Decode: Podcast is going to focus on the best in Space Opera, starting with Frank Herbert’s Dune. 

The Dune Universe will re-enter pop culture in a big way in the next year with the release of Denis Villenue’s feature film (originally intended for a theatrical run in December 2020 ) and HBO Max’s “Dune: The Sisterhood”-  we love the book and are deep-diving into some of the religious, historic, and linguistic influences and references from our current world in the Dune universe 10,000+ years in the future, as well as covering the story, chapter by chapter.  

In our introductory episode, we introduce ourselves- Mike Goulis and Jeff Hackert- Two guys who do a lot of talking at their day jobs in technology, and train jiu-jitsu at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Downtown LA and talk about our goals and what’s in store. 

Next episode, we start our analysis!   

References: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_opera 

Edition of Dune we’re using: https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Frank-Herbert/dp/0441172717

Follow Jeff: https://www.instagram.com/omgnogi/ 

Follow Mike: https://www.instagram.com/mginyourface/

In our first full episode covering Dune Book 1, the boys set their objective to cover pages 1-253….and utterly failed! This episode covers chapter one exclusively but fret not, like Jeff says “This is the Dune universe- there’s a lot of detail in there and we’re here for the people that love it”.  Plus,  there’s more thrown on the plate in chapter 1 of Dune than pre-Covid Thanksgiving dinner at grandma’s.

We dive right into some of the religious, historic, and linguistic influences and references from our current world in the Dune universe 10,000+ years into the future; they’re all right there in Chapter 1. 

Recorded mid-December, 2020;  be on the lookout for future historic references to Warner Brothers announcing their entire 2021 threatre run going to HBO Max, references to the Dune 2021 movie trailer, and that its theatrical run was pushed from December 2020 to Late 2021 due to the Covid19 Pandemic. 

Links and stuff:

Edition of Dune we’re using: https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Frank-Herbert/dp/0441172717

Shah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah

Definition of fief: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fief

Duke, in nobility: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke

Rumi quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/123621-be-melting-snow-wash-yourself-of-yourself

Credits:

Hosts: Mike Goulis and Jeff Hackert

Producer: Jet Reyes 

Voice talent: David Michie

With our updated goal of: “spend the right amount of time on each chapter”, we cover chapters 2 and 3.

In chapter 2 we move to Geidi Prime, the home planet of the Baron Harkonnen; nemesis of the Atreides. We learn that the Harkonnen plot to take out the Atreides and resume control of the spice trade on Arrakis features turning the Atreides family doctor against them through treachery. However, there is also a secret twist- the Emperor is in on the plot and will be sending his specialized super troops, the Sardaukar, in Harkonnen uniforms to ensure success.

Surprisingly the feud between the Harkonnens and Atreides is legally sanctioned with rules and forms of the Emperium- this is called “kanly”, a word rooted in the sort of blood feuds common amongst the tribes of Earth’s Caucasus Mountains, circa the 19th century. Jeff fills us in on how Herbert was heavily influenced by a book called Sabres of Paradise, whose topic is the Caucasian war of Independence between Caucus mountain tribes and Russia.  

In Chapter 3 we’re back on Caladan where Reverend Mother Helen Mohiam and Jessica discuss her forbidden son, Paul, in more detail, as well as the Bene Gesserit’s ultimate agenda. We get a glimpse of Paul’s special abilities- can he predict the future? Do his dreams have meaning?  

Delving further into the Bene Gesserit, we discuss “the voice” and the pop science behind it.  We’re not an anti-Star Wars podcast, but the “Jedi mind trick” that is the equivalent of the voice is pretty lame. Also, Gandalf uses “the voice” effectively in LOTR several times.  

Speaking of Star Wars, we hear a very interesting story of how Jeff saw Star Wars in theatres for the first time in 1977.

Mike foreshadows Paul’s father Duke Leto’s fate by calling him Ned Stark and that he sucks playing the game of thrones/kanly. 

The hosts ramble about their Jiu jitsu styles and we realize it’s time to end.  

Kanly: https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Kanly#:~:text=Kanly%20was%20the%20enactment%20of,days%20of%20the%20Old%20Imperium. 

Sabres of Paradise: https://www.amazon.com/Sabres-Paradise-Conquest-Vengeance-Caucasus/dp/0993092721 

Phoenix Jones mutual combat: https://www.youtube.com/user/ThePhoenixJones/videos 

Rumi poem: https://allpoetry.com/Who-makes-these-changes-

In episode 3 we stick to chapter four- it’s a big one in that it introduces a lot of the theories of leadership and government that Frank Herbert sought to critique, as well as introduces the form of combat that will be prevalent in the Dune Universe and life of Paul Atreides. Furthermore, it pushes the important fact that unlike Caladan, planet Arrakis itself is a character in Dune.  An enemy, in fact.  

 Some highlights:  

• Mike mis-pronounces Muad Dib early on yikes! - please forgive
• Mike comments on the theory of the connection between violence in the 70’s and lead poisoning
• We see the beginnings of a  rift between Thufir and Jessica specifically, but perhaps all Bene Gesserit and Mentats
• We perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of Paul as a future Duke and leader. Current outlook: has potential but also very green and immature.  
• But we do observe the beginnings of forced adolescent growth and leadership in Paul, similar to Robb Stark between Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords (until of course Robb makes a very silly juvenile error)
• We learn some leadership wisdom from Jeff, a professional leadership coach
• Mike spoils the Red Wedding for anyone who has been living under a rock 
• We see the renaissance style of combat in this world- an aspect of space opera (and real Opera).  More dramatic, more in your face. 
• The difference in fighting a noble would likely engage in vs. military (infantry)  
• Jeff talks about hand to hand combat in feudal Japan (and elsewhere), why bjj starts on knees/butt. 

Some links:

70’s lead violence theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead%E2%80%93crime_hypothesis

Red Wedding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSwHpb_nNZg 

SWOT: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm 

History of BJJ: https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/10/13/2481689/jiu-jitsu-history-birth-on-the-battlefield 

More history of BJJ: https://jitsmagazine.com/jiu-jitsu-origins-grappling-with-gods/

Our first episode recorded since we released episode 1, we have listeners and they are talking to us on social media!  Find us on IG and Facebook by searching our name- we have a page and a social group!  

We do a quick shout-out to them and dive into Chapters 5 and 6.  

In chapter 5, Yueh gives Paul a tiny copy of the OC Bible. It’s been mentioned previously albeit briefly. Here we dive a bit deeper regarding religion in the time of space travel, The OC Bible, and the history of the Guild and CHOAM, sourced from the Appendix of Dune, and the prohibitively expensive and out-of-print Dune Encyclopedia.  

Jeff has strong feelings of animosity towards Yueh’s betrayal of the Atreides and the Suk school conditioning. We discuss Yueh being so dramatic and Mike forgets the name of the opera Rigoletto that he saw at LA Opera in 2018. 

In chapter 6 we meet for the first time and we discuss that Leto and Jessica are hot. The actors playing them in the Dune 2021 movie are hot.  

Leto is described as being “totally present”. Jeff talks about the concept of “total presence” as fits Leto’s description from his 30+ years of practicing Buddhism.  

Mike points out that in the gnostic Christian tradition, metaphorical agony of the cross is being pulled by the forces of the past and future inside yourself, instead of living in the present.  

We discuss that Leto’s grasp on leadership is similar to both Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark. Similar to Robert in that he has an ability people look up to (Robert won the battle of the Trident, simple enough).  Similar to Ned Stark in the sense that people like his sense of right and wrong and lack of willingness to compromise his beliefs or value system. “A standup guy”.

Next episode we’ll finally be on Arrakis!

Recorded on Super Bowl Sunday, 2021.  

Links and stuff: 

Dune encyclopedia: https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Encyclopedia-Authorized-Masterpiece-Imagination/dp/B01K3JYLKW/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1613445600&sr=8-1 

The Monomyth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey

Mike and the lovely Linda at Rigoletto at LA Opera, 2018

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10101684635803360&id=21904740&sfnsn=mo 

GameStop/ Wallstreet bets debacle:  https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22249458/gamestop-stock-wallstreetbets-reddit-citron 

Gnosticism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism 

Tim Cartmell Patreon episode: 

https://www.popsci.com/dehydration-death-thirst-water/

We’re finally on Dune!  Moving 25,000 years in the future is like moving today; boxes, who gets what bedroom, decisions where to hang things, and disagreements.  In this episode, Mike briefly revisits chapter 6 briefly to mention that Leto informs Paul that he’s been groomed to be a Mentat and we otherwise get right to it:

• We break down psychologist David Kantor’s concept of structural dynamics from his book “Reading the Room.” Leto uses “closed power” when talking with Jessica about where the painting of Leto’s father and the bull that gored him to death. Understanding structural dynamics is a great way to improve your outcomes in life and business so there’s some really good stuff in here if you join us for the “and more” aspect of us covering “Dune and more”.
• Chakobsa “hunting language” and the use of secret codes in warfare such as the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu naming system--if your opponent can’t understand you, you have an advantage. 
• The nature of the Missionaria Protectiva as a way of a Bene Gesserit in distress accessing help from the natives.
• Jessica and our first encounter with a Fremen (the Shadout Mapes)
• Nifty crysknives and why the word “Maker” is so important. 

Structural dynamics David Kantor book: https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Room-Dynamics-Coaches-Leaders/dp/0470903430 

Sami People: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1mi_people 

Nutti Sami Sida ecotourism in Arctic Sweden - https://nutti.se/ 

10th planet jiu jitsu: https://www.10thplanetjj.com/ 

A thread about 10th planet names: https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/7cxvw8/whats_up_with_those_10th_planet_technique_names/ 

Yueh and Jessica chat in chapter 7 and we're left with a future of Jessica accusing Thufir and Thufir accusing Jessica. 

Jeff goes hard on Yueh again, but in this case in a profound way inspired by the leadership coaching he gets paid the big bucks to do for C-level execs of multi-million dollar companies. 

In fact, this episode like so many others, isn't just about Dune: it's a must listen to anyone interested in business environments, leadership, how to hire the right people, how to start a new position the right way, etc. 

We talk a lot about shortcomings most organizations have in their interviewing and hiring.  How people fail to get increasing "power" and autonomy in their organizations- by failing to create social networks within the org. It's not all about raw talent!

Conclusion: Yueh was a bad hire and should have been fired long ago.

And we want to know- does the audience find this stuff valuable? Are heading in the direct of interest?

Note: Mike is writing these notes not Jeff- he's too humble for that

References:  

Dan Carlin Hardcore History episode about Persian Empire: https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-56-kings-of-kings/ 

Gainsight COO "filling the product gaps": https://www.gainsight.com/guides/the-essential-guide-to-product-driven-customer-success/ 

Comparative sizes of space vessels in scifi: https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/ffc8c5ef-1058-4f07-b62c-e396612d3028/d6lfgdf-09dc7543-d164-4ded-85b8-55f261409db3.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3sicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZmZjOGM1ZWYtMTA1OC00ZjA3LWI2MmMtZTM5NjYxMmQzMDI4XC9kNmxmZ2RmLTA5ZGM3NTQzLWQxNjQtNGRlZC04NWI4LTU1ZjI2MTQwOWRiMy5qcGcifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6ZmlsZS5kb3dubG9hZCJdfQ.cpjY29G8hLmm0-h4GZHjTzKGgUjsl_qteDBmkdZItpE 

In chapter 8 Paul has a close encounter with a Hunter Seeker manned by a Harkonnen loyal and meant to kill him He uses his Bene Gesserit training to make it out alive, as well as the life of Shadout Mapes who now owes him a “water debt”. 

• Mike starts episode quoting Ricky Martin livin la vida loca
• Hunter Seeker deep dive!!! It’s a drone!  
• The boys discuss being part of the Joe Rogan-Chapo Trap House coaching tree
• Jeff goes off on Kilos vs Pounds, old math vs new math, and the concept Common Core State Standards Initiative
• Mike interprets the parallels between Bene Gesserit  way, Prana-Bindu training in the Dune Universe with IRL Prana and Bindu
• Jeff continues this deep dive with Mind vs Body in martial arts
• • fighting style parallels “Weirding Way” fighting

Coaching tree: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaching_tree 

Carol Dweck closed vs growth mindset: https://www.ted.com/speakers/carol_dweck 

History of Drones: https://consortiq.com/short-history-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-uavs/ 

Shadba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabda 

Prana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prana

Bindu: https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5269/bindu  

Wim hof: https://www.reddit.com/r/dune/comments/3dna5e/dutch_man_discovers_prana_bindu/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share