Hidden Forces

Gary Gerstle, Professor of American History at the University of Cambridge, delves into the last century of American history, discussing the rise and fall of the New Deal and neoliberal orders. He explores the struggles of capitalism, the impact of the communist revolution, and the origins and decline of neoliberalism. Gerstle and the host speculate about the future, envisioning a new political order emerging amidst current crises.

In Episode 345 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Vance Spencer and Michael Anderson about whether we are in a new crypto bull market. Mike and Vance are the founders of Framework Ventures, one of the largest venture capital firms in crypto. They have been on the podcast several times before to discuss their investment outlook for crypto, particularly decentralized finance and blockchain-based gaming. You can easily find those previous appearances in the related tab on this week’s episode page. In this end-of-year episode, Demetri asks the Framework team about their 2024 crypto investment outlook and whether they think the recent price run-up marks the beginning of a new crypto bull market. They discuss the anticipated introductions of the first Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, the Ethereum roadmap and recent upgrades to its protocol, blockchain-based gaming, regulation, and much more. Because this conversation deals with investing, nothing that we say on this podcast can or should be viewed as financial advice. All opinions expressed by him and his guests are solely our own opinions and should not be relied upon as the basis for financial decisions. You can subscribe to our premium content and access our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you want to join in on the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community, which includes Q&A calls with guests, access to special research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners, you can also do that on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. 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 | YouTube | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | CastBox | RSS Feed Write us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Subscribe to our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and Support the Podcast at https://hiddenforces.io Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 12/20/2023

Oil analyst and researcher Rory Johnston discusses the fall in oil prices, investor positioning, US oil production growth, recent M&A activity, OPEC production cuts, geopolitical risk in Guyana and the Strait of Hormuz, and more.

Diana Pasulka, a religious studies professor, discusses the UAP phenomenon and its connection to religion. They explore historical accounts of sightings, the double lives of successful professionals involved in UAP research, and evidence at crash sites. The discussion also delves into the cult-like aspect of the phenomenon and its implications on government structures and society.

Rudy Havenstein, a satirical Twitter account owner, discusses the issues with America's ruling class and government. Topics include inflation, government corruption, disillusionment with American foreign policy, prioritizing American citizens, frustration with political elites, lack of accountability, and the need for change in America.

Former FCC Chairman, Tom Wheeler, discusses the challenges of regulating Big Tech in the digital era and the potential consequences of not getting it right. They explore policy proposals for addressing social media and artificial intelligence, focusing on incentivizing platforms to produce better quality information. Wheeler also discusses President Joe Biden's executive order on AI and the challenges of regulating this disruptive technology.

Zach Abraham discusses his approach to investing and the disconnect between economic fundamentals and asset prices. They reflect on the impact of economic, political, and cultural changes on their lives and how they inform their economic outlook. They explore the pros and cons of remote and in-person podcast recordings. The speakers discuss their background in finance, starting a firm, risk management, market narratives, and the relationship between geopolitical events and market movements.

Nathaniel Whittemore, host of the AI Breakdown, discusses the firing of OpenAI's CEO and co-founder, Sam Altman, exploring the factions involved and the implications for AI safety. The conversation also covers Microsoft's increased influence on OpenAI and the intense debate surrounding AI development. Whittemore provides insights on the future of language barriers and the integration of transformative technology, along with recommended books and sources in the AI field.

Edward Luttwak, an expert in grand strategy and international relations, discusses the logic of war, American grand strategy in the 21st century, and the potential risks of China attempting to take Taiwan by force. He explains why such an action would lead to war with the United States and its allies, and why it would ultimately end in China's defeat. The conversation also touches on Edward Luttwak's diverse background, his involvement in US foreign policy, and the different levels of military strategy.

Jerry Colonna, the co-founder and CEO of Reboot, discusses his book 'Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong'. Topics covered include leadership as lessons in humanity, the importance of inclusion and belonging in today's world, personal issues leading to toxic behavior in positions of power, the Israeli Palestinian conflict and global suffering, steps towards reuniting and overcoming division, the power of storytelling and listening, and the confusion surrounding masculinity and manhood.