Breaking Down: Collapse

Fascism this week in the US (10/17-10/23).

Trump: "Don't forget I can use

Donald Trump declares he has

Judge tells Homeland Security

Immigrants with no criminal record now largest group

Officials Scrub Data Showing U.S. Citizens Swept Up

Republican Governor Orders National Guard Deployed

Justice Amy Coney Barrett Admits Supreme Court

$300million-100% paid by trump-Military involved

Trump says he has final say on paying himself $230m

Noem Approves Spending $200 Million to Buy

Trump: “Democrats didn’t re...

New discovery in Antarctica shows that methane seeps are increasing - more research is needed (and currently underway) to determine the extent and effects.

Scientists discover methane leaking out from beneath the ocean around Antarctica | CNN

Massive methane leaks detected in Antarctica, posing potential risks for global warming | Climate | EL PAÍS English

Leaking ‘fire ice’ is new threat to the planet

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According to new research, we've officially crossed the coral reef death tipping point. Our temperature range above the preindustrial average is now higher than coral reefs can survive in the long term (and effects are already being seen).

Planet’s first catastrophic climate tipping point reached, report says, with coral reefs facing ‘widespread dieback’ | Climate crisis | The Guardian

Coral die-off marks Earth’s first climate ‘tipping point’, scientists say

Global Tipping Points | understanding risks & their potential impact

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Enjoy an excerpt from my interview with Greg Nelson, as part of our Patreon bonus content. To finish this interview, and hear the others we've been doing with out listeners, please join us on Patreon!

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Over the last few years there has been a lot of conversation about AI taking jobs. Is it taking place, and will it be as bad as some say?

92 Million Jobs Lost to AI: Who’s Most at Risk?

Why Is Job Growth So Slow When GDP Is So Strong? - Apollo Academy

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A fresh new week from hell in the USA. Enjoy?

Supreme Court Signals Final Blow

Trump administration revokes 6 visas

Department of State on X:

TN man arrested

Insider Whales Made $100 Million

US is working on doubling aid

GOP’s Jim Jordan on judges:

Heavily armed ICE agents illegally

ICE Rams Civilian Car, Drags Woman

WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman

Trump calls Mamdani a ‘communist,’

Letitia James, the New York attorney general

President Trump calls...

Tehran (with a metro population of nearly 17 million) is experiencing a major water shortage, after 5 years of drought. Subsidence, as a result of groundwater removal, is simultaneously causing the land to sink and destroying infrastructure.

Iran must move its capital from Tehran, says president as water crisis worsens | Iran | The Guardian

‘We must change’: how drought and overextraction of water has run Iran dry | Environment | The Guardian

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Counterintuitively, a collapsing world may just be resulting in people who are less likely to become collapse aware.

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*Caveat: This was recorded on October 7th so may not be completely up to date in regards to recent happenings.

An escalation in the battle for states' rights to defend against invading federal forces in the US (not a sentence I thought I'd write in my lifetime).

Judge to block 'relocation, federalization, or deployment' of any National Guard to Oregon - ABC News

Texas Gov. Abbott deploys National Guard to protect federal property | Fox News

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Deutsche Bank now says that the AI bubble is all that's keeping the economy afloat. Meanwhile, several other indicators show how the economy is struggling for the everyday person.

The AI bubble is the only thing keeping the US economy together, Deutsche Bank warns | TechSpot

China Labor Market Struggles Deepen, Clouding Economic Outlook | FXEmpire

Elizabeth Warren calls for Trump to release the jobs report despite shutdown

Student Loan Borrowers Skipping Payments Face Credit Score Declines - Bloomberg

Americans Are Getting Priced Out of Homeownership at Record Rates...

The 3rd installment of the weekly segment I think I'll call "This Week in Fascism".

'Plenary Authority?'

Chicago Pastor Sues

Judge finds ICE violated consent decree, takes issue with some arrests

Trump says JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson 'should be in jail'

Gov. JB Pritzker on protecting his constituents

"We took the freedom of speech away"

UVA antifascist students plan American flag-burning protest Friday | Fox News

Trump Touts His Administration's Ties to Project 2025

Trump just hosted an ‘Antifa roundtable’ at t...

Researchers discovered that bird flu and human influenza can simultaneously occupy the cells of cow udders, heightening the risk of future reassortment leading to human spread avian influenza.

Bird Flu and Human Flu Viruses Could Mix in Cow Udders and Spark a Pandemic | Scientific American

H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation | Bird Flu | CDC

Avian flu forces Jefferson County poultry farm to cull 3M birds - WPR

More Than 400,000 SD Turkeys Killed In Response To Bird Flu Outbreak, Ducks Identified As Carriers | Aberdeen Insider

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New research indicates the planet has not crossed 7 of the 9 planetary boundaries described in the "Breaking Boundaries" documentary from 2021, an increase from 4 at the time it was released.

Seven of nine planetary boundaries now breached - Stockholm Resilience Centre

Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet | Official Trailer | Netflix

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NSPM-7 is the Trump administration's newest effort to rip away free speech rights and suppress his dissenters. It is one of the most blatant acts of fascism to date in his presidency and will be a potentially disastrous tool in his effort to quiet those who push back.

Trump’s NSPM-7 Labels Common Beliefs As Terrorism “Indicators”

Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence – The White House

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Waters surrounding the UK have been so overfished that cod is down to just 1% of the population. If fishing doesn't stop immediately, it could collapse completely and permanently.

UK could see fish and chips shortages as cod supply in ‘grave danger’ | The Independent

Collapse of the Atlantic northwest cod fishery - Wikipedia

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Let's make it a weekly thing.... I wasn't able to post all the links, as my podcast host only allows so many!

Trump says he’s designating Antifa...Trump’s NSPM-7 Labels...Stephen Miller Claims...Trump administration to link Tylenol...Trump Orders US Troops...Fox News' Jesse Watters...In Pressuring ABC Over Kimmel...FCC Chair Brendan Carr's post...Why Trump’s directive to AG Bondi...James Comey reacts to his indictment...Trump declaring war on United States cities...‘Most Loser Shit I Have Ever Seen'...Keystone Kash Faces Backlash...

Luke Kemp addresses fatalism vs realism, and Australia's government released a 1,000 page report on expected climate impacts on the country.

Climate risks report paints grim picture, but expert on societal collapse explains giving up is not the answer - ABC News

How is Australia affected by climate change? The National Climate Risk Assessment models the future - ABC News

National Climate Risk Assessment | Australian Climate Service

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The Finnish government has put out a 163 page paper describing 4 potential scenarios between now and 2044, and how those scenarios would affect EU and Finland itself. One of those scenarios was global collapse.

Part 1 of the Report on the Future: Strategic Analysis of the Operating Environment and Scenarios until 2045 - Valto (report in Finnish and Swedish)

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This research paper indicates that the US has surpassed "peak water security", and that people lose access to water from here.

Beyond peak water security: Household-scale experiential metrics can offer new perspectives on contemporary water challenges in the United States | PLOS Water

Global water crisis could cost trillions – DW – 08/25/2025

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The Trump administration is doing everything in its power to roll back regulatory protections that reduce emissions, along with restricting the collection of data.

E.P.A. to Stop Collecting Emissions Data From Polluters - The New York Times

EPA aims to undo authority to regulate climate pollution : NPR

Mauna Loa Observatory captured the reality of climate change. The US plans to shut it down

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A new report from the IEA shows that 90% of investments in oil and gas go towards simply making up for declines in production. EROEI has gotten so poor that 100s of billions of dollars are being spent just to meet demand. What happens if investments falter?

Oil 2025 – Analysis - IEA

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ICE has gained a new surveillance tool, thanks to Trump and, in part, Biden. I discuss the reality of the danger it poses, and some tips for staying safe.

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Trump has issued an Executive Order classifying Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Tell us Trump - where is their headquarter and who is their leader? Also, the Pacific heat blob is back and larger than ever.

Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization – The White House

The ‘blob’ is back — except this time it stretches across the entire North Pacific | CNN

(1) Leon Simons (looking up) on X: "🌊🌡️📈 The warming rate over the North Pacific Ocean the past 25 years...

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New research argues that not only are dramatic geoengineering ideas too costly, ungovernable, and dangerous, but also they serve as a distraction from our true need, which is to reduce emissions.

Scientists warn polar ice-fixing plans are ‘flawed and dangerous’

Frontiers | Safeguarding the polar regions from dangerous geoengineering: a critical assessment of proposed concepts and future prospects

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How much news is too much news? A recent article from The Guardian explores the rapidly increasing number of people who are avoiding the news for their mental health.

Why more and more people are tuning the news out: ‘Now I don’t have that anxiety’ | Mental health | The Guardian

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A look at the overwhelming number of headlines from the last week, chronicling the erosion of constitutional rights in the US

Leavitt confirms the DOJ officials have talked about banning trans...

New Bill Would Give Marco Rubio Power to Revoke U.S. Passports

Trump and his advisers plan for crackdown on left-wing groups...

DHS Says Filming, Posting Videos of ICE Agents Is “Doxxing,”...

Attorney General Pam Bondi says DOJ will be 'targeting' people...

GLENN: They still have their 1st Amendment right, though...

JD Vance thre...

Roy Scranton, a researcher at Notre Dame, feels that "Ethical Pessimism" is the right attitude to take in regard to collapse. I think I agree... mostly?

New research explores climate change and the limits of human progress

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I received a note from a friend who said that he had no idea I was doing daily episodes, because it was under a new season and he would have had to change the season option in the drop-down of his podcast player. That may be happening to some, so I'm releasing this episode under "Season 1" to catch that for anyone who might be experiencing the same.

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More new research reveals that previously optimistic estimates for climate mitigation were... too optimistic. Feeding off of yesterday's episode, we discuss the direction that climate research is headed.

Land availability and policy commitments limit global climate mitigation from forestation | Science

Global methane footprints growth and drivers 1990-2023 | Nature Communications

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New research indicates that previously assumed levels of potential for carbon capture storage were overestimated by 10x. Worse, the area that is currently economically viable is relatively miniscule and, quite frankly, negligible in scope.

A prudent planetary limit for geologic carbon storage | Nature

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Newly revised jobs numbers were released and its not pretty. Almost a million jobs revised downwards. With leaders removing people who don't present the numbers they want, are we getting to a point where the data is meaningless?

Jobs report revisions September 2025

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In this episode I discuss the increasing amount of violence seen around the world, some of which is a direct reaction of people and governments to collapse.

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Today we discuss a study which researched the downward shift in mood that correlates with upward shifts in temperature.

Rising temperatures linked to declining moods around the world

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You'd think that coming off of an El Nino year and headed into La Nina, that there'd be a large decrease in average global surface temperature for the year. Unfortunately, we're not seeing the same relief that we used to in similar situations. The UK had the hottest summer on record, and drought worries are high.

Global temperatures to remain above average despite return of La Niña, says UN | La Niña | The Guardian

Summer 2025 was hottest on record in UK, says Met Office | UK weather | The Guardian

How can England po...

Day 2 of trying out a daily episode format. If you doubt whether climate change is real, just follow the money. The insurance industry isn't cutting people off or raising rates for nothing - the risks from climate change are just becoming too high.

Mark Cuban Says, ‘The Insurance Industry Is Concerned About Melting Ice In Antarctica’

Home Insurance Rates to Rise 8% in 2025, After a 20% Increase in the Last Two Years

Home Insurance Providers Have Dropped 1 in 4 US Homeowners

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If you're new to the podcast: Welcome! Please enjoy these daily episodes, and also go back and listen to at least the first 8 episodes of the podcast.

This is a quick introduction to a new format for the podcast, which will now contain shorter daily episodes. Today's topic: a whole bunch of oil found in the sea near Antarctica - what does it mean?

Russia uncovers 511 billion barrels of oil in the Wedell Sea

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Today I interviewed Rachel Frazin, co-author of Poisoning the Well, How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America.

Bio:

Rachel Frazin is one of the authors of Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America. She's also the energy and environment policy reporter for The Hill, where she covers politics and policy related to climate change, fossil fuels, renewable energy, toxic chemicals, national parks and more. Rachel is originally from South Florida and attended Northwestern University. 

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/poisoning-the-well-how-forever-chemicals-contaminated-america-sharon-udasin/22024123?ean=9781642833324

My author page at The Hill...

What can be done when "voting" stops working? When a corrupt or oppressive government rigs the game to win? Direct action has been used for centuries to apply pressure and make change, both violently and non-violently.

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In this episode I give my review of the BBC series "Years and Years", which explores collapse in the 2020s UK.

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Doing something new with this episode - chatting with a friend who doesn't listen to Breaking Down: Collapse, or necessarily agree with its premise. The purpose here isn't to convince or debate him, but to hear his thoughts about the state of the world and its future.

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This week I sat down with Cydian Kauffman to discuss the multi-faceted world of water. How safe is our water? What are the main threats that we face? How does water availability affect genders differently in 3rd world countries?

Cydian Kauffman is the owner of Pure Water Northwest, dedicated to helping families and communities take control of their water quality. With a mission to demystify clean water, Cydian empowers people to make informed decisions without relying on hype or half-truths. He specializes in cutting through confusion to deliver real, science-backed solutions-and loves exploring fringe topics like...

No doubt, there are many dangers of AI. One of the most unexplored is simply the environmental impact of creating and running it. In this episode we take a look at impacts ranging from pollution, to waste, water usage, and more.

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Sam Baker is the co-founder and CEO of WriggleBrew, a regenerative agriculture company turning earthworms and microbes into high-performance organic fertilizers. With a background in chemistry and economics and a passion for sustainability, Sam is pioneering new ways to transform waste—like plastics and food scraps—into living soil solutions. His work bridges science, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship, and recently earned national recognition through innovation awards and public-private partnerships.

https://www.wrigglebrew.com

https://www.facebook.com/PRAGWriggleBrew/

https://www.instagram.com/wrigglebrew/

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After speaking with Dr. Brahney a couple of weeks ago, I felt it was time to touch again on the health impacts of microplastics and what the state of the research is.

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This week I was able to link up with Dr. Rob Meade to discuss his recent research on wet bulb temperatures.

Taken from his bio on his Harvard profile: "Robert D. Meade, PhD, MPH completed his doctoral degree in thermal physiology at the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit of the University of Ottawa. He also holds a Masters in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Rob's research has been aimed at improving scientific understanding of the physiological impacts of extreme heat in vulnerable groups. He also designed and executed...

I had the privilege this week of speaking with Dr. Janice Brahney, who is credited as being one of the first researchers to discover the severity of microplastic proliferation in the environment. From her website: "As an environmental biogeochemist, I work at the intersection of the ecological and geological sciences. I combine field, analytical laboratory, and quantitative modeling methods to establish fluxes, transformations, and the fate of elements and compounds in the environment. These techniques are a powerful means to determine the complex drivers of environmental change, quantify the ecological impacts of land use, and determine the mechanisms underpinning e...

This episode contains the audio from an interview I was invited to do with the amazing Sarah Wilson for her Substack. She was gracious enough to allow me to share the audio with you all here as well!

Bio:

Sarah Wilson is a multi-New York Times and Amazon bestselling author, social philosopher, international keynote speaker, minimalist and philanthropist. She edited Cosmopolitan magazine Australia at 29, founded the global I Quit Sugar movement, hosted the most-watched TV series in the nation’s history – Masterchef Australia – and wrote the bestseller First, We Make the Beast Beautiful...

We know by now that collapse is happening and will continue - but who's fault is it? And is there any point in laying blame? Who should be held accountable, and how?

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As a follow up to the previous episode "The end of the American Experiment", we take a look at The Butterfly Revolution, a blog article posted in 2022 by Curtis Yarvin, detailing the plan for how Donald Trump could seize power and dismantle democracy.

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You may have heard by now about Curtis Yarvin and the tech billionaire plan to rule the world. In this episode I break down the relationships and motives behind the current breakdown of democracy being witnessed in the US.

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Continuing the series of frequently asked questions, Kory discusses the commonly heard optimistic take that "Technology will pull through and get us out of this mess".

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A continuation of our series of frequently asked questions about collapse. What will it actually look like and how will it affect individuals?

A reminder that these episodes have not been published in the order they were recorded.

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What the future will be like (and more importantly - when) is a total guess. Sometimes, it's fun to give it a shot - this episode is meant for fun and a look at what I think the future could look like. These predictions are not to be taken seriously, and please, don't make any changes to your life because "Kory said...".

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This is the 4th year we've done a year in review, looking back at the state of collapse through the year.

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Kory's back! With a new format and renewed energy. Let's do this!

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Kellan and Kory discuss the role that conspiracy theories play in the social aspect of collapse.

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The question has come up many times: What will happen to our nuclear sites in the event of a rapid collapse? Will it cause widespread meltdowns, which in turn end humanity and life on earth? Or is there absolutely nothing to worry about? We discuss the answer on today's episode.

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We've embarked on a journey through collapse into the year 2032, a world plagued by economic, climatic, and social upheaval. This episode is to announce our newest project on Patreon, which we call "The Last Broadcast". You can join us on Patreon here!

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Project 2025 is a nearly 1,000 page document explicitly stating the ways the GOP plans to disrupt democracy as we know it in the US. Kellan and Kory talk about the details of the paper and what it means for the US and the wider world.

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Upon first hearing the supposed tenets of the Longtermism movement, you may think it sounds wonderfully thought-out and worthy of support.

Think again.

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Amongst the plethora of worries (or opportunities?) that AI presents, perhaps one of the most talked about recently is: Will AI take all our jobs? Kellan and Kory take the time to discuss different sides of the idea.

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Climate change consequences, conflict, political turmoil - you name it, 2023 had it. It was a wild year, and we just couldn't let it pass by without a recap!

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Kory and Kellan try to summarize all 133 episodes of Breaking Down: Collapse in just 80 minutes as an explanation of "Why We Need Resilience". Check out the new podcast Building Up: Resilience here on YouTube or search for the show wherever you listen to podcasts.

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The time is finally here! Please join us on our new podcast called "Building Up: Resilience". You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts. See you there!

Building Up: Resilience | Podcast on Spotify

Building Up: Resilience | Podcast on Apple

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Join us on Patreon here.  Breaking Down: Collapse is finally coming to an end. Kory and Kellan share what that actually means and what they’re preparing to roll out next. They then listen to and discuss each of Kellan’s three rap songs about collapse! 

The character limit in the episode description won't allow us to include the song lyrics. Send us an email at breakingdowncollapse@gmail.com to request them.

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It's pay to play! Apparently it's legal to pay the government to pass (or not pass) desired legislation. This episode focuses on how the wealthy corporations and individuals control the system.

Learn More:

Is Lobbying Good or Bad? | RepresentUs

America’s lobbying addiction (brookings.edu)

Lobbying: How the Wealthy and Business Get Their Way | Second Rate Democracy

Corruption is Legal in America - YouTube

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Ho...

I bet you didn't know that 10% of all emissions come from the fashion industry. Or that 75 million people are employed in manufacturing plants for the fashion industry, with only 2% of them being paid a living wage.

This episode highlights these and many other global issues with fast fashion.

Learn More:

What Is Fast Fashion—and Why Is It a Problem? (treehugger.com)

The 10 Essential Fast Fashion Statistics | Earth.Org

The Fashion Industry Waste Is Drastically Contributing To Climate Change (pirg.org)

10 Concerning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics | Earth.Or...

Today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. How do young adults feel about the future, and how does it compare to their elders? What do they feel their role is in the future of our world? Let's break it down!

Learn More:

Young People's Voices on Climate Anxiety, Government Betrayal and Moral Injury: A Global Phenomenon by Elizabeth Marks, Caroline Hickman, Panu Pihkala, Susan Clayton, Eric R. Lewandowski, Elouise E. Mayall, Britt Wray, Catriona Mellor, Lise van Susteren :: SSRN

Trust in government by generation U.S. 2021 | Statista

World’s Youth Are Surprisingly Optimistic, UN...

The impacts of climate change dramatically influence and are influenced by cyclical weather patterns.  Future El Niño cycles have major implications on society at large.

Learn More:

Stronger El Niño events may speed up irreversible melting of Antarctic ice, research finds | El Niño southern oscillation | The Guardian

What does the return of El Nino mean for the planet – and you? | The Straits Times

The Global Impacts of El Niño | Water Resources Research Center | The University of Arizona

United States El Niño Impacts | NOAA Climate.gov
...

There's been much talk lately about the threat of H5N1 (Avian Influenza). In this episode we talk about what there is (and isn't) to fear about the virus, as well as we take a look at David Quammen's book "Spillover".

Learn More: 

An Expert Says Why H5N1 Bird Flu Is Here to Stay (insider.com)
7 Reasons Diseases Are Spreading Faster These Days (insider.com)
Emergence and Evolution of H5N1 Bird Flu | Avian Influenza (Flu) (cdc.gov)
Airborne Transmission of Influenza A/H5N1 Virus Between Ferrets - PMC (nih.g...

Can technology save us? Nah. Can it help us, though? Sure! Here's an example of a great technology with a lot of potential... but we don't think it answers all of life's problems. 

Learn More:

Heat Pumps Can Lower Home Emissions, but Not Everywhere - Eos

Heat Pumps Will Change Everything About Climate Change—and Not Enough (foreignpolicy.com)

How Do Heat Pumps Work to Be the Ultimate Climate Techno-Fix? - Bloomberg

Narendra Modi: India poised for five-fold rise in gas consumption | Upstream Online

The Inflation Reduction Act...

How we cope with the knowledge of the future is deeply personal. In this episode we touch on 2 ancient Eastern philosophies that many use as a source of maintaining a healthy mental attitude.

Learn More:

Understanding Wuwei: The Daoist Art of Going With the Flow - YouTube

It's no secret that capitalism doesn't take kindly to those caught in the feedback loop of homelessness. How will collapse affect homelessness, and how will homelessness affect collapse?

Learn More:

How a hard-working, middle-class family spiraled into homelessness - The Boston Globe (archive.ph)

State of Homelessness: 2022 Edition - National Alliance to End Homelessness

List of sovereign states by homeless population - Wikipedia

The Homeless-Poor and the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Policy of Government: Rethinking the Plight of Homelessness in Nigeria - Cletus O. Obasi, Christopher M. Anierobi, 2021 (sagepub.com)
<...

This week we discuss journalist and author Chris Hedges and his book "America, The Farewell Tour.

Learn More:

America: The Farewell Tour | Book by Chris Hedges | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)

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Consumer and national debts are growing exponentially.  The unsustainable nature in which we borrow money in order to maintain our economic system is the perfect definition of a bubble. But when will it burst and what will it look like?

Learn More:

Americans’ household debt surpasses $16T for first time | The Hill

Average American Debt: An Overview | First Republic Bank

Household debt soars at fastest pace in 15 years as credit card use surges, Fed report says (cnbc.com)

17 Canadian Household Debt Statistics [Updated in 2022] (reviewlution.ca)

Canada Hou...

What is the future of ownership? Is it "The Great Reset" or "Feudalism 2.0"? In this episode we look into the direction we're headed, and the existing theories commonly shared around.

Learn More:

8 predictions for the world in 2030 - YouTube

The Great Reset | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Fact check: The World Economic Forum does not have a stated goal to have people own nothing by 2030 | Reuters

Who does the World Economic Forum really represent? | Transnational Institute (tni.org)

U.S. Wage Growth Fails To Keep Up With...

Here is a sample of our weekly bonus episodes. You can access all 80 of our bonus episodes by joining us on Patreon ($5/month).

Kellan runs through several news stories of the week and their relation to collapse.

Learn More:

Déjà coup: How election lies sparked the violent attack on Brazil's government | CNN Business

Seattle Schools Sue Big Tech Over Youth Mental Health Crisis - Bloomberg

Cheddar News on LinkedIn: #poop

Elon Musk Has Officially Lost More Of His Own Money Than Anyone In History (buzzfeednews.com) Duration: 00:30:04

This week we talk about the potentially dark future of AI and what is known as the "singularity", were it able to break the constraints that currently hold it back.

Learn More:

The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Part 1 - Wait But Why
The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Part 2 - Wait But Why

World’s most powerful AI chatbot ChatGPT will soon ‘look like a boring toy’ says OpenAI boss | The Independent

A new experiment: Does AI really know cats or dogs -- or anything? | ZDNET

1.1 quintillion operations per second: US has wo...

There is a lot of hype, especially recently, around the future of AI. The fact is that AI is present now in our world, for both positive and negative. In this episode we talk about the current reality and near-term expectations of AI, and how it relates to collapse. From surveillance and policing to job and culture loss to deepfakes, AI is helping drive us towards a dystopian future.

Learn More:

COVID restrictions in India are being enforced by artificial intelligence and facial recognition | Fortune

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors Grants Police Mo...

Our second annual installment, discussing the happenings of the previous year and how they relate to collapse. We often forget everything that's happened over the course of just 365 days and stepping back to take it all in can be eye-opening!

Learn more:

2022 CPI and Inflation Rate for the United States | CPI Inflation Calculator (2022 Updated Monthly)

How Africa Can Escape Chronic Food Insecurity Amid Climate Change (imf.org)

Putting Africans at the Heart of Food Security and Climate Resilience (worldbank.org)

The top 10 crises the world can't ignore in 2022 | International...

In dire times, such as these, it is more important than ever to have empathetic leaders who strive to do the right thing for their people. So why do we keep electing narcissists?

Learn More:

Narcissism: 5 Signs to Help You Spot Narcissistic Behavior (webmd.com)

Narcissistic personality disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

The Rich Have Higher Level of Narcissism, Study Shows | TIME.com

Psychology study indicates that narcissists are more involved in politics than the rest of us (psypost.org)

Narcissism: Why It's So...

Relevant in the news recently have been the multiple attempts at railroad strikes by unions. What is the cause of these strikes, what impact would they have, and will they continue?

Learn More:

The Averted National Rail Strike Is a Parable of Contemporary American Capitalism | The New Yorker

House passes bills to stop railroad strike, give rail workers more paid sick leave - YouTube

Rail Strike Ahead? Why These Workers Rejected The Contract Deal - YouTube

Rail Strike: Why The Railroads Won’t Give In on Paid Leave (nymag.co...

Infrastructure is the glue that holds our supply chain and economy together. The Army Corps of Engineers rates our roads at a grade of D, and our Public Transport at a D-. 43% of US roads are considered to be in poor or mediocre condition.

With a growing backlog ($786 million) of repairs and upgrades needed, it's no mystery that our infrastructure is in a freefall of decay.  This episode helps make the case for why a feedback loop of decaying infrastructure leads to collapse.

Learn More:

Transportation Infrastructure | ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card

R...

We know that sea level rise is a real and accelerating threat - but what are nations doing to respond to it? In this episode, we talk about adaptation plans for two different Pacific Island nations: Fiji and Tuvalu.

Learn More:

https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/08/how-to-move-a-country-fiji-radical-plan-escape-rising-seas-climate-crisis

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/what-world-can-learn-fijis-national-climate-strategy

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/travel/fiji-global-warming.amp.html

Tuvalu unveils Long-Term Adaptation Plan at COP27, a vision for a safe, climate-resilient future — Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (tcap.tv)

COP 27: Tuvalu announces stronger climate ta...

Shaun Chamberlin is an author and activist who has been exploring collapse and possible responses for over twenty years.  He is the editor of 'Surviving the Future: Culture, Carnival and Capital in the Aftermath of the Market Economy' and his late mentor David Fleming’s 'Lean Logic: A Dictionary for the Future and How to Survive It', as well as executive producer of 2020 film 'The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?'

He puts the theory into practice as one of the custodians of Ireland’s legendary free pub ‘The Happy Pig’ and was involved with the Trans...

Greenland and Antarctica combine to hold a potential 225 feet of sea level rise. How much of that will be unlocked, and over what time frame? We discuss the knowns, the unknowns, and the newest research coming out.

Learn More:

https://sealevel.nasa.gov/faq/11/how-much-rise-should-we-expect-from-greenland-and-antarctica/
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/04/study-says-antarctic-ice-sheet-melt-to-lift-sea-level-higher-than-thought/
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/14/world/antarctica-larsen-c-ice-shelf-atmospheric-rivers-climate-intl/index.html
https://www.wired.com/story/scientists-are-uncovering-ominous-waters-under-antarctic-ice/
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/81214/arctic-amplification
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15082020/greenland-ice-sheet-melt-climate-change/?gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1AepBilfkaUmc3dx0kRyr6MPerYpZQDXKpCkrb7flaWN4xpENIzUPhoC9u4QAvD_BwE<...

The ancient philosophy of stoicism offers a great model for coping with collapse. In this episode we discuss its merits, along with its pitfalls.

Learn More:

The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User'... - Kindle (amazon.com)
How To Practice Stoicism: An Introduction & 12 Stoic Practices - The Mindful Stoic

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Fascist ideologies are on the rise around the United States and the Western world. What is fascism, why is it threatening us now, and how does it relate to collapse?

Learn More:

Eco-fascism: What It Is, Why It’s Wrong, and How to Fight It | Teen Vogue
What Is Eco-Fascism, the Ideology Behind Attacks in El Paso and Christchurch? | GQ
Eco-fascism: The greenwashing of the far right – DW
Where in the world do people emit the most CO2? - Our World in Data

Please join us o...

The maintenance cost of capital continues to rise, and the US (along with many places in the world) have tied up so much into their overseer classes, especially law enforcement. This episode explores the reasons for degradation of law enforcement as well as the potential outcomes.

Please join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community.

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It's an ugly truth that those with children today will raise their children through extremely difficult times. This episode aims to help give some ideas and direction to parents looking to help their children the most possible.

Learn More:

How to talk to your children about conflict and war | UNICEF Parenting
How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects | Common Sense Media
Resilience guide for parents and teachers (apa.org)
The First Seven Years Are Key to a Successful Life (worldbank.org)
Building resilience in children 3-8 years | Raising Children Network<...

In this episode we speak with the winner of season 9 of the popular History Channel series "Alone". If you're a fan of the show but haven't seen the newest season yet, skip this one (and don't read the bottom of this description) as it will obviously contain spoilers! Our guest speaks with us about the physical and mental challenges of surviving in isolation, and why community is a much better option.


To learn more about the winner, or to buy his book, please visit www.jpquinonez.com

Please join us on...

Phosphorus is an essential element to sustain life on earth, from plants to humans. Like oil, it is finite and we're using it an exponentially increasing rate. How much is left, and at what point will we hit peak supply?

Learn More:

http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2016/finalwebsite/solutions/phosphorus.html

http://phosphorusfutures.net/the-phosphorus-challenge/the-story-of-phosphorus-8-reasons-why-we-need-to-rethink-the-management-of-phosphorus-resources-in-the-global-food-system/

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/07/08/2476573/0/en/Phosphate-Fertilizer-Market-to-Register-a-CAGR-of-over-5-5-from-2022-2032-Future-Market-Insights-Inc.html#:~:text=filingsmedia%20partners-,Phosphate%20Fertilizer%20Market%20to%20Register%20a%20CAGR%20of%20over%205.5,%7C%20Future%20Market%20Insights%2C%20Inc.

...

The way individuals view the world shapes the way they cope with the reality of collapse and respond to each crisis that presents itself.  What exactly is the philosophy known as "nihilism"? Why is it such a commonly held view in the collapse community? Why do people adopt it and what are the pros and cons?

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By 2050, 1/3rd of the world population is expected to live in urban areas. This is just one of the many issues facing humanity regarding food supply. What is vertical farming, and will it solve our food problems?

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While last week we spoke about the inefficiencies in the US healthcare system that have existed for decades, this week we discuss the current state of the healthcare system, as recent developments continue to exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities.

Please join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community.

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There is too much to say about why the US healthcare system is awful. This episode discusses broadly some of those reasons, with follow-ups to come on the current state and potential collapse of the healthcare system.

Learn More:

https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-medical-school

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/cost-of-medical-school/

https://www.savvypremed.com/blog/why-has-the-cost-of-medical-school-skyrocketed#:~:text=Unlike%20undergraduate%20college%2C%20the%20cost,years%2C%20the%20cost%20is%20%24385%2C029.

https://www.propublica.org/article/doctors-prescribe-more-of-a-drug-if-they-receive-money-from-a-pharma-company-tied-to-it

Please join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content...

Some bold claims are made about many technologies and their potential abilities to combat or adapt to climate change. This week we discuss one that claims to reduce the urban heat island effect. Does it hold up?

Please join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community.

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As risks from climate change and other collapse factors rise, many people are left wondering: "what will happen to insurance?" We've got your answers here, and for many it may not be what they think.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-11-10/wildfires-are-torching-california-s-insurance-industry-amid-climate-change

https://www.iii.org/publications/insurance-handbook/regulatory-and-financial-environment/reinsurance

https://www.swissre.com/dam/jcr:e73ee7c3-7f83-4c17-a2b8-8ef23a8d3312/swiss-re-institute-expertise-publication-economics-of-climate-change.pdf

https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/08/reinsurance.asp

https://www.zippia.com/advice/insurance-industry-statistics/

...

As the planet heats up, air conditioning is becoming more and more necessary for maintaining quality of life and in some cases life itself. All this cooling comes at a high cost - much of which is another dreaded feedback loop.

Learn More:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/01/1007762/air-conditioning-grid-blackouts-california-climate-change/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/29/the-air-conditioning-trap-how-cold-air-is-heating-the-world

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/23067049/heat-wave-air-conditioning-cooling-india-climate-change

https://www.vox.com/22638093/air-conditioning-worsens-climate-change-ac

https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/products/air-conditioners/how-do-air-conditioners-work/#

Please join us on Patreon for...

It's no secret that collapse effects the poor and minorities first. This episode explains that idea along with some specific examples.

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