In the first hour, CEO and cofounder of Goldback Inc., Jeremy Cordon, joined guest host Richard Syrett (Twitter) to discuss the ancient allure and enduring power of gold. "Gold is one of the only metals that doesn't rust or corrode, making it very attractive for use in commerce," he explained. Cordon noted that gold has been a store of value for thousands of years, with examples dating back to 600 BC when coins were first minted in Lydia, part of modern-day Turkey. "Coins are the true birthplace of economic freedom," he remarked.
Cordon explained that while gold was historically used for larger transactions, smaller purchases required other materials such as copper and silver, eventually leading to the gradual introduction of paper money. He pointed out that the dollar has lost 99% of its value over the last century, illustrating the consequences of a fiat system: "If you go back 100 years, the penny had the same purchasing power as the dollar does today."
In response to this, Cordon has minted his own currency called Goldbacks. "Imagine a $1 bill, but it looks like it was made out of gold and actually is made out of gold," he described, comparing the bills to "Willy Wonka tickets" due to their shiny, artistic design. Goldbacks are created by splitting an ounce of gold into 1,000 pieces through a high-tech process, resulting in a durable, physical form of gold money that can be easily carried and traded. Cordon noted, "It's the most cash-like form of gold perhaps that has ever existed in human history." He also shared that approximately $200 million worth of Goldbacks are currently in circulation.
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The second part of the show featured Gabriel Custodiet, host of the Watchman Privacy Podcast, who spoke about the loss of societal freedoms, psychological manipulation, and the rise of dystopia in the 20th century. Custodiet began the discussion by exploring the historical and philosophical underpinnings of utopianism and its implications for privacy and society. He defined utopianism as "a modern construction" focused on creating an ideal world, often at great cost. "There is no creation of Utopia without destruction," he stated, emphasizing that the pursuit of a perfect society typically involves coercion and the suppression of individual freedoms.
Exploring the intentions behind early utopian thinkers like Karl Marx and H.G. Wells, Custodiet suggested that their ideologies, while possibly well-meaning, resulted in damaging consequences. He pointed out that utopianism often morphs into dystopian realities, as seen in the works of authors like Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, who critiqued the oppressive nature of these idealistic visions.
When discussing the practical implications of utopianism, Custodiet pointed to the rise of surveillance and control mechanisms in society. He explained that early forms of surveillance, such as fingerprinting and ID cards, were envisioned by figures like H.G. Wells as tools to maintain order in a controlled society. Custodiet emphasized that Wells was deeply skeptical of humanity's goodness, a sentiment that permeates his works. He noted, "Wells grew up with a scientific education that ingrained in him a disdain for humanity," which is reflected in the characters of his novels.