As The World Burns
Claim This Podcastby As The World Burns
Podcast Overview
<p>As the World Burns is a podcast about books… and the inconveniently chaotic world we’re all living in. Each episode, hosts Jamie and Mel take a book—new or old, fiction or nonfiction—and put it in conversation with the moment we’re currently trying to survive.</p><p></p><p>Part book club, part cultural commentary, and part “did that really just happen?”, the show explores how ideas from the page collide with real life. Some books help explain the present, some make it make less sense, and some just give us something smarter to talk about while everything else is on fire.</p><p></p><p>Because if the world is going to burn, we might as well be well-read.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/8/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 17, 2026
Episode 3 | In which corruption becomes a business model
<p>In this episode, we delve into Anne Applebaum's book "Autocracy Inc," exploring how contemporary dictators operate within sophisticated networks that blur traditional ideological lines. We connect these ideas to current global political dynamics, discussing how autocrats maintain power through systemic corruption, propaganda, and international cooperation.</p><p></p><p>Key topics</p><p></p><ul><li>Evolution of autocracies from cartoonish villains to complex networks of power</li><li>Business model of modern autocrats focused on wealth, impunity, and staying rich</li><li>How autocrats collaborate globally to evade sanctions and share resources</li><li>The role of propaganda in exhausting and disillusioning citizens</li><li>The strategic erosion of civil society and independent institutions</li><li>The impact of disinformation campaigns on democracy and social cohesion</li><li>The importance of civic participation and vigilance to safeguard democracy</li><li>How democracies can respond effectively through stronger alliances and enforcement</li></ul><p></p><p>All resources can be found on our website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://astheworldburns.show/episodes/03" target="_blank"><b>https://astheworldburns.show/episodes/03</b></a></p>
June 8, 2026
Minisode 2 | In which voting rights get...complicated
<p>What happens when voting rights protections are weakened - and states move quickly to take advantage of it?<br /><br />In this minisode, Jamie and Mel; connect a recent Supreme Court ruling and Tennessee's redistricting efforts to the themes explored in Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. They discuss how power preserves itself through institutions, why "colorblind" policies can still produce unequal outcomes, and how democratic erosion often happens through legal, incremental changes rather than dramatic events.<br /><br />A conversation about voting rights, representation, systemic inequality, and the warning signs hiding in plain sight.<br /><br />Chapters<br />00:00 Introduction to Caste and Democratic Erosion<br />01:47 Overview of Louisiana v. Colli and the Court's Decision<br />02:14 Implications of Shifting from Outcome to Intent in Redistricting<br />03:11 Case Study: Tennessee's Redistricting and Its Impact<br />04:34 The Insidious Nature of Systemic Inequality<br />05:48 Colorblindness and Its Consequences in Voting Laws<br />07:18 Support for Systemic Racism Without Overt Racism<br />09:22 Legal Challenges to Racially Discriminatory Maps<br />11:05 Historical Context: Race, Law, and Hierarchy<br />13:02 Political Power and Redistricting Dynamics<br />15:12 The Incremental Erosion of Democracy<br />17:39 The Role of Legal and Institutional Manipulation<br />19:19 Normalization of Systemic Inequality<br />20:05 The Fallacy of Colorblind Frameworks<br />22:07 The Threat of Incremental Systemic Changes<br />24:11 The Harm of Dismantling Protections<br />26:23 The Power of Rhetoric and Cultural Narratives<br />28:41 The Appeal of Authoritarian Figures and Systemic Support<br />30:27 The Role of Public Awareness and Resistance<br />34:49 The Feedback Loop of Power and Hierarchy<br />36:25 The Role of Institutions in Preserving Power<br />37:07 Hope and Resistance: Challenging the System<br /><br />Resources mentioned:<br />Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson<br />How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt<br />All other resources in our Show Notes: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://astheworldburns.show/episodes/minisode-02" target="_blank">https://astheworldburns.show/episodes/minisode-02</a><br /><br />Connect with us!<br />Instagram: / astheworldburnspod <br /><br />Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations that connect books to the world we’re living in.<br /><br />#Racism #CasteSystem #SocialInequality #IsabelWilkerson #SocialJustice #votingrights #democracticerosion #racialdisparities #redistricting #supremecourt #systemicinequality #politicalpower #civilrights #legalchallenges</p>
April 29, 2026
Episode 2 | In which we start a difficult conversation (and fangirl over Isabel Wilkerson)
<p>What if racism isn’t the root problem?</p><p>What if it’s just the surface of something deeper behind racism in the United States?</p><p>In this episode, we talk about the ideas from Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson and explore a perspective that shifts how you look at race, power, and inequality.</p><p></p><p>The book argues that beneath racism, there is a hidden caste system - an underlying structure that shapes who holds power, who has access to opportunity, and how people are treated, often without being fully recognized.<br /></p><p>We unpack what that means in the context of systemic racism and inequality in the U.S., and why this system is so difficult to see even when it affects everyday life.</p><p></p><p>We also connect these ideas to real-world examples, including disparities in healthcare, reactions to shifts in political power, and the ways institutions reinforce existing hierarchies.</p><p></p><p>This is not a conversation about having all the answers. It’s an attempt to better understand the structure we’re all operating within, and to question the assumptions we tend to take for granted.</p><p></p><p>If nothing else, this episode is an invitation to look a little closer and ask whether we’re seeing the full picture.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Chapters:</b><br /></p><p>00:00 Teaser </p><p>00:53 Podcast Introduction</p><p>02:05 Why This Conversation Is Difficult</p><p>04:22 Why Silence Keeps the System Alive</p><p>08:20 The Hidden System Behind Racism Explained</p><p>10:42 Racism vs Caste: What’s the Difference</p><p>16:19 How We Reinforce the System Without Knowing</p><p>19:57 Who Benefits From the System</p><p>24:33 Power, Money, and Influence</p><p>30:03 Why the System Doesn’t Change</p><p>32:56 Health Inequality and Real Impact</p><p>36:17 Why This Affects Everyone</p><p>41:36 How the System Is Maintained Today</p><p>46:03 Why We Avoid These Conversations</p><p>48:30 Fear of Getting It Wrong</p><p>55:49 The Old House Analogy Explained</p><p>01:05:37 Final Thoughts and Closing </p><p><br /><br />Sources and other details can be found on the episode page here: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://astheworldburns.show/episodes/02" target="_blank">https://astheworldburns.show/episodes/02</a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Connect with us!</b></p><p></p><p>Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/astheworldburnspod/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/astheworldburnspod/</a> <br /></p><p>Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations that connect books to the world we’re living in.</p>
5 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is As The World Burns?
<p>As the World Burns is a podcast about books… and the inconveniently chaotic world we’re all living in. Each episode, hosts Jamie and Mel take a book—new or old, fiction or nonfiction—and put it in conversation with the moment we’re currently trying to survive.</p><p></p><p>Part book club, part cultural commentary, and part “did that really just happen?”, the show explores how ideas from the page collide with real life. Some books help explain the present, some make it make less sense, and some just give us something smarter to talk about while everything else is on fire.</p><p></p><p>Because if the world is going to burn, we might as well be well-read.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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