A storm is sweeping across the global job market — and it’s made of code. In this episode of Thread by Thread, we dive into the unsettling rise of artificial intelligence and what it really means for the future of work. From warehouse robots to generative models writing ad copy, the line between human and machine labor is blurring fast.

I once wrote about the future of work before ChatGPT existed — and now, much of what seemed speculative back then is unfolding in real time. In Segment 1, we trace the economic shockwaves: mass layoffs, vanishing middle-skill jobs, and a world where having a degree may no longer protect your paycheck. Then we scale up in Segment 2 — where AI isn’t just an economic force, but a geopolitical weapon. Who’s winning the AI arms race? Why are some countries pulling ahead while others get left behind?

In this episode, we shift focus from headlines to riverlines—exploring the politics, economics, and science of the world’s most undervalued resource: WATER. I am joined by Robin Singh from TU Dresden, a hydroscience researcher specializing in mathematical flood risk prediction, to unpack how rising water stress, floods, and failing infrastructure are reshaping the world.

From urban water wars and megadroughts to climate injustice and global inaction, we discuss how a warming planet is rewriting the rules of survival—and how geopolitics, inequality, and misplaced priorities make everything worse.

This isn't just a climate conversation. It's about data, denial, and decision-making in an era when even water can become a weapon.

Markets were supposed to save us. Carbon offsets, ESG funds, green subsidies, climate finance — the financialization of climate policy promised to align profits with the planet’s future. But somewhere between good intentions and boardroom strategies, something broke.

In this episode, we follow the money: how climate action became a trillion-dollar market, who profits from “carbon neutrality,” and why well-meaning policies often miss the mark. From phantom offsets and greenwashed portfolios to carbon border taxes and climate diplomacy, we unpack the tools, the loopholes, and the politics that define the fight for a livable future.

We’ll also examine the myths that still persist — from climate denial to delay — and spotlight the power struggles behind the world’s most urgent crisis.

This isn’t just about emissions. It’s about economics, geopolitics, and how the climate crisis is reshaping both.