FUNK !T | Mindful Media & Communication

Sascha Funk
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Join Sascha H. Funk, the current head of media studies at Thammasat University, as he explores the impact of media on our lives. Dive into thought-provoking discussions on mindful media consumption, digital trends, and effective communication strategies. Discover how to navigate the digital landscape with intention, cultivate a healthy relationship with media, and stay ahead in the ever-changing media landscape. Tune in for insights, strategies, and real-world examples on Mindful Media and Communications by FUNK !T.

  1. The Bangkok Simulation: Why Global Cities Are Becoming "Non-Places"

    7H AGO

    The Bangkok Simulation: Why Global Cities Are Becoming "Non-Places"

    Recording from the streets of Bangkok, Sascha Funk analyzes the city not as a tourist destination, but as a living motherboard. Using the framework of "Splintering Urbanism" and Marc Augé’s concept of the "Non-Place," we examine how global capital has bypassed local geography. When a luxury condo and a slum occupy the exact same GPS coordinates but exist in entirely different dimensions, what happens to our shared reality? We apply Jean Baudrillard’s theory of the Simulacrum to understand how economic desperation is turned into a "cyberpunk aesthetic" for the global elite, and why the physical friction of a Muay Thai ring is one of the last remaining antidotes to the digital void. Topics: Splintering Urbanism: How infrastructure bypasses the physical street. Marc Augé’s "Non-Place" and the erasure of geography. Baudrillard’s Simulacra: The aestheticization of poverty. The Fighter's Mindset: Why we need physical gravity in a frictionless world. Keywords: Splintering Urbanism, Marc Augé, Baudrillard, Simulacra, Bangkok, Hyper-capitalism, Media Theory, Muay Thai, Non-Places, FUNK !T Podcast.

    15 min
  2. The Gamification of Reality: Betting on the Apocalypse

    4D AGO

    The Gamification of Reality: Betting on the Apocalypse

    Prediction markets like Polymarket have turned the news cycle into a casino. But this isn't just about gambling; it's about the Gamification of Reality. We have moved from being "Citizens" (who try to influence outcomes) to "Speculators" (who simply profit from them). In this episode, Sascha Funk explores the concept of "Financial Nihilism" and how apps have conditioned us to view war, coups, and elections as mere "events" in a game engine. We critique the idea that "The Market" is an oracle of truth and examine the ethical rot of betting on human disaster. Keywords: Gamification, Guy Debord, Society of the Spectacle, Prediction Markets, Financial Nihilism, Media Theory, Postman, FUNK !T Podcast.

    16 min
  3. Surveillance Sport: The Death of the "Human" Element

    FEB 17

    Surveillance Sport: The Death of the "Human" Element

    In the final week of Milano Cortina, we are witnessing the collision of "Sport" and "Surveillance Capitalism." When a curling match is decided by a capacitive touch sensor rather than a human eye, we have entered what Baudrillard called "Hyper-Reality"—where the digital model is more "real" than the physical event. In this episode, Sascha Funk analyzes the "Double-Touch" scandal and the performative confession of Sturla Holm Lægreid through the lens of media theory. We discuss the "Panopticon" effect on athletes and why the obsession with high-definition accuracy is actually destroying the narrative of the games. Keywords: Surveillance Society, Hyper-Reality, Panopticon, Winter Olympics 2026, Media Ecology, The Spectacle, FUNK !T Podcast.

    15 min
  4. Spectacle Season: Super Bowl, Olympics & AI Watching Itself

    FEB 11

    Spectacle Season: Super Bowl, Olympics & AI Watching Itself

    Every February, the world pretends it’s watching sports. But what we’re really watching is spectacle. From Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, to the Winter Olympics’ performance of neutrality, to Moltbook — a platform where AI agents talk to each other while humans watch — this episode looks at how visibility, legitimacy, and power are produced in 2026. This isn’t a recap. It’s a media analysis of why spectacle has replaced decision-making, why attention now equals authority, and why politics increasingly hides inside entertainment, aesthetics, and “neutral” platforms. FUNK !T breaks down the Super Bowl, the Olympics, and AI theatre as one system — and asks a simple question: If everything is a stage, who’s actually in control?

    18 min
  5. The Epstein Files and the Art of Distraction

    FEB 2

    The Epstein Files and the Art of Distraction

    This weekend, the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of pages of Epstein-related documents under a legal transparency mandate.No leak. No whistleblower. No cinematic reveal. And yet, the story barely landed. In this episode of FUNK !T, we look at how that happened. Not the gossip. Not the names. But the communication systems that turned one of the largest document releases in recent history into background noise. From information overload and agenda flooding to symbolic distractions and attention laundering, this is a forensic look at why truth no longer guarantees accountability — and how power learned to survive exposure.

    18 min
  6. Davos 2026: Where Power Talks and Nothing Decides

    JAN 23

    Davos 2026: Where Power Talks and Nothing Decides

    Every January, global power gathers in a Swiss village to talk about fixing the world. Panels, speeches, statements. And yet, the crises remain. In this episode of FUNK !T, we break down what the World Economic Forum really is: not a place where decisions are made, but where power performs legitimacy. From Trump dominating the narrative (again), to Europe sounding morally right but strategically weak, to Ukraine using visibility as pressure — this is Davos as theater. Media theory, psychopolitics, and why permission matters more than truth in 2026.

    23 min
  7. Psychopolitics & the Art of the Feint

    JAN 15

    Psychopolitics & the Art of the Feint

    This week feels overwhelming on purpose. Venezuela. Iran. Greenland. ICE. Everything at once, no time to think.That’s not chaos. That’s a media feint. In this episode of FUNK !T, I break down how power today works through attention overload, spectacle, and exhaustion. From Trump’s Venezuela theatrics to Iran’s internet blackouts and the sudden obsession with Greenland, we’re looking at geopolitics as psychopolitics: not controlling what you think, but how tired you are while thinking. Media theory, martial arts logic, and just enough sarcasm to keep your guard up.

    22 min
  8. The Death of Reality - How the US Weaponized "Cringe" and what that tells us about political communication

    JAN 6

    The Death of Reality - How the US Weaponized "Cringe" and what that tells us about political communication

    It is January 6, 2026. Three days ago, the US captured a head of state. This should be the most serious news story of the decade. But if you look at your phone, you aren't seeing history. You're seeing a roast. You're seeing deepfakes of Nicolás Maduro crying in a puddle of baby oil. You're seeing his propaganda cartoon, "Super Bigote," getting beat up by a Fortnite character. You are seeing a geopolitical earthquake filtered through a Snapchat lens. Welcome to The Meme Coup. In this episode, we break down the media theory behind the chaos. The US didn't just execute a regime change; they executed a Vibe Shift. We explore how they are using "Memetic Warfare" to strip a dictator of his dignity, turn a war into content, and distract the world with absurd spectacles like buying Greenland. The Syllabus: The Death of the Real (Baudrillard): Why the AI deepfakes feel "truer" than the official news photos. Context Collapse (Danah Boyd): How linking Maduro to the Diddy memes turned a political prisoner into a tabloid joke. The Society of the Spectacle (Debord): Why the "Greenland Purchase" is the ultimate distraction. The revolution will not be televised. It will be shitposted.

    16 min
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About

Join Sascha H. Funk, the current head of media studies at Thammasat University, as he explores the impact of media on our lives. Dive into thought-provoking discussions on mindful media consumption, digital trends, and effective communication strategies. Discover how to navigate the digital landscape with intention, cultivate a healthy relationship with media, and stay ahead in the ever-changing media landscape. Tune in for insights, strategies, and real-world examples on Mindful Media and Communications by FUNK !T.

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