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    111: Bill Browder | Freezing Oligarchs Assets & The Chaos Of Soviet Russia Market Transition

    enOctober 24, 2022
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    About this Episode

    🎙️: https://atlasgeographica.com/bill-browder/

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    The following is a conversation with the CEO and Founder of the Hermitage Fund, Bill Browder. The Hermitage Fund was at one time, the largest source of western capital in Russia and in 1997 the best performing fund in the world.

    Bill is also one of the sharpest thorns in the Russian oligarch's side. He lobbied for a law that authorises the U.S. government to sanction foreign government officials worldwide who are deemed to be human rights offenders and freeze their assets, this was named the Magntizky Act after his former lawyer Sergei Magnitzky who was tortured and murdered in a Russian prison.

    Bill Browder is the author of both Red Notice, and Freezing Order... which are the catalyst for this chat.

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    • 00:00 – Introduction.
    • 01:52 – Perestroika & The Voucher System In Post-Soviet Russia.
    • 11:41 – How The Russian Oligarchs Were Formed.
    • 17:55 – Bill’s Experience In Murmansk.
    • 25:03 – Hermitage Capital, Solomon Brothers & Being A Dirty Capitalist.
    • 35:49 – The Role Of Serendipity In Bill’s Life.
    • 41:20 – Freezing Order, Money Laundering & Offshore Finance
    • 49:34 – London & Money Laundering.
    • 52:52 – If Bill Was 25 Today, Where Would He Go & What Would He Do?

    Episodes Of The Curious Worldview Podcast Mentioned.

    Recent Episodes from Curious Worldview Podcast

    170: Ernest Scheyder | The Real Costs Mining The Cobalt, Lithium, Copper & Rare Earths That Will Dictate The 21st Century

    170: Ernest Scheyder | The Real Costs Mining The Cobalt, Lithium, Copper & Rare Earths That Will Dictate The 21st Century

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    https://atlasgeographica.com/ernest-scheyder/

    Ernest Scheyder runs directly towards the impossible trade-offs of mining in the ‘War Below’...

    The electrification of the economy is on the one hand very good. It means we can move away from consuming the carbon rich oil into our atmosphere… but it also means that we are going to need way more other stuff from the under the ground than we currently even know about. It will require mining 100’s of more sacred sites and 100’s of more beautiful vistas. 

    Copper, lithium, cobalt and literally 100’s of other rare earths are all necessary components of batteries, electric cars, trucks, boats, even leaf-blowers… and this for a scale for 8 billion, soon to be 9 billion people…

    If a sacred religious sight is built atop enough copper to secure your domestic supply… should you mine it?

    If thousands of tonnes of lithium is built under a unique flower, almost certain to go extinct if you extract… should you do it?

    And if you decide to play by environmental rules while everyone doesn’t… are you doing what’s right in the short term at the cost of whats best in the long?

    These questions consume the book, and as well, this conversation.

    So here is a veteran energy journalist for Rueters, and author of the War Below… Ernest Scheyder.

    War Below – Ernest Scheyder

    • 00:00 – Understanding Ernest Scheyder’s ‘War Below’
    • 02:54 – Daniel Yergin & Geothermal Energy
    • 05:21 – It’s Trade-Off’s All The Way Down (Mining, Policy Hypocrisy)
    • 28:08 – Ernest’s Hesitation To Offer His Opinion
    • 36:10 – Waste, Death & Bi-Products Of Mining
    • 54:19 – Greenwashing & Child Labour
    • 1:06:16 – Appreciation For The Miners
    • 1:08:58 – Economic Protectionism
    • 1:11:18 – Robert Friedland
    • 1:12:36 – Final 3 Questions… Serendipity, Fictional Character, Country Bullish On

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    169: Jon Lee Anderson | From Liberia to Havana: A Life in Adventure, Conflict Zones & Journalism

    169: Jon Lee Anderson | From Liberia to Havana: A Life in Adventure, Conflict Zones & Journalism

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    https://atlasgeographica.com/jon-lee-anderson/

    I once responded to a question in a grant application that the people I admired most were great adventurers, great writers and great journalists… the kicker naturally being, that the best was a combination of all three!

    Well, in Jon Lee Anderson we have an exemplar for all three of those labels.

    Listens past 10 minutes and you will see the adventurer, listen to the details of how he put together Che’s biography and you will understand the journalist but then to top it all off, read anything Jon Lee’s written and you will understand the great writer. 

    This was a mighty moment for the podcast. I managed to hide my nerves behind a facade of professionalism… but Jon and I ended up spending more than 4 hours together as we inhabited a closed, cold, empty drinkers club on a January London morning. 

    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker Staff Writer

    Che: A Revolutionary Life

    • 00:00 – Who Is Jon Lee Anderson
    • 02:20 – On The Same Stage Julian Assange Launched Wikileaks.
    • 05:50 – 13 Year Old Runaway Vagabond In East Africa.
    • 22:15 – Is Risk Necessary For It To Be An Adventure?
    • 26:03 – Discovering A Part Of The World For The First Time.
    • 32:44 – Serendipity & Jon Lee On Religion & Evil.
    • 40:20 – First Bi-Line At The Lima Times.
    • 47:37 – Jon Lee Reflects On His Upbringing & How He Thinks About Being A Father.
    • 53:54 – Che Guevara.
    • 1:24:00 – There’s No More Revolutionaries, Only Narcos…
    • 1:32:45 – Haiti.
    • 1:35:48 – What Does Jon Lee Admire Most & Least About Che Guevara?
    • 1:45:48 – What Doors Do The New Yorker Open?
    • 1:46:47 – Christopher Hitchens.
    • 1:51:50 – Next Generation Of Journalists & Media Landscape They Inherit.
    • 1:58:07 – Jon Lee Anderson Autobiography.
    • 2:00:24 – Country Jon Lee Is Bullish On.


    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    168: Patrick Watts | The End Of The American Empire & The Scorecard For Previous Empire Collapse

    168: Patrick Watts | The End Of The American Empire & The Scorecard For Previous Empire Collapse

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    https://atlasgeographica.com/patrick-watts/

    The following is with Patrick Watts who is one hell of an interesting fella, this was a really fun episode to record!

    The podcast is about the themes from his debut book, The End Of The American Empire

    The End Of The American Empire – UK Amazon

    The End Of The American Empire – US Amazon

    It’s just come out in US and UK markets, so don’t hesitate a second to go and get it. Amazon link is in the description… this is a self published book from Patrick, so my hope is that the curious worldview audience will really make a difference in moving the needle here.

    • 00:00 – Who Is Patrick Watts
    • 01:23 – US Politics (Biden, Culture & Trump)
    • 11:23 – Theory Of Rhetoric
    • 13:49 – Patrick Watts… Self Confessed Americanophile
    • 17:54 – Distinction Between An Empire & State
    • 21:33 – Behind The Scenes Self Publishing
    • 47:58 – John Perkins & Confessions Of An Economic Hitman
    • 54:25 – Why Empires Have Fallen Throughout History
    • 1:16:49 – 50% Of Pregnancies In The US Are Unplanned
    • 1:19:13 – US Is The Most Mediciated Citizenry On Earth
    • 1:20:13 – What Does A Collapse Of The American Empire Look Like?
    • 1:33:30 – Serendipity In Patrick’s Life
    • 1:45:35 – Favourite Fictional Character & Country Particularly Bullish On

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    167: Bill Browder | State Of Russian Culture, Russian Economy + Global Despots & Bill Browder's Rouges Gallery

    167: Bill Browder | State Of Russian Culture, Russian Economy + Global Despots & Bill Browder's Rouges Gallery

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    https://atlasgeographica.com/bill-browder-russia/

    Bill Browder is back for his #2 appearance on the pod!

    This was recorded in his London offices, and builds upon the themes from our first conversation.

    Bill discusses the very real threat of assassination by both Putin and China. He lays out his Rouges Gallery of both nations and individuals and offers what is a rather desolate and grim picture of the Russian culture and economy.

    Bill Browder is the author of Red Notice & Freezing Order.

    Red Notice is one of my favourite autobiographies. It is an incredible story from how Bill went from the descendent of one of America’s most famous communists to becoming one of the most famous capitalists in Russia. At Hermitage Capital’s peak (Bill’s investment firm) he was the largest source of Western Capital in Post-Soviet Russia… his experiences around the voucher system alone make the book a must read. Or podcast a must listen ;)

    • 00:00 - Safety & Threat Of Assassination
    • 08:00 - Long Term Impact On Russian Culture
    • 17:22 - Current State Of The Russian Economy?
    • 21:46 - The Global Magnitzky Act
    • 26:46 - Bill Browder's Rouges Gallery & Anti Rouges Gallery
    • 34:44 - Bill's Public Profile
    • 38:24 - What Is The Function Of Hermitage Capital
    • 40:18 - Bills Son & Entrepreneurship
    • 45:29 - Country Bill Is Most Bullish On

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    166: Brian Klaas | How To Think About An Unlimited Future Of Possibilities - Flukes, Chance, Randomness & Nassim Taleb

    166: Brian Klaas | How To Think About An Unlimited Future Of Possibilities - Flukes, Chance, Randomness & Nassim Taleb

    ✍︎: The Curious Worldview Newsletter https://curiousworldview.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    https://atlasgeographica.com/brian-klaas/

    Brian Klaas is an associate professor in global politics at University College London, author of several books, host of a really good podcast, creator of a huge substack and someone who has created a life for himself for which I wish to emulate many parts…

    We recorded this in person!… Brian and I sat down together in his Winchester kitchen and spoke about randomness, chance, Nassim Taleb, Flukes and why all these things are worth thinking about…

    If you like Taleb, then Brian’s new book, Fluke which just came out… is right up your alley. Brian’s research is wonderful.

    • 00:00 – Who Is Brian Klaas?
    • 01:00 – Life Can Be Understood Backwards, But It Must Be Lived Forwards.
    • 11:55 – Does Brian Feel Like He Has More Or Less Agency?
    • 20:51 – Taleb’s Blindfold Metaphor & The Problems Of Prediction.
    • 35:20 – How Nassim Taleb Effected Brian’s Worldview.
    • 44:55 – Why Experimentation Is Wise.
    • 50:55 – Why The Minority Rule Is Relevant To Politics.
    • 53:20 – Extremistan V Mediocristan
    • 1:03:00 – The Idea Of Lock-In.
    • 1:07:30 – Serendipity In Brian’s Life & The Media Landscape In The Next 20 Years.
    • 1:22:00 – Brian’s Favourite Authors.
    • 1:24:30 – An Ode To Madagascar & Explanation OF Geographical Determinism.

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    165: Christopher Neijd | Police Lieutenant - Södertälje & Southern Stockholm

    165: Christopher Neijd | Police Lieutenant - Södertälje & Southern Stockholm

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    Christopher Neijd is a police lieutenant for Southern Stockholm, he’s been in the force for more than 14 years, and is a close mates of Rhino who was episode #146 as a member of Sweden’s SWAT force, called Piketen. 

    This is an interview about Christopher's experiences on the police force, how Sweden has or hasn’t changed over time, a microscope on the events of the Easter Riots of 2022 plus plenty more of course…

    • 00:00 - Who Is Cristopher Neijd
    • 01:05 - Early Life & Formative Experiences
    • 21:45 - Why People Want To Join Police & What Policing Is Like These Days
    • 31:25 - Shootings In Stockholm
    • 41:21 - 2022 Easter Riots
    • 1:05:45 - How Crime Has Gotten More Violent In Sweden
    • 1:21:05 - Why Being Police Is A Great Job

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    (Re-Upload) 'Big Mike' Salbro | Growing Up Aboriginal In Sweden From The Stolen Generation

    (Re-Upload) 'Big Mike' Salbro | Growing Up Aboriginal In Sweden From The Stolen Generation

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    🎙️: https://atlasgeographica.com/mike-salbro-aboriginal-in-sweden/

    Originally uploaded July 2021, episode #31 of the pod! Today, over 130 episodes later, I am re-uploading this ep to bring it the top of the feed!

    Mike’s story is full of twists, turns, tragedies and inspiration. 

    He was adopted at just a few months old from a lovely Swedish woman and shortly after moved to Stockholm. Mike, alongside his brother (also Aboriginal and adopted in Brisbane) then grew up in Sweden coming through Swedish schools and the entire Swedish system.

    Mike has now returned to Australia. Brisbane specifically and now works as a social worker after going through his journey in the social system supporting young indigenous people of Australia.

    This chat meant a lot to me. Big Mike is a legend. I hope you enjoy it the same. Spread it far and wide and leave positive reviews.

    • 00:00 - New Year's Message
    • 01:30 – Introduction
    • 03:05 –  Mike’s Journey Begins
    • 16:35 – Mike Being Taken From His Mother
    • 25:59 – Adoption & Life In The Foster Home
    • 42:25 – Horrible Anecdote About Macquarie
    • 48:05 – On Being The Only Black Boy Around
    • 1:03:05 – Mike’s Troubles With Alcohol & The Law
    • 1:08:05 – Mike Returning To Australia
    • 1:31:05 – Mike Ask’s Me What I Am Doing In Sweden
    • 1:34:25 – What Big Mike Is Up To Now
    • 1:51:45 – What Is Something Sweden Can Use From Australia & Vice Versa?

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    162: Elizabeth Kolbert | Sleep Walking Into The Sixth Extinction…

    162: Elizabeth Kolbert | Sleep Walking Into The Sixth Extinction…

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    🎙️: https://atlasgeographica.com/elizabeth-kolbert/

    Elizabeth Kolbert writes about science, and the environment. She is staff writer at the New Yorker and now, the second pulitzer prize winning journalist to have joined this podcast.

    Elizabeth was awarded the pulitzer prize for her 2015 book, the Sixth Extinction, which makes the case for how humans are driving straight off the cliff to earths 6th mass extinction event.

    In this chat with Elizabeth today, we covered the major themes from her pulitzer prize winning book such as the sensitivity of the oceans and how CO2 messes with it. The unreal scale of it all. Understanding 440 million years. Climate change, climate skeptics, then we did a bit about Elizabeth Kolbert, journalism and the rest. 

    • 00:00 – Who Is Elizabeth Kolbert?
    • 01:39 – Mass Extinction Events
    • 06:29 – Communicating The Scale Of 440,000,000 Years
    • 09:53 – The Importance Of Our Oceans
    • 16:49 – Are Humans All To Blame For Climate Change?
    • 21:36 – Making Sense Of Climate Scepticism
    • 26:59 – Ed Conway’s Material World
    • 34:39 – Elizabeth’s Most Significant Experience Researching The Book (The Great Barrier Reef)
    • 36:39 – Nihilism In The Face Of Climate Change.
    • 39:24 – Rapid Fire Final Questions.
    • 45:35 – Serendipity & Country To Be Bullish On.

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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    161: Lisa Kristine | Witness & Photographer Of Modern Day Slavery

    161: Lisa Kristine | Witness & Photographer Of Modern Day Slavery

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    🎙️: https://atlasgeographica.com/lisa-kristine/

    Lisa Kristine is an adventurer, humanitarian & fine art photographer. 

    She’s taken some of the most devastating but as well beautiful photos you are ever likely to see. 

    She recorded an incredibly moving a TED talk about her work photographing modern slavery. It’s an absolute must view. Her work has been featured all over the globe, she sells internationally, she’s completely independents, she’s a superstar photographer. 

    This episode is best consumed alongside Matthew Friedman. Together these two episodes reveal the shocking reality of modern day slavery. There are more people right now who are slaves than ever has been in our species history… and barely anyone knows it.

    But this isn’t a podcast to depress you, rather I hope through Lisa this podcast will be something that instead fills you with energy.

    • 00:00 – Who Is Lisa Kristine?
    • 10:00 – Taking Consequential Photos.
    • 15:50 – On The Frontlines Of Modern Day Slavery.
    • 34:40 – Religion & Spirituality.
    • 39:56 – The Art Of Photography.
    • 43:10 – How To Live A Photographers Life?
    • 49:12 – Best Country For Photography, Sebastiao Salgado & Editing.
    • 56:14 – Serendipity & Bullish Country.

    Curious Things Mentioned During The Episode

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