The Show Notes for Episode 30: Money of the Future
A companion to Episode 30: Money of the Future: Exploring Economic Systems and Wealth in Imaginary Worlds
Welcome to the Shownotes!
This is a companion to episode 30:Money. Click to listen.
We are staying organized with timestamps (folks seemed to like them). As always, feel free to comment, and we will address it in future shows! Enjoy.
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The Show Notes:
00:00 - WELCOME AND GUEST INTRODUCTION
Introduction of hosts Joe and Nick.
Special guest Amran Gowani, former chemist turned Wall Street professional and novelist.
Discussion of Amran’s upcoming novel Leverage.
01:02 - DEFINING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS
Amran explains the concept of a financial system: institutions, markets, regulations, and instruments that support economic growth.
The backbone of economies and how they impact both real and fictional worlds.
02:46 - ECONOMICS IN FICTION
Why many fictional worlds gloss over economics.
The challenge of making finance engaging in storytelling.
Examples of good and bad economic world-building in fiction.
04:50 - WORLD BUILDING AND CURRENCY
The role of currency in science fiction and fantasy.
Discussion of time as currency (In Time movie) and its feasibility.
The importance of establishing economic rules in world-building.
08:14 - BARTERING AND POST-APOCALYPTIC ECONOMIES
How economies function after a collapse (examples: The Stand, The Walking Dead, Mad Max).
The shift from currency to skill-based economies.
How trade values shift between survival needs and luxury goods.
21:36 - HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND ECONOMICS
The psychology behind financial systems.
Human tendencies to create markets (e.g., POW camps forming economies).
How value is determined by scarcity and perception.
34:08 - CURRENCY AND MEMORY AS COMMODITIES
Speculation on neural economies: memories and consciousness as tradeable assets.
Fictional examples (Altered Carbon, Inception, Black Mirror).
The potential risks and ethical concerns of buying and selling memories.
38:49 - THE VALUE OF MEMORIES
Hypothetical scenarios: Would you sell a precious memory?
The role of memory and identity in economics.
39:34 - THE CONSEQUENCES OF FORGETTING
How losing memories could impact personal relationships and self-perception.
Comparisons to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
40:41 - TWISTS IN STORIES AND LIFE
O. Henry-style economic twists in storytelling.
The unpredictable consequences of economic transactions.
42:09 - SCARCITY AND SATIRE IN SPACEBALLS
How Spaceballs satirizes economic control.
Air as a monetized resource (Perri-Air cans and stealing planetary air supply).
The absurdity of corporate greed and resource monopolization.
44:21 - HISTORICAL COMMODITIES AND COLONIALISM
How colonial powers controlled valuable resources.
Examples: *Spice in Dune*, The British East India Company, The Spice Trade Wars**.
Economic exploitation parallels in science fiction.
46:05 - WEALTHIEST FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
Ranked discussion of the richest fictional characters:
49:09 - FICTIONAL ECONOMIES AND REAL-WORLD PARALLELS
Comparing fictional systems to real economies.
The impact of economic collapse in media and reality.
The role of wealth accumulation and financial power.
54:33 - THE FUTURE OF CURRENCY
Digital, biological, and neural economies.
Decentralized currency and blockchain.
How AI and automation could disrupt traditional finance.
57:49 - FUN AND GAMES
Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator as a dark economic simulation.
The humor and horror of commodifying biological assets.
59:41 - BOOK PROMOTION AND CLOSING REMARKS
Amran’s book Leverage and how it ties into financial themes.
Where to preorder and follow his work.
Final reflections on economics, storytelling, and speculation.
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Additional Show Notes
RECOMMENDED LISTENING & READING
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: BLITZ Human Resources (on human capital)
Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator (game on resource-based economies)
The Asteroid 16 Psyche (metal-rich with trillions in precious metals)
WHERE TO FOLLOW AMRAN GOWANI
Question to start you digging your own holes as you listen:
If you had to live in a fictional economic system, which one would you choose and why? Would you prefer a post-scarcity economy like Star Trek or a barter-based survival world like Mad Max?
What’s the most interesting or realistic fictional economy you’ve encountered? Whether in a book, movie, or game, what made it feel believable or completely absurd?
Do you think a decentralized, global digital currency (like cryptocurrency) will ever replace traditional money?Or will governments always maintain control over financial systems?
In a barter-based, scarcity economy, what skill or resource would you have to trade? Would you be a hunter, engineer, entertainer, or something else entirely?
Okay, that’s it for this episode. How’d we do?
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