Cities and Transport
The built environment and movement: urban planning, housing, buildings, infrastructure, aviation, and travel.
#655: The Headache Tax: When Price Stops Mattering
Why is it so hard to find good service? Corn and Herman explore the "Headache Tax" and a new framework for rewarding excellence in Israel.
#638: When Buildings Heal Your Nervous System
Can a building actually heal your nervous system? Discover how neuro-design uses science to create spaces that reduce stress and spark creativity.
#636: The Hidden Costs of Ultimate Redundancy
Can a decentralized network replace Amazon and Google? Herman and Corn dive into IPFS, content-addressing, and the risks of "forever" data.
#635: Airplane Mode: Technical Necessity or Outdated Ritual?
Is airplane mode a safety must or an outdated rule? Herman and Corn explore electromagnetic interference, 5G risks, and cellular congestion.
#631: The Oron: Israel’s Flying Supercomputer in a Luxury Jet
Discover how a luxury business jet became the IDF's most powerful intelligence asset, the Oron, a high-altitude flying supercomputer.
#629: When Clouds Become Fingerprints
Every pixel is a secret. Herman and Corn discuss how AI and OSINT are turning clouds and shadows into a global tracking system.
#619: The Village and the Vibe: Kids, Cafes, and Clean Air
Should kids be in bars and cafes? Herman and Corn explore the "social apprenticeship" of third places and the battle for smoke-free public air.
#615: Beyond the Vibe: How Experts Rank Public Transport
Explore the professional yardsticks used to rank global transit, from reliability metrics to the psychology of ticket inspectors.
#611: Jerusalem’s Light Rail: Public Transit or Private Power?
Corn and Herman explore the aggressive "enforcement theater" on Jerusalem’s light rail and how residents can organize against systemic harassment.
#610: The Data Center Trap: Is Enterprise Hardware Worth It?
Can a $5,000 server chip for the price of lunch power your home lab? Herman and Corn dive into the pros and cons of used enterprise hardware.
#602: Seismic Shifts: Can Israel Withstand the Big One?
Are Israel's old buildings ready for the Big One? Explore the engineering of Tama 38 and how safe rooms provide a hidden seismic spine.
#601: Where to Run When the Sirens Sound
How do you survive a missile strike? Corn and Herman dive into the structural secrets of MAMADs, stairwells, and underground bunkers.
#592: When Experts Run Things: The Technocrat vs. Politician Debate
Does a Minister of Health need to be a doctor? Explore the high-stakes tension between technical expertise and political leadership.
#586: Why Your Phone's Clock Isn't Good Enough
Why spend $1,000 on a clock? Herman and Corn explore the high-stakes world of NTP hardware and the precision timing keeping civilization in sync.
#577: The Shadow City: Why Sewers Are Civilization's Last Frontier
Explore the hidden world of urban infrastructure, from Victorian brickwork to AI-powered robots and the battle against the "fatberg."
#575: The End of the Car: Can We Really Quit Private Transport?
Is the private car a failed experiment? Herman and Corn discuss why EVs aren't enough and how we can design cities for people, not machines.
#574: When Friction Creates Meaning: Travel as a Perspective Shift
Forget vacations. Herman and Corn explore five destinations where a month-long stay will fundamentally shift your perspective on how to live.
#573: The Tightrope of Mixed-Use Zoning
Explore how mixed-use zoning is transforming sterile suburbs into vibrant 15-minute cities. Herman and Corn dive into the future of urban living.
#572: Cracking the Code: How Zoning and Policy Shape Our Cities
Why do our cities look the way they do? Herman and Corn dive into the invisible codes, taxes, and global models that define the urban landscape.
#571: Density Without Stress: Building the Perfect City
Explore how "Hermanville" redefines urban density through acoustic architecture, mid-rise blocks, and car-free centers.