An experimental podcast hosted by Brent Nichols
With the media's negativity bias its easy to feel like the world is crumbling. Climate change is devastating the environment, the economy is in a downturn, democracy itself is being threatened. Yet if you take a step back and look at the positive developments facing the world, you come to see a simple truth: there is great potential for a better world. In this podcast I explain what these positive developments are and how they can be utilized to improve our world in an incredible number of ways.
This podcast concerns epistemology. How do we know what is real? How do we know what is true? In it I explain the scientific method, Popper's falsification principle, the difference between objective and subjective truth, and the implications of reason as it relates to morality. It also going to be the second chapter in my upcoming non-fiction book which is almost finished. Stay tuned for more.
Is there a way out of the two party duopoly? Can we reconcile the best parts of the left and right without falling victim to their extremes? In this podcast I make the case for what an ideal third party could look like and how it come win on the local and national stage.
(this was recorded in January of 2022) Subtle nuances in chemistry can mean all the difference in the world. H20 is good for you, yet H202 can kill you. Similarly, subtle differences in biology determine the health and effectiveness of various treatments. For this reason, should the government really be mandating the substances we can and can't consume? Should our responses to Covid be draconian when the mortality rate is relatively low?
(this was recorded in November of 2021) It's not enough to be right. If you want to persuade others of your position you have to explain why you're right. Appealing to authority isn't an option. Appealing to popularity isn't an option. When it comes to pressing issues such as public health, global warming, and the disastrous effects of the Anthropocene "trust the experts" can't be our slogan. And if it continues to be, it is only a matter of time before public support collapses.
Anthony Bourdain was a millionaire who spent his life traveling the world, meeting interesting people, and eating delicious food. He was incredibly loved by many, and yet in his old age he decided to kill himself. In contrast to his story there are countless unnamed children in Yemen who grow up struggling with disease, famine, and violence in order to just barely survive. Their life knows untold hardship, and yet they find the will to live. What is the reason for this? Does money buy happiness? And are there ways to spend money which sufficiently maximize happiness? In this podcast I explore affective altruism, psychology, and counterfactual history. I make the case that there is a way to think about depression called "the Boat Analogy" which explains this issue pretty well.
How did Christianity go from being a persecuted minority religion to a status quo power that forcibly converted millions of pagans? How did the United States go from an anticolonial movement based on democracy to the world's largest empire? How did socialism go from a working class movement based on people's liberation to an inhumane system of slavery? There is a tendency in human nature for us to stray from our principles with time. Will we fall victim to it too? Or can we recognize the subtle shift in our behavior before its too late? (recorded November 2021)
In a world facing the threats of climate change and weapons of mass destruction, why do we bicker over trivial differences? Why does our society seem to prioritize issues of personal discomfort while overlooking disasters which are existential in nature? This and more I ponder while examining a study done by Paul Slovic about human empathy.
When does political correctness go too far? What does it mean to have true equality? Are the ends to our political goals justified if their means are authoritarian? This and more is covered as I go into a critique of far-left ideology. Some call this intersectionality. Some call it Wokeism. Some call it critical social justice. Whatever it is, its becoming a more prevalent problem in our popular culture, and with the left winning a string of victories recently, I think it is well worth talking about. (This podcast was initially recorded as three episodes. For this reason there are short gaps at the half hour marks. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
Why is it that we human beings seek simple answers to complex questions? Why do we search for movements to follow and leaders to obey? Is there any chance we'll break the mold of human nature which makes egalitarian social movements so hard to achieve? This and more I ponder while driving through Idaho.
How do you deal with someone who's living in a completely different reality than you? How do you communicate with them? How do you relate? Better yet, how do you deal with these people when they number in the millions, and threaten to overturn your democracy? With the Biden administration showing signs of failure and a third Trump campaign rumored, it is now worth examining what drove the “Make America Great Again” movement. What was it that motivated people to vote for him in record breaking numbers, and what can we learn from it going forward.
Where does morality come from? Does it come from God? Is it a product of our social evolution? Is it an intrinsic fact of our universe? In this podcast I read a sample chapter from my book where I explain in great detail what the foundation of an objective yet secular morality looks like, and how science can be used to guide our actions even when our personal intuitions can't.
Is there a way to talk about our ancestors without romanticizing nor demonizing them? Is there a way to talk about our country without being a hater or a cultural supremacist? With the 4th of July passing and the conversation about patriotism and historical statues heating up again, I try to answer these questions and make the case that we can celebrate our country without sugar coating its most gruesome details. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
Ron Meehan is the Regional Vice Chair of the Alaskan Democratic Party and the former President of the Connecticut College Democrats. At 22 he has already contributed much to progressive politics both at home and abroad. In this episode we talk about Alaska Issues, the botched response to Covid, Israel and Palestine, voting rights, and the dangers of authoritarian rhetoric, as well as many other topics. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
I wrote the notes for this days after the January 6th insurrection but didn't get to recording it until now. What we saw at the Capitol was the result of political divisions going back 50 years boiling over into open violence. The only way to stop it is to reverse the trend of authoritarianism occurring in both parties presently. Is there a way to think critically about these things? Is there a way to make liberalism and conservatism outdated concepts? And what do we do with those who've peddled the lies that have led to so many deaths in the past? This and more I try to uncover as I discuss a solution. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
How do we as a society overcome the existential threats that face our planet? How do we escape unjust institutions which claim every corner of the globe? What will it mean for our economic system when scarcity is no longer a reality? In this episode I share with you a dream of what the future could look like if we choose to invest in space traveling technology. I make the case for why we should go, what we might encounter, and how it can enrich our experience in every single aspect of life. Stay tuned till the end for a song performed by my friend Charalambos Asimakopoulos. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
Why, for some, is wealth and power not enough? Why do old men nearing death continue to try and acquire new resources even when its at the expense of our economy, our ecology, and our democracy? These few, these robber barons, these politicians are destroying our world. And where is their sense? Why can't they recognize what they're doing? Why won't they invest in the world of their children and grandchildren? This and more is explained as I examine the psychology of those running the world, and what it is which keeps them from seeing the obvious truth. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
When Johnny first attended Emory University in Georgia, he expected to simply get his bachelors degree. What happened instead was a whirlwind of events that involved espionage, blackmail, drug abuse, and psychological manipulation. This is the story of how he got involved with an organization calling itself the "Mystical Seven", and how he tried to discern their masonic roots before realizing he was being fooled. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
Should it be legal to insult the Prophet Muhammad? Should it be legal to draw caricatures of him in magazines? In this episode of the podcast I am joined by Lazim Ahmed to talk about the boycott of French goods being launched by Turkey, Qatar, and other middle eastern nations. We discuss freedom of speech, the nature of Islamophobia, interpretations of Islam, immigration and assimilation, and to my surprise: whether anything good has ever come out of democracy. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
In this polarized time, it may seem like there are some people you simply can't get through to. I give a short take on why this is, and what we can do to mend the dialogue and bring everyone closer together. Its a long shot. But every person we persuade as a result of this, I think is worth it.
In this episode I am joined by CJ to discuss his new City Council seat in Bethel, and his take on the 2020 election. We discuss what went wrong and what went right for the Biden campaign. What the progressive movement needs to learn from this moment. And how we can potentially heal the country moving forward. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
In this episode I am joined by CJ McCormick, a Bethel city council candidate and longtime friend of mine. In the first half hour we discuss issues related to life and politics in rural Alaska, and in the following hour we discuss the survival of American democracy in the aftermath of the 2020 election. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
In this episode I reflect on how the innovations of the industrial revolution and liberal democracy have led to both the successes and failures of our modern world. I discuss the climate crisis, income inequality, and the automation revolution, as well as the psychology of fascism and nationalism. This episode should serve to help identify many of the causes of our modern ills, and hopefully their solutions as the global system begins to collapse around us. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com (Correction: the American Nazi Party did not have a million members in the 1930's. It had somewhere between 50k-100k members, making me off by a factor of ten.)
For the fifteenth episode I am joined by Chandhni Jayakanth and Rohit Khandekar to discuss their experiences in India, China, Vietnam, and America. We compare and contrast these different cultures, and determine if there might be something we have in common despite the vast distances and language barriers that separate us. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the 14th episode I am joined by Chandhni Jayakanth, Miriam Casteneda, and Megan Rennie, to talk about the nationwide protests regarding African Americans and the police. We discuss the arguments over social constructions of race, race and IQ, police reform, as well as many other topics. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
Does life have meaning if it doesn't last forever? Is faith warranted if the threat of hell is real? This and more is addressed in the thirteenth episode of the podcast. Here I read a chapter out of the current non-fiction book I'm working on and address the question: "is Pascal's wager a leap of faith worth taking?". If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the twelfth episode I am joined by Lazim Ahmed and Rohit Khandekar. We discuss depression, mental illness, suicide, mindfulness, philosophies on happiness, individualistic vs communal based cultures, and the strive for meaning in a modern world. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the twelfth episode I am joined by Lazim Ahmed and Rohit Khandekar. We discuss depression, mental illness, suicide, mindfulness, philosophies on happiness, individualistic vs communal based cultures, and the strive for meaning in a modern world. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the eleventh episode I am joined by Rohit Khandekar and Chandhni Jayakanth to talk about college. This episode is intended to be helpful for high schoolers thinking about attending college, parents thinking about sending their children to college, and college students who are indecisive about their next move forward. It is also a reflection on our college experiences at WSU and the things we learned and gained from it. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the tenth episode I am joined by Kai Ave Douvia, an economics student at Washington State University. In this episode we discuss our mutual experiences as state delegates for the Democratic party, the results of the 2016 and ongoing 2020 presidential primaries, the crime and corruption committed by the Clinton family, the history of modern neoliberal economics, theories about Presidential electability, and strategies for future progressive movements moving forward.If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the ninth episode I am rejoined by John Egan. We discuss the dystopian novels of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, the politics of anti-authoritarianism , the dangers of surveillance capitalism, the idea of the "luxury trap", the domestication and captivation of human beings, and the notion of human progress as it relates to human happiness and standards of living. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the eighth episode I am joined today by two missionaries from the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints. We discuss Mormonism, epistemology, a god-based morality, the integrity of Prophets, the validity of scripture, and the historical racial tensions within the church. Spoiler alert: It's me. I'm the devil's advocate. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
While sitting in the boredom and self-isolation characteristic of the Corona pandemic, I thought I'd give my thoughts on our collective response to the virus, and how it contrasts with our regular conceptions of economics and public health. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
While sitting in the boredom and self-isolation characteristic of the Corona pandemic, I thought I'd give my thoughts on our collective response to the virus, and how it contrasts with our regular conceptions of economics and public health. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
The sixth episode is a solo episode. I discuss epistemology, scientific methodology, the dichotomy between faith and reason, the link between totalitarianism and religion, and the effects of cognitive bias. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the fifth episode I am joined by John Egan and Rohit Khandekar, two business students at WSU. In this episode we discuss atheism, skepticism, faith, religion, the social underpinnings of belief, and the evolutionary foundations of moral sensibility. This is a controversial episode, but one that I think provides a healthy contribution to the dialogue around faith and reason internationally. If you enjoy our podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the fourth episode I am joined by Bryant Greene, Chairman of the WSU GOP (campus republicans). In this episode we discuss the alt-right, the definition of conservatism, abortion, environmentalism, and how to reconcile our values with our economics interests. If you enjoy our podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the third episode I am rejoined by John Egan, a fellow student and international business major at WSU. In this episode we discuss the nature of power, libertarianism, the legitimacy of economic and state institutions, election reform, education reform, as well as a variety of other topics. If you enjoy our podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the second episode I am joined by Lazim Ahmed, an international student from Qatar studying political science. In this episode we discuss life on the Arabian peninsula, a foreign perspective on the United States, international travel, charity, pleasure/joy dichotomy, Islam, and a brief view on middle eastern geopolitics. If you enjoy our podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Wordlythoughts2015@gmail.com
For the very first episode I am joined by John Egan, a fellow student and co-worker of mine. We discuss artificial intelligence, human potential, the multiverse, sensory expansion, the prospect of perfect knowledge, as well as many other topics.If you enjoy our podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments please email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com
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