Global Reserve Currencies and the Triffin Dilemma

Global Reserve Currencies and the Triffin Dilemma

Podcast Transcript Today, approximately 160 currencies are used worldwide. Some countries share the same currency, while others use the currency of another country.  However, not all currencies are equal. One currency always tends to become the dominant currency in international affairs, known as the global reserve currency.  There are benefits for the country that issues …

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Biological Taxonomy and the Tree of Life

Biological Taxonomy and the Tree of Life

Podcast Transcript All living things on the planet Earth, from microbes to whales, can be categorized into a single hierarchical system.  This system has been developed over the last 300 years. Layers have been added, and there have been debates as to what creatures should go where. However, it has proved an incredibly useful way …

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The History of Wire

The History of Wire

Podcast Transcript The modern world runs on metal wires.  These thin metal strands literally circle the globe and are responsible for much of the world’s electrical power and communications.  It is something so basic that most people never bother to stop and think about how wires are made.  It turns out wire has been made …

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The Occupation and Liberation of Paris

The Occupation and Liberation of Paris

Podcast Transcript Of all the cities that experienced the Second World War, one of the most interesting stories is that of Paris.  Paris was not the scene of major fighting like Warsaw, which was all but destroyed. It was occupied for over four years, during which time it saw acts of resistance and collaboration.  When …

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Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium: The Other Precious Metals

Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium: The Other Precious Metals

Podcast Transcript When I say precious metals, most of you probably immediately think of gold and silver.  Historically, they have indeed been precious metals. However, they are not the only ones.  There are elemental metals that are rarer and more expensive than gold. They have important industrial uses….and in some cases, they are much more …

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All About Fiji

All About Fiji

Podcast Transcript Located in the South Pacific is the nation of Fiji.  Fiji is an archipelago of 330 islands located about 1,100 nautical miles north of New Zealand.  It is a unique mix of Pacific cultures with both Melanesian and Polynesian influences, with a dash of Indian influence as well.  Given its size and population, …

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The Greatest Nobel Prize Snubs

The Greatest Nobel Prize Snubs

Podcast Transcript As of the recording of this episode, 1,012 people have been awarded Nobel Prizes across every category.  This episode is not about any of them. This episode is about the people who didn’t win a Nobel Prize but arguably should have.  Whether they were the victims of personal petty politics, geopolitics, or sexism, …

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The History of the Guitar

The History of the Guitar

Podcast Transcript One of the most popular instruments in the world is the guitar.  The guitar is the primary instrument in many popular forms of music today.  Yet, this wasn’t always the case. The guitar is related to multiple stringed instruments and has a lineage that goes back thousands of years.  However, the guitar that …

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