Topical Storm
34 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 50 ratingsJoin Alex and Eli as they tackle interesting intellectual and philosophical topics with engaged excitement and commute-friendly brevity. New episodes every week with topics ranging from the study of consciousness to the economics of addiction.
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Episodes
28 | Existential Risk
October 25, 2020 18:00 - 57 minutes - 106 MBWe take on the harrowing topic of existential risk and examine the many ways that things could go very badly for humanity. On the bright side, Nick Bostrom is always an enjoyable read.
27 | Hyperbolic Discounting
October 07, 2020 21:37 - 45 minutes - 82.9 MBIt’s widely known that humans tend to sacrifice long term rewards for smaller, more immediate gains. We tackle a less widely disseminated model of behavior called hyperbolic discounting that implies our impulsive decisions have some very surprising characteristics.
26 | Death and Cryonics
September 29, 2020 14:00 - 46 minutes - 84.3 MBWe’re back! Today we tackle cryonics, the movement that suggests cryo-preserving the body moments after legal death will enable humanity to one day greatly extend our lifespans.
25 | Roko’s Basilisk
February 16, 2020 17:00 - 31 minutes - 58.3 MBWe have a wacky one for you today! Roko’s Basilisk, a thought experiment grounded in decision theory, suggests that a future AI could be incentivized to punish most of humanity for not helping bring it into existence.
24 | All About Jazz
February 09, 2020 20:30 - 33 minutes - 62 MBWe take a break from heavy philosophy to discuss a fun topic: Jazz! This serves as a good introduction to the genre for any novice jazz listener or player.
Is Possibility Impossible?: Op-Ed 05
January 26, 2020 22:51 - 36 minutes - 66.5 MBToday we have an informal discussion about free will, possibility, and what it means to have agency. This was a fascinating conversation for us and we hope it encourages you to think critically about these topics!
23 | The Doomsday Argument
January 19, 2020 20:00 - 29 minutes - 54.1 MBWe continue our discussion of anthropic reasoning from last episode by examining a very troubling thought experiment. Can we logically deduce that humanity is doomed?
22 | Anthropic Reasoning
January 12, 2020 17:00 - 26 minutes - 49.3 MBWe return from our hiatus to discuss the Anthropic Principle and its applications to statistical reasoning. How should we think about probability when our own existence is correlated with an events occurrence?
21 | The Philosophy of John Rawls
October 07, 2019 01:59 - 31 minutes - 57.9 MBToday we take a look at the political philosophy of one of the 20th century’s most influential thinkers: John Rawls. We discuss his notion of an ideal society and his interpretations of justice.
20 | Microexpressions
September 29, 2019 21:45 - 34 minutes - 62.5 MBWe discuss the fascinating interaction between voluntary facial expression and involuntary, fleeting movements known as microexpressions.
The Ethics of Lying: Op-Ed 04
September 22, 2019 16:00 - 39 minutes - 72.6 MBToday we have an impromptu conversation/debate about the ethical implications of lying. We had a great time recording this one, so we hope you enjoy our thoughts.
19 | Integrated Information Theory
September 15, 2019 16:00 - 50 minutes - 92.8 MBHow does consciousness arise in physical substrates? Today we explore a revolutionary and controversial theory that uses mathematics and physics to explain the emergence of conscious experience. This is a long one but we think its worth the listen!
18 | Solipsism Examined
July 29, 2019 16:43 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBSolipsism, the view that the self is all that can be known to exist, is a relatively simple theory with a long history of criticism. Today we look at the argument and examine the body of thought that has emerged around disproving the theory.
17 | Jeremy England’s Theory of Life’s Emergence
July 15, 2019 16:00 - 34 minutes - 63 MBHow did life emerge? Today we discuss a new theory about the physics of the universe that may be the beginnings of an answer to this question.
16 | Biohack Your Life!
July 08, 2019 16:00 - 38 minutes - 70.1 MBWe discuss the emerging culture and science of biohacking: simple experiments and DIY techniques used to improve our bodies and minds.
15 | Fun, Fun, Fun!
June 02, 2019 19:35 - 38 minutes - 69.7 MBWhat is “fun”, really? We dive into the evolutionary psychology behind the phenomenon, its role in our personal development, and its place in the modern world.
Underappreciated Sports: Op-Ed 03
May 12, 2019 16:00 - 43 minutes - 80.2 MBOn today’s show, we discuss a variety of sports we feel are underrated in North American culture and why we wish they were more commonly watched or played.
14 | The World of Venture Capital
May 12, 2019 16:00 - 45 minutes - 84 MBToday we look at the Venture Capital financing industry, explore its nuances and history, and discuss its important role in the fueling tech innovation that drives our society forward.
13 | Interview with Dr. James G. Kahn (Healthcare Pt. 2)
May 05, 2019 16:00 - 46 minutes - 84.6 MBDr. James G. Kahn is a professor at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UC San Francisco. In this interview, we discuss his research and ideas regarding single payer healthcare in the United States.
12 | Healthcare Pt. 1
April 28, 2019 16:00 - 39 minutes - 72 MBWe explore the complicated United States healthcare system, its flaws and inefficiencies, and its nuanced historical background.
The Future of Entertainment: Op-Ed 02
April 25, 2019 20:19 - 42 minutes - 77 MBIn our second Op-Ed, we examine the history of change in the entertainment industry, the impact of the internet on entertainment consumption, and what the future may hold.
11 | Universal Basic Income
April 07, 2019 16:00 - 42 minutes - 77 MBAs a more serious public discussion of Universal Basic Income Plans begins ahead of 2020, we take an objective look at the proposals, the philosophy behind them, and the economics that will ultimately define their outcome (or outright rejection).
10 | Are We Living in a Simulation?
April 04, 2019 01:50 - 40 minutes - 74.8 MBIs reality as we know it a computer simulation? Today we discuss Nick Boström’s influential paper that first proposed the Simulation Hypothesis.
Social Media: Op-Ed 01
March 24, 2019 16:00 - 52 minutes - 96 MBA new kind of episode today: we have a casual, free-form discussion about the role of social media in our lives, its erosion of social structures, and the divisiveness that begins online and has become deeply rooted in our culture.
09 | The Ethics of Eating Meat
March 17, 2019 16:00 - 49 minutes - 89.7 MBToday we offer an holistic overview of the arguments for and against the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. We dig into the academic philosophy behind the vegan movement and discuss practical solutions to the environmental problems of meat consumption.
08 | All About Sleep
March 10, 2019 23:41 - 43 minutes - 79.8 MBWe all sleep, but we don’t often think about what sleep is, why we sleep when we do, and how it plays into our physiology. On this episode we offer the standard advice “get more sleep” but with some fun science to back it up.
07 | Is Life Worth Living?
February 24, 2019 17:00 - 37 minutes - 68 MBToday we examine a controversial branch of philosophical thought known as Antinatalism, which posits that for conscious beings, it would have been better to have never existed. Dark, thought provoking ideas ahead.
06 | What Makes “Cool” Cool?
February 17, 2019 17:00 - 38 minutes - 70.2 MBWhat is the essence of that thing we call “cool”? Where is its basis in evolution and in culture? How does this concept impact our society? All this and more on today’s show.
05 | Big Pharma, Price Hikes, and Blame
February 10, 2019 17:00 - 37 minutes - 68.5 MBA look into the complicated world of pharmaceuticals, the pricing of prescription drugs, and the incentive structures underlying the industry. What’s up with all those drugs suddenly costing a lot more?
04 | The Hard Problem(s) of Consciousness
February 04, 2019 03:27 - 32 minutes - 59.6 MBWe begin a fascinating exploration into the phenomenon of consciousness, and discuss its definitions and philosophical challenges. This is the first of in a series of episodes exploring consciousness and its implications.
03 | To Swear or Not To $@#&ing Swear
January 26, 2019 07:41 - 39 minutes - 72.4 MBThought swearing was as simple as using a taboo word? Think again. We tackle the fascinating research of curse words along with their physiological and psychological importance. Foul language ahead.
02 | Juul, Addiction, and Business Ethics
January 26, 2019 07:37 - 34 minutes - 63.5 MBIs the “iPhone of e-cigarettes” here and here to stay? We explore the sudden rise of Juul, the popular nicotine delivery device, in the context of modern culture, business, and ethics, and discuss the future of the phenomenon.
01 | Effectively Altruistic
January 26, 2019 05:51 - 38 minutes - 71.4 MBWhat is the “Effective Altruism” movement all about? How do charities maximize their moral utility? Where does the collision of philosophy and financial decision making mean the most? We explore all this and more on today’s episode.
An Introduction
January 26, 2019 05:31 - 2 minutes - 3.77 MBA brief guide to our podcast, outlining our thoughts, motivations, and goals.