Feudal Future

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The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.
Students work with the Center’s director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.
For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director for the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or [email protected].
Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feudal-future-podcast/
Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism
Learn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87
Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribe
This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.

On this episode of Feudal Future, hosts Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky are joined Alex Trembath, CEO of Breakthrough Institute, and Robert Bryce, author and podcast host of Power Hungry to cover the energy crisis from the Russia-Ukraine War.
Robert Bryce is a Texas-based author, journalist, podcaster, film producer, and public speaker. Over the past three decades, his articles have appeared in numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, National Review, Field & Stream, and Austin Chronicle.
His new documentary, Juice: How Electricity Explains the World, which he produced along with Austin-based film director Tyson Culver, was released in mid-2020 and is now available on numerous streaming platforms including: iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vimeo, YouTube, Xbox, and Vudu. A review of Juice in Birth. Movies. Death said the message of the film “is delivered with ease and precision through smooth editing, narration, and interviews with succinct information from the past, present, and potential ideas for the future. Filled with beautiful aerial shots and poignant scenes on par with images out of National Geographic magazine, Culver’s documentary debut is enlightening and powerful.”
Alex Trembath is Deputy Director at Breakthrough. He is the lead or coauthor of several Breakthrough publications, including Coal Killer, Beyond Boom and Bust and Our High-Energy Planet. He is also co-director of Breakthrough Generation, the Breakthrough Institute's annual summer policy fellowship, which brings together some of the brightest young thinkers in the world to work together researching policy, politics, and technology. Alex came to Breakthrough by way of Breakthrough Generation 2011.
Alex helps coordinate Breakthrough’s research, communications, and events. His writing has been published bySlate, Issues in Science and Technology, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Forbes, Politico,Bloomberg, and elsewhere. His research and analysis have been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, E&E News, CNN, and other major media outlets.
Alex is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley where he received his Bachelor's in Environmental Economics and Policy. Follow Alex on Twitter @atrembath.
BRAND NEW:
From Chapman's Center of Demographics

Support Our Work
The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.
Students work with the Center’s director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.
For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director for the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or [email protected].
Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feudal-future-podcast/
Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism
Learn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87
Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribe
This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.

Today's special episode is Joel's talk on urban cities from his recent event at Chapman University. Enjoy.
The Future of Cities
The Western US has long been an innovator in developing the urban form, notably in the creation of suburbanized, multipolar cities. Yet now that model is showing strain, and there’s a fierce debate about how western cities should grow. The panel will explore these issues, from homelessness to high housing prices and the impact of regulation.
With an all star lineup including:
Charles Blain- Urban Reform Institute
Karla López del Río- Community Development Proffesional
Ryan Streeter- State Farm James Q. Wilson Scholar
Natalie Gochnour- Associate Dean in the David Eccles School of Business
Joel Kotkin- Presidential Fellow in Urban Future, Feudal Future Podcast Host
This event will be moderated by Henrik Cronqvist and panelists will discuss how the Western US, a long-time innovator in developing the urban form, is now experiencing issues from homelessness to high housing prices and the impact of regulation.

Support Our Work
The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.
Students work with the Center’s director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.
For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director for the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or [email protected].
Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feudal-future-podcast/
Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism
Learn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87
Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribe
This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.

On this episode of Feudal Future, hosts Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky are joined by Dr. Roxanne Greitz Miller, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and the Interim Dean of the Attallah College of Educational Studies.
A member of Chapman's faculty since 2005, Dr. Miller holds the rank of tenured full professor with a joint appointment to Schmid College of Science and Technology. In addition to her teaching at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels, Dr. Miller has served as principal or co-principal investigator on state and federal research grants representing more than $3.5 million in funding and has published numerous refereed articles, book chapters, and comprehensive historical abstracts. Her research centers on teacher professional development, the home-to-school connection, and STEM education. She serves as the immediate past chair of the Small Colleges Special Interest Group of the Professional and Organizational Developers (POD) Network and served as both the Division K Teacher Education Program Co-Chair for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) from 2013-2016 and the contributing editor to NSTA’s Science Scope journal from 2005-2009.
Learn more about Roxanne Greitz Miller here: https://bit.ly/2PsabkQ
Join the 'Beyond Feudalism' Facebook group to share your story, ask questions and connect with other citizen leaders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondfeudalism
Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism
Learn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87
Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribe
This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.

Support Our Work
The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.
Students work with the Center’s director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.
For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director for the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or [email protected].
Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feudal-future-podcast/
Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism
Learn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87
Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribe
This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.

The economic and political landscape between the United States and Europe is undergoing a seismic shift as Trump's tariff threats create ripples across the Atlantic. Our expert guests, Professor Veronica de Romanis from Rome and journalist Fraser Myers from London, provide fascinating insights into how European countries are responding to this new economic reality.
De Romanis characterizes Europe's reaction as one of profound uncertainty, noting that while this instability threatens short-term growth, it might ultimately strengthen the EU's collective resolve. Meanwhile, the UK government appears more optimistic about negotiating favorable terms with Trump, despite potentially devastating impacts on key British industries like automotive manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
The conversation reveals striking contrasts between American and European economic structures. While the US struggles with twin deficits (both trade and fiscal), Europe grapples with slower growth and demographic decline. Germany's momentous shift away from its traditional debt brake policies signals a recognition that increased public spending on infrastructure, healthcare, and technology has become essential to prevent recession.
Perhaps most alarming is Europe's demographic crisis, with birth rates plummeting to unsustainable levels—just 1.3 children per woman across the EU and a shocking 1.01 in Italy. This population decline threatens everything from pension systems to workforce availability. De Romanis advocates increasing female employment (currently just 50% in Italy) as a critical part of the solution.
The migration debate reveals another fascinating divergence across Europe. While Germany's substantial investment in integrating Syrian refugees has yielded impressive results (80% now employed and German-speaking), less managed approaches in countries like the UK and Italy have fueled political backlash. As Myers notes, migration has become Britain's number one political issue, even surpassing economic concerns.
As diplomatic tensions simmer between the US and Europe, the podcast captures a continent at a crossroads—torn between embracing strategic autonomy and maintaining vital economic relationships with America. For leaders like Italy's Giorgia Meloni, this creates a complex balancing act between ideological alignment with American conservatives and protecting an export-led economy that would suffer severely from tariffs.
Don't miss this thought

Support Our Work
The Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center’s senior staff.
Students work with the Center’s director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.
For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director for the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or [email protected].
Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feudal-future-podcast/
Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalism
Learn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87
Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribe
This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.