The Common Counterpart

Mark and Josh discuss the recent Mens World Cup in Qatar.  From the allegations of bribery and human rights violations, to the logistics and calendar move of the world's biggest soccer event, no stone is left unturned.  Wisdom of the week from former Fifa president Sepp Blatter, "We cannot constantly supervise everybody that is in football...That is impossible."  Thanks to everyone who supported the podcast this year.  The boys will be back in 2023.  Happy Holidays!   Follow us on IG @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark take a look at one of the most interesting city planning experiments taking place in Saudi Arabia, "The Line".  One part of this larger project called NEOM has a completely linear city stretching over 100 miles in the middle of the desert.  With the goal of zero carbon footprint, a city with no cars and full renewable energy, it is something out of a science fiction book.  Wisdom of the Week from John Winthrop, "We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us."   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart 

Mark and Josh sit down to discuss the new study out of UCLA that predicts a Megaflood will be the next big natural disaster in California.  Josh thinks its just the next cog in the propaganda machine for climate change, while Mark says he will go down with this sinking ship.  APHUG & APES come together once again.  Wisdom of the Week from Douglas Adams, "The single raindrop never feels responsible for the flood."   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark take a look at the future of fashion and how AI/tracking fit in.  Trying to become more sustainable, companies are looking to track every article of clothing from start to finish to provide transparency to their customers.  Josh debates the merit of letting companies mine more data, while Mark is all in as long as he gets to pick his wardrobe.  Wisdom of the week comes from R. Buckminster Fuller, "Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark continue their series on the forgotten by looking at one of Henry Ford's biggest failures, Fordlandia.  With a desire to control the automobile market, he was looking for a creative solution to the ever-rising cost of rubber.  Located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Ford tried to create a utopia of capitalism and his way of life.  From the tough environment to the clashing of the workers, this failed experiment was dead from the moment it was dreamt.  Listen in to see what happened, and what it is now.  Wisdom of the week from Henry Ford.  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark are back to their series on the forgotten; this time focusing their attention on the bicycle graveyards in China.  These sometimes beautiful works of art from the sky are actually hundreds of thousand discarded bikes.  The boys talk about ride-share products and the cost/benefit to them all, and finish with the environmental concerns that these massive bike graveyards create.  Wisdom of the Week from former US president JFK, "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram for images from this episode @TheCommonCounterpart

The guys were lucky enough to go see Jordan Peterson speak a few weeks ago in Fresno, CA.  They try to unpack the enigma that is this polarizing figure and recap his lecture.  From art and Elon Musk, to Christianity and gender pronouns, this episode covers a lot.  Wisdom of the Week from the man himself, Jordan Peterson, "When you have something to say, silence is a lie."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart 

Episode 40 takes a closer look at the garment disposal site in the Atacama Desert.  This duty free trash site is home to over 40,000 tons of clothing, both used and new.  The boys take a deeper dive into why this location in Chile was chosen for this, and what the environmental implications are.  Wisdom of the Week from Mahatma Gandhi "There is no beuty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart 

Josh and Mark finally weigh in on their thoughts about the Russia-Ukraine situation.  From history to news media propaganda, the guys try to sift their way through whats real and whats not.  They also touch on the passing of Foo Fighter's drummer Taylor Hawkins and the Oscar's controversy involving Will Smith and Chris Rock.  Wisdom of the Week from Herbert Hoover, "Older men declare war.  But it is the youth that must fight and die." APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart 

Josh and Mark continue their series on "The Forgotten", this time focusing on the cruise ship industry.  This is an industry that no doubt has taken some heat and been under scrutiny since the pandemic began, but what happens to these beasts of metal and material when their life is over?  Where do they end up?  Who is responsible for dismantling them?  The boys answer all these questions and more.  Wisdom of the Week from Grace Hopper "A ship in port is safe, but that is not what the ships are built for."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart for images that accompany each episode.

Mark & Josh are back with another installment of their series "The Forgotten".  This time focusing on the space trash can known as Point Nemo.  Considered to be the furthest spot from humanity on earth, this section of ocean located in the middle of the Pacific is the perfect spot to crash space equipment that is no longer needed.  Wisdom of the Week from Annie Leonard "There is no such thing as 'away'.  When you throw anything away, it must go somewhere."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark continue their series on "The Forgotten" this week by looking at olympic venues around the world.  With opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics starting this week, what a perfect time to analyze the complex and destructive world of olympic facilities.  From under-budgeting to pulling back the curtain on human rights violations and terrible city infrastructure, the guys leave no stone unturned.  Wisdom of the Week from Admiral Grace Hopper, "The most damaging phrase in the language is "We've always done it this way."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark are back for 2022!  They open up the season with a new mini series called "The Forgotten".  The focus will be on things that exist in this world that most people dont know about, or think about.  The first episode in the series focuses on airplane boneyards.  These exist all over the world, but some of the largest are in California.  The duo tackle tough questions about long-term risks and the economics of the air industry.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  Wisdom of the week from Bill Nye, "To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people's trash."   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark wrap up 2021 and a year of podcasting.  Mark's gift to Josh is a 5 minute rant on any topic he wants and has never seen him more exciting.  Josh tries to predict what 2022 will look like and both share their favorite episodes of the year.  Thanks to all for coming along for the ride this year.  Looking forward to a great 2022.  Happy holidays!  Wisdom of the week from Malcolm Gladwell, "The older I get the more I understand that the only way to say valuable things is to lose your fear of being correct."   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

The boys pick up where they left off discussing Weinstein's newest book "A 21st Century Hunter-Gatherer's Guide".  They dive deep into the idea of slowing down and are reminded to not always chase the next latest and greatest.  From food and medicine, to unsupervised play and evolution, no stone left is left unturned.  Wisdom of the Week from Bret Weinstein "The boundaries of the evolutionary environment do not stop at the markets edge."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark break down the newest release from Bret Weinstein and his wife Heather Heying.  From an evolutionary biologist perspective, these two tackle all sorts of topics that are applicable to modern day life.  This book was so dense that the boys will require two episodes to get through it.  Wisdom of the Week from Franz Kafka "Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable."  APES & APHUG come together once again.     Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark & Josh finish their two part episode on the beef industry.  From environmental problems to supermarket branding, they expose the not so innocent way food goes from the cow to our mouths.  Wisdom of the Week from a Spanish proverb "The belly rules the mind."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart for exclusive content

Josh and Mark examine the beef industry in the United States.  From its origins to the current state of the industry, they try to get to the bottom of who is making the money and what the future holds.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  Wisdom of the week from an unknown source, "I did not claw my way up the food chain to just eat vegetables. "   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark continue their conversation about the internet and its impact on the lives of people around the world.  From Mr. Coffee to the newest Wi-Fi enabled oven, technology is supposed to ease our lives, but at what cost?  The boys give their take and share concerns for the future.  APES & APHUG back at it again.  Wisdom of the Week from Christian Lous Lange, "Technology is a useful tool but a dangerous master."   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark break down the actual physical internet.  In the first of a multi-part series, they give the basics of how internet cables are distributed around the world.  Next episode will focus on the materials and environmental concerns of these cables.  Words of wisdom this week from Andrew Brown, "The internet is so big, so powerful and is pointless that for some reason it is a complete substitute for life."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Fueled by Josh's recent trip to the island, the boys discuss all things Hawaii.  From the commercialism of the "Hawaiian Way" to how covid impacted the people and the land, it might make you second guess that trip you have planned.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  Words of Wisdom provided By Stitch "Ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind."   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Were back from vacation!  Josh and Mark recap their trips, talk highs and lows, and do some Q&A.  You get an inside look into their past and their fears, and Mark absolutely fails at being a host and cant even answer his own question.  Listen to his downfall on the latest episode and take home these words of wisdom of Confucius, "The man asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark and Josh finish their mini series on China.  Episode 25 focuses on the current geopolitical influence that China has on the developing world.  Their strategy is not much different that the historical approach that the United States took, but many are nervous at the possible outcome of it.  Josh is doom and gloom about the whole thing, while Mark loves watching the real world Risk game take shape.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  Wisdom of the week by Confucius, "If your plan is for one year, plant rice.  If your plan is for 10 years, plant trees.  If your plan is for 100 years, educate children."   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark continue the three part series on China.  Episode 24 focuses on the history of China and more specifically the impact of the Silk Road.  It was the trade routes that connected Europe and Africa to Asia, and changed the world forever.  It also helps to understand what the Chinese are currently working on, which will be the topic of next week's episode.  Wisdom of the Week from Confucius, "roads are made for journeys, not destinations."    Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark start a 3 part series on China and its current global influence.  This episode serves as the intro as well as raises the question about why people get nervous when discussing China or its policies.  Wisdom of the Week comes from Napoleon Bonaparte, "Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world."  APES and APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark and Josh finish their discussion on burial practices and death.  From Hart Island in NY to Colma, CA; there are some interesting histories of burials right here in the United States.  They also discuss what they learned from last weeks episode, and tease where they are headed next week.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  Wisdom of the Week by Chuck Palahniuk, "We all die.  The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will."   Follow us on instagram for exclusive photos from the episode @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark sit down to discuss death.....or rather what to do with the dead.  From cultural tradition to the logistics of a decaying body, this two-part series looks at some interesting stories about the grave.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  Wisdom of the week provided by Mark Twain who said, "The fear of death follows of the fear of life.  A man who has lives fully is prepared to die at any time."   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content and stories @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark and Josh do a Q&A to give insight into their lives.  From footwear to actors, nothing is off limits in this intimate get to know the host episode.  Hope you all enjoy.  Wisdom of the week from Aristotle, "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."  APES & APHUG come together once again.    Follow us on instagram for episode announcements and exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart.

Mark and Josh finish their discussion of the "California Experiment" and what the water issues mean for the future.  From changing the common look of lawns, to the Toilet to Tap initiative, those who can get in front of the bubble before it bursts will come out winners.  Wisdom of the week comes from Jordan Peterson, "What's the price you pay for a high standard of living?  well, that's easy.  You virtually always sacrifice the present for the future."  APES & APHUG come together once again.     Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark kick off the summer talking about water in California.  This will be a two-part episode as they try to get people to understand how unique the "California Experiment" is and how it could easily fall apart, leaving the world's 5th largest economy to fail.  Josh explains the physical science of where the water in CA comes from, while Mark focuses more on the human-environment interaction and what we have done to the land.  Next week the boys will focus on water problems as well as creative solutions that are currently in the pipeline, no pun intended.  APES & AHUG come together once again.  Wisdom of the Week from Will Rogers "The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn't still be a farmer."   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content and videos @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark recap 2021 so far and talk about some of their favorite episodes, while hinting towards future episodes.  The last week of the school year has them both on burnout mode, but they still find the energy to argue with each other.  Sometimes its worth stepping back and keeping it light.  Wisdom of the week comes from Jordan Peterson "Tell the truth, or at least don't lie."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark and Josh discuss urban farming and food deserts.  Turning unused space into productive land for food and community is the goal of urban farming, and comes as a necessity in areas where fresh food is not readily available or affordable.  Mark claims to want community but doesnt want people involved, and Josh thinks about starting his own garden.  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Wisdom of the week from Booker T. Washington "No race can prosper till it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem."   follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark recap the farmer protest in India over the new legislation that will essentially ruin the livelihood of the small farmer.  Over 250 million people took to the streets with tractors trucks to block the interstate leading in and out of the capital.  With enough rations to last up to 6 months, they are fully prepared to wait this thing out.  Mark calls it growing pains of development, and Josh gives a look at what the Green Revolution did to crops worldwide.  Wisdom of the week comes from Gandhi and his Seven Social Sins: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Religion without sacrifice, Politics without principle.  APES & APHUG come together once again.    Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh & Mark discuss the lumber industry during the pandemic and Covid-19.  From every aspect of the supply chain, the price of lumber has skyrocketed and people are stuck paying the price.  Josh leaves his tinfoil hat on a little too long and Mark doesn't think theres only one person to blame, but everyone is responsible for the solution.  Wisdom of the week comes from George Orwell, "In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act."  APES & APHUG come together once again.   Follow us on instagram for exclusive photos and content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark start a two-part episode on the lumber....or timber? industry.  Something that goes invisible to most people but is a crucial aspect of life in the 21st century.  From building materials to common household products, we are nothing without trees.  In Part 1 they dig deep into the history of lumber as well as provide background info for next week's episode where they focus on the pandemic and the lumber shortage.  Mark celebrates a birthday and Josh warns that the tin foil sombrero will be coming out next episode.  Wisdom of the Week "We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality." - Ayn Rand.  APES and APHUG come together once again.   for visuals from the episode and other exclusive content, follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark discuss the pirate life in the 21st century.  From Somalia to the West African coast, pirates still exist and it is a bigger problem that people realize.  They discuss creative solutions to the issue, and also connect previous episodes to prove once again that nothing happens independently in this world.  Wisdom of the week comes from Brownell Landrum "A thief might steal from anyone.  Why he's stealing from you is what you need to understand."  APES & AHUG coming together once again.  Thanks for listening Commoners!   Follow us on instagram for exclusive content @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark and Josh recap the Ever Given event in the Suez Canal and expand into choke points and their significance in global trade.  The boys talk oil and cargo, and the vastness of the oceans.  Wisdom of the week coming from Beyonce "The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective...it humbles you".  APES & APHUG come together once again.   follow us on instagram for exclusive images and additional material @TheCommonCounterpart 

Josh and Mark discuss the plastics in the ocean and the hype around the new documentary on Netflix "Seaspiracy".  The boys try to bring some truth to light and have an honest conversation about the future of our oceans and the issues we are currently facing.  APES & APHUG come together once again.  S/O as always to "The Commoners" for rocking with us every week.    Wisdom of the Week: "The sea finds out everything you did wrong." - Francis Stokes   Follow us on instagram for visuals and additional content @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark get back in the groove of work and the pod with a fun Q&A session.  Thanks to all the fans and followers for submitting questions.  We had a silly time and will definitely be doing this again.  Although not serious, APHUG & APES coming together.  Wisdom of the week "Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. - Voltaire".    Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark sit down to discuss the history and significance of the Amazon Rainforest.  How deforestation and ranching have drastically reduced the area, and what Josh would do if he was president of the country.  Wisdom of the week comes from a Native American proverb, "We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."  APHUG & APES come together once again.   Follow us on instagram for visuals that accompany each episode @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark and Josh intro a two-part series on South America.  They discuss the physical geography, the colonization that transformed the continent, and some reasons why they haven't had the development and infrastructural growth that they would have hoped.  They will continue this discussion next week as they focus on all things Amazon Rainforest.  APES & APHUG come together again.     The quote of the week comes from E. O. Wilson, "Destroying the rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal."   For additional content on each episode follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark discuss the decline in marriage in some parts of the world today.  Why the youth of today are choosing themselves and their ambitions over starting a family.  Josh's old man comes out as he quickly realizes that he comes from the best generation, and Mark calls out a warning to countries in Stage 5 of the demographic transition model and what it could mean for the future.  APES & APHUG come together again.   Wisdom of the Week: "Too many young folk have addiction to superficial things and not enough conviction for substantial things like justice, truth, and love." - Cornel West   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark sit down and discuss the exciting future for Africa.  From infrastructure to agriculture, its innovation as far as the eye can see.  Mark tries to think of all songs about Africa and Josh reveals his conspiracy theory about non-profits.  AP Human Geography & AP Environmental Geography come together nicely on this episode.  Thanks for supporting!   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart 

Mark and Josh discuss a recent litigation battle between former child cacao workers and big time chocolate companies, and paint the current landscape of Africa to set up next week's episode of Africa on the Rise.  Wisdom of the week: "If you are silent about your pain, They'll kill you and say you enjoyed it." - Zora Neale Hurston   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart #APHUG & #APES

Josh and Mark continue down the road of the haves vs. the have-nots.  The lens this week is through the cacao plantations in Ecuador and West Africa.  The dark history & present reality is enough to make you think twice about supporting big chocolate.  Words of wisdom come from Admiral Grace Hopper, "The most dangerous phrase in the language is "We've always done it this way".   Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Josh and Mark begin a conversation about the haves and the have nots in the world.  What's necessary to win the Geography or Environmental lotto?  How should we approach the inequality amongst peoples and countries around the world?  This episode serves as the jumping off point for our discussion on levels of development.     Follow us on instagram @TheCommonCounterpart

Mark & Josh discuss what makes teaching their subjects so great, and they discuss the epiphany that led them to change directions in terms of the podcast.  A new brand and a new direction has them both excited for 2021.