Podcast
Curious Worldview
Hosted by Ryan Faulkner · EN
Interviews featuring a mix of investigative journalists, affecting writers, economics, geopolitics, explorers and fascinating life stories.
Check out the 'Starter Packs' I put together for the best place to start with the pod... https://curiousworldview.notion.site/Curious-Worldview-Podcast-Guide-412b6a244ebe42b4b46994ed9e4823b5
Subscribe to the Substack: https://curiousworldviewpod.substack.com/subscribe
Whether it's the supply chain of semi-conductors, a 25 year cold-war CIA veteran, negotiation with Chris Voss, Warden of Sweden's biggest prison, Lawrence Krauss and the universe, Cricket with the GOAT Gideon Haigh, Taiwan, China, the great adventurers and explorers the list goes on...
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Matt Houde | One Step Closer To Deep Geothermal Unlocking Global Energy Transition
Jul 29, 202501:09:34Tap to summarizeGeothermal Energy Starter Pack (Geothermal Interviews On A Curious Worldview Podcast)Curious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe-----Quaise are on the other side of the most exciting week in their companies short history. They use millimeter wave energy from a gyrotron to vaporise rock and create boreholes for accessing deep geothermal energy, offering an alternative to costly traditional drilling methods for accessing those critically hot depths. It is an extremely ambitious, exciting and unique ambition - and Quaise have now proven their technology is applicable outside of theoretical and controlled lab conditions. They have successfully dug to a depth of 100m with their technology at a sight just outside of Austin, Texas - and therefore, move one step closer to realising their goal for adding electrons at scale to the grid.Matt Houde is the Co-Founder of Quaise. This is the second time he's joined me on the podcast. In this interview today we discussed the success of Texas, the business model of Quaise, serendipity in innovation, politics and finance for Quaise and plenty more in between…
Transcribe →
Sam Roggeveen | 'The Echidna Strategy' - How Australia Can Become Defensively Self-Reliant, The Implications Of China's Military Rise & The Role of the US In The Region
Jul 14, 202501:23:59Tap to summarizeSam Roggeveen - The Echidna StrategyCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe-----Sam Roggeveen coined The 'Echidna Strategy' - which is an on the nose metaphor for thinking about Australian Defence policy. Echidna’s are a tiny, cute little animals native to Australia. They are essentially harmless, they only eat ants and termites but despite their size and vulnerability, they have evolved this incredible defensive system. Their bodies are covered in long, spiky thorns thereby making them immune to pretty much all types of attacks that might come from animals higher in the food chain. So in a nutshell, Sam wants Australia to be more like echidna’s, a threat to nobody, but disastrous to anybody that should attack them. In the podcast we discussed Australian defense policy in a changing global landscape. How Australia can become a self-reliant power, the implications of China's military rise, and the evolving role of the United States in the region. Sam shares his thoughts on the importance of ambition in leadership, the potential for an Australian-Indonesian alliance, and the strategic mistakes of AUKUS.Sam worked as an intelligence analyst at Australia's Office of National Assessments before he joined the Lowy institute where he now serves as the Director of the International Security Program, where he leads Australia's defence strategy, US foreign policy and Chinas military development. The opening few minutes of this are not the best audio, but after that it kicks into studio quality. This was recorded in person in Canberra, it is my pleasure to welcome Sam Roggeveen to the podcast…
Transcribe →
Pat McGee | Apple's Insane, Historic, Never To Be Repeated Investment In China
Jun 30, 202501:11:13Tap to summarizePat McGee - Apple in ChinaCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe-----Each year, Apple sells more than 100 million unit's of it's various products, with some factories capable of producing up to 500,000 iPhones (alone) per day. This scale of quality and quantity is not replicated anywhere else in history. And it's all down to the special and unique relationship between one of the world's largest hardware companies, Apple and the worlds largest manufacturer, China. Pat McGee wrote the book on this... 'Apple in China', and joins me for a discussion which explores the intricate relationship between Apple and China's manufacturing landscape. Tim Cook's pivotal role, the challenges of relying on China for production, and the unique conditions that have allowed China to dominate the manufacturing sector. Pat reflects on the geopolitical implications of Apple's strategy and the serendipitous nature of his writing process, culminating in a discussion about the future of industrial statecraft and the lessons learned from Apple's experience.00:00: Pat McGee02:52: Tim Cook's Role in Apple's Success in China06:00: Apple's Reliance on China and Its Vulnerabilities12:12: The Scale of Apple's Manufacturing and Its Implications18:12: Foxcon & Terry Gou24:03: China's Manufacturing Strategy and Apple's Role29:59: China's Ambitions and Apple's Unintentional Consequences39:50: The Journey of Writing The Book44:05: Leaning Into Serendipity51:31: The Impact of Apple's Industrial Strategy58:59: Geopolitical Implications of China's Manufacturing01:08:02: Doing Jon Stewart!
Transcribe →
Josh Szeps | 'Uncomfortable Conversations' - A Journey Through Media Broadcasting, Podcasting, Writing, TV & The Career Of Australia's Best Interviewer
Jun 24, 202501:27:54Tap to summarizeUncomfortable Conversations PodcastUncomfortable Conversations SubstackCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe-----Josh Szeps is a broadcaster, political commentator, and in my opinion, Australia's best interviewer. He has, afterall, conducted thousands of them… and from many different pulpits. Whether it’s podcasting, Huffpost live, or radio, Josh has interviewed everyone from the biggest celebrities in the world, to academics, to geopolitics, to culture wars, comedy, economics and all the rest in between - it’s incredible how flexible Josh is and how well he can extemporaneously talk about or ask the right questions of, seemingly any topic. He’s also someone who has been doing this for decades, and seen from the front row the two most significant disruptions to media over that time. I wanted to get something evergreen on Josh’s worldview and evolving timeline of a career… Josh Szeps is the creator and host of one of my favourite podcasts, ‘Uncomfortable conversations’, and author of a substack by the same name. 00:00 - Who Is Josh Szeps05:16 - Navigating Career Paths: Serendipity and Ambition18:08 - Finding Aliveness: Reflections on Career and Life22:34 - The Journey to New York: Opportunities and Challenges33:19 - The Journey to HuffPost Live37:39 - Memorable Interviews and Guests39:20 - Preparation for Interviews42:21 - The Importance of Collaboration49:12 - Norm MacDonald & Joe Rogan 58:41 - The Joy of Media Engagement01:00:02 - Navigating Life Changes and Career Transitions01:10:50 - Alan Jones01:11:52 - The Influence of Podcasting01:12:35 - Living in Australia vs. the US01:15:09 - The Future of Independent Media01:21:40 - Innovating in Media Formats
Transcribe →The Next 8 Episodes...
Jun 16, 202500:10:27Tap to summarizeApologies for my tardiness!A lot has been going on (including recording lot's of episodes).I'm keen to hear from you - my email is here - ryan@atlasgeographica.comIn no particular order...Josh Szeps Robyn Davidson Nicholas Gruen Gideon Haigh Tim Cope Sam Roggeveen Pat McGeeLawrence Kraus
Transcribe →
Warden Of The Isolation Unit At Sweden's Largest Maximum Security Prison | The Entanglements Of Crime & Punishment
May 19, 202502:06:58Tap to summarizeCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribeArne Anderson, Three Tours In Afghanistan For The Swedish Military #46Swedens Elite Police Unit, Piketen #146Christopher Neijd Police Lieutenant in Södertälje & Southern Stockholm #165 -----Because of my old mate, Arne Andersson - I’ve been incredibly lucky to have gotten to know several of his old military buddies. There are those listed above...And then there is my guest for this episode today, courtesy to the serendipity proximate to Arne…Peter, whose full name will remain redacted - is the head of the isolation ward at Kumla prison, which is the largest maximum security prison in Sweden. We recorded this about 6 months ago, so I am very late to publish, but I hope you’ll agree that the contents are evergreen. Not tied down to any particular time and news, and therefore as useful now as it would have been then as it will be in 5 years time. Pete and I sat down together to record this one in Stockholm last late Autumn, it’s as many ins and outs of the prison system that I could think to ask Peter. This is an exhaustive list, but it includes inmate demographics, the impact of overpopulation, the complexities of rehabilitation, the psychological effects of prison on both inmates and staff. the crucial differences between the Swedish prison system other countries, and how it’s portrayed in the media, particularly regarding sentencing and the rehabilitation processes. the challenges of institutionalisation, the dynamics of inmate behaviour. Leadership and de-escalation techniques in managing inmate interactions, as well as the influence of gangs and ethnic divides within the prison system. Informal power dynamics among inmates, the prevalence of violence, self-harm, and the challenges faced by prison officers. The changing attitudes of younger inmates towards authority, the psychological impact of incarceration, and the ongoing issues of contraband and drug addiction. The discussion also touches on the responsibility of prison staff to understand and support inmates, the metrics used to evaluate prison conditions, and the societal perceptions of crime and punishment.In between all that there is as well Peter’s good humour and the natural tangents much of that may draw you down…00:00 - Who Is Peter & Intro03:02 Demographics and Overpopulation in Kumla Prison05:51 Crime Types and Inmate Behaviour09:00 Rehabilitation and Sentencing in Sweden11:59 Isolation Units and Mental Health14:48 Challenges of Overpopulation and Violence18:05 Administrative Costs and Efficiency20:56 Psychological Impact of Isolation23:53 Interactions with Inmates27:04 Handling Manipulation and Trust30:00 Sympathy for Inmates and Their Stories32:48 Mental Health and Rehabilitation Challenges35:56 Conclusion and Reflections on the Prison System45:09 The Nature of Work in Prison51:49 Rehabilitation vs. Punishment in Nordic Prisons56:08 Institutionalization and Its Effects01:01:22 De-escalation Techniques in High-Stress Environments01:08:15 Leadership in Correctional Facilities01:16:55 Gang Dynamics in Swedish Prisons01:26:13 Understanding Power Dynamics in Prisons01:29:07 The Reality of Violence in Prisons01:31:34 Addressing Self-Harm and Mental Health Issues01:34:19 The Challenge of Knowing Inmates01:36:34 Evaluating Prison Metrics and Crime Hierarchies01:38:52 Religious Practices and Beliefs in Prisons01:41:01 Changing Dyn
Transcribe →
Colin Thubron | Across Borders, Many Times, What Endures... One Of The Greatest Living Travel Writers
May 6, 202501:04:24Tap to summarizeWatch on Youtube instead - https://youtu.be/RinLuTi04cICurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribeColin Thubron (Link's to all books)-----Colin Thubron is one of the greatest living travel writers. He started with the Mirror To Damascus in 1967 and with more than half a century and 18 travel books later published his journey along the Amur River just a few years ago. He’s a contemporary of Theroux, Chatwin, early Dalrymple and inspiration for the newer generation of his genre, the likes of Rory Stewart, Levison Wood and many, many more. Colin has been a dream guest of mine for many years.This interview travelled a line across the map of his career. Colin reflects on his many experiences in Russia and China, the impact of historical events like the Cultural Revolution, the collapse of the Soviet Union - and the broader evolution of travel writing throughout the years. He gets into the effects of globalisation on cultural identities and how it’s effected his experience over the decades. Colin observes the complexities of nationalism and patriotism, and as well discusses the role religion in his life, the nature of belief, and the rationality behind it all. Colin then comments on mortality and his legacy which leads to a discussion on how travel can serve as a coping mechanism for grief. Plus, together we also touch on the choices and more difficult trade offs surrounding parenthood and career, his aspirations for future literary projects, and the influence of serendipity behind it all. I can see from the analytics that not even 20% of you who are listening are following the show, I wish this to be 100! Therefore I would ask that you please consider following the show - whether on Spotify or Apple, this, alongside the reviews makes all the difference in the world… 00:00 - Colin Thubron02:29 - Reflections on Travel Writing07:15 - Evolving Perspectives on Russia10:36 - Cultural Observations in China15:02 - The Impact of Travel on Identity22:09 - The Evolution of Travel Writing32:47 - Brexit and Nationalism: A Personal Reflection39:55 - The Imprint of Home46:10 - Religion50:12 - The Impact of Travel on Grief56:03 - Influences and Inspirations in Writing01:03:28 - SerendipityConsider leaving a review on whichever platform you're listening on!🍻☕: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryanhoggFollow me on Instagram – @ryanfhoggFollow me on Twitter - https://x.com/ryannfhogg
Transcribe →
Philippe Gijsels | Shifting Economic Sands... Meditations On 'The Fourth Turning'
Apr 15, 202501:44:15Tap to summarizeWatch on Youtube instead - https://youtu.be/w6Vpcy2cdRkCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribePhilippe Gijsels Book - https://www.amazon.com/World-Economy-Trends-superinflation-hyperinnovation/dp/9401409013-----The following is with Philippe Gijsels, the Chief Strategy Officer at BNP Paribas Fortis - he co-wrote a book last year called The New World Economy in 5 Trends - which within, reveals much of the new map we now inhabit, especially in light of the perplexing chaos of spearheaded by America’s sloppy leadership in the last weeks. Philippe is an erudite bookophile and a banker, a combination that seems not uncommon among the best investors. He and I have been speaking since last year in anticipation of recording this podcast today. I hope you enjoy it. I wanted to get the interview into the meat of the book as quickly as possible, therefore, took more liberties with editing than I usually do and have excised a part of the podcast to the end of the discussion. The excised component was an explanation and brief discussion on the idea of Reflexivity. As always, you can navigate through the rest of the show through the timestamps.Consider leaving this 5 stars on Apple or Spotify - nothing does more to drive the show to new viewers.00:00 - Philippe Gijsels02:54 - Understanding the Fourth Turning11:38 - Serendipity in Innovation14:40 - Interest Rates & Tolkien20:52 - The Impact of Inflation on Individuals26:49 - Wealth Inequality 39:38 - The Shift to Multi-Globalisation47:55 - The Future of Work and AI56:23 - Europe's Role in a Multi-Globalised World01:12:19 - The Commodities Bull Market01:14:47 - Demographics and Economic Implications01:20:46 - Serendipity01:27:02 - Reflexivity in Economics and MarketsConsider leaving a review on whichever platform you're listening on!🍻☕: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryanhoggFollow me on Instagram – @ryanfhoggFollow me on Twitter - https://x.com/ryannfhogg
Transcribe →
Adam Hochschild | The Congo Under The Horror Of Belgium's King Leopold II...
Apr 8, 202501:06:00Tap to summarizeYoutube Episode - https://youtu.be/fXVZCUR_RowCurious Worldview Newsletter - https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribeTim Butcher Episode - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QIQLYuwbA2cFLCzJc8TGl?si=nKU21dGrRX-Z-otWklpxgwKing Leopold's Ghost Book - https://www.amazon.com.au/King-Leopolds-Ghost-Adam-Hochshild/dp/0618001905From 1885, for 13 years, one man, King Leopold II, owned, as his personal property, one of the largest pieces of geography on earth. The Congo is four times larger than France, it’s bigger than India, it’s bigger than Texas, Alaska, California & Montana combined - the equator runs right through it’s middle and makes it the second largest rainforest on the globe - it’s impossibly rich in resources, and desperately poor in economics. In those 13 years of private ownership, Leopold oversaw potentially one of the most brutal regimes of extraction the world has ever known. The population was estimated to have halved in those 13 years, more than 10 million deaths. It was an exploit in mass slavery, mass death, bodily mutilation and mass extraction. Ivory and wild rubber were in high demand, and so under the guise of media manipulation and PR mastery, Leopold convinced the world that these goods were in fact being traded with, rather than extracted from, the Congo. The horror, however, could only be concealed for so long. A fella by the name of Ed Morell who worked for a shipping company in Liverpool noticed the bounty of ivory and rubber arriving from the Congo, with only men and arms making the journey back. His suspicion grew, he found accounts from missionaries and others who had been, and mounted a campaign to undermine the constant wall of propaganda Leopold had financed.In 1908, the Belgium state purchased the Congo off Leopold… where the country remained a colony of Belgium until 1960. And for a myriad of reasons, for which we address in the podcast, the Congo today is still on the back foot. Kinshasa, the capital city already has a bigger population than Paris, and is projected to be as much as 40,000,000 by 2050. The Congo today is among the most resource rich nations on earth, but among the least developed. It still attracts the same predation for extraction as it ever has, although all together less forceful and less violentThe man I speak with on the podcast today wrote the definitive history of this period. His name is Adam Hochschild, he’s an author, journalist and historian and wrote in 1998, 'King Leopold's Ghost'. 00:00 Congo's Dark History & Adam Hochschild03:03 Leopold's Brutal Regime09:02 Modern Parallels of Exploitation12:11 The Unique Case of King Leopold14:58 The Mechanics of Control & Media Manipulation20:45 Campaigning Against Atrocities: The Legacy of Morrell34:22 Colonialism and Forced Labor: The Belgian Congo36:16 The Rubber Boom and Its Consequences38:09 Criticism Of The Book & Congolese Resistance42:57 Nationalism and Colonialism: Morel's Perspective44:48 The Impact of Colonialism on Modern Nations47:17 Geography and Development: The Congo's Challenges49:51 Natural Resources and Corruption52:27 The Future of the Congo: A Grim Outlook57:22 Serendipity(There was an technical difficulty right at the end of the conversation, which is why it cuts off) Consider leaving a review on whichever platform you're listening on!🍻☕: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryanhoggFollow me on Instagram – @ryanfhoggFollow me on Twitter - https://x.com/ryannfhogg
Transcribe →
Jack Weatherford | How Genghis Khan's Grandson (Kublai Khan) Further Expanded The Mongol Empire
Dec 1, 2024Tap to summarizeJack Weatherford returns to the pod which marks a pretty sentimental moment for me (links are at the bottom of this email, before the transcript snippet).Jack’s first appearance was #19 of the podcast. To this day, it’s my favourite podcast I’ve ever recorded. These are links to the first appearance. Jack Weatherford #19 on SpotifyJack Weatherford #19 on AppleJack Weatherford #19 on YoutubeBut four years ago, when I had just started this podcast, I had written to Jack telling how I was listening to the final chapters of his book while walking across sand dunes in Merghouza, (a desolate slice of the Sahara in south west Morocco). The chapter was making the case for how the plagues viral spread was downstream of the Mongols connectivity of the modern world. I wrote that I was keen to interview him for this podcast that I had just started. There were lots of rejection for a while in the first few years and I had no expectations he would even get back to me. But to my surprise he did, and it was an emphatic yes. We corresponded a bit over email, recorded a 4 hour discussion, of which 3 where published And it was as much a dedication to Mongolia as it was Genghis Khan and the Mongols. And I’ve waited in the years since to see him appear on Rogan, Fridman, Tim Ferriss or even a Dan Carlin addendum, since these are all blokes who have openly praised and spoken about Jack’s work many times. But so far, nothing, although it looks like one of them may correct this, which Jack may or may not give away at the end.But onto this episode today. Jack has just published his final instalment on the Mongols, his fourth book on the topic. It’s called Emperor Of The Seas and it’s about Genghis’s grandson, Kublai Khan, who expanded the Mongol territory beyond the dominion his grandfather conquered 50 years before him. Kublai folded into the Khan empire the fertile agricultural lands of south China, repurposed that fleet and the expertise along with and expanded the Khan empire beyond the oceans. Mongols sitting on horseback, atop goat skins, riding wooden ships. Jack Weatherford #190 Of The Curious Worldview Podcast on YoutubeEmperor Of The Seas - Jack Weatherford
Transcribe →