible examples of what can be done to improve the structural gaps existing in the constitution to stop an increased scope of the Executive. Yale Law Professor & Author Harold Koh joins the podcast to give us the context from his book highlighting the state of the Executive, "The National Security Constitution in the Twenty-First Century" With Harold we get into, the role of Congress and the courts, and the systemic dysfunction that has led to a concentration of power in the executive branch, ethical considerations of governance and the future of executive power in the United States. We also get into the evolution of executive power in the United States, examining how historical events have shaped the current political landscape. (0:00) - America as an Empire: Historical Context (3:24) - The Imperial Presidency: Evolution of Power (6:26) - The Role of Congress and the Courts (9:41) - Crisis and the Shift of Power (12:28) - The Synergistic Dysfunction of Government (16:57) - The Consequences of Centralized Power (21:02) - The National Security Constitution: A Historical Perspective (26:44) - The Future of Executive Power (30:08) - The Ethics of Power and Governance (36:19) - Shifting Standards in Politics (38:23) - Historical Context of Executive Power (41:14) - The Pendulum of Presidential Authority (43:44) - The Guantanamo Dilemma (45:12) - The Threat Landscape: Terrorism vs. Pandemics (46:41) - Concerns Over Unilateral Executive Powers (51:31) - The Need for Structural Reforms (54:48) - Checks and Balances in the Executive Branch (1:00:23) - Learning from Global Examples (1:05:36) - The Role of Citizens in Democracy (1:10:52) - Activism and Resilience Against Authoritarianism

Giddy up for a fun episode that touches all the right topics to get your noddle going. How can we manage a fast-paced world that seems to increasingly change from what we've become used to? What changes when someone has immense wealth, or when someone is homeless? Both living completely different lives outside of the norm of anyone listening to this. We explore the ethical dilemmas in our current global world, and perhaps have a way of being considerate without being a luddite. Humans have changed constantly, and this conversation is all about how two dudes think about changing with it. Complete with a moody rendition of Smash Mouth's epic hit, “Hey now you're an all star” at the end. With me in this conversation is David Benjamin, otherwise known as Dudetunes. A Recording Artist - Songwriter - Performer, and co-owner of Black Sheep Makery, a bomb drink purveyor of all things coffee, tea and lemonades with infused flavorings. Find him everywhere @dudeisdead. Check out David's latest music video for a catchy track. Chapters (00:00) - How to think in the long ~ Intro Essay (06:33) - The Power of Connection (07:04) - Artistic Pursuits and Personal Joy (09:43) - The Depth of Human Connection (12:58) - The Impact of Homelessness on Society (16:22) - Navigating Urban Challenges (20:50) - The Complexity of Human Experience (23:11) - Exploring Spirituality and Reality (27:18) - The Role of Psychedelics in Understanding (35:53) - The Resurgence of Psychedelics in Pop Culture (39:34) - The Dual Nature of Psychedelic Experiences (42:06) - Philosophical Reflections on Wealth and Control (51:39) - The Role of Culture in Governance (01:00:12) - Navigating Technology and Its Impact on Life (01:12:24) - Frankenstein and the Absurdity of Existence (01:15:21) - Personal Responsibility and Community (01:18:12) - The Role of Technology in Human Connection (01:23:36) - Navigating Individualism and Community (01:32:03) - The Paradox of Individualism and Community (01:39:27) - The Importance of Connection and Expression

This is my interview with author and historian Dr. James Gelvin , professor of Middle Eastern history at UCLA. [ This episode was originally released in December 2020. Professor Gelvin will be coming back for an episode next season to give an update on what's occurred in the past four years. ] The episode is centered around the Israel and Palestine conundrum, but touches upon the rich and ancient culture of the region known as Palestine and the recent normalization of relations that the Trump administration announced with the state of Israel. There's also a detour into the state of the Middle East as a whole, if the Arab spring has run dry, how the middle east is the most food insecure region in the world, which segued into how neo-liberal policies create much civil and economic unrest. Along with thought provoking ideas on revolutions and nationalism. The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War The New Middle East: What Everyone Needs to Know (0:00) - Episode Introduction (6:24) - Traveling (10:14) - Framing the Israel-Palestine Conflict (16:24) - Identity and Nationalism (20:27) - The Legacy of the Ottoman Empire (34:12) - The Creation of Nations (38:39) - The Six Day War and it's Relevance (46:03) - The Water Wars & The Arab Spring (56:46) - Has the Arab Spring Run Dry? Tunisia as an Outlier (59:27) - Understanding Neoliberalism and its Emergent Effects (1:17:23) - Oslo Accords and Trump's Impact (1:41:05) - Land for Peace Formula, Israel's Policy of Deterrence (1:44:01) - Saudi Arabia's Diversification Efforts

Is math an invention or a discovery? Given how time works at the scale of a galaxy, can a civilization across the stars exist? In this episode's conversation, I chat with Alex Cruikshank to come up with some interesting answers to those two questions. Along with the surprising role creativity plays in math's inventive nature, and how we may be able to have a civilization that spans light years, but we may need a new type of time shaman to do so. Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Nature of Mathematics 10:36 The Debate: Discovery vs. Invention in Math 32:46 Creativity in Mathematics and Its Applications 34:46 Exploring String Theory and Its Challenges 36:16 Gravity and Interstellar Civilization 40:26 The Nature of Time and Its Perception 45:44 Curved Space-Time and Its Implications 49:08 The Philosophical Aspects of Time 52:35 Quantum Mechanics and Communication 59:28 The Feasibility of Interstellar Civilization

With the influx of AI running rapid across the internet, what is this going to do to it as a tool or cultural space? In this essay, I explore the concept of the 'Dead Internet Theory,' which posits that a significant portion of online content is generated by bots rather than humans. Is this valid? If so what are the implications on online interactions, trust in content, and the rise of AI-generated material, including deepfakes. Because if this is the case, we have difficulty discerning real from fake information and the potential for a future where trusted sources become increasingly valuable in navigating the digital landscape. Chapters (00:00) - Exploring Dead Internet Theory (03:28) - The Impact of Bots on Online Interaction (06:51) - Trust Issues in Online Reviews and Content (09:14) - The Rise of AI and Deepfakes (10:42) - The Future of Trusted Information Sources

Did you know there's a mammal that can dive a mile down the ocean to hunt giant and colossal squid? And that same mammal was hunted until the 1970's to extract the oil in their head for car transmissions? Well that creature is none other than the poorly named Sperm Whale, and the fascination with them goes much more than just that Hal Whitehead, a researcher of sperm whales, discusses their habitat, hunting abilities, communication, and culture. Sperm whales can be found in oceans worldwide, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. They are able to dive to great depths by closing down certain organs and conserving oxygen. The population of sperm whales has been affected by whaling, but there are concerns about their future due to factors like ocean warming. Sperm whales communicate using clicks, and their communication patterns can be quantified and analyzed. Different groups of sperm whales have distinct cultural behaviors and strategies for hunting. Also check out Hal's amazing TED talk, where he goes into his work and provides more detail on Sperm Whale Culture. Chapters (00:00) - The Mysteries of the Ocean ~ Intro Essay (02:54) - Sperm Whales: Anatomy and Habitat (03:40) - What makes Hal happy? (05:47) - Survival in the Depths (09:08) - Communication and Social Structure (12:06) - Cultural Differences Among Pods (14:47) - The Future of Sperm Whales (17:58) - The Ongoing Mystery of Sperm Whales

A new, ancient, creature was discovered! And even stranger than it having existed for so long without us knowing, is that it actually has another creature inside of it. Nitroplasts, what this episode's cover art shows, are tiny little bacteria that within them have another creature that provides all the nitrogen it needs to thrive way out in the ocean. In this episode, Tyler Coale, one of the researchers on the discovery of Nitroplasts, joins us to unpack what they are, how they were found and the potential future of nitrogen fixation research. Chapters (00:00) - The Importance of Nitrogen in Ecosystems ~ Intro Essay (04:16) - Understanding Endosymbiosis and Its Implications (08:51) - Nitrogen Fixation: The Key to Ocean Life (12:01) - The Discovery Journey of Nitroplasts (14:59) - The Role of Nitroplasts in Marine Ecosystems (17:54) - Implications of Nitroplast Research (21:03) - The Future of Nitrogen Fixation Research

An exploration into the unnoticed complexities of life, the impact of technology on our perceptions, and the paradox of reductionism in understanding the world. Observation and creation are two sides of the same coin, and what we need is a balance between the two to foster deeper understanding and wisdom. Chapters 00:00 The Unnoticed Depths of Life 02:56 The Impact of Technology on Perception 06:07 The Balance of Observation and Creation 08:06 Wisdom Through Observation

In this one we dive into the complexities surrounding the concept of cartels, particularly in the context of the drug trade. Do drug cartels in Latin America exist? In this interview we discuss how misconceptions about cartels have been shaped by narratives in media and government, leading to a distorted understanding of their economic realities and the implications of militarization in regions affected by drug violence. With me to unpack this idea, is journalist, professor, and author of “Cartels Do Not Exist, Narcotrafficking in US and Mexican Culture,” Oswaldo Zavala. Chapters (00:00) - Understanding the Complexity of Ideas ~ Intro Essay (05:40) - The Nature of Cartels: Definitions and Misconceptions (10:03) - The Narrative Device of Cartels (19:49) - The Economic Reality of Drug Organizations (29:48) - The Interplay of Violence and Militarization (40:15) - Challenging the Official Narrative on Drug Trafficking (43:39) - The Role of Media in Shaping Perceptions (46:52) - Violence, Assassinations, and the Drug Trade (51:08) - Historical Context of Drug Organizations and Violence (55:22) - The Impact of Militarization on Violence (01:01:04) - Extractive Industries and the Drug War (01:04:15) - Decriminalization and Its Implications (01:09:21) - Rethinking National Security and Drug Policy

Deep dive discussing Marshall McLuhan's idea of, "The medium is the message" with Dr. Aiden Hirshfield, Media Psychologist, Researcher, Tech Consultant and host of Media Psyched.

Korean farming techniques, why can't we remake the Midwest more like the land it was before, the amazing organisms trees eat with their roots, what defines regenerative agriculture, and a whole lot more get covered in this fun, fast-paced conversation. Reid Swenson, owner and founder of Edaphon Farm , joins in this conversation to talk shop about the mushrooms he grows, multiple regenerative techniques, the amazing wonders that plants are, and the fascinating "food pantry to Chicago" that was the Grand Kankakee Marsh before it was drained. Reid has an amazing outlook on how we can revive the Midwest using native plants, from bamboo, to paw paws, through building parks full of lush food. If you're interested in plants, farming, or just looking for a fun listen, go no further. (0:00) - Introduction and the impact of agriculture on the environment (4:01) - Mushrooms, plants, and farming techniques (8:23) - The connection between physical body and mind (17:23) - The complexity of information and the limitations of scientific thinking (26:25) - The concept of change and the constant evolution of life (37:43) - Sketching out dry ice contraptions for creamer (38:07) - Paths to living harmoniously with nature (39:25) - The complexities of veganism and organic farming (41:33) - The benefits of pasture-raised beef and personal health (46:05) - The unsustainability of current systems and the need for local culture (1:12:36) - Mycelium vs Fruiting Body (1:13:44) - Fascination with Permaculture (1:14:47) - Growing Mushrooms and Other Crops (1:17:27) - Keeping Soil Healthy (1:39:08) - The Need for Patience and Stewardship (1:46:59) - Expanding possibilities and keeping an open mind (1:47:26) - Working fast with mushrooms and the potential for adaptation (1:48:05) - Challenging societal narratives and potential for change (1:48:42) - Creating new possibilities in agriculture (1:49:58) - Working towards a better future and the importance of parenting

David Foster Wallace gave this commencement speech to the graduating class of 2005 at Kenyon College, which completely breaks the commencement speech genre, while hitting everything he's supposed to do. A moving, insightful and unblushingly spiritual in such a casual way as to not even realize until you're in the middle of it. Don't forget we're all just swimming out there

Prepare to jam out to a new favorite. Musician Chalk Dinosaur joins this podcast to talk inspiration, creative process, and much more. John O'Hallaran hails from Pittsburgh and is the main person behind Chalk Dinosaur, that interestingly enough will be played just as John in a solo act, with his brother Nick, or with a full piece band. John talks about what it's like playing between all those different permutations, how he can put out so much music across such a wide set of genres, and how exactly he does it. Check out this playlist I made with some of my favorite Chalk Dinosaur tracks.

Curious about jazz? Ever wonder how musicians can learn so many songs by heart? Or are you one looking to expand your skill set? John Elliot has some ideas you might find interesting. He's the author of Insights in Jazz , which lays out a roadmap to learn over 200 jazz standard songs, along with a podcast of the same name. In this episode I interview John about his Lego bricks methodology for breaking down jazz songs into their atomic parts. An idea he developed himself when trying to play more with other musicians. We also touch upon what is jazz, and the differences in the genre. (0:00) - Introduction (4:08) - Learning for a Lifetime (21:36) - The Book and Method (28:12) - Defining Jazz (33:47) - The Divide Between Popular Music and Academia (40:04) - Breaking Down a Song into Chunks and Bricks (48:28) - The Form and Structure of Jazz Songs (52:54) - Transcribing and Learning Jazz Songs (57:11) - The Importance of Boredom and Inspiration (1:02:47) - The Positive Side of Technology (1:06:14) - The Method of Learning Jazz (1:11:35) - The Importance of Finding Your Passion (1:18:02) - The Lingua Franca of Jazz: B-Bop (1:24:09) - The Fundamentals of Expression Image generated by MidJourney

We don't have enough time in a day, always putting our personal desires, goals, hobbies-- the places we get most fulfillment from, last. What if you could flip that though? What if you could find just 10 minutes a day to spark yourself down a whole new track. Learning that thing you've been meaning to for years, getting back in shape, finishing that painting, or just starting to read again. In this essay, I lend the idea that I've deployed to great success over the past several years, and invite you to find your own way. Image generated by MidJourney (0:00) - Build a better habit (4:19) - Setting Up the Space (6:19) - Being Disciplined (10:05) - The Power of 10 Minutes (14:14) - Making the Effort

We have a completely untapped resource in the U.S. that would help reduce emissions, decrease supply chain strain, not to mention reduce energy costs for many regions of the country. Why the U.S. can't tap into that, is the subject of the Jones Act. A century plus old piece of legislation that bans any ships operating within the U.S.' waterways that's not American built and crewed. In this episode, Cato Research Fellow Colin Grabow, joins me to give a refresher on the state of the law along with some very interesting case studies showing what life could be like without it. Spoiler alert, it'd be a lot better without it. If you'd like to check out the other episodes with Colin, one that explains the Jones Act in more detail as well as the starting of it, and another that dives deep into the U.S.' very own sugar cartel, which fixes and orchestrates the production of sugar in the states. Image generated by MidJourney (0:00) - Introduction (8:03) - The Jones Act and its Impact (10:40) - The Great Lakes and Canadian Fleet (14:39) - Missed Opportunities and Environmental Implications (25:18) - Impact on Energy Supply & the Environment (30:56) - The Impact on Puerto Rico (34:03) - The Damaging Aspect of the US Built Requirement (38:48) - The Cost of Building New Ships in the United States (1:02:30) - The impact of the Jones Act on the shipbuilding industry (1:05:46) - Creative Ways to Improve the Jones Act (1:09:29) - State of Play with the Jones Act

A hot discussion on web3, what it is, how it can be implemented, and all the conundrums between. This is a first for the series, as we have a discussion with previous guests, Josh founder of web3 travel platform stay365 & Dr. Yusef Smith, M.D. and founder of Propane Fitness. Dive in to hear us talk about... what is web1, 2, and 3... let's not repeat the sins of previous waves on the web with this one... complexity v technology and how nature fights back... how centralized systems are more fragile, but more efficient, vs decentralized which is linear in growth but modular and more nimble... what would health insurance look like on chain, how would we be able to incentive health behaviors... token based voting, DAOs, electoral systems and hacking them... difficulties with putting everything on chain... how web3 is a Trojan Horse in more ways than one... lastly, giving some tips to live more decentralized. Image generated with Stable Diffusion, prompt: futuristic city skyline over water made of a blockchain ultra realistic digital art in the style of van gogh

This episode is an abridged version of the rise and embrace of Christianity into western society, and government with returning guest Associate Professor of History at The King's College in New York City Steele Brand Starting near Christianity's inception, Steele walks us right into the middle ages, where he lays out what religion and government was like in the ancient world... how Christianity got started as a movement.. the virtues and ways of life and thinking it added to our collective sense of morality... how the followers of it evolved their own community into a religion and ultimately, into the government... or outside of it... while this may seem abstract at first glance, i think you'll hear many quakes of the history and ideas through into today. episode artwork generated from Dall-E with prompt: a sunny lush thriving with people futuristic city with ancient roman styling and a christian church ultra realistic digital art

my interview with Dr. Ryan Westrum, therapist and on the front-line of integrating psychedelic experiences with individual's realities. we talk about individuals he's helped and what they've integrated from their psychedelic experiences... the dangers of psychedelics as well as the benefits... what an individual's responsibility is when diving into these drugs for healing or recreation... along with a lot of deep concepts as to reality itself, our place within it, and much, more. Enjoy!

In this essay I'm trying something new, since this is neither my essay, nor my reading of it. I was inspired to post this after recording episode 44 with Tom Bennet and after hearing his story, it reminded me of the ideas within Self-Reliance. So I went looking for an audiobook of it, inspired to search Spotify, when I found what you're about to hear. I reached out to Adam and asked if I could post it on my pod, which he graciously said yes. Adam also has two more episodes in his feed on this essay, one which is his modern translation of it that I also suggest. With that I'll let Adam take over from here, thank you for listening, hope you enjoy this reading and that it sparks some inspiration. Adam Bomb ~ Self-Reliance Translated Image generated from Dall-E, Prompt: portrait of ralph waldo Emerson in the style of cyberpunk

my interview with Felipe Fernández-Armesto where we talk about... the role food has on our culture... a view on how to better understand the past... the reality of Magellan you've probably never heard, including his criminality and altering of his legacy, partially from the way he died... how to wrestle with false stories playing with true bits to suit someone's agenda... a paradox of our time, is how technology gives us a faster ability to connect, but furthers us from understanding one another... before ending on some ideas from the most distant past to view out to the coming future... this one is as chalk full of hits. Image generated with Dall-e, prompt: an astronaut reading a book in a fancy spanish library behind them digital art in the style of van gogh

Want to know the current state of the fentanyl crisis in the US and how we got here?... there's been a rapid rise in overdoses, what's causing it?... what is fentanyl and how is it getting into illegal drugs?... along with a thought on how we can cut down our overdoses to a third of what they are now, through a strong dose of American pragmatism. Episode artwork, Dall-E, prompt: DALL·E 2023-02-15 21.32.59 - a map of the united states made out of pills with the eagle seal of the united states in the style of a still life painting

my interview with Tom Bennett, owner of Bennett's Farms, where he explains what regenerative agriculture is... his journey to starting it... how regenerative ag needs less input compared to factory farming, less overhead and thus, less barrier to entry... leasing farm land vs buying it... how fast the land will quickly re-wild if we allow it to, and a whole lot of inspiring anecdotes between. If you want to purchase from him, or check out his happy hogs, visit his site here ~ https://www.bennettfarmsmichigan.com/products Image generated from Dall-e, prompt: a happy chicken on top of a happy pig in Michigan with a prairie digital art hyper realistic

In this conversation I'm joined by a friend of mine Richard Crazythunder to talk all things Christianity, Jesus, religion, philosophy and what utilities all of those ancient ideas have for living in a modern society of silicone. We touch upon the complexity of our time, and the false security that we crafted in which we say we're a higher order species, yet are unable to handle nuclear weapons, let alone the issues we're ignoring that plastics or pesticides are doing to the earth. While touching upon Shakespeare, Epicureanism and the misunderstanding of what it really prescribes, the teachings of Jesus and how to escape our suffering by way of reaching up for something larger than ourselves. This episode pairs quite nicely with an episode later in this season with returning guest Professor Steel Brand, in which he explains the connection between Christianity and state government. Image ~ Stable Diffusion 2 Prompt: futuristic Christianity in modern rome ultra realistic digital art

the following essay is nothing original, but everything we need that's essential to thrive now, and long into the future. both as individuals, and a species. because to think, plan and create a thriving existence a thousands years from now, it doesn't start with government programs, rapid industrialization or elon musk. but with each of us individually, in our own heads and right now, continuously, forever. artwork from Dall-E prompt: a mountain village thriving inside a silhouette of a brain digital art in the style of art deco psychedelic

This episode is a conversation with repeat guest Dr Yusef Smith M.D. on how to maintain peak health with a simple program anyone can do... how difficult it is to be a doctor these days with social media and an information war on what is healthy... musings on how gatekeepers are losing their grip on authority to an algorithm, and people are leveraging that to get in the game... how everyone is a body builder we just don't know it.. how incredibly difficult it is to hide from sugar in the states, with many, many other things between. Dr Yusef Smith ~ @PropaneFitness ~ https://propanefitness.com/ Image generated with Stable Diffusion 2 ~ Prompt: ultra realistic digital art futuristic Hercules on a mountain fighting a hydra algorithm

On December 4th 1969, a 21 year old man was assassinated by the status quo, because the powers that be wanted him gone in order to, 'prevent the rise of a messiah who could unify, and electrify, the black nationalist movement.' That man was Fred Hampton, and the status quo, was the Chicago Police Department working on behalf of a covert program called COINTELPRO. That program is an abbreviation for counter-intelligence-program, was conducted by the FBI to initially monitor and pressure leaders of American political organizations to coerce compliance, then later assassinate those they deemed threats. Most notably assassinating who they labeled Black Nationalists. That's the factual history, and this this interview serves as an abridged version of the definitive book cataloging the history of one individual murdered during this program, titled, "The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther" ( link below ). This interview is with the author Jeffrey Haas, an attorney and activist, who defended Fred Hampton and sought to get him justice, while along the way, uncovering COINTELPRO's involvement in the raid that murdered Fred Hampton. https://www.amazon.com/Assassination-Fred-Hampton-Chicago-Murdered/dp/1569767092

this interview, beyond trying to capture a truly mind-bending reality about the world we live in, gives a glimpse into the elephant in the brain stuck at the center of our scientific community. the assumption that we know all there is to know about water, how it forms on our planet or how it's used in our cells to power life. those are the norms my guest Dr. Gerald Pollack has smashed with the help of his team, in the discovery of an additional phase of water past solid [ ice ], liquid [ water ] or gas [ steam ]. turns out there's a fourth phase called structured water, that's a gel like compound that forms in hexagon shape. for the first part of the interview, Dr. Pollack tells me what makes him the most happy, which leads whether fittingly into a sneak peak behind the curtain into how the highest of the high level science is done before going into what is structured water, how does it behave and what does that teach us about the world? then wrapping up talking about the health properties of structured water and some of the amazing research being done, to say nothing of the paradigm shifting engineering potential to be done https://www.pollacklab.org/

JW is one of the founders of stay365, a website looking to take on airBnB with web3; where users own their data, and where stay365 takes the first crack at setting the standard smart contract for the rental and travel industry. I found stay365 from JW's brilliant twitter marketing strategy, turns out has something to do with him starting the company as well, which we get into. As well as what stay365 is and is looking to do, the promise of web3, what it's like buliding with it and if stay365 is truly a web3 platform yet, before going deep in the second half about economics, politics and of course, what we are as a species. Stay365 is having a token sale starting on the 29th for all those interested, and you can check out their whitepaper and everything about them at stay365.com

my guest for this conversation i found from an incredibly insightful twitter thread about the healthcare system in the UK, and was a delight to talk to live. over the course of the conversation we hit on how life is a series of sisyphean efforts, who can we trust at this point online, the media in all it's various forms, before ending on the existential threat of what is in our environment playing at our bodies; I promise you, it's a lot more fun than it sounds. If you're looking for a knowledgeable way to get fit, and not just physically but mentally, be more productive and feel great, i encourage you to check out Yusef and his partner Jonny at propanefitness.com you can find all about them there, as well as Yusef's twitter, where he's always posting something great.

For this episode, you'll hear the second part of my conversation with returning guest Rowan Price, we go deep on all things web3, centering mostly on another great podcast episode from Tim Ferriss' show, where he's talking with Naval Ravikant and Chris Dixon ( link below ). As we talk, we go back and forth on a few things. Rowan, an alumnus of the early stages of the .com boom & bust, has a really novel perspective on the revolutionary movement in web3. we talk about everything from what can be built on web3, what NFTs are, smart contracts, why these are novel advancements, that are way bigger than just the headlines of some shitty jpeg fetching millions at auction. before sliding into a concept that Rowan presents, on how web3 is really a trojan horse for legacy companies to give legitimacy to the movement, while en essence, sowing the seeds of their very destruction. while somewhere in the middle, Rowan asks me if I think that web3 will make the rich richer, or if it brings opportunity to the less fortunate, and why everyone should switch to Brave browser not only for it's native web3 features, but lack of surveillance. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3U4wMKyvMUhB83qf8FaA3I?si=96ad4a50ebae4a88

this conversation covers a healthy amount of ground, and unintentionally dovetails quite well with the previous episode on the Chinese government's external propaganda. it's with returning guest, Rowan Price. Rowan is an internet nomad, currently living in the EU and is a wealth of knowledge in everything modern history, literature, politics and much much more. some might remember him, from episode two, where I interview him about his experience living and working near the world trade center in 2001. in this installment though, we start off chatting about consciousness, after Rowan plays some linguistic judo with my typical question to guests and their happiness. after playing around with what is or is not a summation of who you are as a being, we cover establishment media propaganda and narratives that emerge in times of crisis. dive a bit into the Romans, and the propaganda brilliance of Julius Cesar, by way of Pax Americana as a means of american imperialism. before talking about modern nation states, the rise of corporations and ending on a cliffhanger only initiating a conversation about web3 when i unfortunately had to cut the conversation short. but! don't be worried, there will be a second installment coming very soon. Enjoy!

In this episode, we will be talking about China's propaganda externally, how the Chinese Communist Party weaponizes access to their economy to police it abroad. As well as, how they masterfully create wire services to push stories they want out in the world, use what they make in their factories or movie studios to shape how people think about the country, or it's territories, and perhaps more shocking still, is smart ways to reduce the conversation, or shift it completely, when faced with the very real, and very drastic human right crimes occurring inside China. My guest for this interview is Dr. Alexander Dukalskis, associate professor at the University College Dublin, and an expert in Chinese propaganda.

In this episode, we talk about how the Great Recession motivated a ghost to develop the next metamorphosis in finance, the web, and ground truth. With so much going on in the world, so much content to consume, it's easier than ever to miss major changes that are re-writing the foundations of what powers our civilization; money & information technology. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Merav Ozair of Rutgers Business school. Dr. Ozair is a global leading expert on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, with a background in data scientist and quat strategy. In what I hope becomes a reoccurring guest on a truly massive subject, we scratch the surface on what is blockchain, bitcoin vs crypto and the promise the tech can bring. With a whole lot of healthy debate in between, this one is as fast as it is dense. I encourage you to check out Dr. Ozair's many articles she's published on the subject, to go much deeper on the tech, finance innovation, regulation and the promise vs what we're getting currently.

This episode was a delight for me, not only for the company I had for this conversation, but that it was able to be recorded in person. A luxury I rarely have for this show. Having moved back to the Midwest, i was able to take my guest up on an offer to visit them when they're teaching at Notre Dame, and be able to spend an afternoon chatting with one of the best historians of our day, who would likely have to go back to Will Durant to find another such historian with quite the breath and depth as him. This is for the uninitiated, a second appearance for Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, the author of wildly popular books such as Civilizations and Millennium, both of which cover nearly the entire span of human history. And two others which rank among my favorites of his, Amerigo, the man who gave his name to america, and Humankind, a brief story of us. A book that I'm dying to find on audiobook he wrote titles Out of our minds: what we think and how we came to think it. As well as an upcoming book on Magellan. I cited it in our last interview for episode 008, he has an unbelievable amount of writing under his authorship, and I'm not just saying this because he's been so kind as to take time to talk with me, but his writing is as delightfully enlightening as it is entertainingly written. Take Humankind for example, which I read a portion of during this conversation. It's a short read, but is so dense with information about how we take for granted what we now pass off as quote, "human nature", or even "humane". Felipe points out that not that long ago we were categorizing other members of our species as sub-human, or other-than-human. And how we should now come to grips with genetics and technology, before the very soon-to-come questions about what is or isn't a human that's developed in a lab, or chosen to have certain attributes or genes. Or another point that when I read it I about screamed out of my seat, as it's something I think about daily. How in spite all of our collective advancements, technology, abundance, freedom from toil-- has on the individual level brought us backwards, and as it continues with ever evolving technology can bring us to a near reptillian state. Not, as wise as our title sapien is chosen to convey. So then what is a human? What makes us different than any other animal? Or even just speaking socially, what makes this new revolution of ideas different than the social and economic order that proceeded it? This, along with what does it really mean to have choice, or freedom, are some of the points our conversation takes us. Thank you to Felipe, for hosting me at his house one fall afternoon, and thank you to those listening. I hope you enjoy.

For this installment, I asked a previous guest at the University of Leicester to come back on and talk more about the programming tools he uses, and ways he uses them for his analysis of satellite data to track climate change. There are parts of this episode that get a bit technical, even with that fair warning, I encourage the less technical of my listeners out there to give it a go. Because through this step by step walkthrough of how Dr. Balzter does his work, you'll get a front-row seat to some really amazing things that are being done to better understand climate change's effects, and what steps are being taken to combat it. And, well, if this technical portion proves to be maddening, skip past a bit because Dr. Balzter, Director of the Centre for Landscape and Climate Research at the University of Leicester, brings me out of the technical forest and ends the chat talking about some of the most beautiful areas to view from the heavens above. He even goes into where he enjoys watching the weather, with some great stories along the way.

In this episode I'm joined by returning guest, professor of theology at Emory University, Dr. Dianne Stewart. We talk about one of my favorite thoughts, if Jesus was Christ, along with questions if social media movements could be a religion, where do we go as beings as we further march down the technological path we're set on, to say nothing of how to adapt to it now, and end with discussing how can we as people transcend it all?

In this episode NASA Scientists Dr. Norman Loeb, spends time explaining the means and mechanisms scientists have to understand climate data, what he's been working on as it relates to the earth trapping more heat and how that translates to our planet in the coming century.

Listen to Alson Kelen in this episode talk about how teaching ancient skills helps root people in today's world. Even if they're starting down a bad path. How building a connection to their ancestors, helps them get better connected with themselves. What they're capable of, and a sense of community they can always come back to. With loads of wisdom for us today and how we can contend with climate change. Listen to my talk with the head of the Marshall Islands Nuclear commission Rhea Moss-Christian, and her colleague and head of the Canoes of the Marshall islands, Alson Kelen.

This episode I interview my friend Rowan about his experience living and working, just a few blocks away from the Twin Towers on September 11th, 2001. Rowan talks about the lasting effect that day had on his life, the trauma of living through that moment and a whole lot of perspective along the way. [ note: this is the interview only of the podcast, for the full discussion check the feed ] Guest: Rowan Price www.rowanprice.com/

How would an industry react if there was such an artificial control on where something could be made? Well look no further than this episode and America's domestic shipping industry, more specifically the Jones Act, that mandates all ships being used to transport goods domestically in the US, be built in America and operated by mostly Americans. What the reasoning was when this Act was put in place, and how far the US has fallen since the industrial revolution in ship building globally, set the stage for the modern pushback and general lazy obedience to the status quo argument and political will. As my returning guest Colin Grabow policy analyst at The Cato Institute details, forcing ships to be built in America only, breeds a lack of specialization for the US' ship yards, which then means a lack of efficiency and lack of standardization, resulting in lower quality ships and higher costs. Listen in to learn what the Jones Act is, and why we should seriously be considering it's repeal.

Dan Grec, has gone fully up and down the length of North America, and completely around the whole of the continent of Africa. He's now in Australia planning for his next adventure rounding the whole country. We talk about how Dan got started on his adventures, some stories of his time in Africa, where the most memorable parts of his time has been, and some deep philosophical dives about life and living along the way.

Each time I’ve talked with him, Ron Goode, the Tribal Chair of the North Fork Mono Tribe, he deposits wide chunks of previously unknown history and wisdom. In this exchange, little has changed, with the exception of us driving out of the known, and into the mystic, unexplainable, yet real. Ron in this episode riffs with me on the type of philosophy abundant in America today, what better ways there are to think about tending a forest, issuing better hunting tags, stories from his childhood, before ending on a truth about our time. If you ever have time, I encourage you to join or donate to one of the cultural burns that Ron puts on. He’s a wellspring of knowledge and I truly hope those who are in charge of managing our lands start to listen to his words, instead of merely hearing them.

As more people itch to travel from a year spent with Covid, and 10 years past the time a dirt road took claim to the skin off my knee, I reflect back on what I wrote about the experience backpacking through the Philippines.