Shane Smith Has Questions

John Perkins was once an economic hitman — a chief economist helping powerful corporations and governments entrap resource-rich countries in massive debt. Loans disguised as development aid ended up enriching the elite, while ordinary people paid the price.He shares the moment that made him question everything, the “death economy” fueled by short-term greed, and how China is now leading this global game with a new twist. This isn’t just history — it’s the story of how economic power shapes today’s world and what it means for our planet’s future. Get $10 Off @BRUNT with code SHANE at https://www.bruntworkwear.com/SHANE #BRUNTpod #ad For free shipping and 365-day returns go to https://www.quince.com/questions  Subscribe to VICE News here: ⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shane Smith sits down with three of the brightest minds pushing humanity’s final frontier, space. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, author and space reporter and documentarian Ashlee Vance, and in-orbit manufacturing pioneer Delian Asparouhov pull back the curtain on the new era of private spaceflight, from cutting-edge rocket tech to factories floating above Earth. It’s a riveting look at how commercial actors, visionary entrepreneurs, and global superpowers are reshaping everything we know—and don’t yet know—about life beyond our planet. Get $10 Off at BRUNT with code SHANE at https://www.Bruntworkwear.com/SHANE #Bruntpod #ad Download the PrizePicks app today and get $50 after your play your first $5 lineup with code SHANE at https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SHANE Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a lively discussion, Faiz Shakir, Bernie Sanders' former campaign manager and executive director of More Perfect Union, dives into the rebuilding of the Democratic party. He emphasizes the need for grassroots support and authenticity, while critiquing the big-money influence in politics. They explore the shift from economic justice to identity politics and the significance of media narratives. With a call for new, relatable leadership, Shakir advocates for a movement that prioritizes the working class rather than mere fundraising.

Shane dives deep into today’s economic turbulence with two of the most respected voices in the field: former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and global affairs strategist Ian Bremmer. Together, they unpack how tariffs, shifting global alliances, and stock market jitters are reshaping our economic landscape. Summers offers an inside view of why tariffs have become such a flashpoint—shedding light on who really pays the price when countries impose or retaliate with higher trade barriers. Bremmer broadens the lens to explain how America’s trade disputes and political brinkmanship ripple across Europe, Asia, and beyond, hinting at bigger power shifts on the horizon. From concerns about inflation and job security to questions over national debt and diplomatic trust, this conversation peels back the layers of political theater to reveal what’s really at stake. Download the PrizePicks app today and get $50 after your play your first $5 lineup with code SHANE at https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SHANE Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shane Smith and tech entrepreneur and biohacker Bryan Johnson—the mastermind behind the burgeoning “Don’t Die” movement and hit Netflix documentary— dissect one of humanity’s oldest obsessions: longevity and the possibility of extending life indefinitely. As Johnson lays out his plan to build a radical new ideology, part religion and part nation-state, he pushes beyond standard ideas about health and longevity. Think hyperbaric oxygen therapy, societal re-engineering, and yes, even measuring the one metric nobody ever talks about—because, according to Johnson, every data point counts when you’re determined to rewrite life’s expiration date.And it’s not just longevity. They also explore reinventing political systems and orchestrating trillion-dollar investments to the ancient mythological warnings against eternal life. Equal parts fearless and futuristic, this episode examines one man’s quest to reshape not only personal health and wellness, but also the framework of society—all in the name of one deceptively simple command: Don’t Die.Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-NewsCheck out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Congressman Brad Wenstrup, who led a two-year House investigation into COVID-19, discusses the missteps of public health institutions and the erosion of public trust. Dr. Robert Malone, a pioneer of mRNA research, raises concerns about concealed vaccine risks, while Dr. Paul Offit defends vaccines' core value despite acknowledging communication flaws. They explore the impact of misinformation, the lab-leak theory, and the need for transparency in public health messaging. The conversation highlights critical lessons for future pandemic preparedness.

Shane and Internet pioneer Marc Andreessen unpack how a Chinese open-source AI breakthrough could mark a “Sputnik moment” for the West, why governments are bent on crushing emerging technologies, and what recent events mean for the future of startups, freedom of speech, and global innovation. From exposing how AI can be deliberately taught to lie, to dissecting the ongoing U.S.–China rivalry and the far-reaching impacts of open-source software, Andreessen offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at political maneuvering, corporate self-interest, and the moral questions that will define the next wave of technological progress. Marc shares his candid takes on crypto, central bank digital currencies, and the possibility of a new Cold War over AI. This is the most crucial conversation shaping our world right now and you have a front row seat. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code SHANE at https://www.shopmando.com! #mandopod #ad Download the PrizePicks app today and get $50 after your play your first $5 lineup with code SHANE at https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SHANE X: https://x.com/a16z Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a16z/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z/ Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shane does a deep dive on the bombshell Covid report with the man who chaired the committee, Congressman Brad Wenstrup. He gets alternate opinions from Dr. Alina Chan, a molecular biologist, who specializes in gene therapy and is a cell engineering scholar and lab leak theory supporter and Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases who shares his insights in a riveting conversation. Download the PrizePicks app today and get $50 after your play your first $5 lineup with code SHANE at https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SHANE Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shot before the California disaster, Shane does a deep dive on weather modification and geo-engineering, the realities, the truths, and the Internet conspiracy theories that emerge and why, with Harvard-educated meteorologist Matthew Cappucci, entrepreneur and Rainmaker CEO Augustus Doricko, and former solar energy exec and proponent o government weather manipulation ideas, Dane Wigington.Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-NewsCheck out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brigham Buhler, a former pharmaceutical representative and advocate, sheds light on the turmoil surrounding the recent murder of a United Healthcare CEO and its reflection on public outrage toward insurance companies. The discussion navigates the systemic failures in healthcare, including profit-driven practices and denied claims, which harm patients. Buhler emphasizes the urgent need for reform, highlighting issues in the pharmaceutical industry and the opioid crisis. He also underscores the vital role of transparency in restoring trust in the healthcare system.