"Moment of Zen"

Apr 05 2025 123 ep. 82 mins 271

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co

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Will India Become a Global Superpower? | Samo Burja

Apr 05 2025 66 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine India's trajectory as the world's most populous nation, tackling India's surprising demographic decline, delayed industrialization due to bureaucratic inefficiency, and complex relations with China and Pakistan. They explore Modi's nationalist approach, India's digital potential, and how institutional barriers might limit India's rise in a mult

Who Controls China When Xi Jinping Is Gone? | Samo Burja

Mar 29 2025 56 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja dive deep into how Xi Jinping is shaping China's society today and its place in the world. They discuss Xi’s firm hold on power, his connections with different political groups, and how his decisions are affecting China's economy, military, and politics. Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analy

Cartels vs. State: The Power Struggle in Mexico w/ Samo Burja

Mar 22 2025 47 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the complex relationship between Mexican drug cartels and the country's political system. Samo explains how cartels operate not as insurgencies but as business entities with deep connections to Mexican elites. The discussion covers the economic impact of drug trafficking, how legalization affects cartel operations, and comparisons with other

Inflation, Elon's Competence, and Changes Democrats Need to Make w/ Noah Smith

Mar 15 2025 62 mins  
Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith dissect the Democratic Party's path forward. Smith advocates for fiscal responsibility over progressive rhetoric, refocusing democracy concerns away from voter ID laws toward election integrity, and embracing patriotic messaging instead of identity politics. Their exchange ventures into Elon Musk's influence on Republican effectiveness, the

Free Speech in Europe & the Future of Western Civilization | Samo Burja

Mar 08 2025 65 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine the pervasive fascination with American political dynamics and their far-reaching impact worldwide, especially across Western democracies and European nations. They analyze how digital connectivity has accelerated the harmonization of political discourse and cultural values across borders, while exploring the emerging shifts in European politic

Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030

Feb 28 2025 37 mins  
This week, Erik Torenberg is joined by Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, political commentator, and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Together they conduct a thought experiment: it's 2030, how can we expect to understand the legacy of Donald Trump, the shifting political landscape in Germany and the rest of Europe, the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, C

Mapping the New Right w/ Jon Askonas

Feb 22 2025 47 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Jon Askonas talk about the emerging political realignment in tech, specifically how Silicon Valley has shifted away from Democrats. They discuss the "tech right," its relationship with MAGA and "MAHA" (Make America Healthy Again) movements, potential tensions within this new coalition, and how Democrats might respond to their 2024 electoral defeat. Check out the

Delian Asparouhov and Nadia Asparouhova on Building a Relationship, Family, and Legacy

Feb 15 2025 65 mins  
This Valentine's Day weekend, we're airing the debut episode of Modern Relationships featuring Varda space founder Delian Asparouhov and repeat M.O.Z. guest Nadia Asparouhova. Delian and Nadia talk about how they make their relationship work, dating in San Francisco, and why overcommunication might do more harm than good. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publ

Samo Burja on the Technology That Can Create New Superpowers

Feb 08 2025 67 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine how advancing desalination technology could reshape geopolitics and transform landscapes. They discuss how affordable desalination ($0.3 cents per liter) makes large-scale terraforming feasible, potentially enabling countries like Saudi Arabia or Australia to create vast green spaces and support larger populations. The technology's implications

Curtis Yarvin is now in the Overton Window w/ Samo Burja

Feb 02 2025 58 mins  
Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja analyze Curtis Yarvin's arguments about government inefficiency, comparing corporate and state governance structures. The conversation covers how bureaucracies decay over time, China's approach to governance, and Yarvin's influence in shifting Silicon Valley libertarians toward more right-wing positions. They also examine his evolution from a cancelled