Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWords, Actions, and Liberty: Tara Smith Decodes the First Amendment
Episode 476
First Amendment scholar and philosopher Tara Smith offers a comprehensive analysis of free speech, situating her work within the broader intellectual…
1 year, 6 months ago
Psychogenic Illness and the Nocebo Effect
Episode 475
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The nocebo effect demonstrates how the mind can cause illness through negative expectations, as hi…
1 year, 6 months ago
How Religions Compete for Money, Power, and People
Episode 474
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Religion in the twenty-first century is alive and well across the world, despite its a…
1 year, 6 months ago
Why Ronald Reagan Wanted to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Max Boot)
Episode 473
Max Boot's revelatory biography of Ronald Reagan, a decade in the making, offers a nuanced portrait of the actor-turned-politician who ushered in a t…
1 year, 7 months ago
Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice
Episode 472
Since Hamas's attack on Israel last October 7, the term "settler colonialism" has become central to public debate in the United States. A concept new…
1 year, 7 months ago
Gray Matters: Exploring the Frontiers of Neurosurgery
Episode 471
Dr. Theodore Schwartz's book Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery offers a comprehensive exploration of neurosurgery, a field barely a century …
1 year, 7 months ago
Biology vs. Gender Ideology: The Science Behind the Debate
Episode 470
Biologist Colin Wright joins the podcast to explore one of today's most contentious topics: the intersection of biological sex and gender.
Drawing on…
1 year, 7 months ago
Taming Silicon Valley: AI's Perils and Promise
Episode 469
AI could bring unprecedented advancements in science and technology, but Gary Marcus, in Taming Silicon Valley, warns it might also lead to democracy…
1 year, 7 months ago
Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker, and Michael Shermer Challenge Conventional Narratives
Episode 468
From the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the rise of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and Artificial Intelligence, in this episo…
1 year, 7 months ago
Slavery, Enlightenment, and America's Refounding
Episode 467
Michael Shermer and Matthew Stewart explore the heretical philosophical roots of the American Republic, including Enlightenment influences and the Fo…
1 year, 7 months ago