In this episode, we go back to an older episode of Tomorrow, Today, where the duo dives into a subject most people go to great lengths to avoid: death. From the Victorian-era "funeral culture" that commodified grief to the modern sanitization of the "great beyond," Nash Flynn and Andy discuss how humanity has lost its intimacy with mortality.
The episode features an in-depth interview with Dr. Susana Monsó, a doctor at the Spanish National University specializing in animal ethics. Together, they dismantle the myth of "human exceptionalism"—the idea that humans are the only creatures capable of understanding death. Dr. Monsó introduces the "minimal concept of death," arguing that an understanding of non-functionality and irreversibility is likely widespread across the animal kingdom.
Highlights include:

• The Whale’s Vigil: Why an orca carrying her dead calf for 1,000 miles challenges our definitions of grief and understanding.
• The "Face-Eating" Truth: A fascinating (and slightly disturbing) look at why pets sometimes feed on their deceased owners and what it tells us about their perception of us.
• A "Minimal" Understanding: How children and animals alike develop a concept of death as a spectrum rather than a binary switch.
• Reconciling with Nature: Why accepting our "animal nature" might be the key to helping us—and our grandmothers—talk about death in peace.

For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org

To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

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Key words:

Minimal concept of death, non-functionality, irreversibility, human exceptionalism, animal ethics, emotional anthropocentrism, Victorian funeral culture, commodification of grief, WEIRD societies, Taliqua the orca, pet scavenging, universality, causality, personal mortality, inevitability, unpredictability, Schrödinger’s Opossum, animal nature, human superiority, sanitization of death

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(Originally release 3/07/22)

This episode of Tomorrow Today features hosts Andy and Nash discussing the intersection of rapidly evolving technology and the looming threat of biological disasters. They are joined by Dr. Dean McDonald from the Carlow Institute of Technology to explore how 6G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be the keys to surviving future pandemics.
Key Topics Covered:

• The Evolution of "Gs": The hosts trace the history of mobile technology from 1G analog waves to the digital revolution of 2G, which introduced texting. They discuss the current shift toward 6G, which promises nearly instantaneous data transfer—potentially a terabyte every few seconds—enabling real-time city-wide analysis for tracking trends like disease outbreaks.
• The History of Biological Warfare: Andy and Nash provide a grim look at historical "bio-disasters," ranging from ancient Carthaginian tactics involving snakes in clay pots to the use of plague-infected bodies as weapons during the Black Death. They also reflect on more modern scares, such as the 2001 anthrax attacks.
• Disease X vs. Biodisaster X: Dr. McDonald clarifies the difference between these terms: Disease X typically refers to unknown, naturalistic threats (like COVID-19), while Biodisaster X often implies a threat developed by a human agent or intended for bioterrorism.
• Technology as a Support Tool: Dr. McDonald emphasizes that while AI and technology are powerful, they cannot replace human interaction, especially in mental health. He discusses "forced empathy" through Virtual Reality (VR), which allows practitioners to experience hallucinations associated with schizophrenia to better understand their patients.
• Predicting Pandemics via Sewers: A significant focus of the interview is the potential for 6G-enabled sensors in sewage and wastewater systems to detect stool samples for new variants of diseases, allowing authorities to identify and limit spreads in real time before they become global disasters
• In this episode, we discuss Dr. McDonnell's work “Addressing Biodisaster X Threats With Artificial Intelligence and 6G Technologies”Check out Dr. McDonnell’s work: https://www.itcarlow.ie/research/researchers/meet-researchers-e-n/dr-dean-mcdonnell.htm

To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

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Can a "problem child" tree help us rethink our entire food system? In this episode of the Poor Proles Almanac, we sit down with Dr. Samantha Bosco, a horticulture expert and researcher whose work spans the gap between quantitative science and the social practice of agroforestry. We explore the "rebellious" nature of the black walnut and how this often-overlooked native species offers a unique opportunity to slow down, connect with land, and build community.

Dr. Bosco shares her "two-eyed approach" to research, which pairs academic rigor with the wisdom of indigenous food systems to challenge the status quo of industrial agriculture. Beyond just planting trees, the conversation dives into the radical potential of food sovereignty, the importance of place-based culture, and Dr. Bosco’s new nonprofit, the Mycena Agroforestry Initiative, which seeks to organize social systems that support a tree-crop future. Join us as we discuss how "putting roots" into our food system can help us reclaim a more resilient and democratic way of living.

For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org

To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com

For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/

Key words:

Agroforestry, tree crops, Dr. Samantha Bosco, black walnut, food sovereignty, indigenous food systems, silvopasture, Mycena Agroforestry Initiative, two-eyed approach, sustainable agriculture, food systems transition, nut trees, horticulture, decolonization, land access, community organizing, solidarity economy, worker cooperatives, bioregionalism, climate resilience, regenerative agriculture, place-based food, soil science, nuciferous research, social agroforestry, perennial crops, land trusts, democratizing food systems, native nut species, hickory, food culture, agricultural reform

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