John and Francis reflect on the crises that shook the authoritarian world in 2022 from Tehran to Beijing. The state of the world after covid and geopolitical predictions for the next few years featured heavily, as well as why the world isn't doing as many think. 

If there is one thing that we can learn from the 21st Century entertainment industry, it is that modern people have a near insatiable appetite for ancient myths. In this episode, John and Francis explore 21st Century spiritualism, the history of magic, and what role the self-help movement plays in modern society

Why is the literary academy so hostile to fantasy literature? And why are they so in love with its estranged cousin, magical realism? John and Francis discuss the history of magical realism and the academy.