On the Fringe

Dave and Gavin
  • 5.0 (2)
  • 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. The slower the Strait of Hormuz gets, the faster things move in the Gulf

    4d ago

    The slower the Strait of Hormuz gets, the faster things move in the Gulf

    (00:00:00) The slower the Strait of Hormuz gets, the faster things move in the Gulf (00:01:11) Podcast Starts here: Barnacles are growing on ships (00:05:37) Ramifications at the ballot box in November if shipping slows more (00:08:34) Changes in regional dynamics in the last three months (00:11:20) Existential issues for Pakistan--and Israel (00:14:09) The Gulf will be hotter and more crowded than before February 28 While marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has slowed down in the last few months, (Barnacles!) things are moving fast in the Gulf. And these events may be a signal that Pax Americana is ending in the region.  In this episode, Gav and Dave dig into the stagnant security environment in the Gulf, where stranded cargo ships collecting barnacles have become a symbol of a region stuck in limbo, with trade still moving but nobody feeling particularly good about it. This week’s conversation connects maritime insecurity and rising shipping costs to the growing role of Pakistan as a formal military partner for Gulf states that is trying to convince parties outside the region that it’s a neutral third-party mediator. Dave and Gav also get into why negotiations keep going nowhere, talking on how the major players all want wildly differing outcomes and operate under political systems that reward displays of dominance and over the top claims more than compromise, leaving the region trapped in a crisis everyone claims to want resolved and nobody seems to want to settle. If you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend, like, comment, and leave us a quick 1 word review. We sincerely appreciate it! All the best from both of us On the Fringe, Dave and Gav

    22 min
  2. Rebuilding democracy from the ground up: the Digital Democracy Project (Feat. Ramon Perez)

    May 22

    Rebuilding democracy from the ground up: the Digital Democracy Project (Feat. Ramon Perez)

    (00:00:00) Rebuilding democracy from the ground up: the Digital Democracy Project (Feat. Ramon Perez) (00:00:52) Introducing our guest, Ramon Perez and the Digital Democracy Project (00:03:18) The motivation behind the Digital Democracy Project (00:06:05) Gerrymandering, a major flaw in the current U.S. political system (00:09:10) More gerrymandering leads to more political apathy (00:11:57) Technology in democracy and electoral processes (00:14:39) A growing crisis of trust in politics, leaders, and media (00:17:26) AI as a cutting-edge tool for the masses to understand legislation (00:23:22) The future of American democracy Politics in the U.S. is a winner-take-all system. If there is no letting up as the country is becoming more polarized, how can voters still hold their elected officials accountable? There may be a solution!  In this episode, Gav and Dave speak with Ramon Perez, AI technology executive and military veteran, from the Digital Democracy Project about the misaligned incentive structures shaping modern politics in America. Rather than treating misinformation or polarization as isolated failures, the discussion focuses on how platforms, lobbyists, media organizations, and representatives are rewarded for behavior that undermines trust and pushes the national discourse toward conflict. The result is an environment where bad incentives become self-reinforcing, moderation becomes risky and systems built to increase engagement slowly start influencing how institutions govern themselves, an alarming foundation for public life. But there’s hope—as long as we’re actively involved and actively participate in the process. Go to https://vote.gov/ to register to vote if you haven’t! To find out more about the Digital Democracy Project, go to: https://digitaldemocracyproject.org/ If you enjoyed the episode, like, comment, share, and subscribe with a friend. We sincerely appreciate it! All the best from both of us On the Fringe, Dave and Gav

    33 min
  3. How and why you should learn a foreign language (feat. Polyglot David Ramos)

    May 19

    How and why you should learn a foreign language (feat. Polyglot David Ramos)

    (00:00:00) How and why you should learn a foreign language (feat. Polyglot David Ramos) (00:00:55) Podcast Starts (00:02:00) How David started his language journey (00:08:01) Using obstacles life throws at you as motivation for growth (00:12:26) Gearing up to more difficult languages (Mandarin, Arabic, Korean) (00:19:57) How to get started learning a language (00:23:48) The long-term impact of learning a language for foreign travel If you’re going abroad, moving abroad, want to build new personal relationships, or are looking to level up your life, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. In this episode, Gav and Dave sit down with David Ramos, a graduate of the Bush School of Government and Public Service who has turned language acquisition into what appears to be a competitive sport. David has 12 OPI certifications and picked up languages like Afrikaans and Swedish on a whim…and shares how you can do the same. The OPI is a foreign language interview exam that is used as a gold standard by the U.S. government, military, and private companies to test proficiency in a language. It's a tough exam to say the least!  Drawing from their shared background in Peace Corps language training, Gav and Dave talk with David about how he got pulled into polyglottery in the first place, the psychology of learning fast, and what actually separates people who eventually become conversational from people who spend three years proudly knowing how to order coffee and ask where the bathroom is. The conversation also digs into identity and the ability to interact with the world through different ways of talking about it. David can be contacted here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdramos7201/ If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a comment, subscribe, and share it with your friends. We always appreciate the support from our growing On the Fringe community.  All the best from both of us, Dave and Gavin You can always contact us at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com Thanks again for listening!

    27 min
  4. Gadgets in the Dragon's Grip: China's control over critical minerals (Feat. Tomasz Nadrowski)

    May 15

    Gadgets in the Dragon's Grip: China's control over critical minerals (Feat. Tomasz Nadrowski)

    This week, Dave and Gav sit down with Tomasz Nadrowski, author of Mineral Wars: China’s Quest for Weapons of Mineral Destruction. They dive into chokepoint theory, fragile supply chains and the disquieting reality that modern life is held together by a handful of minerals most people have never heard about until somebody threatens access to them. The conversation digs into how China has built enormous leverage over rare earth processing over the last few decades, why everything from smartphones and EVs to missile guidance systems depends on materials pulled from contested supply networks, and how governments are suddenly rediscovering that globalization works wonderfully right up until one country controls the thing your entire economy needs to survive. As always, thanks for listening! We really appreciate your listenership and the growing On the Fringe Community.   Don't forget to check out Tomasz's excellent podcast, Tyranny Today.  And also, his book Mineral War: China's Quest for Weapons of Mineral Destruction If you enjoyed the podcast, shoot us a message: onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com and leave us a review!  All the best from both of us,  Dave and Gav

    31 min
  5. Pakistan: a kingmaker or a pawn in the Gulf--Or Both?!

    May 14

    Pakistan: a kingmaker or a pawn in the Gulf--Or Both?!

    In this episode, Gav and Dave break down how Pakistan has become a critical piece on the board in the competition between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. They focus especially on the millions of Pakistani migrant workers whose labor props up huge parts of the Gulf economy while also giving Islamabad a potential Achilles’ heel during moments of regional tension, where visas, remittances, military cooperation, and investment deals all start blending into a larger contest for greater influence. The result is a delicate balancing act where Gulf states want dependable partners and Pakistan wants Gulf money without becoming too dependent on any single patron, which, naturally, is the sort of arrangement that only stays stable—right up until it doesn’t. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, comment, and share it with your friends. We can’t thank our growing audience enough for your support and wouldn’t be here without YOU.  And I (Dave) made a boo-boo! The UAE called up a $3.5 billion payment from Pakistan that Saudi largely backstopped, not $4 billion. (no notes, sorry!) If you'd like to throw a few rocks, send em Gav's way. He's always looking for a new pet rock: onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com Rock on! 🤘

    10 min
  6. The UAE is waking up to a new world while Saudi hits snooze

    May 12

    The UAE is waking up to a new world while Saudi hits snooze

    On May 1, the UAE left OPEC, the Organization of the Petrolium Exporting Countries. This wasn't a brash move; it was a highly calculated manouver during a critical window for the country's future.  In this episode, Dave and Gav look at how the UAE has drifted away from the consensus politics of institutions like Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council in favor of a more transactional worldview that treats regional politics less like alliances and more like market positioning. We’ll be unpacking how Abu Dhabi’s approach to trade, ports, normalization, proxy conflicts and investment strategy increasingly reflects a zero-sum mindset where influence is something to be accumulated before anyone else can. We contrast this with Saudi Arabia, which has struggled to pull off the same pivot not because its leadership lacks ambition, but because the kingdom is burdened with a much larger population, heavier subsidy expectations, religious obligations, and geographic exposure that make it far harder to reinvent itself into the kind of nimble commercial state the UAE has spent years trying to become. If you enjoyed the episode, do us a MASSIVE favor and share it, leave a comment, and tell your friends. Thank you for helping us grow the show. We wouldn’t be here without you! All the best from both of us On the Fringe, Dave and Gav If you'd like to join us on On the Fringe, or have any corrections for us, drop us a line! onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com

    17 min
  7. Mali's Junta is short on time, fuel, and control (Feat. Stuart Bolus)

    May 4

    Mali's Junta is short on time, fuel, and control (Feat. Stuart Bolus)

    (00:00:00) Mali's Junta is short on time, fuel, and control (Feat. Stuart Bolus) (00:00:55) The Ongoing Crisis in Mali (00:03:40) Another major intelligence failure by the Junta (00:06:51) The Roles of Foreign Powers in Mali (00:14:08) AES to the rescue? (00:15:48) Why the future looks dark for Mali's Junta (00:21:34) Mali's civilians are being squeezed from both sides (00:22:22) What is Mali's next move, and where does it lead? Mali is on the edge. And the Sahel hangs in the balance.  In this episode, with help from friend of the pod, Stuart Bolus, Gav and Dave dig into the April 25th attacks across Mali in which jihadist groups working in concert with Tuareg separatists attacked multiple cities, shut down key infrastructure, and killed the Malian Defense Minister and other key members of the ruling Junta. These events highlight an increasingly uncomfortable situation where Mali, a critically important country in the geographical and cultural center of the region, increasingly looks and behaves like a state on the brink of total collapse. We talk about what this means for the region, why we believe that outside assistance will likely not be coming (not for the government anyways) and why we’d all be surprised if the Malian government lasts until the end of 2026.  If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a comment, send us an email, or better yet—subscribe for more. We love hearing from our On the Fringe community!  onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com All the best from us On the Fringe, Dave and Gavin

    26 min
  8. The Dark Side of Prediction Markets

    Apr 29

    The Dark Side of Prediction Markets

    Gav and Dave wade back into the increasingly unhinged world of prediction markets, starting with how Kalshi ended up fining and banning a handful of American politicians for betting on their own elections, which sounds small until you realize it’s basically insider trading with campaign posters. Then, the story gets serious. Jail time serious.  They pivot to the much less subtle case of a U.S. military operator getting arrested after allegedly pulling in over $400,000 on Polymarket by betting on the capture of Nicolás Maduro using classified information.  With the way things are, will more events like these continue coming out? Your guess is as good as ours--and you can probably go bet on it! Reach out to onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, and hit that like button if you enjoyed it! We're always glad to have you on On the Fringe! Here are a few of our other episodes about predition markets: AI is So 2025 if Prediction Markets Get Their Way The Fog of War and Profiteering on Prediction Markets All the best, Dave and Gavin

    12 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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
    146
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright On The Fringe
  • Show Website
    On the Fringe