What is race? What is privilege? How did we get here and where do we go from here? Dan talks to psychologists, educators, anthropologists, and a comedian, to try to get a little bit less dumb on the issue. Check out the website for more informa

Episode 11 - The Long View

Jan 20th, 2016 1h 29m

What do we see when we zoom out? Scientists Michelle Thaller and Sean Carroll talk about the beginning and end of the Universe. Dan Carlin talks hardcore history, poker pro Annie Duke advises on improving your long game, Prof Hal Hershfield exp

Episode 10 - Evil

Feb 14th, 2015 1h 33m

We know people do horrible stuff, but why? Is there really such a thing as evil, or are bad people just sick? If so, how do we handle them? Daniel hashes it out with Derf Backderf (author of My Friend Dahmer), Adrian Raine (author of The Anato

Episode 9 - Sex

Dec 31st, 2013 1h 40m

What does sex mean? Is loveless sex okay? Daniel chews it over with Chester Brown, Tracy Quan, Ryan Ridley, and more. Check out the website for more information on the show and join the conversation on our Facebook page.

Episode 8 - Eating Animals

Sep 19th, 2012 2h 40m

In this episode we consider the ethics of eating animals with help from a chef, a slaughterer, a hunter, a scientist working on lab-grown meat, a vegan advocate, an undercover slaughterhouse investigator, a Humane Society VP, an animal behavior

Episode 7 - Failure

Apr 23rd, 2012 1h 33m

How do we think about failure? How should we? Cory MacLauchlin uncovers the myths surrounding the life and death of John Kennedy Toole. Jane Anne Staw looks for the deeper causes of writer's block. Comedian Jimmy Pardo tells about bombing on t

Episode 6 - Enemies

Nov 25th, 2011 1h 24m

Why can't we all just get along (and why do people think that question is funny)? Daniel talks to comedian and political commentator Jimmy Dore, social psychologist Lee Ross, an Israeli who went from Right to Left, a Cypriot who lost his home

Episode 5 - Addiction

Jul 1st, 2011 1h 1m

Part 2 of the Gaming series! In this episode we look at the dark side of games, how they hook us and the damage they can do, and where they might be taking us. Daniel talks to therapist and author Shavaun Scott about her time as an in-game the

Episode 4 - Escape

Apr 1st, 2011 1h

Part 1 of the Gaming series! In this episode we look at why games are so seductive, why we choose to lose ourselves in them, what they do for us and how. Daniel talks to online gaming pioneer Richard Garriott as well as Vlad Cole of Blizzard E

Episode 3 - The Beast

Jan 12th, 2011 56m 20s

Part 2 of the Beauty and the Beast series! In this episode we look at the beast's side of things. If you had to be one or the other in a relationship, which would you be? Daniel talks to Jesse Case about a humiliation he suffered at the hands

Episode 2 - Beauty

Nov 19th, 2010 1h

Part 1 of a 2-part series - Beauty and the Beast! In this episode we look at beauty and ask, is it bad for you? Does it make people dumb, mean, shallow? Or is that just sour grapes from an ugly podcaster? Daniel interviews several beautiful

Episode 1 - Nihilism

Oct 15th, 2010 59m 40s

First episode! Nihilism hits everyone at some point. "What's the point of doing anything? We're all going to die one day..." So how do we get out of bed? Daniel has to kick this demon before he can do any more podcasts so we might as well g