Epsilon Theory In Full

Epsilon Theory In Full

 

The soul of Epsilon Theory is our long-form content, a library of hundreds of pieces written by Ben, Rusty and others over the course of the last 5+ years. These are the print-and-take-home-for the weekend notes that made Epsilon Theory what it is today.

Pain, Political Vibes, and Being a Bat

By Ben Hunt | November 28, 2023 | 21 Comments

The core problem for Team Blue isn’t the candidate, it’s the team. Specifically, it’s the very online population of Team Blue journalists, academics and political operatives and their pseudo-religious, dogmatic urge to explain why aggregate economic statistics are more meaningful than lived experience.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.27.23

By Harper Hunt | November 27, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Argentina Leaps

By Ben Hunt | November 22, 2023 | 23 Comments

The election of Javier Milei as Argentina’s president is a classic Great Unmooring event. Don’t get me wrong – I am totally rooting for the guy and I am not saying this is a Bad Thing TM. In fact, I think Milei is absolutely right to take a flamethrower to the Argentine central bank and entrenched public sector. But it is a profound unmooring all the same, not just for Argentina but for the world.

Breaking News #9: Hold My Beer

By Harper Hunt | November 22, 2023 | 1 Comment

With primary season getting into full swing, there is a lot going on in the political world. Candidates are taking things up a notch with their aggressive tweets and comments to try to stay relevant as a Trump vs. Biden election seems more likely every day. And Trump and Biden themselves seem happy to sit back and stay out of the fray while enjoying their leads in the polls. In this episode, we break down the current state of election 2024. We discuss whether the primaries matter anymore and how things are playing out in Narrative world. We also cover why inflation may not have been as low as it seemed in the most recent CPI report, whether Jack’s pivot on Jared Kushner is warranted and the benefits of keeping a personal archive.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.20.23

By Harper Hunt | November 20, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Cursed Knowledge #24: Hollywood Accounting

By Harper Hunt | November 17, 2023 | 1 Comment

We know that Hollywood is a multibillion dollar industry that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. So then why do so many studios report that their movies failed? Especially when most of these movies are incredibly popular and by all accounts should be financially successful. Well turns out Hollywood has some tricks up their sleeves and, as The Producers taught us, under the right circumstances you can make more money with a flop than a hit.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.13.23

By Harper Hunt | November 13, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Breaking News #8: When Narrative Doesn’t Matter | The Israeli Strategy of Total War

By Harper Hunt | November 9, 2023 | 12 Comments

People traditionally look at war as something that is fought on a battlefield. And that is certainly true. But it is also fought in the world of Narrative. The stories that are told by both the combatants in a war and other parties outside the war with a vested interest in its outcome can play a major role in how it plays out. In this episode, we look at the current Israel Hamas war through a narrative lens and how that is impacting the conflict.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 11.06.23

By Harper Hunt | November 6, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Cursed Knowledge #23: Mega Disasters

By Harper Hunt | November 2, 2023 | 1 Comment

Earthquakes, storms, volcanos, oh my. It seems the earth is always trying to kill us one way or another. These are dangerous powerful spectacles that can literally reshape the world. It’s understandable that we’re so fascinated by them. But why aren’t we afraid of them?

The Rick Rubin Of Advice: How To Have A Creative Second Act

By Matt Zeigler | October 30, 2023 | 21 Comments

The weirdest question I was ever asked, maybe in my entire life, was, “Can you make this sound more yellow?” The weirdest answer I’ve ever given to the weirdest question was, “Yes.” I replay that conversation in my head all of the time. There’s a perfectly good and teachable reason I was able to answer it. But to teach you that magic trick, we have to talk about Rick Rubin.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 10.30.23

By Harper Hunt | October 30, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Why You Need A Personal Archive And How To Start One

By Matt Zeigler | October 27, 2023 | 13 Comments

A personal archive is a means for staying connected with the world and ourselves at the same time. It’s a simple yet life-changing way of seeing the world and your place in it.

Breaking News #7: When the Media Failed Us: The Changing Story of the Gaza Hospital Explosion

By Harper Hunt | October 26, 2023 | 6 Comments

There was an explosion in the vicinity of a hospital in Gaza. The media immediately began reporting on it. Major newspapers put out front page headlines. Television stations brought on experts to voice their opinions, But there was one major problem: much of the information that was reported as fact turned out to be wrong.

In this episode, we dig into the incident to try to understand what happened in the reporting of this story, why it happened, and what it tells us about the way the media operates in our world today.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 10.23.23

By Harper Hunt | October 23, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Cursed Knowledge #22: The Narrative of Reality TV

By Harper Hunt | October 20, 2023 | 1 Comment

Reality TV is a constant and ever growing part of pop culture. Everyone has a guilty pleasure show that they watch every week. It’s created stars and scandals that have gained international attention. It’s dominated the small screen for almost 30 years and the line between tv and reality has never been thinner.

Fiat News in the Fog of War

By Rusty Guinn | October 18, 2023 | 24 Comments

The obligation of the news media when major events are unfolding should be to act with more discretion and care, not less.

They failed at this most critical task this week. Utterly.

Why Am I Reading This Now? 10.16.23

By Harper Hunt | October 16, 2023 | 0 Comments

Recent major media stories that feel to us like they’re part of a larger Narrative campaign.

Generative AI Images and how Microsoft Doesn’t Understand the Internet

By Desperate_Yuppie | October 13, 2023 | 20 Comments

A sample of what you’ll find on the Epsilon Theory Forum – a safe space for full-hearted people to voice their concerns and hopes and observations about today’s world without the emotional cudgel of cancellation or the emotional crutch of an echo chamber. You know … what social media should be!

And yes, it’s for paid subscribers only, which is how we keep the trolls at bay.

Lessons From Biking 245 Miles Across France

By Kyla Scanlon | October 12, 2023 | 7 Comments

ET contributor Kyla Scanlon was stuck. So she went biking with strangers who through the magic of talking became friends and confidants. And that’s how you get unstuck.