JAPAN, completely closed off most of the world, was enjoying 200 years of peace - until one day in 1853, a couple of intimidating steam ships appeared in Tokyo bay... Prof. Chris Harding breaks down one of the most FASCINATING moment in all history 👇🏻 youtu.be/yzruidzZSOM #japan #history #samurai

Really enjoyed this conversation!

From Samurai to Shinkansen - how did JAPAN become a global superpower in just a short few decades? And why is it stagnating today? Check the thrilling conversation with the eminent historian of Japan @drchrisharding.bsky.social HERE 👇🏻🎌 youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU #japan #history

The #pseudoarchaeological appropriation of past and #Indigenous cultural achievements to attribute these to ancient "supercivilizations" or even #aliens is reviving 19th century narratives deeply rooted in #colonialsim. Whole @smartcookies.bsky.social podcast episode here: youtu.be/iUp44_-lbs4

Gobekli Tepe, the OLDEST monumental structure in the world, has long been the subject of intense speculation... But what was the site REALLY used for? @jensnotroff.com, an archaeologist who actually worked there presents the possibilities 👇🏻 youtu.be/iUp44_-lbs4

Oh. Had actually no idea that Stitch-floating-through-the-living-room was visible in the reflection right behind me. 🫣😂

Just had a chat about the alluring mysteries of GOBEKLI TEPE, the oldest monumental site in the world with @jensnotroff.com - an archeologist who actually worked there! Check it out HERE 👇🏻 youtu.be/iUp44_-lbs4

With falling IQ and literacy scores across the board, the BRAIN ROT society seems to have arrived. But what's the cause? @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social breaks it down 👇🏻 youtu.be/4xDjlE0Umjk

As an Eastern European "frosty," I'm rarely rattled. However, after reading @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social article, "The dawn of the post-literate society and the end of civilisation," I definitely was... Check out our CONVO here 👇🏻 youtu.be/OpHIPKUWqOw

I really enjoyed this conversation about the decline of reading and the threat addictive digital devices pose to our civilisation

We have stopped READING - could it be a sign our civilisation is COLLAPSING? @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social certainly seems to think so. Check out our conversation HERE👇🏻 youtu.be/OpHIPKUWqOw

Why do so many people miss the SOVIET UNION? Historian of the USSR, prof. Joseph Kellner, breaks it down 👇🏻 youtu.be/GHMrL7pS-1c #soviet #sovietunion #ussr #history

If you ever wondered what the COLLAPSE of the USSR "felt like", you should listen to my conversation with historian of the Soviet Union, Joseph Kellner HERE 👇🏻 youtu.be/UlHz_mEEhK0 #ussr #sovietunion #history #podcast

Is global warming really ACCELERATING?? Turns out there's a bit of a SPLIT within the climate science community, notably between two of it's most eminent voices, @michaelemann.bsky.social and @drjamesehansen.bsky.social. ... but who's RIGHT? youtu.be/wgTsaER2EDc #climatescience #globalwarming

I had a great chat with @smartcookies.bsky.social podcast a little while back, covering climate change, denialism, doomism, tipping points, and geoengineering. Watch here www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoxH... or listen via wherever you get your podcasts! www.patreon.com/the_smart_co... #ClimateChange

Podcaster Joe Rogan keeps claiming the EARTH is cooling down. I talk to @davidamckay.bsky.social (an actual CLIMATE scientist) to dispel the BS 👇🏻 youtu.be/OoxHZnv0ads #climatechange #joerogan #climateaction

Cory Doctorow, author of Enshitification, explains how GOOGLE deliberately degraded their own search engine youtu.be/7FbAJeFYl-c #Google #searchengine #corydoctorow #enshitification

Did Google intentionally make it's search engine SHITTY? According to Cory Doctorow, the answer is a resounding YES 💩 You can find our FULL CONVO on Enshitification here: youtu.be/-BoORwEPlQ0 #google #bigtech #searchengine

The GAZA ceasefire is here. What happens NEXT? Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani outlines a possible outcome 👇🏻 youtu.be/BI5GdavJ85U #ceasefire #GazaCeasefire

Hamas is ready to negotiate. Israel keeps dropping bombs. What's happening to Trump's GAZA peace plan? Analyst and commentator Mouin Rabbani breaks it down 👇🏻 youtu.be/VWramu_7L6k #news #gaza #trump #israel

The genocide in GAZA is the biggest crime of our era - but is it finally coming to an end? I discuss the horrific war, Netanyahu's aims and Trump's latest peace plan with Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani👇🏻 Youtube: youtu.be/BI5GdavJ85U Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4TRm... #gaza #israel ...

Another episode for my fellow HISTORY nerds ⚔️!!! I host Prof. Yeng-Wen Zheng from @manchester.ac.uk to talk about the NOTORIOUS Opium Wars 🌸👇🏻 Youtube: youtu.be/8sooOkmxRVI Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3U7t... #China #history #imperialism

How did a SLAVE ARMY stop the invincible MONGOL advance? Author of the Mongol Storm, @nicmorton.bsky.social, details one of the most important campaigns in all of MEDIEVAL history 👇🏻 youtu.be/AgyPIHUMtg0 #medieval #history

"At least he's talking about BLACKROCK..." Prof. Will Davies on JOE ROGAN and the rise of anti-experts 👇🏻 youtu.be/1lVCtycEHpQ #JoeRogan #podcast #TheJoeRoganExperience #science

Neoliberal capitalism is DEAD. But what kind of a system has replaced it? I ask sociologist, political economist and author of Nervous States, Prof. @will-davies.bsky.social 👇🏻 youtu.be/KvNbY9jNsQo #capitalism #politics

"The Right would like to portray this as CIVIL WAR!" Sociologist Prof. Will Davies breaks down the reckless framing of the CHARLIE KIRK killing👇🏻 youtu.be/N4vrQrIc1fU #charliekirk #charliekirkassassination #MAGA

Is the killing of CHARLIE KIRK another symptom of a disintegrating political system in the US? Sociologist, political economist and author of Nervous States Prof. @will-davies.bsky.social weighs in👇🏻 YT: youtu.be/KvNbY9jNsQo Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ea6... #politics #charliekirk #MAGA

What was the real story behind the legendary order of ASSASSINS 🥷? Medieval historian @nicmorton.bsky.social answers 👇🏻 youtu.be/OMGnnePwbzE #history #medieval

Which Middle Eastern power managed to FINALLY stop the invincible MONGOL armies?? Find out in the SECOND part of this amazing conversation with historian @nicmorton.bsky.social, author of the Mongol Storm ⚔️ 👇🏻 Youtube: youtu.be/mYYQSZpYDu0 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5GfT... #history

It's the middle of the 13th century and the MONGOLS have bulldozed their way through Middle Eastern states like they have a cheat code ⚔️ The conquest of EVERYTHING seemed inevitable... but was it? Pt. 2 of with convo @nicmorton.bsky.social drops TOMORROW 👇🏻 youtu.be/mYYQSZpYDu0

He EXECUTED a group of Mongol traders... The Mongols INVADED and poured molten silver into his eyes. Historian @nicmorton.bsky.social tells the INCREDIBLE story of the fall of the Khwarazmian Empire 👇🏻 youtu.be/sQyMQcZp7ek #mongolempire #genghiskhan #medievalhistory

There are few events in all MEDIEVAL history as ASTONISHING as the legend of the mythical Christian king, Prester John... Historian @nicmorton.bsky.social, author of "The Mongol Storm" recounts this incredible story 👇🏻 youtu.be/j0Bl-3SKuF8 #mongolempire #history #medieval

The first part of the conversation about the MONGOL STORM, an unputdownable history of Mongol conquests, with @nicmorton.bsky.social is finally HERE👇🏻 YT: youtu.be/KghrmkP4QTU Apple podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/y... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5KHi... #history #mongols

🇨🇳 How affordable is life a first-tier Chinese city? 🇨🇳 How easy is it to get a job there? 🇨🇳 Is everyday life in China a techno utopia, or a hyper-competitive nightmare? @kaiserkuo.bsky.social breaks it down 👇🏻 youtu.be/IPxTZfjDXBY #china

In Western media CHINA occupies the role of our main adversary - it's usually portrayed negatively, the reportage riddled with stereotypes... But is China REALLY just an endless gulag, or is it a bit more complicated than that? I talk to @kaiserkuo.bsky.social to find out 👇🏻 #china #politics #west

A conversation about this thrilling (if slightly terrifying), part of HISTORY coming soon to a pod near you! Yes, I meant this one.

"Unlike the US, China doesn't want to push its IDEOLOGY on others..." @kaiserkuo.bsky.social on what we get MOST WRONG about China 🇨🇳 in 2025: youtu.be/21z6Brh1SNU #china #foreignpolicy #uspolitics #donaldtrump

Global favourability of CHINA is rising, while that of the US is falling (dramatically)... but WHY is that? @kaiserkuo.bsky.social breaks it down 👇🏻 youtu.be/KH5ZjP3OVeM #usa #china

Turns out we're pretty CLUELESS about China in the West... @kaiserkuo.bsky.social (from the Sinica podcast) joins me for the latest episode of SMART COOKIES to explain why that's probably not a good idea 👇🏻 YT: youtu.be/uWAkwJlrPuE Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4jas... #china

Throughout history (and even today), we look for a couple of very specific qualities in our LEADERS - we want them to be decisive, confident and charismatic. But are those people really BEST qualified to lead us? Actually, no 👇🏻 youtu.be/X5CuwDFN_sw #leadership #history

I've always wanted to be a professional BASKETBALL player. Sadly, I'm not tall (or skilful) enough. So I stared thinking... how about COACH? Leadership expert dr. Martin Gutmann advises how I can get there👇🏻 youtu.be/DDthbrGGBIw #basketball #nba #michaeljordan

- WHY do we keep choosing INCOMPETENT leaders? - What kind of people get ahead in the workplace? - What does good LEADERSHIP actually look like?? Historian and author of the best-selling book "Unseen leader", dr. Martin Gutmann breaks it down👇🏻 YT: youtu.be/_tHP1NFrZ-4 #management #leadership

Is the US under Donald Trump sliding into TOTALITARIANISM? Renowned historian @marcishore.bsky.social weighs in 👇🏻 youtu.be/EgHP3f04yl0 #trump #donaldtrump #ice #maga

Is CIVIL WAR in the US an actual possibility?? @marcishore.bsky.social, celebrated historian of totalitarian regimes, certainly thinks so 👇🏻 youtu.be/0T-YLZKQgkA #uspolitics #maga #trump

During STALINIST PURGES, why did people denounce themselves? And how come it was usually Stalin's closest allies who went down first? Renowned historian @marcishore.bsky.social breaks down one of the darkest chapters of 20th century history ☠️ 👇🏻 youtu.be/IqCZTAr88uY #history #stalin #sovietunion

Celebrated historian of TOTALITARIAN regimes, @marcishore.bsky.social joins me for a deep dive on Nazism, Stalinisim, Soviet purges and the banality of evil... ...but also on how close is Trump's USA to a dictatorship, and what's behind's MAGA's confused ideology 👇🏻 youtu.be/9tdwaH8f3SE

Is current AI on the verge of becoming SKYNET, or is it nothing more than a glorified AUTOCORRECT? For clarification I turn to @nsrnicek.bsky.social, author of Silicon Empires 👇🏻 youtu.be/Z84d3sLTs9Y #ai #llm #generativeai #artificialintelligence

AI's immense requirements for data, computation, and talent entrench the power of existing tech monopolies. Our podcast of the week frames AI as a general-purpose technology whose primary role is consolidating capital. With @nsrnicek.bsky.social on @smartcookies.bsky.social buff.ly/Nzoi8um

What are powerful AI CEOs, people like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk really after? Are they ACTUALLY propelled by christianity and "transhumanism", or is theirs a much more banal quest for money and power? I ask @nsrnicek.bsky.social, author of Silicon Empires 👇🏻🧵... (link in thread)