Doomer Optimism25 Mar 2025

DO 261 - John Lechner and James Pogue

James Pogue interviews John Lechner, a journalist and author who has extensively covered the Wagner Group and its influence in Africa, particularly in the Central African Republic. They discuss John's unique path to journalism through language learning, the historical context of the Central African Republic, ethnic divisions within the country, the civil war, and the role of external powers.

John's new book is called Death is Our Business, the shocking inside story of how the Wagner Group made private military companies inextricable from Russia's anti-Western foreign strategy.

The podcast also touches on military entrepreneurship and the ongoing situation in Eastern Congo, emphasizing the complex interplay of these regions' politics, identity, and resources. This conversation delves into the complex historical and political dynamics of the Central African Republic and the influence of the Wagner Group. It explores the historical context of the Tutsis in Congo, the political landscape shaped by various armed groups, and the role of Russia in Africa, particularly through the Wagner Group. The discussion highlights the interplay of local politics, foreign influence, and the region's ongoing struggles for power and resources. In this conversation, James Pogue and John Lechner delve into the complexities of power dynamics, the operations of the Wagner Group, and the challenges faced in the Sahel region. They explore the future of private military companies (PMCs) in American foreign policy, discussing the implications of influence trading and the evolving nature of warfare. The dialogue highlights the difficulties in navigating geopolitical landscapes and the potential for PMCs to play a significant role in future conflicts.

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Episoder(302)

DO 295 - Navigating the Evolution of Meat Production with Greg Gunthorp & Nate

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13 Jan 1h 40min

DO 294 - Rural Revival and the USDA with Nate and Jason Mauck

Nate sits down with Jason Mauck to discuss his hard-won experience running Munsee Meats, a small-scale meat processing operation in Indiana. What started as an opportunistic response to empty shelves ...

16 Des 20251h 16min

DO 293 - Antitrust Law, Beef Politics, and Actually Using Government Power

Antitrust attorney Basel Musharbash discusses recent political whiplash in beef markets and the broader question of how actually to enforce anti-monopoly law. The conversation covers why ranchers erup...

27 Nov 20251h 27min

DO 292 - Breaking the Beef Cartel: Mike Callicrate on Monopoly Power, Maker-Owned Markets, and the Fight for Rural America

Welcome to Beef Week! 🐄Nate sits down with rancher, entrepreneur, and farm advocate Mike Callicrate for a deep dive into the crisis facing America's cattle industry—and the path forward.Mike traces t...

25 Nov 20251h 45min

DO 291 - Building an Edible Perennial Nursery with Nick Wrenn of Living Soil Tree Farm

Building an Edible Perennial Nursery with Nick Wren Nick Wren of Living Soil Tree Farms joins Jason to talk about the practical realities of starting and running an edible perennial nursery. Nick shar...

20 Nov 20251h 29min

DO 290 - Distributism, Local Commons, and Agrarian Futures with Chris Smaje

Jason and Ashley welcome back Chris Smaje to discuss his new book, “Finding Lights in a Dark Age,” now available for purchase. Chris is a returning guest who first appeared on the podcast to discuss h...

18 Nov 20251h 24min

DO 289 - Beef, Bartering, and the Agorist's Guide to Not Starving with Nigel, Nate, and Jason

Nigel Best doesn’t have time for your bullshit. He’s too busy welding gates, rotating cattle, building spiral staircases, and conducting “illicit beef transactions” in Craigslist parking lots.Missouri...

13 Nov 20251h 27min

DO 288 - Beyond Interchangeability: Leah Sargeant on the Dignity of Dependence

Why We Need Each Other More Than Everhttps://undpress.nd.edu/9780268210335/the-dignity-of-dependence/https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-great-feminization/Ashley welcomes back Leah Sargeant to dis...

11 Nov 202559min