I’ve never been good at small talk. These days conversation is safe. Sports. Weather. Don’t discuss religion or politics at party. Above all there’s one group where the reverse is true. Learn more in No-Small-Talk-Agorafest-2019-Bob Davis Podcast 863.

Live In South Dakota

I am live in Mobile Podcast Command in Gary South Dakota at the Buffalo Ridge Resort. It’s especially relevant that I am hanging with my anarchist friends at a little festival they put together called ‘Agorafest‘. And Buffalo Ridge is a great place to have it.

Ongoing Conversations

In contrast to pointless weekend conversation I come to Agorafest for the discussions about everything from home brewing to the meaning of life. In this podcast subscribers and listeners will get a little taste of our style of conversation.

Let’s Face It. Anarchy is Fun!

For political listeners most noteworthy is the question what is an anarchist? Moreover what brand of anarchism is the primary focus this weekend?

Anderson, Johnson and Davis

First of all to give you an idea of our fireside chats Cole Anderson and Mark Johnson join the podcast.

Life Is Suffering. Or Not!

Above all Mark and I have been debating whether life is suffering all weekend. That debate continues in this podcast, with some asides about home brewing and politics. How’s that for small talk?

Agorafest Stays With You

Certainly you’ll hear anarchy isn’t as threatening as some people think. Indeed maybe you’ll hear something you’ll think about weeks from now. That’s usually the case with me.

History

Even more most of us feel we’re at a turning point in history. That deserves more than small talk.

Talk It Out As Friends

It’s great when people with very different ideas about how the world works to come together, hash it out and still be friends.

Community

Everyone probably agrees that affecting change in your own community is more satisfying. Therefore learning how to do that constructively is a byproduct of these weekends.

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No-Small-Talk-Agorafest-2019-Bob Davis Podcast 863

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Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826

We’re living through a time like no other. Talking heads constantly compare our time to other times. Does that make sense these days? We’ll talk about it in Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826.

Fall Of Rome Anyone?

We’re living through an era ‘like’ the end of the Roman Empire, the foundation of the American Republic, the Civil War, even the 1920’s, say pundits.

Civil War?

Our political divisions are ‘just like‘ those before the Civil War. Is this valid? We’ll talk about it in Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826.

World War One On The Menu?

In addition our time is supposedly just like the time before World War One because we face trouble in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and there is a backlash to free trade. Does this make sense?

Trump and Hayes

Hapless political figures are compared to President Trump. Andrew Jackson. James Buchanan. Even Abe Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Richard Nixon. Rutherford B. Hates and George Wallace. These comparisons are inaccurate. Comparisons suggest an outcome. Also inaccurate.

Ours Is A Unique Era

Finally these comparisons hide the fact that we are living through a unique time. Institutions that have existed for hundreds and even thousands of years appear to be in rapid decline today. At the same time scientific and technological advancements promise even more disruption in the days to come.

Borders, Drones, Social Media As A Weapon and AI

From Border issues to Artificial Intelligence to the rise of Social Media as a weapon. New companies and new products generate unprecedented profits. People seem to be losing faith in their governments. How will we handle these issues?

This Is Not A Movie

Above all comparing our population and technology to ancient and bygone times might make great movies, but bad reality.

In conclusion, we don’t address critical challenges when we look to the past.

By all means let’s learn from history but history isn’t a simple template you can apply to the present time. We’re making it up as we go. Maybe it’s time to accept this really is a new and unique age and act accordingly.

(Editor’s Note: This is a complex podcast. When I do these kinds of podcasts I rush a little to get through necessary details, so I can get to the conclusions. And of course, when rush I can misspeak. The most glaring example in this podcast? I confused President Andrew Jackson with President Andrew Johnson. Seconds before speaking about Jackson, I jumped ahead to the 1860’s when Johnson, not Jackson was impeached.)

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Time Like No Other-Bob Davis Podcast 826

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