(This was going to be the first free episode of 2022, but we decided to go with the Dome story instead. So, apologies for it being slightly out of date, but we hope you like it). In which the full cast of TF discusses the BBC bringing on Alan Dershowitz to discuss the Maxwell verdict, and recent fawning coverage of Liz Truss that wants so desperately to make her the next Thatcher. Also, yet another terrible start-up. Get the whole episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/61083621 I...
Jan 14, 2022•11 min•Ep. 484
Jathan and Ed from TMK ( @machinekillspod ) return to help us figure out exactly what “Web 3” is, and what people actually mean when they say “Web 3.” What we find when we look under the hood is a virtual series of colonia dignidads all layered on top of one another promising that only when we have interpreted Hayek correctly, will we find utopia. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 483
In which we get into the specific zones of the Millennium Dome, their various corporate sponsors, and what they said about Britain c. 2000 and how New Labour saw its subjects' lives. We completely lost our minds doing this and we hope you enjoy. Get the whole episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/60698903 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/ *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen...
Jan 04, 2022•11 min•Ep. 482
This week, we have the full cast of TF together to review the history of the Millennium Dome, a New Labour attempt to create a modern exposition of Britain. It definitely became an exhibition of how weird the inner circle of Blair’s Labour was, but it’s largely regarded as a failure–and we learn about how it transformed a chunk of Greenwich from the Goop Zone into the Empty Luxury Flat Zone. Part 2 of this episode is available now on the Patreon—get it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/6069890...
Jan 04, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 481
We decided to review a different kind of Christmas movie: David Cronenberg's 2007 film EASTERN PROMISES, which is both a film about Britain, a film about Russians in London (featuring no Russian actors), and a film where you see Viggo Mortensen naked. We got Olga Koch ( @rocknrolga ) on to discuss this and, uh, she did not like it. To hear the whole thing, sign up on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/60399655 You can also now hear the Grand Designs episode (featuring Alice) on the $5 tier: ...
Dec 29, 2021•11 min•Ep. 480
Why is it that this island in the North Atlantic has such shit buildings? What is the reason for slapping gravel on buildings and calling it an aesthetic? Why did Britain sell off most of it social housing and make it functionally impossible to replace it? All this, and more, explored on yet another Britainology -- this one featuring architecture critic India Block ( @indiablock ) If you want more Britainology, (1 episode a month on the $5 tier, 2 a month on the $10 tier), sign up here: https://...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 479
You had questions, we had answers. This is normally on the $10 tier but we ran out of bonus content after Milo and Riley were felled by The Plague. Hope you enjoy! Get the whole thing on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/60272349 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/ *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and the designer behind our website). If you need web desi...
Dec 27, 2021•10 min•Ep. 478
For the holiday week, Nate and Alice speak to author Jane Pek about her debut novel THE VERIFIERS, a detective story involving online dating, the ever-present algorithm, the tech economy, and Alice’s long-standing dream to read about a lesbian private investigator. This was a lot of fun for us to record, and if you enjoy it, please reach out! We’re happy to try and make this an ongoing series. *NOTICE* If you enjoy this episode then you should run, not walk, to pre-order THE VERIFIERS here: http...
Dec 27, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 477
Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg now works for Facebook to the tune of eight figures. He has some opinions about Facebook’s policy decisions. As you can guess, they sound like thoughts from a man who’s been hit in the head really hard–which is why Riley, Milo, and Alice analyze a recent Meta appearance in which his Nintendo Wii-looking avatar complains about his headset a lot, among other things. We also talk about the recent byelection in North Shropshire. Hope you enjoy! If you want access to ...
Dec 21, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 476
This week, in the midst of Riley and Milo being struck with covid, we recorded an all-remote episode to discuss some recent Britain news, with a special emphasis on recent leaked texts from Daniel Kawczynski MP in which he's begging for a Saudi consultancy role in order to pay private school fees. There are a lot of other points covered in this episode (like the eternal career of Meg Whitman!) but this part really captures something ineffably British. Hope you enjoy! Get the whole episode on Pat...
Dec 17, 2021•10 min•Ep. 475
This week, we speak with writer and friend of the show Trevor Strunk ( @hegelbon ) about recent developments in the smartest sector of our very real economy: the gaming/crypto convergence, in which powerful thinkers from Andreesen Horowitz have decided that the best way to develop jobs is to pay people in the developing world a pittance to do XP grinding on behalf of gamers in the developed world. Sounds great to us! We also address the British politics moment surrounding the 2020 Christmas part...
Dec 14, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 474
This might be one of the most inscrutably British things we've ever covered, and the fact is: Milo doesn't even know that much about it. So, to aid with understanding, we got Politics Home editor and cricket enthusiast Alan White ( @aljwhite ) to explain it to us. That doesn't necessarily mean Nate came away understanding it any more than before, but it was a fun discussion. Get the whole thing on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59754709 *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of th...
Dec 11, 2021•11 min•Ep. 473
Amelia Horgan ( @AmeliaHorgan ), author of Lost in Work and striking member of the UK’s higher education Union (UCU) talks about the decade of strikes in the sector, and why the demands are connected to a top level reimagining of what education can be. But first, we look at a few apparently unrelated goings on in Britain and peer into our scrying bowl to look at the outlines of this country’s political future. Buy Amelia's book here! https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745340913/lost-in-work/ Get the...
Dec 10, 2021•11 min•Ep. 472
Dan returns for another look at Spotify - in the last year have they paid artists more, or have they channelled excess profits into an investment in AI defence technology “for the defense of democracies” whatever that means. Also, a startup and a truly astounding article. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/trashfuture If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internal...
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 471
We spoke with The Athletic’s investigations writer Joey D’Urso ( @josephmdurso ) about the frenzied tie up between high risk, unregulated world of blockchain/crypto ventures. What is a “fan token,” why is Paul Pogba “the father of dragons,” and why does Manchester City need a “regional partner in decentralised finance” in the first place? Get the whole thing on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59391305 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced peopl...
Dec 03, 2021•11 min•Ep. 470
This week, we're joined by Becca Wilks ( @WilksBecca ) of The National Wales to discuss a confidence and supply arrangement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, and how it relates to the history of Welsh Labour in general. Of course we also discuss a Wales-centric startup that plans to heat homes in the most annoying way possible. And yes, we also discuss The Peppa Pig Incident. Hope you enjoy! If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Disco...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 469
Look, this is something of a loose episode because Milo was on tour while we recorded it. However, in an effort to satisfy our urge to explain Britain, we watched the 2016 film GANGSTERS, GAMBLERS AND GEEZERS which is a z-grade British knockoff of Harold and Kumar, features none other than Dave Courtney, and contains some of the worst shit we've ever seen. Get the whole thing on Patreon at the $10 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59249275 Also get our London Finance Geezers episode, prev...
Nov 29, 2021•11 min•Ep. 467
It's time once again for Britainology, and this week Milo and Nate are joined by Phoebe Roy (who you have have heard on Masters of Our Domain and 10,000 Posts) to discuss British 9/11. Do we mean 7/7? The 2011 riots? No, we mean the death of the Queen of Our Hearts, Princess Diana Spencer, in August 1997. Never has a nation freaked out more, and we provide the key to understanding it all. If you want more Britainology, you can get one per month on our $5 tier, or two per month on our $10 tier. S...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 468
Riley has decided to subject Nish Kumar to yet another piece of writing from the inner sanctum of the British media-politico citadel. It’s Robert Peston’s thriller, The Whistleblower! If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59103903 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/ *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo live dates here: https://www.miloedwards.co.u...
Nov 26, 2021•10 min•Ep. 466
Riley, Milo, and Alice are joined by our friend Séamus Malekafzali ( @seamus_malek ) for a Neom Status update. With the rollicking success of The Line leaving every industry the world over revolutionised forever, Saudi has added yet another dimension to the shape of innovation. But first, a reflection on the growth and role of vigilantism in the US and U.K., and a look at the dreams versus the reality of electric car producers who promise to change the world but still haven’t really made any… ca...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 465
It’s a chilled episode where Riley, Milo, and Alice talk about a fun startup, and then review a few bits of new information about old friends, as well as a truly cursed idiot banker that couldn’t keep himself out of trouble. Get the whole episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58834733 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/ *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo live dates here: http...
Nov 19, 2021•11 min•Ep. 464
This week, Nate and Milo discuss the phenomenon of remembrance poppies and the ways in which they've become a symptom of Britain's deeply unwell state. Solemn icons of the human cost of war? Hell no, slap that shit on a pizza and consume it, with honour. To hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon at the following link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58858238 *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo live dates here: https://www.miloedwards.co.uk/live-shows *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (...
Nov 18, 2021•10 min•Ep. 463
We speak to Phil Jones ( @philjones7771 ), author of Work Without the Worker, about microwork and how AI is fake, and most of it is just tiny tasks done by workers in the global south and dressed up as technology. We get deeper into how exactly how this practice developed, how its economics are rooted in overproduction, and how boosterish liberal institutions cheer-led the whole process. Get Phil's book here! https://www.versobooks.com/books/3869-work-without-the-worker If you want access to our...
Nov 16, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 462
Rob and Dave of the Praxiscast join the gang to discuss a U.K. success story in making beer, but more importantly, in making extremely annoying publicity stunts. Also, we return to the New York Times which appears to be doing Client Journalism for the Bored Ape NFT people. If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58552105 Support Podcasting is Praxis on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/praxiscast and listen to their free feed here! https://praxis...
Nov 12, 2021•11 min•Ep. 461
This week, Milo and Nate speak with British Army veteran, leftist organiser, BJJ enthusiast, and all round comrade Joe Glenton ( @joejglenton ) about Britain's relationship with its Army and the different types of nutters who serve in it. Joe has a book out now entitled VETERANHOOD: RAGE AND HOPE IN BRITISH EX-MILITARY LIFE that you should order here: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/veteranhood-rage-and-hope-in-british-ex-military-life/9781913462451 If you want more Britainology, sign up on the Pa...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 460
This week, Riley, Milo, Hussein, and Alice discuss The Hut Group--an attempt to make British Amazon with direct sales of health goods, financed with SoftBank capital--and its yoked fifty-something founder. We also discuss the Owen Paterson affair in all its cynical splendour. And, of course, there’s a new song. Hope you enjoy! If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/trashfuture If you’re...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 459
Facebook and Google haven't done anything new of note since 2007. It's just market capture and worse and worse services. However, Facebook is now Meta or something, and in this bonus episode Riley, Milo, and Alice seek to understand. Also we talk about hitting an ape with a hammer. Get the whole episode on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58285501 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid...
Nov 05, 2021•11 min•Ep. 458
The gang talks to academic Maria Norris ( @MariaWNorris ) about Prevent, the government’s star counter terrorism policy now getting fast tracked through a softball review. We answer the question: “why do children regularly end up in counterterrorism databases for talking about Fortnite in school?” Check out Maria's podcast, Enemies of the People, here! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/enemies-of-the-people/id1581679731 If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 457
This is it. The end of the series. Some of the worst, twee-est, most Lib Dem writing you'll ever encounter. We watched it to the end, and we brought on Street Fight Radio's Bryan Quinby (who recommended this series in the first place!) to discuss, along with our special Y&Y correspondent, Devon. Hope you enjoy! If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/ *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo live da...
Oct 28, 2021•11 min•Ep. 456
We've got Joe and Francis back to discuss the Midwest--a reverse Britainology, if you will--and we're discussing 24-hour diners, terrible fast food jobs, and the cultural weight of professional wrestling in the Rust Belt / Greater Midwest. Hope you enjoy! Get the whole thing on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57897682 If you’re in the UK and want to help Afghan refugees and internally displaced people, consider donating to Afghanaid: https://www.afghanaid.org.uk/ *MILO ALERT* Check o...
Oct 28, 2021•11 min•Ep. 455