Empathetic Analysis: Argue the Other Side

A chill manifesto against lazy thinking. A low-key diatribe about our preconceptions. Marko and Jacob take a second, amidst all the chaos of January 2026, to tear into the core failure of most geopolitical analysis - Bias. Real analysis means stripping away emotion, nationalism, and ego, then stress-testing your views until they break. From Trump and Canada to Russia, markets, and personal discipline, the point is simple: if you can’t argue the other side convincingly, you’re not an analyst—you’re a fan. --

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Today's word is....

(00:39) - Listener Feedback and Basketball Metaphors

(03:18) - Trump's Tariff Threats and Greenland

(05:25) - Canada's Strategic Partnership with China

(19:08) - Geopolitical Analysis and Bias

(43:26) - Dealing with Hate Mail and Identity

(43:55) - The Problem with Being Right

(44:09) - Kobe Bryant's Shot Chart and Analysis Integrity

(44:57) - Buddhism and Nihilism in Analysis

(45:37) - Finance and Objectivity

(47:29) - Bias in Finance and Politics

(52:12) - Physical Fitness and Analysis

(01:01:03) - Frameworks and Methodologies

(01:12:15) - Humor and Passion in Analysis

(01:15:02) - Final Thoughts on Being an Analyst

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Referenced in the Show:

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Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

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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.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

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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_papic

Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro