This is a podcast about utopian ideas and paradise lost. We look at utopian concepts from the past, present and future, as well as utopian societies and communes, which promise the world to eager followers but inevitably fail when it all starts to unravel. Some of these utopias just fall apart, while others devolve into true horrors and even brutal cults. I’ll break down what these groups’ leaders were thinking, what attracted their devotees in the first place, and how it all went wrong.
Over twenty years ago, Dubai began constructing the world's largest artificial archipelago of islands, designed to be a lavish oasis for the super-rich. Today, the islands stand mostly empty and some are sinking back into the sea, but the developers and government of Dubai refuse to give up on the mind boggling mega-project. Let me tell you about this astonishing feat of engineering, how it did work--kind of, but also hasn’t panned out the way they hoped, and why they’ll probably never let this one go no matter how bad an idea it was.
Connect on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/failedutopiapod) or at the Failed Utopia website (http://www.failedutopia.com/).
Nakheel Properties (https://www.nakheel.com/en)
Dubai Set To Open Heart Of Europe With 6 Outrageous Themed Islands (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2020/05/24/dubai-set-to-open-heart-of-europe-with-6-outrageous-themed-islands/?sh=78ed43a25b26)
The World is sinking: Dubai islands 'falling into the sea' (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/8271643/The-World-is-sinking-Dubai-islands-falling-into-the-sea.html)
Owner of Dubai's 'little Britain' jailed for non-payment of cheques (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/23/dubai-safi-qurashi)
Second Irish property investor kills himself over financial problems (https://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/irish-property-investor-financial-problems/)
Written and produced by Anna Roberts
Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez (http://www.perryvasquez.com/)
Intro music by Elliot Middleton
Merchandise: www.failedutopia.com/shop (http://www.failedutopia.com/shop)
31 Jan 2023
New Year's Resolutions
Why most New Year’s resolutions fail, the Babylonians and Romans, putting our hands on a peacock, setting and getting goals, habit formation, motivation vs. discipline, believing you deserve to have what you want, and what procrastination really is (you’re not lazy).
Connect on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/failedutopiapod) or at the Failed Utopia website (http://www.failedutopia.com/).
Links & Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-7233
VictimConnect, a referral helpline for victims of crime: 1-855-484-2846
For veterans, Make The Connection (https://www.maketheconnection.net/what-is-mtc/)
America's Top New Year's Resolutions for 2023 (https://www.statista.com/chart/29019/most-common-new-years-resolutions-us/) Statista
Atomic Habits (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habits) by James Clear
How Long Does it Actually Take to Form a New Habit? (Backed by Science) (https://jamesclear.com/new-habit) James Clear
Written and produced by Anna Roberts
Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez (http://www.perryvasquez.com/)
Intro music by Elliot Middleton
Merchandise: www.failedutopia.com/shop (http://www.failedutopia.com/shop)
The Theranos saga continues. Updates on Elizabeth Holmes' sentencing and Sunny Balwani's trial and verdict.
Connect on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/failedutopiapod) or at the Failed Utopia website (http://www.failedutopia.com/).
Links & Resources
Theranos Full Explainer: https://failedutopia.com/theranos/ (https://failedutopia.com/theranos/)
Holmes Trial & Verdict Updates:
YouTube https://youtu.be/P9xR6jn84kU (https://youtu.be/P9xR6jn84kU)
Audio only https://failedutopia.com/theranos-update/ (https://failedutopia.com/theranos-update/)
Written and produced by Anna Roberts
Burning palm tree artwork by Perry Vasquez (http://www.perryvasquez.com/)
Intro music by Elliot Middleton
Merchandise: www.failedutopia.com/shop (http://www.failedutopia.com/shop)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
37 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
9 ratings
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