Shows
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonIndia-Pakistan Fighting... Just Stopped!After recording our episode on the ongoing hostilities yesterday, we didn’t quite get around to editing and posting — but believe us when we say that nobody is happier than we are that this is the outcome! The talks took place directly between the two unhappy neighbors and were apparently brokered by the United States. It’s a good thing they stopped it here, because hostilities had reached a rolling boil, which we discuss at length in the episode. In this episode of Global Tantrum, Steve and Galen discuss the escalating conflict between India and Pakist...2025-05-1038 min
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonFresh Violence in KashmirThis week, Steve and Galen discuss the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan. They discuss the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, historical tensions, and the potential for dangerous nuclear escalation. The conversation touches on the political climates in both countries, the role of external powers like the United States and China, and the chilling concept of the stability-instability paradox. As tensions rise, the hosts provide insights and predictions on what might come next in this high-stakes situation. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up02:33 Recent Terrorist Attack in Kashmir 04:42 Historical Context of India-Pakistan Relations 09:09...2025-05-0457 min
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonTantrum In Tehran: Nuclear Deal ReduxIn this episode of Global Tantrum, Steve and Galen discuss the latest developments in Iran's nuclear situation, diving into an in-depth analysis of Iran's current nuclear and conventional capabilities and the geopolitical implications of U.S.-Iran negotiations. They discuss recent articles from the New York Times, Israel's stance on military action, and Iran's economic struggles under harsh sanctions. Learn about the potential outcomes of the negotiations and what it means for global security in this comprehensive episode.01:18 Iranian Denuclearization Developments06:43 Sanctions and Economic Impact on Iran14:10 Iran's Military Capabilities and Regional Influence2025-04-1945 min
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonEast Asia’s Pressure Point: The Taiwan Strait ChallengeIn this episode of Global Tantrum, Steve and Galen dive into the escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait. They discuss the recent military activities of the People's Liberation Army Navy around Taiwan, the historical context of the China-Taiwan conflict, and the strategic implications for the United States and its allies. They explore possible future scenarios, including Taiwan's nuclear options and potential US policy shifts, especially under the second Trump Administration. The episode also examines the broader geopolitical ramifications, including the responses from Japan and other regional players. 00:00 Introduction06:02 Historical Context of Taiwan-China Relations 11:37...2025-04-1253 min
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonAutarky in the USA?In episode of Global Tantrum, Ryan Weldzius of Villanova University once again joins Steve and Galen to jump into the imposition of unprecedented tariffs by the Trump administration. The discussion covers the immediate global and domestic impacts, historical comparisons, and the potential for escalating trade wars and currency devaluations — the “Great Depression / WW2 Doom Loop,” if you will. They also explore the strategic logic, or lack thereof, behind these policy moves, and their broader implications for global economic order and US soft power. Tune in for an in-depth, critical analysis of what these tariffs mean for the future of intern...2025-04-0855 min
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonThe Trouble With TariffsIn this episode of Global Tantrum!, Steve and Galen welcome Assistant Professor Ryan Weldzius of Villanova to discuss the Trump Administration’s tariff plans. But before they do that, they have very little choice but to talk about Signalgate — a pure Global Tantrum! topic if ever there was one. After analyzing that dangerous piece of foolishness, they turn back to international political economy to explore how these tariffs are affecting international trade, inflation, the US dollar as a reserve currency, and the potential for reindustrialization in America. Throughout, they highlight the disconnect between the administration's policies and their stated goal...2025-03-2852 min
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonWhat Is Grand Strategy?In this episode of Global Tantrum, Steve and Galen delve into an in-depth analysis of grand strategy: from George Washington's isolationism to America's role as a global power post-World War II and post-Cold War primacy. The hosts explore how these strategies have influenced recent presidents, especially contrasting Donald Trump’s distinct shift towards disengagement and spheres of influence. They consider the implications for global stability, allied relationships, and internal American politics, concluding with speculation on the future trajectory of U.S. grand strategy under Trump’s renewed leadership.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up04:47 Book Corn...2025-03-241h 03
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonNukes, Credibility, and K-Pop: Should South Korea Go Nuclear?Steve and Galen dive into the wild world of extended nuclear deterrence on this episode of Global Tantrum! They tackle South Korea's recent statements about nuclear armament, the concept of extended deterrence, and the unpredictable twists and turns of US foreign policy. Will South Korea build the bomb? How would Japan and Taiwan react? And what about the infamous Age of Chaos? Tune in and find out—and sleep well, everyone!**************EXCERPT: Tripwires and Nuclear Strategy************************Galen: The famous quote, I think it was Henry Kissinger said, great powers do not commit suicide on behalf of...2025-03-091h 02
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonGlobal Tantrum! 3/2/25: The German QuestionGermany in Crisis: Re-Arming for a New World Order? | Global Tantrum Welcome back to another thrilling episode of Global Tantrum! This week, Steve and Galen dive deep into the recent political shake-up in Germany post-federal election. They unravel the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) and Germany's place in a potential new world order. They also speculate about Germany's re-armament, its complex historical legacy, and the potential implications for European and global security. All this and some unexpected snow complaints. Don't miss the wild ride! 00:00 Introduction04:46 Germany's Political Landscape: A Historical...2025-03-041h 05
Global Tantrum! with Steve Palley and Prof. Galen JacksonGlobal Tantrum 2/21/25: Will Iran Attempt Nuclear Breakout?This week, Steve and Galen discuss Iran's nuclear program and its implications for global security, starting with Iran's progress towards obtaining bomb-grade uranium and the potential for rapid weaponization. The hosts discuss Israel's increasing focus on Iran following its recent military engagements in the Middle East. They debate the feasibility and risks of Israeli or U.S.-led strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, exploring historical precedents and potential geopolitical fallout. The conversation touches on Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, regional power dynamics, and the challenges of enforcing nuclear non-proliferation. They also examine the possibility of U.S. involvement and the...2025-02-251h 04
Art from the OutsideArtist Tiona Nekkia McCloddenThis episode we are hugely excited to be joined by the artist Tiona Nekkia McClodden!
Tiona is a visual artist, filmmaker, and curator whose work explores and critiques issues at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and social commentary.
Born in Blytheville, Arkansas and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, Tiona weaves narratives through archives, memories and objects, integral to her past and present, that shape her broader practice.
In 2022, Tiona’s exhibitions at The Shed and 52 Walker alongside her year-long installation at MoMA in New York, garnered significant acclaim, prompting The New York Time...2023-11-0149 min
The Munk Debates PodcastBe it Resolved, Central Banks have not adequately represented the public interestJust when inflation seemed to finally be cooling, high interest rates claimed their first major victim: Silicon Valley Bank. And yet, central banks around the world claim the job is not finished, and more needs to be done to curb runaway inflation. But for some economists and business insiders, the latest debacle confirms a long held belief that central banks have largely failed as public institutions. Their supposed neutrality is a farce, and they are inherently political bodies run by unelected officials. Democracy requires more than accountability, transparency, and good deliberation. It requires democratic power: the power of the p...2023-04-2643 min
Super Stonk Bros#16. Investing in the Metaverse | Ft. Mario Stefanidis from Roundhill InvestmentsRoundhill Investments recently created a Metaverse ETF (META) partnering with one of the most famous Metaverse bloggers Matthew Ball.
Hear about the construction of the companies comprising the portfolio, advantages to owning the ETF, trends in thematic ETFs, and much more!
Joining us today is Mario Stefanidis with Roundhill Investments who created the ETF.
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. Roundhill's META Metaverse ETF
#2. Matthew Ball's Super Long Primer on the Metaverse
GUEST SPEAKER INFO:
- Mario Stefanidis is VP of Research at Roundhill Investments
HOST...2021-08-0330 min
Super Stonk Bros#15. Is China Investable | Ft. Matthew Kanterman Bloomberg IntelligenceGiven the recent Chinese government interference with Chinese companies that are listing overseas such as with Jack Ma and the Ant IPO and more recently by restricting Didi app access shortly after going public on the NYSE, we consider how investable Chinese companies are moving forward. Let's talk Chinese government objectives, key risks, companies, and overall future outlook.
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. WSJ: Beijing Blocks Merger, Tightens Data Rules as Post-Didi Crackdown Speeds Up
#2. Bloomberg: Everything You Need to Know About Didi's Debacle
#3. Time: China's Didi Crackdown Isn't All That...2021-07-1955 min
Super Stonk Bros#14. Avid Bull Case: Riding Big Wave of Content and Cloud | Ft. Luis Sanchez (LVS Advisory)Today we speak with Luis Sanchez who worked on Wall Street for over a decade before starting his own investment management and advisory firm.
Find out why Avid is Luis' biggest holding and why he bet big on Avid last March catching a 2x in just 3 months. Why does he think there's still a lot of valuation room left to run.
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. LVS April News Update
#2. LVS Advisory
#3. Luis Twitter
GUEST SPEAKER INFO:
- Luis Sanchez, CFA heads LVS Advisory an NYC-based registered investment...2021-06-281h 10
Super Stonk Bros#13. Roblox: Metaverse or Bust?Today we are going to talk about Roblox... a company firmly fixated on the METAVERSE!
What's that all about and a few surprise additional growth drivers I don't think you'll hear anywhere else.
We discuss: #1. Current business and valuation, #2. Growth Drivers, #3. The Metaverse, #4. Key Risks, and #5. Opinions on Future Prospects.
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. Catch these episodes on the Super Stonk Bros YouTube Channel
GUEST SPEAKER INFO:
- Matthew Kanterman is a Senior Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence and covers Roblox in addition to having recently written...2021-06-2253 min
Super Stonk Bros#12. Twitter's Highly Speculative Bull Case: Social TokensMacro 108 (aka Joe Kim ) and Steve Palley discuss a highly speculative bull case for Twitter.
The biggest bull case likely involves the ability for Twitter to become the App Store for influencer to audience monetization. Find out more about Social Tokesn below.
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. Social Tokens in Gaming from GameMakers YouTube Channel
#2. Catch these episodes on the Super Stonk Bros YouTube Channel
HOST INFO:
- Joe Kim is CEO of LILA Games. Formerly SVP Games at NBCUniversal, Chief Product Officer at SEGA, Studio Lead at FunPlus where...2021-06-0436 min
Super Stonk Bros#11. Jam City + Ludia SPAC | Money Grab or Long-term Value?Macro 108 (aka Joe Kim ) and Steve Palley discuss the recent announcement by Jam City to merge with DPCM Capital to become a publicly traded company via SPAC (special purpose acquisition company). The deal also includes the acquisition of Ludia for $175M.
Apologies to our friends at Jam City, we love you guys and wish you the best, but definitely want to keep it real on concerns.
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. Jam City's Investor Relations presentation on the deal
#2. Check out the Super Stonk Brothers YouTube Channel
HOST INFO:
...2021-05-2537 min
Super Stonk Bros#10. Will Elon Launch TeslaCoin? And How To Afford Yale Under InflationMacro 108 (aka Joe Kim ) and Steve Palley discuss Elon Musk's recent tweets that have led to speculation around Bitcoin, Doge, and maybe even the potential for Elon to launch his own cryptocurrency, say a Teslacoin.
We then also talk about the Bloomberg article: How to Afford Yale if Inflation Creeps Above 3%
RELEVANT LINKS:
#1. JK's Investment Strategy in SSB #2: How To Build An Investment Strategy
#2. JK and Steve Talk About the Potential for TeslaCoin back in SSB #4: TeslaCoin
#3. Unconventional Success by David Swenson
HOST INFO:
...2021-05-1758 min
Super Stonk Bros#9. Zynga: Death of M&A Gravy Train or Rise of the Ad Tech Walled Garden?Macro 108 (aka Joe Kim ) and Steve Palley discuss Zynga's latest quarterly earnings call and our thoughts on the company.
The company is currently transitioning from growth fueled by the M&A gravy train for the past 5-6 years but today is actively trying to be more like Applovin and build a vertically integrated adtech + games powerhouse.
What do we think are the future prospects for Zynga?
GUEST HOST:
- Matthew Kanterman is Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence and unlike us is an industry pro!
HOST INFO:2021-05-1249 min
Super Stonk Bros#8. Short Skillz? Accounting Shenanigans or Scalable Platform?Macro 108 (aka Joe Kim ) and Steve Palley discuss mobile esports tournament and prize pool platform: Skillz
The company has recently been getting picked up by ARK Invest funds. What do we think about the stock?
GUEST HOST:
- Matthew Kanterman is Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence and unlike us is an industry pro!
HOST INFO:
- Joe Kim is CEO of LILA Games. Formerly SVP Games at NBCUniversal, Chief Product Officer at SEGA, Studio Lead at FunPlus where he launched the #1 top grossing F2P mobile game King...2021-05-041h 02
Super Stonk Bros#7. Munger Buys Alibaba, Dimon's Bond Warning, Biden's Cap Gains Tax, Apple Ad ArmageddonMacro 108 (aka Joe Kim ) and Steve Palley discuss investment, economy, and politics.
NEWS LINKS:
#1. Charlie Munger's Daily Journal Buys Alibaba
#2. Jamie Dimon’s Bond Warning Isn’t Like Ray Dalio’s
#3. How the Biden capital gains tax proposal would hit the wealthy
#4. Apple's Privacy Ad Armageddon Helps Familiar Tech Giants
HOST INFO:
- Joe Kim is CEO of LILA Games. Formerly SVP Games at NBCUniversal, Chief Product Officer at SEGA, Studio Lead at FunPlus where he launched the #1 top grossi...2021-04-2550 min
Super Stonk Bros#6. Applovin IPO: S1 Breakdown, Buy or Sell from Gaming Insiders!Macro 108 (aka Joe Kim) and Steve Palley discuss the Applovin IPO. We take a look at the S1 and provide our insights having worked in the gaming industry and having unique perspective on Applovin's prospects.
LINKS:
Ad Tech + Game Studios | The BIG Dangers from AppLovin, Zynga, and More Coming!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superstonkbros/message2021-04-1837 min
Super Stonk Bros#5. Inflation: Drivers/Inhibitors and Investment ImplicationsMacro 108 (aka Joe Kim) and Steve Palley discuss inflation. Breakdown drivers/inhibitors and talk about investment implications.
LINKS:
Ray Dalio on The Long Term Debt Cycle
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superstonkbros/message2021-04-1340 min
Super Stonk Bros#4. Bitcoin to $11T? | Teslacoin $TSLAC > $BTCMacro 108 (aka Joe Kim) and Steve Palley discuss the history, valuation drivers, expert opinions, and future outlook/price target for Bitcoin.
We end with a bull case for a Teslacoin. Come on Elon, let's go!
LINKS:
#1. Ray Dalio on The Long Term Debt Cycle
#2. Bitcoin and Tether Medium Article: The Bit Short: Inside Crypto’s Doomsday Machine
#3. Super Stonk Bros on YouTube
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superstonkbros/message2021-04-0450 min
Super Stonk Bros#3 Tesla to $10T | Valuation Drivers, A-Z Scale, and Structural AdvantageMacro 108 (aka Joe Kim) and Steve Palley discuss the bull case including ARK's $3K stock price call and Macro 108's $10T thesis for Tesla.
LINKS:
ARK’s Price Target for Tesla in 2025
ARK's Tesla Valuation Model
Elon Musk on Joe Rogen Discussing Electric Airplanes
Dave Lee on Tesla's Last Foot Ecommerce Opportunity
Super Stonk Bros on YouTube
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superstonkbros/message2021-03-281h 12Super Stonk Bros#2 Building An Investment Strategy: Philosophy + Thesis + TargetsWelcome back!
Joe Kim and Steve Palley discuss how us lowly retail investors should build an overall investment strategy to beat the system.
See JK's system and way of thinking. Hear about Steve's background in investing. And, as always, let us know what you think!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superstonkbros/message2021-03-1543 minSuper Stonk Bros#1 The Future of Investing Is DifferentJoin your hosts Joe Kim and Steve Palley - the Super Stonk Bros - who are sharing lessons learned and learning all the time about how to build wealth for their families through investing in stocks.
We discuss why we started this podcast and why the investment environment today in 2021 and moving to the future is likely different from the past.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superstonkbros/message2021-03-1421 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsWhat Just Happened In The United States?The Elucidators return after a week off to discuss the results of the presidential election in the United States, which, while decisive, are still playing out for some very irritating, unfortunate, and potentially dangerous reasons. While all of that nonsense fulminates, the entire world also received some excellent news on the COVID-19 vaccine front: Pfizer announced that its vaccine candidate (developed in collaboration with German firm BioNTech) is 90% effective, a truly spectacular result after less than a year of development.NOTE TO OUR AUDIENCE: We're going on hiatus for the holidays and may or may n...2020-11-1356 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsWill We Ever Get Rid Of Nuclear Weapons?This week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we’re digging into one of our very favorite topics: the future of nuclear weapons! As of this past weekend, 50 countries have ratified the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, a UN-backed effort to relegate nukes to the dustbin of history. But stuffing the nuclear genie back into its bottle won’t be easy, especially with a potential arms race brewing between the US, Russia and China, and new entrants to the nuclear club like North Korea upping their warhead counts. Will we ever get to full disarmament? Should we even want to...2020-10-301h 07
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsThailand's Royal MessThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we journey to Thailand, which most Westerners associate with pristine beaches and a welcoming, peaceful culture. Little do most outsiders know that the “Land of Smiles,” despite its many charms, has long been one of the least politically stable countries in the world. This year, tens of thousands of protestors have been in the streets of Bangkok and other major Thai cities, calling for changes to a supposedly constitutional monarchy that has been cooperating with the military to consolidate absolute power. Now Thailand stands on a knife’s edge between reform and es...2020-10-2346 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsWarnings from the Far RightThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we take a brief detour to one of the nastier places in modern politics: the Far Right. Right-wing extremists ranging from anti-government militias to neo-Nazi parties have been increasingly vocal in the United States and Europe in recent years, and this year’s chaos seems to have kicked extremist activity up another notch. Who are these people? Where are they active? What do they believe? And most importantly, how dangerous are they? Stay tuned for some answers!Episode photo: Anthony Crider / Wikimedia CommonsFurther Reading:Inside th...2020-10-161h 19
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsFishing For A Brexit DealThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we’re checking in on Brexit! The seemingly endless wrangling between the United Kingdom and the European Union to decide their post-divorce economic relationship is nearing a hard stop at the end of this year. The next few weeks may be the last, best chance for the two sides to avoid an economically catastrophic no-deal outcome. Will UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s deliberately irrational negotiating style pay off, or is he trying to play chicken with a cliff? We’ve got answers!Episode photo credit: Max van den Oetela...2020-10-0943 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsRumble In The CaucasusThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we step into the Caucasus, a mountainous Eurasian region where an ongoing rivalry between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh has erupted into open fighting. Could neighboring Great Powers Turkey and Russia be drawn into a larger war that neither really wants to fight? Boy... We sure hope not!Episode art credit: Achemish / Wikimedia CommonsFurther Reading:Nagorno-Karabakh clashes continue, prompting emergency UN talksUnfrozen Conflict in Nagorno-KarabakhArmenia and Azerbaijan fight over Nagorno-Karabakh againFollow and like us on the social medias, or...2020-10-0242 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsTaiwan In China's CrosshairsThis week on the Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we journey to one of the most dangerous places on Earth, the Taiwan Strait, a narrow body of water that separates the island nation of Taiwan from the People’s Republic of China. This past weekend, China sent dozens of warplanes across the Strait’s median line, sending an unmistakably threatening message to the vibrant democracy it has always regarded as a renegade province. Does this mean war? Stay tuned and find out! Further Reading:China Raises Conflict Risk With Breach of Taiwan Buffer ZoneTo China’s alarm, America...2020-09-251h 12
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsDecoding the COVID Economy With Prof. Ryan WeldziusThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, friend of the show Prof. Ryan Weldzius of Villanova University swings by to give us the 411 on the global economy in 2020 and beyond. The COVID pandemic has disrupted every major economy in the world, from the United States to the European Union to China, and kicked off what appears to be a new era of fragmentation in international economic relationships. What does all this mean for us in the short, medium, and long terms? We’ve got answers!Photo by Pat Whelen on UnsplashFollow and like us...2020-09-181h 07
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsHero of Hotel Rwanda ArrestedThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we’re checking into the situation in Rwanda, where Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager whose heroism during the 1994 Genocide inspired the Oscar-nominated movie Hotel Rwanda, has been arrested and accused of terrorism. What does this surprising move on the part of authoritarian President Paul Kagame mean for this small country that is sometimes called “the Switzerland of Africa,” belying its tragic history? Stick with us and we will Elucidate! Episode Photo by Adam Jones on Wikimedia CommonsFurther Reading:Rwanda arrests the man who shielded people from ge...2020-09-111h 11
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsSayonara Shinzo-San: Japan's Longest-Serving PM Steps DownThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we go to Japan, where Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving Prime Minister in modern Japanese history, is stepping down after eight years in office. After Japan suffered through decades of economic stagnation and decline, Abe attempted to make major reforms in both the domestic and foreign policy arenas to get the country moving again. Has he succeeded in bringing America’s most important military ally, which is also still the world’s third-largest economy, into the 21st century? Let us elucidate!Episode Photo by Jezael Melgoza on UnsplashFurt...2020-09-041h 14
Deconstructor of FunRant-cast: Eric Kress Unchained | IDFA Apocalypse, Why Tech Companies Fail at Games, Geopolitical ShenanigansWhat are the biggest issues and annoyances in the games industry that trigger Eric Kress? Come to an uncensored broadcast discussing these issues moderated by Chris Hewish from Xsolla and also joined by Joe Kim who will egg on Eric for maximum entertainment!
Host: Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla
Speakers:
Eric Kress, Deconstructor of Fun co-host
Joe Kim, Deconstructor of Fun co-host
Notes:
I (Joe Kim) have been corrected that probabilistic attribution actually doesn't require fingerprinting but instead can be executed by utilizing a technique called Mixed Media Modeling. Thanks Steve Palley...2020-08-2957 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEveryone (Doesn't) Love Erdogan!This week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we dive into the deep blue waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey’s strongman President Erdogan is in a dispute with historic enemy (and fellow NATO member) Greece, along many other neighboring countries, over access to newly discovered oil and gas resources on the sea floor. Is Erdogan still making Turkey great again, or has he bitten off more beef than he can chew this time? We’ll also get into Putin’s poisoned political nemesis Alexei Navalny, who is lying in a medically induced coma in a Berlin...2020-08-2859 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsThe Abraham Accord Between Israel and UAEThis week on The Elucidators: Decoding Global News, we’re going to discuss a big, symbolic diplomatic move that occurred in the Middle East last week: the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, two countries that have been in a formal state of hostilities for decades. In one of the few successes the Trump Administration can claim for its foreign policy, it looks like the Arabs and Israelis may be putting aside their longstanding enmity to confront the nascent Iranian threat. We’re also going to delve into the situation in Belaru...2020-08-2138 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsThe Beirut BlastThis week on the Elucidators, we’re recording on Tuesday August 11th, a week after a massive blast hit Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut, one of the most culturally important metros in the Arab world, and a place that was once known as “The Paris of the Middle East.” Sadly, a lethal blend of incompetence, corruption, oligarchic politics and explosive industrial chemicals has left Beirut and Lebanon on the brink of collapse. Also this week, we’ll elucidate the next stage of the International Thermal Experimental Reactor, a fusion power project that has the potential to...2020-08-1458 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsThe Russian COVID-19 Vaccine(?), Hong Kong's Crackdown Goes International, Trump's TikTok BanThis week on The Elucidators, we’re hitting three topics of note across the world of international relations. First off, the Russians claim to have won the race to a coronavirus vaccine... but they may have cut a few important corners on the way to first place. Second, in a predictable but still shockingly fast development, Hong Kong has used its new National Security Law to issue arrest warrants for 6 pro-democracy activists based in Western countries, including a lobbyist who has been a United States citizen for nearly 25 years. And finally, we’ll discuss President Trump’s threat to ban th...2020-08-0737 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsChina And Ethiopia Do The Dam ThingModern hydroelectric dams are among the most economically consequential structures countries build. When they work well, they can protect downstream areas from devastating floods, while also providing steady water flow for agriculture and vast amounts of electricity for economic development. On the other hand, their construction is often politically controversial, both within states and between them — and should one of these massive structures ever collapse, it can lead to truly catastrophic outcomes. This week, we’re taking a look at two important dams that have come under different kinds of pressure: the Three Gorges Dam in Chi...2020-07-3158 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsWill The European Union Throw Away Its Shot?Most Americans’ direct experience with the European Union is probably limited to the colorful Euro bills--featuring pictures of Roman arches and statues and such--that we use to buy stuff when touring Athens, or Paris, or Berlin, saving us from having to change money into a new national currency every time we switch cities. But the European Union is so much more than the Euro: it’s a supranational institution of 27 different countries, and within that huge group it has a major say in everything from agricultural subsidies to data privacy to national debt. And if the EU...2020-07-2453 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsNot-So-Little Fires Everywhere in IranIran's not in great shape. A deeply unpopular government run by aging Islamic theocrats... a bad economy crippled by American sanctions... and a runaway COVID-19 pandemic have already combined to push this big, important Middle Eastern power towards the edge. And now, on top of everything else, some of Iran's most sensitive military sites -- including the research center where the regime builds advanced centrifuges for potential use in a nuclear weapons program -- are blowing up and burning down.Some of these incidents probably aren't accidents. Who's behind them (cough cough ISRAEL cough...2020-07-1751 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsChina Squashes Hong Kong With National Security LawWe've been keeping an eye on the situation in Hong Kong since last year, when hundreds of thousands of mostly youthful Hong Kongers hit the streets to demonstrate for increased autonomy and democracy. About a week ago, China's response arrived in the form of a very powerful new National Security Law, the import of which can be boiled down to one word: NOPE. In terms of basic freedoms like speaking one's mind, access to a jury trial, and warrants being required for searches, Hong Kongers literally went to sleep in the West on June 30 and woke up in Xi...2020-07-1048 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsA Slightly Premature Yearly RetrospectiveThis week, Steve and Soumi conduct a quick look back at 11 months of The Elucidators. We started all the way back in August 2019, when giants walked the Earth, with our hot take on a mysterious nuclear explosion in northern Russia. Then over the course of 44 near-weekly episodes, we jumped through every continent but Antarctica -- which is kind of lame so no big loss there -- tackling protests, pandemics, policy (of the foreign variety) and presidential elections, among many other topics.And now we're here, once again in semi-quarantine, taking stock and thinking ab...2020-07-0314 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsBlack Lives Matter EverywhereBlack Lives Matter.Due to social media technology, the filmed police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis traveled around the world in minutes. Now, what started out as a homegrown American movement a few years ago has gone global, with very large (and peaceful) anti-racism protests rippling from South Africa to South America. Is this merely a striking moment that is destined to fade away over time? Or are we seeing the birth of a new international norm towards anti-racism and fair treatment of minorities?This week, Steve and Soumi talk about this a...2020-06-1851 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsIs NATO Still Great-O?@RealDonaldTrump threatened to pull out 1/3 of the American troops stationed in Germany…without telling Congress…or Ze Germans. Nice guy!What does this mean for the future of NATO—the world’s oldest multinational military alliance—and the United States military presence in Europe? If we end up leaving, should we care? Why or why not?This week, Steve, Soumi, and Galen discuss this…And MUCH MUCH MORE!**If you like the show, please remember to subscribe on your podcast app and tell your friends!**More reading here:1. https://nationalinterest...2020-06-121h 07
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsIs China Making a Play for Hegemony, or is it Just the World's Biggest, Grouchiest Neighbor?You’re China. (Hi, China!)In the last 8 months, you were the source of this century’s worst pandemic, bungled the early management of the outbreak at home, and mislead the international community about it for months.But now that things are under control health-wise in the Middle Kingdom and the United States is distracted by major internal issues it's apparently time to settle some scores, starting with Hong Kong… and Taiwan… and India… and WHO ELSE WANTS SOME OF CHINA!?This week Steve, Soumi, and Galen talk about China’s rise, whether or not it ca...2020-06-051h 02
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsDonnie & The Deepfakes: Disinformation, COVID-19 and the 2020 ElectionLies.Malarkey.Propaganda.Fake news.Misinformation.Disinformation.Weaponized Nonsense.The internet has all of these… as well as… real public information and actual news!This week, Steve and Soumi talk about the deluge of disinformation and how we all play part in spreading it, whether it comes from foreign governments or homegrown conspiracy theorists.And, of course, we have to talk about the world’s most notable purveyor of fake news, President Donald Trump and the upcoming 2020 U.S. Presidential election...and mu...2020-05-2955 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsTrump vs Xi Jinping vs Tedros: WHO Needs This During COVID-19?!Q: How did a mild-mannered Ethiopian microbiologist end up one of the most talked about people in the ongoing pandemic?A: International politics.This week, Steve and Soumi discuss how Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director General, found himself in @RealDonaldTrump’s political crosshairs, as well as:What is the WHO?What did they know about the coronavirus outbreak?Are they covering up for China?What does all the fighting over COVID-19's origins portend for the emergence and implementation of a vacc...2020-05-2244 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsCoronavirus in China: The Wuhan Flu, ManSince we first discussed the #coronavirus outbreak in China last week, A LOT has changed: There are now more than 7,800 confirmed #nCoV2019 cases and 212 deaths worldwide... as well as over a hundred full recoveries.The vast majority of this activity remains in China, but we're seeing a handful of cases elsewhere, including other Asian countries, Germany, France, Australia, the United States, and Canada.National health organizations are on high alert and WHO has declared a Global Health Emergency.And China's major cities, including Wuhan, Shanghai, and Beijing, are entering progressively tougher states of quarantine and lockdown.In th...2020-01-3135 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsPandemic in China: Crouching Virus, Frightened PlanetThis week, Steve and Soumi discuss the new #Coronavirus, the threats of pandemics in a globalized world, and what countries can do to handle problems that are bigger than nations.Buckle up cuz #pandemics can come at you fast! Observe what's happened in the last three weeks:December 31: China tells the World Health Organization (#WHO) about concerning pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan—the hub of central China’s (population 8-ish million). A quarantine and search for the sickness’s origins begin.January 1: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (#CDC) isolates the virus's origin...2020-01-2431 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsIran vs. USA: It Can Always Get Worse!January 8: The Iranian regime says Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed a couple hours prior because of "mechanical errors."January 11: Actually… we shot it down because we mistook it for an incoming missile. Also this is America’s fault! We will not take any questions about why a commercial flight was allowed to take off while we were launching missiles at the American troops in Iraq. Ahem. Yes.Also January 11: Turning on a dime from mourning assassinated General Qassem #Soleimani to focusing rage on a hidebound regime, the Iranian people resume protesting in face of goons firi...2020-01-1733 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsIran vs. USA: Tensions Drone OnFollow this maze, if you can.Last week, #Trump ordered the assassination of #Iran General Qassem #Soleimani as payback for Iran-linked Shia militias protesting in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, #Iraq.The Iraqi parliament then passed a symbolic, non-binding measure to have the #Americans leave their country over this violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Meanwhile, after three days of official mourning for Soleimani, #Ayatollah # Khamenei violated Iraq’s sovereignty AGAIN by launching non-lethal missile attacks on Iraqi bases where American troops operate.All this while folks all over the world were terr...2020-01-0941 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsIran vs. USA in Iraq: Green Zone Blues*BREAKING NEWS ALERT*Just before we were about to post this episode Thursday evening, President Trump ordered a targeted assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad Airport.Welp.Soleimani was a) not a good guy in any way, shape or form, being responsible for Iran's proxy militias and therefore countless deaths across the Middle East over the course of decades; b) a major Iranian military hero and a beloved political figure who may himself have been Ayatollah someday.Make no mistake: this is a choice, on...2020-01-0336 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 19: India Modi-fies Citizenship LawsQ: How can a law offering a path to citizenship for religious refugees from neighboring countries lead to nationwide protests?A: When the law excludes Muslims from that path... and there are already 200 MILLION Muslims in your country.This week, Steve and Soumi discuss mass protests in India over Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.Since the law passed last week, Indians of all religions have taken to the streets to voice their displeasure. Social media and news reports showed awful video of police entering one Muslim university's li...2019-12-2028 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 18: More Brexit, Friday the 13th EditionMuch like the well-known horror film franchise (albeit with fewer hockey masks and machetes), Brexit is scary and just doesn’t seem to end. In this latest installment of UK Democracy: Endless Madness, the world will find out who the UK’s next Prime Minister will be on the appropriately (actually randomly) chosen date of Friday, December 13th.Either the right-wing Conservative Party’s controversial bon vivant Boris “BoJo” Johnson or the Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn, a socialist doing very little to pretend to be a center-left pol, will be the next resident of 10 Downing Street. And, weirdly...2019-12-1232 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 17: Arresting Climate Change at COP25Q: What annual event is the biggest, most important, and least fun party in the world?A: It's the United Nations' Conference of Parties (COP) to combat climate change.(Fine. It's more of a conference than a party…let it go, nerd.) Through December 13th, representatives from 200-ish nations are meeting in Madrid, Spain to discuss rising carbon emissions levels, carbon trading, the financing of climate change mitigation, and other initiatives to achieve a carbon neutral world by 2050. Despite the big achievement that was the 2015 Paris Agreement… things frankly are not looki...2019-12-0542 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 16: Hong Kong (Still) Going WrongBack in August, we checked in on #Hong Kong eleven weeks into the city's millions-strong pro-democracy protests. Fourteen weeks later, those protests are still rolling, with even greater intensity -- and they are now generating electoral consequences too!Local district counsel elections this past week registered MASSIVE victories for the pro-democracy movement... while the U.S. Congress has passed legislation to have Hong Kong’s back. All of which is to say Xi Jinping and the People’s Republic of China can’t be happy with the way things are headed in the increasingly restive city-state of Hong K...2019-11-2740 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 15: Iran Into Trouble (Problems of Persia)Q: What do you get when you raise fuel prices in Iran by 50-300%?A: Major protests all over the country.Q: So then what’s the government do?A: Shut down the internet and attack protesters with live ammo!Iran is two countries at the same time: a young, modern, and cosmopolitan nation of 80 million hoping to join the international community, AND a very conservative, older, and rural theocracy that wants to export its Islamic Revolution and dominate the Greater Middle East.Increasingly, these two countries do not mix, so when the Tr...2019-11-2240 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 14: (Bolivia) Coup Story, BroIf a nation’s leader loses the support of his military and resigns, but no one steps into replace him… has there been a coup?This is no riddle. It’s one of the main political questions facing Bolivians days after their long-serving and (by all accounts) effective leader Evo Morales resigned, along with his Vice President, amid (well-supported) accusations of vote rigging, as well as other attempts to weaken the country’s democratic processes. Now, Bolivia is leaderless and the country’s political future is cloudy to say the least.This week, we try to elucida...2019-11-1436 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 13: Narcos vs. MormonsThis week, a horrific tragedy unfolded in the high desert of Northern Mexico, where three SUVs full of women and children were gunned down with automatic weapons and subsequently burned to ashes. The fact that these folks were members of a Mormon fundamentalist sect that emigrated to the area in the late 19th century and still hold dual US / Mexican citizenship has refocused US attention on the ongoing Mexican Drug War -- an ongoing low-intensity conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of innocents (as well as plenty of not-so-innocents) and disrupted one of the world's largest economies for...2019-11-0736 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 12: ISIS Loses Its HeadOn October 26, 2019, American special forces raided the compound belonging to Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi (ABaB), the leader of the Islamic State in Syria’s (ISIS) and self-anointed caliph or head of all Muslims, resulting in an explosive fatality. In this week’s episode, Steve and Soumi delve into who this guy was, where he came from, what he did, how he died, and what might be coming next from the world of jihadism.(Spoiler Alert!)***None of this would have come about without a stolen pair of underwear.Furth...2019-11-0134 min
Deconstructor of FunApple Arcade: Service Analysis and Future ProspectsApple Arcade launched on September 19 earlier this year and has been praised by many in the media and significantly backed by Apple. Having said that:
#1. What are the future prospects for this service?
#2. Who is the audience?
#3. What are key strengths/weaknesses of the service?
#4. Finally, how well do we think Apple Arcade will do in the long-term?
Find out in our discussion today with myself Joseph Kim, Eric Kress (Principal, Gossamer Consulting), and Steve Palley (Head of Business Development & Strategy, Pixelberry Studios).
Comments? Questions?
Hit us up on Twitter: @jokim1 (JK Kim), @ekress (Eric Kress), @spall03 (Steve Palley)2019-10-3150 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 11: Red Hot Chile ProtestsOn October 17th, Chilean President Sebastian Piñera was bragging to the international media about his country's status as a socioeconomic "oasis" in a sea of instability.Less than 48 hours later, violent protests were roiling Chile's major cities and the Chilean army was in the streets, shooting at protestors with live ammo and running people over with armored vehicles.What the heck happened?! Find out this week on The Elucidators, where Steve and Soumi discuss economic inequality, the Pinochet dictatorship, 21st century protest movements, populism vs. plutocracy, corrupt capitalism, and oh so much more!2019-10-2436 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 10: Venezuelan VictimizationQ: What does a 275% increase in your monthly wage get you?A: If you’re a Venezuelan depending on minimum wage, it gets you the equivalent of $8.That’s enough to buy about nine pounds of meat… for the entire month. And that's after after eight previous minimum wage hikes!In this week's episode of The Elucidators, Steve and Soumi discuss the long and sad path that has led South America’s formerly most-prosperous nation into near-total economic and social collapse. Domestic corruption, incompetence, and autocracy, along with a surprisingly wide array of international actors -- inclu...2019-10-1738 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 09: Kurd Stomped!Q: How do you spell betrayal?A: R-O-J-A-V-A—ROJAVA. That’s the name of the nascent Kurdish state in northern Syria that’s currently being bombed by Turkey.Q: Who are the Kurds?A: The largest ethnic group in the world without an official state of their own and the warriors most-responsible for forcing ISIS out!Q: Why is Turkey doing this?A: Well…because President Trump said they could.We tackle these questions and many, many more in this week’s episode: Kurd Stomped!
2019-10-1134 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 08: Septuagenarian SuperpowerHappy Birthday to the PRC, Happy Birthday to the PRC... it doesn't really flow that well, does it? But if you live in China and you know what's good for you, you were singing along to Xi Jinping's tune this week, when the Chinese Communist Party celebrated the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding. Since 1949, the PRC has come from abject poverty and starvation all the way to the doorstep of global hegemony -- only to run smack into an increasingly hostile United States, which isn't exactly ready to vacate the premises! This week, we dig...2019-10-0539 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 07: It's Getting Hot in Herre, So Turn Off All Your Coal (Power Plants)This past week, both in protests around the world and at the annual meeting of the United Nations, demonstrators young and old demanded immediate action to combat climate change. But what would that really, concretely mean -- and is it politically possible? In this week’s episode, Steve and Soumi delve into the history of climate change and its predicted impact on the environment and humanity. The Elucidators ask, “how are governments going to handle a challenge that’s on a scale bigger than any other international issue in the history of our species?”Please remember to rate, re...2019-09-2736 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 06: Boom Goes The Saudi DynamiteBOOM! Faster than you can say "Happy Saturday," Saudi Arabia's main oil processing facility goes up in a big drone and cruise missile strike, global oil prices go vertical, and Saudi Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's big IPO plans for Saudi Aramco go horizontal. Who the heck are these Houthi guys claiming credit for the strike... and why are the Iranians over here playing dumb? In this episode, we get into proxy wars, regional hegemony, Sunni vs. Shia Islam, the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, the new pay-as-you-go model for U.S. alliances, and much much more!
2019-09-1740 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 05: AfGONEistanThis week we get into the thorny problem of the United States' "Forever War" in Afghanistan. We're 18 years in. Is there an end in sight? It may actually have been, unbeknownst to almost everyone, until President Trump announced that he had canceled secret peace talks in literally the least secret way possible -- on Twitter! Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, isn't it? In this episode, we discuss nation-building in difficult places, the sad(?) fate of John Bolton, civil-military relations, counterinsurgency policy, the allure of international summitry, and much more!
2019-09-1135 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 04: BoJo Takes (And Loses) The WheelWe had really hoped to delay our first Brexit episode to the point that Brexit failed and we wouldn't have to talk about it... but we didn't quite get there :( Thanks a lot, Boris Johnson! In this episode, we delve into BoJo's Brexit-related tricksiness vis-a-vis the British Parliament, along with the governing structures of the United Kingdom and the European Union, the status of Northern Ireland and Scotland, the connection between populism in the UK and the Great Recession, and quite a bit more.Special Bonus: an update on the goings-on in Hong Kong, where Carrie Lam...2019-09-0642 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 03: Hot Times Down SouthDon't look now, but the Amazon Rainforest -- which is the size of the entire continental United States -- is on fire in an unusually big and dangerous way. Is the Brazilian government under right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro to blame, or is the story much more complicated than that? Probably the latter because we're talking about it! In this episode, Steve and Soumi discuss national sovereignty vs. globalism, developing vs. developed countries, the international security implications of widespread climate change, twitter diplomacy, trade sanctions, and oh so much more!As always, we value all questions and feedback...2019-08-3132 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 02: Hong Kong Gone WrongEleven straight weeks of massive protests have paralyzed Hong Kong, one of the wealthiest and most politically important cities in the world. In this episode we discuss: "One Country, Two Systems," Shenzhen, Xi Jinping, income inequality, the Umbrella Movement, Opium Wars, and so very much more! Bonus: Russia's turned off its (voluntary) international radiation monitoring equipment after last episode's nuclear disaster. Hmm....If you like what you're hearing, please like, share, subscribe, and rate us 5 stars on your podcast store! And if you have thoughts or questions, write us at theelucidators@gmail.com.
2019-08-2238 min
The Elucidators: Decoding Global NewsEpisode 01: From Russia With RadiationUh oh, something blew up in a village in Russia's Far North. Steve and Soumi investigate. Topics covered this week include: nuclear weapons strategy, arms control, the Cold War, shirtless Putin, Kim Jong Un's hair.
2019-08-1542 min
Blockchain Insider Podcast by 11:FSEp. 8 Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Bonds and Insurance on Blockchains
In this episode:
Simon, Colin and guests Steve Webb and Hadi Kabalan break down the top news stories of the last week including:
Bitcoin Cash hits $1000, then quickly returns to $600!
The first bond on blockchain
IOTA the Internet of Things “Blockchain” announces flash channels
And we have some top class interviews including: lawyer Stephen Palley about whether or not ICOs are legal, and what you should bear in mind if you're considering setting one up; then we speak to Blocksure's Ranvir Saggu and Joseph Goulden about their Ethereum-based Insurance project.
We hope you're enjo...2017-08-241h 07