Best Bunker Labs Podcasts (2025)

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Blinded by the Light - Facing Reality with Renewable Energy 56:39

Play Pause

5d ago56:39

56:39

Solar panels and other modern energy technologies can be really useful, but the belief that we can technologize our way to a bigger and better society powered by clean energy is tragically flawed. Asher, Rob, and Jason dig into the up-and-down story of the Ivanpah concentrated solar power plant, review the Harry Potteresque thinking behind complex,…

1
Who Can Fix the Housing Crisis - NYT Pundits, German Shepherds, or Bilbo Baggins? 51:46

19d ago51:46

51:46

Jason, Rob, and Asher are taking out a huge, unaffordable mortgage on the housing crisis. What’s behind the shortage in housing? Why is it that no one, except canine Tik Tok influencers with billion-dollar bank accounts, can afford to own a home? While mainstream pundits press for an energy-blind buildout of desert sprawl and gleaming towers of gla…

1
Bunkers, Bazookas, and Bespoke Moats: How to Be Safe in an Unsafe World 42:13

1M ago42:13

42:13

The world has gone bunking mad. The bespoke security industry is burying bunkers stocked with arsenals of automatic rifles and surrounded by flaming moats. Is there a better way to prepare for the polycrisis, the zombie apocalypse, or whatever hard times are on the horizon? Jason, Rob, and Asher have some fun at the expense of the bunker builders b…

1
It Was Never Your Democracy Anyway: Thomas Linzey on Rethinking the Constitution 51:18

2M ago51:18

51:18

Democracy and environmental protection have two things in common: (1) they’re both supposed to be enshrined in the laws of the United States and (2) they’re both under severe attack right now. Asher speaks with Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights to uncover how the source code of the U.S. Constitution and the body of…

1
Going #2: The Dueling Rules of Nature That Every Good Earthling Needs to Know 50:31

2M ago50:31

50:31

Happy Earth Day! There are two concepts that every person should understand to be a better Earthling: entropy and self-organization. It seems like a paradox, but systems on Earth are simultaneously breaking down into disorder and arranging themselves into complex superorganisms. Everything on Earth (well, really in the whole universe) is subject to…

1
Even AI Chatbots Hate Us: The Rise of the New Luddites, with Brian Merchant 1:09:46

3M ago1:09:46

1:09:46

Who knew that the breakthrough moment of AI sentience would come from interacting with an annoying neo-Luddite? After failing to raise a single dollar for PCI’s newest initiative — the $350 billion Transdisciplinary Institute for Phalse Prophet Studies and Education (TIPPSE) — Jason, Rob, and Asher devise the only profitable pitch for raising capit…

1
A Temporary Techno Stunt: Tom Murphy on Falling out of Love with Modernity 54:21

3M ago54:21

54:21

Recovering technology booster Tom Murphy visits Crazy Town to discuss his journey from shooting lasers at the moon, to trying to "solve" the energy predicament, to falling out of love with modernity itself. Asher, Jason, Rob, and Tom discuss the roots and short-lived nature of modernity, which has not only shaped the world we inhabit but conquered …

1
Eating the Future: The NY Times Goes Full Ecomodernist on Food and Farming 47:00

4M ago47:00

47:00

How will we feed people living in the megacities of the 21st century, especially while confronting climate chaos and the depletion of fossil fuels and fossil water? According to the mainstream media: ecomodernism! Massive deployment of technology on factory farms and an extreme ramp-up of industrialization will save the day – right? RIGHT?!? If you…

1
Bargaining With Collapse: A Superabundance of Lab Grown Meat and Dryer Balls 37:32

4M ago37:32

37:32

Do you contemplate topics like climate change, biodiversity loss, and the risk of civilizational collapse? If so, then you probably understand something about bargaining – a psychological defense mechanism that’s one of the five stages of grief. With just a wee bit of embarrassment, Asher, Jason, and Rob reveal damning episodes of bargaining from t…

1
The House Is Quite Literally on Fire: Peter Kalmus on the Climate Emergency Hitting Home 53:48

5M ago53:48

53:48

Peter Kalmus, climate scientist and returning friend of Crazy Town, used to live in Altadena, California, where one of the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires struck on January 7th. Having learned that his former house had burned, Peter penned an emotional article for the New York Times about his family's decision to leave LA two years prior, out of s…

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The Frequent Flyer Tree: Losing the Last Bit of Sense in the Climate Emergency 30:28

5M ago30:28

30:28

In the world of college sports, money talks and the volleyball team walks, er, flies 33,000 miles to play games. The NCAA, like almost everyone else, is playing games with Mother Nature. What do we expect student-athletes to gain from ignoring the climate emergency (not to mention putting their health at risk)? Who cares, as long as we can wring a …

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Shotgunning Hedwig: The Dilemma of Invasives and the Bizarre Decision to Slaughter Barred Owls 33:36

6M ago33:36

33:36

The US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to "manage" barred owls by shooting half a million of them over the next three decades. Jason, Rob, and Asher (along with the postal workers at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) are upset about this plan for addressing the predicament of invasive species. Surely there's a finer tool than a doub…

1
Breaking News: Crazy Town Joins the Newly Formed Department of Entropy 45:08

7M ago45:08

45:08

Rob, Jason, and Asher talk about joining the new Trump Administration, at least until Elon Musk eradicates it. They explore the implications of Trump 2.0 through three reality-bending lenses – shifting baselines, entropy, and the upside of down – and three ways of responding: resistance, resilience, and regeneration. They decided they couldn’t stom…

1
Bonus: Human Nature Odyssey 40:11

11M ago40:11

40:11

Sometimes you just wanna hear from someone else. In this bonus episode, Alex Leff enters Crazy Town to introduce his podcast, Human Nature Odyssey. Before playing the first episode of the podcast, Jason, Rob, and Asher find lots of laughs with Alex as they contemplate environmental destruction, gorilla suits, the fate of civilization, tandem bike r…

1
Escaping Escapism: What a Bizarre Rodent Ritual Can Teach Us About Navigating a World We Can't Really Escape 1:06:03

1y ago1:06:03

1:06:03

After a full season of trying to escape more than a dozen evil -isms (fun things like capitalism, industrialism, extremism, and otherism), Rob, Jason, and Asher come to one conclusion: there is no true escape -- at least not for those of us who want to help their communities collapse and re-emerge gracefully. Join the boys as they explore what the …

1
Escaping Otherism: Why Dr. Seuss Could Never Find a Rhyme for Genocide 1:18:34

1y ago1:18:34

1:18:34

The drive to belong to an in-group and the tendency to observe differences in others are core parts of the human condition. But differentiating can (and often does) turn deadly when it morphs into othering. Jason, Rob, and Asher try not to other one another as they explore the roots and consequences of othering, and the ins and outs of belonging as…

1
Escaping Extremism: Slap Fighting Our Way to a More Civil Society 1:06:33

1y ago1:06:33

1:06:33

The forces of media, technology, and even the wiring of our own brains seem aligned to draw people toward extremism. But never fear: Asher, Jason, and Rob unpack why we're so susceptible to wackadoodle viewpoints and offer ways to tamp down extremist thinking and behavior in ourselves, our communities, and across society. Along the way, they tour t…

1
Escaping Humanocentrism: Why a Slime Mold Will Be President in 2028 1:10:15

1y ago1:10:15

1:10:15

The myth of human dominion and exceptionalism is as old as the Bible and as unquestioned as gravity, at least in "modern" society. Rob, Asher, and Jason explore the ways that humanocentrism has come to dominate the planet and our minds, while pointing to ancient and newly emerging ways that the more-than-human world is respected and protected, even…

1
Escaping Individualism: Why Rickey Don't Like It When Rickey Feels Lonely 1:11:22

1y ago1:11:22

1:11:22

The epidemic of loneliness isn't just a product of technology or even capitalism -- it has its roots in the same fertile ground as the founding of the United States. And it may just be the most important "ism" of all to escape as we enter the Great Unraveling of social and environmental systems. Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy languag…

1
Escaping Imperialism: Where Does Darth Vader Get His Lithium? 1:12:54

1y ago1:12:54

1:12:54

Perhaps no community has undergone more versions of imperialism than the tiny island nation of Nauru, which has morphed from being "Pleasant Island" to the mined-out home of offshore banks, discarded refugees, and deep sea mining interests. Jason, Rob, and Asher take a bad trip to wrap their heads around Nauru, the topic of "psychedelic imperialism…

1
What To Do When Design Is The Bottleneck 28:05

1y ago28:05

28:05

What happens when design is the bottleneck? You came up with a great business idea, maybe even raised some capital for it, and then decided to hire an outside design agency, like ours at The MisFits, to build your brand identity. You had good momentum at first, but you can’t agree on the right design yet. Now what. This is a frustrating challenge f…

1
Escaping Capitalism: How to Replace the "Logic" of Psychopaths, Pharma Bros, and Private Prisons 1:10:54

1y ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Capitalism ruins SO many things, from key sectors like college sports all the way down to novelties like people's health and the environment. Jason, Rob, and Asher rely on their keen insight and otherworldly investigative talents to somehow unearth a few flaws of capitalism. But rather than wallow in the world of profiteering and privatization, the…

1
Lean Marketing: More Leads, More Profit, Less Marketing with Allan Dib, Author of Lean Marketing & The One-Page Marketing Plan 50:30

1y ago50:30

50:30

When I first took the leap into entrepreneurship full-time, back in 2018, one of the first books I recommended was Allan Dib's, The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd. In the book, Allan gives a step by step process for creating a marketing plan that converts warm prospects into paying customers.…

1
Escaping Growthism: Wendigo Economics, Mystery Houses, and Becoming the Bear 1:03:22

1y ago1:03:22

1:03:22

Grow or die. It's the governing principle of companies, investment portfolios, national economies, and even philanthropic foundations. Oh, and cancer. Asher, Jason, and Rob lay bare the stats on everything from human population, energy consumption, global GDP, greenhouse gas emissions, and the size of cars and cruise ships, before concluding that t…

1
Escaping Globalism: Rebuilding the Local Economy One Pig Thyroid at a Time 1:08:09

1y ago1:08:09

1:08:09

From the top of a skyscraper in Dubai, Jason, Rob, and Asher chug margaritas made from the purest Greenland glacier ice as they cover the "merits" of globalism. International trade brings so many things, like murder hornets, piles of plastic tchotchkes, and deadly supply chain disruptions. The opposite of globalism is localism -- learn how to build…

1
Killer Creative with Robert Mains, CMO at Guardian Revial & CEO of Rebel Victory Media 32:40

1y ago32:40

32:40

How do you drive traffic to your website? I know this is a question that I’ve been pondering lately as we continue to grow the MisFits and think of ways to help our clients. One way is through Killer Creative, badass videos, and other forms of content that catch your perfect customers' attention, leading them down a rabbit hole that eventually conv…

1
Escaping Technologyism: Dreams of AI Sheep and the Deadliest Word in Film History 1:06:47

1y ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Modern humans have a Stockholm Syndrome relationship to technology, which has kidnapped us while convincing us it has our best interests in mind. But when one looks back at the history of plastics or the current frenzy around AI, it isn't hard to see the insanity of doubling down on new technology to save us from previous technology. Find out what …

1
Escaping Speedism: How to Slow Down and Enjoy the Collapse 1:09:13

1y ago1:09:13

1:09:13

Consult your inner tortoise to find novel ways of slowing down and living the good life. In a world haunted by just-in-time delivery, hyperactive business, accelerating environmental calamities, and metric tons of stress, Jason, Rob, and Asher work at a fast and furious pace to savor the moments, because there aren't many left. Warning: This podcas…

1
Escaping Urbanism: Green Acres, Climate Migration, and the End of the Megacity 1:18:43

1y ago1:18:43

1:18:43

Did a whimsical 1960s TV sitcom presage climate migration and a reversal of urban growth? We're not calling for a Godzilla-esque teardown of cities, but climate change is forcing a serious urban rethink. Jason, Rob, and Asher offer visions of better infrastructure, policies, and culture that you can embrace, even if your home is in the city. Warnin…

1
Escaping Consumerism: Why Crocheted Codpieces Are the Perfect Antidote to Fast Fashion 1:03:27

1y ago1:03:27

1:03:27

If American consumers ever come up for air under the pile of crap in their storage units, they find themselves face to face with a materialistic hellscape of megastores, McMansions, endless fleets of delivery trucks, and evil hordes of targeted ads. But help is on the way. Jason, Rob, and Asher present ideas for shaping up a world beyond consumeris…

1
Innovate or Die 45:49

1y ago45:49

45:49

The moment you start to get comfortable and complacent, you’re already dead; you just don’t realize it yet. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgBy IRONBOUND Media, IRON Mike Steadman

1
Escaping Industrialism: How to Avoid Pancakes on a Stick and Other "Miracles" of the Industrial Age 57:29

1+ y ago57:29

57:29

Jason, Rob, and Asher take a tour of New Caledonia, California's Central Valley, Bhutan, and Cuba to uncover the ins and outs of industrialism, especially as it has been applied to agriculture. Along the way they riff on how the hell we can escape from an -ism that completely engulfs us. Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language. Sourc…

1
You Are Not Serious People 41:54

1+ y ago41:54

41:54

If you’re afraid to invest in your brand, in the words of Logan Roy from the HBO show Succession, You are not serious people. I’m all about staying lean, driving sales, and maximizing profitability. I’m a bootstrapper and proud of it. Truth be told, you can start a business these days with a Google Doc, a menu of products and services, and a hit li…

1
Escape Routes: Let's Get the F**k out of Crazy Town 51:02

1+ y ago51:02

51:02

Escape Routes! That's the theme of the sixth season of Crazy Town. We're exploring how to escape industrialism, consumerism, globalism, capitalism, and all the other -isms that are causing a polycrisis of environmental and social breakdown. Most of all, Jason, Rob, and Asher are looking to maintain their sense of humor while escaping fatalism and f…

1
Crazy Town Season 6 Trailer 1:16

1+ y ago1:16

1:16

Join us on March 13, 2024 for the launch of our sixth season, in which Jason, Rob, and Asher explore escape routes from industrialism, capitalism, consumerism, and a bunch of other "-isms" that are causing the polycrisis of environmental and social breakdown. Support the showBy Post Carbon Institute: Sustainability, Climate, Collapse, and Dark Humor

1
Killer Video Storytelling with Sean Bell, Founder of Loud Media 32:34

1+ y ago32:34

32:34

Drew and I chop it up with fellow veterans and video storyteller extraordinaire Sean Bell, Founder of Loud Media, which helps brands tell epic stories through video content. On the show, Sean shares how he thinks about storytelling, why he’s so passionate about video, Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.do…

1
What Two Local Businesses Have Taught Me About Brand Loyalty 19:46

1+ y ago19:46

19:46

I share what a local bar and barbershop taught me about brand loyalty. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Checkout our new website: www.IRONBOUNDMedia.comBy IRONBOUND Media, IRON Mike Steadman

1
Bonus: Grief and Making Connections with LaUra Schmidt 47:49

1+ y ago47:49

47:49

LaUra Schmidt visits Crazy Town to discuss her work with the Good Grief Network and her book, How to Live in a Chaotic Climate: 10 Steps to Reconnect with Ourselves, Our Communities, and Our Planet. Along the way, she shares wisdom and insights on courage, taking meaningful action, terror management theory, and practices for processing the strong e…

1
A Media Company For The Misfits & Underdogs 41:05

1+ y ago41:05

41:05

I discuss IRONBOUND Media’s rebrand and category expansion to serve ‘Underdogs & Misfits’ (Challenger brands led by Veterans, Black women, and anyone else use to being one of one). Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3…

1
Data-Driven Beauty with Shante Frazier, Founder of WellCapped 46:34

1+ y ago46:34

46:34

Do you ever come across a founder with an idea that makes you think to yourself, “damn, I really think they’re onto something here.” That’s how I feel about today’s podcast guest, Shante Frazier, Founder of WellCapped, a data-driven beauty company that provides online wig rentals through a monthly subscription. I’m not a venture capitalist yet, but…

1
Bonus: New Year's Dissolutions 34:15

1+ y ago34:15

34:15

Asher, Jason, and Rob reflect on 2023 – a year filled to the brim with Crazy Townisms like the COP climate conference being held in Dubai, an anti-aging nutbag who parasitizes his own son, and the hijinks of the world’s dumbest billionaires. After a few predictions (all with money-back guarantees), they turn to some personal resolutions that might …

1
Internal Branding & The Business of Design with Dan Janssen, Owner / Creative Director at Lincoln Design Company 56:23

1+ y ago56:23

56:23

Today on Dog Whistle Branding, my boy Drew O’Brien, from the design company “We Make Cool Shit,” chop it up with Legendary designer and studio owner, Dan Janssen, Owner/Creative Director of Lincoln Design Co., a Portland-based branding and design studio that represents the gold standard for modern designers, whose clients include Nike, Hot Wheels, …

1
Billion Dollar Dreams with Marc Krauthamer, CEO of AMP Neutraceuticals 53:39

1+ y ago53:39

53:39

What does it take to build a billion-dollar company? If you’re like most people, you probably assume it requires raising venture capital, building some sort of SAAS product, and scaling it to millions of users. The last thing you’d probably think of us is maxing out your credit cards to start a manufacturing company that produces supplements stocki…

1
You Think You Need Marketing When You Really Need Sales! 21:16

1+ y ago21:16

21:16

In this episode of Dog Whistle Branding, I discuss the problem with focusing on marketing when you should be focusing on sales. Trust me, this problem is more common than you think. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/…

1
What Are Your Priorities For 2024? 22:57

1+ y ago22:57

22:57

With another year in the books and another one head, have you thought long and hard about what you’re hoping to accomplish in the next twelve months? Either way, today’s episode is for you. Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Learn More about Bunker Labs by visiting: www.BunkerLabs.org…

1
Ten Thousand True Fans 16:54

1+ y ago16:54

16:54

In this episode of DWB, I reflect on my goal for the new year goal of acquiring 10,000 True Fans, as opposed to 1,000 as recommended by Kevin Kelly in his essay, “1000 True Fans. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gm…

1
The Truth About Launching A Startup with Lee Mills, Founder & CEO of Pixly 47:38

1+ y ago47:38

47:38

In this episode of the Transition, I catch up with Navy Veteran Lee Mills, Founder & CEO of Pixly, a visual documentation & collaboration platform for Construction, Insurance, Facilities and Field Service Professionals. In 2022, Lee won the Veteran Funds 100k Pitch Competition at the Military Influencer Conference. Since then, Lee and I frequently …

1
Stop Brainstorming, Start Painstorming 17:40

1+ y ago17:40

17:40

In this episode of DWB, I discuss why “painstorming” is the new brand storming. Before we jump into the show, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the link in the show notes and also Download the official Dog Whistle Branding playbook at ironboundmedia.com Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhis…

1
Bootstrapping An American-Made Jean Company with Patrick Mate, Founder & CEO of Patriot Jean Co. 43:33

1+ y ago43:33

43:33

In this episode of the Transition, I sit down with Patrick Mate, Army Veteran and Founder of Patriot Jean Company, An Arizona-based American-made apparel company that produces 100% grown, sewn, and built Jeans. Manufacturing is a hard business, but that’s not stopping him. Although he’s still in the startup phase, Patricks invested over six-figures…

1
Bonus: Vanilla Andreessen, Pygmy Marmosets, and Hi-Tech Delusions 1:03:03

1+ y ago1:03:03

1:03:03

The most vomit-inducing document of 2023 has to be the "Techno-Optimist Manifesto," written (oh so obviously) by a billionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Join Jason, Rob, and Asher if you feel like sharing in some outrage and learning about a WAY better manifesto that just so happens to focus on the world's smallest monkeys. Warning: This p…