STARK: How the Rich Destroy Democracy and Cause Collapse

(Note: This episode was originally released under the old podcast title "This is the End: Pop Culture & Collapse." As of July 2025 the show is now titled, "Strange Days, Here We Come: Pop Culture, Dystopia & Collapse.")

 

In this episode, I interview political commentator, former congressional candidate, and now regenerative farmer Haven Scott McVarish, author of LAST CHANCE TO SAVE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. Haven talks about his favorite novel, STARK by Ben Elton, a dystopian comedy thriller about how corporations and the wealthy cause a global ecological collapse. Haven also discusses the novel's themes in relation to his own book about the current, ongoing collapse of U.S. democracy. We talk about how to save our imperiled democracy as well as what ordinary people can start doing now to prepare for collapse via local community building and restorative agriculture.  

  

LINKS:    

• Last Chance to Save American Democracy by Haven Scott McVarish    https://amzn.to/3eqPxxB
    
• Stark by Ben Elton
  https://amzn.to/3wY6dD2
  
  
• 5 Journeys (Haven Scott McVarish's non-profit organization)  https://www.5journeys.org/