The podcast episodes discuss the concept of demographic transition, particularly in the context of China's aging population and the challenges it poses for the country's economy and social systems.

Episode "Is China's biggest threat its own ageing population?" examines the strain on China's pension system and the government's efforts to address the issue, such as raising the retirement age and encouraging longer work lives.

Episode "Selects: How Zero Population Growth Works" explores the broader debate around overpopulation, discussing the demographic transition and the arguments for and against the need for family planning and sustainable development strategies.

Episode "The Adam & Eve Story Does Not Say What You Remember" relates the concept of the "trial of the lotus eaters" to modern demographic challenges like low birth rates, though the connection is more tangential to the main topic of the episode.