Shows
"Moment of Zen"Why Urban Centers Outlast Empires | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore cities as civilization's most enduring institutions, examining their political dynamics, technological evolution, and role as interfaces between competing social forces and power structures.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-08-0951 min
Public Service PodcastSamo Burja - Live Players and Institutional ReformSamo is an institutional theorist, the founder of Bismarck Analysis, and the editor of Palladium Magazine. We discuss why our political agreements are 80 years out of date, and how Estonia provides the same standard of public services at half the cost.Full transcript with reference links and notes available here:https://alethios.substack.com/p/samo-burja-live-players-and-institutional
2025-08-051h 22"Moment of Zen"Why China and America are Creating the Same Ruling Class | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore how China's elite universities are creating a ruling class similar to America's, with student activism and credentialism reshaping both nations' power structures.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-07-2656 min"Moment of Zen"Hardware Wars | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore AI hardware dominance, US-China semiconductor competition, automation's economic impacts, and strategic industrial policy for maintaining technological leadership.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-07-1955 min"Moment of Zen"Singapore: The City-State Strategy That Worked | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine Singapore's transformation from poor post-colonial state to wealthy financial hub through Lee Kuan Yew's strategic governance, geopolitical balancing, and prioritizing economic efficiency over individual freedoms.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-07-1259 min
Arjun Khemani PodcastSamo Burja: Building an Immortal SocietyMy conversation with Samo Burja, founder of Bismarck Analysis. He chairs the editorial board of Palladium Magazine.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:18 - Live players5:41 - Great Founder Theory11:20 - Our material technology rests on our social interactions14:23 - Optimism, pessimism, and human...
2025-07-1158 min
The Jim Rutt ShowEP 310 Samo Burja on Anduril's Plan to Modernize the US MilitaryJim talks with Samo Burja about his report on the defense startup Anduril's plan to modernize the U.S. military. They discuss "live players vs. dead players," AI adoption & cognitive tools, Anduril's background & naming origin, military technology modernization, software-defined conflicts, autonomous & software-enabled weapons, sensor deployment & data collection, the Lattice software platform, hardware offerings including drone & underwater vehicle acquisitions, surface naval warfare obsolescence, military industrial capacity, US vs. China manufacturing capabilities, personnel-to-weapon system ratios, drone production scale, cost considerations, defense industry ecosystem, traditional contractors, friend-shoring possibilities, NATO+ industrial capacity, component manufacturing, future warfare implications, training advantages of digital systems, scale of...
2025-07-111h 18"Moment of Zen"The Real Reason Civilizations Collapse | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg talks with Samo Burja on "long history" - the thesis that human civilization is far older than believed, with complex societies predating agriculture by millennia. It examines why civilizations rise and fall, and implications for preventing our own collapse.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-07-0556 min"Moment of Zen"Is Nuclear Proliferation Inevitable? | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg talk with Samo Burja on nuclear weapons proliferation, energy geopolitics, and his "nuclear accelerationist" argument that widespread nuclear capability is inevitable, so countries should pursue abundant nuclear energy despite proliferation risks.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-06-281h 02"Moment of Zen"What If Rome Had Industrialized? | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine "failed" industrial revolutions throughout history, particularly Rome's sophisticated water-powered manufacturing, standardized production, and steam engine prototypes. The discussion explores how civilizations like Rome and Song Dynasty China achieved industrial-scale commerce and technology before ultimately plateauing or collapsing due to demographic, military, or economic constraints.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-05-3148 min"Moment of Zen"Can Japan Survive Its Demographic Crisis? | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen is a conversation I had with Samo Burja back in January 2024 on Japan's existential demographic crisis, analyzing how collapsing fertility rates and population aging threaten the nation's economic and geopolitical future. The discussion explores cultural barriers to family formation, automation limitations, and Japan's dilemma between preserving identity versus accepting transformative change.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-05-241h 03"Moment of Zen"India-Pakistan Conflict Explained | Samo BurjaToday on Moment of Zen is a conversation I had with Samo Burja about the intricate historical, military, and cultural dimensions of the India-Pakistan conflict, and how these nuclear neighbors navigate their complex relationship.
This podcast originally aired on the Village Global podcast.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-05-1746 min"Moment of Zen"The Myth of Automatic Progress | Samo BurjaToday's episode is a conversation I had with Samo Burja in 2019 about why civilizations collapse, how functional institutions are built, and what makes some societies flourish while others decay. We explore his Great Founder Theory, the myth of egalitarianism, and why exceptional outliers drive innovation more than democratic processes.This podcast originally aired on the Village Global podcast.Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players...
2025-04-191h 14
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE133: China’s Energy Problem w/ Samo BurjaToday on Upstream, we’re releasing a 2024 conversation between Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja. They discuss China's approach to energy security, exploring why China isn't pursuing energy independence despite significant oil production capability and the potential for further development.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies tha...
2025-04-1157 min"Moment of Zen"Will India Become a Global Superpower? | Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine India's trajectory as the world's most populous nation, tackling India's surprising demographic decline, delayed industrialization due to bureaucratic inefficiency, and complex relations with China and Pakistan. They explore Modi's nationalist approach, India's digital potential, and how institutional barriers might limit India's rise in a multipolar world order.Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-04-051h 11"Moment of Zen"Who Controls China When Xi Jinping Is Gone? | Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja dive deep into how Xi Jinping is shaping China's society today and its place in the world. They discuss Xi’s firm hold on power, his connections with different political groups, and how his decisions are affecting China's economy, military, and politics.Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/
Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers
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2025-03-2959 min"Moment of Zen"Cartels vs. State: The Power Struggle in Mexico w/ Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the complex relationship between Mexican drug cartels and the country's political system. Samo explains how cartels operate not as insurgencies but as business entities with deep connections to Mexican elites. The discussion covers the economic impact of drug trafficking, how legalization affects cartel operations, and comparisons with other countries' experiences, and explore potential solutions for Mexico's development and the geopolitical implications for U.S.-Mexico relations.Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses...
2025-03-2247 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE123: Trump & The Game of Populism w/ Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the limitations of populist politics, the difficulty populists face in effecting change despite electoral wins, and the influence of digital democracy on modern governance. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Pla...
2025-03-0656 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE120: Why Europe Matters for America’s Future w/ Samo BurjaThis week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the widespread interest in U.S. politics and its global influence, particularly in Western and European countries, the internet's role in synchronizing political and cultural norms, and potential changes in European political landscapes influenced by American ideologies and media.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:
2025-02-2357 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE117: The Future of Martian & Interplanetary Societies w/ Samo BurjaThis week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the economic, political, and cultural implications of colonizing Mars and the Moon, discussing space treaties, potential Martian and Earth societal divergence, and the technological advancements driving humanity's future as a multi-planetary species.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik...
2025-02-1458 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE113: Reflections on Yarvin, Why the Right is Stuck, and Startups as Dictatorships w/ Samo BurjaIn this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Curtis Yarvin's recent New York Times interview. They explored his ideas, especially the comparison between corporate market dynamics and government functionality, and the need for live players in leadership to prevent bureaucratic decay. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg...
2025-01-3154 min
Stranded Technologies PodcastEp. 88: Samo Burja on Great Founders, Institutional Change and the Fragility of Technological ProgressSamo Burja is a researcher, strategist, and founder of Bismarck Analysis and on the editorial board of Palladium Magazine. Samo is known for his work on how institutions shape civilization and his book “The Great Founder Theory.”Explore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com
2025-01-291h 13
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE111: Samo Burja & Auren Hoffman on the Decline of Fertility Rates and Institutional TrustSamo Burja and Auren Hoffman discuss various topics including the Great Founder Theory, the decline of trust in elites, falling fertility rates, and the importance of exceptional individuals in shaping history and future societal structures. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the new...
2025-01-231h 16
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE107: How Desalination Could Create New Superpowers | Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the advancements in desalination technology, its current applications, and potential to address global water scarcity. They explore the technological and economic feasibility of large-scale desalination projects and their implications on geopolitics and environmental resilience.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide...
2025-01-091h 01
"World of DaaS"Samo Burja - live players vs NPCs: hidden forces shaping historySamo Burja is an entrepreneur and political researcher. He’s the founder of Bismarck Analysis and the editor of Palladium Magazine, a publication focused on governance and societal challenges.In this episode of World of DaaS, Samo and Auren discuss: Why great founders shape civilizationGlobal fertility decline and its implicationsThe magic of founders at age 23Why trust in institutions is collapsingLooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to worldofdaas.com for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X @worldofdaas. You can find Auren Hoff...
2024-12-231h 01"Moment of Zen"Samo Burja on the Future of the Middle EastSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg dissect the complex web of religion, nationalism, and power that shapes Middle Eastern politics. In this analysis, Samo reveals why traditional solutions have failed and offers a look at how demographic shifts and emerging ideologies will transform the region's future.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —SPONSORS:NETSUITEMore th...
2024-12-1459 min
AnglofuturismMake Britain the compute capital of the world, with Samo Burja (Bismarck Analysis)Samo Burja is the founder and president of Bismarck Analysis, an industrial analysis and consulting firm studying failing organizations, and the author of "Great Founder Theory" which explores how exceptional individuals shape history by creating innovative institutions rather than merely steering events. He also chairs the editorial board of Palladium Magazine.Samo discusses:- How organisations decline when they shift goals to match diminished capabilities instead of pursuing bold visions, illustrated by NASA's evolution from space exploration to Earth observation- Why social technologies (like trust networks) are as crucial as material technologies...
2024-11-281h 28"Moment of Zen"Can Populism Beat the Administrative State? | Samo BurjaIn this episode of "Moment of Zen," hosts Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja delve into the concept of populism and its impact on modern politics. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/0a17c191-56ca-43f0-b169-614198ecbc29—🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse.—RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies lik...
2024-11-2354 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE96: Rudyard Lynch and Samo Burja Talk The Left’s Future and Problems with ModernityToday on Upstream, Rudyard Lynch and Samo Burja discuss the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, the decline of French influence in Africa, the psychology of modernity, and the potential future of free versus controlled internet. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/d3195f8d-9dc3-4891-83d6-3354a83efbe9—📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and...
2024-11-2157 min"Moment of Zen"Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch | The Left's Identity Crisis and the Future of DemocracyIn this episode of Moment of Zen, host Rudyard Lynch engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Samo Burja, exploring the breakdown of traditional power structures and drawing parallels between modern times and the religious wars of the 1600s. They delve into topics such as the aftermath of Trump's election victory, the rise of private military companies in Africa, and the evolving dynamics of global power. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/4f3ff1c4-1c9e-451c-b2d5-54bc06f8a87f—🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listen...
2024-11-1658 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE94: Best of: AGI | Dario Amodei / Balaji Srinivasan / Marc Andreessen / Samo Burja / Michael LevinThis week, we’re featuring discussions with Dario Amodei, Balaji Srinivasan, Marc Andreessen, Michael Levin, and Samo Burja on AGI scaling laws, AI safety, and AI development, exploring themes such as the evolution of AI, economic implications, and philosophical aspects of intelligence. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/9192a95f-b467-47c1-9de0-827cae992d6b—📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Unpack PricingDive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody...
2024-11-141h 12
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE88: The Fertility Apocalypse w/ Samo BurjaThis week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore the global demographic crisis, examining plummeting fertility rates worldwide and their potentially catastrophic implications for humanity's future. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/0d2557ac-2da6-4087-b6b4-b55f326b47fd —📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ @LivePlayerswithSamoBurja Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and...
2024-10-241h 00
ManifoldSamo Burja: Intellectuals, Culture. and the Technosphere — #70Samo Burja founded Bismarck Analysis, a consulting firm that investigates the political and institutional landscape of society. He is a Senior Research Fellow in Political Science at the Foresight Institute where he advises on how institutions can shape the future of technology. Since 2024, he has chaired the editorial board of Palladium Magazine, a non-partisan publication that explores the future of governance and society through international journalism, long-form analysis, and social philosophy. From 2020 to 2023, he was a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation where he studied how institutions can endure for centuries and millennia.Samo writes and...
2024-10-101h 37"Moment of Zen"The Possibility of Human Extinction w/ Samo BurjaThis episode centers on the alarming issue of declining fertility rates worldwide, examining specific country examples such as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, and the societal and technological implications of these demographic changes. Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg explore potential interventions, such as tax breaks for families, and the possibility of extreme measures like state-managed reproduction programs. They also tackle cultural and economic factors influencing fertility and the urgency of addressing this underpopulation crisis to prevent civilizational collapse. --🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new wee...
2024-10-051h 01"Moment of Zen"Long Ripples in History with Samo Burja and Rudyard LynchToday on Moment of Zen, Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch return for for a mind-bending discussion and deep dive into the concept of "long ripples" — how ideas and events from the distant past continue to shape our present and future in unexpected ways. From Plato's influence on modern political movements to the unforeseen consequences of the Industrial Revolution, this conversation challenges our understanding of historical cause and effect.Are we truly progressing, or are we caught in cycles we fail to recognize? Can we learn from the past, or are we doomed to repeat it...
2024-09-281h 00
Theo Jaffee Podcast#19: Samo Burja - Superintelligence and History, Ideology, and 21st Century PhilosophySamo Burja is a writer, historian, and political scientist, the founder of civilizational consulting firm Bismarck Analysis, and the editor-in-chief of governance futurism magazine Palladium.
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
1:06 - Implications of OpenAI o1
10:21 - Implications of superintelligence on history
35:06 - Palladium, Chinese technocracy, ideology, and media
1:00:44 - Best ideas, philosophers, and works of the past 20-30 years
Links
Samo’s Website: https://samoburja.com/
Bismarck Analysis: https://www.bismarckanalysis.com/
Palladium: https://www.pa...
2024-09-221h 06
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE79: How Civilizations Cycle & Collapse | Samo Burja and Rudyard LynchThis week on Upstream, we’re featuring a discussion between Samo Burja, Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg about the inherent differences between civilizations and their impact on history and politics. They explore the parallels and distinctions between ancient civilizations like Babylon and modern entities like Silicon Valley, the influence of Abrahamic religions, and how societal patterns challenge our current understanding. —🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/—SPONSORS:💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO compa...
2024-09-2156 min
The RealignmentReboot 2024: Silicon Valley's Pivot to the Right - Teddy Schleifer & Samo BurjaSubscribe to The Realignment to access our exclusive Q&A episodes and support the show: https://realignment.supercast.com/REALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail Us: realignmentpod@gmail.comEarlier this month, Marshall moderated multiple panels at the Foundation for American Innovation's Reboot 2024: The New Reality. Today's episode is a conversation between Marshall, New York Times reporter Teddy Schleifer, and Bismark Analysis founder Samo Burja. They discuss the degree to which Silicon Valley has moved to the right during the...
2024-09-1941 min"Moment of Zen"Cycles of Civilization with Samo Burja and Rudyard LynchToday on Moment of Zen, we're airing a discussion between Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch - two intellectual heavyweights tackling the idea that civilizations may have inherent differences that can alter our understanding of the course of history and politics.Both Samo and Rudyard are hosts of Turpentine shows, Live Players and History 102, respectively.This is a fascinating discussion on threads that bridge Silicon Valley with ancient civilizations like Babylon, the impact of Abrahamic religions, and the idea that societies go through cycles that may upend our current assumptionsCHECK...
2024-09-1556 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE77: Academic Fraud & the Spiritual Quest for Truth | Live Players w/ Samo Burja and Ben Landau-TaylorErik Torenberg and Samo Burja are joined by Ben Landau-Taylor, a Senior Analyst at Bismarck Analysis. Ben recently published an article in Palladium Magazine about the pervasive problem of fraud in academia. They discussed how fraudulent activities, particularly in medical research, often go undetected due to flawed peer review processes and institutional protectionism. They explore key cases, and possible solutions, including external watchdogs, intellectual authorities and regulatory bodies in maintaining academic integrity.—🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/—SPONSORS:
2024-09-1457 min
"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player AnalysisAI Live Players: the Geopolitics & Strategic Dynamics of AI, with Samo Burja of Bismarck AnalysisIn this episode of The Cognitive Revolution, Nathan interviews Samo Burja, founder of Bismarck Analysis, on the strategic dynamics of artificial intelligence through a geopolitical lens. They discuss AI's trajectory, the chip supply chain, US-China relations, and the challenges of AI safety and militarization. Samo Burja brings both geopolitical expertise and technological sophistication to these critical topics, offering insights on balancing innovation, security, and international cooperation.Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois...
2024-09-041h 23"Moment of Zen"Samo Burja's Advice for the next US presidentErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the top challenges Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will have to face in their presidency. They discuss foreign policy, including managing relations with China, reassessing defense contractors, and fostering economic alliances. They also address the inefficiencies in the non-profit sector, energy policy and nuclear power. Erik and Samo release weekly episodes together on the "Live Players" podcast.--🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--
2024-08-2549 min
Coffee and a MikeSamo Burja #896Samo Burja is the founder and President of Bismarck Analysis, an organization that helps companies, governments, philanthropists, and investors better understand the world in which we all live and operate. He discusses the consequences of world mass migrations to countries that do not have a history of assimilation, inverted demographics, technological collapse, and much more. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PODCAST!!! Video Version of Show Rumble- https://rumble.com/v5b570l-coffee-and-a-mike-samo-burja-bronze-age-collapse.html Follow Samo X- https://x.com/SamoBurja Website- https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com...
2024-08-161h 08"Moment of Zen"China's Energy Strategy, Taiwan, and US-China Relations with Samo BurjaIn this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China's energy strategy and its broader geopolitical implications. Contrary to popular belief, China is not aggressively pursuing energy independence but remains reliant on imports despite significant domestic oil production. The conversation delves into China's geopolitical strategy, its military preparedness, and the potential consequences of a conflict over Taiwan. The episode also explores the broader implications of a potential U.S.-China industrial competition and the risks of a bipolar world.-This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology...
2024-07-1452 minThe Jim Rutt ShowEP 244 Samo Burja on Lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian WarJim talks with Samo Burja about lessons military strategists should take from the Russo-Ukrainian War so far. They discuss why military stockpiles are less useful than previously assumed, the scaling up of drone production, the impossibility of envisioning what tech will be needed, 4 factors that caused Russian miscalculation, offensive vs defensive dominance, the possibility of a U.S. military draft, the changing role of conscription, the high average age in Russia & Ukraine, the rapid evolution of drones, a comparison between drone pilots & snipers, the muted relevance of the air force, empty symbols of military strength, the progress of autonomous drones...
2024-06-271h 27
Win-Win with Liv Boeree#24 - Samo Burja - How to Prevent Civilizational CollapseWhy did Rome fall? What can we learn from past civilization collapses to protect our own? How do we fix our Institutions? In this Win-Win episode I speak to Samo Burja - a leading geopolitical analyst and founder of the intelligence brief Bismarck Analysis.
Samo is a prolific writer on nature of power, leadership, bureaucracy and governance. If you're worried about the health of our institutions and sense-making, this is the episode for you.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:40 - Common Themes of Historical Civilizations
00:05:13 - Loss of...
2024-05-291h 59
The Geopolitics & Power PodcastSamo Burja | Why Organisations Thrive & Fall - Wallenberg Family Of Sweden & Sulzberger Family Of NYT🎙️: https://curiousworldview.buzzsprout.com/shareCurious Worldview Podcast - #175 w/Samo Burja On AppleCurious Worldview Podcast - #175 w/Samo Burja On SpotifyFollow me on Instagram - @ryanfhogg✍︎: The Curious Worldview Newsletter - the ultimate compliment to the podcast...Russ Roberts – Taleb & HitchensScott Patterson – Taleb & Chaos KingsMagnus Ranstorp – Terrorism & Political ViolenceJames Robinson – Why Nations FailFollow me on Instagram - @ryanfhoggSamo Burja founded Bismarck...
2024-05-2958 min
Curious WorldviewSamo Burja | The Wallenberg Family Of Sweden, Nassim Taleb & Why Organisations Thrive & Fall✍︎: The Curious Worldview Newsletter - the ultimate compliment to the podcast...Russ Roberts – Taleb & HitchensScott Patterson – Taleb & Chaos KingsMagnus Ranstorp – Terrorism & Political ViolenceJames Robinson – Why Nations FailFollow me on Instagram - @ryanfhoggSamo Burja founded Bismarck Analysis, of which Bismarck Brief has spun off, which is a consulting and research firm that investigates the political and institutional landscape of society. I’ve listened to and read hundreds of hours of Samo Burja. He’s prolific both in writing and talking, and applies an academic analysis to express his interests. His interests are those which overl...
2024-05-2858 min
"Live Players" with Samo Burja and Erik TorenbergHow to Find the Frontiers of Knowledge, Samo Burja for The StoaToday we're publishing a talk Samo Burja gave to The Stoa in 2020 all about how to find and advance uncrystallized fields of knowledge. In this discussion, Samo critiques current academia for its inefficiencies and proposes supporting new intellectual endeavors with proper economic and social incentives. The discussion covers the potential for new academic structures, the role of social scenes in fostering innovation, and the need for a genuine pursuit of knowledge versus mere intelligence signaling. At the end, Samo answers questions from the audience to go deeper into the themes of the talk.🔥 Apply to...
2024-05-2556 min
"Live Players" with Samo Burja and Erik TorenbergAcademia's Impact on Society | Rudyard Lynch Interviews Samo BurjaIn this episode of Live Players, Rudyard Lynch (@whatifalthist on YouTube) interviews Samo Burja and covers a range of topics including why Samo left academia, the current state of education, the impact of bureaucratization and managerial ideology on society, and the state of democracy and legislation in modern Western societies. This conversation was taped in 2023.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjRECOMMENDED PODCAST:Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unkn...
2024-05-061h 01
The New Founding PodcastWe Don't Need Nuclear (Right Now) - Samo Burja | #39
Today, Santiago & Josh interview Samo Burja, President of Bismarck Analysis and Author of the "Bismarck Brief." We discuss:
What is a Live Player?
They said Schwarzenegger was just an actor
French colonialism ends (in 2020)
Modern education is bad for you
Live players need dead players
How committees kill
How to build a real research team
The haystack of the world
Africa and the Greying Planet
#SamBurja #BismarckAnalysis #BismarckBrief #ElonMusk #SpaceX #LivePlayers #JeffBezos #SamAltman #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Space #Civilization
Samo Burja is the Founder & President of Bismarck An...
2024-04-091h 14
Razib Khan's Unsupervised LearningSamo Burja: Palladium Magazine, China, Russia and the future of Eurasia Today on Unsupervised Learning, Razib talks to long-time podcast favorite Samo Burja. Burja is the founder of Bismarck Analysis and Bismarck Brief, a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation and The Foresight Institute. He is also now the chair of the editorial board of Palladium Magazine. Already a four-time guest on Unsupervised Learning (he has previously shared his views on China's future, Russia's present and archaeology's past, his role at Bismarck Analysis and geopolitical uncertainty, reflected on his piece in Palladium on Finding "lost civilizations" and covered his ideas on "social technology," China, and the foreign view of America), the Slove...
2024-04-061h 00
Razib Khan's Unsupervised LearningSamo Burja: Palladium Magazine, China, Russia and the future of EurasiaThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.razibkhan.comToday on Unsupervised Learning, Razib talks to long-time podcast favorite Samo Burja. Burja is the founder of Bismarck Analysis and Bismarck Brief, a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation and The Foresight Institute. He is also now the chair of the editorial board of Palladium Magazine. Already a four-time guest on Unsupervised Learning (he has previously shared his views on China's future, Russia's present and archaeology's past, his role at Bismarck Analysis and geopolitical uncertainty, reflected on his piece in...
2024-03-2115 minThe Jim Rutt ShowEP 224 Samo Burja on Geothermal EnergyJim talks with Samo Burja about the ideas in his recent article "Geothermal Energy Turns Planets Into Power Sources." They discuss the heat beneath the earth's surface, contributors to the heat, technological dependency between fracking & geothermal, the math of electricity, earthquake risk, the limits of current geology, the value of better drilling tech, new approaches to drilling, gyrotrons, plasma torches, whether our civilization actually needs more energy, the local optimum of fossil fuels, bureaucratic incentives in energy, investment of social surplus, scientific welfare, metascience, giving academic tenure to brilliant 25-year-olds, a defense-favoring military epoch, the math of geothermal vs other c...
2024-02-1451 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE35: Samo Burja on Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George SorosIn this episode, Erik sits down with Samo Burja, political scientist and founder of Bismarck Analysis. They discuss Samo's term "live player" and today's live players, including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George Soros.--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--RELATED PODCASTJoin host Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg as...
2023-12-0157 min
The ValmySamo Burja - The Great Founder Theory of History Podcast: Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy Episode: Samo Burja - The Great Founder Theory of History - [Invest Like the Best, EP.339]Release date: 2023-08-01Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationMy guest today is Samo Burja. Samo is the founder of consulting firm, Bismark Analysis, and has dedicated his life’s work to understanding why there has never been an immortal society. His research focuses on institutions, the founders behind them, how they rise and why they always fall in the end. As y...
2023-08-231h 09
The DemystifySci PodcastRising Waters, Hidden History - Samo Burja, Bismarck AnalysisSamo Burja is a research fellow at the Long Now Foundation, the founder of Bismarck Analysis, and originator of the Great Founder theory, who is driven by a simple question. Why have all prior civilizations failed, and how can ours escape the same fate? Our conversation focuses on the ways in which getting good data is almost impossible. Civilizations rise, fall, and their skeletons get scavenged to nourish what comes next. Floods sweep the landscape clean of the best laid plans, and rising sea levels bury the rest. We talk about the future of the academy, the search for...
2023-08-031h 54
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'ShaughnessySamo Burja - The Great Founder Theory of HistoryMy guest today is Samo Burja. Samo is the founder of consulting firm, Bismark Analysis, and has dedicated his life’s work to understanding why there has never been an immortal society. His research focuses on institutions, the founders behind them, how they rise and why they always fall in the end. As you’ll hear, Samo has an encyclopedic grasp of history and his work has led him to some fascinating theories about human progress, the nature of exceptional founders, and the future of different societies across the world. Please enjoy my conversation with Samo Burja.
2023-08-011h 09
Razib Khan's Unsupervised LearningSamo Burja: China's future, Russia's present and archaeology's pastOn this week's Unsupervised Learning Razib welcomes back a favorite repeat guest, Samo Burja, to discuss matters future, present and past. Burja founded the consulting firm Bismarck Analysis and developed the "great founder theory." He contributes to Palladium Magazine, Asia Times, City Journal, and The National Interest. Burja's first appearance on the podcast, recorded in the fall of 2020, spiraled into a long discussion on the Chinese past and future, and Razib follows up to find out where he thinks the Peoples' Republic is in 2023 and where it will go in the near future. Though Burja acknowledges that bullishness on Chinese po...
2023-06-041h 18
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE8: Samo Burja on America's Future, China, AI, and the New Global OrderErik sits down with political scientist Samo Burja ( @SamoBurja ) who founded Bismarck Analysis, a consulting firm that analyzes institutions (ranging from governments to companies). Samo is one of the most interesting and wide-ranging thinkers today. In this episode, they discuss the current state and future state of America, China, Russia, Ukraine, energy, the US dollar, AI, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAM--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik...
2023-05-121h 00
MultipolaritySamo Burja: The Three Mega-Trends That Will Define The 21st CenturyThis week, we're celebrating our recent tenth show with a double-header. Breaking out of the usual format, we have an interview with a thought leader, plus a special listener Q&A with Ladsie & Boysie themselves, Andrew Collingwood and Philip Pilkington, featuring another very unusual guest. Today is part one of that double-header. We're delighted to welcome Samo Burja to the pod. Samo is a sociologist who has risen to prominence on the analyst scene in the past few years, mainly via his popular and influential Substack. A fellow at...
2023-03-2349 min
The AubservationEp. 44 - Samo Burja on Building an Immortal Societygo to https://cash.app/ to download Cash App. thanks to Cash App for sponsoring this video 🤘
in this episode, we're joined by political scientist and president of bismarck analysis, samo burja. samo has advised leaders such as peter thiel and jaan tallinn. we discuss building an immortal society, how AI is lying to us, and what proper crypto regulation should look like. samo is a deep-thinker with ideas worth sharing and we're so excited to be able to share this conversation with all of you.
if you're interested in subscribing to his newsletter, you can do...
2023-02-2234 min
From the New World(Classic Episode) Samo Burja: Patterns of Destruction and Structures of RebirthThis remains my favorite episode, despite Samo’s squeaky chair and some audio misses. We discuss ideas that have made a profound impact on my thinking, such as narrative hedging, the Bismarckian compromise, and energy leaps. This may sound like it was recorded last week with the insightful observations on energy and geopolitical conflict, but it was actually recorded nearly a year ago, at the end of April, and releasing in the middle of May.Samo Burja is the founder and president of the consulting company Bismarck Analysis, a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation and a...
2022-12-262h 09
FUTURATI PODCASTEp. 90: Can we build an immortal human society? | Samo BurjaSamo Burja is a sociologist and the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a firm that analyzes institutions, from governments to companies. His research work focuses on the causes of societal decay and flourishing and he writes on history, epistemology and strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-06-101h 01
On TyrannyOn Tyranny Ep. 16 - From Minoan Crete to Putin's Russia w. Samo BurjaThis week, we have Samo Burja from Bismarck Analysis.
Topics discussed:
Bronze Age Collapse
Minaon Crete
Nuclear War
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://samoburja.com/
https://www.bismarckanalysis.com/#/
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
2022-06-091h 09
From the New WorldSamo Burja: Patterns of Destruction and Structures of RebirthSamo Burja is the founder and president of the consulting company Bismarck Analysis, a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation and a Senior Research Fellow in Political Science at the Foresight Institute. He is also the writer of the Bismarck Brief newsletter, linked below.In this podcast, we discuss the life of Otto Von Bismarck, the political economy of institutions, narratives as a hedge against failure, the coming energy transition, differences between Europe and America, regulation as vengeance, live players, Elon Musk, and the global financial system.Bismarck Analysis:https://www.bismarckanalysis.com/#/
2022-05-162h 09
2022-04-2856 minThe Jim Rutt ShowCurrents 059: Samo Burja on RU->UKR 23-MAR-2022Continuing his series of expert interviews on the Russia-Ukraine War, Jim talks again with Samo Burja about the state of the Russian advance one month in...
Continuing his series of expert interviews on the Russia-Ukraine War, Jim talks again with Samo Burja about the state of the Russian advance one month in. They discuss Putin's maximum acceptable atrocity level, the complex relationship between public opinion and intervention, Russia's need for a symbolic victory, meaning & impact of the West's surprisingly coherent network counterattack, importance of the white-collar bureaucratic class's Twitter addiction, conditions that might move the situation toward settlement, a never-ending...
2022-03-2455 min
UnHerd with Freddie SayersSamo Burja: Russia Sanctions Will Divide CivilisationFreddie Sayers meets with Samo Burja.With Western powers increasingly united against Russia, we seem to be witnessing the end of the unipolar world. Financially, culturally and spiritually we have never been so bifurcated. Could this be the end of civilisation as we know it?To find a way through the big issues at stake, Freddie Sayers sat down with Samo Burja, a sociologist and the founder of Bismarck Analysis.Read the post article here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-03-1736 min
UtilitarianSamo Burja on the War in UkraineIn this shorter episode of the Utilitarian Podcast, I talk with Samo Burja about the war in Ukraine. Samo is the founder of the geopolitical analysis firm Bismarck Analysis.
We talk about Western sanctions and their effects of Russias relationship to China, what a remilitarization of Europe will mean, whether Putin will be able to control Ukraine, avoiding nuclear war, possible tactics for winning the war, potential diplomatic solutions, the longer term implications of this war, and the importance of European energy independence.
TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00:47] Overview of the situation
[00:04:14] Sanctions - Russia a...
2022-03-1129 min
The Vance Crowe Podcast#257 | Samo Burja; Different Perspectives on Russia & UkraineSamo Burja returns to the podcast to talk with Vance about the evolving situation between Russia and Ukraine. Samo and Vance talk about what the Russians are thinking, how he believes the situation may continue to unfold, the fly on the wall that is China and more. Samo is a sociologist and the founder of Bismark Analysis, a firm that helps companies, governments, philanthropists, and investors in their vital role of maintaining and advancing our civilization.The conversation focuses on the differing perspectives of the conflict depending on which side of the border you are o...
2022-03-111h 01FUTURATI PODCASTEp. 76: Samo Burja on Russia, Ukraine, and the new, emerging global order.Samo Burja is a sociologist and the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a firm that analyzes institutions, from governments to companies. His research work focuses on the causes of societal decay and flourishing and he writes on history, epistemology and strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-03-041h 03
The Prevailing Narrative with Matt BilinskyEpisode 13: Political Risk & Strategy Expert Samo Burja on the Russia-Ukraine War; Realism & Mimetic Warfare; Blue States End COVID Restrictions; Biden's State of the Union1:14 - Russia-Ukraine: "Great Power Politics" and how Mimetic Warfare is shaping the conflict.10:23 - Blue cities/states dump their COVID restrictions....and even vaccine mandates18:56 - Biden's State of the Union - plays it safe....until he decides it's time to FUND the police 26:56 - Interview with Samo Burja: Founder of Bismarck Analysis and political risk/strategy expert. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2022-03-031h 45The Jim Rutt ShowCurrents 054: Samo Burja on the Russia-Ukraine WarJim has a timely talk with Samo Burja about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what it might mean moving forward...
Jim has a timely talk with Samo Burja about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what it might mean moving forward. They discuss the consequences of a (likely) Russian victory, Russia's bet on new arctic ports & liquid natural gas, a final decoupling of Russia from Europe, the stalemate scenario, Ukraine's dearth of young men, its remarkable job so far at maintaining morale, the likelihood of escalation of mass artillery & casualties, incompatibility between atomized individualism & willingness to resist, rational & less...
2022-03-0148 min
Foresight Institute RadioSamo Burja, Anders Sandberg, Stuart Armstrong | Space, Neurotech & The Far History & FutureHow does our human future look in the very long-term? What dramatic changes will we see in ‘meat space’ & cyber space via neurotech?Samo Burja: He is a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation where he studies how institutions can endure for centuries and millennia. He writes and speaks on history, institutions, and strategy with a focus on exceptional leaders that create new social and political forms. Anders Sandberg: Anders’ research at the Future of Humanity Institute centres on management of low-probability high-impact risks, estimating the capabilities of futur...
2022-02-0453 min
Palladium PodcastPalladium Podcast 70: Samo Burja on Rising ElitesSamo Burja joins Wolf Tivy to discuss his article in Palladium 04 on how rising classes become new elites. Historically, cycles of violence often break out at these moments, and yet elites are surprisingly good at surviving the resulting turnover. Are there better ways of integrating new players into a society's elite?
Palladium 04 is our latest quarterly print edition, including an anthology of work and original art. To receive this and future copies, subscribe now.
2022-01-151h 37
Dwarkesh PodcastSamo Burja - Founders, Markets, & CollapseSamo Burja is the founder of Bismarck Analysis and a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation. Samo writes and speaks about history, institutions, and strategy, and he is the creator of the Great Founder Theory of history.Watch on YouTube. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform.Episode website here. Follow Samo's Twitter. Follow my twitter for updates on future episodes. Subscribe to Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/Thanks for reading The Lunar Society! Subscribe to find out about future episodes!
2022-01-101h 04Foresight Institute RadioSamo Burja | Civilization: Institutions, Knowledge and the FutureOur civilization is made up of countless individuals and pieces of material technology, which come together to form institutions and interdependent systems of logistics, development and production. These institutions and systems then store the knowledge required for their own renewal and growth.Samo Burja is a sociologist and the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a firm that analyzes institutions, from governments to companies. His research work focuses on the causes of societal decay and flourishing. He writes on history, epistemology and strategy.History shows us we are not safe from institutional collapse...
2021-12-0239 min
Hacking State41: Great Founders, Complex Thought, and State Capacity with Samo BurjaSamo Burja is founder of Bismarck Analysis, a consulting firm that investigates the political and institutional landscape of society. He is also a research fellow at the LongNow Foundation, where he studies how institutions can endure for centuries and millennia, and a Senior Research Fellow in political science at the Foresight Institute where he advises on how institutions can shape the future of technology. Writer, speaker, and strategist.We discuss his Great Founder Theory, his hypothesis that “a small number of institutions founded by exceptional individuals for the core of society”; as well as the requisite infrastructure for comp...
2021-11-291h 16
Eclectic SpacewalkConversations #17 - Samo BurjaA conversation with Researcher, Speaker, and Writer, Samo Burja—Read & Listen on SubstackListen on AnchorWatch on YouTubeHey Eclectic Spacewalkers!Last month we sat down with Samo Burja.Samo is a researcher, speaker, and writer. He is also the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a research fellow at the Long Now Foundation, and a senior research fellow in political science at the Foresight Institute. Samo has previous bylines in City Journal, Palladium Magazine, and The National Interest.“There has never been an immortal society. No m...
2021-09-131h 18
ConversationsConversations #17 - Samo BurjaA conversation with Researcher, Speaker, and Writer, Samo Burja—
Last month we sat down with Samo Burja. Samo is a researcher, speaker, and writer. He is also the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a research fellow at the Long Now Foundation, and a senior research fellow in political science at the Foresight Institute. Samo has previous bylines in City Journal, Palladium Magazine, and The National Interest.
It is refreshing, and desperately needed, in today’s filter bubbled world to see a unique blend of historical synthesis that is both academic and respected while being critical from a nu...
2021-09-131h 19
Clearer Thinking with Spencer GreenbergWhy do civilizations collapse? And is ours next? (with Samo Burja) Read the full transcript here. What is "long" history? Why don't historians usually focus on what happened before recorded human history? What (if anything) is special about agriculture when it comes to the development of civilization? How far back does human civilization go, and why should we care? Have humans always been gardeners? What factors cause civilizations to crumble or thrive? Should we reboot standardized tests and college admissions every few decades so that measures don't become targets? Which destructive factors are particularly salient to modern human civilization? Why is there such a disconnect between our intuition...
2021-08-201h 29
Charter Cities PodcastUnderstanding the Hidden Forces that Shape Society with Samo BurjaThere has never been an immortal society. No matter how technologically advanced our own society is, it is unlikely to be an exception. In order to achieve a positive future that defies these odds, it is critical that we understand the hidden forces that shape society. To help us do that is today’s guest, Samo Burja, a sociologist and the Founder of Bismarck Analysis, a consulting firm that investigates the political and institutional landscape of society. Samo is a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation, where he studies how institutions can endure for centuries and millennia, and a Seni...
2021-07-121h 17
Worker and ParasiteGreat Founder Theory by Samo BurjaIn this episode we discuss Great Founder Theory by Samo Burja. Next time we'll discuss Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World by Charles A. Kupchan.
2021-07-1251 min
The Vance Crowe PodcastSamo Burja: Why civilizations fail; lost technologies, failure to teach and social technologies.Samo Burja is a sociologist and founder of Bismarck Analysis that attempts to answer the question: why do some societies live on, while others crumble away? During Samo Burja's conversation with Vance Crowe they discuss technologies that were lost for hundreds of years, the value of mentorship to pass along complex skills, how the Catholic church endured for thousands of years without being able to have children and Burja's controversial hypothesis that agriculture is much older than originally thought (10,000 years).https://www.bismarckanalysis.comhttps://twitter.com/SamoBurjaPodcast Website: https://www.vancecrowe.com/p...
2021-06-211h 11
The Jim Rutt ShowCurrents 034: Samo Burja on the Consilience ProjectSamo Burja joins Jim to talk about the Consilience Project: a project that aims to create positive cultural change in unique ways...
Samo Burja joins Jim to talk about the Consilience Project: a project that aims to create positive cultural change in unique ways. They cover its founding goals & approaches, big tech's ability to amplify negative externalities, the rise of Trump, memetic noise & virality, how digital cultures change, types of articles, sense-making, meaning-making, choice-making & social norms, de-energizing society & carbon accounting, unique ways the Consilience team collaborates & operates, new/upcoming articles, and much more.
Episode Transcript
Consilience Project
Samo on Twitter
JRS...
2021-06-1556 minPalladium PodcastPalladium Podcast 59: Samo Burja on Long HistorySamo Burja joins Wolf Tivy from Turkey to discuss why civilization is older than we thought. Samo's research into ruins like Göbekli Tepe inspired him to ask just how ancient civilization could really be. Topics include why national politics can end up yielding archaeological progress, whether the Dunbar number is a false limit on human development, and why Samo is willing to bet on finding cities that predate the last Ice Age.
The first half of the show is available to all our listeners. The full discussion is available to Palladium Members. Members also get to p...
2021-05-2246 minThe Jim Rutt ShowEP125 Samo Burja on Societal Decline: Part 2Samo Burja & Jim continue their convo about Great Founder Theory: history, bureaucracy vs delegation, competition, ambition, empire theory, and much more...
Samo Burja & Jim continue their conversation about his book, Great Founder Theory. They talk about Samo's interest in exploring why there's never been an immortal society, lack of historical Greece documentation, defining functional bureaucracy & delegation, competition pros/cons & dynamics, skill distribution & capitalization, measuring & defining skills over time scales, utilizing & nurturing ambition, what empire theory exposes about societies & institutions, inevitable oligarchy, rivalrous vs non-rivalrous systems, insights from Chinese history, and much more.
Episode Transcript
Mentions & Recommendations
Part 1: EP117 Samo Burja on...
2021-05-101h 20
Other LifeSamo Burja on Intellectual Legitimacy and His Business Model as a Private ResearcherSamo Burja is the founder of a consultancy called Bismarck Analysis, but he's interesting to me primarily as a theorist and researcher who has carved out an impressive niche for himself as an independent intellectual. I've invited Samo on the podcast to learn more about his ideas, but also to look under the hood of his larger operation because I think there's a lot to learn there, especially for all the rest of us who are finding our own ways to conduct professional-level intellectual work outside of traditional institutions.Samo's website: samoburja.comSamo's book, Great...
2021-04-201h 18
Subversive w/Alex KaschutaSamo Burja - The Power & Limits Of The RegimeYou can support this podcast at https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
Or check out my writing on Substack at https://www.alexkaschuta.substack.com
Samo Burja has an encyclopedic mind, is an extremely broad thinker, and was a delight to speak to.
We talk about how great founders are at the core of societal evolution, about bureaucracy, managerialism, the iron law of oligarchy, about building elites and aspirational societies, about both of us being "children of transition" out of communism, about truth and prestige, the future of anonymity and the fertility crisis.
Sa...
2021-04-071h 36
Thoughts in Between: exploring how technology collides with politics, culture and societySamo Burja: Great Founders and where great institutions come fromSamo Burja is founder of Bismarck Analytics and the author of Great Founder Theory, a manuscript that looks at how institutions and civilisations succeed and fail. It’s one of the most interesting things I’ve read this year and in this conversation we dive into its main themes. We discuss where great institutions come from, why there are so few of them, and what we need to do to build more.
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Thanks to Cofruition for consulting on and producing the show. You can learn more about Entrepreneur Firs...
2021-04-052h 04The Jim Rutt ShowEP117 Samo Burja on Societal DeclineSamo Burja talks to Jim about his book, Great Founder Theory: theories & limits of history, institutions, design vs evolution, declining empires, and much more...
Samo Burja talks to Jim about his freely available book, Great Founder Theory. They cover long-lasting societies, theories & limits of history, cultures that prioritize documentation, long-term priorities, institutional organization, social technologies, design vs evolution, what makes a great founder, times of slow change, market reform dynamics, censorship, social coordination costs, social media reformation, centralized vs decentralized declining empires, closed vs open academic journals, pre-registered research, post-modernism, noble lies, technology & society connections, institutional decline, the overproduction of elit...
2021-03-231h 54Palladium PodcastPalladium Podcast 46: Samo Burja on Why Regulating Online Speech Is UnavoidableSamo Burja comes on the podcast to talk about when it's appropriate to regulate online speech and the proper relationship between state and media.
Samo Burja is the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a political risk consulting firm. He is also a research fellow at the Long Now Foundation. You can follow him on Twitter @SamoBurja.
2020-10-301h 30Palladium PodcastDigital Salon with Samo Burja: Great Founders Build CivilizationSamo Burja joins Wolf Tivy and Ash Milton to discuss how great founders make history through the institutions they create, how political transitions actually work, and what intellectual dark matter exists in our society today.
Samo Burja is the founder and president of Bismarck Analysis, which applies the foundational sociological research that Samo and his team have produced over the past decade to deliver unique insights to clients about institutional design and strategy. Samo’s studies focus on the social and material technologies that foster healthy human societies with an eye toward understanding and restoring the structures th...
2020-07-131h 29
Subversion with 1517030. 1517 at Home: Samo Burja on Why Civilizations CollapseThere are at least 12 identifiable Dark Ages in the recorded history of human civilization. Although we are all fascinated with the idea of the collapse of civilization, have we considered why civilizations actually collapse?
Join Samo Burja, founder of Bismarck Analytics and research fellow at LongNow, to explore the causes behind civilizational collapse and how people like yourself can stay ahead of the curve. You can follow Samo on twitter @samoburja.
Suggested readings from Samo:
“Annoyance or Armageddon?”
“Intellectual Dark Matter”
“On the Loss and Preservation of Knowledge”
“Institutional Failure as Surprise”
Suggested Book: 1777 BC: T...
2020-05-211h 28
Patterson in PursuitEp. 101- Is a Ruling Class Inevitable? | Samo BurjaLibertarians like myself tend to focus on the abuse of power hierarchies. The existence of a "ruling class" makes most of us uneasy. However, might these sociological structures serve a valuable purpose? Are they inevitable parts of human society? Samo Burja joins me to discuss. Get full access to Steve Patterson's Substack at stevepatterson.substack.com/subscribe
2020-03-081h 19
North Star PodcastSamo Burja: The Two Writing CulturesMy guest today is Samo Burja, the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a firm that analyzes institutions, governments, and companies for high net worth individuals. Samo is known for an idea called Great Founder Theory, and his research focuses on the causes of societal decay and flourishing. This is my second time having Samo on the podcast. In this episode, we spoke about high vs. low trust societies, the difference between writing styles in New York and San Francisco, the economics of building an online audience, and how the Internet is raising the value of being a good photographer. But first, we b...
2019-12-131h 27
Village Global PodcastThe Future of Markets, Democracy, and Geopolitics in the 21st Century with Samo BurjaSamo Burja (@SamoBurja), founder of Bismarck Analysis, joins Erik for this episode. You can find him on Medium at medium.com/@samo.burja. They talk about:- Whether capitalism and democracy are incompatible and what the future holds for democracy.- Why economists need to look inside companies to learn from their cultures, not just at the relations between companies.- Why the grey hoody is as much a worker’s uniform as the suit of the 1950s was.- The coming merger of east and west coast media companies.
2019-09-081h 12Village Global PodcastWhat Samo Burja Thinks About Basically EverythingSamo Burja (@SamoBurja), founder of Bismarck Analysis, joins Erik for this episode. You can find him on Medium at medium.com/@samo.burja. In this episode they discuss:- Why certain societies flourish while others decay- Where Samo stands on the nature versus nurture debate- Why he has “yet to hear a satisfying description of human social life”- The lessons we can learn from places like Singapore- The difference between the view of government as resource for the people versus the view of people as r...
2019-07-271h 03
North Star PodcastSamo Burja: Great Founder TheoryIntroduction: My guest today is Samo Burja, the founder of Bismarck Analysis, a firm that analyzes institutions, governments, and companies for high net worth individuals. There’s never been an immortal human society and Samo is on a quest to find out why. Known for his Great Founder Theory, Samo’s research focuses on the causes of societal decay and flourishing. In this episode, we talk about Samo's Great Founder Theory through the lens of Apple, Amazon and the myths that drive Silicon Valley. Then, we move to a discussion of geopolitical strategy where we talk about China, the Suez C...
2018-12-101h 42