
KunstlerCast - Conversations: Converging Catastrophes of the 21st Century
James Howard Kunstler, author of "The Geography of Nowhere" and "The Long Emergency," takes on suburban sprawl, disposable architecture and the end of the cheap oil era each week with program host Duncan Crary.
Latest episodes

May 19, 2025 • 59min
KunstlerCast 424 — Ray Jason Navigating the Shoals of Collapse with the Sea Gypsy Tribe
Ray Jason has been writing the Sea Gypsy Philosopher blog, for the last twelve years largely touching on politics and social issues. His commentary is filtered through his unusual lived experience of being a longtime ex-pat open water sailor living on his boat, the Aventura. Ray’s greatest contribution to the blogosphere is his Sea Gypsy Tribe concept — his belief that small bands of ocean-dwelling cruisers can both survive and flourish after any type of catastrophe which is the main thrust of our conversation here Ray’s personal life path has been quite out of the ordinary. Right after college graduation, he was drafted and ended up in Vietnam on a U.S. Navy ammunition ship. Post-service malaise steered him away from the so-calleed Real World and he spent the next 20 years as a highly successful San Francisco street performer — juggling, his specialty. When that scene began to deteriorate, he commenced his sea gypsy life and has not lived on land since 1992. We speak with Ray today aboard his sailboat somewhere in the Banana Latitudes of Central America.

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May 3, 2025 • 1h 7min
KunstlerCast 423 — Dr. Meryl Nass on the Echoes of Covid and Medicine's Nervous Breakdown
Dr. Meryl Nass, a pioneer in identifying biological warfare's role in epidemics and a leading voice for vaccine safety, shares her insights on the current medical landscape. She discusses the erosion of doctors' autonomy due to corporate influence and regulatory pressures, especially post-COVID. The podcast also tackles the complexities of vaccine administration controversies, the U.S.-WHO relationship, and healthcare reform needs. Meryl's experiences and humor bring a light-hearted touch to the serious challenges facing modern medicine.

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Apr 26, 2025 • 1h 6min
KunstlerCast 422 — Jeffrey Tucker of the Brownstone Institute on The Immortal Despotism of the Covid Police State
Jeffrey Tucker is founder and president of Brownstone Institute and Senior Economics Columnist at Epoch Times. He is the author of 15 books, most recently Life After Lockdowns. Senator Rand Paul says, “In Life after Lockdown, “ Jeffrey Tucker paints a picture of the living hell that was the government lockdown and outlines a roadmap for never again allowing such a police state to occur.” Please take the time to visit the Brownstone Institute’s excellent website and its stable of fine writers

Apr 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
KunstlerCast 421 — Dr. Chris Martenson on Reforming US Public Health under RFK; Tremors in Finance; and the First Hundred Days of Trump
Dr. Chris Martenson, is an economic researcher and futurist specializing in energy and resource depletion, finance and banking, and the science and politics surrounding the Covid-19 affair. Before founding PeakProsperity.com, where he provides analysis, commentary, and actionable advice, Martenson worked as a Vice President at a Fortune 300 company and spent over a decade in corporate finance and strategic consulting. His academic background includes a PhD in neurotoxicology from Duke University and a post-doctoral program in the same field, followed by an MBA in Finance from Cornell University.

Mar 8, 2025 • 1h 4min
KunstlerCast 420 — Tom Luongo of Gold, Goats and Guns, Talkin' Europe, Russia, and America in a Dangerous Year
Tom Luongo, a former research chemist and anarcho-libertarian, dives into the complex web of global geopolitics. He discusses America's historical ties with Britain and questions their authenticity. Luongo also examines Britain's post-WWI economic strategies and their effects on modern politics. Key insights include Russia's historical resilience and the pressing need for fostering friendly relations. Additionally, he tackles Europe’s geopolitical challenges, immigration issues, and the pervasive corruption in global leadership, urging deeper analysis of power dynamics.

Feb 26, 2025 • 1h 12min
KunstlerCast 419 — Celia Farber on Covid Sorcery, the AIDS Fiasco, and Science Gone Wrong
Celia Farber, an acclaimed journalist and blogger known for her critical takes on the AIDS crisis and COVID-19, discusses her journey through investigative journalism. She explores the controversies surrounding HIV narratives and the health establishment's response to the AIDS epidemic. Farber delves into the origins of COVID-19, the influence of media, and the dynamics of public health during the pandemic. She also critiques vaccine skepticism, corporate corruption in healthcare, and the urgent need for accountability and ethical integrity in modern medicine.

Feb 2, 2025 • 1h 6min
KunstlerCast 418 — Peter Golden Explores the Inner Life of John F. Kennedy in a New Novel
Peter Golden is an award-winning journalist, novelist, and historian. His novels include Comeback Love, Wherever There Is Light, Nothing Is Forgotten , and Their Shadows Deep, just published, in which John F. Kennedy is a major character. During the course of his career, Mr. Golden has interviewed Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush; Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, Alexander Haig, George Shultz, and Lawrence Eagleburger; Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Shamir; and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. He lives with his wife near Albany, New York. The KunstlerCast theme music is the beautiful Two Rivers Waltz written and performed by Larry Unger

Jan 18, 2025 • 1h 5min
KunstlerCast 417 — Charles Hugh Smith, Progress and Anti-progress
In this discussion, Charles Hugh Smith, founder of the blog "Of Two Minds" and author of "The Mythology of Progress," delves into the deceptive nature of progress. He critiques the balance between technological advancements and their adverse effects on society and the environment. Smith argues that meaningful change often emerges from crises, not smooth transitions. He compares modern issues to the decline of the Ming dynasty, emphasizing the need for adaptable governance. The conversation reveals pressing concerns about healthcare, societal values, and the risks of blindly embracing technology.

Jan 5, 2025 • 58min
KunstlerCast_416 — Bill Moyer on Reviving and Restoring the US Railroad System
Bill Moyer calls himself a radical solutionary. He’s the author of the book Solutionary Rail, a people powered campaign to electrify US railroads and open corridors for a clean energy future. He also hosts the new podcast Reconnect America and posts essays on Solutionary Rail at Substack. The campaign has evolved into a national effort to put US rail infrastructure back in service of the public interest over Wall Street profit. He lives with his wife and daughter in the woods of Vashon Island, WA in the Salish Sea.

Dec 19, 2024 • 1h 4min
KunstlerKast 415 — Vermont Farmer and Attorney John Klar Fights for Parental Consent
John Klar, a seventh-generation Vermonter, farmer, and lawyer, discusses his legal battle representing a family fighting against school officials who vaccinated their son without parental consent. He explores the ethical implications of this case and the erosion of trust in government following COVID-19 policies. Klar also delves into the challenges faced by modern farmers and the importance of supporting local agriculture. His insights shed light on the intersection of parental rights, public health, and the complexities of legal frameworks.