Explore every episode of the podcast Recombination Nation
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doomer Optimism with Ashley Fitzgerald | 02 oct. 2026 | 01:16:52 | |
Ashley Fitzgerald took the path less travelled, through a PhD on subsistence agriculture in the USA, to a stint of idyllic rural life in Uruguay, then back into the bubbling cauldron of American suburbia. We discuss the lessons learnt from this life of creative and hopeful responses to the challenges of our time, Follow Ashley on twitter Subscribe to Doomer Optimism on substack Or catch their own interviews on YouTube or any major podcasting app. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. A paid subscription unlocks the archive of past posts. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| The Race to Save Crop Diversity with Stefan Schmitz from Crop Trust | 25 sept. 2026 | 00:35:58 | |
Stefan Schmitz is the executive director of Crop Trust, an international non-profit working to preserve crop genetic diversity and support food security across the globe. The organisation was a key contributor to the Svalbard seed vault along with countless similar organisations in less dramatic locations. We discussed the potential for amateur crop breeders to collaborate with large institutions. Learn more about Crop Trust on their website and YouTube channel. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| Spinning Silk from Shells with Emily Robison | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:48:59 | |
Emily Robison turned her lifelong passion for textile arts into a journey across the planet learning about diverse spinning and weaving traditions from Micronesia to the remote corners of the Mediterranean. We talk in depth about her experience exploring the dying craft of sea silk (spun from the holdfast threads of clams) and her efforts to adapt these techniques to new species in North America. Check out an array of beautiful creations on Emily's Instagram. Read more about the Sea Silk Project. Check out the new short documentary film about my experimental farm. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| A Lifetime of Potato and Tomato Breeding with Tom Wagner | 11 sept. 2026 | 01:06:00 | |
Tom Wagner is a legendary tomato and potato breeder who is eager to pass on his knowledge and material to other folks keen to carry on the tradition. If you have some crop breeding experience and would like to take your practice to the next level, Tom is looking for serious collaborators to pass the torch onto. He is also interested in creating podcasts or video documentaries to capture his expertise and vision for the future. Tom is hoping to take on an assistant in Washington State and other locations he visits to facilitate this work. If this opportunity sounds interesting get in touch with Tom at thoswagner at yahoo dot com. Check out Tom's potato forum at Tatermater And the sister forum on Tomatoville Check out the new short documentary film about Shane's experimental farm. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. A paid subscription opens the archive, including the audiobook of Taming the Apocalypse. You can also read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| Architecture and Agriculture in Burma and Nepal with Damien Zumbroegel | 04 sept. 2026 | 01:57:07 | |
Damon Zumbroegel left behind a successful career in architecture in the USA to find the living roots of civilisation in rural Burma and the mountains of Nepal. We discuss how he inspired the locals to revive an exhausted piece of land on the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy river, the design principles behind monasteries and high end hotels, and the diverging fates of Nepal (which westernised) and Burma (which sustained its traditions). Follow Damon's many adventures on X. Check out the new short documentary film about my experimental farm. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| Three Floating Staple Crops | 28 août 2026 | 00:23:34 | |
In my second solo episode I explore the potential for floating aquatic plants to produce staple carbohydrates, fat and protein in a way that could create a new kind of integrated agricultural package. I also had fun imagining the impact these crops could have in a warm and watery corner of the world in the not too distant future. What novel domestications should I explore in future episodes? If you enjoy this kind of content, then you will love Taming the Apocalypse- an exploration of the entire tree of life for untapped potential domestication. Grab a copy of the ebook on Amazon, the audiobook on Kobo, or a paid subscription to my substack where the audiobook is in the archived posts. | |||
| Experimental Farming for the Win with Tanja Eskildsen | 22 août 2026 | 01:22:13 | |
Tanja Eskildsen fell in love with plants in chilly Denmark but unleashed their potential through low-input experimental farming on the sunny island of Majorca. We retrace her path learning to trial, select and breed crops for her challenging soil and extreme climate. Check out Tanja's Substack. And lots of gorgeous photos on Instagram. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| Evolving Beyond Hope with Sci-Fi Author Peter Watts | 14 août 2026 | 01:59:57 | |
Peter Watts is a notorious science fiction author with a fascination of the outer edges of biology, fractured minds and a taste for the dark and confronting. We dive into the lessons the living world and our own nature can teach us when contemplating the destiny of this civilisation, our species and the fate of the planet. Check out Peter's insightful blog and backlist (including many complete novels, free to read) Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| Applying Ethnobotany to Regen Ag with Ryan Huish | 07 août 2026 | 01:17:25 | |
Associate Professor Ryan Huish is an experienced ethnobotanist with experience in both North America and the South Pacific, who also runs his own experimental low input farm in the mountains of Appalachia. We explore the lessons from historical and traditional cultures' relationships to plants and landscapes and how that has influenced his own efforts to develop a truly sustainable local agriculture. Learn more about his farm, book a tour or buy some seed. Read more about his extensive research and teaching. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| New Zealand, Energy Limits and Resilience with Nathan Surendran | 31 juil. 2026 | 01:36:10 | |
Nathan Surendran is an Engineer who moved from the UK to New Zealand in response to the terrible creaking sound coming from the heart of the world's industrial systems. There he has worked consistently to help local government prepare for the unfolding shocks and stresses in our planetary supply chain, which New Zealand sits on the very end of. You can read Nathan's work at Energy and Resilience Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology. | |||
| A Route to Beaver Domestication | 24 juil. 2026 | 00:23:56 | |
In Shane's first solo episode, we explore the possible route to the domestication of the beaver and the potential benefits of developing a close relationship with this powerful ecosystem engineer. Check out more novel domestications in my ebook Taming the Apocalypse Audiobook also available via a paid subscription to the Recombination Nation Substack | |||
| Agricultural Magic with the Cunning Farmer Todd Elliott | 17 juil. 2026 | 01:19:00 | |
Todd Elliott is an experience market farmer who followed his passion for agricultural spiritual traditions deep into history, applied those lessons to his own surroundings, then wrote a book about his discoveries. Read Todd's blog: https://thecunningfarmer.substack.com Buy his book from the publisher: https://www.innertraditions.com/the-cunning-farmer Or Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Cunning-Farmer-Agrarian-Practices-Mythology/dp/B0F1LQSDFC Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| The Russian Outlook on Industrial Decline with Dmitry Orlov | 03 juil. 2026 | 01:14:21 | |
Dmitry Orlov was a prominent voice in the early 2000s peak oil movement in response to his book "The Five Stages of Collapse", comparing the recent collapse of the USSR with the likely prospects of the USA under similar circumstances. He has since moved from the USA back to Russia, where he continues to monitor history as it unfolds. This conversation was a rare opportunity to delve into the Russian outlook on the state of the world from one of my favourite writers. Sign up for Dmitry's blog: https://boosty.to/cluborlov Watch his delightful Youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@DmitryOrlovAndClub The Five Stages of Collapse: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Stages-Collapse-Survivors-Toolkit/dp/0865717362/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Zach Elfers- Tree Crops and the Organisations That Love Them | 26 juin 2026 | 02:23:02 | |
Zach Elfers is a superstar in the agroforestry community, helping multiple innovative organisations develop both the crops and their uses. We talk about his work with hickory, honey locust and more, and their processing into value added products through collaborative groups. Read his substack: https://zachelfers.substack.com/profile/posts And his original blog: https://www.nomadseed.com Check out his nursery: https://www.futureforestplants.com The Keystone Tree Crop Cooperative: https://ktcc.coop Tickets to the Northern Nut Growers Association conference: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernnutgrowersassociation1/2149900 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Buddhism, Monasteries and Existential Threats with Soryu Forall. | 19 juin 2026 | 01:51:04 | |
Soryu Forall is a meditation teacher and spiritual leader dedicated to bringing all beings to enlightenment. He teaches that ethical behavior is the beginning of the path, and that the first step in ethics is to prevent the destruction of life on Earth. Soryu is the Head Teacher and Founder of the Monastic Academy for the Preservation of Life on Earth (MAPLE) where he guides that community to develop the wisdom, compassion, and power necessary to create AI systems that genuinely care for all life. Visit MAPLE: https://www.monasticacademy.org/guests Train at MAPLE: https://www.monasticacademy.org/train The special 3 month program mentioned in the interview: https://cohort.monasticacademy.org/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Avocado, Carob and Golden Chinquapin with Nicholas Mallonee | 12 juin 2026 | 01:12:46 | |
Nicholas is a passionate rare tree grower in the blessed lands of California where just about everything seems to grow. He has tapped into the growing diversity in avocado, and gathered up the remnants of legendary crop breeder Luther Burbank in his backyard. If you would like to get in touch with Nicholas reach out to me via my Substack. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Eons of Life, Both Future and Past, with Professor Peter Ward | 05 juin 2026 | 01:26:17 | |
Peter Ward is a palaeontologist and prolific author with books covering a vast range of the deep past and distant future of life on Earth (and beyond it). His book "Future Evolution: An Illuminated History of Life to Come" caught my attention and I was thrilled for the opportunity to drop an avalanche of speculative biology questions his way. You can find his books online and in major book stores: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peter-Douglas-Ward/author/B001I9OZ12 Browse reviews on his many titles here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28065.Peter_D_Ward Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Creating a Seed Farmer Community with Edmund Frost | 29 mai 2026 | 01:19:29 | |
Edmund Frost founded a collective of seed growers and breeders who sell their selection of seeds suitable for the humid southeast USA as Common Wealth Seed Growers. He lives in Louisa County, Virginia, a center for the intentional communities movement, and spent many years living at Twin Oaks Community. He is passionate about breeding cucurbits for disease resistance, along with many other crops. Read more about the Common Wealth Seed Growers: https://commonwealthseeds.com Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Orbiting The Biological Singularity with Arnold Schroder | 22 mai 2026 | 01:33:37 | |
Arnold Schroder, from the Fight Like an Animal podcast, is an ecological anarchist who bridges the world between biology and politics across the depths of time. Check out his archive of fascinating articles: https://www.againsttheinternet.com Grab his new book: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Like-Animal-Revolutionary-Biology/dp/B0GZ1GKCVX/ Listen to his podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/09DTUqzsCjGkvxw0GbFobE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-like-an-animal/id1511430305 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Julia Dakin and Anna Mieritz- How "Going to Seed" Germinated | 15 mai 2026 | 01:23:57 | |
Julia Dakin and Anna Mieritz are key members of the "Going to Seed" organisation, which brings adaptation crop breeding to numerous communities in the USA. In this two part interview I learn more about their own vegetable breeding projects, but also take the rare opportunity to learn more about how their organisation got started, how it grew, and plans for the future. A great episode for people keen to get involved or start something similar in their part of the world. Check out all the work going on at Going to Seed: https://goingtoseed.org I highly recommend Julia's recent presentation on the link between crop genetics and nutritional content- https://youtu.be/5ErwX5_u7EE?si=ItAFtJzhdOL9PE49 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Cultural Evolution with Roger's Bacon | 08 mai 2026 | 02:13:43 | |
Roger's Bacon is an evolutionary biologist who turned his tool set on the related problem of how cultures mutate, compete, hybridise and evolve. He writes fascinating deep dive articles at Secretorum on substack: https://www.secretorum.life And runs the Seeds of Science blog to give a wider audience to pioneering thinkers: https://www.theseedsofscience.pub Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Teosinte, Arracacha and Mauka Breeding with Steve in Australia | 01 mai 2026 | 01:29:29 | |
Steve is an independent crop breeder in southern Australia breeding a host of uncommon crops from similar climates in the Andes. We dive into his work back crossing maize to its ancestor (teosinte), plus his early work preparing to wide cross mauka and arracacha. Steve is pursuing the true zero input approach to breeding staple crops which can produce on unirrigated soil with minimal nutrient inputs and fertility added. If you want to reach out to Steve get in touch via my substack. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Reviving Landrace Staple Crops with Glenn Roberts from Anson Mills | 24 avr. 2026 | 02:18:03 | |
Glenn Roberts is the founder of Anson Mills, an extraordinary project to bring traditional landrace staple crops back from the brink of extinction in his part of the humid south eastern USA. This interview digs into how he achieved such an extraordinary feat, looking for clues to how others could follow his example in their own bioregions. Read much more about Anson Mills here: https://ansonmills.com/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Talking Baseyu with Andiru- The Hot New Auxlang on the Block | 17 avr. 2026 | 01:05:29 | |
Andiru is a conlang enthusiast who took things the next step and created the auxiliary language Baseyu along with a dedicated community of enthusiasts. Auxiliary languages are designed to be small, simple and accessible enough for anybody to learn them as a new global common tongue- kind of like the Tower of Babel in reverse. You can check out the project here: https://baseyu.com Browse the dictionary: https://dictionary.baseyu.com/en Join the community on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Baseyu/ And request a discord invite there. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Talking Toki Pona and Esperanto with Okan | 10 avr. 2026 | 01:14:09 | |
Okan learnt two of the most successful constructed languages- the sprawling, romantic Esperanto and cute minimalist Toki Pona. After covering the history of these languages we delve deeper into the dynamics of experimental language communities, the psychology of conlangers, and the potential interplay of culture, technology and experimental languages in the near future. Drop me a message on substack if you would like to reach out to Jan. Try learning Toki Pona yourself here: https://wasona.com Learn more about Esperanto here: https://lernu.net Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Technopuritanism for the Next New World with Malcolm Collins | 03 avr. 2026 | 01:26:15 | |
Malcolm Collins is an unclassifiable frontiersman for the coming century of chaos, a hardened fighter from the trenches of the culture wars, and a pronatalist who put his own blood line on the line by having a gaggle of embryo selected children with his lovely wife Simone, who cohosts their Based Camp podcast. You can watch their diverse discussions at Based Camp: https://www.youtube.com/@SimoneandMalcolm And also check out their Pragmatists Guide book series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/365119-the-pragmatist-s-guide Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Breeding Mashua, Babaco and Passionfruit with Chuck Chan | 27 mars 2026 | 00:59:19 | |
Chuck Chan is an accomplished amateur crop breeder from the humid cloud forests of California, adapting plants to his little pocket of Andean climate. He has made the most of his challenges by breeding a host of rare crops which struggle in other places, particularly the root crop Mashua, and papaya relative Vasconcellea along with numerous other projects. We also delve into how he manages his diverse plant collection and his experiences sharing the breeding work with the wider community. You can check out glimpses of his successes through his regular posts: https://www.facebook.com/chuck.chan.562019 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Gail Tverberg- My Favourite Data Wrangling Grandma at the End of the Oil Age | 20 mars 2026 | 01:16:20 | |
Gail Tverberg was a star during the 2000s oil crisis, producing data rich reports on the TheOilDrum.com in a way that only a trained actuary could pull off. She has continued to impress me in subsequent years with her uncommon knack for digging into the numbers beneath the stories that others are trying to spin. In this interview we discuss the current state of the energy crisis, why a handful of people saw it coming decades ago, and how she hopes society can adapt to the coming challenges. Read Gail's regular articles at her website: https://ourfiniteworld.com Check out a teaser for another podcast interview with Geopolitics and Empire (who also interviewed me a while back): https://youtu.be/pW5xeCGWFjM?si=88rThEep8qIcA1GA Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| The Dynamic of Declining Civilisation with James Howard Kunstler | 13 mars 2026 | 02:22:24 | |
From razor tongued darling of the peak oil movement to bette noire of the culture wars, James Howard Kunstler simply cannot keep from running his mouth, rustling feathers and shining a spot light on the absurdity and obscenity of modern civilised life as it staggers toward the dust bin of history. You can read his weekly blog here: https://www.kunstler.com His latest fiction book, following a 12 year olds New York adventure the week JFK is assassinated is hot off the presses: https://www.amazon.com/Look-Gone-James-Howard-Kunstler/dp/1952685974 His non-fiction book The Long Emergency is a founding document of the peak oil movement: https://www.amazon.com/Long-Emergency-Converging-Catastrophes-Twenty-First-ebook/dp/B008UX3KY2/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| In the Permaculture Nursery with Sean Demobrosky from Edible Acres | 06 mars 2026 | 01:29:07 | |
Sean Dembrosky runs Edible Acres, a permaculture nursery in New York. We explore his recent successes with edible Canna, and his appreciation for persimmons, plus all the ins and outs of managing a huge range of plants for sale. Check out the nursery: https://www.edibleacres.org Take a tour of his gardens on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/EdibleAcres Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| The Front Lines of Ecological Journalism with Fred Pearce | 28 févr. 2026 | 01:45:56 | |
Fred Pearce is a prolific author and environmental journalist with fifteen extraordinary books under his belt, including the one which transformed my own perspective on invasive species "The New Wild". In this conversation we discuss the numerous topics he has investigated, and probe the state of science journalism today. Check out Fred's latest book "Despite it All" that finds hope among the chorus of climate catastrophism : https://www.amazon.com/Despite-All-Handbook-Climate-Hopefuls-ebook/dp/B0FT6GFTFP My personal favourite "The New Wild" : https://www.amazon.com/New-Wild-Invasive-Species-Salvation-ebook/dp/B00N6PB69A/ And all his other titles here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001HMRS9Q Sign up to Recombination Nation for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Recombining Crop Selection and Production with Bunya Halasz | 20 févr. 2026 | 02:20:32 | |
Bunya Halasz is a permaculturalist and syntropic practitioner from the lush hinterland of northern New South Wales. This in depth conversation explores his winding journey through the roots of permaculture in Australia, his experience in reuniting the ongoing selection of crops in the context of spaces that produce an economic yield. You can sign up for Bunya's course on Dynamic Agroforestry beginning April 30- https://www.growingrootspermaculture.com/events/p/dynamic-agroforestry-refining-food-forests-incorporating-fungi-animals-and-community-dynamics-into-agroforestry-systems-march-26-29 And check out all the other work he does with Growing Roots Permaculture: https://www.growingrootspermaculture.com/about Sign up to Shane's Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Ambling with Sam through Andean and Papuan Agricultural History | 13 févr. 2026 | 01:11:46 | |
Sam runs the brilliant Youtube channel, documenting his adventures exploring the traditional agriculture of the Andes, Papua New Guinea and the natural world in his own back yard in the chilly plains of North America. You can watch Sam's many wonderful videos here:https://www.youtube.com/@AmblingwithSam/featured I recommend starting with this impressive documentary about Andean agriculture: https://youtu.be/CWYAWX9rOPE?si=hPZINZO4qsrGlUmg Sign up to Shane's Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Genetics, Evolution, Technology and Culture with Stetson from Holodoxa | 05 févr. 2026 | 01:52:41 | |
Stetson is a medical geneticist who writes about his extensive interests on Substack, dipping into a wide range of topics including genetics, neuroscience, human behaviour, psychology, history, literature, culture, politics, and much more. Check out his writing: https://stetson.substack.com Sign up to Shane's Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Building the Experimental Farm Network with Nate Kleinman | 30 janv. 2026 | 01:02:22 | |
Nate is a long term experimental crop breeder who has also invested heavily in building community to bring other growers together, most notably with the Experimental Farm Network which is developing a wide range of perennial crops. You can follow Nate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/experimentalfarmnetwork/ Join the Experimental Farm Network: https://citsci.org/organizations/experimental-farm-network/ Buy seeds from the EFN: https://store.experimentalfarmnetwork.org Sign up to Shane's Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Ritual Money Burning with Reverend Jonathan Harris | 23 janv. 2026 | 01:21:24 | |
Jonathan Harris is the spark behind the Church of Burn, a UK group which burn money to reimagine our relationship to this mysterious substance which follows us everywhere. In this conversation we talk about money, sex, privacy and death along with countless other aspects of society which are up for renegotiation during these turbulent times. Read more about the Church of Burn:https://churchofburn.org And find more of John's writings at the Vestry:https://churchofburn.substack.com Sign up to Shane's Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Crop Breeding for Human Health with Mark Christensen | 15 janv. 2026 | 01:10:43 | |
Mark Christensen transitioned from a career in accounting to a passion for quantifying the astonishing health benefits of select heritage crops through the power of modern chemistry. He founded the Heritage Foods Crops Research Trust in New Zealand and created a potent organisation to spread his work into the wider community. Check out his organisation: https://www.heritagefoodcrops.org.nz Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/heritagefoodcrops And their superstar apple : https://www.heritagefoodcrops.org.nz/montys-surprise-apple/ Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| The Microbiome Revolution with Stephen Skolnick | 08 janv. 2026 | 02:25:15 | |
Stephen Skolnick is a human microbiome researcher exploring the outer fringes of this rapidly expanding field. His theories on the microbiological origins of a host of significant and baffling diseases like schizophrenia and type 1 diabetes can be found on his substack. Stephen's Substack Eat Shit and Prosper: https://stephenskolnick.substack.com Another episode about the power of microbiology with Bacterium: https://rss.com/podcasts/zeroinputagriculture/2198945/ https://youtu.be/I30ZJcklA3Q?si=HWKM6yL-GB-ywtGh Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| How This Civilisation Ends with Professor Jiang | 01 janv. 2026 | 01:31:47 | |
Professor Jiang brought deep historical, economic and cultural analysis to the masses through his popular YouTube lectures. In this interview Shane digs deeper into his perspective on the east/west divide as we navigate the unfolding end of the industrial era. Find all of Professor Jiang's videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@PredictiveHistory And sign up to read his substack articles: https://predictivehistory.substack.com Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Restoring Lost Crops with Professor David Shields | 25 déc. 2025 | 01:49:57 | |
Professor David Shields is most often known for his work restoring Carolina Golden Rice to prominence in his native South Carolina, but this conversation goes further to explore parallel projects returning a wide range of preindustrial crops to the local food system. We also explore the culture impact of food, and its essential role as a touchstone for identity and belonging. Read more of David's work at his blog: https://davidsanfordshields.substack.com Check out his many books starting here: https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Provisions-Creation-Revival-Cuisine/dp/022614111X https://www.amazon.com/Ark-Taste-Delicious-Distinctive-Define/dp/031647732X He can be reached through his university: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/english_language_and_literature/our_people/directory/shields_david.php Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Resource Limits with the Honest Sorcerer | 18 déc. 2025 | 01:45:26 | |
The Honest Sorcerer is an engineer from Eastern Europe with a passion for studying the resource limits squeezing our global industrial economy. We talk about the intersections between advancing technology, eroding resources, deflating demographics and scrambling politics along with many other topics usually considered in isolation. The discussion peaks with a survey of the geopolitics of all the major regions of the planet. Read more of The Honest Sorcerer on Substack: https://thehonestsorcerer.substack.com Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Bruce Steele | 11 déc. 2025 | 01:32:11 | |
Bruce Steele works with resilient, low input staple crops (including oaks for flour) and breeds heritage mangalitsa pigs in Southern California. Check out Bruce's substack: https://steeleb.substack.com Learn more about Bruce's farm: https://www.winfieldfarm.us Read Shane's weekly blog for free, or support his work with a paid subscription to get access to his audiobook and archive of past posts: https://recombinationnation.substack.com | |||
| Archdruid John Michael Greer | 03 déc. 2025 | 02:12:18 | |
John Michael Greer is a historian of religion, the occult, and every aspect of history that typical historians overlook. In this conversation we explore the cultural impact of industrialisation and deindustrialization, and the many ways the future will be weirder and more wonderful than expected. Read John's weekly blog posts: https://www.ecosophia.net John's dreamwidth journal: https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org All of Johns many and varied books can be found here and at other distributors: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IOFELW Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Mandy from Incredible Vegetables | 27 nov. 2025 | 01:17:43 | |
Mandy operates a fantastic nursery in England specialising in a mind blowing diversity of perennial vegetables. Shane interviews her about her collecting and breeding projects, the challenges of running a commercial nursery, the advantages of buying rural land as a collective and loads of other topics. Learn more about Mandy's nursery : https://incrediblevegetables.co.uk/about-us/ Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Amateur Plant Biotech with Sebastian Coccioba | 20 nov. 2025 | 02:27:55 | |
Shane talks to Sebastian Coccioba about his obsession with plant biotechnology, and how his determination to build his own home laboratory (including a gun that shoots genes into plants) paid off. Also includes a survey of all the techniques an independent scientist could consider mastering. Read more of Sebastian's work at his open lab book : https://binomicalabs.notion.site/?v=cc508bd627a64aa7bf84512445e87e8e Follow Sebastian's updates : https://x.com/ATinyGreenCell Find more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Simon Michaux | 13 nov. 2025 | 02:09:50 | |
Shane grills Simon Michaux on the key resource limits preventing the promised renewable energy transition and his comprehensive plans to develop a thorium powered alternative. Read more about Simon's work at: The complex systems limits threatening industrial civilisation: https://www.simonmichaux.com The plan to build an alternative civilisation: https://www.promethean-nexus.com The plan to develop sustainable thorium energy: https://www.vulcancatalyst.com Follow Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Thomas Picard | 05 nov. 2025 | 01:41:07 | |
Thomas Picard is a landrace cucurbit breeder from France who works with melons, watermelon, pumpkin and kiwano. You can read more about his work at the Going to Seed forum- https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/thomaspicard/summary Links to the Going to Seed conference will be added once they are available. Follow Shane's work at his Substack blog: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/ | |||
| Ask Me Anything with Shane | 25 sept. 2025 | 01:41:47 | |
In this final episode of season 1, I outline plans for the podcast, Substack and planned YouTube channel in the coming year, then answer a stack of questions from followers of my work. The podcast will be relaunching in November as Recombination Nation, so stay subscribed while I take a break and prepare for a stellar second season. Find more of Shane’s work at: | |||
| Harriet Mella | 19 sept. 2025 | 01:22:45 | |
Shane talks with Harriet Mella, an independent soil scientist from Austria about the complexity and resilience of the life beneath our feet and its critical role in supporting crop health (in parallel with crop breeding). Check out Harriet's soil science web course launching soon: http://agricurls.com/ Find more of Shane’s work at: Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2 Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/ | |||
| Cimbri returns | 11 sept. 2025 | 01:57:23 | |
Shane and Cimbri resume their conversation, pivoting back to the all too common challenge of young people living in urban or suburban environments who want to escape to less crowded places, plus all the things they can do with their energy in the meantime. Subscribe to Cimbri's substack- https://iwritetoyoufrombabylon.substack.com You can check out Cimbri's activity on Reddit- https://www.reddit.com/user/Cimbri/ Find more of Shane’s work at: Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2 Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/ | |||