Skip to main content
The Idea Roastery

The Idea Roastery

By Herman Martinus & Jason Forte

Our podcast is about two friends separated by distance but joined by a curiosity about the world and how technology & society are evolving. From the latest in sustainable technologies to how society operates and governs itself to personal growth we bring a mixture of information and entertaining banter to your ears. Herman Martinus is a solopreneur based in Cape Town and the founder of bearblog.dev. Jason Forte works with startups for a large tech company in the UK. Topics we've covered: Business, Technology, ClimateTech, Cape Town Lifestyle, Travel & Geography & Personal Development
Available on
Amazon Music Logo
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

How to think about UBI in South Africa

The Idea Roastery Sep 17, 2021

00:00
44:22
Inside the Walled Gardens: The Real Cost of App Stores | E66
Mar 18, 202433:14
Bots vs. Humans: Who Will Write the Future of the Internet | E65
Feb 19, 202435:33
Mining Your Mind: How Writing Helps Unearth Your Inner Thoughts | E64
Feb 04, 202433:59
Brewing and Pixels: Setting Goals for 2024 | E63
Jan 19, 202428:26
Refections on 2023: A Year in Climate, Energy, and AI | E62

Refections on 2023: A Year in Climate, Energy, and AI | E62

The Idea Roastery is back for the end of 2023 and we're taking a deep dive into climate change, energy, and AI. We'll discuss the increasing population and the EU's ban on petrol and fossil fuel based cars, advances in solar and wind energy, and the lack of a room temperature superconductor. We'll also explore the complexities of wish-making, the potential of energy breakthroughs, the pros and cons of nuclear energy, and the implications of large language models such as chat GPTs on education. Finally, we'll discuss the implications of AI and chat GPTs on education, copyright infringement, and the 2024 US election, the ethical nature of AI, the rise of open source models, and the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content.


Can't get enough of us?

Herman: https://herman.bearblog.dev/

Jason: https://www.jforte.me/

Jan 06, 202435:30
Wired for the Future: The Rise of Electric Micro-Mobility | E61

Wired for the Future: The Rise of Electric Micro-Mobility | E61

In this episode of the Idea Roastery, we explore the potential of electric vehicles and sustainable transport systems in cities around the world. We discuss the advantages of electric vehicles, such as their cost efficiency and reliability, and the potential of trams, cycle routes and solar vehicle charging stations. We also consider the effects of population density and how it affects the need for efficient transport systems.

Dec 29, 202328:31
The Great Return: Examining the Back to Office Movement | E60
Dec 15, 202323:46
Plastic Waste & Forever Chemicals - Is Filtering Our Future? | E59

Plastic Waste & Forever Chemicals - Is Filtering Our Future? | E59

This week we dive into the murky world of microplastics, examining how these tiny plastic particles have infiltrated our water systems, food supply, and even our bodies.

While the immediate health impacts remain unclear, the hosts raise critical questions around contamination, inequality, and the inconvenient reality that certain ubiquitous plastics may be impossible to eradicate fully.

Outline

  • We discussed concerns around microplastics and "forever chemicals" in drinking water
  • Where do microplastics come from and what are different types
  • How much microplastic is in our environment and is it enough to be detrimental to humans
  • What are some solutions to this problem?
  • How we personally think about this challenge of our environment
Dec 11, 202324:07
We probably need more trees | E58

We probably need more trees | E58

In this episode, Jason and Herman explore the many benefits of trees and how they can improve our environment and well-being. We discuss how trees can create ideal conditions for rain, filter out pollution, reduce noise, and provide a habitat for wildlife. We also explore the difficulties of finding the right types of trees and flora.

  • Trees can provide a variety of benefits, such as sun protection, filtering out pollution, and creating microclimates
  • Different types of trees need to be planted in order to conserve water and create ideal conditions for rain
  • Legislation is needed to encourage greening of cities and planting of native species
  • Planting trees in planters is an option for those without gardens
  • Urban beekeeping projects can help promote biodiversity


Learn more about our podcast here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herman-jason


Oct 30, 202329:47
Is Open Source Broken? | E57

Is Open Source Broken? | E57

Join Herman and Jason in The Idea Roastery podcast as they discuss the complexities of open source software. They explore the pros and cons of open source software, the commercial incentives for companies to open source their products, and the challenges that arise when competitors use the open source code. They also look at examples of open source software and discuss when it makes sense to open source a project.

Oct 16, 202326:05
Essential Ingredients: Boiling Down Product Design Principles | E56
Oct 09, 202331:28
Staying Motivated: Personal Strategies for Productivity and Fitness Success | E55

Staying Motivated: Personal Strategies for Productivity and Fitness Success | E55

Join Jason and Herman on the Idea Roastery podcast as they explore the importance of physical activity, mental strength, and productivity. They share their personal experiences and tips on how to stay motivated, incorporate exercise into your daily routine, and maximize productivity. Tune in to hear their insights and advice on how to stay focused, set goals, and achieve success!

  • We discuss the importance of physical activity and how it has become part of their identity
  • We talk about how we started exercising consistently and the benefits it has brought us
  • We discuss the importance of focus and concentration when it comes to productivity
  • We reflect on productivity and tasks, and how to set goals and break them down into smaller tasks
Sep 13, 202347:52
Beyond Conventional Energy: SMRs, Public Perception, and South Africa's Path | E54

Beyond Conventional Energy: SMRs, Public Perception, and South Africa's Path | E54

Herman and Jason discuss the pros and cons of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). They compare nuclear power to other energy sources. They discuss the potential for nuclear proliferation and the economic benefits of nuclear power. They also consider the public perception of nuclear power and the need for government subsidization.

  • Energy is an important part of South African life
  • Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a potential solution for abundant energy
  • Solar and wind vs. nuclear energy
  • Private companies are developing different types of energy systems
  • Political effects, monopolistic elements, and public perception may prevent SMRs from becoming mainstream
  • Retrofitting existing power stations may be more viable than building new ones
  • Public education and government subsidization are necessary for nuclear power to become more mainstream
Aug 30, 202337:17
Aim for Mars: Inter-Planetary Motives and Implications | E53

Aim for Mars: Inter-Planetary Motives and Implications | E53

In this episode of the Idea Roastery, hosts Jason and Herman discuss the potential benefits and challenges of space exploration and the idea of a trip to Mars. They discuss the required level of technological development needed from humanity, the potential for pursuits such as meteorite mining, and the nuances of exploration & colonization of Mars. They discuss the motivations behind exploration, the potential of resources on other planets, and the economic benefits of space exploration. They compare private and public companies in the space race, and discuss if Mars is the right thing for earth to focus on at all.

Topics

• Discussion of Mars exploration and colonization

• Reasons why we should and shouldn't explore Mars

• Exploring the Antarctic, Sahara Desert, and oceans for resources

• Need to cultivate ambitious projects and adventurous spirit

• Private and public entities have different roles in the space race

• Space exploration stimulates the economy and attracts talent

• Arguments against space exploration due to cost and potential to solve problems on Earth

Aug 16, 202337:57
Tourism's Footprint: The Evolving Impact of Technology on Travel and Adventure | E52

Tourism's Footprint: The Evolving Impact of Technology on Travel and Adventure | E52

In this podcast, we discuss the pros and cons of modern tourism, and how it has changed the way people travel. We discussed how people often travel for social validation, rather than for the adventure, and how camera technology should be used to be present in the moment, rather than to capture it and come to a conclusion we all agree on.


Topics

- Pros and cons of tourism and its impact on local economies

- What do the locals do?

- Expectation versus reality when it comes to travel

- Impact of technology on travel and adventure

- Taking photos of places and not looking at them again

- Cultivating the moment and enjoying it

- Learning from unexpected experiences

Aug 02, 202334:26
Climate Solutions Unleashed: Exploring Geoengineering for a Sustainable Future | E51

Climate Solutions Unleashed: Exploring Geoengineering for a Sustainable Future | E51

In this podcast, the hosts discussed the potential of geoengineering projects to help reduce the effects of global warming. They discussed the idea of injecting aerosols into the upper atmosphere to create a more stable climate, as well as the potential for individuals to create their own green tech projects to help reduce carbon emissions. They also discussed the potential for planting a large number of trees to help reduce the effects of global warming, and the importance of protecting ocean ecosystems.

Topics in this Episode

  • Discussing the potential of geoengineering projects to address climate change
  • Weighing the pros and cons of prevention vs. survival
  • Challenges of getting people on board with expensive projects
  • Reforestation projects as a form of geoengineering
  • Impact of geoengineering projects on the environment
  • Public backlash from people who don't want to "play God"
  • Economic incentive to drive environmental aspects
  • Taking carbon and converting it into a physical product
  • Planting trees as a form of geoengineering with many benefits
  • Shift in mindset needed to fund larger projects
Jul 13, 202342:28
The Future of VR: Gaming, Workspaces and Social Interactions | E50

The Future of VR: Gaming, Workspaces and Social Interactions | E50

In this podcast episode, we delve into the revolutionary Apple Vision Pro and its implications for virtual workspaces and productivity. We discuss the features and capabilities of the headset, including its advanced AI avatar system for video calls and the potential for creating immersive virtual work environments. We explore the challenges and opportunities presented by VR technology, from the balance between cost and accessibility to the evolving public perception of wearing VR headsets in social settings.

Outline

  • Introduction to the Apple Vision Pro: We discuss the announcement and features of the Apple Vision Pro, a high-end VR headset designed for professional use, highlighting its potential impact on workspaces and productivity.
  • Virtual reality (VR) vs. augmented reality (AR): We explore the differences between VR and AR technologies, expressing their preferences and concerns regarding hyperconnectivity and the constant presence of virtual displays.
  • Virtual workspaces and productivity: We take time to delve into the potential benefits of VR in creating immersive virtual workspaces, including the ability to have multiple monitors, increased focus, and a dedicated work environment that enhances productivity.
  • Gaming and VR experiences: We touch on the role of VR in gaming, noting the limitations of mobility and potential discomfort associated with certain activities in virtual worlds.
  • Virtual meetings and social interactions: Our conversation extends to the concept of virtual meetings and socializing, discussing the future of remote interactions and the use of avatars, particularly as envisioned by companies like Meta (formerly Facebook).
  • Price and accessibility of VR technology: We discuss the cost of VR headsets, such as the Apple Vision Pro, along with the potential for future developments to make VR technology more affordable and accessible to a wider range of users.
  • Uncanny valley and virtual representations: We explore the concept of the uncanny valley and the challenges of creating realistic virtual representations of people, noting that current technology may not fully overcome the "off" feeling associated with such renderings.
  • Public perception and adoption of VR: Lastly we delve into public perception and the potential for VR headsets to become status symbols or signals of wealth. They discuss the changing perceptions around technology, using the example of AirPods, to suggest that attitudes towards VR headsets may evolve over time.

Support our podcast by following us on Spotify, sending us some feedback or dropping a voice note to us via this link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/herman-jason

Jun 22, 202337:37
The Beauty and Destruction: A conversation about volcanoes | E49

The Beauty and Destruction: A conversation about volcanoes | E49

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the fascinating and sometimes destructive phenomenon of volcanoes. We talk about the different types of volcanoes, how they form, and the risks they pose to humans. We also discuss the beauty and awe-inspiring nature of volcanoes, and how they have shaped the Earth's landscape.

We discuss the following topics in this episode!

  • Earth's Core and Gravity: Discussion on Earth's super-dense core generating gravity, comparing it to airplane heights.
  • Challenges of Deep Drilling: Friction and heat obstacles when drilling deep, the limitations of mechanical methods, and the potential of laser-based drilling.
  • Setting off Volcanoes: Concerns about triggering volcanic eruptions while drilling into high-pressure areas, emphasizing caution near volcanoes.
  • Gravity Trains: Introduction of gravity trains, a fast transportation concept using a tunnel from the surface to the core, assuming low friction.
  • Volcano Worries and Perspective: Reassurance that for most people, volcano concerns are low, with heart disease posing a greater risk. Advice to stay informed and follow local authorities' guidance in volcanic regions.
May 30, 202334:34
Thinking about a future of AI governance - Part 2 | E48
May 11, 202347:33
ChatGPT: Unraveling AI's Impact on Our Lives - Part 1 | E47

ChatGPT: Unraveling AI's Impact on Our Lives - Part 1 | E47

In this episode, Herman and Jason engage in an open and honest discussion about artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of work. They explore the capabilities of ChatGPT, the ways AI is transforming industries, and how it's affecting our daily lives. They also address the need for caution and critical thinking as we continue to adopt and integrate AI technologies into our lives. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that blends tech and life perspectives as Herman and Jason navigate the complexities of AI's role in our ever-evolving world.


Outline

(00:05) Herman has an idea to help his business. (01:35) How do you rate a decision from an AI? (04:30) What is going on with AI and the prospect of this new reality we live in. (08:35) What are people afraid of about ChatGPT and why does it seem creepy? (10:10) Using AI as an assistant or replacement to a human. (10:55) Do we find AI's innovation pace unnatural? An analogy about technological progress. (13:00) The culture question for generative AI techniques & the impact on the creative industry. (17:10) A connection to Blown Away on Netflix. (18:23) Are we closing off the virtual industry for humans? (19:40) Where to find jobs in our AI future & is tech a useless industry? (23:30) What's important in an internet full of generated junk? What will happen for tech workers? Will there be lower barriers to entry? (26:30) Looking further into the future with agents and what low barriers to doing stuff does. (29:30) Tech people are maybe not be so smart! (31:50) Generalization plus ease of use can be a mean combo! (33:35) Examples of projects Herman is working on with AI. (36:15) Why moving fast is so important with infinite competition. Spamming will get worse. (38:30) Is Google loosing it's touch when fighting SEO? (40:50) What will the future internet look like & what we should keep? (44:30) What is wrong with the business environment & emails?


Similar Episodes

#29 Will artificial intelligence take over the world?

Apr 26, 202347:19
Rising to the Occasion: A Conversation about Bread | E46

Rising to the Occasion: A Conversation about Bread | E46

Hey everyone! It's been a while since we put out a podcast due to some personal issues and then some technical ones. We're back with another edition with a lighter than air topic of bread! Enjoy!


(00:17) Croissants are the devil! (02:30) Coffee shops, friands & awkward situations. (5:00) Getting into bread making during the pandemic & the difference in bread buying experience in London vs Cape Town. (8:55) Is bread a universal desire & what actually is bread? (14:14) Different bread cultures around the world & the notion of bread vaults for storing your starters. (16:45) What's going on with tech people getting into crafts? (20:00) Jason's theory of tangibility & disgust at being good. (23:10) Herman's kombucha scobi care routine. (26:35) Converting something innate into something that is useful during winter. (27:40) Will we return back to a time where sourdough is the only bread & French vs US bread culture. (30:00) Where have the bakeries gone from the suburbs & the challenge of franchising? (36:33) Herman has an idea for a bread delivery system. Bringing the digital edge to bread culture. (39:40) What to do to start your own bakery in Cape Town.



Apr 20, 202342:54
Flying in Style: The Good, the Bad, and the Luxury | E45

Flying in Style: The Good, the Bad, and the Luxury | E45

In this episode we discuss the miracle of flight and how it has evolved over time. We reminisce about their fascination with airports when they were kids and contrast it with their current dread of cramped spaces, bad food, and terrible experiences. They compare the treacherous journey of old with the convenience of modern travel, as well as the different classes of airline seats, from economy to first class.

Mar 31, 202342:45
Games, interaction & the ways we hang out | E44
Mar 20, 202347:41
Our ageing & declining global population | E43
Feb 15, 202341:45
Talking about biodiversity | E42

Talking about biodiversity | E42

Ever wondered about seed banks? In this episode we talk about the different roles that biodiversity plays in an ecosystem. We go through some of the challenges and opportunities that relate to biodiversity and how we as ordinary people can learn to be more engaged with this valuable natural resource.

National Seed Collection South Africa
Former CEO of Reddit on Terraformation
Nagoya Protocol

Overview

(0:42) Herman's new book from WWF and the pictures inside and how good looking is South Africa. (3:10) Cyril Ramaphosa is presented with seeds in England and why are they important? (5:25) When do the seeds come out of these banks and what Yishan Wong has to do with re-wilding land? (7:50) Connecting biodiverse regions can improve the biodiversity more than any one action within that ecosystem. (11:40) Why is biodiversity important to anyone - not just the environmentalists? (13:42) Where is the line between biodiversity conservation & economic development & detrimental cascades of urban areas. (15:45) Peak agriculture might affect the ability to do more preservation and what role tourism has to play in this. (18:07) The Nagoya protocol and how to attribute value to genetic information stored in an area. (21:35) Where in the world is the best place to reforest, that won't require a trade-off against other economic uses of trees & wood? (25:30) Is the developing world doomed to consume more wood collected from biodiverse regions? (29:00) How education and experience of nature can cause an appreciation & emotional urge to protect it. (32:00) Plants and greenery being incorporated into buildings could bring about further appreciation. (33:36) What is the natural landscape like in Bali? (35:00) The siege of St Petersburg and the great sacrifice for the sake of seeds.

Get in Touch

Send us feedback & questions via our anchor page: https://bit.ly/spintheyarn

Feb 08, 202339:13
What about fusion energy? | E41

What about fusion energy? | E41

We're back!! It's 2023 and all we're thinking about in the start of the new year is fusion energy! In this episode we talk about the recent breakthroughs in fusion energy at the National Ignition Facility in US and we go through a mirage of topics such as what actually happened; what is the impact of having commercially available fusion energy; and how we can accelerate energy transformation in South Africa too.

Helion Energy
Casey Hanmer - Terraform Industries

Outline

(0:20) Experiencing a cricket & more intense versions of it. (3:30) Brief chat about coffee making. (4:40) Recent breakthroughs in the fusion space. (6:00) The cost to get this far, the transition and what about solar? (6:50) When could it be here and what are the companies that could do it? (9:20) The state of load shedding and will fusion be too late for South Africa? Other renewable mechanisms used in developing economies - is there a market for fusion power? (11:52) Jason has doubts about the cost that it will take to get modular fusion to market. (13:38) Fundamental problem with tokamaks & accelerators and how they work? (17:15) Converting fusion energy to electricity still needs to happen & how Helion's system works. (20:00) Evolution of the electricity grid away from what fusion can bring. (22:00) How to finance the switch to alternative energy sources. (25:07) What are the things to look forward to when there is cheap, viable fusion available. (30:00) Carbon credits from direct-air carbon capture and devices that could reimagine shipping, and the effect on vertical farming. (33:50) How do we accelerate this transformation? (37:00) Geopolitical & economic impact of having fusion technology and where South Africa might have missed in terms of energy policy. 

Get in Touch

Send us feedback or questions via our Anchor page: https://bit.ly/spintheyarn

Feb 01, 202343:41
Reflections on 2022 | E40

Reflections on 2022 | E40

Thanks to all our valuable listeners who tune in on a regular basis! In this episode we cover some of the interesting things that happened in 2022 and what the future may hold for next year. We cover topics like energy security in South Africa and the world, AI and it's affects on the internet & the commoditization of art via NFTs, the economic down-turn and if there are any upsides to look out for in the new year.

This is our last episode for 2022 but don't fear - we'll be back at it in 2023 with more curious content. If you like what we're doing here please subscribe to get updates as soon as we release new episodes.

Outline

(0:00) Getting started and warming up! (01:45) Talking about the changes in the monachy (3:15) We get started with the actual podcast! (03:45) The growth of AI in the last few months and how it's probably a powerful tool, could it replace "ground breaking" writing though? ChatGPT? Stable Diffusion and other interesting developments around AI. (8:40) ChatGPT3 as a disruption for Google, Stack Overflow and others. (10:25) The crash in NFT & crypto hype, how royalty systems are still being worked out. Why artists don't necessarily like NFTs and how the down-turn could be a net positive. (14:25) The great chess cheating scandal and how computers are allowing for more advanced styles of play. (17:30) The huge economic downturn in the tech industry and most places, layoffs and loads of distress in the geo-political sense. Is there an upside in more discipline. (21:20) The proliferation of remote work and how it could contribute to economic growth in South Africa. How the move could be a great thing for tourism. (24:50) Something interesting about Iceland - the country. How re-forestation could change the landscape of this volcanic island (28:00) How the problems with Eskom and load-shedding could get much worse? Could diversification of energy could be the new future of South African energy? (33:00) The problems with local solar and how to finance it and find consensus to build energy independence. The innovation that's needed to make a change. (39:00) Negativity bias without thinking about how far we've come and the misplaced assumption of stability. (42:00) A footnote on adaptability to change and the upper atmosphere project to prevent climate change. (44:05) Patagonia donation to environmental protection and maybe it'll get worse. How to make small steps towards bigger changes. The ocean cleanup project. (48:30) Personal plans for the new year from both Herman & Jason and what to do next year with the podcast.

Dec 16, 202251:42
Co-working | E39

Co-working | E39

In this episode we circle round to the topic of co-working and what the future of work looks like! Sure remote working has it's benefits but are there drawbacks to how teams interact and are there limiting factors for what roles are more suited to remote first.

Outline

Some banter about operating systems and laptops crashing (3:25) We get started and intro the episode (3:48) Jason and his experience working from the office (5:00) and then what about co-working spaces and the future of office buildings. (6:40) The paradigm shift due to the pandemic and your business context. (9:30) Sharing resources as a reason for co-working as a reason to have an office at all and micro-offsites. (11:14) How does co-working impact teams. (13:08) Job ambiguity relation to remote work and is there a sensible reason to have a fixed office? (16:15) White collar and blue collar co-working options. (17:45) Co-living as an option?? (19:15) Rather just have a mixed use zone with a bunch of small office for companies. (22:00) Hacker homes for building ideas and companies to build opportunity for new business. (24:40) What makes a good co-working space? (29:00) Why don't public libraries become co-working spaces? (32:55) Best co-working spaces in the world. (36:15) Co-workshops for the more physical stuff!

Nov 23, 202239:51
Talking about the recent tech layoffs | E38

Talking about the recent tech layoffs | E38

In this episode we talk about the layoffs that are happening in the tech industry. We chat about way to fire and why companies get into this situation in the first place. We talk about some of the positive changes that could be on the horizon for Twitter and whether there is a future for people who loose their jobs at this time.

Outline

(0:00) We get started pretty quickly and laying the ground for discussion. (1:20) Did we expect tech layoffs? (3:15) Why is the stock price correllated to having to lay people off? (5:24) Human psychology when getting money into your busines & growing at all costs. (8:33) Challenges & dynamics of larger teams & time delays when adjusting team sizes. (13:12) Comparing Twitter & Stripe layoffs. (15:30) The counter argument and why it's not as bad as people make it out to be. (18:26) Artists escaping Twitter to go elsewhere and does anyone care what goes on there? (21:00) Incentive alignment and filtering your feed. (22:13) What would you have done differently and how long till people move on? (23:45) Companies have to grow and sometimes pivot and how to do a layoff properly to avoid affecting employee mentality. (26:55) The worst thing about layoffs and the alternative. (28:22) How public letters and PR could've made things better at Twitter and the challenge of parody accounts. (32:30) What happens next - is there an up side? 

Nov 09, 202235:59
Small Towns & the future of Muizenberg | E37

Small Towns & the future of Muizenberg | E37

In this episode we talk about one of our favorite places on Earth - the small seaside town of Muizenberg. We talk about the develop works that are planned and what a upgraded town would look like. We talk about the challenges and some of the wider issues facing this project and then give some optimistic outlooks on anyone can build anything better with just a little bit of effort.

Outline

(0:00) Simplification as the ultimate location for design and how it relates to simple places, brutalism. (2:58) Modern life an utilitarianism of dustbins and the beauty of small towns. (6:04) Specificity vs working at scale with the lowest common denominator & adding character to buildings similar to Thailand. (8:38) The introduction (8:55) How privacy is similar to being forced to build your house in a specific way. (10:32) Talking about the tampon towers in Vredehoek and unpleasant architecture. (11:38) What's happening at surfer's corner right now and the definition, what is the essence of Muizenberg to somebody? (14:11) Laying out the challenges of how the town is designed. (15:48) Similarities to Strand beachfront on the other side of False Bay. (17:35) An idea of a park and a promenade and making things better. (18:20) The citizen participation process is underway in Muizenberg. (18:56) Constraints on such a small town come into this - does tourists mean there's more money?? (20:00) Inevitable that we have to figure out cars, parking & trade-offs. (21:29) Making long-term decisions vs ideology and the downside of loads of people. (23:01) We're getting back onto train transportation again!. (24:10) MVP for a safe train trip mobile app. (26:30) How to improve connection between the train station and the beach. (27:20) Citizen participation and information access needs to be improved! (29:47) Airbnb driving up housing prices Edinburgh (the South Africa one) and getting stuff done. (31:30) Is there a complacency or a challenge of organizing people in a particular direction? (33:35) The bystander effect and what is the future of seaside towns? (35:15) Open co-working spaces of the future. 

Resources

  • Story if you want to have a look: https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/455321/muizenberg-beachfront-to-get-a-facelift-with-upgrades-and-repairs
Oct 26, 202236:19
Thoughts on Housing | E36

Thoughts on Housing | E36

In this episode we do a take on housing. What are the challengers that renters and landlords face in this changing world. We talk about the effort that goes into building, operating and living in an apartment in the city with a few stories here and there.

Outline

(0:25) Herman talks about his think carpet and his new home. (2:05) What about steepness?? (3:20) It kicks off on the topic of housing. (3:40) Why the city and not the suburbs? (5:30) Moving back into London was a struggle & how to move country / house. (9:10) Adaptability & flexibility when moving home and in general. (10:50) Challenges of property and buy-to-let in London. (12:30) Rental protections and building more housing. (14:02) Reality of building flats and housing and how hard it is to do. (15:30) Herman's laptop just crashed!! (16:10) Continuing on how hard it is to build houses. (18:00) Living in a flat compared to electric vehicles. (19:35) Other things need to think about the utilities that support houses & economy of scale. (21:50) Buy vs rent and an owner mentality. (23:30) Having a great sense of place and the security of it and leasehold vs freehold. (26:05) How people in Dubai live. (27:25) Are we scared of changing the character of Cape Town & home owners association. (29:40) New buildings being built in Cape Town. (30:55) The idea of home renter associations and bringing people together for a cause. (32:55) Thinking about the home owners revolt. (35:44) Herman making his home more livable. (37:00) Developments around the city and becoming more pedestrian focused city.

Oct 13, 202239:36
#35 Personal Finance

#35 Personal Finance

About the Episode

In this episode we dive into the topic of personal finance, how to ensure that you don't run out of money at the end of the month, the importance of income rather than saving as a means of accumulating wealth and some topics here and there about how to generate value in this modern world.

Outline

(0:00) How to start the conversation about personal finance. (1:30) A concept, how does inflation work? (4:30) Putting money to work as a solution and using stocks as a way to make money with your money. (7:00) Buying vs renting and delayed gratification. (9:50) What about the FIRE movement? (11:50) High housing prices, saving for retirement & increasing income. (15:00) Importance of cashflow (16:30) Herman drops some opinions on investing in stocks. (18:35) ETFs vs starting a business. (20:45) Correction!! it would be 120% ROI soz :) (21:30) Accumulating wealth via properties and leverage. (23:15) How would you know you've "made" it? (24:40) Some advice on money vs happiness and finding the minimum amount needed to live. (26:38) How to increase your income and get more cash? (28:13) On getting a university degree in South Africa vs United States. (29:05) Supply and demand for skills, picking a career & value to work ratio. (31:40) Gigs vs small businesses vs startups. (33:50) Generating value via bootstrapping on your physical input. (37:00) Building an emergency fund if you have a job & paying yourself first. (40:10) Emergency funds as a way of building a risk appetite. (43:35) The hedonic curve of getting building up income and getting wrecked in US & UK. (45:40) Using percentage of salary to baseline certain expenses. (48:00) Candle charts too early is not good and a thought experience about time in the market.

Sep 28, 202251:18
#34 Scams & how to avoid them

#34 Scams & how to avoid them

In this episode we talk about the darker side of the internet, the topic of scams. We uncover some of the scams that we've be affected by over the years and the types of scams that are out there. We also give a few top tips on how to stay vigilant online and avoid getting taken for a ride!

Outline

(0:45) Talking about Jim Browning and something you do when you're ill. (2:44) Some interesting tools to tackle scammers. (5:12) The episode has started and we have an ad! (6:12) Scams and the internet are almost synonymous. (7:14) A scam that Jason was involved with. (10:45) A really easy scam and how casinos work. (12:40) How similar gamification can arise in the online multiplayer gaming industry. (14:45) Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes (16:35) Herman's first time getting scammed. (20:55) An in-person scam in Bali. (23:58) Jason gets scammed in Turkey. (25:50) The type of cons that really get under Herman's skin. How you can edit web pages to fool old people. (28:15) One top tip to protect yourself online - know how scammers filter targets. (31:29) How to be suspicious online with passwords and credit card details. (33:05) HTTPs online and the not so secure nature of it. (34:45) Maximum return on investment on the internet and the close!

Sep 14, 202238:26
#33 Longevity (part 2) - How to think about human longevity

#33 Longevity (part 2) - How to think about human longevity

We continue on the topic of longevity, this time we focus on human longevity. We talk about some of the types of illnesses we get as we age and some of the processes that can make life after 30 harder. We chat about some of the approaches we take and how we think about health, exercising and staying on track with exercise.

Outline

(0:00) Working hard at the gym. (2:44) Herman takes a big leap forward. (4:35) We kick things off and start talking about longevity in humans. (5:58) What does your penultimate decade look like? (8:45) Jason is in a small town in Barcelona with a load of old age homes. (11:55) Aerobic capacity, VO2 max measurements and working backwards and why marthons are bad ideas. (14:55) What exactly is aging from a genomic perspective? (18:05) The top down approach from a disease perspective. Top causes of death in South Africa. (19:35) How to approach health as a 30 year old and environmental stressors. (23:20) Where did we come from as a species? (26:35) What do we do now as a practice and how do we take a baseline? (31:35) What is the best exercise to do? (35:30) The third important thing about longevity. (36:35) Keeping busy as a way to keep going on and three ways to categorize how to approach health. 

Aug 31, 202239:36
#32 Longevity - How to think about product longevity

#32 Longevity - How to think about product longevity

In this episode we talk about product longevity, drawing on a number of examples of where it works and where it doesn't. We talk about natural longevity and answer some questions about things that last a long time. Enjoy!

This is first part of a two part series on the topic of longevity!

Episode Outline

(0:00) Banter about heaters, heat and cold and insulation. (3:20) Long cold intro about heat exchangers. (4:42) Finally we start the episode about longevity (5:13) Smartphone longevity as a starting point with Apple (6:50) and getting a new phone that's the same from Samsung. (8:40) Frying pans last forever and some advice on how to buy products. (10:13) Terry Pratchett & Capt. Samuel Vimes' boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness. (11:52) An alternative point of view arises. (13:25) Economies of scale inside a product leads way to a higher quality product and some examples in the auto industry (14:00) Jaguars are very nice cars Herm - what about Toyota though? (15:10) What Jason gets excited about Product Development. (15:40) There is an example from Cuba. (16:18) Alternative example of Tesla and getting feedback. (16:52) Car value can fluctuate over time in the secondary markets and when is optimal time to sell a new vehicle? (18:15) Suzukis vs Mercedes Benz and the upkeep that's involved. (19:30) Phone components that can be reused and marginal value in circular economies. (21:32) Apple repairability challenges and benefits. (22:08) John Deere tractors with high tech gadgetry and service plans causing spike in old tractor prices. (23:08) Rolls Royce use-case and their new business models in farming, air transport & industrial settings. (26:40) The topic of jelly fish and the worlds oldest creatures. (28:12) Anti fragile and robustness and jelly fish in warming oceans.... and sharks! (29:47) Coming back to the frying pan as an optimal solution to cooking and dealing with changing environment! (31:20) The longevity of nature and evolution. (32:30) Carcinization and life evolving to crabs more often than is comfortable. (32:25) How would you store something for a very long time? (35:40) The huge ice vault and wiping out humanity. (37:25) Nice close off from Herm!

Aug 24, 202238:50
#31 What types of carbon capture are viable?

#31 What types of carbon capture are viable?

Carbon Capture Technologies

In this episode we digest some of the technological breakthroughs in the realm of carbon capture, from the organic to the inorganic and present some optimism on if we are able to meet climate change agreements globally!

Episode Notes

(0:00) Intro to the show. (1:40) Why do we need carbon capture? (5:15) Different classes of carbon capture, and what are some of the metrics to consider. (7:20) Some of the boundaries of developing this technology. (8:55) Organic mechanisms for carbon capture such as trees, why it's not enough. (11:15) Bio fuels as another organic mechanism, algae to extract carbon dioxide & putting it underground. (16:52) Basalt rock as a storage mechanism for carbon dioxide. (19:17) Converting carbon dioxide to starch & food for cattle and animal feed. (24:00) Jason isn't listening very carefully. (26:00) Inorganic mechanisms for carbon capture and creating a net-zero benzene source. (31:30) Conclusions and the optimistic side of this discussion and the close off.

Aug 10, 202234:25
#30 Curious about Coffee

#30 Curious about Coffee

In this episode, we talk about that rich, creamy liquid that is coffee. We talk about the different styles of coffee and coffee shops; drop a little into the history and how coffee affected the development of the new-world; talk about the effect of climate change on coffee production and some of the good and bad side-effects of having this drink as part of our lives.

Outline

(0:00) We bungled an episode!! (0:57) We're in, and episodes 30 at that. (1:30) Coffee Roasteries in Cape Town. (3:37) What would make a good coffee shop? (6:50) Jason's first cup of coffee. (8:40) Herman's early relationship with coffee. (9:55) Giving coffee to kids these days! (11:30) How does caffeine work? (15:00) Niccotene affect on caffeine half-life and the addiction effect. (17:20) Coffee effects on sleep. (18:10) Herman's current coffee habits. (20:20) A bit of nerding out on MokaPot and the Chemex. (23:00) How to tell you're in a good coffee shop? (24:15) We discuss our favorite coffee shops. (26:40) The benefits of coffee on health. (28:00) Leading into the coffee house as a topic. (30:00) Coffee as the best thing for the industrial revolution and for productivity in general. (33:49) The first coffee house in London. (35:10) Affect of climate on coffee and Herman's trip to a coffee plantation. (37:00) Talking about Fair-trade coffee. (40:25) Talking about different coffee regions. (42:25) Different coffee varieties. (44:00) Coffee prices (46:30) [CORRECTION] Last time coffee was this pricey was in Sept 2011. (47:55) What do we think of flat whites and how to get burned.

Jul 21, 202250:06
#29 Will artificial intelligence take over the world?

#29 Will artificial intelligence take over the world?

In this episode we talk about AI and the intricacies of building machines and systems that interact with the world in a way similar or better than us humans. We play around with Siri and we give some examples of things we're really looking forward to in the future of this awesome technology! 

Transcript

(00:00) Herman talks about his train adventures. (2:35) Defining some terms that we hear often. (4:25) Simplifying what machine learning actually is in a mathematical sense. (07:45) Extending basics to Natural Language Processors. (10:26) Convincing humans that an AI is real and how to move beyond the Turing test. (11:45) The movie Her with Scarlett Johansson and some philosophical ramifications for when we reach the singularity. (14:10) What happens when the AI has access to the internet? (16:15) Leading into the ideal of the fourth industrial revolution. (18:00) Difference between robots and AI systems. (20:00) The idea of mechanization as a true challenge. (23:00) The next generation of Siri and the knock-on effect of good AI. (25:00) Taking into account biases in ML algorithms and the idea of explainability in AI. (27:05) Spell check is a form of AI. (28:00) NVidia as a graphics card company but also some of their AI endeavors. (30:40) Automatic real creation from a set of images - truly useful tools. (32:35) Deep fakes and adversarial networks. (34:10) Jason's most sophisticated vision of where AI can be used. (37:00) Testing out Siri and closing.

Jul 08, 202238:44
#28 Buying vs Renting in 2022

#28 Buying vs Renting in 2022

Apologies for the poor sound quality in this episode

Should you rent or buy a house, and what are the pros and cons of both? In this episode we discuss:

  • Internet in Thailand
  • The economics of renting and buying
  • The personal aspect of renting and buying
  • Personal non-negotiable requirements when it comes to our living spaces
  • How we aren't financial advisors

🛖🏘🏢

If you want to leave us feedback, feel free to use the box in the episode page on Spotify! We're eager to hear what you think!

Jun 20, 202241:16
We've hit peak agriculture, what happens now?

We've hit peak agriculture, what happens now?

In this episode we talk about agriculture and the impact of meat production on our worlds natural resources. We also discuss some potential alternatives and whether indoor farming has what it takes to satiate our global need for protein and high quality food.

Outline

(0:00) Intros and updates on travels. (2:34) Roll in the episode. (4:15) Herman introduces the topic of Peak Agriculture. (8:00) Jason introduces the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they relate to Peak Agriculture. (9:30) Factory farming and the challenges of meat production. (11:15) Link between alleviation of poverty, economic growth and the agricultural challenges. (13:00) Alternatives for meats in Indonesia. (14:08) Differences between developed vs developing economies. (15:10) How do you even measure something like peak agriculture? (15:45) Impact on bio-diversity globally & rain forests. (17:05) Declining reproduction rates might give some alleviation alongside agricultural efficiencies. (19:15) What are the solutions? (21:35) Herman has some opinions on alternative meats. (26:10) Croplands, mono-crops and specifically indoor farming.

Resources

Trains coming to South Africa: https://ewn.co.za/2022/06/02/new-railway-policy-will-open-the-industry-s-private-sector-says-mbalula
Article on Peak Agriculture: https://ourworldindata.org/peak-agriculture-land
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - South Africa: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/202
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): https://sdgs.un.org/#goal_section

Jun 06, 202232:50
Can South Africa build better railways?

Can South Africa build better railways?

How does a country build or retrofit a rail, and why are trains so awesome? In this episode we talk about:
- The importance of interconnected cities
- Self-driving vehicles
- Why trains work well
- What it would take to build an interconnected South Africa

🚄🚃🚂

May 20, 202239:56
Can we turn poop into coal?

Can we turn poop into coal?

What is hydrothermal carbonization and is it everything we need for a sustainable future? In this episode we talk about:
- The scooters in Bali town
- Electrification of said scooters
- Waste management
- Turning waste into energy
- Turning waste into building material (and the carbon sequestration of said waste)
- Some other interesting things

🛵💩⚡️

May 13, 202242:50
A light chat about life & capitalism

A light chat about life & capitalism

In this episode we have a little off-the-cuff conversation about life and socialism:

  • Start a bit about coffee of course. 
  • Herman has an new article! 
  • Motorcycle adventures and geeking on bikes leading into self sufficiency. 
  • Philosophical aspects of riding and being reliant on yourself in the middle of nowhere. 
  • Herman has tattoo sleeves on for some reason. 
  • Venturing beyond and connecting with nature. Preparing and being ready for challenges. 
  • Basis of stress and how to cope with things. 
  • A little career advice and some bank bashing. 
  • Giving back into the tech community. How to be successful in tech and how to set people up for success. 
  • Core of value creation & the importance of education. 
  • Bootstrapping nations to prosperity. 
  • Gig economy discussion starts with spotlight on Uber
  • Jason has a slightly dubious challenges :/ on some capitalistic dynamics. 
  • Private companies building neighborhoods!
Apr 22, 202244:11
Is energy efficient housing possible?

Is energy efficient housing possible?

How can we make residential housing greener and cleaner? In this episode we talk about:
- New architectural practices
- Energy efficiency of old buildings
- Passive homes
- Retrofitting old homes to be more energy efficient
- A bunch of other wank

🏢🏠🔥

Apr 08, 202242:33
The Airbnb Duality

The Airbnb Duality

Is Airbnb good or bad for a city? In this episode we talk about:
- How Airbnb makes travel easier
- The difference between intention and economic effect
- The economics of a tourist destination
- Gentrification
- Bad Airbnb experiences
- Our experiences both running and living in Airbnbs

🏠🏢

Detailed Show Notes

(0:00) Preamble

(2:30) Intro to Airbnb and the topic

(3:10) Cleaning fees are ridiculous!

(4:45) The Seller Experience

(8:00) Benefits and economics & challenges

(11:40) Seasonality of the trade

(13:00) False hopes, trickery & exploitation

(14:45) Short term vs long term impact

(15:55) A fringe income stream to finance other purchases

(17:20) Externalities and knock-on effects

(18:20) Investing and how the pandemic impacted those investors

(20:14) How does city culture get impacted? Does it cause gentrification?

(22:17) Urbanization, wealth migration and the forces that interact with tourism

(23:47) Changes in Bo-kaap

(25:31) Movement dynamics in and out of cities and the future directions for Airbnb

(27:02) Infrastructure considerations for distributed living, impacts on neighborhoods, towns and sense-of-place.

(31:13) Tourism during the pandemic and before, skiing season

(33:10) What oversight do we need for Airbnb? Herman has some thoughts

(35:04) Jason has some thoughts, income and wealth inequality.

(37:35) Distributing new apartments to locals, effect for service economy, what it's like in Aspen.

Apr 04, 202242:23
The most valuable areas of Cape Town

The most valuable areas of Cape Town

In our travels through the internet we've managed to find an interesting video show how you can map the economic prosperity of a city and show the areas that have the highest and lowet ROIs. We dive into this and see how it would apply to Cape Town and what it might mean to have no bicycles on the promenade - oh no!!

In this episode!! Jason walks in Edinburgh (1:30) It starts (2:29) mapping a city and overlaying the ROI (2:50) convenience of different areas and highly dense areas (5:45) the power houses of the city (7:20) South African context (9:10) another source of prosperity (11:00) thinking on the US commute (12:15) stress response of commutes (13:50) the anonymity of traffic (15:45) trouble on the Sea Point promenade (17:35) there might be a middle ground (22:00) but Herman disagrees (24:35) back to the original topic (26:20) highest revenue areas of Cape Town (28:00) what about Vredehoek (32:00) economies of scale (33:45) city kids have all the fun (35:30) nailed the topic - kinda (38:00).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nw6qyyrTeI

https://twitter.com/stephsmithio/status/1501010400212504577?t=NfaPUxEGSp-bPfnMphYrcw&s=19

https://www.urbanthree.com/


Mar 22, 202240:49
The future (and present) of transport

The future (and present) of transport

What is the best way to move people around cities quickly, cheaply, and energy efficiently? In this episode we talk about:

  • Where is local transport done well?
  • Small things that could be done to improve city transport infrastructure
  • How weird electric Land Rovers sound
  • Why Elon Musk doesn't understand transport
  • How plazas increase thoroughfare and quality of life

🚲🚟🚌

Details & Tags

(1:30) The perils of developing for Safari. (1:40) About trust... (3:30) Overview of the episode. (4:00) It begins! (05:12) The worst types of transport. (7:29) Herman goes on a tangent about electric 4x4s. (8:50) Hypothetical question: Jason is now in-charge of transport for Cape Town! (11:01) Herman's bicycle gets stolen 😔 (12:08) What would we do to improve transport in Cape Town: 3 things. (14:00) Cycling in Woodstock vs the rest of the world - and the humble plaza! (16:00) Long street gets an open street experiment. (17:00) Getting into the city - where to park? (19:00) The most beautiful ride in the world🚉 ! (19:58) Rail in Africa needs changes and the secret railway! (21:55) Trains might get an upgrade in future. (23:20) The free market in transportation. (24:45) Herman's problem with Elon Musk! (25:55) Is more technology the solution? (27:45) Jason has a go at deliveries in the UK! (30:00) No food ordering in Feb goes well! (31:45) Rejoining the transportation conversation. (32:30) About the everything store. (34:00) Problems with the tube. (35:45) London cabs are good. (38:45) The ultimate solution to it all.

Mar 02, 202240:56
Can democracy get any better?

Can democracy get any better?

What are alternate forms of governance, and can democracies be improved? In this episode we talk about:

  • The evolution of government
  • Different power structures
  • The benefits of a democratic system
  • Problems with democracies in general and how they could be solved
  • Hypothetical forms of government

Note: This is not about current politics, but instead an exploration of the overarching concept of politics.

Overview and Tags:

(1:12) Why do we have governance at all? (6:10) The part of religion in state formation. (9:02) On representative democracies. (10:50) Is Swiss direct democracy better? (14:36) Devolution to two party systems. (16:00) What about Singapore? (19:55) Major problems with democracies? (21:15) Herman hears a parade. (23:50) Treatments for broken democracies. (28:04) Better democratic selection processes. (32:33) Herman's favorite theoretical governmental system. (35:37) What can you do now?

Feb 12, 202237:35
What if the wind never stopped?

What if the wind never stopped?

Cape Town is known  as the Windy City to some (as a lot of cities with a decent amount of wind are). In this episode we discuss what it would be like if the wind started up one day around the globe, and never stopped. How does this affect our leisure? How does this affect our energy production and society? Find out with us.

Jan 28, 202236:41
Our infinite energy future

Our infinite energy future

A new year! A new season! We're switching things up, focusing in & improving on what we learned from our podcast in 2021. 

In this season Herman & Jason talk about what life would be like if energy wasn't an issue. Could we have electric planes that could fly us around the world... what would the timelines be for that?. Would oil & coal become a thing of the past?! What would be the social and economic effects of such a technological (or magical) breakthrough? 

We discuss it all & more over a cup of old brown coffee!

We'd love to hear your feedback: https://80g3w8i19s3.typeform.com/to/q2FaIuNO

Jan 21, 202239:09