• Episode 16: Zakarpattia, Ukraine's Hungarian Minority and Linguistic Realities with Olga of Uzhhorod
    Jun 19 2024

    Joe and Matt chat with Olga of Uzhhorod, a Ukrainian from Zakarpattia, an oblast which borders Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. They discuss Olga’s experience of language in the country, myths about the country, how things are changing, growing up in a multilingual environment, absurdity of russian propaganda, why language is not equivalent to nationality, and how to fight back.


    Ongoing Fundraiser for Olga’s friend: https://choko.link/slashsquad


    Joe’s Blog Post about Zakarpattia: https://jjplace.co.uk/?p=109


    Joe’s article about language policies: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11212-023-09612-3


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Episode 15: The Taiwan Protests Explained
    Jun 17 2024
    In a The Think Tank first, Joe and Matt get a live call from Pingu (and a not-live explainer) about the protests in Taiwan. They also discuss two years of NAFO, its impact, and highlights of its history.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • The Think Tank Episode 15: The Georgia Protests Against the Russian Law With General George Fella
    May 24 2024
    • Why is the russian law so bad?
    • Who are the Georgian Dream party?
    • What is the opposition and protest movement doing?
    • How can we help Georgia defend democracy?
    • Elbridge Colby vs NAFO, Kharkiv under attack, and Fico and the disinfo mill.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • Episode 14: The Episode from the American State
    May 14 2024

    Joe and Matt return (again) to catch up after some time. Matt shares his impressions of the "Victory" parade. Joe has upgraded. They also discuss the events recently and past, and how the modern social media cycle continues to warp our understanding of war. And Brezhnev lives.


    Episode Links:

    https://x.com/MattPPea/status/1788486814723887163

    https://twitter.com/soldier_fella

    https://u24.gov.ua/



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    45 mins
  • Episode 13 with Dr. Judas Everett: Ukraine and Russia's Post-Communist Transitions, EU Truck Protests, and the Rise of the Doomers.
    Feb 1 2024

    WE’RE BACK! Joe and Matt are joined by Dr. Judas Everett, a specialist in transitions from communism who lived in Moscow, Ukraine, and Poland.


    Did Ukraine’s counteroffensive fail?

    Why is doom so popular now?

    How is the war in the Middle East affecting Ukraine?

    What do people misunderstand about Russia?

    What are the differences with Ukraine’s and Russia’s transitions from communism?

    What are the causes of the border protests in Central Eastern Europe?

    Why is Seymour Hersh still a thing?


    (Recorded on 6th of December, 2023)


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • Ep. 12: Cormac Smith on the importance of truth, the dangers of disinof, and how every bullet helps Ukraine
    Aug 29 2023

    Joe and Pingu are joined by Cormac Smith, outspoken supporter of Ukraine, formerly deputy director of communications for the UK, and with professional experience within Ukraine and working against disinformation. Also, Joe and Pingu discus useful idiots, poor journalism, and go off topic sometimes.


    SUPPORT LIFE-LINE UKRAINE: https://www.lifeline-ukraine.org/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Ep. 11: The Think Tank Live at the British Library (sort of)!
    Aug 3 2023

    In this very first live episode (well, the first part) Pingu seizes power in a glorious revolution. Replacing Joe then Matt.


    Matt and Pingu learn the Konchar bridge was bombed while discussing sharkgate, agenda setting, and the quality of western journalism.


    Later Joe and Pingu continue asking why is western journalism so bad. They also talk about what does waif in his underwear mean and Seymour Hersh' fall from grace. Prighozhin looms large and no one knows what's going on there.


    https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-07-27/how-to-defeat-russia-s-black-sea-grain-blockade

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/social-media-account-overseen-by-former-navy-noncommissioned-officer-helped-spread-secrets-a4b5643b


    DONATE: https://u24.gov.ua/




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Ep. 10: We Got Vatnik Soup In Our Tank (With Pekka Kallioniemi)
    Jun 30 2023

    Pekka Kallioniemi, researcher and creator of Soup Central and Vatnik Soup, gets in the guest gunner seat in this episode. They discuss everything from RFK, the reasons to fight disinformation with the truth, the issues of social media platforms as marketplaces of ideas, and the importance of taking a break. Also, Joe and Matt inadvertently predict the coup attempt that happened a day after recording, reflect on a year of being in NAFO, and the importance of showing visible support to Ukraine, even in the Post Office.


    The Importance of Truth

    Can Twitter Be a Marketplace of Ideas?

    Lessons from Vatnik Soup

    Why You Should Touch Grass

    Prighozin Preamble

    Fellaversary

    Matt goes to the Post Office


    LINKS:


    https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi


    https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220805-what-is-longtermism-and-why-does-it-matter


    https://twitter.com/freeonis_


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 23 mins