In this episode that originally aired on Upstream, Erik sits down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the Fiat Crisis, geopolitics, conspiracies, and the signs of decline for a hyperpower. It was recorded in June of 2023. Balaji is an angel investor, tech founder, philosopher, and author of The Network State. He was formerly the CTO of Coinbase. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj - SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUAD NETSUITE 📈 NetSuite has 25 years of providing financial software for all your business needs. More than 36,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks. BEEHIIV 🐝 Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months BABBEL 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/zen SQUAD 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. - FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @balajis (Balaji) @moz_podcast (Moment of Zen) @TurpentineMedia – TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (00:51) Intro (01:23) Understanding the flat crisis (08:34) Balaji’s equivalent premises (14:54) Sponsor: NetSuite and Beehiiv (17:55) Aftermath of Iraq and Afghanistan wars (20:35) Multipolar world (25:17) Blue America is at war with the world (28:35) Sponsor: Babbel | Squad (31:02) Cancellation is a weak form of warfare (33:05) Interplay of realism and idealism in the U.S (37:00) Red vs Blue vs Grey America (44:11) Concept of American partition (46:00) Rise of India's national Identity (47:00) Evolution of China and Russia (53:00) Microsoft, Facebook, and Google (54:00) Japan-USSR rivalry and its impact (01:01:10) Conspiracy theories and historical narratives (01:09:00) Balaji’s predictions for 2024 & the Fed (01:18:31) Wrap