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 ·  Bonus

    Don't Waste Time, Make a Dime: Singapore Decides to Pay People to Stop Doomscrolling

    On this bonus episode, the boys talk about Singapore’s novel solution to the problem of constant electronic stimulation...paying people to read books. The country is trialling a program where people will be fiscally rewarded for their reading efforts, another entry in a long history of money-based social engineering out of the island state. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to On the Fringe for more.  All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav

    Don't Waste Time, Make a Dime: Singapore Decides to Pay People to Stop Doomscrolling

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    We're STILL Pissed About Losing the CIA World Factbook

    While working on another episode, Gavin and Dave ran into a sadly familiar problem, lamenting the absence of a once constant companion, that old fan favorite, the CIA World Factbook. Back in high school, we took the CIA World Factbook for granted as we nerded out learning about flags of the world, populations, and obscure info like how many airports does Ukraine have. Little did we know that there would come a day when it would disappear, and we were stuck with old numbers to understand a current situation. Here's our initial reaction to the World Factbook being closed.  Now that it’s gone, is the next best source of info Gemini, Chat GPT, and other AI Bots? We don’t know. We just know that we both genuinely miss the best repository of the world of the age at our fingertips. Shoot us an email, and leave us a star rating or a comment. We always love hearing from our growing On the Fringe Community: onthefringepodcast1@gmail.com All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav If you're looking for a workaround of snapshots in time: https://worldfactbookarchive.org/

    We're STILL Pissed About Losing the CIA World Factbook

  3. 5d ago

    No Easy Option: Saudi Arabia is Between Iraq and a Houthi Place

    (00:00:00) The current crisis in Yemen (00:04:40) Zooming in on Yemen (00:06:12) The Middle East is fracturing (00:07:56) Growing regional alliances? On paper, anyway (00:13:12) The future of Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, and the decade-long conflict (00:16:05) Broader implications around the region In this episode, Gav and Dave dive into the implications of the growing geopolitical crisis in the Gulf. Houthi forces have recently exposed key terrain in their ongoing conflict with Saudi Arabia (and it's not the chokepoint at Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait).  On September 3rd, an attempt by the internationally recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia to launch an offensive against the Houthi forces that control the majority of Yemen’s populated area quickly went awry. As of publication, Houthi forces have overwhelmed government positions and seized control of the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including islands located in the Red Sea and the strategically important port own of Al-Mokha. This is disastrous for the opposition to the Houthis, but it is also disastrous for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has seen several cities and economically critical pipelines and oil facilities attacked by ballistic missiles and drones. The Kingdom has had to shut down the East-West pipeline, after it was hit by ballistic missiles originating from somewhere in Iraq. The East-West pipeline was keeping the Red Sea ports supplied with oil from the Eastern oil-fields that had otherwise been cut off from oil markets by the war around the Strait of Hormuz; the Saudis are now counting the barrels it still has located in the Red Sea port of Yanbu that are destined for export to the Sumed pipeline that traverses Egypt. There is every possibility that the Houthis may have cut off all Saudi oil exports to the world…this is 4% of all the oil currently on the market, and while that may seem like a small number, it could lead to one of the most geopolitically important capitulations of the 21st century. For more on the Mecca Agreement, check out this episode:  Shift Happens? Outlining the Mecca Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. If you enjoyed the episode, shoot us a message, share it with your friends, and subscribe. We always love hearing from our growing On the Fringe community. onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com  All the best from both of us,  Dave and Gav

    No Easy Option: Saudi Arabia is Between Iraq and a Houthi Place

  4. Sep 9

    NYC's AI Moratorium: Creating Space to Think...in the Classroom and in Policy (Feat. Kevin Wong)

    (00:00:00) NYC's AI Moratorium: Creating Space to Think...in the Classroom and in Policy (Feat. Kevin Wong) (00:00:55) Introduction to the AI Moratorium (00:03:32) Challenges of implementing this policy in schools (00:06:22) Pilot programs and curriculum development (00:09:12) The impact of AI on student learning and retention (00:11:59) A key need: Teacher Training and Standardization (00:14:04) Incentives for schools and student graduation rates (00:17:25) Future Implications of the new AI policy Last week, Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced a one-year moratorium on AI usage in schools across New York City. In this episode, we are bringing back veteran educator, New York City teacher, and old friend of the podcast Kevin Wong to talk about the impact of this decision. Kevin shares his opinions about the sudden rollout of the policy and what it may mean for teachers and students across the city.  If you haven't heard, the one-year moratorium temporarily bans the use of AI in the classroom from grades K-8, and limits how it can be used in high school. As flagship policies, it limits screen time and prohibits teachers from using AI to grade assignments.  We always love hearing from our growing On the Fringe community. Please leave us a star rating, comment, or shoot us an email at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com  Thanks for listening and all the best from both of us, Dave + Gav

    NYC's AI Moratorium: Creating Space to Think...in the Classroom and in Policy (Feat. Kevin Wong)

  5. Sep 7 ·  Bonus

    The US wants to fix maps, except for maps of Africa (Bonus Episode)

    Last week, the UN General Assembly voted nearly unanimously to utilize maps with the more accurate Equal Earth scale instead of the commonly used Mercator scale. The United States voted against it, and the reason why may surprise you. Listen in to this bonus episode about why the US’s explanation to vote “no” is ironic, especially as President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America.  What’s your take on these major geopolitical events? If you’ve got feedback, shoot us an email: onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com We appreciate our growing On the Fringe community. All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav  The map of Africa used as the cover for this podcast was created by WwJLaik and is available here on Wikimedia commons.

    The US wants to fix maps, except for maps of Africa (Bonus Episode)

  6. Sep 7

    A new dawn for old problems: What Niger's Failed Coup Means for West Africa

    (00:00:00) A new dawn for old problems: What Niger's Failed Coup Means for West Africa (00:00:59) An overview of the Coup (00:02:40) Foreign involvement in the coup (00:07:07) Why Algeria demonstrated a show of force (00:10:26) The regional dynamics at play in the Sahel and Sahara (00:12:23) The role of Russia's Africa Corps in the coups (00:18:12) Ongoing internal strife in Niger as the major cause (00:21:02) Great power politics in West Africa In what could be one of the most impactful geopolitical events of the year, an attempted coup that kicked off in the Republic of Niger on August 28th has upended a lot of long held ideas about the regional order in the Sahara. Since coming to power in a coup d'etat in 2023, Niger's current leader, General Tiani, has been at the forefront of sweeping geopolitical changes in the region, yet he has been unable to repair structural issues the country is facing. On this pod, Gavin and Dave explore how a failed putsch from disaffected junior officers in Niamey has led to Algeria’s first major foreign military deployment since 1973, and how the various military actors involved in Niger have complicated an already fraught situation as the ruling military junta continues to lose ground against jihadists. If you enjoyed the podcast or we got something wrong, shoot us a message at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com and let us know. We love hearing from our growing On the Fringe Community. All the best from both of us, Dave and Gav

    A new dawn for old problems: What Niger's Failed Coup Means for West Africa

  7. Sep 6

    Lowkey...Don't count out Gen Z (Feat. Chauncy Wadsworth)

    (00:00:00) Lowkey...Don't count out Gen Z (Feat. Chauncy Wadsworth) (00:01:01) Intro to Chauncy Wadsworth (00:03:47) Chauncy's journey into politics (00:05:46) Finding common ground in divisive conversations (00:08:29) The effects of social sorting on political perception (00:15:05) Money's role in changing American politics (00:17:24) Exploring Solutions for Political Reform (00:21:17) The importance of independent and critical thinking (00:23:29) Optimism for the future As two Millennials, Gav + I know that Gen Z takes a lot of flack in the workplace and at home. That doesn't mean you should throw in the towel on what the algorithm wants you to see (and think) about this generation. On this episode, we talked with Chauncy Wadsworth, a 22-year old American electoral reformist and PR professional, about how he got involved in politics, how he feels about the state of American politics today and why he’s still optimistic about the political future of America. And, no cap, he's opening our eyes to a practical plan to rebuild relationships across generations destroyed by politics. In this wide-ranging conversation, Chauncy and the guys cover the corrosive effect of money on American politics, the healing power of CSPAN, and why seemingly impossible fault-lines can still be bridged.If you enjoyed the episode, shoot us a message on onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com, share it with your friends, and subscribe if you haven’t. We always appreciate the love from our growing On the Fringe community.  All the best from both of us, Dave and Gav

    Lowkey...Don't count out Gen Z (Feat. Chauncy Wadsworth)

  8. Sep 1

    Never Meta anyone who does it better: Who wins in the $17 billion settlement?

    (00:00:00) Never Meta anyone who does it better: Who wins in the $17 billion settlement? (00:01:03) Meta's multi billion dollar settlement (00:07:30) BIG changes to teen accounts on Meta's social media platforms (00:10:48) Who really wins from the settlement (00:15:11) key structural issues still in play related to digital literacy and online safety (00:20:10) Tech's swift transformation of personal lives (00:24:46) Gavin's reminder to the audience about how the platforms earn revenue (00:27:00) Why Meta was slapped on the wrist with kid gloves Meta and attorneys general across the US have decided to settle a string of lawsuits for billions of dollars. On the surface, it looks like Meta is paying out a lot in a $17 billion settlement to 47 states, Washington DC, and 3 territories. But are they really?  In this episode, Dave and Gavin dive into the settlement and find out who actually won (and who lost). The results may surprise you.  We also have a look at some of the changes that will be rolling out on the platform and to the social media algorithm on Facebook and Instagram for teens, and whether these changes really will improve teen mental health and safety online. If you enjoyed the episode, have comments, or would like to hear from us, shoot us an email at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com  All the best from both of us, Dave + Gav  Click/Tap here for our episode on what Congress is doing to protect kids online.

    Never Meta anyone who does it better: Who wins in the $17 billion settlement?
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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
    179
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright On The Fringe
  • Show Website
    On the Fringe