unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

Felipe Fernández-Armesto, a history professor, discusses the Spanish Empire's global impact, challenges popular historical narratives, and explores engineers' crucial role in empire building. The podcast also delves into the significance of food history and the debate on history's classification as a social science or humanities.

Without the Dutch revolution of the 16th century, England may never have taken its place as a world superpower and there could have been no such thing as the American Revolution. Yet, the pivotal role the Netherlands played in the development of the modern world seems to go overlooked and under taught in history courses. Why? Jonathan Scott is a professor of history at the University of Auckland and the author of numerous books, including England's Troubles: Seventeenth-Century English Political Instability in European Context and, most recently, How the Old World Ended: The Anglo-Dutch-American Revolution 1500-1800. He and Greg discuss how the Netherlands' geography played a crucial role in its rise to dominance in the 17th century, why that power eventually shifted to favor England, and how the Anglo-Dutch influence has permeated throughout history. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:What inspired the American revolutionaries?30:46 The people by whom the English Republicans and revolutionaries of the 17th century were themselves inspired, who were the Dutch revolutionaries of the 16th century, were very important for the American revolutionaries of the 18th century. So, I think the most important influence in America is the Anglo-Dutch. And the Dutch part of that has been forgotten in America. Why exactly is, again, complicated, but one reason might be that when England ends up dominating, the Dutch component of the American founding and of the American revolution is just quietly forgotten.Was the Anglo-Dutch Revolution seminal to the success of England?03:52 What happens in 17th and 18th century England, which is remarkable and of global importance, derives very substantially from competition with the Netherlands, a competition during which the Netherlands is initially dominant and during which they're eventually overtaken.The complex alliance and rivalry between the English and the Dutch04:43 Not just rivals and frenemies, but they were also very close allies and dependent on each other for the survival of their Protestant religion and political regimes. So, they were close military allies in the war against Spain during the Elizabethan period in the 16th century. Then, they were equally close military, political, and religious allies from the Glorious Revolution in 1689 against France in the nine-year war until 1697. So the framework is one of close alliance, but between those two dates, between the Elizabethan and that end of the 17th century, that is, during the 17th century itself, there's an increasingly bitter rivalry between the merchants of these two countries, which ends up involving three very bloody naval wars between 1652 and 1673.The Anglo-Dutch-American Revolution33:12 The Anglo-Dutch-American Revolution in the early modern period is a series of political revolutions which put in place a new kind of state, which is federated and the product of parliamentary representation and parliamentary votes. And so the United Provinces of the Netherlands is the first one established in the 16th century, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain is the second established in 1707. Then, the United States of America is the third. Each of these is conscious of its place in a sequence where there is copying and adaptation going on.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Hanseatic LeagueMark Kurlansky | UnSILOedNavigation ActsJohn LockeMontesquieuBaruch SpinozaHugo GrotiusGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at University of AucklandHis Work:England's Troubles: Seventeenth-Century English Political Instability in European ContextWhen the Waves Ruled Britannia: Geography and Political Identities, 1500–1800 How the Old World Ended: The Anglo-Dutch-American Revolution 1500-1800 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Katharina Pistor, a Professor of Comparative Law, delves into how legal coding shapes wealth distribution and economic inequality. She discusses the evolution of property rights into powerful financial instruments, the biases in economic development due to legal constructs, and the influence of corporate power on the legal system. The conversation also explores the interplay between legal systems and global capitalism, the emergence of new property rights like carbon emission rights, and the impact of digital code on social relations.

Investigative health science journalist and author Gary Taubes discusses the history of diabetes research and challenges modern misconceptions. They explore flawed scientific research, nutritional epidemiology studies, resistance to dietary dogma, and the evolution of diabetes treatment. Taubes highlights the impact of WWII on obesity research and the need for open-minded dietary guidelines.

Nicholas Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, discusses challenges in maintaining academic freedom, faculty governance, and student activism in universities. They explore the balance between research and teaching, fostering interdisciplinary studies, and adapting to the demands of the 21st century while preserving academic freedom and intellectual debate.

Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior editor at KFF Health News, discusses the complex healthcare pricing system, revealing how multiple intermediaries inflate medical bills. They explore the profit-driven motives behind rising costs, emphasizing the need for transparency in billing. The podcast delves into the impact of private equity in healthcare and the challenges individuals face navigating pricing and insurance complexities.

The podcast features Nigel Biggar, a theologian and author, discussing the moral narrative of colonialism and historical accuracy. They debate the balance between facts and political objectives, critique activist historians, and explore the Ethics and Empire Project's examination of empires across cultures. The conversation delves into the complexities of colonialism, anti-colonial critiques, and the impact of European powers on indigenous populations.

Christina Maslach, a psychology professor, discusses the evolution of burnout with Greg LaBlanc. They cover the history of burnout, the impact of work quality and environment on burnout, and the six core needs for employee well-being. The conversation delves into distinguishing burnout from exhaustion and the importance of addressing workplace stressors for individual and organizational well-being.

Professor David Myers explores the overlap of psychology with philosophy and the impact of genetics vs. environment on happiness. They discuss the 'religion factor' in personal happiness, the balance between intuition and analytical thinking, and the influence of teachers on student success. The podcast delves into the tech revolution's mental health impact, the intersection of psychology and religion, and the implications of heavy social media usage on children's well-being.

Georgetown University Professor Jason Brennan discusses the flaws of democracy and proposes epistocracy as a better alternative. They explore voter ignorance, social affiliations, and the influence of expertise in decision-making. The conversation delves into the challenges of rational voting behavior, the limits of crowd wisdom, and alternatives to representative democracy. Jason also shares insights on pursuing a PhD and navigating career paths in academia.