Bonus Episode 09 - Why the Economy is Not Real: the Life and Times of Alexander Guterma pt. 1, feat. Boyd Beaver (Patreon)

Part 1 of 3:

Today I'm joined by a very special guest, Boyd Beaver (@Boyd_Beaver) to discuss one of the weirdest figures in modern history, Alexander Guterma, who was a con man, businessman, figure involved in organized crime, and intelligence asset.

We discuss Isaiah Leebove, Sam Garfield, and the Purple Gang before Boyd establishes (conclusively, in my opinion) Guterma's origins as a Russian Jew whose family resettled in Manchuria. Then, we talk about Guterma's misadventures in China, Hawaii, and the Philippines before Guterma's eventual arrival in Florida. We discuss the nature of collaboration with the Japanese, his contacts with intelligence, and why this would be significant.

Guterma resettled to Florida, and we discuss kenaf at length, and then the long and surprising list of companies he managed to acquire, including the spooked up Hal Roach film studio, and a radio network. All of this leads us to hypothesize that the economy is simply not real.

Songs (largely curated by Boyd Beaver):

Rat by Wiccan Babysitter

We Didn’t Come Here to Rock by AJJ

Misanthropic Drunk Loner by Days n Daze

The New World Order by Defiance, Ohio

Hell is Real by Banjodemon

Kazoo Sonata in C Maj. by AJJ