Hidden Forces

Trevor Hall, host of the Mining Stock Daily podcast, dives into a riveting discussion with Demetri Kofinas about the complexities of modern media and its role in shaping public perception. They explore how past crises, like 9/11, have influenced political thought and economic strategy. The duo also debates the merits of traditional assets versus cryptocurrencies in today's market landscape. Finally, they reflect on the shifting tides of investment strategies post-COVID, highlighting the balance of risk and stability in uncertain times.

Doomberg, an anonymous publisher with extensive experience in heavy industry and finance, shares insights on building a successful independent brand in the modern media landscape. He discusses the transition from consulting to content creation during the pandemic and the challenges of anonymity. The conversation touches on cancel culture, the balance between platforms and audiences, and the shortcomings of current energy policies. They explore the gig economy, inflation's impact on markets, and celebrate the power of community in fostering diverse voices.

Gregg Easterbrook, a versatile author and Atlantic correspondent, dives into the transformative impact of the US Navy on global prosperity. He highlights the unprecedented era of maritime peace and its economic benefits, such as reduced volatility and increased asset values. The discussion also addresses the potential end of this 'Blue Age' and its implications. Gregg contrasts objective data with public perceptions of progress, particularly regarding climate change, while critiquing media narratives that shape environmental anxieties.

In this discussion, Jim Grant, founder of Grant's Interest Rate Observer and a veteran in financial media, delves into the complicated nature of inflation and its lasting effects on asset values. He shares insights on the Federal Reserve's policies and their role in dollar debasement, challenging the notion that current inflation is merely a temporary phenomenon. Grant reflects on historical credit cycles, revealing how investor behavior and market dynamics are shifting amidst rising prices. His unique perspective sheds light on the future of stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies.

Julius Krein, editor of American Affairs, dives into the troubling state of the American economy, discussing the rise of oligarchy and the phenomenon of 'proletarianization.' He contrasts the ideals of free-market capitalism with today's corrupt governance, likening it to a feudal system. Krein also explores how geopolitical events shape economic beliefs and critiques the shift from value creation to extraction in corporate America. Their conversation touches on generational conflicts and the cultural ramifications of these economic transformations.

In Episode 219 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Matt Ridley and Alina Chan. Alina is a Canadian molecular biologist specializing in gene therapy and cell engineering at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Matt is a British science journalist who has written countless bestselling books on subjects ranging from evolution, to innovation, to genomic science. They are the co-authors of an electrifying new book titled “Viral” that grapples with the mystery of how Covid-19, a virus whose closest known relatives live in bats residing in subtropical southern China, somehow managed to begin spreading among people more than 1,500 kilometers away in the city of Wuhan, while leaving none of the expected traces that such outbreaks usually create. Instead, nearly two years into this pandemic we’re presented with a trail of evidence that increasingly points towards the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the so-called “Lab Leak Hypothesis” as the most plausible source of the outbreak. This is a critically important conversation to be having and Matt and Alina have made an invaluable contribution to it by working tirelessly and at great risk to themselves and to their careers in order to bring clarity to many of the facts and much of the evidence in support of the lab leak hypothesis—a theory that was consistently attacked and discredited by various actors, both wittingly and unwittingly, in the earliest days of the pandemic. We normally release the second half of our episodes for our subscribers only, but because of how important this conversation is and because of how much Matt and Alina have sacrificed in order to educate us all on the origins of Covid-19, we thought it was only right to do as much as we can to share as much of their work as possible. If you enjoy today’s episode, please take a moment to write us a review on Apple Podcasts and consider being a premium subscriber, if you haven’t already. There's no commitment. You can cancel at any time and the entire library of Hidden Forces subscriber content going all the way back to Episode 1 becomes instantly available to you, including the transcripts, and rundowns, to this episode and every other episode we’ve ever done. You can access the second part of this episode, as well as the transcript and rundown to this week’s conversation through the Hidden Forces Patreon Page. All subscribers gain access to our premium feed, which can be easily added to your favorite podcast application. If you enjoyed listening to today’s episode of Hidden Forces you can help support the show by doing the following: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | CastBox | RSS Feed Write us a review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to our mailing list through the Hidden Forces Website Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe & Support the Podcast at https://patreon.com/hiddenforces Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 11/09/2021

In Episode 218 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher. Eric is co-founder of Schmidt Futures and the former CEO & Chairman of Google and Daniel is the inaugural dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing. They are the co-authors, along with Henry Kissinger, of a phenomenal new book titled, “The Age of AI And Our Human Future,” which explores how Artificial Intelligence is transforming human society—and what it means for all of us. Eric and Dan spend the first hour discussing the technical dimensions of artificial intelligence—what it is and how it works—as well as how it will continue to shape and transform our social and physical realities. The second half of the conversation focuses on the national security dimensions of artificial intelligence, as well as the profound philosophical challenges that it poses for humanity, specifically our need to find meaning in a world where machines will provide answers to more and more questions but without the ability, in many cases, to provide us with a rational or methodology by which they arrived at those answer. For those of you who are interested in the field of blockchain and DLT-enabled applications and smart contracts, Demetri had a chance to ask Eric about where he thinks these technologies fit in an AI future, what the main hurdles are going to be, and what some of the interesting projects in the space are. You can access the second part of this episode, as well as the transcript and rundown to this week’s conversation through the Hidden Forces Patreon Page. All subscribers gain access to our premium feed, which can be easily added to your favorite podcast application. If you enjoyed listening to today’s episode of Hidden Forces you can help support the show by doing the following: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | CastBox | RSS Feed Write us a review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to our mailing list through the Hidden Forces Website Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe & Support the Podcast at https://patreon.com/hiddenforces Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 11/08/2021

In Episode 217 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with New York Times Op-Ed columnist Ross Douthat about his five-year struggle with a disease that in his own words, officially, doesn't exist. It’s a story about personal suffering but also about what happens when we become terribly ill only to realize that even the doctors who are willing to treat us can only do so much. Demetri and Ross spend the first half of their conversation discussing the book and its lessons for not only those dealing with chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, which has afflicted Ross, but for anyone who feels the need to challenge or circumvent the medical establishment in order to treat an illness or cure a serious disease. Unsurprisingly, this leads directly into a conversation about Covid-19, a disease which has inspired its own set of alternative treatment modalities and which has afflicted tens of millions of people with symptoms that the medical establishment is still struggling to understand. In the second hour, Demetri has a chance to ask Ross about a number of political and social issues and questions surrounding the upcoming elections, the enduring popularity of Donald Trump, the ongoing transformation of the news media, the Biden presidency, and much more. You can access the second part of this episode, as well as the transcript and rundown to this week’s conversation through the Hidden Forces Patreon Page. All subscribers gain access to our premium feed, which can be easily added to your favorite podcast application. If you enjoyed listening to today’s episode of Hidden Forces you can help support the show by doing the following: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | CastBox | RSS Feed Write us a review on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to our mailing list through the Hidden Forces Website Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe & Support the Podcast at https://patreon.com/hiddenforces Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 11/02/2021

Robin Wigglesworth, a Financial Times global finance correspondent and author of "Trillions," dives deep into the transformative history of index funds. He discusses how passive investing has reshaped the market, but at a cost of efficiency and increased power concentration among fund managers. The conversation also explores inflation, central banks' responses, and the implications of trading scandals on public trust in financial institutions. Wigglesworth sheds light on the speculative nature of today's markets, influenced by meme stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Andrew Yang, the 2020 presidential candidate and founder of the Forward Party, discusses his journey through politics and the motivations behind his innovative proposals like universal basic income. He highlights the need to reform America's two-party system, advocating for ranked-choice voting and campaign finance changes. Yang shares lessons learned on the campaign trail about public dissatisfaction and media influence. The conversation delves into how these reforms could foster a more inclusive democracy and align political incentives with representation.