On the Fringe

Dave and Gavin
  • 5.0 (4)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

The media glosses over AI usage and geopolitics. We dive into how both go hand-in-hand, speak with up-and-coming major players, and shed light on groundbreaking events in our wheelhouses: Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. onthefringepodcast.substack.com Reach out to us with any questions, comments, or if you'd like to be a guest at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com

  1. 1d ago

    Scam Farms 101: Ponzi Schemes of Suffering (Feat. Erin West of Operation Shamrock)

    (00:00:00) Scam Farms 101: Ponzi Schemes of Suffering (Feat. Erin West of Operation Shamrock) (00:00:52) Podcast Starts (00:02:46) The role and growth of scam farms (00:06:13) The role of violence with coercion (00:10:00) The role of technology in scam farm operations (00:13:31) The evolving workforce in scam farms (00:17:14) Challenges in combatting scam farm operations (00:21:00) Global implications of scam farms (00:24:25) Protecting yourself from scams online Scammers and criminals are increasingly using AI, social media, and a loss of human to human contact to target vulnerable people worldwide.  This week on On The Fringe, Dave and Gavin talk to Erin West, the founder of Operation Shamrock, a global nonprofit uniting law enforcement, industry, and everyday citizens to disrupt the world’s fastest-growing form of transnational organized crime: pig butchering scams. After 26 years as a prosecutor, Erin now leads a cross-border fight to expose the scam economy, mobilize action, and protect both victims and the trafficked workers forced to run these schemes. She is also the host of Stolen, a podcast that brings listeners inside the darkest corners of the scamdemic, where love is weaponized, billions are laundered, and real people pay the price. On this pod, Erin talks about her work with Operation Shamrock and the realities of the scamdemic, both in Southeast Asia and in the United States. And, you'll learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones’ life savings and dignity. Learn more about Erin's work at https://www.operationshamrock.org/

    Scam Farms 101: Ponzi Schemes of Suffering (Feat. Erin West of Operation Shamrock)

  2. Oct 13 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: World Maps in Chinese are Fascinating! (and great tools to learn a foreign language!)

    Join us on a wild language adventure on this quick bonus episode! I (Dave) have been studying Mandarin Chinese for about 6 weeks now. One of my first go-to’s when learning a new language is to utilize information I already know to better understand another language's sentence structure and vocabulary. I’ve used maps of the world to learn various scripts and alphabets (Korean, Japanese, Russian, Bahasa Indonesia), and found a map written in Simplified Characters to learn countries names then break them down character by character. For me, it’s a huge boon to building character recognition, and I can associate them with a picture (and a place) to help remember them. In the surprise bonus episode we touch on the etymology and some wild discoveries (from a Chinese beginner) of characters used in a handful of countries’ names once you break them down. Got any comments or questions? Shoot us an email at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav

    Bonus: World Maps in Chinese are Fascinating! (and great tools to learn a foreign language!)

  3. Oct 7

    Russia in the Rearview Mirror? Author Joe Barnes's Travelogue through the Former Soviet Union

    (00:00:00) Russia in the Rearview Mirror? Author Joe Barnes's Travelogue through the Former Soviet Union (00:00:55) Behind the scenes: technical difficulties (00:01:43) Introduction to Joe Barnes and his new book Farewell to Russia: A Journey Through the Former USSR (00:07:39) Exploring independence in the former Soviet Union (00:14:28) Cultural perspectives and timestamping historic events (00:23:00) Looking through lenses of time, independence, and identity (00:30:06) A glance into life in the former Soviet States on an everyday level (00:30:51) The humanizing experiences of travels in Armenia (00:37:00) Armenia's far-reaching diaspora (00:41:05) Practical travel tips and cultural insights for first-time visitors (00:46:06) China’s growing influence in Central Asia (00:52:15) Navigating the changing winds of global geopolitics In this episode, Dave and Gav sit down with friend of the podcast Joe Barnes. Joe is one of the few people from the West to have visited all 15 countries in the former Soviet Union since the Soviet Union broke up 30 years ago.  In February 2022, Joe set off on a trip on a trip through the former USSR. He started in Russia and visited each one of the fifteen countries, then wrote a fascinating book about his experiences. In our hour-long chat (it’s a record) we dive into what is happening on the ground in each country, including the cultural and historical dynamics that have shaped the last three decades in each country. In the wide ranging chat, Joe peels back the regional dynamics at play in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia and shares his deep insight into the vastly different cultural dynamics at play from experiencing these countries on the ground. After listening, you’ll come away with a much deeper understanding of the former USSR today and why throwing these countries into a single basket (as was done before) makes for a misguided or lopsided view of some of the world’s least understood—and most important places. We've had Joe on the podcast before to talk about Kazakhstan from 30,000 feet and Kyrgyzstan, an enchanting land of mines, minerals and scenic beauty. Don't miss those episodes!  Joe’s book is available here and we both wholeheartedly recommend it (and make no commission on this link): https://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Russia-Journey-Through-Former/dp/B0GPNJXB5B/ If you enjoyed the episode, please do us a quick favor and subscribe, leave us a star rating, and a comment. Or send us an email: onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com. We always love hearing from our growing On the Fringe community!  All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav

    Russia in the Rearview Mirror? Author Joe Barnes's Travelogue through the Former Soviet Union

  4. Oct 4 ·  Bonus

    Single? The Algorithm Knows Who is Right for You

    In this short bonus episode, Dave + Gav conduct a brief and succinct analysis on a recent Singaporean goverment policy to help Singleporeans...ahem Singaporeans find a partner and start a family.  Singapore has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. (Sorry, I made a mistake 15 seconds in!) And, the local government, as it has done in the past to stop Singaporeans from doom scrolling, came up with a plan to play matchmaker + provide more financial incentives for couples to have kids. In the episode, Dave + Gav analyze the new policies, and spot an important piece of the puzzle that we believe the Singaporean government is missing.  If you enjoyed it or learned something, give us a star rating, subscribe, or shoot us an email: onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com We appreciate the love from our growing On the Fringe community. All the best from both of us! Dave + Gav

    Single? The Algorithm Knows Who is Right for You

  5. Sep 30 ·  Bonus

    The Ongoing and Pivotal War that Everyone's Forgotten

    This a quick bonus episode/update about the current war between Pakistan and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan has signed on to the Makkah Accord, along with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to come to one another’s mutual defense. Will this agreement do anything to resolve the tit-for-tat conflict? Here’s our take.

    The Ongoing and Pivotal War that Everyone's Forgotten

  6. Sep 28

    Why Saudi Arabia is facing a shock to its system

    In recent weeks, the Houthi's attacks on Saudi Arabia have exposed a major problem for the kingdom. In this episode, we dive into what the three countries that have signed on the Makkah Agreement (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan) have to offer one another, and why on paper this looks like an effective deterrence against a group like the Houthis or the Taliban. We also dive into why access does not equal utilization...Essentially, why the Saudis are largely left fending for themselves despite having a brand new alliance that looks increasingly more like a paper Megazord. If you enjoyed the episode, do us a HUGE favor. Leave us a comment and star rating. You can get in touch with us at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com  Thanks for listening and all the best from both of us!  Dave + Gav

    Why Saudi Arabia is facing a shock to its system

  7. Sep 27 ·  Bonus

    Uncle Sam Saved a Few Bucks. China got F-35 Parts

    According to CSIS, intellectual property losses cost the U.S. economy between $225—$600 billion per year. These come from losing trade secrets, illegal technology transfers, and copyright infringement to name a few. It was recently reported that critical parts to the F-35 fighter jet were shipped commercially between Australia and the U.S. and routed through Hong Kong. Then, China took possession of them. In this quick bonus episode, Dave and Gavin theorize why and how this happened, and the potential damage to U.S. national security as a rival power now possesses military technology the U.S. has fiercely protected. Also, they touch on the importance of securing supply chains and components.  If you enjoyed the episode, give us a star rating, leave us a comment, or shoot us an email! Onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com All the best from both of us,  Dave + Gav

    Uncle Sam Saved a Few Bucks. China got F-35 Parts

  8. Sep 23 ·  Bonus

    All about the Houthis in Yemen

    Recently, there’s been much talk of the events occurring around Yemen, but less talk about the group at the center of it all, Ansar Allah, generally referred to as the Houthis.  In this episode, Gav and Dave provide insight into the group causing chaos in the Gulf and East Africa. We dive into the origins of the group and what makes them exceptional and dangerous….and such a potentially existential threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They also dive into their motivations, and some of the remarkable feats they have managed to pull off on the battlefield, all while growing over tenfold during a brutal war of attrition that has lasted over a decade. If you enjoyed the episode or learned something, share, subscribe, and let us know. We always love hearing from our growing On the Fringe community. Shoot us an email at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com  All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav

    All about the Houthis in Yemen
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About

The media glosses over AI usage and geopolitics. We dive into how both go hand-in-hand, speak with up-and-coming major players, and shed light on groundbreaking events in our wheelhouses: Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. onthefringepodcast.substack.com Reach out to us with any questions, comments, or if you'd like to be a guest at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Dave and Gavin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright On The Fringe
  • Show Website
    On the Fringe