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Modern Wisdom

Modern Wisdom

Why Population Collapse is Closer Than You Think - Stephen J. Shaw - #996

Sep 20, 2025 · 2h 53m

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About this episode

Stephen J. Shaw is a data scientist and filmmaker. Birth rates in Western countries are collapsing, a trend even Elon Musk calls an existential threat. But what’s the true cause? Is it economics, fear of the future, cultural shifts, or something deeper? And more importantly, can anything actually reverse the decline? Timestamps: (0:00) Global Birth Rate Decline is Keeps Stephen Up at Night (6:47) Why We Should Care About Birth Rates Why are Falling Birth Rates So Concerning? (18:29) What Will the Population Look Like in 50 Years? What Stephen Thinks the Population Will Looks Like in 50 Years (30:07) Why It’s Now Harder to Become a Parent (35:25) Why Women Over 30 are Less Likely to Become a…