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.comCheck out his many books starting here:https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Provisions-Creation-Revival-Cuisine/dp/022614111Xhttps://www.amazon.com/Ark-Taste-Delicious-Distinctive-Define/dp/031647732XHe can be reached through his university: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/english_language_and_literature/our_people/directory/shields_david.phpFind more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.comRead 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 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.comFind more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.comRead 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 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.comLearn more about Bruce's farm: https://www.winfieldfarm.usRead 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
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.netJohn's dreamwidth journal: https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.orgAll of Johns many and varied books can be found here and at other distributors: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IOFELWFind more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.comRead 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 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.comRead his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/
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=cc508bd627a64aa7bf84512445e87e8eFollow Sebastian's updates : https://x.com/ATinyGreenCellFind more of Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.comRead his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/Hide
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.comThe plan to build an alternative civilisation: https://www.promethean-nexus.comThe plan to develop sustainable thorium energy: https://www.vulcancatalyst.comFollow Shane's work at Substack: https://recombinationnation.substack.comRead 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 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/summaryLinks to the Going to Seed conference will be added once they are available.Follow Shane's work at his Substack blog: https://recombinationnation.substack.comRead his book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/
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:Zero Input Agriculture blogTaming the Apocalypse audiobook Our Vitreous Womb
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.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
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.comYou 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.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks to Greg Willkeen about his Bactelium project, aiming to develop a suite of food safe microbial communities that can provide food security from the most basic feedstock resources. We also delve into his crop breeding work developing a starchy storage squash, and discuss the evolving backyard microbiology community thriving across the world.Check out Greg's substack blog - https://bactelium.substack.comHis main webpage for Bactelium- https://www.bactelium.comAnd donate to support his work- https://givebutter.com/food-security-todayYou can find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks with Brad Neil, an expert in the improved English writing system called Quikscript and all round conscript and conlang enthusiast. We delve into the history of spelling and writing reform, how technology could catalyse a popular English reform in coming years, and Brad evaluates Shane's own ideas about creating a post-industrial writing technology.You can check out Brad's Quikscript page here- https://friedorange.xyz/quikscript/intro.htmlAnd explore a wide range of conscripts here - https://www.omniglot.comYou can find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks to his not too distant neighbour Darren, from Herbalistics nursery, about his amazing work crossing Australian crop relatives of citrus, sweet potatoes and a long list of medicinal plants. Check out Darren's online nursery and blog- https://herbalistics.com.auAnd his beautiful collection on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/herbalistics/?hl=enYou can find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks to Dr Eugene McCarthy for a third time, delving into the implications and applications of hybridisation driven change in organisms.You can read more detail about Eugene's theory here: https://www.macroevolution.net/human-origins.htmlYou can find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane has a deep discussion with Klaus Lotz from PermaDynamics, a syntropic farmer from New Zealand whose origin story traces back to working with the originator of this fascinating method in Brazil. We cover dairy goats, tree crops, and the specifics of living in a broader intentional community founded on permaculture principles.Read more of Klaus' work at his main website: https://www.permadynamics.co.nzImmerse in beautiful photos of the property: https://www.instagram.com/permadynamics/Check out the Sapp app for selecting the best local trees and plants: https://www.sapp.earthFind more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks to Dr Philip Bell about his ground breaking theory of viral eukaryogenesis. It is well established that important parts of our cells, the energy producing mitochondria, originated from a free living bacteria that were absorbed and incorporated into every complex living thing on the planet. Dr Bell has looked further back into evolution and discovered that the nucleus at the heart of the cell originated from a free living virus, a bold theory which is slowly gaining acceptance.You can read a popular science article on the theory here- https://www.quantamagazine.org/did-viruses-create-the-nucleus-the-answer-may-be-near-20201125/You can read a research article summary here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.858064/fullWatch a full seminar on the theory- https://youtu.be/9sTYggbjV5U?si=TAOT8kre2UDZeaUrFind more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane and Steve have a stimulating chat about his extraordinary life, the seed industry, soil nutrition and health and finding a new community on the bottom of the world. Steve's book "Gardening When it Counts" was one of the most influential books in Shane's life, not because it changed his abstract thoughts. Instead it changed how he acted in the world. This is probably the longest episode recorded but worth every minute.Check out Steve's extensive list of books- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steve-Solomon/author/B001JRWZS8?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=97788a39-aee1-424c-915d-4febcd30231eMany more free articles and books here - https://soilandhealth.org/steve-solomons-home-page/#Get in touch with Steve by listening carefully through to the end of the episode.Find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks with Capello about his experiences establishing diverse hazelnut groves in the Ozarks, integration of sheep grazing, and deeper thoughts about the potential role of animistic/shamanistic world views in response to the unfolding end of industrialisation.Recommended readingJoseph Henrich - "The WEIRDest People in the World" (re: cultural adaptation and knowledge transmission)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_WEIRDest_People_in_the_WorldDave Jacke & Eric Toensmeier - "Edible Forest Gardens" (two volumes) (re: food forest layering and production)- https://au.permacultureprinciples.com/product/edible-forest-gardens-volume-1/Find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/
Shane talks with Julian Gough, philosopher turned cosmologist, about his stunning theory extending Smolin's Cosmic Natural Selection. If organisms and ecosystems can evolve, then perhaps entire universes are part of a chain of variation and selection as well. Recent observations from the James Webb space telescope have supported many of Julian's boldest predictions and the scientific establishment is beginning to pay attention.Read more about Julian's work at his substack: https://theeggandtherock.comA great starting point on Blowtorch Theory: https://www.irishtimes.com/science/space/2025/04/24/beyond-the-big-bang-irishmans-universal-evolution-theory-challenges-accepted-cosmology/Find more of Shane’s work at:Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.comTaming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/