126 episodes
Crazy Town Post Carbon Institute: Sustainability, Climate, Collapse, and Dark Humor
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- Science
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4.7 • 187 Ratings
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With equal parts humor and in-depth analysis, Asher, Rob, and Jason safeguard their sanity while probing crazy-making topics like climate change, overshoot, runaway capitalism, and why we’re all deluding ourselves.
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Escaping Imperialism: Where Does Darth Vader Get His Lithium?
Perhaps no community has undergone more versions of imperialism than the tiny island nation of Nauru, which has morphed from being "Pleasant Island" to the mined-out home of offshore banks, discarded refugees, and deep sea mining interests. Jason, Rob, and Asher take a bad trip to wrap their heads around Nauru, the topic of "psychedelic imperialism," and imperialism's new frontier - the clean energy transition.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.Sources/Links/Notes:"A Dark ...
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Escaping Capitalism: How to Replace the "Logic" of Psychopaths, Pharma Bros, and Private Prisons
Capitalism ruins SO many things, from key sectors like college sports all the way down to novelties like people's health and the environment. Jason, Rob, and Asher rely on their keen insight and otherworldly investigative talents to somehow unearth a few flaws of capitalism. But rather than wallow in the world of profiteering and privatization, they explore the solidarity economy and other alternatives to the "greed is good" way of running things.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy ...
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Escaping Growthism: Wendigo Economics, Mystery Houses, and Becoming the Bear
Grow or die. It's the governing principle of companies, investment portfolios, national economies, and even philanthropic foundations. Oh, and cancer. Asher, Jason, and Rob lay bare the stats on everything from human population, energy consumption, global GDP, greenhouse gas emissions, and the size of cars and cruise ships, before concluding that the global economy should be named after the Wendigo from Algonquian folklore. They turn to the natural world for examples of self-regulation, along...
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Escaping Globalism: Rebuilding the Local Economy One Pig Thyroid at a Time
From the top of a skyscraper in Dubai, Jason, Rob, and Asher chug margaritas made from the purest Greenland glacier ice as they cover the "merits" of globalism. International trade brings so many things, like murder hornets, piles of plastic tchotchkes, and deadly supply chain disruptions. The opposite of globalism is localism -- learn how to build a secure local economy that can keep Asher alive, hopefully at least through the end of the season.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy l...
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Escaping Technologyism: Dreams of AI Sheep and the Deadliest Word in Film History
Modern humans have a Stockholm Syndrome relationship to technology, which has kidnapped us while convincing us it has our best interests in mind. But when one looks back at the history of plastics or the current frenzy around AI, it isn't hard to see the insanity of doubling down on new technology to save us from previous technology. Find out what a person or society can actually do to develop a healthy, non-abusive relationship with technology, aside from joining an Amish community or going ...
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Escaping Speedism: How to Slow Down and Enjoy the Collapse
Consult your inner tortoise to find novel ways of slowing down and living the good life. In a world haunted by just-in-time delivery, hyperactive business, accelerating environmental calamities, and metric tons of stress, Jason, Rob, and Asher work at a fast and furious pace to savor the moments, because there aren't many left.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.Sources/Links/Notes:Top 10 most unrealistic car crashes in moviesClip from the movie The Blues BrothersClip from ...
Customer Reviews
A lifeline on a burning planet
In an era of complacent ignorance, Crazy Town provides me with a lifeline to not only keep my head up, but even get into some good trouble. Delightfully witty, shamelessly self-critical and occasionally mind-bending, the hosts choose one topic each episode and begin peeling the layers off tired arguments, exposing some of the most admired thinkers and foundational societal beliefs for the false prophets they truly are. Keep it up y’all, I’m telling everyone I know to listen in.
Comic relief about the end of the world as we know it.
I do recommend this podcast to everyone concerned about the future. They question the absurd world we live in—CrazyTown—which is the only sane thing to do. Keep it up, and do go beyond critique to building the foundations for a new world view —forafuture.com
Loving the theme of the new season!
I really enjoyed the first episode about industrialism. Since much of it was about industrial agriculture, it would’ve been nice to hear more about local escape routes in terms of creating food sovereignty and Regional Foodshed Resiliency Plans.
I recently listened to Earth Talk: Agroecology: Who will feed us in a planet in crisis with Miguel A. Altieri, and as he mentions towards the end, the United States needs a social movement towards Agroecology. Granted, that’s hard to do in our Crazy Town culture, but it’s possible to some degree within local communities. Also, in terms of agriculture, it would be interesting to hear Jason’s take on Permaculture at some point.
Lastly, “the bar of Industrialism” was a great concept and discussion. Addicts benefit from community support, and I hope that community-based local escape routes and initiatives are discussed this season. In particular, it would be great to hear the three of you talk about the Transition Town movement. Jason and Asher urged listeners to stay in the game and not drop out of society, so maybe you won’t end up talking about Ecovillages this season, yet there are many Cohousing communities that aren’t insular or far removed from society.
This continues to be the best podcast out there by the way!