Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Recombination Nation
LeisureHome & GardenScienceLife Sciences

Recombination Nation

Shane Simonsen

Explore the intersection of evolution, ecology and civilisation with crop and livestock breeders, low input farmers, social engineers and a dazzling array of deep thinkers.

Read more of Shane Simonsen's work at the Recombination Nation substack.

Play
Open in
  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 27 min
  • English

Episodes 21

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S2 · E42
    Friday · 23 min

    Three Floating Staple Crops

    In my second solo episode I explore the potential for floating aquatic plants to produce staple carbohydrates, fat and protein in a way that could create a new kind of integrated agricultural package. I also had fun imagining the impact these crops could have in a warm and watery corner of the world in the not too distant future. What novel domestications should I explore in future episodes? If you enjoy this kind of content, then you will love Taming the Apocalypse- an exploration of the entire tree of life for untapped potential domestication. Grab a copy of the ebook on Amazon, the audiobook on Kobo, or a paid subscription to my substack where the audiobook is in the archived posts.

  • S2 · E41
    August 22 · 1 hr 22 min

    Experimental Farming for the Win with Tanja Eskildsen

    Tanja Eskildsen fell in love with plants in chilly Denmark but unleashed their potential through low-input experimental farming on the sunny island of Majorca. We retrace her path learning to trial, select and breed crops for her challenging soil and extreme climate. Check out Tanja's Substack. And lots of gorgeous photos on Instagram. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

  • S2 · E40
    August 14 · 1 hr 59 min

    Evolving Beyond Hope with Sci-Fi Author Peter Watts

    Peter Watts is a notorious science fiction author with a fascination of the outer edges of biology, fractured minds and a taste for the dark and confronting. We dive into the lessons the living world and our own nature can teach us when contemplating the destiny of this civilisation, our species and the fate of the planet. Check out Peter's insightful blog and backlist (including many complete novels, free to read) Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

  • S2 · E39
    August 7 · 1 hr 17 min

    Applying Ethnobotany to Regen Ag with Ryan Huish

    Associate Professor Ryan Huish is an experienced ethnobotanist with experience in both North America and the South Pacific, who also runs his own experimental low input farm in the mountains of Appalachia. We explore the lessons from historical and traditional cultures' relationships to plants and landscapes and how that has influenced his own efforts to develop a truly sustainable local agriculture. Learn more about his farm, book a tour or buy some seed. Read more about his extensive research and teaching. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

  • S2 · E38
    July 31 · 1 hr 36 min

    New Zealand, Energy Limits and Resilience with Nathan Surendran

    Nathan Surendran is an Engineer who moved from the UK to New Zealand in response to the terrible creaking sound coming from the heart of the world's industrial systems. There he has worked consistently to help local government prepare for the unfolding shocks and stresses in our planetary supply chain, which New Zealand sits on the very end of. You can read Nathan's work at Energy and Resilience Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

  • S2 · E37
    July 24 · 23 min

    A Route to Beaver Domestication

    In Shane's first solo episode, we explore the possible route to the domestication of the beaver and the potential benefits of developing a close relationship with this powerful ecosystem engineer. Check out more novel domestications in my ebook Taming the Apocalypse Audiobook available on Kobo Audiobook also available via a paid subscription to the Recombination Nation Substack

  • S2 · E36
    July 17 · 1 hr 19 min

    Agricultural Magic with the Cunning Farmer Todd Elliott

    Todd Elliott is an experience market farmer who followed his passion for agricultural spiritual traditions deep into history, applied those lessons to his own surroundings, then wrote a book about his discoveries. Read Todd's blog: https://thecunningfarmer.substack.com Buy his book from the publisher: https://www.innertraditions.com/the-cunning-farmer Or Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Cunning-Farmer-Agrarian-Practices-Mythology/dp/B0F1LQSDFC Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E35
    July 3 · 1 hr 14 min

    The Russian Outlook on Industrial Decline with Dmitry Orlov

    Dmitry Orlov was a prominent voice in the early 2000s peak oil movement in response to his book "The Five Stages of Collapse", comparing the recent collapse of the USSR with the likely prospects of the USA under similar circumstances. He has since moved from the USA back to Russia, where he continues to monitor history as it unfolds. This conversation was a rare opportunity to delve into the Russian outlook on the state of the world from one of my favourite writers. Sign up for Dmitry's blog: https://boosty.to/cluborlov Watch his delightful Youtube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@DmitryOrlovAndClub The Five Stages of Collapse: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Stages-Collapse-Survivors-Toolkit/dp/0865717362/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E34
    June 26 · 2 hr 23 min

    Zach Elfers- Tree Crops and the Organisations That Love Them

    Zach Elfers is a superstar in the agroforestry community, helping multiple innovative organisations develop both the crops and their uses. We talk about his work with hickory, honey locust and more, and their processing into value added products through collaborative groups. Read his substack: https://zachelfers.substack.com/profile/posts And his original blog: https://www.nomadseed.com Check out his nursery: https://www.futureforestplants.com The Keystone Tree Crop Cooperative: https://ktcc.coop Tickets to the Northern Nut Growers Association conference: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernnutgrowersassociation1/2149900 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E33
    June 19 · 1 hr 51 min

    Buddhism, Monasteries and Existential Threats with Soryu Forall.

    Soryu Forall is a meditation teacher and spiritual leader dedicated to bringing all beings to enlightenment. He teaches that ethical behavior is the beginning of the path, and that the first step in ethics is to prevent the destruction of life on Earth. Soryu is the Head Teacher and Founder of the Monastic Academy for the Preservation of Life on Earth (MAPLE) where he guides that community to develop the wisdom, compassion, and power necessary to create AI systems that genuinely care for all life. Visit MAPLE: https://www.monasticacademy.org/guests Train at MAPLE: https://www.monasticacademy.org/train The special 3 month program mentioned in the interview: https://cohort.monasticacademy.org/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E32
    June 12 · 1 hr 12 min

    Avocado, Carob and Golden Chinquapin with Nicholas Mallonee

    Nicholas is a passionate rare tree grower in the blessed lands of California where just about everything seems to grow. He has tapped into the growing diversity in avocado, and gathered up the remnants of legendary crop breeder Luther Burbank in his backyard. If you would like to get in touch with Nicholas reach out to me via my Substack. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E31
    June 5 · 1 hr 26 min

    Eons of Life, Both Future and Past, with Professor Peter Ward

    Peter Ward is a palaeontologist and prolific author with books covering a vast range of the deep past and distant future of life on Earth (and beyond it). His book "Future Evolution: An Illuminated History of Life to Come" caught my attention and I was thrilled for the opportunity to drop an avalanche of speculative biology questions his way. You can find his books online and in major book stores: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peter-Douglas-Ward/author/B001I9OZ12 Browse reviews on his many titles here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28065.Peter_D_Ward Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E30
    May 29 · 1 hr 19 min

    Creating a Seed Farmer Community with Edmund Frost

    Edmund Frost founded a collective of seed growers and breeders who sell their selection of seeds suitable for the humid southeast USA as Common Wealth Seed Growers. He lives in Louisa County, Virginia, a center for the intentional communities movement, and spent many years living at Twin Oaks Community. He is passionate about breeding cucurbits for disease resistance, along with many other crops. Read more about the Common Wealth Seed Growers: https://commonwealthseeds.com Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E29
    May 22 · 1 hr 33 min

    Orbiting The Biological Singularity with Arnold Schroder

    Arnold Schroder, from the Fight Like an Animal podcast, is an ecological anarchist who bridges the world between biology and politics across the depths of time. Check out his archive of fascinating articles: https://www.againsttheinternet.com Grab his new book: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Like-Animal-Revolutionary-Biology/dp/B0GZ1GKCVX/ Listen to his podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/09DTUqzsCjGkvxw0GbFobE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-like-an-animal/id1511430305 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E28
    May 15 · 1 hr 23 min

    Julia Dakin and Anna Mieritz- How "Going to Seed" Germinated

    Julia Dakin and Anna Mieritz are key members of the "Going to Seed" organisation, which brings adaptation crop breeding to numerous communities in the USA. In this two part interview I learn more about their own vegetable breeding projects, but also take the rare opportunity to learn more about how their organisation got started, how it grew, and plans for the future. A great episode for people keen to get involved or start something similar in their part of the world. Check out all the work going on at Going to Seed: https://goingtoseed.org I highly recommend Julia's recent presentation on the link between crop genetics and nutritional content- https://youtu.be/5ErwX5_u7EE?si=ItAFtJzhdOL9PE49 Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E27
    May 8 · 2 hr 13 min

    Cultural Evolution with Roger's Bacon

    Roger's Bacon is an evolutionary biologist who turned his tool set on the related problem of how cultures mutate, compete, hybridise and evolve. He writes fascinating deep dive articles at Secretorum on substack: https://www.secretorum.life And runs the Seeds of Science blog to give a wider audience to pioneering thinkers: https://www.theseedsofscience.pub Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E26
    May 1 · 1 hr 29 min

    Teosinte, Arracacha and Mauka Breeding with Steve in Australia

    Steve is an independent crop breeder in southern Australia breeding a host of uncommon crops from similar climates in the Andes. We dive into his work back crossing maize to its ancestor (teosinte), plus his early work preparing to wide cross mauka and arracacha. Steve is pursuing the true zero input approach to breeding staple crops which can produce on unirrigated soil with minimal nutrient inputs and fertility added. If you want to reach out to Steve get in touch via my substack. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E25
    April 24 · 2 hr 18 min

    Reviving Landrace Staple Crops with Glenn Roberts from Anson Mills

    Glenn Roberts is the founder of Anson Mills, an extraordinary project to bring traditional landrace staple crops back from the brink of extinction in his part of the humid south eastern USA. This interview digs into how he achieved such an extraordinary feat, looking for clues to how others could follow his example in their own bioregions. Read much more about Anson Mills here: https://ansonmills.com/ Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E24
    April 17 · 1 hr 5 min

    Talking Baseyu with Andiru- The Hot New Auxlang on the Block

    Andiru is a conlang enthusiast who took things the next step and created the auxiliary language Baseyu along with a dedicated community of enthusiasts. Auxiliary languages are designed to be small, simple and accessible enough for anybody to learn them as a new global common tongue- kind of like the Tower of Babel in reverse. You can check out the project here: https://baseyu.com Browse the dictionary: https://dictionary.baseyu.com/en Join the community on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Baseyu/ And request a discord invite there. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

  • S2 · E23
    April 10 · 1 hr 14 min

    Talking Toki Pona and Esperanto with Okan

    Okan learnt two of the most successful constructed languages- the sprawling, romantic Esperanto and cute minimalist Toki Pona. After covering the history of these languages we delve deeper into the dynamics of experimental language communities, the psychology of conlangers, and the potential interplay of culture, technology and experimental languages in the near future. Drop me a message on substack if you would like to reach out to Jan. Try learning Toki Pona yourself here: https://wasona.com Learn more about Esperanto here: https://lernu.net Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: https://recombinationnation.substack.com Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology: https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes