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Episodes

July 12, 2024

Can China Power its Rise?

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China's energy strategy and its broader geopolitical implications.

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June 14, 2024

The Power Structures of Cities

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss about the nature of cities being shaped by human society.

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June 7, 2024

The Turbulence of Boeing: Decline and Future Prospects

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg talk about the decline of Boeing

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May 30, 2024

Live Players Analysis: Drug Cartels in Mexico

In this episode of 'Live Players, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss the intricate dynamics of Mexican drug cartels and their impact on both Mexico's political and economic landscape.

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May 25, 2024

How to Find the Frontiers of Knowledge, Samo Burja for The Stoa

Today 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 incen…

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May 6, 2024

Academia's Impact on Society | Rudyard Lynch Interviews Samo Burja

In this episode of Live Players, Rudyard Lynch (@whatifalthist) interviews Samo Burja and covers a range of topics including the evolution and current state of academia, the impact of bureaucratization and managerial ideology on society, and the state of democracy and legislation in modern Western …

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April 28, 2024

The Future of Democracy

This episode features Erik and Samo's 2nd-ever interview for the Venture Stories podcast, an in-depth discussion of geopolitics, statecraft, and the study of society. It was recorded in 2019. They cover: how might cryptocurrencies increase centralized state power? What do our economic analyses miss…

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April 18, 2024

What India Should Do to Secure Its Future as a Global Superpower

This week Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss India as a live player. They cover: India's demographics and and the barriers it faces towards industrialization and wealth.

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April 16, 2024

What Causes Institutions to Flourish?

This is a special re-airing of an episode Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg taped for Venture Stories (Village Global's podcast) in 2019 . Their conversation covers the following: the distinction between invention vs. adoption of technology.

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April 6, 2024

Fall of Rome with Rudyard Lynch

Today we're sharing a special episode of History 102 with Rudyard Lynch (@Whatifalthist on YouTube). Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg delve into the critical moments and competing narratives of the fall of the Roman Empire.

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March 30, 2024

China, AI, and the New Global Order

In this episode Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the current state and future state of America, China, Russia, Ukraine, energy, the US dollar, AI, Peter Zeihan, Balaji Srinivasan, and more.

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March 21, 2024

Alibaba After Jack Ma & China's Economy in 2024

In this conversation, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Alibaba after Jack Ma's exit and analyze the Chinese Economy.

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March 13, 2024

China vs US: Space and Frontier Technologies

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss how China's technological advancements in space exploration and quantum technology could change things around the world.

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March 6, 2024

Xi Jinping's Legacy and China's Succession

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg dive deep into how Xi Jinping is shaping China's society today and its place in the world.

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Feb. 28, 2024

Tech Stagnation and What's Holding Us Back

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss tech stagnation, drawing from Peter Thiel and Tyler Cowen's theories on technological progress rates with energy consumption as a metric. They also delve into Y Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz's influence and potential futures amidst differi…

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Feb. 21, 2024

Putin & Tucker, Russia, Ukraine and Poland

In this episode Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin, the history behind the Russia-Ukraine war and the media’s war propaganda machine. Poland's role within Europe, its political economy and emergence as a high-income nation, issues of economic inequ…

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Feb. 13, 2024

A deep dive on Big Pharma and Ozempic

In this episode Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Astra Zeneca and the dysfunction of Big Pharma, its lack of innovation and potential ramifications despite its enormous economic power, incentives behind scientific breakthroughs and the potential for improvement, truth vs profit and changing th…

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Feb. 7, 2024

Africa’s Geopolitics: Governance, Corruption and Global Influence

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Africa as the potential "next China," its corrupt governments, and Botswana's leadership example. The corruption driven by inflated population figures, affecting economic incentives and aid allocation. Peacemaking efforts among the Hutu and Tut…

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Jan. 31, 2024

How to Make America’s Government More Efficient

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss US government spending, regulation and the importance of strategic restructuring for improved efficiency. They cover the reasons why DARPA is a model for enhanced focus and efficiency in government teams, and discuss ways the US can address contemporary challen…

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Jan. 24, 2024

China's Elite vs America's Elite

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China as America’s mirror.

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Jan. 17, 2024

Dynasties, Meritocracies, and Succession

On this episode of Live Players, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss the key aspects of succession for the Sulzberger family of the NYTimes, Samsung Lee family, and Sweden’s Wallenberg family. They debate the values of dynastic succession and touch on modern examples like Botswana.

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Jan. 10, 2024

Singapore's Rise to Prosperity: The City State Strategy

In this episode of Live Players, Sam Burja and Erik Torenberg delve into an analysis of Singapore's post-colonial rise to power as a city state, how city states are more oriented towards prosperity than other kinds of states, and the transferable strategies of Singapore to other regions.

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Jan. 3, 2024

Decoding Japan's Future: Global Power Landscape & Geopolitics

In this episode of Live Players, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg delve into an analysis of Japan's multidimensional identity as a highly homogeneous ethno state, an economic powerhouse, and as a hub for innovation in tech & AI. They also cover its aging population, nuanced military stance, and nuclea…

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Dec. 27, 2023

The Politicization of History

On this episode of Live Players, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss the way we misunderstand or skew history. They cover the Bronze Age, Europe's Decline, Russia/Ukraine conflict, and more.

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