This week we’re talking Free Speech Union and the strange assortment of bitter British Gen-Xers who are convinced that they’re being oppressed because people don’t think they’re funny anymore. YouTube superstar and Low Society podcast host Angie Speaks ( @SpeaksAngie ) joins the cast of Riley ( @raaleh ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum to rejoice in removing Toby Young’s right to free speech. Also: Angie will be joining us onstage for our Bristol Trans...
Mar 03, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 244
You've all heard the various encomiums about Roger fucking Scruton, the absurdly racist idiot philosopher who was terrified of the female orgasm and was somehow welcomed in every echelon of the British state for decades. Well, we've brought on an academic philosopher and friend of the show Nathan Oseroff-Spicer ( @nathanoseroff ) to break down Scruton's work in detail. And guess what? It's... interesting. If you want to hear the full thing, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/3...
Feb 28, 2020•11 min•Ep. 243
We read a terrible article about a tech startup in Cincinnati, Ohio that wants to combine Evangelical Christianity with app culture. We assembled the full cast of Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum to discuss it. Folks, it will raise your blood pressure. The article appeared in WIRED and can be found here: https://www.wired.com/story/midwest-christian-entrepreneurs-startup-life/ Also if you want to read about Nate...
Feb 25, 2020•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 242
This week's bonus features a skeleton crew of Riley, Alice, and Hussein on a few topics that deeply moved us. Well, one at least: it sounds like SoftBank's Vision Fund is going to get a lot less weird, which means less content for us. But we can still reflect on the good times! If you want to hear the full episode, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34173374 *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and the designer behind GYDS.com ). If you need web design help, r...
Feb 21, 2020•10 min•Ep. 241
This week, we’ve stepped away a bit from the usual slate of brain-destroying British politics and have instead decided to review the joint BBC/Netflix special Dracula. It’s bad, but it’s bad in such particularly eyeball-crossing ways that we needed expert advice. So, this episode features Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum in conversation with Leslie Lee ( @leslieleeiii ) of the Struggle Session podcast. We all watched this terrible series so you don’t have to. ...
Feb 18, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 240
Did you hear about the app that wants to 3D model your face to make sure you're a girl? It's called Giggle and we do not approve of it. In this preview of this week's bonus episode, Riley, Hussein, Alice, and artist Matt Lubchansky ( @lubchansky ) also discuss Mayor Pete, the US democratic primary, and much more. We thought about calling this episode 'ISIS for Girls' but Alice got to choose the title after she completely evaporated Riley's brain by reading test copy from Pete Buttigieg's website...
Feb 14, 2020•10 min•Ep. 239
What happens when the DNC is an ouroboros of grifting fail-children? What happens when you try to improve voting with an app, and the app can’t stop crashing? In this week’s episode, Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum join journalist Vincent Bevins ( @Vinncent ) to discuss the Iowa Democratic Caucus disaster, or how to not make people trust an election result. Vincent has covered elections in 15 countries and has some thoughts on why Am...
Feb 11, 2020•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 238
This week, we're talking Jacob Rees-Mogg's history: his book 'The Victorians' might be the single worst collection of words that Riley's ever subjected himself to (so far), and we've brought on friend of the show Nish Kumar (@ mrnishkumar ) to discuss it. You might even call it a 'Horrible History,' but that would be anti-British drivel! If you want to get the whole thing, access it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33767395 *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and ...
Feb 07, 2020•11 min•Ep. 237
We’re back in the saddle for another episode of delightful modern existence. The full cast of Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum discuss a $100m-valued emoji service, the sudden disappearance of pro-EU groups post-Brexit, a Rafael Behr classic column from 2009, and an extended riff about the weird Xbox tween boy simulator called--and we are not joking--'Project Milo.' If you want access to our Patreon bonus episod...
Feb 04, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 236
In a preview of this week's bonus, Katie Halper ( @kthalps ) of The Katie Halper show and Rolling Stone's Useful Idiots Podcast joins Milo, Riley, and Alice to discuss a terrible start up, and then give us a "Who's Who" of the also-ran's who are fighting it out to lose to our boy Bernie Sanders in the United States. If you want to get the whole thing, access it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33561909 *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and the designer behind GY...
Jan 31, 2020•10 min•Ep. 235
There’s a general election coming up in Ireland, and rather than just having us attempt our worst Irish accents, we’ve brought on comedy writer Michael Fry ( @bigdirtyfry ) to discuss it with Riley ( @raaleh ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum . However, we have to discuss a haunted water cooler app and an op-ed about market-based solutions for our incipient societal meltdown. You will enjoy this, we promise. Do not ask us to explain the title. If you want access to our Patreo...
Jan 28, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 234
This preview of the week's bonus episode features Riley, Milo, Alice, and special guest Olly Thorn ( @PhilosophyTube ). We're talking the royal family, Davos, epistemological lacunae, and so much more. Remember AdBusters? Remember Occupy? So much of it makes an appearance in this delightful bonus content. If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33364069 *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and the designer behind GYDS.com ). If ...
Jan 24, 2020•11 min•Ep. 233
If you live in a city (or use the internet at all), you've seen ads for supposedly high-quality mattresses like Casper or Eve. They don't make mattresses—they just market them—and they're losing money hand over fist. In this week's episode, Riley ( @raaleh ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), Alice (@AliceAvizandum) and special guest Tristan Cross ( @tristandross ) discuss this extremely durable business model — and a close-read review of some of the bonkers new Tory MPs. You will...
Jan 21, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 232
And on the pedestal, these words appear: 'bung a bob for Big Ben to bong for Brexit.' This accursed phrase has melted our brains, and you get to hear it happen in real time on a preview of this week's episode. It's a mass gathering of Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), Alice (@AliceAvizandum) Olga ( @rocknrolga ), and special guest Soweto Kinch ( @sowetokinch )... and things get weird. We hope you'll love this episode as much as we hate being alive after reading...
Jan 17, 2020•11 min•Ep. 231
This week, we’re talking Iran escalation and Donald Trump’s genius strategy of galvanizing a nation, but there’s a little more nuance than normal. So, Riley ( @raaleh ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum join special guest Séamus Malekafzali ( @Seamus_Malek ), who’s a writer and analyst working in Beirut. This one will stimulate the logic center of your brain more than a thousand Ben Shapiro podcasts. Hope you enjoy! If you want access to our Patreon bonu...
Jan 14, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 230
It's the chaos configuration of Riley, Milo, and Alice on the preview of this week's bonus episode (Nate and Hussein were busy being boring lames). We're talking about the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and the tragic hilariousness of America's constant self-sabotage when it tries to do imperialism. We also talk about yams in Vancouver for some reason. Guess what: it's not good, folks! Get the full episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32985582 *COME SEE MILO* If you want to ...
Jan 10, 2020•11 min•Ep. 229
Since the election result, you’ve heard all sorts of cries for Labour to get more racist. To discuss her recent article about why this is a terrible idea, writer and researcher Kimberly McIntosh ( @mcintosh_kim ) joins Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum . What are ‘Labour heartlands’? Why is class in Britain apparently tied to what you or your parents were doing in the 1970s? And why does London not count as working-class (unless you’re...
Jan 07, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 228
Please enjoy a preview of our first episode of 2020, as we’ve got a real treat for all of the Patreon subscribers. We’ve brought on Theo Pengelly ( @AynRandy ) of Boonta Vista ( @boontavista ) to discuss Andrew Lillico’s demented plan to terraform Mars. That is not a typo. Hope you enjoy! If you want to listen to the whole thing, get it here on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32792138 *COME SEE MILO* If you want to catch Milo’s stand-up on tour, get tickets here: https://linktr.ee/miloont...
Jan 03, 2020•10 min•Ep. 227
Back in October, we did a deep dive into the work of the king of the airport books: Malcolm Gladwell. Riley, Milo, and Alice join Felix Biederman ( @ByYourLogic ) of Chapo Trap House ( @chapotraphouse ) to discuss the horror and the banality of the truest of thinkers. This was previously only available to our Patreon subscribers, but we figured everyone needed a pick-me-up given the state of Britain at the end of 2019. If you want access to other Patreon bonus episodes (and our powerful Discord ...
Dec 31, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 226
In a preview of this week's bonus, we’re reviewing a startup called WhiteHat, digesting a terrible Giles Coren wankfest about Oxford admissions, and—most importantly—speaking to friend of the show and biology teacher Devon ( @Devon_OnEarth ) about the state-mandated ‘British Values’ education. Spoiler alert: it’s inchoate and weird! If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32642200 *COME SEE MILO* If you want to catch Milo’s stand-up on tour, get...
Dec 29, 2019•11 min•Ep. 225
You’re well accustomed to us just sort of riffing as we go along, but this week we speak with crop scientist Sarah Taber ( @SarahTaber_bww ) on the topic of the MIT Media Lab and their supposedly brilliant ‘food computer.’ Sarah joins Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum as we discuss in even more detail why tech lords’ conception of the world’s problems are just, well, weirdly off the mark! If you want to hear part 1 of our MIT Media Lab se...
Dec 24, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 224
Look, maybe we just needed a break. Maybe there's nothing particularly good to talk about politically in this moment of elected dictatorship. However, in this preview of the week's bonus, we talk about trash culture and the cult of super-smart drones, and as such we've reviewed the 2008 Ridley Scott film 'Body of Lies,' which is bad. Why does Leo DiCaprio dress like a podcaster? Why are there basically zero Arab actors in major roles in this film? Why is Russell Crowe such a weird Foghorn Leghor...
Dec 20, 2019•17 min•Ep. 223
So, we got owned. Labour got wiped out in the election, and now begins a sombre and introspective season 2 of Trashfuture in which we discuss where to go from here. Please listen to the solemn voices of Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ) and Alice @AliceAvizandum as we commiserate and try to laugh as much as humanly possible. Thank you all so much to those of you who helped campaign and fight it out. If you want access to our Patreon bonus ...
Dec 18, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 222
Content warning: at around 1:10:00, Nate discusses a traumatic experience he had in combat years ago, which doesn’t make for particularly light listening. We just want to make sure you’re not caught unawares if you’d rather avoid hearing it. It’s election day! Please, please, please go vote Labour and help us end this nightmare! Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ) and Alice ( @AliceAvizandum ) discuss the upcoming vote, some stupid articles, and a vision of things...
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 221
In a preview of this week's bonus episode, we speak to David Adler of DiEM25 about what Remain and Revolt would actually mean -- and why the EU's labyrinthine politics is intentionally boring. We also discuss some great pre-election post-mortem columns, a thing that makes sense. You'll love it! Get the full thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32100406 *Do some canvassing* Momentum ( @peoplesmomentum ) has a great resource that lets you sign up to canvassing events in marginal seats close t...
Dec 11, 2019•9 min•Ep. 220
Please enjoy this live recording of Trasfuture live in London on December 3, 2019! It features Riley, Milo, Nate, returning champion Dr Eleanor Janega, and special guest Rob Delaney. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31753429 *Do some canvassing* Momentum ( @peoplesmomentum ) has a great resource that lets you sign up to canvassing events in marginal seats close to you. Access it here: https://www.mycampaignm...
Dec 10, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 219
It keeps getting dumber as we get closer and closer to election day! Boris Johnson threatened to pull Channel 4’s licence because they embarrassed him, the Lib Dems are plunging in the polls, and a recent terror attack on London Bridge in turn resulted in Boris going cartoon movie fash. This week, Riley ( @raaleh ), Milo ( @Milo_Edwards ), and Alice @AliceAvizandum join special guest Josie Long ( @JosieLong ) for a roundup of all the very normal goings-on. *Do some canvassing* Momentum ( @people...
Dec 03, 2019•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 217
This week's bonus episode features us discussing the Tory manifesto with John Duncan ( @Johntheduncan ) on the topic of neoliberalism, the neoliberal weaponisation of rights, and the absurd Tory manifesto. Hope you enjoy! If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31908076 John's YouTube channel is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g2Ku4i7l6A&feature=youtu.be *Do some canvassing* Momentum ( @peoplesmomentum ) has a great resource...
Dec 02, 2019•11 min•Ep. 218
Welcome to Part 1 of TF Presents: Manifesto Madness. This week, we're looking at the absolutely realistic promises the Lib Dems are making, should they come into office. We're joined in studio by special guest and returning friend of the show Mollie Goodfellow ( @hansmollman ) on the topic of the Lib Dems' manifesto. Mollie joins Riley ( @raaleh ), Hussein ( @HKesvani ), Nate ( @inthesedeserts ), and Alice ( @AliceAvizandum ) to discuss Jo Swinson's plan to build an exciting liberal world with t...
Nov 26, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 216
In a preview of this week's bonus, Riley, Milo, Alice, and Nate speak with famed detective Loki Nash ( @lokinash06 ) about his experience being the go-to consultant on BBC radio for what is and is not shitposting. We also discuss a Lib Dem PPC who got sacked for being racist in the early 2010s, the recent Prince Andrew interview, and much more. Hope you enjoy! If you want to hear the whole thing, sign up on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31753429 *LIVE SHOW ALERT* Come see us live o...
Nov 22, 2019•9 min•Ep. 215
