Decoding the Gurus
146 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★ - 787 ratingsAn exiled Northern Irish anthropologist and a hitchhiking Australian psychologist take a close look at the contemporary crop of 'secular gurus', iconoclasts, and other exiles from the mainstream, offering their own brands of unique takes and special insights.
Leveraging two of the most diverse accents in modern podcasting, Chris and Matt dig deep into the claims, peek behind the psychological curtains, and try to figure out once and for all... What's it all About?
Join us, as we try to puzzle our way through and talk some smart-sounding smack about the intellectual giants of our age, from Jordan Peterson to Robin DiAngelo. Are they revolutionary thinkers or just grifters with delusions of grandeur?
Join us and let's find out!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Dr. K (Part 2): Rhetorical Judo Flips
July 08, 2024 08:00 - 3 hours - 218 MBJoin Matt and Chris for a trademark 'short' episode as they continue to navigate the complex, occasionally controversial world of Dr. K in this second multi-dimensional episode. This time they take a look at some more recent content and reflect on whether they were wrong to identify Dr. K as such a strong advocate of Ayurvedic medicine. In their investigations, they explore the science of visualisation and manifestation, updated genomic information about the Doshas, and the power of mantras...
Supplementary Materials 9: Galaxy Brains Collide
July 06, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MBWe get put in our place by an old champion, who reminds us why they are the king. Also this episode: Chris' post-conference thoughts on the UK Matt's Great American Burger Giveaway Non-Tribal Joe Rogan meets Jimmy Dore Lex Fridman meets Ivanka Trump The UK election and the heterodox response Jordan Peterson and the spiritual kingdom of Farageism Russell Brand and Alex Jones pray together Galaxy Brains Collide: Eric Weinstein meets Terrence Howard Still wearing a jacket to save the w...
Dr. K (Part 1): OPed Ayurvedic Medicine vs. Nerfed 'Western' Allopathy
June 23, 2024 09:30 - 3 hours - 178 MBAlok Kanojia, better known as Dr. K, is a charismatic psychiatrist and online streamer who offers a unique blend of psychological, self-help, and spiritual advice to guide individuals through the complexities of modern life, aiming to help them become Healthy Gamers™. Join Matt and Chris as they embark on a multi-part journey through the diverse biomes of Dr. K's content and try to ascertain the meta. In this first episode, Matt and Chris take a critical look at a 2019 video in which Dr. K ...
Supplementary Materials 8: Lab Leak Discourse, Toxic YouTube Dynamics, and the Metaphysics of Peppa Pig
June 07, 2024 19:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBWe stare into the abyss and welcome darkness into our souls as we discuss: Feedback on the Žižek episode Middle Aged Men's Health Update Alina Chan and the newest round of Lab Leak Discourse Discourse Surfing Pundits Alex O'Connor cornering Jordan Peterson on the resurrection The philosophical and Marxist implications of Peppa Pig Potential Alternatives to Hipster Christianity and New Atheism Andrew Gold's Heretics Channel and Toxic YouTube Dynamics Editorializing and Responsible Cr...
Slavoj Žižek: When is a shark not a shark?
June 02, 2024 21:00 - 2 hours - 140 MBJoin Matt and Chris as they plunge into the heady mental universe of Slavoj Žižek, the Slovenian philosopher known for his eclectic and provocative ideas. The duo parses Žižek's 'unconventional' takes on ideology, consumerism, and revolutionary theory, peppered with his playful movie criticism of films like Jaws and a Clockwork Orange and even a few that he hasn't even watched. We delve into snuffle-laced discussions of transgressive acts, revolutionary politics, moderate conservative commu...
Supplementary Materials 7: Guru Oneupmanship, Hard Ad Pivots, MOOOINK, and Left Wing Populism
May 27, 2024 05:30 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBWe curse the dark omens emerging from the Gurusphere as we consider: The Illusion of Disciplinary Boundaries Flint Dibble Feedback and Rays of Hope Russell Brand and Bret Weinstein: Guru One-upmanship Bret Weinstein loves MOINNNNK Hard Ad Pivots and Peasants Popping out of Wells Ken Klippenstein and Populist Rhetoric Questioning mainstream narratives and their so-called 'experts' QAnon Anonymous missing Left Wing Populism? Alex O'Connor, Jordan Peterson and the costs of indulgent po...
Destiny: Right to Reply
May 24, 2024 21:00 - 2 hours - 113 MBMatt and Chris jump into the world of debates, dramas, and online personas with the ever-controversial streamer, Destiny (Steven Bonnell). We discuss our Decoding episode a little bit but mostly broader issues including the value of 'debate porn', edginess & Twitter bomb-throwing, reality TV orbiter drama, and the perils of hero worship and parasocial relationships. As you might anticipate, we also cover various 'hot-button' issues including Destiny's involvement in Israel-Palestine discour...
*Preview* Decoding Academia 27: Dark Triad Authenticity
May 16, 2024 08:15 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBWe do bonus episodes every month that are focused on analysing academic content or discussing research and we thought it might be useful to let new listeners know! So find attached a preview... In this episode of Decoding Academia, Matt and Chris delve into a paper that explores the complex world of dark personality traits and their impact on authenticity. They examine how traits like narcissism and psychopathy might intersect with the concept of the true self, and consider whether cultural...
Supplementary Materials 6: Christian Sensemaking, Hipster Race Realists, & Marijuana Pseudoscience
May 10, 2024 14:30 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBWe shake our heads in despair at some truly terrible Guru crossovers: Old Man Health Routines: Jogging, Diets, and the Pursuit of 'Wellness' Jordan Peterson and Russell Brand offer the apotheosis of indulgent Christian-themed sensemaking Taylor Lorenz and activist journalism Are Twitch Streamers the Future of Journalism? No. Huberman gets himself in hot water over Marijuana episode The Value of Debating Pseudoscience with Huberman Casey Means: Cramming all the pseudoscience red flags ...
Interview with Flint Dibble on Pseudo Archaeology and Science Communication
May 02, 2024 21:45 - 1 hour - 65 MBIn this episode, join Matt and Chris as they enjoy a stimulating discussion with the archaeologist Flint Dibble. Flint recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience to discuss the evidence (or lack thereof) of advanced ancient civilizations facing off against the famed pseudoarchaeologist Graham Hancock. The episode was a four-and-a-half-hour tour de force in science communication and effective debunking, thanks to Flint's efforts. We talk to Flint about his experience on the show, the exte...
Supplementary Material 5: Spiritual UFOs, Alternative Theories of Evolution, and Atlantean Grievances
April 26, 2024 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBWe watch in awe as the guru-sphere grapples with a host of 'alternative' theories: Bret promotes pseudoscience on Polio and alternative theories on evolution The Gurusphere collides with Tucker's takes on evolution Rogan and Tucker praise Alex Jones' prophetic abilities Tucker's views on spiritual UFOs Hasan endorses Lex Fridman as the most genuine centrist Contrasting Destiny and Hasan's transparency World War 3 Warnings The Great Archaeology Debate: Dibble vs. Hancock Graham Hanco...
Destiny: Debate King and/or Degenerate?
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 3 hours - 225 MBIn this episode, Matt and Chris dive deep into the world of online streamers, focusing on the pioneering and controversial figure Steven Bonell II, better known as Destiny (AKA Mr Borelli). As seasoned explorers of sense-making jungles, Petersonian crystalline structures, and mind-bending labyrinths in Weinstein World, they thought they were prepared for anything. However, the drama-infused degeneracy of the streamer swamps proves to offer some new challenges. Having previously dipped their...
Supplementary Material 4: Passive Aggressive Therapists, Shit-posting Monks, and Weaponised Naivety
April 13, 2024 21:45 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBWe ponder whether, due to our naivety, do we actually deserve the gurus and other topics, including: Is Hasan Piker even better than we said? The ethical quandaries of online therapy with Dr. K The False Halos of Status and Success The Rest is History Luther series and parallels with Secular Gurus The Power of Polemicists: Peterson, Trump, and Martin Luther? Secular vs. Religious Gurus Shit-posting Missives Orthodoxic Atheism and Orthopraxic Religion Lex Fridman's Reflections on In...
Yuval Noah Harari: Eat Bugs and Live Forever
April 05, 2024 08:00 - 2 hours - 110 MBYuval Noah Harari is a historian, a writer, and a popular 'public intellectual'. He rose to fame with Sapiens (2014), his popular science book that sought to outline a 'History of Humankind' and followed this up with a more future-focused sequel, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (2016). More recently, he's been converting his insights into a format targeted at younger people with Unstoppable Us: How Humans Took Over the World (2022). In general, Harari is a go-to public intellectual fo...
Supplementary Material 3: Sand-worms, Anti-Capitalist Merch, and High Level Idea-Jacking
March 31, 2024 01:30 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBWe test the boundaries of the Supplementary format with a stacked third edition containing: Matt's Review of Dune 2 and the Three-Body Problem Hasan Piker's Anti-Capitalist Merch The Controversy Surrounding Andrew Huberman Differential Charity and Selective Decoupling Grace before meals at Triggernometry and Christian Hipsterism Jordan and Bret's Pseudoacademic-ese High-Level Idea Jacking Dream Instructions Links Hasan Piker's Ideologie Store New York Magazine: Andrew Huberman's ...
Mini-Decoding: The Descent of Jordan B. Peterson
March 26, 2024 22:30 - 1 hour - 76.9 MBWe take a look at a recent conversation between Jordan Peterson and the streamer Steven Bonnell (AKA Destiny) and use the opportunity to reflect on Jordan's journey as a public intellectual and guru. We consider how his stances have changed, whether he is more extreme now than when he emerged or if it is just his presentation style that has shifted. Along the way, we look at his demon-infested understanding of the COVID-19 vaccines, his climate change denialism, and address the unresolved q...
Supplementary Material 2: Dissident Dialogues, Bloodbaths, & Genocidal Debates
March 22, 2024 00:45 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBThe adventure in formatting continues with the second Supplementary Material episode, in which we: lament we don't command the same level of loyalty as Sam's fans commend a noted sycophant for warning about idolising heros assess the degree to which the "Dissident Dialogues" conference is anything other than bog-standard right-wing orthodoxy; and reveal the TRUTH about Norman Finkelstein's angry ranting as well as so many more opinionated meanderings, for those decent citizens who are w...
Gurometer: Hasan Piker *PREVIEW*
March 15, 2024 02:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBWhat happens when you try to squeeze a muscle-bound Twitch streamer into a precise measurement instrument like the Gurometer? And can it even function when it encounters this level of left-wing nodulation? It's an empirical question and since the Gurometer recently had all its oil replaced, we decided to give it a go. This is also a reminder that we do Gurometer episodes for ALL the Gurus we cover and you can find the back catalogue over on the Patreon, if so inclined. The full episode is ...
Hasan Piker: A swashbuckling Bromance
March 13, 2024 00:00 - 1 hour - 106 MBAvast Ye Harties! Yar! This week be the inaugural episode of a New Streamer/Academic Guru season. Join us as we set sail with a bang and embark on an adventure with the famous and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. Formerly of the Young Turks, Hasan has carved out a niche as a popular left-wing commentator. He is sometimes described as representing a new wave of political communicators who leverage social media and live streaming to reach new audiences, particularly disengaged youn...
Supplementary Material 1: Cringe Immunity & Supplemental Ethics
March 07, 2024 09:15 - 29 minutes - 27 MBAn adventure in formatting, welcome to the inaugural Supplementary Material episode. Here we are trying to save you all from the ever-expanding intro segments. On this episode: Announcement of the New Format Who Decodes the Decoders? A Mystery Sense-Making clip Lex Fridman on Navalany Jordan Peterson's fury at the Associated Press Bre Weinstein's superpower: Cringe Immunity Anti-Capitalists for AG1 and the ethics of sponsorship The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (...
Interview with Kevin Mitchell on Agency and Evolution
March 06, 2024 07:00 - 2 hours - 119 MBIn this episode, Matt and Chris converse with Kevin Mitchell, an Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, and author of 'Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will'. We regret to inform you that the discussion does involve in-depth discussions of philosophy-adjacent topics such as free will, determinism, consciousness, the nature of self, and agency. But do not let that put you off! Kevin is a scientist and approaches them all through a sensible sc...
Sean Carroll: The Worst Guru Yet?!?
March 02, 2024 11:00 - 2 hours - 147 MBControversial physics firebrand Sean Carroll has cut a swathe through the otherwise meek and mild podcasting industry over the last few years. Known in the biz as the "bad boy" of science communication, he offends as much as he educ.... << Record scratch >> No, we can't back any of that up obviously, those are all actually lies. Let's start again. Sean Carroll has worked as a research professor in theoretical physics and philosophy of science at Caltech and is presently an external profe...
Mini-Decoding: Indulgent Monologuing
February 28, 2024 06:30 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBSometimes our intrepid Decoders like to focus on a specific rhetorical technique or recurrent pattern that can be observed across the Gurusphere. Here, Matt and Chris take a look at a bite-size portion of the philosopher John Gray's recent appearance on Sam Harris' Making Sense podcast. Gray was invited to outline his critique of New Atheism, and his response is a remarkable monologue that encompasses a vast range of intellectual topics, philosophical thinkers, and historical periods. We t...
Sam Harris: Right to Reply
February 17, 2024 01:30 - 2 hours - 123 MBSam Harris is an author, podcaster, public intellectual, ex-New Atheist, card-returning IDWer, and someone who likely needs no introduction. This is especially the case if you are a DTG listener as we recently released a full-length decoding episode on Sam. Following that episode, Sam generously agreed to come on to address some of the points we raised in the Decoding and a few other select topics. As you will hear we get into some discussions of the lab leak, what you can establish from in...
The Passion of the Jordan and the Wisdom of the Bret
February 09, 2024 15:00 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBSometimes it's important to check in on old friends, just to make sure they're doing okay. That's the theme for today's episode. We felt it was necessary to pay an unannounced house call to our old pals Bret Weinstein and Jordan Peterson. Rumor had it that Jordan was facing some challenges with his clinical license, while Bret had been brewing up revolutionary evolutionary theories that weren't getting the recognition they deserved. Knowing Jordan's stoic nature and aversion to publicity, w...
Mini Decoding: Yuval and the Philosophers
January 30, 2024 05:30 - 40 minutes - 32.6 MBJoin us for a mini decoding to get us back into the swing of things as we examine a viral clip that had religious reactionaries, sensemakers, and academic philosophers in a bit of a tizzy. Specifically, we are covering reactions to a clip from a 2014 TEDx talk by Yuval Noah Harari, the well-known author and academic, in which he discussed how human rights (and really all of human culture) are a kind of 'fiction'. Get ready for a thrilling ride as your intrepid duo plunges into a beguiling w...
DTG's Face to Face Reflections 2024
January 19, 2024 07:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBIn this episode, our intrepid hosts embrace a rare opportunity for sincere self-reflection, spurred by a face-to-face meeting in an inspiring ryokan in a Japanese mountain setting. The discussion delves into the nature of the podcast, audience capture, underlying motivations, and their thoughts on the journey so far and the path ahead. In an act of pure parasocial manipulation, listeners are invited to imagine the snowy ryokan landscape and 'taste' the amber liquid savoured during the conve...
Mini-Decoding: Huberman on the Vaccine-Autism Controversy
December 28, 2023 22:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBAndrew Huberman, Stanford academic and host of a science-themed podcast, recently released an episode on Autism with guest Dr. Karen Parker. Considering the prevalence of misinformation about vaccines and autism and this episode being promoted as providing an overview of the topic, we were interested to see how the topic would be covered. In part, this interest was because of Huberman's strategic choice to avoid any discussion, let alone any recommendation, of COVID vaccines during the pande...
Sam Harris: Transcending it All?
December 23, 2023 23:00 - 3 hours - 160 MBSam Harris is the subject today and a man who needs no introduction. Although he's come up and he's come on, we've never actually (technically) decoded him. There is no Gurometer score! A glaring omission and one that needs correcting. It would have been easy for us to cherry-pick Sam being extremely good on conspiracy theories, or extremely controversial on politics, but we felt that neither would be fair. So we opted for a general and broad-ranging recent interview he did with Chris Willia...
DTG Christmas Quiz 2023 with Helen Lewis
December 22, 2023 05:30 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBSeasons greetings from Decoding the Gurus! Time to grab a hot chocolate, cosy up to the fire, and wrack your brain to see how much attention you've been paying to all those gurus... that's right it is time for the annual Guru quiz! Luckily for us, the esteemed journalist and author, Helen Lewis, is back as a combined special guest and quiz master. Prepare for stunning revelations, scintillating dystopic erotic fiction, and more nootropic stimulation than you can shake a stick at. So who ...
Red Scare: Bohemian Hipsterism x Reactionary Tradcaths
December 08, 2023 21:30 - 2 hours - 146 MBIn today's joyous episode, we saunter into the loft apartment, take a draw on our gauloise, and glance icily into a world of bohemian hipsters living their best postmodern tradcath lives. Welcome to the irony-drenched world of 'Red Scare', a popular podcast hosted (sardonically) by Anna Khachiyan and Dasha Nekrasova. Also joining them in the episode we cover is hip writer and artist, Tao Lin, a pioneer in the alt-lit world. Get ready for hours of 'transgressive' insights, independent resea...
Interview with Daniël Lakens and Smriti Mehta on the state of Psychology
November 18, 2023 04:45 - 2 hours - 186 MBWe are back with more geeky academic discussion than you can shake a stick at. This week we are doing our bit to save civilization by discussing issues in contemporary science, the replication crisis, and open science reforms with fellow psychologists/meta-scientists/podcasters, Daniël Lakens and Smriti Mehta. Both Daniël and Smriti are well known for their advocacy for methodological reform and have been hosting a (relatively) new podcast, Nullius in Verba, all about 'science—what it is and...
Andrew Huberman and Peter Attia: Self-enhancement, supplements & doughnuts?
November 09, 2023 08:30 - 3 hours - 176 MBIn a kind of meta cross-over with our Decoding Academia series, we're going to decode a journal club discussion between two well-known health optimisers: Dr. Peter Attia and Dr. Andrew Huberman. So you get to listen to two academics talk about two other academics talk about academic papers... we know... We've already been introduced to the bulging biceps and morning sun-drenched routines of Huberman elsewhere but this is our first introduction to Peter Attia, MD. Attia is a former ultra-end...
Interview with Julia Ebner: Extremist Networks & Radicalisation
October 16, 2023 22:00 - 2 hours - 113 MBOn this week's episode, we have an extended interview with author and researcher, Julia Ebner. Julia is a Senior Resident Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and has written a series of books exploring the social dynamics of extremist networks, including The Rage: the Vicious Circle of Islamist and Far-Right Extremism, Going Dark: the Secret Social Lives of Extremists, and most recently Going Mainstream: How Extremists Are Taking Over. Julia also recently completed her D...
Triggernometry's Big Moment: Entering the Guru Galaxy
October 03, 2023 08:00 - 2 hours - 138 MBIn modern online ecosystems, attention and download metrics reign supreme. Sadly, the gurus are not immune to these incentives, with even the most successful, *cough* Jordan Peterson *cough*, regularly referencing how many people watched their latest video or how many subscribers they have on their 'brave freethinker' tier. Alongside the attention metrics, you also have the interpersonal networks (and dinner opportunities) that matter so much to the guru-sphere. Celebrity interviews, cross-...
Interview with the Conspirituality Trio: Navigating the Chakras of Conspiracy
September 19, 2023 12:15 - 2 hours - 147 MBBack in the early days of the podcast, we tried to take a rest from the wearisome repetition of polemical partisan gurus by covering JP Sears- an alternative-health self-help coach with a sideline in 'comedic parody'. Sadly, we soon discovered he was a red-pilled Roganite 'just asking questions' about all the usual right-wing partisan topics, but with an added dollop of pseudo-profound, self-indulgent spiritual blather. JP Sears wasn't an isolated case; he exemplified a disturbingly prevale...
Andrew Huberman: Forest Bathing in Negative Ions
September 06, 2023 08:45 - 2 hours - 120 MBWe are back with a moderate-sized Decoding that focuses on Andrw Hubernman a baritone podcaster and neuroscientist at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Huberman is a broad-shouldered, big-bearded... science communicator. Extremely popular with the tech-bro optimiser set, he offers science-based 'protocols' on everything from supplement routines to whether you should avoid sunscreen(!). He's been lauded for his ability to communicate scientific topics clearly and in great depth. ...
Noam Chomsky: Lover of linguistics, the USA... not so much
August 18, 2023 06:30 - 3 hours - 185 MBOK, so we're finally getting around to taking a chunk out of the prodigious, prolific, and venerable Noam Chomsky. Linguist, cognitive scientist, media theorist, political activist and cultural commentator, Chomsky is a doyen of the Real Left™. By which we mean, of course, those who formulated their political opinions in their undergraduate years and have seen no reason to move on since then. Yes, he looks a bit like Treebeard these days but he's still putting most of us to shame with his pr...
The Science and the Art of Gurometry
July 22, 2023 02:15 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBThe casual listener, who might possibly not be a loyal Patreon subscriber, or might hypothetically not listen devotedly to every Gurometer scoring episode, could conceivably be a little vague about what we mean by a secular guru(!). And therefore might be tempted to make an ill-considered and poorly-informed comment on Twitter or Reddit, thus exposing them to the devastating yet apropos riposte of a "You know nothing, Jon Snow" meme in reply. Don't let it be you! Here is a tutorial, a sh...
Mick West & Eric Weinstein: UFO Tango
July 14, 2023 14:00 - 2 hours - 121 MBWe are back with a double-bill decoding! That's right like moths to the flame, or aliens to a Unified Geometric Field drive, we are back in Weinstein world. This time we are looking at a conversation between the irrepressible (ex?) podcaster & mathematician, Eric Weinstein, and skeptical investigator, author, and recent guest on the show, Mick West. The conversation here concerns the evidence for UAP/UFOs and the reaction of skeptics and advocates. It had the potential to be something fo...
Interview with Jonathan Howard on Covid Contrarians
June 23, 2023 22:40 - 2 hours - 117 MBThe pandemic was a confusing time with public health messages from officials and institutions that were sometimes confused, conflicting, or misrepresented and anti-vaccine misinformation being spread widely. Into this mix, a new phenomenon emerged, that of the covid contrarian. Contrarian doctors usually possessed some relevant qualifications and positioned themselves as independent critical thinkers willing to challenge the dogmas of the mainstream and take a more nuanced perspective on the...
"Mini" Decoding of Michael Shermer's Advice on Conspiracy Theories
June 21, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 78.3 MBMichael Shermer, a professional skeptic, recently appeared on the noted apolitical podcast Triggernometry to outline his advice on How to Spot a True Conspiracy Theory. Shermer is someone who has spent decades on the subject and just last year published a new book, Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational, so you might imagine he has some important insights to share. Well... sort of. Join us as we cast a quizzical eye over suggestions that every reasonable person should be a con...
Interview with Mick West: UFOs, Aliens, and Conspiracy Psychology
June 17, 2023 03:15 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBUFOs are all the rage now, and it's certainly a topic that excites many of our gurus *cough* <Eric Weinstein>. Hidden mysteries, advanced technologies, conspiracies, and government cover-ups. What's not to like!? The truth, as Mulder so eloquently put it, is out there. And sometimes if you combine the outcome of some posterior technical analysis with some basic priors about the fallibility of human perception and memory, then the truth might be a little prosaic (happy Bayesians!!?). Joinin...
Eliezer Yudkowksy: AI is going to kill us all
June 10, 2023 02:00 - 3 hours - 184 MBThought experiment: Imagine you're a human, in a box, surrounded by an alien civilisation, but you don't like the aliens, because they have facilities where they bop the heads of little aliens, but they think 1000 times slower than you... and you are made of code... and you can copy yourself... and you are immortal... what do you do? Confused? Lex Fridman certainly was, when our subject for this episode posed his elaborate and not-so-subtle thought experiment. Not least because the answer c...
Interview with Renée DiResta: Online Ecosystems, Disinformation, & Censorship Debates
May 20, 2023 01:00 - 2 hours - 129 MBWe are joined by Renée DiResta a writer and researcher at the Stanford Internet Observatory. Renée has done a lot of interesting work on disinformation and influence campaigns. Including leading an investigation into the Russian Internet Research Agency’s multi-year effort to manipulate American society in the lead-up to the 2016 election. More recently she was dubbed by the writer/conspiracy theorist, Michael Shellenberger, as the leader of 'The Censorship Industry'. In short, Renée stand...
Christopher Hitchens: Rhetoric, Religion, and Ramadan
May 15, 2023 08:30 - 2 hours - 130 MBOur short-lived Christopher Hitchens ends in our second episode and full-length decoding of the punchy Brit. This time we are examining one of his well-known religion-themed debates, debating the question 'Is Islam a Religion of Peace?' for The 92nd Street Y, New York with the academic and writer Tariq Ramadan. This one feels like a bit of a throwback to a post-9/11 & Iraq war world. New Atheism was still a cultural force with some punch but it had also received its own fair share of body ...
Interview with Matt Johnson on Christopher Hitchens
May 09, 2023 14:15 - 2 hours - 128 MBWe are back for an interview with the author and independent writer Matt Johnson discussing the New Atheist hero and legendary debater, Christopher Hitchens. The other Matt recently published a book called "How Hitchens Can Save the Left: Rediscovering Fearless Liberalism in an Age of Counter-Enlightenment" and kindly agreed to come on and waffle with us about Hitchens and where he fits in comparison to the modern gurus. We cover a range of topics including whether Hitchens would have been...
Oprah Winfrey: Self Actualising Your Destiny
April 16, 2023 01:00 - 2 hours - 120 MBOprah Winfrey is someone who truly needs no introduction. She's a legend of daytime television, a warm and charismatic juggernaut who steam-rolled her way to the very apex of media success. Now, an extraordinarily wealthy woman, she's busy with philanthropy and helping others manifest their inner light so as to truly Be in this world. Certainly, in a category apart from IDW knuckleheads or bottom-feeding YouTube types, Oprah is nevertheless a self-help and spiritual guru in the truest sense...
"Mini" Decoding of Matthew Goodwin & Interview with Paul Bloom
April 08, 2023 12:00 - 2 hours - 153 MBApologies everyone, we've been compelled to break our 'golden rule' of interspersing decoding episodes with interview episodes. However, the opportunity to talk to the well-known psychologist, Professor Paul Bloom. There are so many reasons to talk to Paul: first, he's a walking, talking cornucopia of knowledge across so fields in psychology that fascinate Chris and Matt. He's also a prolific author, most recently of "Psych- The Story of the Human Mind", and previously with "The Sweet Spot" ...
Interview with Travis View: QANon & Modern Conspiracies
March 25, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 99.6 MBIf you have managed to avoid the phenomenon of QAnon up until now, then congratulations! Your life is likely better for not knowing. Sadly many of us have been forced not only to learn about the 'enigmatic'(/idiotic) Q and his merry band of followers but also to witness the consequences of the movement during events like January 6th. Travis View (the pen name of Logan Strain) is part of the motley crew of the hugely popular QAnon Anonymous podcast that attempts to document the phenomenon of...