The Idea Roastery
77 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Our podcast is about two friends separated by distance but joined by a curiosity about the world and how technology & society are evolving. From the latest in sustainable technologies to how society operates and governs itself to personal growth we bring a mixture of information and entertaining banter to your ears.
Herman Martinus is a solopreneur based in Cape Town and the founder of bearblog.dev. Jason Forte works with startups for a large tech company in the UK.
Topics we've covered: Business, Technology, ClimateTech, Cape Town Lifestyle, Travel & Geography & Personal Development
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Episodes
We've hit peak agriculture, what happens now?
June 06, 2022 06:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBIn this episode we talk about agriculture and the impact of meat production on our worlds natural resources. We also discuss some potential alternatives and whether indoor farming has what it takes to satiate our global need for protein and high quality food. Outline (0:00) Intros and updates on travels. (2:34) Roll in the episode. (4:15) Herman introduces the topic of Peak Agriculture. (8:00) Jason introduces the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they relate to Peak Agricult...
Can South Africa build better railways?
May 20, 2022 06:00 - 39 minutes - 33.9 MBHow does a country build or retrofit a rail, and why are trains so awesome? In this episode we talk about: - The importance of interconnected cities - Self-driving vehicles - Why trains work well - What it would take to build an interconnected South Africa 🚄🚃🚂
Can we turn poop into coal?
May 13, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 40.5 MBWhat is hydrothermal carbonization and is it everything we need for a sustainable future? In this episode we talk about: - The scooters in Bali town - Electrification of said scooters - Waste management - Turning waste into energy - Turning waste into building material (and the carbon sequestration of said waste) - Some other interesting things 🛵💩⚡️
A light chat about life & capitalism
April 22, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 42.4 MBIn this episode we have a little off-the-cuff conversation about life and socialism: Start a bit about coffee of course. Herman has an new article! Motorcycle adventures and geeking on bikes leading into self sufficiency. Philosophical aspects of riding and being reliant on yourself in the middle of nowhere. Herman has tattoo sleeves on for some reason. Venturing beyond and connecting with nature. Preparing and being ready for challenges. Basis of stress and how to cope with thi...
Is energy efficient housing possible?
April 08, 2022 06:00 - 42 minutes - 42.7 MBHow can we make residential housing greener and cleaner? In this episode we talk about: - New architectural practices - Energy efficiency of old buildings - Passive homes - Retrofitting old homes to be more energy efficient - A bunch of other wank 🏢🏠🔥
The Airbnb Duality
April 04, 2022 09:03 - 42 minutes - 43 MBIs Airbnb good or bad for a city? In this episode we talk about: - How Airbnb makes travel easier - The difference between intention and economic effect - The economics of a tourist destination - Gentrification - Bad Airbnb experiences - Our experiences both running and living in Airbnbs 🏠🏢 Detailed Show Notes (0:00) Preamble (2:30) Intro to Airbnb and the topic (3:10) Cleaning fees are ridiculous! (4:45) The Seller Experience (8:00) Benefits and economics & challenges (11:40) ...
The most valuable areas of Cape Town
March 22, 2022 23:11 - 40 minutes - 41.3 MBIn our travels through the internet we've managed to find an interesting video show how you can map the economic prosperity of a city and show the areas that have the highest and lowet ROIs. We dive into this and see how it would apply to Cape Town and what it might mean to have no bicycles on the promenade - oh no!! In this episode!! Jason walks in Edinburgh (1:30) It starts (2:29) mapping a city and overlaying the ROI (2:50) convenience of different areas and highly dense areas (5:45) the...
The future (and present) of transport
March 02, 2022 00:19 - 40 minutes - 41.8 MBWhat is the best way to move people around cities quickly, cheaply, and energy efficiently? In this episode we talk about: Where is local transport done well? Small things that could be done to improve city transport infrastructure How weird electric Land Rovers sound Why Elon Musk doesn't understand transport How plazas increase thoroughfare and quality of life 🚲🚟🚌 Details & Tags (1:30) The perils of developing for Safari. (1:40) About trust... (3:30) Overview of the episode. (4:00)...
Can democracy get any better?
February 12, 2022 14:24 - 37 minutes - 31.7 MBWhat are alternate forms of governance, and can democracies be improved? In this episode we talk about: The evolution of government Different power structures The benefits of a democratic system Problems with democracies in general and how they could be solved Hypothetical forms of government Note: This is not about current politics, but instead an exploration of the overarching concept of politics. Overview and Tags: (1:12) Why do we have governance at all? (6:10) The part of religi...
What if the wind never stopped?
January 28, 2022 20:09 - 36 minutes - 37.1 MBCape Town is known as the Windy City to some (as a lot of cities with a decent amount of wind are). In this episode we discuss what it would be like if the wind started up one day around the globe, and never stopped. How does this affect our leisure? How does this affect our energy production and society? Find out with us.
Our infinite energy future
January 21, 2022 10:16 - 39 minutes - 38.1 MBA new year! A new season! We're switching things up, focusing in & improving on what we learned from our podcast in 2021. In this season Herman & Jason talk about what life would be like if energy wasn't an issue. Could we have electric planes that could fly us around the world... what would the timelines be for that?. Would oil & coal become a thing of the past?! What would be the social and economic effects of such a technological (or magical) breakthrough? We discuss it all & more ove...
Reflections on 2021
December 13, 2021 10:38 - 34 minutes - 90.6 MBWe go over the past 12 months and reflect on some of the things we've learned so far. We dial into our favorite topics and what drives the conversations we have and then we make some exciting plans for 2022 including a change in format!
Thinking on Mushrooms
December 01, 2021 20:56 - 45 minutes - 43.9 MBIn this exciting episode we take a plunge into the wonderful world of mushrooms. Bring up some interesting factoids about these strange creature-plants; psychedelics (both the good and the bad); and then ramble about some of the side-effects and what could have been if the shroom was given a fair chance.
Pirates!
November 13, 2021 13:58 - 38 minutes - 97.5 MBCultural icons of nautical history! Today we talk about famous pirates of old and their life at sea.
Are plastics good or bad?
October 29, 2021 08:50 - 44 minutes - 115 MBWith the prevalence of plastic in industry and our every day life, they've gotten a bad rap. In this episode we discuss how plastics shaped the modern world, the issues that we have today because of them, and what the plastics of tomorrow look like.
Oh, the life of a sailor
October 16, 2021 13:43 - 45 minutes - 75.3 MBWhat makes sailing so romantic? This episode we take a voyage from the past, to the (potential) future of sailing. We talk about pirates and diesel engines and the names of certain configurations of sail, as well as a bit of a meander into the life of a salty sea dog.
How to generate safe, clean energy?
October 01, 2021 12:59 - 37 minutes - 90.4 MBNuclear is the future! Or is it? There are many aspects that need to be considered. For those who have it - power is a great enabler and is essential for economic stability. For those developing countries who don't - there needs to be drastic technological developments to even catch-up. We discuss the good and bad about energy generation; it's impact on the environment; and the effect of allowing nuclear proliferation in these unstable times.
How to think about UBI in South Africa
September 17, 2021 05:00 - 44 minutes - 101 MBThe idea of UBI has started to permeate society and promises a more efficient way of distributing capital to those who need it most. Unfortunately those benefits don't come for free. In today's episode we discuss some of the pros and cons from the perspective of two dudes from Cape Town.
Why we sleep
August 31, 2021 17:03 - 45 minutes - 35.8 MBWhy do we sleep; and how can we consistently get a good night's sleep? In this episode we explore how to cultivate better sleep hygiene, what affects our sleep triggers, and absolutely butcher some biology. Sleep tight!
What is minimalism?
August 14, 2021 17:53 - 40 minutes - 30.6 MBEssentialism and minimalism are topics that have made their way into the public zeitgeist recently. In this episode we explore what minimalism is and how it can increase one's life satisfaction while decreasing cognitive load caused by over-consumption.
How to create awesome cities
July 30, 2021 05:00 - 45 minutes - 34.5 MBWhat are some of the things that make a city worth living in? Are there things that could be done better? In this episode we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of being a city-slicker and if there is a hope at all of Cape Town becoming as people-centric as some renown gems like Amsterdam or Boulder.
Instant Messaging Shenanigans
July 15, 2021 05:00 - 49 minutes - 38.4 MBWe use apps to chat as part of our daily life. WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, the list goes on. What happened to open protocols? Why is email the way it is? How can all of this be improved, and what is the communication vision of the future?
Herman gets a Tesla!
July 03, 2021 16:10 - 45 minutes - 34 MBCombustion engine cars are still going strong but the future is surely electric. With the potential to clean the city air of both noise and pollution it's inevitable but what are the things that need to be in-place to make that future possible? Batteries, smarter electricity grids & more environmentally friendly ways of generating and storing those electrons - we discuss it all in this episode.
Async and remote work, or not?
June 18, 2021 06:20 - 31 minutes - 23.8 MBWhether up in the mountains, or on a beach somewhere nice; remote working has become ubiquitous during the pandemic. Is this good? Is it bad? How can we make sure we work effectively while traveling? Herman and Jason hash it out.
Are all ads bad?
June 04, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 38.6 MBAre ads fundamentally bad? Here's our take on ads, social media, and other tangents. To Survive in a Wetter World, Raise Ducks, Not Chickens https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/07/bangladesh-climate-change-floods-ducks/593581/ CoinDesk - Networks vs. Governments – Could Crypto-Powered Digital Communities Challenge the Power of Cities and States? https://open.spotify.com/episode/0t6Kqb732ki4X0Q9igPSf2?si=f79e96f7bdaa4b35
Come to Cape Town, we have great WiFi
May 21, 2021 05:00 - 46 minutes - 34.9 MBCape Town is a great, creative space on the Southern tip of South Africa, boasting mountains, beaches, and is awesome space to start a company. In this episode we're joined by a small moving company and a 1/4 inch drill (making background noise). We discuss what makes Cape Town awesome, what makes it tough, and what needs improvement to turn it into the the global tech hub it deserves to be.
Herman & Jason start a podcast!
May 07, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 91.8 MBWhat an exciting move!! But as with most things in life, this involves a big leap into an uncomfortable new world. These two buddies chat about what it means to start a podcast and some of the other things in their lives that have made them a little uncomfortable. Herman started his own small business; Jason is moving to London & both of them are sitting in a small phone booth somewhere in Cape Town on chairs with exactly the wrong number of legs. Enjoy!