Podcast
Geopolitical Cousins
Hosted by Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic · EN
Geopolitical Cousins throws together analysts Jacob Shapiro and Marko Papic for some of the most in-depth, off-the-wall geopolitical analysis in the world.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
America Strikes Iran
Jun 22, 2025Tap to summarizeJacob and Marko break down the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, unpacking the strategic logic, historical echoes, and likely retaliation scenarios. They debate the possibility of regime change, Iranian restraint, and why Strait of Hormuz closure is the true red line. The cousins also explore Trump’s foreign policy instincts, the limits of multipolarity, and why the Middle East keeps repeating itself. It’s fast, fiery, and packed with geopolitical clarity...and Tupac.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Emergency Announcement(00:48) - Opening Remarks and Personal Notes(01:14) - US-Iran Conflict Overview(01:49) - Iran's Response and Global Reactions(04:58) - Historical Context and Comparisons(07:05) - Potential Outcomes and Speculations(07:48) - Regime Change and Internal Dynamics(09:01) - Global Implications and Multipolarity(33:26) - Terrorism and Security Concerns(41:57) - Bannon's Point and West LA(42:48) - World War III Threat Analysis(43:19) - Iran's Strategic Moves(44:31) - Empirical Evidence and Predictions(48:18) - Iran's Retaliation and US Response(55:20) - Trump's Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World(01:16:30) - Global Stability and Instability(01:20:05) - NBA Trade and Game 7 Predictions--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future.Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papicMarko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro
Transcribe →Israel Strikes Iran
Jun 13, 2025Tap to summarizeJacob Shapiro and Marko Papic react in real time to Israel’s stunning military strikes on Iran. With key nuclear sites hit and top Iranian commanders killed, the cousins break down what this means for Iran’s capacity to retaliate, the role (or lack thereof) of U.S. strategy, and why Saudi Arabia’s response might be the most important of all. They explore the domestic politics behind Netanyahu’s actions, whether regime change is possible, and why oil markets barely flinched. A wide-ranging, unscripted conversation during a rapidly unfolding moment in Middle Eastern—and global—geopolitics.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(00:27) - Initial Reactions and Context(01:22) - Details of the Israel-Iran Conflict(03:45) - Analysis of Military Actions(08:11) - Geopolitical Implications(17:48) - Potential Outcomes and Speculations(32:52) - Civil War and Japan's Example(33:25) - NATO's Campaign Against Serbia(34:13) - Israel's Military Capabilities(36:45) - US Options and Iran's Response(38:46) - Conspiracy Theories and South Park(41:36) - Iran's Limited Retaliation Options(44:38) - Geopolitical Implications and Future Outlook(56:34) - Closing Thoughts on Multipolarity--Referenced in the Show:--Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapMarko Papic Twitter: x.com/geo_papic--Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future.
Transcribe →Our 2025 Geopolitical Power Draft
May 15, 2025Tap to summarizeThe cousins return with chaos, caffeine, and an inaugural Geopolitical Power Draft - but not before Marko rants about Gulf monarchies, Trump’s diplomatic plane deals, and why Saudi Arabia might out-liberal Israel by 2050. He skewers Western pearl-clutching, explains why Qatar owes him a jet, and declares multipolarity the new default. Along the way: why Zelensky outmaneuvered Putin, how Xi is courting Latin America, and why the UAE is quietly winning the AI arms race. Then it’s time to pick global power players for the next 30 years. Marko’s playing 5D chess with industrial policy.Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview(01:00) - Geopolitical Analysts and Air Travel(02:45) - US Foreign Policy and Gifts(07:43) - Middle East Developments(23:13) - Saudi Arabia's Transformation(41:44) - Geopolitical Draft Introduction(45:51) - Geopolitical Power Index and Geopolitics as an Art(47:00) - Quantitative vs Qualitative Analysis in Geopolitics(47:20) - Defining Power and Influence(48:37) - Non-Linearity and Future Predictions(48:53) - Nuclear Power and Population Debates(49:07) - Critique of Demographic Obsession(51:09) - American Power and Multipolarity(54:01) - China's Position and Challenges(59:09) -European Union and Western Europe(01:04:05) - Turkey's Strategic Importance(01:08:16) - India's Potential and Challenges(01:11:56) - Russia's Geopolitical Influence(01:13:45) - South Korea's Technological Edge(01:16:31) - Brazil's Agricultural and Manufacturing Future(01:17:03) - Canada's Strategic Advantages(01:18:47) -Iran's Potential Resurgence(01:19:56) - Argentina's Reform and Innovation(01:20:48) - Singapore's Strategic Position(01:21:30) - Saudi Arabia's Regional Influence(01:22:11) - Japan's Resilience(01:22:32) - Ukraine's Future as a Garrison State(01:24:21) - Conclusion and NBA Thoughts
Transcribe →TikTok Dictators and the End of Hegemony
May 12, 2025Tap to summarizeThis week, the cousins speed-run chaos: Houthis hitting Israel, Trump cutting side deals, and Jordan taking heat for not hosting enough sick kids from Gaza. Marko argues that the U.S. is done playing global babysitter, and that might actually be stabilizing. They dig into Israel’s delusions of American loyalty, Burkina Faso’s TikTok dictatorship, and Marko's new theory: “geopolitical tightening.” Jacob’s worried about nukes and future AI plagues, but Marko says multipolarity forces adults to act like, well, adults. Oh, and if President Traoré of Burkina Faso is listening: We accept consulting fees in gold or viral video cameos.Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Overview(01:16) - Middle East Tensions: King Abdullah, Houthis, and Trump(06:39) - Israel's Strategic Challenges(11:56) - Jordan's Geopolitical Balancing Act(22:30) - Burkina Faso's Social Media Strategy(29:13) - The President's Social Media Strategy(30:38) - Geopolitical Challenges in Burkina Faso(31:29) - The Role of Gold in Global Politics(34:10) - Global Perception of US Tariffs(36:20) - Hegemonic Stability and Global Order(44:35) - The Impact of Nuclear Weapons on Global Conflict(54:08) - China's Potential as a Global Hegemon(56:34) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Transcribe →Get Off Our Lawn!
Mar 28, 2025Tap to summarizeJacob and Marko make a cousins episode happen even as Jacob is moving into a new office and Marko is on the road – at one point he was literally recording from a bathroom at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale because that is the only place he could get WiFi. What other podcast hosts have that kind of dedication? None! This week the cousins tackle Trump’s latest bevy of tariff threats, discuss the improvement in India/China relations, and close with some lessons to learn from the ongoing protests in Serbia.--Timestamps:(00:00) – Intro(03:04) - US Tariffs (07:42) - Potential Domestic and Global Reactions to Tariffs(14:17) - Challenges in Renegotiating Trade Deals(28:58) - India-China Border Disputes and Economic Implications(32:17) - India and China: Complementary Economies(44:18) – Serbia/Turkey/Indonesia(53:59) – Over/under
Transcribe →Will the U.S. go to War with Iran?
Mar 23, 2025Tap to summarizeJacob and Marko run down the most important issues of the week: Will the U.S. go to war with Iran? Why did President Erdogan arrest his top rival? Is Indonesia helping or hurting itself by courting its military? And is Chinese consumption really happening? From there, they turn to the kind of geopolitical sports analysis that only they can offer, drafting teams of 7 for the top geopolitical sports moments in history.Timestamps:(00:00) - Intro (01:00) - Iran(31:00) - Turkey(46:00) – Indonesia(58:00) – China(1:09:00) - Geopolitical Draft
Transcribe →F*cking Around and Finding Out
Mar 14, 2025Tap to summarizeThe inaugural episode of the Geopolitical Cousins podcast sees Marko and Jacob wax philosophical about net assessments, debate where the Trump administration thinks the world is multipolar, and interrogate what the future of Canada, Europe, and inflation look like in a land of all sticks and no carrots. -- (00:00) - Intro(00:50) - Approach and Precepts(11:00) – Net Assessments(18:44) – Multipolarity(34:19) – US Exceptionalism, China, and US Fiscal Policy(42:44) - Canada-US Trade Tensions(47:42) – Inflation and pain thresholds(52:27) – Europe's Awakening and Defense Strategies
Transcribe →