(00:00:00) Season 4, Episode 1: The rule of fang and claw
(00:00:20) Podcast Starts -- The end of the International Order
(00:02:41) Implications of a new world dynamic
(00:05:45) What changes for middle / regional powers
(00:08:26) Au revoir to liberal institutionalism
(00:11:31) Uncertainty is the new name of the game

Hey all! We are kicking off season 4 much earlier than we’d thought. Why?

Early Saturday morning, the international rules-based order, or what was left of it, expired both painfully and suddenly with the removal of Nicolas Maduro (and his wife) from Caracas to New York City.

In this episode, we focus, not on the events of that early morning raid, but of its potential and actual ramifications for international relations. The idea that relations between states are governed by codified, internationally-accepted laws has been the main characteristic of relations between states over the last 75 years. It is no longer the case, and inter-state conflict is about to ramp up in a way that is both predictable and utterly impossible to foresee.

If you enjoyed the episode, shoot us a comment, give us some love, and let us know.

We appreciate it and will be back again soon!

Dave and Gavin

Hey all! Happy 2026!

Gavin and I wish you all the best in your endeavors this year—and we would love to hear about them (and how we can help!)

We kicked On the Fringe off in the fall of 2024 and posted the first season on our Substack.  

Then, we added On the Fringe Podcast on Apple Podcast last January (2025) and have more support, downloads, and interest than we could have imagined. We wouldn’t be here without you guys and can’t thank you enough for your support and the thousands of hours you've listed to our show. We're still figuring all of this out, by the way!

Since we started Season 3 in August, We’ve doubled our listeners (and it’s not just Aunt Leena telling Aunt Nelda). We are seeing real listener growth with the show and will keep it going strong for Season 4. Shoot us a message here of your favorite episodes (or total busts) and topics that YOU want to hear more about. 

As we keep growing, we want to hear more from y’all! What do you like, what do you NOT like, and where can we get better to provide you a better listener experience. We’re going to keep unraveling geopolitical events and AI as we move forward into season 4, and will be coming at you with more in the coming weeks. 

Thanks again!

Dave and Gavin

Hello all, from over top of Baffin Island!

I’m about as far as north as you can go, and depending on your viewpoint, OpenAI may be just as near the top of Santa’s naughty list next year. Or their bank account may start to climb to new heights too.

We’ve got a short bonus episode that’s been under the radar in the West, and front page news in India. OpenAI’s mobile version of ChatGPT, called ChatGPT Go, is now free in India for a full year for new subscribers. Gavin and I dive into potential reasons why this might be happening, and what the future may hold for the company and hundreds of millions of Indians (as well as other users worldwide) who take advantage of it and get hooked, for better or for worse.

If you like the episode, don’t forget to give us a like, comment, or subscribe. We truly appreciate it! And, if you think we’re totally off base here—call us out.

Thanks as always for listening, and have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Dave and Gavin

Hey all! 

This week on On the Fringe, Dave and Gavin yack about a recent incident in Reno, Nevada, where a man was misidentified by using AI technology. We jump into the uses and misuses of AI in the modern world, and what increased reliance of AI systems and technology without the human element leads society toward.

If you’re curious about our take on it, don’t miss this episode!

After you're done listening, here are some of our more recent episodes about AI. 

Season 3, Episode 21, On the Edge of Everything, with Practical AI CEO Derek Crager

Season 3, Episode 5: A Crash Course on GPTs, with John Otwell, a Software Engineer

Season 3, Episode 7: Questions anyone using AI needs to ask themselves, with John Otwell and Kevin Wong

If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe. We truly appreciate it! Shoot us a message here.

Here's the video we referenced in the episode:
https://youtu.be/B9M4F_U1eEw?si=testFg29pvSixGE-

All the best, Dave and Gavin 

No AI was used in the recording of this episode, but it was used to make the image of the guy in the top right corner of the cover art. 

(00:00:00) Season 3, Episode 23: Kyrgyzstan, land of mountains, mines, and elections. Featuring Joe Barnes
(00:00:21) Podcast Intro, travel, and upcoming elections in Kyrgyzstan
(00:04:23) The current political landscape and historical context
(00:12:26) Social media usage in elections in Kyrgyzstan
(00:16:23) the CSTO's Role in Central Asia
(00:20:46) Ethnic Tensions in the Fergana Valley
(00:25:21) Kyrgyzstan's relationship with China
(00:29:08) Kyrgyzstan's future and the long-term outlook

This week, Dave and Gav brought back Joe Barnes, friend of the pod and guest on our episode about neighboring Kazakhstan to talk about Kyrgyzstan. Joe dives into a deep backstory about the Kyrgyz Republic, and why the country has taken off economically in the last few years. One reason—it’s absolutely beautiful and an incredible value for your money.

We also discuss a brief modern history of the country (and region) and what has changed in Kyrgyz civil society and how important gold and mining are to the country. 

If you’ve got an inkling to explore Central Asia on foot or online, don’t miss this episode.

We love to hear from our listeners and fans. Leave us some feedback, your favorite emoji, or a rating. Take care and all the best from us On the Fringe!

Dave and Gav

Reach out to Joe on his website, X/Twitter, and see his articles for the Diplomat here.

(00:00:00) The airstrike in Cambodia
(00:02:33) The airstrike in Benin

Two unexpected turns of events and two growing regional powers are stepping up. 

Hey all! We’ve got a quick episode for you and two events we will likely be covering in our next season in greater depth.

In the first part, Dave and Gav talk about what’s going on between Thailand and Cambodia.

In the second part, Gavin goes on a tear and gets to the bottom of a murky situation in Benin, a country critical to the regional stability of West Africa. 

As always, thanks for listening and joining us On the Fringe! If you enjoyed the episode, let us know here. 

All the best,

Dave and Gav

Hey all! 

Over the last couple of weeks, IndiGo, India’s largest airline has suffered from major operational setbacks. We’re diving into the most recent one that caused the airline to cancel thousands of flights in the last week as well as why these events may have occurred.

If you’re interested in India, don’t miss this episode—and if you’re flying to or within India, we wish you the best in getting to your destination and feel for those who are "Moody in Mumbai” or “Desperate in Delhi.”

If you enjoy it, share it and give us some feedback—positive or negative. We always appreciate it!

Thanks always for the support and take care,

Dave and Gavin

(00:00:00) Season 3, Episode 21: On the Edge of Everything. The Future of AI, with Derek Crager, CEO of Practical AI
(00:00:23) Intro
(00:01:05) How we met Derek Crager
(00:01:43) Interview starts--How did Derek discover the power of AI
(00:04:37) Human first AI
(00:07:23) AI's role in developing critical thinking + to help make better decisions
(00:10:14) Human first AI in Education
(00:18:00) AI's use to empower students in the classroom
(00:19:56) How to learn something new, with or without AI
(00:24:57) AI mentorship can help you to dig deeper
(00:26:56) The AI world of the future
(00:28:56) AI as an engagement tool and the "secret sauce"
(00:33:07) Fiction as the anchor of creativity
(00:34:52) Derek's upcoming book, "Human First AI"

This week, Dave and Gav talk with Derek ‘DC’ Crager, the CEO of Practical AI.

Derek is at the forefront of building what he describes as ‘human-first’ AI and makes the pitch that AI has to be tailored to human needs.

We talk about the uses and misuses of AI technology, where it could make a real difference in people’s lives, and not only for improving productivity.

If you’re curious about future technology and the impact on life as we know it, don’t miss this episode.

For more information about Derek’s company Practical AI and Pocket Mentor click below. 
https://www.practicalai.app/

Derek also provided the first chapter of his book, “Human First AI,” available below. https://www.humanfirstai.net/

We've brought back Stuart Bolus from last season to talk about the state of African democracy. He was a guest on episode episode back in Season 2 about the man of the hour in Burkina Faso.

You’ll learn what African Democracy looks like, why it is fragile, and how it differs from country to country, along with local insight, including how illiterates can vote and serve as National Assembly members in one country. 

Shoot us a message, leave us a comment, or send us your favorite emoji if you enjoyed the ep! We love hearing from our On the Fringe community.

Thanks as always for checking us out On the Fringe!

All the best,

Dave and Gavin 

The colorful flag map of Africa in the corner of our podcast art is from Wikimedia and was made by WwJLaik and can be found here:

For this bonus episode, Gav and Dave talk about a real interesting response to a recent Gallup poll in which 40% of American women between the ages of 15-44 declared their interest in leaving the United States permanently. If this doesn’t cause you some concern, you might be looking at a different number. 

Share below or shoot us an email about what you think means and if we’re off base here. We’d love to hear your opinions.

As always, thanks for listening and joining us On the Fringe.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone else in the States!

Dave and Gav

(00:00:00) Season 3, Episode 19: The twisting and turning tales of Alice...Guo
(00:00:20) Podcast Starts
(00:00:55) Introduction about Alice Guo
(00:04:40) How Alice got caught
(00:06:19) Alice's wild getaway through Southeast Asia
(00:08:02) key details that the media misses in this story
(00:10:40) Big changes in Philippine politics
(00:14:50) Big shifts in the Philippines' posture
(00:18:11) Closing

This week, Gav and Dave return to one of the first stories we covered here on On the Fringe, the story of Alice Guo, one-time mayor of Bamban in the northern Philippines, erstwhile inmate in the Filipino prison system.

We dive into the bare bones of who she is, how she wound up as mayor, and why she just got sentenced to life in prison, along with diving into how this informs larger narratives playing out in Southeast Asia.

We made a couple of small booboos.

POGO stands for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, not organizations 
Alice did not live iat the compound, but she was the FBO for a company, Baofu Land Development Corporation, that owned it. 

For the very SERIOUS allegations that She Zhejiang and Alice worked for the MSS: 

She Zhejiang disclosed during an interview to al Jazeera that he worked for the MSS. And, She had information that Alice was also connected. (same video, about 16:42)

We can't confirm if what She said is true or not—pun intended.
 

Thanks for listening and leave us a comment, like, or share the word. We appreciate it!

All the best from On the Fringe,
Dave and Gav

After you’ve listened, here's that past episode about Alice.

This week, Gav and Dave talk about a major issue facing Japan, rampaging bears.

Wild bears are causing whole areas of Japan to be declared no-go zones for civilians, and even the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are being called into assist in keeping people and bears at a safe distance.

We’re diving into why exactly this is becoming an issue and why Japan’s ongoing struggle with a rapidly aging and decreasing population is playing a key role in this whole issue. 

As always, thanks for bearing with us! Reach out to onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com with any comments and we’ll get back to you.

Also, I said Akita and Iwate are “provinces.” They are prefectures (県）すみません！

All the best,

Dave and Gav

Hey all! 

This week, the Thai King visited Xi Jinping, and Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the President of Syria, visited the White House. In BOTH meetings, the media is not including key details that you have to recognize to understand what is really happening.

We dipped our toes into what we think is going on behind the scenes. Listen in and find out what you are missing.

If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, comment, share, or reach out at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com

We appreciate it and couldn’t keep growing without you!

All the best from us on On the Fringe,

Dave + Gav

Two shadowy Russians flew to the United Arab Emirates to free Horatiu Potra, a Romanian security expert and ex-French Foreign Legionnaire, out of a Dubai jail after he was arrested in September. Rather than fly to Russia—as he almost did—Potra has decided to go back to Romania to face trial along with former Romanian Presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, who was charged with attempting to stage a coup in the country.Listen as we dive into why he would go back and what this means for the European Union and the ongoing war in Ukraine, which we don’t see ending anytime soon.We love to hear from our audience and the On the Fringe community! If you enjoyed the episode, send us a message, drop a comment, or give us a rating!Thanks and take care!Dave and GavShoot us a message at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com—No tin foil hat required!This Substack is reader and listener-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit onthefringepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Hey all! This week, we are taking you back to West Africa and building on our last episode about a growing jihadist influence in this corner of the world.

Bamako is a city running out of time. With little fuel, the city is entering an existential crisis as neighboring countries and major powers realize the ruling military junta’s days may be numbered, as does Gavin.

Whatever comes after though will likely be worse as this region continues to spiral. For more on what is happening in this part of the world, don’t miss a few of our other episodes.

Last week, we covered the kidnapping of a Christian missionary and pilot in neighboring Niger—in broad daylight. This will give you insight into what is going on on the ground, along with our quick episode about this neighboring country you don’t want to visit right now.

As always, thanks for your support and for listening--and don't forget to subscribe or leave us a review. We truly appreciate it!

Dave and Gavin  

The full travel advisory map can be found here, courtesy of julesdhl on Reddit. (thank you, Stuart!)
We’ve got a short, spontaneous (and timely!) bonus episode! 

This time, Gav and Dave yak and spitball about a map comparing different foreign ministry’s threat assessments of Burkina Faso, a small but critically important country in West Africa. They all bear bad news, but they’re all just a little bit different.

We talk about what this means, and what it portends for the country of upright men.

To hear more about Burkina Faso, check out this episode: The Man of the Hour in West Africa, featuring Stuart.

If you like this style of episode, let us know!

Our map can be found here, courtesy of julesdhl on Reddit. Thank you, Stuart!We’ve got a short, spontaneous (and timely!) bonus episode! This time, Gav and Dave yak and spitball about a map comparing different foreign ministry’s threat assessments of Burkina Faso, a small but critically important country in West Africa. They all bear bad news, but they’re all just a little bit different. We talk about what this means, and what it portends for the country of upright men. To hear more about Burkina Faso, check out this episode: The Man of the Hour in West Africa, featuring Stuart. If you like this style of episode, let us know! shoot us an email at onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.comThanks as always for listening,Dave and Gav

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit onthefringepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode, Gavin takes a stroll down memory lane and talks in depth about Niger, a key country in the Sahel region of West Africa.

Since October 21, Niger has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Just 100 yards from the Presidential Palace in Niamey, the country’s capital, Kevin Rideout, an American missionary and bush pilot was kidnapped by jihadist terrorists and is currently being held for ransom. Our hearts, thoughts, and sincerest prayers go out to Kevin, his family, and his congregation. 

What does this event mean for the country and the United States (and Americans in Niger) at a critical time for the country? Listen in and find out. 

For more background on West Africa, don't miss our episode with Stuart.
Season 2, Episode 42: The Man of the Hour in West Africa

If you enjoyed the episode, please don’t forget to follow, like, comment, or subscribe to On the Fringe. We sincerely appreciate it!

The flag of Niger was created by verdy_p and can be found here:

On this episode, Gavin takes a stroll down memory lane and talks in depth about Niger, a key country in the Sahel region of West Africa. Since October 21, Niger has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Just 100 yards from the Presidential Palace in Niamey, the country’s capital, Kevin Rideout, an American missionary and bush pilot was kidnapped by jihadist terrorists and is currently being held for ransom. Our hearts, thoughts, and sincerest prayers go out to Kevin Rideout, his family, and his congregation. What does this event mean for the country and the United States (and Americans in Niger) at a critical time for the country. Listen in and find out. If you enjoyed the episode, please don’t forget to like, comment, or subscribe to On the Fringe. We sincerely appreciate it! The flag of Niger was created by verdy_p and can be found here:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit onthefringepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Gav and Dave dive into the Gen Z protests/revolutions/unrest that is currently unfolding across the world and analyze some of the driving factors to this transformative moment that mainstream media is missing and not covering.

We look into how the death of political economic institutions (accelerated by the emergence of AI, amongst other things) is currently creating a social environment where large classes of the population increasingly feel that they have nothing to lose but their chains.

If you haven’t listened to it yet, don’t miss our previous episode, Season 3, Episode 12: the Front Lines of the AI Future featuring Sherman Tylawsky, an expert on civics.

As always, thanks a million for your support! We wouldn’t be here without you.

Reach out with any comments, questions, or fan mail: onthefringe.podcast1@gmail.com

And don't forget to subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple Podcasts. We truly appreciate it! 

All the best from On the Fringe,
Gav and Dave