Is The World F*cked?

Hosted by Bruce McCabe & Paul Jones

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Latest episode

Feb 2024

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to "Is The World F*cked?" - a weekly raw and irreverent look at the future... starting today! We look at where the world's going in technology, economics, social policies and lots of other crazy sh*t! We get real about where we could be going if we got our act together, what scares the hell out of us, and what makes our heads spin. Your hosts are Dr Bruce McCabe, The Global Futurist, and Bruce's mate, "PJ" Jones, one of the original digital marketers in this world. We kick around the big issues everyone's thinking about but might hesitate to raise in polite company, while keeping it real and having some fun. Because, without the laughs, what's the point? And then we try to decide in the end, is the world f*cked, or not? You can check out our "day jobs" at www.brucemccabe.com and www.alexim.com.au respectively, although this podcast was never meant for our clients (we're scared to death they'll find it). This podcast is for YOU - if you're thinking about the big stuff - and whether the world is f*cked, or not!

Listen to episodes

45 recent

February 19, 202448 min

#45 - Death by Selfie

Is narcissism on the rise? Are we all in danger if losing our souls behind a cloud of selfies and avocado-on-toast pics and ‘look at me’ TikTok dance videos? Yep, it’s only one of the biggest questions of our time, and today your fearless and dynamic duo of podcasting is diving in! PJ offers advice on how to spot a narcissist. Dr Bruce exhibits an unhealthy fixation with the Queen of Denmark. And at some stage we try to squeeze in some actual science (but we don't try very hard). Oh and by the way, dear listener, did we sound amazing? Were we sexy and sophisticated? Did you like our cover pic? Did you share us with all your friends? Did you? Huh? Did you?:-)And for the gruesomely minded, here's that list of selfie-related injuries and deaths we talked about!And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

February 12, 202439 min

#44 - Blowing Up Hydrogen - Part 2

H2, what is it good for? After calling out the scam-artists and greenwashers and setting a match to just about every hydrogen project on the planet based on the sky-high energy-input requirements and appalling economics, we’re putting on our nice guy hats to look at where that fab little molecule makes sense. But you know us: fun is our name and irreverence is our game, so of course we also rake over a few more pet H2 projects sponsored by Big Gas before offering some gratuitous and entirety unsolicited advice to our good friends at Toyota! And if you're looking for Bruce’s calculations referenced in the episode, you’ll find them in this article. And his interview with Michael Barnard on hydrogen and our energy future can be found here. And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

February 6, 202432 min

#43 - Blowing Up Hydrogen - Part 1

Hydrogen projects are everywhere and hey, they’re green, right? Water at the tailpipe? No CO2 emissions? And Toyota has bet BIG so it’s gotta be good. What’s not to like? Turns out, plenty … Your loveable rogues are kicking off 2024 with a BANG this episode by checking out the good, the bad and the ugly of the universe’s smallest and most plentiful atom, and as always, we’re not holding back! It’s planes, trains and Hindenbergs ladies and gentlemen, so fasten your seatbelts. What colour would you like your Hydrogen? Black, grey, blue or green?And if you're looking for Bruce’s calculations referenced in the episode, you’ll find them in this article. And his interview with Michael Barnard on hydrogen and our energy future can be found here. And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

December 18, 202323 min

#42 - Do BMW Drivers Share Their Bananas?

In this episode, we tackle the deepest of questions: "Are all BMW drivers assholes?” and needless to say, it’s all downhill from there! After performing an irreverent dissection of driver behaviour and car brands with sordid marketing campaigns, the banter takes a surprising turn regarding wealth, privilege, and entitlement before unveiling a genuine university study aimed at answering the burning question, "Are BMW drivers assholes?" We then investigate what a Mr/Ms LOMBARD is and which industry takes that term very seriously, before finding out what all of this has to do with bananas. Tune in for the answers, but be warned—laughter is the main ingredient! And when the laughter subsides, why not spread the joy? We'd love you to share the episode, the ultimate Christmas gift, with your friends. It's free, and you'll know who to send it to first, based on the car they drive! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ITWF IN 2023! Join us in 2024 as we delve into the realms of science, human behaviour, and all things weird and irreverent as we ask and answer the question, "Is the World F*cked?" (Hint: mostly, it's not :-) PS: Next year we'll be launching our website and a public forum so you can get in on the action too with our ITWF community. Stay tuned. And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

December 11, 202327 min

#41 - Jurassic Park: Should We or Shouldn’t We?

Jurassic Park. It’s one of our all-time favorite movies. De-extinction, baby! Who wouldn’t want to watch a T-Rex chomping down on a goat … and, er, eyeing us through an upside-down car window ... Okay, okay, maybe not! Um, PJ, how about bringing me back a nice placid herbivore instead? How big, did you say? Cripes! How about one that can't stomp on my house?Questions, questions! And here’s the thing, those questions matter, because we’re doing it. Through the power of gene-sequencing and editing, we ARE bringing back woolly mammoths and Tasmanian tigers and dodos, and we’re doing it SOON. DON'T PANIC! You’ve come to the right podcast: Dr Bruce has been chatting to the world’s leading genomic scientist to get you all the answers you need. So button your safari jacket and grab your pith helmet (and keep a sharp eye on those dark woods over there, please, in case a sabre-tooth sneaks up on us) as we share the myths and realities and ask: what species would you like to bring back?Trust us, we're experts ... “Hey PJ, pass the CRISPR please, and check out the claws on this velociraptor I made!”You can explore more about de-extinction, the woolly mammoth project, and other head-spinning cutting-edge genomics projects (like age-reversal) in Dr Bruce's interview with George Church here.And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

December 4, 202338 min

#40 - A One Shot Cure For Cholesterol

In this episode, we're diving into the world of cholesterol and, spoiler alert, it's a pretty big deal... especially if you have high LDL numbers despite training your arse off and running for miles (as per guess who - we heard you PJ :). The World Health Federation dropped a bombshell recently, attributing nearly 8% of global deaths to high cholesterol every year. Shocking, right? But hold on to your butter and banana bread, because we've got some potentially game-changing news. Imagine a ONE-SHOT TREATMENT that not only kicks 'bad' cholesterol to the curb but also slashes your risk of a heart attack by half—for life. One-shot and done! Game-changer right? No, this isn't science fiction; it's more over-the-horizon science as heard first on this podcast :). Join us as Dr. Bruce spills the beans on this revolutionary gene therapy he saw during his visit to Philadelphia, and heard straight from the brilliant mind behind it all. Get ready for a dose of groundbreaking science that could reshape our health landscape in a massive way and forever. So let's get into it! Cheese and prawns anyone?PS: You can find out more about this incredible gene therapy by listening to Dr Bruce’s original interview with Kiran Musunuru here. And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

November 27, 202340 min

#39 - What's Life Like in the Amazon Algorithm

Dr Bruce recently had the good fortune of venturing into the world of Amazon Fulfilment Centres - and what he found is insane. As he walked through the unmanned doors, it hit him – he'd just stepped into the pulsating heart of an algorithmic wonderland. So today, we're peeling back the layers of this e-commerce onion to reveal the comedic gold that lies within. From the mesmerising dance of robots to the mind-boggling scale of it all, we're diving into the wild world of fulfillment – Amazon style. Spoiler alert: it's not your average walk in the park; it's a stroll through a digital realm where packages move faster than you can say "free two-day shipping."So, buckle up and join us as we navigate the labyrinth of boxes, algorithms, and unexpected hilarity that is an Amazon fulfilment centre in the USA - 24/7. And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

November 21, 2023Episode 3843 min

#38 - Wired Differently: Dr. Bruce's Amish Encounter

Let's get rid of our phones. Our cars. Our laptops. Our kids? Today we're unpacking a unique experience—Dr Bruce's visit to the Amish community in the USA a few weeks ago. Bruce brings his first-hand experience among the rolling hills and red barns, as we delve into the Amish lifestyle, the good and bad, traditionally rooted in simplicity. Famous for their aversion to modern conveniences, the Amish seem to have found a delicate balance. From horse-drawn buggies to solar-powered tools, they've embraced innovation selectively to try to preserve their cultural identity and tight social fabric. It might all be a great lesson for our wider world as to how we adopt technology mindfully, maintain strong family ties, and nurture vibrant communities.Good? Bad? Your cup of tea? See what you think. And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

November 8, 202340 min

#37 - Psychopathic AI

Ready for some darkness? All this year, senate committees and billionaires and scientists have been wrangling the question, ‘Is AI an existential threat to humanity?’ Yes, really. Dr Bruce and PJ wade into the arguments, for and against. So, how could it happen? What do we watch out for? Will our executioner be Skynet, The Terminator, HAL 9000 … or Siri! Remember that wrong turn off a bridge? Thant's one way Siri can kill you! Um, PJ? Your Roomba has an unblinking red eye, and it seems to be following me wherever I go …Wanna dive deeper? Read Dr Bruce’s essay "Should We Worry About Skynet?” And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!

November 2, 202340 min

#36 - Suffocating In The Plastisphere

How to tackle plastic pollution? Can we? We rip into the plastic polluters spewing their packaging across our landscapes and into our rivers and growing the monumental garbage-islands that are already blanketing our oceans. What can we do to stop these vandals? What can we do to trap the stuff earlier? Can we make recycling work? Are bio-plastics the answer? Warning: we’re angry, and we aren’t holding back! And for the record, when we're doing real work and not podcasting, you'll find Dr Bruce, The Global Futurist presenting here and PJ applying his digital marketing genius here. Enjoy!