On the Fringe

Bonus: World Maps in Chinese are Fascinating! (and great tools to learn a foreign language!)

Join us on a wild language adventure on this quick bonus episode! I (Dave) have been studying Mandarin Chinese for about 6 weeks now. One of my first go-to’s when learning a new language is to utilize information I already know to better understand...

We'll be back tomorrow!

Hey On the Fringe Community! Gav + I are both on the move this weekend. We will be posting a bonus episode tomorrow and then will be back like normal next weekend! Listen for a teaser about it. Have a great week + all the best from both of us! Dave...

Russia in the Rearview Mirror? Author Joe Barnes's Travelogue through the Former Soviet Union

In this episode, Dave and Gav sit down with friend of the podcast Joe Barnes. Joe is one of the few people from the West to have visited all 15 countries in the former Soviet Union since the Soviet Union broke up 30 years ago.  In February 2022, Joe...

Single? The Algorithm Knows Who is Right for You

In this short bonus episode, Dave + Gav conduct a brief and succinct analysis on a recent Singaporean goverment policy to help Singleporeans...ahem Singaporeans find a partner and start a family.  Singapore has one of the lowest birth rates in the...

The Ongoing and Pivotal War that Everyone's Forgotten

This a quick bonus episode/update about the current war between Pakistan and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan has signed on to the Makkah Accord, along with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to come to one another’s mutual defense. Will this agreement do...

Why Saudi Arabia is facing a shock to its system

In recent weeks, the Houthi's attacks on Saudi Arabia have exposed a major problem for the kingdom. In this episode, we dive into what the three countries that have signed on the Makkah Agreement (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan) have to offer one...

Uncle Sam Saved a Few Bucks. China got F-35 Parts

According to CSIS, intellectual property losses cost the U.S. economy between $225—$600 billion per year. These come from losing trade secrets, illegal technology transfers, and copyright infringement to name a few. It was recently reported that...

All about the Houthis in Yemen

Recently, there’s been much talk of the events occurring around Yemen, but less talk about the group at the center of it all, Ansar Allah, generally referred to as the Houthis.  In this episode, Gav and Dave provide insight into the group causing...

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An Intercontinental Refugee Crisis is Unfolding Between the Middle East and Africa

In this episode, we're shining a light on the growing humanitarian crisis on both sides of the Gulf of Aden. To really understand what is happening in Yemen, you also have to look at the ongoing refugee crisis that is too big to no longer be ignored....

Don't Waste Time, Make a Dime: Singapore Decides to Pay People to Stop Doomscrolling

On this bonus episode, the boys talk about Singapore’s novel solution to the problem of constant electronic stimulation...paying people to read books. The country is trialling a program where people will be fiscally rewarded for their reading efforts,...

We're STILL Pissed About Losing the CIA World Factbook

While working on another episode, Gavin and Dave ran into a sadly familiar problem, lamenting the absence of a once constant companion, that old fan favorite, the CIA World Factbook. Back in high school, we took the CIA World Factbook for granted as...

No Easy Option: Saudi Arabia is Between Iraq and a Houthi Place

In this episode, Gav and Dave dive into the implications of the growing geopolitical crisis in the Gulf. Houthi forces have recently exposed key terrain in their ongoing conflict with Saudi Arabia (and it's not the chokepoint at Red Sea and the Bab...

NYC's AI Moratorium: Creating Space to Think...in the Classroom and in Policy (Feat. Kevin Wong)

Last week, Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced a one-year moratorium on AI usage in schools across New York City. In this episode, we are bringing back veteran educator, New York City teacher, and old friend of the podcast Kevin Wong to talk about the...

The US wants to fix maps, except for maps of Africa (Bonus Episode)

Last week, the UN General Assembly voted nearly unanimously to utilize maps with the more accurate Equal Earth scale instead of the commonly used Mercator scale. The United States voted against it, and the reason why may surprise you. Listen in to...

A new dawn for old problems: What Niger's Failed Coup Means for West Africa

In what could be one of the most impactful geopolitical events of the year, an attempted coup that kicked off in the Republic of Niger on August 28th has upended a lot of long held ideas about the regional order in the Sahara. Since coming to power in...

Lowkey...Don't count out Gen Z (Feat. Chauncy Wadsworth)

As two Millennials, Gav + I know that Gen Z takes a lot of flack in the workplace and at home. That doesn't mean you should throw in the towel on what the algorithm wants you to see (and think) about this generation. On this episode, we talked with...

Never Meta anyone who does it better: Who wins in the $17 billion settlement?

Meta and attorneys general across the US have decided to settle a string of lawsuits for billions of dollars. On the surface, it looks like Meta is paying out a lot in a $17 billion settlement to 47 states, Washington DC, and 3 territories. But are...

I thought the video was AI generated. The devastating Nepal floods

On the morning of August 26th, 2026, tragedy struck along the Nepali-Chinese border. A massive deluge of mud and water raced into the Lende Khola at nearly 100 kilometers per hour and washed away everything in its path, including a port of entry,...

Shift happens? Outlining the Mecca Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan

It’s official: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are on each other's team...on paper, anyway.  In this episode, Dave and Gavin analyze what the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement (the Mecca Agreement) between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan means...

You + random Fred’s Facebook argument = BIG $$$ for an Indonesian villager

Curious about where the fuel for an angry thread or flame war on social media begins? It’ll likely surprise you—like it did us!  Meme and engagement farms are popping up in Indonesia, providing opportunities for locals to earn thanks to YOUR clicks...