Truth Island

Kenny and I unmask the various forms in which phony behavior disguises itself.

Kenny and I try to unravel whether being impressionable is something that one should outgrow or if keeping an open mind is a sign of wisdom.

Kenny and I try and understand the enigma that is popularity.

Kenny and I try and understand why some of our most powerful members of society speak with good intentions but carry out actions which suggest otherwise.

Kenny and I try and figure out if we are entitled to anything in this world or if there are no guarantees in life.

Kenny and I sort which human characteristics remain under the domain of 'free will' and which are entirely determined by our biology.

Kenny and I try and figure out what guides and motivates human behavior.

Kenny and I try and decide when it is appropriate to hold people responsible for their actions and when one should exercise forgiveness.

Kenny and I explore some of the root causes of apathy and if our apathetic inclinations can be overcome.

Kenny and I discuss how the absence of nuance has lead to a deterioration in conversation and how we make sense of the world around us.

Kenny and I discuss how emotional baggage both informs our decisions in helping us detect danger but at the same time creates giant blind spots in our thinking.

Kenny and I discuss the importance of being brave, in a world where cowardice and complacency have become the new normal.

Kenny and I debate what is the correct balance between being feared and loved.

Using the crisis of climate change, Brett and I discuss whether people are simply misinformed or if we secretly harbor feelings of ambivalence towards extinction.

Kenny and I uncover some of the ways that we are constantly being deceived.

Brett and I contemplate different solutions to one of philosophies oldest problems, and it's implications regarding AI and self-driving cars.

Kenny and I explore why so many of us are truth averse.

Kenny and I consider whether or not humans can peacefully coexist with one another or are destined to remained divided.

Brett and I discuss the role legitimacy plays in building consent and governing a nation.

Kenny and I tackle the big question of why exactly we are all here.

Kenny and I distinguish between good and bad change, and how our fear of death influences all other changes we may encounter.

Kenny and I delve into the strange philosophy known as solipsism, in an attempt to prove each other real.

In the battle between science and instinct, Kenny and I attempt to resolve when we should trust our gut and when we should yield to science.

Kenny and I attempt to answer the age old question of whether people are born evil and must learn to be good or if people are born good but are corrupted by society.

Kenny and I attempt to draw boundary lines between the individual and the people closest to them.

Kenny and I try and breakdown how much of our lives should be spent living in the present versus planning for the future.

This episode is the seventieth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we resume our timeline and discuss how the crisis of the third century was resolved.

Kenny and I discuss the nature of resentment and the destructive element that it can play in our lives.

This episode is the sixteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we resume our timeline and discuss the crisis of the third century.

This episode is the fifteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology and discuss how trade functioned in Rome.

Kenny and I tackle the age old question of whether knowledge makes us more fearful or gives us the wisdom to live much more fulfilling lives.

Alexander and I conclude our discussion on why different people have different curiosities.

Kenny and I tackle the age old myth of the silent wise types.

In this first part, Alexander and I discuss how education both succeeds and fails at cultivating curiosity.

Kenny and I discuss why it may be a good idea to be a bit more detached from what happens to you in life.

Alexander and I attempt to define what ingredients are needed when constructing a family suitable for raising children.

Kenny and I discuss the dangers of passion and how it can both positively and negatively effect a person's choices.

Alexander helps me figure out which types of problems can be solved without giving them a second thought, from those requiring extensive analysis.

Kenny and I discuss why being humble is one of the best ways to combat evil tendencies.

This episode concludes our conversation from last week, on what exactly constitutes evil.

In this episode Kenny and I try and figure out what makes an evil person by accidently stumbling across some of the qualities that make a good person.

Alexander and I discuss if and should everything in this world be scaled up. Topics:Taking your work home with you.The dangers of selling out.Can something be universally loved and a masterpiece?Films are really expensive to make and demand a huge ROI.Democratizing art?Touching a few people deeply versus gently tapping everybody.The audience we believe is watching in even our private conversations.

Alexander and I, discuss why during periods of frustration, flipping the table over almost never works. Topics: A Case Study: The French Revolution Revolutions are typically started by those already in the front of the line. Second tier elites have a magical ability to rile people up. We need to be a lot more mindful if our representatives are living true to the ideals they espouse. Power has a funny way of alienating representatives from the very people they were entrusted to represent. Consequences is the watchdog ensuring the captain is taking us where we were promised. Overturning Citizens United is a good place to start. Campaigns financed by smaller donors, creates a much stronger pipeline to those in power. None of these ideas can work, if we don't do our part in holding powerful people accountable.

Kenny and I discuss if and when guilt has any use, and if it is ever appropriate to use it, to change someone's behavior. Topics:Charity. Arm twisting or public good?Who exactly is responsible for what goes on in the world?Appealing to kindness instead of guilt.Guilt in the realm of life and death situations.Do we ever feel guilt or is it simply the ego?Guilt as a means of correcting ignorance.How hard should we try in getting someone to see the errors of their ways?

Alexander and I walk the thin line of where positivity collides with reality.Topics:Finding the boundaries in which positivity can operate.Positivity cannot be just thoughts, it must translate into meaningful action. Positivity is not a substitute for natural talent. Enjoyment and talent go hand-in-hand even if commercial success does not always follow. Separating the real self-help from the fake. It's okay to push people to new boundaries but do not lie to them.Carry the best tools but nothing is guaranteed.

This episode is the fourteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology and discuss the life of a Roman citizen.

This episode is the thirteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology and discuss the life of a Roman slave.

This episode is the twelfth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we discuss the dysfunctional rule of the Emperor Commodus.

Kenny and I discuss whether standards are a needed utility and if so, who exactly gets to determine them?Topics:The relative nature of standards.There is no such things as 'no standards'.The force needed to enforce standards.Standards remain highly contingent upon our capacity to uphold them.Negotiating standards with those in power.The changing nature of 'force'.Setting your own set of standards.

Alexander and I discuss the future of work and the meaning behind what we do. Topics:Work in relation to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.Poorly and highly developed recreation .Slackin' it versus becoming the best you can be.Create art as if your life depended on it.AI...the next Michelangelo? Failure is the breeding ground for new art.Replication can never pass for new. Accountability within the Recreational Economy.

Kenny and I discuss the pros and cons of a society that favors individuals over collective action.Topics:We should never be ashamed of our strengths. The border between arrogance and confidence.Dismissing those who are pressuring us to conform.Self-made or socially produced billionaires?Changing the incentive structure for positive behavior.Charity must be voluntary and never compulsory. Collectivism can draw out the very best in us, but it can also pull out the very worst. Individualism and collectivism as a means of checks and balances.