In this episode, Dave and Gav sit down with Tom Joseph, an early tech entrepreneur and the Treasurer of America’s Main Street Party, to talk about how and why political parties in the U.S use gerrymandering to retain power and limit opposition.

Tom presents a radical idea to fight gerrymandering with a super PAC—fighting fire with fire so to speak—which opens the door for more voters to have their voices heard and to narrow down the field of potential political candidates to choose the one voters want.

Curious about how to really make your vote count, or about the U.S. electoral system? Don’t miss this episode!

On the Fringe is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, subscribe below. We appreciate it!

The Gerry-mander cartoon is part of the public domain in the United States and can be accessed here on Wikimedia

Also, I (Dave) made a mistake. I meant to say District 18, not District 14. (District 14 is across town).

We couldn’t have predicted that Kalshi is pushing a valuation at the level of United Airlines, Campbells Soup, or Dropbox.

That’s why we had Andrew Lebbos, Senior Vice President of Licensing at Benzinga, a fast-growing finance data licensing company, on the podcast to explain the intersection of finance and prediction markets, and what it means as a whole new world of trading likely opens up.

If you are interested in markets, mutual funds, AI, and the rapid rise of prediction markets, don’t miss this episode. We cover the rapid rise of prediction markets, how prediction markets are reshaping investment strategies, and how everyday investors will have new channels available as prediction markets are set to shake up the entire financial industry.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by Andrew Lebbos in this episode are his own and do not reflect the positions of Benzinga. This discussion is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice, nor a recommendation regarding any security. Listeners should consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

On the Fringe is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We truly appreciate it!

In this episode, Dave and Gav dive into the Makanan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), pronounced as ‘em-bay-gay’ program. This program was launched by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in January 2025 to combat child malnutrition and spur economic development across the country.

We analyze Indonesia’s current political and economic state through the program and what this means for the country going forward.

Did we hit the mark, or are we totally out to lunch on this episode? Let us know with a message or a comment! Or, reach out at [email protected]

We wouldn’t be here without the support of our longstanding supporters and our new listeners in our growing On the Fringe Community. Thank you, as always, for tuning in!

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gav

On November 13th 2024, a tragedy occurred in Vang Vieng, Laos. Six tourists from four countries lost their lives from unknowingly drinking methanol at a popular backpackers’ hostel.

Fast forward a year and a half, and charges have been laid against the owner of the distillery…over a $1,000 and just about a month in the big house. Needless to say, many of the grieving families, are less than happy about this.

Meanwhile, the Laotian government has been relatively non-plussed. We talk about why this is exactly and the context surrounding this sad incident.

For our earlier coverage of the event, here’s one from the vault—nearly 2 years ago!

Are you surprised by the Laotian government’s reaction to the event?

If you learned something from the episode, or have any other travel tips for your fellow listeners, share it with us at [email protected] or in a message.

We sincerely appreciate our dedicated listeners and subscribers.

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

This Substack is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This week, Dave and Gavin, sit down with Chad Peace, the founder and President of IVC Media, and attorney for the IVP (Independent Voter Project). Chad is a prominent lawyer and activist who was a key part of the effort to pass Proposition 14, a voter initiative that implemented an open primary system in California.

During the chat, Chad gives a look at the state of voting reform on the state level across the United States and how it is both a non-partisan and bi-partisan issue. Taking a look at the state of open primaries and ranked choice voting might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but it is an interesting insight in to a story that is generally covered in a simple and usually misleading way.

To learn more about Chad’s work and IVC Media, go to: https://independentvoterproject.org/

To learn more about Independent Voter News, go to ivn.us

Independent Voter News was ranked as having a “Center” rating on AllSides and as being “Least biased, having high credibility, and providing factual information,” according to Media Bias / Fact Check.

How does “Earrings,” a 2024 indie sleeper nobody had ever heard of make it to No. 1 on the charts in 2026? Whatever the case, Spotify had to issue a mea culpa after Kalshi pointed out that bots programmed by some bad actors—not Todd—looking to make a quick buck were probably to blame.

Again, on this episode we return to the subject of insider trading, manipulation, and straight-up wire fraud and the almost limitless horizon of opportunities, some legitimate, some less so, offered by prediction markets.

This is just another act on the Dark Side of Prediction Markets. And, there will likely be more to come, not only in terms of more episodes on this topic, but also of how everyday life is increasingly manipulated for profit.

If you enjoyed the episode or want to throw some rocks, click below. We always appreciate the love from our growing On the Fringe community.

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gav

Before we recorded our planned episode yesterday, we spontaneously jumped into talking about driving, Korea, and North Korea. And now, I know why Gavin has never suggested renting a car.

You’ll also hear a tidbit about why a Korean Driver’s license is powerful, arguably more so than the Dear Leader himself.

This week on the pod, Dave and Gav get into it about the SAFE Kids Act and other pieces of legislation regarding AI chatbots, social media, and child safety. As legislators around the world play catch-up with the social, economic, and legal implications of AI, we talk about how Constitutional rights may find themselves more in the crossfire—or in the crosshairs.

This episode is part of our rolling coverage of developments involving AI and education. We’ve covered whether a college degree is worth it and what the front lines of preparing for an AI future look like. It’s likely not where you’d think!

If you enjoyed the episode, shoot us a message, restack, and pass us some love and feedback. If you’re listening on Apple or Spotify, don’t forget to rate our show. We sincerely appreciate all the growing support our On the Fringe community provides.

All the best from both of us!

Dave and Gavin

Five months after the quiet announcement that American troops were being deployed in Nigeria to combat the local IS franchise, an even quieter announcement that the 200-ish deployment has already come to an end. The strategic aims apparently having been met, the US’s engagement, which began with a barrage of Tomahawks on Christmas Day last year, has been wrapped up. Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has taken pains to highlight how information sharing between the two countries continues despite a physical withdrawal.

Does the withdrawal mean mission accomplished for the U.S.? For the Nigerians? Let us know what you think!

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gavin

If you want to hear more about the region, check out this episode!

Hey On the Fringe Community!

In the last couple of years, there have been several other On the Fringe podcasts that have come out (one about labor unions, and one about aliens, from what it looks like…plus a few others). For the first time in both our lives (Dave + Gavin), we are being confused for someone else—and to be honest, it’s kind of weird and funny for both of us. Click the episode above to get our reaction to it.

One more thing too:

Since we set up On the Fringe 2 years ago, we’ve done this as a hobby and a labor of love. It’s fun for Gavin + I, and we are talking about taking the podcast more seriously going forward—i.e. having a clearer upload schedule, producing more exclusive content for subscribers and loyal listeners, and monetizing the show.

When we do decide to monetize the show, we will keep you all informed :)

And if you have any ideas that could help us to build our show going forward, they’re ALWAYS welcome. Shoot us a message or an email at [email protected]

All the best from both of us On the Fringe!

Dave and Gav

This Substack is listener and reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.