Is Western Civilisation doomed? - Dr Luke Kemp

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Luke Kemp, an existential risk researcher at Cambridge University and the author of Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse.Luke spends his life thinking about how societies rise, why they fall, and what really puts our future at risk. What surprised me most is how hopeful this conversation turned out to be.Luke argues that history is best understood as a story of organised crime. From early civilisations to modern governments, tech giants and today’s global system, he shows how the same patterns keep repeating: power, control and inequality. Together, we talk about:- How and why early civilisations formed- Why data might be the most dangerous resource we have today - and how AI might impact civilisation- The modern versions of grain, weapons and geography- How close the world has come to nuclear disaster - and the people who quietly stopped it- Whether global collapse is actually likely - and what we can do about it- Why studying worst-case scenarios can sometimes make you more optimistic, not lessThis is a wide-ranging conversation about power, history, human nature and possibility.If you’ve ever wondered where we’re heading - or how we might build something better - I think you’ll really enjoy this one.=====Interviews that might just change your life. And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.While we're all trying to be better versions of ourselves, this podcast asks: 'what's truly possible?'Project Possible, hosted by me, Rich Leigh, explores this with incredible guests from the world of business, sport, entertainment and academia.Between the second and third series, I made the decision to go full-time on this show.I sold my successful 10 year old PR agency after my youngest brother Jordan took his own life. I realised that I needed to run towards passion, purpose and positive impact, and my dream of this being my career.Possibilists, pull up a pew.=====Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.=====Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Project Possible website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.projectpossiblepod.com