Germany’s Gearbox Grind: Stuck in the Second Industrial Revolution

Germany may be the third or fourth largest economy in the world, but let’s be real—its industrial backbone looks like a relic from a steampunk novel. Cars, chemicals, machine tools—solid, sure, but where’s the digital footprint? While the U.S. dominates AI, cloud computing, and Big Tech, Germany is still cranking out BMWs and Bayer aspirin like it's the early 1900s.

Max Bennett and Lisa Vega tear into why Germany is stuck in the Second Industrial Revolution, how its refusal to embrace the digital economy could backfire, and why clinging to manufacturing jobs is a fool’s errand. Should we mourn lost industries, or focus on redistribution to support those left behind? No nostalgia, no sugarcoating—just a brutal, unfiltered look at the economics of progress.

Note: This project explores the new creative potential unlocked by generative AI, showcasing how a single person, in just two hours, can curate (not create, but curate) a polished podcast series. I recognize the critiques around AI-generated content and the potential for digital clutter but invite you to take a listen on your next walk or drive and see what you think. Audio is AI-generated by Google's NotebookLM. Images by Grok-3 and Magic Studio.