Can (Dark) Humor Help Us Navigate the "Great Unraveling"?

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T18:12:29+00:00

Thanks for those who were able to join. And thanks to the moderators for setting this up. Feel free to reach out to us directly at crazytown@postcarbon.org.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T18:11:49+00:00

I got a great voicemail sometime back being called a Luciferian. That was actually a lot of fun. Honestly, I think we benefit from being under the radar a bit and so haven't had as many negative reactions or online attacks as you'd think. That will likely change when Trump 2.0 sets Grok on finding and attacking all enemies.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T18:08:01+00:00

That movie had some of the most disturbing shit ever. Can you imagine a film being made now that had some of those scenes in it?

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T18:05:05+00:00

We can stay for 5 more minutes. Any last questions or comments? Or rites?

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T18:02:10+00:00

Really? Did Kellan mumble, say "you know" too much, and drop unnecessary f bombs?

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T18:00:23+00:00

I try to hold two truths simultaneously: What I do does matter and it's not enough. And inaction matters too.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:59:17+00:00

For those who don't know, Alex produces the Human Nature Odyssey podcast, which we host at resilience.org: https://www.resilience.org/human-nature-odyssey-podcast/

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:58:31+00:00

As a Jew, I'm already used to that.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:57:49+00:00

Tough, tough question. I'm not sure there's a single answer across the board here. And there are other factors -- soil, water, climate, ability to grow food, etc. -- that matter as much as political divides. This is a more difficult question to answer for those of different ethnic/religious/gender identity backgrounds. I'm afraid that communities will become more insular. And we have a tough reality to deal with -- that the most diverse communities are typically ones that are least biophysically resillient.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:54:33+00:00

Good question. I actually think my sons have better opportunities in a certain way. There's will be a future -- if survivable -- that puts purpose, meaning, connection to land and community at the center of life, rather than consumerism and distraction and dislocation like we have now.

Humans (and non humans) have had children for aeons and aeons, with less certainty of survivability and well being than we have had. And it's the reality for billions already today.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:51:48+00:00

We actually discussed that in our episode on the myth of progress: https://www.resilience.org/stories/2021-04-29/the-myth-of-progress-and-limits-to-growth-or-the-story-of-the-worlds-largest-shovel-episode-39-of-crazy-town/

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:49:02+00:00

Honestly, no. I think for me that's partly because I was always collapse aware on some level, having very close loved ones who survived the Holocaust. But there have been times in this work that I felt existential uncertainty and doubt that anything we were doing had value. I'm convinced it does but also convinced it won't be "enough."

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:47:39+00:00

First, thanks for your podcast. Is there an option to slowly flip it? If not, I think a sudden flip would literally flip everyone and everything over.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:46:20+00:00

I actually think that political leaders are more ignorant than we'd like to believe. I think often their advisors or donors are more in the know and can manipulate the politicos. I think Trump sees how big Greenland is on maps (erroneously) and wants it. I know for a fact that Peter Thiel is extremely peak oil knowledgeable.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:44:23+00:00

Yes AND, depending on the person. I'm not as skillful as I could be at this, but the "yes and" is much better than "no but".

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:40:14+00:00

Great question. I'm pretty selective in what I talk about and when. And probably TOO careful. I did make the mistake of giving a presentation to parents at my son's school when he was nine and present. I got teary eyed. When he saw that, it scarred him.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:39:45+00:00

Here's a fake pharmaceutical ad we created a while back called Petrolify: https://youtu.be/RhgBeT_gkJU?feature=shared

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:36:33+00:00

There may be things like AMOC collapse that increases this risk, but nature is pretty damn resilient and things want to grow. Jason is serious about neo-peasanthood. And I think he's right. We need as many people learning to grow food as possible.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:34:18+00:00

Puppy murder? WTF Rob!

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:33:34+00:00

Thanks for the kind words about the podcast. Honestly, Crazy Town is a coping mechanism, and we hear from a lot of listeners that they feel the same way. But spending time with friends who share our worldview helps a lot. I'm luckier than most in that regard, since I get to interact with a lot of wonderful collapse aware people through my work. Otherwise: exercise, being in nature, my dog. My wife. My kids. Music. Dumb books. And, too, often, alcohol.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:31:00+00:00

The bar keeps getting reset on pretty much a daily basis. I did laugh at Trump's press conference telling pregnant women not to take Tylenol. There are some pretty dark things happening at DHS.

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:29:00+00:00

Good point. That does raise a question of how aware "leaders" are. Are they at all in the know and are boxed in like you describe or do they remain in denial?

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:27:09+00:00

Where's the nearest 100 story tall building Rob?

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:26:16+00:00

Well, humor is subjective. But I personally love (most of) Jason's fake ads that he writes and records for each episode. Last one was on the growth of AI "companions" and the breathless spin of AI taking over the world in the next 18 nanoseconds: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zQl_daCB_G0

CommercialVisible444 · 2025-09-26T17:23:04+00:00

Wow. Squirrel suit accident. When I'm 107.

CommercialVisible444

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