Geopolitical Cousins

Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic
  • 4.6 (20)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Geopolitical Cousins throws together analysts Jacob Shapiro and Marko Papic for some of the most in-depth, off-the-wall geopolitical analysis in the world.

  1. 17 HRS AGO

    Forty Meters Under Fordow

    Jacob and Marko dive straight into the Iran-US ceasefire negotiations (airstrikes are hitting Iranian ships and missile sites as I type) - dissecting domestic political constraints on both sides, the Strait of Hormuz's diminishing leverage window, and why the emerging deal is arguably a worse JCPOA. They pivot to Gen Z's eroding relationship with nationalism, Erdoğan's assault on Turkey's main opposition party, protests in Serbia AND OF COURSE close on the NBA playoffs. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome (01:03) - Cousins Reunite!! (01:58) - Iran Ceasefire Strikes Update (05:20) - Deal Dynamics And Domestic Politics (09:07) - Military Posture And Hormuz Leverage (31:52) - Israel Spoiler And Regional Fallout (34:08) - Ebola Outbreak Background (37:13) - Why Ebola Gets Ignored (38:21) - Deglobalization And Pandemic Risk (41:23) - Vaccines Versus Political Will (43:40) - Marco Responds And MAGA Critique (48:17) - Global Health Reality Check (49:07) - Ebola Lessons and Limits (51:06) - Why US Must Engage (55:22) - Serbia Trip and Protests (57:43) - Gen Z Standards Revolution (01:03:30) - No Plan After Protest (01:06:54) - Censorship and Shared Culture (01:08:39) - Metaverse Versus Nationhood (01:20:33) - Turkey Opposition Crackdown (01:23:59) - AOC Mailbag and AI Politics (01:25:23) - NBA Takes Meet Geopolitics (01:30:00) - Victor Wembanyama Era -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 32m

  2. 5D AGO

    TVI26: C***** Goes #1

    Trade Value Index 2026 Part 3! Okay, okay... Here's the FULL list -> https://tinyurl.com/gctvi26 -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome Back and Housekeeping (01:37) - Netanyahu Reconsidered (03:07) - Trump Iran War and Tariffs (05:37) - Ejecting Netanyahu TBD (06:09) - Cyprus Surprise Pick (08:37) - Finland NATO and Stubb (10:21) - Zelensky Case for Top Tier (20:34) - Pope Leo XIV Rising Influence (27:15) - Mitsotakis and Greece Comeback (32:53) - Modi and Sheinbaum Rankings (35:28) - Bukele Drops to Four (37:58) - Mark Carney Goes Number One (40:14) - Carney Goes Number One (40:50) - Steph Curry Comparison (41:46) - Bulking Up Canada (43:38) - Devils Advocate Pushback (45:21) - Trade Value Logic (46:54) - Full Rankings Recap (52:28) - Why Trump Missed Cut (57:41) - Biggest Movers Data (01:00:20) - Ideology Bias Breakdown (01:02:46) - Regional Bias Breakdown (01:05:32) - Starting Five Metaphors (01:06:46) - Xi and Jokic Deep Dive (01:13:34) - Wrap Up and Corrections -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 17m

  3. 5D AGO

    TVI26: Jinping Rising

    2026 Trade Values P2 :) -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome (00:42) - Part Two Setup (02:31) - Lula at Fifteen (05:17) - Macron Debate (09:57) - Noboa and Ecuador Crime (11:47) - Uzbekistan Rising (13:28) - Uzbek Reforms Deep Dive (17:28) - Japan New Prime Pick (21:46) - Denmark and Greenland Standoff (24:03) - List Mixup and Denmark (25:17) - Xi Jinping Rising (26:53) - Xi Strengths and Risks (31:28) - Javier Milei Debate (34:08) - Rapid Fire Picks (37:42) - Top 10 Countdown (38:01) - Guatemala and Singapore (39:25) - Meloni and Sheinbaum (44:11) - Modi in Top Five (47:59) - Wrap and Next Part -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    48 min

  4. 5D AGO

    TVI26: Benchwarmers

    The Trade Value Index is back!!!!!!! Part 1. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Housekeeping (00:47) - Why We Love Rankings (02:15) - Trade Value Rules Explained (06:59) - How We Score Leaders (08:29) - What Trade Value Means (11:03) - Last Year Rankings Recap (13:01) - Wins Misses and Dropoffs (19:43) - Starting the Countdown (20:00) - Jacob Cuts and Bottom Five (26:12) - Vietnam Surprise Pick (27:44) - Marco Honorable Mentions (30:58) - Dishonorable Mentions and Merz (32:34) - Merz Under Fire (33:41) - Hopeful Turnaround Talk (34:52) - Greenland Surprise Pick (36:23) - Nepal Gen Z Rookie (41:04) - Lula Back on Board (46:56) - Sri Lanka and Hungary Upside (49:44) - Meloni Slips Down (52:10) - Erdogan and Turkey’s Long Game (55:05) - Middle East and Africa Rankings (57:55) - Pakistan’s Geopolitical Comeback (01:00:53) - Syria’s New Strongman (01:02:35) - Sweden and Spain Reassessment (01:06:55) - Singapore’s Efficiency Model (01:08:58) - System Made Singapore (01:10:02) - Trade Value Debate (01:11:01) - Lee Jae Myung Profile (01:12:59) - Israel Tweet Controversy (01:16:55) - Prabowo Indonesia Wrap (01:19:49) - Iran Council Ranked (01:20:56) - Netanyahu Tradeoff Case (01:22:19) - Morocco Quiet Success (01:28:20) - Israel Umbilical Cord (01:37:34) - Gulf Royals Picks (01:40:34) - UAE Critique And Close -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 42m

  5. MAY 15

    A Soybean faux-détente

    Trump and Xi shook hands in Beijing, and yes, the soccer mom in all of us should appreciate that two nuclear superpowers are behaving like adults. But let's not kid ourselves :) soybeans and Boeing orders don't a détente make. JShap thinks Trump can't carry the baton; Marko says he's the only one who can land the plane he launched. Meanwhile, the CIA's running around Mexico, Cuba's running out of diesel, and AOC is sharpening her ideological fangs. After Dark, as advertised. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Show rundown and updates (00:45) - After Dark banter (01:47) - Trump meets Xi (02:47) - Why the summit matters (05:42) - Messaging and skepticism (08:04) - Military intelligence complex (09:46) - Tech split and hardware lobby (14:05) - Globalization lessons and leverage (20:29) - COVID and Nixon to China (25:00) - Who carries the baton (34:46) - China economics and engineering state (37:54) - Consumers inflation and pain tolerance (46:12) - Pentagon report dime framework (46:57) - DIME Framework Roast (47:53) - China and Hormuz Deal (52:11) - Chinese Shipping Boom (53:02) - Gulf Commodities Pivot (55:11) - US China Mixed Signals (59:12) - Mexico Relationship Flashpoints (01:01:23) - Cuba Protests and Indictments (01:03:27) - Do Mexicans Want Help (01:06:02) - CIA vs Delta Force Debate (01:12:47) - AOC Billionaire Clip (01:19:21) - Populism and Corruption (01:26:56) - California Race Wrap Up -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 29m

  6. MAY 5

    China Just Doesn't Care

    The lads turn an unscripted session into a sharp diagnosis of the US-China relationship amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis. They debate whether China is strategically patient or simply indifferent - and what its silence means for the Global South. The Xi-Trump summit looms as both the dealmaker's prize and the ultimate test of a G2 world. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Introooo (01:20) - China Defies Iran Sanctions (03:33) - Oil Markets and Sanctions Backfire (07:52) - Summit Hype and Trade Deal Goals (10:05) - G2 vs Multipolar Debate (12:17) - Should China Pressure Iran (15:57) - Global South Stakes and Bagels (18:34) - China Strategic Patience Rebuttal (32:03) - What China Offers the World (34:40) - Yuan Push and Middle Kingdom (36:54 China Whiffing the Moment (38:50) - China Constraints First (39:34) - Disciplining Iran Debate (41:29) - Multipolarity Versus Bipolar (43:08) - Iran Strikes UAE Update (45:33) - Ceasefire And Escalation (49:12) - Oil Inventories Supply Hole (51:15) - Markets Ignore War Risk (53:15) - AI Capex Takes Over (56:09) - Energy Inequality And Supply Chains (58:37) - Trump Priorities And Timeline (01:02:08) - Rebuilding After US Backstop (01:05:42) - Pandemic Shifted China Views (01:09:47) - Propaganda And Cultural Hegemony (01:14:55) - NBA Riffs And Wrap -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 17m

  7. APR 30

    Cousins After Dark

    Recorded late at night from New Orleans and Montreal, Jacob and Marko dig into the Iran-Hormuz standoff as oil prices climb and the ceasefire holds... for now. They debate who bears the blame, whether China's patience has limits, and what a US-China deal might mean for the strait. Plus: Canada's sovereign wealth fund and the Cousins Trade Value Index preview. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - After Dark (00:44) - Jazz Hour Banter (03:01) - From Sports to Iran (03:36) - Oil Shock Signals (05:46) - Ceasefire and Storage (10:06) - Demand Destruction Debate (13:48) - Trump Narrative and Blame (18:04) - Cold War Framing (19:27) - China Pressure and Pakistan (33:11) - UAE Leaves OPEC (36:30) - Cartels and Oil Math (40:00) - Saudi Price Warfare (41:06) - OPEC Share Debate (41:53) - UAE Saudi Rift Risks (42:49) - Why OPEC Can Undercut (46:12) - Putin Polls Warning (48:56) - Russia Pivot Playbook (55:06) - KD Leadership Analogy (01:01:06) - Panama Canal Signaling (01:07:12) - Canada Wealth Fund Plan (01:15:00) - Wrap Up and Playoffs -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 17m

  8. APR 24

    The Supply Hole

    Oil analyst Rory Johnston joins Jacob and Marko to break down why energy experts are alarmed by the Strait of Hormuz closure while markets remain at an all time high. Like wtf. Rory explains the 13 million barrel-per-day supply hole, the math on strategic reserves, and what timeline triggers a real price spike. The hosts probe whether Trump's leverage is shrinking faster than Iran's. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome (00:35) - Meet Rory Johnston (01:30) - Canada and 51st State Banter (04:12) - The Light on Fire Game (07:52) - Where to Follow Rory (09:09) - Why Hormuz Matters (10:31) - Reroutes and Pipeline Capacity (13:26) - Stocks SPR and Market Calm (19:18) - When Do Shortages Hit (27:59) - Red Sea and Houthi Risks (31:34) - Iran Leverage and Taco Paradox (35:25) - Hot Takes Round One America (40:49) - China Buyer Strike Debate (45:35) - Can We Just Build Pipelines (47:05) - Time Horizon Leverage (49:04) - Workarounds And Pipelines (50:53) - Regime Change Off Table (52:50) - Cash In Before Escalation (59:46) - Work From Home Oil Demand (01:02:46) - Russia And Cascade Risks (01:09:24) - Price Scenarios Brent (01:13:37) - Market Math Vs Jawboning (01:22:48) - Mutual Assured Energy (01:29:11) - Wrap Up And Thanks -- Referenced in the Show: -- Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com -- Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world. Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416 Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe -- Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future. Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/ Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro

    1h 30m
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4.6
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Geopolitical Cousins throws together analysts Jacob Shapiro and Marko Papic for some of the most in-depth, off-the-wall geopolitical analysis in the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic
  • Show Website
    Geopolitical Cousins

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