The Overton Pod

Ep34 - Schrödinger's Iran

Iran was never harmless, but that did not stop the experts from being confidently wrong. Jonathan and Kanthan unpack the war, Tehran’s enriched nuclear material, and what a Trump deal might actually look like. Back home, we look at Geordin Hill-Lewis as DA leader, Helen Zille’s Johannesburg challenge, and what the Phala Phala ruling could mean for Cyril Ramaphosa. After a prolonged break, The Overton Pod is back! Proudly brought to you by The Overton Press. Subscribe at ⁠https://overtonpress.substack.com/⁠ If you enjoyed this podcast please like, subscribe and share. Thumbnail by Darren De Lange - https://bit.ly/ddlcreates

Ep33 - Dear John

Kanthan and Jonathan push back on the hysteria around the Jeffrey Epstein files, arguing that the saga is far less consequential than many claim. They then turn to John Steenhuisen’s fall from grace, unpacking what it means for his political future and the knock-on effects for the DA. The episode closes with a hard look at the prospects of South Africa’s most prominent political parties and who is actually positioned to survive the next electoral cycle. Proudly brought to you by The Overton Press. Subscribe at ⁠https://overtonpress.substack.com/⁠ If you enjoyed this podcast please like, subscribe and share. Thumbnail by Darren De Lange - https://bit.ly/ddlcreates

Ep32 - The Donroe Doctrine

Jonathan and Kanthan unpack Trump’s revival of the Monroe Doctrine and what it signals for American power in the Western Hemisphere. From Venezuela and the arrest of Maduro, to the knock-on effects for Colombia, Cuba, and even Greenland, the hosts examine how far Trump is willing to push US influence and whether he might actually get away with it. The discussion then turns to the grinding war in Ukraine, protests erupting across Iran, and the increasingly punitive tax regime driving wealth and talent out of California. Proudly brought to you by The Overton Press. Subscribe at ⁠https://overtonpress.substack.com/ ⁠If you enjoyed this podcast please like, subscribe and share. Thumbnail by Darren De Lange - https://bit.ly/ddlcreates

Ep31 - Your Questions We Answer

Kanthan and Jonathan hand the mic to the audience and tackle a wide-ranging set of questions, from South Africa’s leadership vacuum to what really matters heading into the US midterm elections. The conversation moves through the future of money, the logic of tax revolts, and whether the pen still carries weight in an age dominated by electronics. They close with a reflective look at what this year taught them and what they’re thinking as they head into 2026. Proudly brought to you by The Overton Press.Subscribe at ⁠https://overtonpress.substack.com/⁠If you enjoyed this podcast please like, subscribe and share.Thumbnail by Darren De Lange - https://bit.ly/ddlcreates

Ep30 - The end for the UN?

Kanthan and Jonathan discuss whether electric vehicles truly represent the future of transport or just another technological dead end. This leads into a debate over the prospect of portable nuclear reactors and the broader tension between innovation and regulation. The hosts reflect back on the relevance of Musk’s Twitter acquisition, question whether the United Nations is a force for good or a relic of global bureaucracy, and end with a provocative discussion on South Africa’s fixation with racial and historical divisions, asking whether any thriving nation still defines itself that way. Proudly brought to you by The Overton Press. Subscribe at ⁠https://overtonpress.substack.com/⁠ If you enjoyed this podcast please like, subscribe and share. Thumbnail by Darren De Lange - https://bit.ly/ddlcreates