Moment of Zen

E4: USA vs Europe, Zeihan & Fukuyama, Reforming institutions vs starting new ones, and why we started "Moment of Zen"

Episode Summary

(0:00) intro and sponsor (1:20) introductions (who the f are we?) (3:00) Antonio introduction (5:12) Dan introduction (6:50) Farcaster (10:10) Erik introduction (12:30) the life of the mind vs the life of the founder (16:00) Being in the arena as a requisite to comment (18:30) Why is the podcast named “Moment of Zen”? (20:20) Erik is the Johnny Appleseed of group chats (23:30) Group chat culture (26:55) Reforming institutions vs building new ones (29:30) Antonio’s intellectual evolution (30:40) Europe is behind, but Antonio prefers it (31:40) Antonio feels like a teetotaler who runs a bar (32:50) LARPs (34:00) Explaining Fukuyama (37:50) What’s the best functioning institution today? (39:10) Richard Hanania (42:30) We don’t have a grand unifying projects anymore (45:00) Should the China threat be the unifying narrative? (48:05) Taiwan (49:56) Explaining Zeihan (1:00:20) When shit hits the fan, what country do you flee to? (1:02:40) Why doesn’t Prince Harry get a paternity test? (1:04:00) Europe vs America (1:08:20) Dan is bullish on Europeans, bearish on Europe (1:11:20) “Everything except the startup scene is better in Europe” (1:15:19) Why is the US public sector so much worse? (1:21:35) Why are we doing this show? (1:22:32) “How about we just don’t get canceled?” (1:23:55) Teasing upcoming guests (1:24:34) Erik’s favorite ex-convict?

Episode Notes

(0:00) intro and sponsor

 

(1:20) introductions (who the f are we?)

 

(3:00) Antonio introduction

 

(5:12) Dan introduction

 

(6:50) Farcaster

 

(10:10) Erik introduction

 

(12:30) the life of the mind vs the life of the founder

 

(16:00) Being in the arena as a requisite to comment

 

(18:30) Why is the podcast named “Moment of Zen”?

 

(20:20) Erik is the Johnny Appleseed of group chats

 

(23:30) Group chat culture

 

(26:55) Reforming institutions vs building new ones

 

(29:30) Antonio’s intellectual evolution

 

(30:40) Europe is behind, but Antonio prefers it

 

(31:40) Antonio feels like a teetotaler who runs a bar

 

(32:50) LARPs

 

(34:00) Explaining Fukuyama

 

(37:50) What’s the best functioning institution today?

 

(39:10) Richard Hanania

 

(42:30) We don’t have a grand unifying projects anymore

 

(45:00) Should the China threat be the unifying narrative?

 

(48:05) Taiwan

 

(49:56) Explaining Zeihan

 

(1:00:20) When shit hits the fan, what country do you flee to?

 

(1:02:40) Why doesn’t Prince Harry get a paternity test?

 

(1:04:00) Europe vs America

 

(1:08:20) Dan is bullish on Europeans, bearish on Europe

 

(1:11:20) “Everything except the startup scene is better in Europe”

 

(1:15:19) Why is the US public sector so much worse?

 

(1:21:35) Why are we doing this show?

 

(1:22:32) “How about we just don’t get canceled?”

 

(1:23:55) Teasing upcoming guests

 

(1:24:34) Erik’s favorite ex-convict?