Over twenty years ago, Dubai began constructing the world's largest artificial archipelago of islands, designed to be a lavish oasis for the super-rich. Today, the islands stand mostly empty and some are sinking back into the sea, but the developers and government of Dubai refuse to give up on the mind boggling mega-project. Let me tell you about this astonishing feat of engineering, how it did work--kind of, but also hasn’t panned out the way they hoped, and why they’ll probably never let this ...
Feb 28, 2023•16 min•Ep. 46
Why most New Year’s resolutions fail, the Babylonians and Romans, putting our hands on a peacock, setting and getting goals, habit formation, motivation vs. discipline, believing you deserve to have what you want, and what procrastination really is (you’re not lazy). Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpli...
Jan 31, 2023•29 min•Ep. 45
The Theranos saga continues. Updates on Elizabeth Holmes' sentencing and Sunny Balwani's trial and verdict. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources Theranos Full Explainer: https://failedutopia.com/theranos/ Holmes Trial & Verdict Updates: YouTube https://youtu.be/P9xR6jn84kU Audio only https://failedutopia.com/theranos-update/ Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Merchandise: www.f...
Nov 23, 2022•7 min
Colonialism and utopianism, as Thomas More coined the term, have been linked since the early sixteenth century when European explorers began taking stock of newly accessible lands that would later become colonies. Colonists had the expectation of achieving a much better life by settling in "new" lands, while producing a dystopia for the original inhabitants. Optimistic colonists didn’t always find what they expected, but for centuries they continued to emigrate and settle, driven by utopian proj...
Nov 22, 2022•29 min•Ep. 44
Let’s talk about an environmental catastrophe that turned a tourism and wildlife paradise into a toxic wasteland. This is something that we’re starting to see happening all over the world and that’s only going to become more of a problem in the future thanks to climate change. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Ghost towns and toxic fumes: How an idyllic California lake became a disaster How California’s Salton Sea went from vacation destination to toxic nightmare As the Great...
Nov 08, 2022•14 min•Ep. 43
The Church of Love: Chonda-Za, Love Angels, lonely hearts, and a whole lot of questionable love letters. Plus, self-delusion and seeing things for what they are. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Useful Delusions: The Power and ...
Oct 25, 2022•39 min•Ep. 42
In Part 2, hopefully we’re gonna have a little more fun talking not about techno-utopia, but actual physical utopian communes based around the love of crypto. Cryptoland, Cryptopia, Satoshi Island, Bitcoin Beach, Bitcoin City, and actually, the entire country of El Salvador. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources Tragic Cryptoland trailer Cryptoland website When Your Island Paradise Goes Bankrupt... Thailand’s Crypto Utopia — ‘90% of a cult, without all the w...
Oct 11, 2022•31 min•Ep. 41
Cryptocurrency is one of the most buzzy techno-utopian ideas out there. Is it really a disruptive technology of the future? Or a bunch of esoteric, elitist, crypto-bro BS? Even a scam? Let's talk about what crypto is and what it's good for... or not. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources Computer Scientists Say Crypto Industry Is Misleading the Public About Blockchain Technology Why This Computer Scientist Says All Cryptocurrency Should “Die in a Fire” The R...
Sep 27, 2022•30 min•Ep. 40
The Farm was once the largest hippie commune in U.S. history, and it still exists today albeit in a somewhat different form. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources https://thefarmcommunity.com https://www.thefarm.org What life is like when you’re born on a commune Erika Anderson Stephen Gaskin obituary “40 Years on the Farm” documentary Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Merchandise:...
Sep 13, 2022•21 min•Ep. 39
A spiritual Indian utopia that’s over 50 years old, but still very much a work in progress. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville by Akash Kapur Bulldozing a dream? Auroville’s importance as an experiment in alternative living Bulldozers, violence and politics crack an Indian dream of utopia Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Merchan...
Aug 30, 2022•32 min•Ep. 38
On this episode, the fascinating story of Biosphere 2, the largest closed ecological system ever created… or, how eight people went nuts and almost starved in a vivarium for humans. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources https://biosphere2.org Mark Nelson’s 2018 article Biosphere 2: What Really Happened? Spaceship Earth Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton Merchandise: www.failedutopia...
Aug 16, 2022•32 min•Ep. 37
The Helicon Home Colony was the brainchild of the renowned author and muckraking journalist Upton Sinclair. It lasted less than 6 months and went down in a literal blaze. "We stood in the snow and watched our beautiful utopia flame and roar, until it crashed in and died away to a dull glow." Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Autobiography of Upton Sinclair Utopia, New Jersey: Travels in the Nearest Eden by Perdita Bucha...
Mar 15, 2022•29 min•Ep. 36
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P9xR6jn84kU Updates on the verdict in the trial of former Theranos founder and CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, including charges, sentencing, appeal, Ramesh Sunny Balwani's upcoming trial on the same charges, and more. Full Theranos explainer episode: https://failedutopia.com/theranos/ Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence H...
Jan 20, 2022•12 min
In this replay from 2020, find out about the secretive alternative community that only gets talked about once a year. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by...
Dec 21, 2021•12 min
Picture a chain of tropical islands with white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, breathtaking sunsets, palm trees swaying in a tropical breeze, and a culturally rich population of native people fishing the bountiful waters of their homeland as they have for generations. Sounds pretty ideal, right? Maybe even the closest we’ve ever gotten to an actual utopia. But there are a couple of problems. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevent...
Dec 15, 2021•21 min•Ep. 35
Today, Elizabeth Holmes testifies in her own defense in a trial for criminal charges stemming from the collapse of the company she infamously founded, Theranos. The startup claiming to revolutionize the medical industry, and at one point valued at $9 billion, went down in a blaze of allegations of fraud as one of the worst disasters in Silicon Valley history. What went wrong? Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-2...
Nov 24, 2021•30 min•Ep. 34
VIDEO VERSION on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZYtpBV2EfUU This is my results update on my etheric surgery with Mother God in the 5th dimension and the 5D full disclosure team, also known as psychic surgery from a cult leader who’s been deceased for several months. Previous Love Has Won & 5D Full Disclosure episodes: https://failedutopia.com/love-has-won/ https://failedutopia.com/love-has-won-updates-5d-full-disclosure/ Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources ...
Nov 16, 2021•14 min
This is an update about Love Has Won, now known as 5D Full Disclosure. I have a bunch of new information for you guys, and there have been some developments in this case. Today I’ll be updating you on the criminal cases related to the discovery of Amy Carlson’s body, some things that aired recently in a special on Dateline NBC, what the group is up to now, and my personal experience getting etheric surgery by Mother God from the fifth dimension. Yes, I got psychic surgery from a deceased cult le...
Nov 09, 2021•50 min•Ep. 33
Vampire lore has fascinated humans for centuries, starting as far back as the Greeks. From Nosferatu and Dracula to Interview with the Vampire and Twilight, everybody loves a good vampire story. But way before team Edward and team Jacob, a much less attractive teen was taking the vampire thing way too far. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpli...
Oct 26, 2021•31 min•Ep. 32
This is the continuation of the previous Earth: Climate Crisis episode. Renewable energy, pros and cons of nuclear, geoengineering, why carbon emissions will rise for the foreseeable future, climate vs. economics, and more. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-48...
Oct 13, 2021•38 min•Ep. 31
Planet Earth is a utopia for human life in the cosmos. But how much longer will it stay that way? Scientists say we are running out of time to avert climate catastrophe. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Fast Company'...
Sep 28, 2021•34 min•Ep. 30
Credit card rewards. Who knew they had a dark side? Crazy, right? Well, not if you know the old adage, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846 For veterans, Make The Connection Emily Stewart at Vox Who Pays ...
Aug 25, 2021•11 min•Ep. 29
Today, you get to hear about an Australian new-age, nuclear-apocalypse doomsday, child-stealing cult called The Great White Brotherhood of Initiates and Masters. Or for short, The Family. They stole babies, and they also dropped a lot of acid.Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims...
Jul 27, 2021•30 min•Ep. 28
The final chapter of Thomas More's Utopia. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton
Jul 15, 2021•55 min•Ep. 27
Part seven is all about the Utopians' military, and this might actually be one of the few times Thomas More manages to stay on topic. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton
Jul 13, 2021•30 min•Ep. 26
In part six, Thomas More makes us think with the chapter title, Of Their Slaves, and Of Their Marriages, that we're just going to hear about slaves and marriage in Utopia. But somehow he manages to talk about euthanasia, suicide, and the pitfalls of having an overly-complex legal code. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Links & Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741 Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233 Vi...
Jul 08, 2021•28 min•Ep. 25
In part five of the series, we'll continue Book 2 by reading Of the Travelling of the Utopians and find out how they they regard the pleasures and pains of life. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton
Jul 06, 2021•54 min•Ep. 24
Today in the fourth part of the series, I'll talk about weird old Greek words and mention Final Fantasy for no real reason at all and read you the introduction to Book 2 and the first four chapters, which include: Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurot; Of Their Magistrates; Of Their Trades, and Manner of Life; and Of Their Traffic. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleto...
Jul 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 23
In the third part of this series, Hythloday continues his discourse, and the friends discuss communism, greed, money, property, wealth inequality, Plato, religious men who make spiritual compromises for political convenience, and whether it is better to put forth radical ideas or “cast about” and stay in your lane. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton...
Jun 29, 2021•23 min•Ep. 22
In the second episode of this series on Thomas More's Utopia, Hythloday continues his discourse. We'll hear more about the death penalty, Renaissance humanism, how kings who are selfish stupidly act against their own interests, the fictional land of the Polylerits, and a socially awkward exchange between a court jester and a monk. Connect on Facebook or at the Failed Utopia website . Written and produced by Anna Roberts Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez Intro music by Elliot Middleton...
Jun 24, 2021•42 min•Ep. 21
