The Most Important Of All Unimportant Forecasts

The Most Important Of All Unimportant Forecasts

Author: Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic June 10, 2026 Duration: 1:13:29

World Cup Time!!!!!!!

Robert Tipper and Juan Correa are our guests.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) - Secret Forecast Origins

(01:23) - Meet The Authors

(03:02) - Juan Football Roots

(07:41) - Marco World Cup Memories

(10:07) - Robert Germany Stories

(14:47) - Jacob 2014 Awakening

(19:06) - Why Soccer Is Hard

(21:50) - Inside The Model

(28:28) - What Doesnt Predict

(30:22) - Group Stage Surprises

(31:40) - Home Edge And Curse

(35:16) - Why Champions Collapse

(36:08) - Argentina Winner Curse

(37:37) - Group F Chaos Picks

(39:36) - Bracket Quarterfinals

(41:30) - Portugal Dark Horse

(43:30) - France Wins It All

(45:42) - France Identity Debate

(47:11) - Football And Immigration

(50:22) - Geopolitical Matches

(56:27) - USA 2010 Donovan Goal

(01:01:01) - Can Soccer Unite America

(01:03:37) - Building US Infrastructure

(01:09:30) - Closing Thoughts Farewell

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Referenced in the Show:

2026 BCA World Cup Forecast - https://www.bcaresearch.com/reports/most-important-all-unimportant-forecasts-3rd-edition-2026-world-cup-04-06-2026/219501?token=99a83421876851853383a4eb1118ddb9

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Geopolitical Cousins is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

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Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe

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Marko Papic is a macro and geopolitical expert at BCA Research, a global investment research firm. He provides in-depth analysis that combines geopolitics and markets in a framework called GeoMacro. He is also the author of Geopolitical Alpha: An Investment Framework for Predicting the Future.

Marko’s Book & Newsletter: www.geopoliticalalpha.com/marko-papic

Marko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marko-papic-geopolitics/

Marko’s Twitter: https://x.com/Geo_papic

Marko’s Macro & Geopolitical Research at BCA: https://www.bcaresearch.com/marketing/geomacro


There’s a certain kind of conversation that happens when two deeply knowledgeable friends, who also happen to be professional geopolitical analysts, get together without a script. That’s the space Geopolitical Cousins occupies. Hosts Jacob Shapiro and Marko Papic bring their distinct perspectives-often aligned, sometimes clashing-to dissect the forces shaping our world, from market-moving policies to underlying cultural shifts. You won’t find dry, academic lectures here. Instead, each episode feels like you’re overhearing a lively, sometimes comedic debate between two cousins at a family gathering, if that family was obsessed with the intersection of power, philosophy, and investment. The analysis is rigorous and in-depth, yet delivered with a relatable ease that can pivot from a serious interview with an expert to an off-the-wall observation about societal quirks. This podcast digs into the "why" behind the headlines, exploring how business, culture, and human nature collide on the global stage. By weaving together categories that are often kept separate-society, investing, comedy, philosophy-Shapiro and Papic create a uniquely holistic listen. Tune in for a perspective that is as intellectually substantial as it is unpredictably engaging.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Geopolitical Cousins
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