Foreign Affairs Fifteen

John and Si discuss their varied careers since studying together at St. Andrews in Scotland forty years ago. With their mix of travel, languages, writing, speaking, media, and analysis, the boys have

This is our first, collector's item episode. Before the cool new theme tune (thanks, Dan) and voice over (thanks Sara). We talk about krill, Chinese in Swaziland, Europe's lack of military capacity, and the UK's vanished navy. Europe is cosplaying at being important... if you don't have an army, you're a lotus-eater.

We discuss Zambia, where the US asked for mineral rights in exchange for health funding. The Rumplestilstskin Rule: something for you means something for me. I Stump John by asking where the transgender Indian student who won a seat in the Scottish Parliament studies. Answer: St. Andrews, PhD in International Relations - literally John's old job.

In our first low-fi, episode from the road, we don't look at redistricting and gerrymandering. We do talk Ebola, ISIS leaders and Spinal Tap drummers, Cuba, Brazil, and the Cannes Film Festival.

Fertility plummets in Australia - and all rich countries. The paradox of wealth - when societies get it, they die out. Chinese women like their Louis Vuitton bags. We also look at Argentina, and how you can cook a Golden Goose.

For the Irrelevant Minute, we don't discuss California's election system or the America 250 White House cage match. In 7 Continents in 14 Minutes, we do look at Bolivia's paralyzed capital, and who keeps track of Ukraine's billions in aid.

Which is more dangerous, bungee-jumping in Brazil, or running Tren de Aragua in Venezuela? Also, what is "der shitstorm?" Plus, Simon stumps John with his Scott Pelly impression.