Putin couldn’t destabilise the West through military force, so he launched an invasion of our reality. The methods he pioneered now work far beyond the Kremlin.

Matt and Elliot trace how Putin found the cracks in Western democracies and threw fuel on the fire. Elliot even casually drops in a story about when his Dad stayed at one of Putin's summer palaces.

From Dresden to the Internet Research Agency, Brexit, Trump and AI-driven bots, this is the story of the playbook Putin created and the agitators who followed him through.

He was the icebreaker. He poisoned our information well. Now reality is becoming untethered.

Chapters ➡

00:00 If Russia leaves Ukraine
00:17 Russia, Trump and the diesel deal
05:06 How Putin acquired power
08:14 The invasion of reality
09:42 Late Soviet propaganda comes west
14:38 Brexit and plausible deniability
18:52 Trump, Putin and kompromat
21:01 Elliot's dad's encounter with Putin
24:34 Putin the icebreaker
27:53 Arguing with bots
29:36 Big Tech and democratic failure
31:01 Starlink, Ukraine and a free Europe
33:32 The poisoned information well

Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com

For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

The middle class is being hollowed out while a tiny owning class accumulates fortunes, assets and political power at a scale that rivals nation-states.

The money keeps flowing up. Governments get poorer. Public services deteriorate. Then the anger is redirected towards people with even less power.

In this episode, Matt and Elliot follow the divide between owners and earners, expose how extreme wealth escapes taxation and ask what it would take to start punching up again.

Can democracy rebuild the broad Australian middle before private fortunes become private fiefdoms?

Find out in this week's episode of Worth Knowing.

Chapters ➡

00:00 Taking on the big kahuna
01:34 The middle we have lost
03:57 Childhood Australia and the precariat
05:57 What the numbers show
08:29 From the Gilded Age to trickle-up economics
10:59 Three failures of capitalism
15:39 When markets stop being free
19:32 Inequality and the loss of sovereignty
23:27 Cost of living and who profits
25:17 Stop punching down
27:46 Taxing extreme wealth
30:57 Democracy, coalitions and political courage
34:03 Is Britain still a middle power?
35:01 Final thoughts

Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com

For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

The old US-led order has ruptured... but Australia is still behaving as though it’s 2012.

In this episode, Matt and Elliot ask what happens when your closest ally can no longer be trusted. From Trump’s America and the Pentagon’s growing alliance with Silicon Valley oligarchs to Albanese’s AI bargains and the A$368 billion AUKUS bet, Australia keeps exporting abundance, importing vulnerability and calling it stability.

Canada and Europe recognise that compliance no longer buys safety and are widening their choices. So why is Australia still rolling over for belly rubs?

Find out in this week's episode of Worth Knowing.

Chapters ➡

00:00 Ten episodes of weekly sense-making
01:30 The bigger bubble that has already burst
03:40 Why Carney’s rupture speech matters
10:15 Albanese and Australia’s leadership vacuum
14:00 Exporting abundance, importing vulnerability
16:45 The AI copyright and data-centre bargain
21:20 Middle powers and tech companies with state-like power
27:05 Why America can no longer be trusted
30:45 The A$368 billion AUKUS question
34:00 Allies, protectorates and sovereign defence
36:30 Albanese, Carney and the schoolyard bully
40:35 Final thoughts and where Australia goes next

Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com

For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.