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# Cobalt Red
- URL: https://pulpconversations.com/cobalt-red/
- Published: 2025-07-27T13:55:51.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-25T23:20:41.000Z
- Description: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives
- Author: Vinay Gupta
- Tags: Podcast, #Migrated-1787171093388, #Import 2026-08-19 16:25

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of catching-up with my pal Hope …

… to discuss *Cobalt Red*: the somber, informative, data-supported and provocative book written by Siddharth Kara.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/42/67423e8e-d1c5-4288-976a-2d7a9b94e567/content/images/2026/08/8a480f02-8ceb-4425-a114-aadebaec4430_2324x456.png)

[Click here for a discussion summary](https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/c3bd4048-a884-4e0f-9385-362cf38e302c?ref=pulpconversations.com) that Hope put together.

A few highlights:

- 70% of the World’s cobalt comes from the [DRC](https://www.google.com/maps/@-5.1785013,14.2073271,521330m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g%5Fep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D&ref=pulpconversations.com)
- Yet 80% of the World’s cobalt refining is handled by China
- 40,000 minors - formally called *artisanal miners* \- working in mines
- Some miners are as minor as 6 years old

## Who cares?

> Nobody cares enough to do anything. Most don’t know about it. The rest of us either don’t care or not entirely sure much can change as long as surface-level cobalt is mine-able.

**The resource-curse cuts both ways and its force is stronger than morals.**

While we discussed the book a bit - my conversation with Hope, quickly turned somewhat philosophical and meta. So rather than a [Book Club](https://vinaybeta.com/bookclub?ref=pulpconversations.com) discussion we essentially started shooting the shit. Press `PLAY` on the headline GIF to watch the entire glorious 42 minute convo.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/42/67423e8e-d1c5-4288-976a-2d7a9b94e567/content/images/2026/08/942bce18-daa8-47dc-bf6b-8054ca2e556d_480x270.gif)

Hope you enjoy it and if anything resonates please leave a comment. I recently had a chance to meet some European friends IRL and engage in some much needed banter - much of it sardonic, witty, cutting, hopeful and motivating.