Podcasts about hard problems

Hermione Lee is the renowned biographer of Virginia Woolf, Edith Wharton, Penelope Fitzgerald, and, most recently, Tom Stoppard. Stoppard died at the end of last year, so Hermione and I talked about the influence of Shaw and Eliot and Coward on his work, the recent production of The Invention of Love, the role of ideas in Stoppard's writing, his writing process, rehearsals, revivals, movies. We also talked about John Carey, Brian Moore, Virginia Woolf as a critic. Hermione is Emeritus Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford. Her life of Anita Brookner will be released in September.TranscriptHenry Oliver: Today I have the great pleasure of talking to Professor Dame Hermione Lee. Hermione was the first woman to be appointed Goldsmiths' Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford, and she is the most renowned and admired living English biographer. She wrote a seminal life of Virginia Woolf. She's written splendid books about people like Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, and my own favorite, Penelope Fitzgerald. And most recently she has been the biographer of Tom Stoppard, and I believe this year she has a new book coming out about Anita Brookner. Hermione, welcome.Hermione Lee: Thank you very much.Oliver: We're mostly going to talk about Tom Stoppard because he, sadly, just died. But I might have a few questions about your broader career at the end. So tell me first how Shavian is Stoppard's work?Lee: He would reply “very close Shavian,” when asked that question. I think there are similarities. There are obviously similarities in the delighting forceful intellectual play, and you see that very much in Jumpers where after all the central character is a philosopher, a bit of a bonkers philosopher, but still a very rational one.And you see it in someone like Henry, the playwright in The Real Thing, who always has an answer to every argument. He may be quite wrong, but he is full of the sort of zest of argument, the passion for argument. And I think that kind of delight in making things intellectually clear and the pleasure in argument is very Shavian.Where I think they differ and where I think is really more like Chekov, or more like Beckett or more in his early work, the dialogues in T. S. Elliot, and less like Shaw is in a kind of underlying strangeness or melancholy or sense of fate or sense of mortality that rings through almost all the plays, even the very, very funny ones. And I don't think I find that in Shaw. My prime reading time for Shaw was between 15 and 19, when I thought that Shaw was the most brilliant grownup that one could possibly be listening to, and I think now I feel less impressed by him and a bit more impatient with him.And I also think that Shaw is much more in the business of resolving moral dilemmas. So in something like Arms and the Man or Man and Superman, you will get a kind of resolution, you will get a sort of sense of this is what we're meant to be agreeing with.Whereas I think quite often one of the fascinating things about Stoppard is the way that he will give all sides of the question; he will embody all sides of the question. And I think his alter ego there is not Shaw, but the character of Turgenev in The Coast of Utopia, who is constantly being nagged by his radical political friends to make his mind up and to have a point of view and come down on one side or the other. And Turgenev says, I take every point of view.Oliver: I must confess, I find The Coast of Utopia a little dull compared to Stoppard's other work.Lee: It's long. Yes. I don't find it dull. But I think it may be a play to read possibly more than a play to see now. And you're never going to get it put on again anyway because the cast is too big. And who's going to put on a nine-hour free play, 50 people cast about 19th-century Russian revolutionaries? Nobody, I would think.But I find it very absorbing actually. And partly because I'm so interested in Isaiah Berlin, who is a very strong presence in the anti-utopianism of those plays. But that's a matter of opinion.Oliver: No. I like Berlin. One thing about Stoppard that's un-Shavian is that he says his plays begin as a noise or an image or a scene, and then we think of him as this very thinking writer. But is he really more of an intuitive writer?Lee: I think it's a terribly good question. I think it gets right at the heart of the matter, and I think it's both. Sorry, I sound like Turgenev, not making my mind up. But yes, there is an image or there is an idea, or there are often two ideas, as it were, the birth of quantum physics and 18th-century landscape gardening. Who else but Stoppard would put those two things in one play, Arcadia, and have you think about both at once.But the image and the play may well have been a dance between two periods of time together in one room. So I think he never knew what the next play was going to be until it would come at him, as it were. He often resisted the idea that if he chose a topic and then researched it, a play would come out of it. That wasn't what happened. Something would come at him and then he would start doing a great deal of research usually for every play.Oliver: What sort of influence did T. S. Elliot have on him? Did it change the dialogue or, was it something else?Lee: When I was working with him on my biography, he gave me a number of things. I had extraordinary access, and we can perhaps come back to that interesting fact. And most of these things were loans he gave them to me to work on. Then I gave them back to him.But he gave me as a present one thing, which was a black notebook that he had been keeping at the time he was writing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and also his first and only novel Lord Malquist and Mr. Moon, which is little known, which he thought was going to make his career. The book was published in the same week that Rosencrantz came up. He thought the novel was going to make his career and the play was going to sink without trace. Not so. In the notebook there are many quotations from T. S. Elliot, and particularly from Prufrock and the Wasteland, and you can see him working them into the novel and into the play.“I am not Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be.” And that sense of being a disconsolate outsider. Ill at ease with and neurotic about the world that is charging along almost without you, and you are having to hang on to the edge of the world. The person who feels themself to be in internal exile, not at one with the universe. I think that point of view recurs over and over again, right through the work, but also a kind of epigrammatical, slightly mysterious crypticness that Elliot has, certainly in Prufrock and in the Wasteland and in the early poems. He loved that tone.Oliver: Yes. When I read your paper about that I thought about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern quite differently. I've always disliked the idea that it's a sort of Beckett imitation play. It seems very Elliotic having read what you described.Lee: There is Beckett in there. You can't get away from it.Oliver: Surface level.Lee: Beckett's there, but I think the sense of people waiting around—Stoppard's favorite description of Rosencrantz was: “It's two journalists on a story that doesn't add up, which is very clever and funny.”Yes. And that sense of, Vladimir going, “What are we supposed to be doing and how are we going to pass the time?” That's profoundly influential on Stoppard. So I don't think it's just a superficial resemblance myself, but I agree that Elliot just fills the tone of that play and other things too.Oliver: In the article you wrote about Stoppard and Elliot, the title is about biographical questing, and you also described Arcadia as a quest. How important is the idea of the quest to the way you work and also to the way you read Stoppard?Lee: I took as the epigraph for my biography of Stoppard a line from Arcadia: “It's wanting to know that makes us matter, otherwise we're going out the way we came in.” So I think that's right at the heart of Stoppard's work, and it's right at the heart of any biographical work, whether or not it's mine or someone else's. If you can't know, in the sense of knowing the person, knowing what the person is like, and also knowing as much as possible about them from different kinds of sources, then you might as well give up.You can't do it through impressions. You've got to do it through knowledge. Of course, a certain amount of intuition may also come into play, though I'm not the kind of biographer that feels you can make things up. Working on a living person, this is the only time I've done that.It was, of course, a very different thing from working on a safely dead author. And I knew Penelope Fitzgerald a little bit, but I had no idea I was going to write her biography when I had conversations with her and she wouldn't have told me anything anyway. She was so wicked and evasive. But it was a set up thing; he asked me to do it. And we had a proper contract and we worked together over several years, during which time he became a friend, which was a wonderful piece of luck for me.I was doing four things, really. One was reading all the material that he produced, everything, and getting to know it as well as I could. And that's obviously the basic task. One was talking to him and listening to him talk about his life. And he was very generous with those interviews. I'm sure there were things he didn't tell me, but that's fine. One was talking to other people about him, which is a very interesting process. And with someone like him who knew everyone in the literary, theatrical, cultural world, you have to draw a halt at some point. You can't talk to a thousand people, or I'd have still been doing it, so you talk to particularly fellow playwrights, directors, actors who've worked with him often, as well as family and friends. And then you start pitting the versions against each other and seeing what stands up and what keeps being said.Repetition's very important in that process because when several people say the same thing to you, then you know that's right. And that quest also involves some actual footsteps, as Richard Holmes would say. Footsteps. Traveling to places he'd lived in and going to Darjeeling where he had been to school before he came to England, that kind of travel.And then the fourth, and to me, in a way, almost the most exciting, was the opportunity to watch him at work in rehearsal. So with the director's permissions, I was allowed to sit in on two or three processes like that, the 50th anniversary production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at the Old Vic with David Lavoie. And Patrick Marber's wonderful production of Leopoldstadt and Nick Hytner's production of The Hard Problem at the National. So I was able to witness the very interesting negotiations going on between Tom and the director and the cast.And also the extraordinary fact that even with a play like Rosencrantz, which is on every school syllabus and has been for 50—however many years—he was still changing things in rehearsal. I can't get over that. And in his view, as he often said, theater is an event and not a text, and so one could see that actual process of things changing before one's very eyes, and that for a biographer, it's a pretty amazing privilege.Oliver: How much of the plays were written during rehearsal do you think?Lee: Oh, 99% of the plays were written with much labor, much precision, much correction alone at his desk. The text is there, the text is written, and everything changes when you go into the rehearsal room because you suddenly find that there isn't enough time with that speech for the person to get from the bed to the door. It's physics; you have to put another line in so that someone can make an entrance or an exit, that kind of thing.Or the actors will say quite often, because they were a bit in awe—by the time he became well known—the actors initially would be a bit in awe of the braininess and the brilliance. And quite often the actors will be saying, “I'm sorry, I don't understand. I don't understand this.” You'd often get, “I don't really understand.”And then he would never be dismissive. He would either say, “No, I think you've got to make it work.” I'm putting words into his mouth here. Or he would say, “Okay, let's put another sentence or something like that.”Oliver: Between what he wrote at his desk and the book that's available for purchase now, how much changed? Is it 10%, 50? You know what I mean?Lee: Yes. You should be talking to his editor at Faber, Dinah Wood. So Faber would print a relatively small number for the first edition before the rehearsal process and the final production. And then they would do a second edition, which would have some changes in it. So 2%. Okay. But crucial sometimes.Oliver: No, sure. Very important.Lee: And also some plays like Jumpers went through different additions with different endings, different solutions to plot problems. Travesties, he had a lot of trouble with the Lenins in Travesties because it's the play in which you've got Joyce and you've got Tristan Tzara and you've got the Lenins, and they're all these real people and he makes him talk.But he was a little bit nervous about the Lenin. So what he gave him to say were things that they had really said, that Lenin had really said. As opposed to the Tzara-Joyce stuff, which is all wonderfully made up. The bloody Lenins became a bit of a problem for him. And so that gets changed in later editions you'll find.Oliver: How closely do you think The Real Thing is based on Present Laughter by Noël Coward?Lee: Oh, I think there's a little bit of Coward in there. Yes, sure. I think he liked Coward, he liked Wilde, obviously. He likes brilliant, witty, playful entertainers. He wants to be an entertainer. But I think The Real Thing, he was proud of the fact that The Real Thing was one of the few examples of his plays at that time, which weren't based on something else. They weren't based on Hamlet. They weren't based on The Importance of Being Earnest. It's not based on a real person like Housman. I think The Real Thing came out of himself much more than out of literary models.Oliver: You don't think that Henry is a bit like the actor character in Present Laughter and it's all set in his flat and the couples moving around and the slight element of farce?The cricket bat speech is quite similar to when Gary Essendine—do you remember that very funny young man comes up on the train from Epping or somewhere and lectures him about the social value of art. And Gary Essendine says, “Get a job in a theater rep and write 20 plays. And if you can get one of them put on in a pub, you'll be damn lucky.” It's like a model for him, a loose model.Lee: Yes. Henry, I think you should write an article comparing these two plays.Oliver: Okay. Very good. What does Stoppardian mean?Lee: It means witty. It means brilliant with words. It means fizzing with verbal energy. It means intellectually dazzling. The word dazzling is the one that tends to get used. My own version of Stoppardian is a little bit different from, as it were, those standard received and perfectly acceptable accounts of Stoppardian.My own sense of Stoppardian has more to do with grief and mortality and a sense of not belonging and of puzzlement and bewilderment, within all that I said before, within the dazzling, playful astonishing zest and brio of language and the precision about language.Oliver: Because it's a funny word. It's hard to include Leopoldstadt under the typical use of Stoppardian, because it's an untypical Stoppard.Lee: One of the things about Leopoldstadt that I think is—let's get rid of that trope about Stoppardian—characteristic of him is the remarkable way it deals with time. Here's a play like Arcadia, all set in the same place, all set in the same room, in the same house, and it goes from a big hustling room, late 19th-century family play, just like the beginning of The Coast of Utopia, where you begin with a big family in Russia and then it moves through the '20s and then into the terrible appalling period of the Anschluss and the Holocaust.And then it ends up after the war with an empty room. This room, is like a different kind of theater, an empty room. Three characters, none of whom you know very well, speaking in three different kinds of English, reaching across vast spaces of incomprehension, and you've had these jumps through time.And then at the very end, the original family, all of whom have been destroyed, the original family reappears on the stage. I'm sorry to tell this for anyone who hasn't seen Leopoldstadt. Because when it happens on the stage, it's an absolutely astonishing moment. As if the time has gone round and as if the play, which I think it was for him, was an act of restitution to all those people.Oliver: How often did he use his charm to get his way with actors?Lee: A lot. And not just actors. People he worked with, film people, friends, companions. Charm is such an interesting thing, isn't it? Because we shouldn't deviate, but there's always a slightly sinister aspect to the word charm as in, a magic charm. And one tends to be a bit suspicious of charm. And he knew he had charm and he was physically very magnetic and good looking and very funny and very attentive to people.But I think the charm, in his case, he did use it to get the right results, and he did use it, as he would say, “to look after my plays.” He was always, “I want to look after my plays.” And that's why he went back to rehearsal when there were revivals and so on. But he wasn't always charming. Patrick Marber, who's a friend of his and who directed Leopoldstadt, is very good on how irritable Stoppard could be sometimes in rehearsal. And I've heard that from other directors too—Jack O'Brien, who did the American productions of things like The Invention of Love.If Stoppard felt it wasn't right, he could get quite cross. So this wasn't a sort of oleaginous character at all. It's not smooth, it's not a smooth charm at all. But yes, he knew his power and he used it, and I think in a good way. I think he was a benign character actually. And one of the things that was very fascinating to me, not only when he died and there was this great outpouring of tributes, very heartfelt tributes, I thought. But also when I was working on the biography, I was going around the world trying to find people to say bad things about him, because what I didn't want to do was write a hagiography. You don't want to do that; there would be no point. And it was genuinely quite hard.And I don't know the theater world; it's not my world. I got to know it a little bit then. But I have never necessarily thought of the theater world as being utterly loving and generous about everybody else. I'm sure there are lots of rivalries and spitefulness, as there is in academic life, all the rest of it. But it was very hard to find anyone with a bad word to say about him, even people who'd come up against the steeliness that there is in him.I had an interview with Steven Spielberg about him, with whom he worked a lot, and with whom he did Empire of the Sun. And I would ask my interviewees if they could come up with two or three adjectives or an adjective that would sum him up, that would sum Stoppard up to them. And when I asked Spielberg this question, he had a little think and then he said, intransigent. I thought, great. He must be the only person who ever stood up to him.Oliver: What was his best film script? Did he write a really great film.Lee: That one. I think partly the novel, I don't know if you know the Ballard novel, the Empire of the Sun, it's a marvelous novel. And Ballard was just a magical and amazing writer, a great hero of mine. But I think what Stoppard did with that was really clever and brilliant.I know people like Brazil, the Terry Gilliam sort of surrealist way. And there's some interesting early work. Most of his film work was not one script; it was little bits that he helped with. So there's famously the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, he did most of the dialogue for Harrison Ford.But there are others like the One Hundred and One Dalmatians, where I think there's one line, anonymously Stoppardian in there. One of the things about the obituaries that slightly narked me was that there, I felt there was a bit too much about the films. Truly, I don't think the film work was—he wanted it to be right and he wanted to get it right—but it wasn't as close to his heart as the theater work. And indeed the work for radio, which I thought was generally underwritten about when he died. There was some terrific work there.Oliver: Yes. And there aren't that many canonical writers who've been great on the radio.Lee: Absolutely. He did everything. He did film, he did radio. He wrote some opera librettos. He really did everything. And on top of that, there was the great work for the public good, which I think is a very important part of his legacy, his history.Oliver: How much crossover influence is there between the different bits of his career? Does the screenwriting influence the theater writing and the radio and so on? Or is he just compartmentalized and able to do a lot of different things?Lee: That's such an interesting question. I don't think I've thought about it enough. I think there are very cinematic aspects to some of the plays, like Night and Day, for instance, the play about journalism. That could easily have been a film.And perhaps Hapgood as well, although it could be a kind of John le Carré type film thriller, though it's such a set of complicated interlocking boxes that I don't know that it would work as a film. It's not one of my favorite players, I must say. I struggle a little bit with Hapgood. But, yes, I'm sure that they fed into each other. Because he was so busy, he was often doing several things at once. So he was keeping things in boxes and opening the lid of that box. But mentally things must have overlapped, I'm sure.Oliver: He once joked that rather than having read Wittgenstein from cover to cover, he had only read the covers. How true is that? Because I know some people who would say he's very clever in everything, but he's not as clever as he looks. It's obviously not true that he only read the covers.Lee: I think there was a phase, wasn't there, after the early plays when people felt that he was—it's that English phrase, isn't it—too clever by half. Which you would never hear anyone in France saying of someone that they were too clever by half. So he was this kind of jazzy intellectual who put all his ideas out there, and he was this sort of self-educated savant who hadn't been to Oxford.There was quite a lot of that about in the earlier years, I think. And a sense that he was getting away with it, to which I would countermand with the story of the writing of The Invention of Love. So what attracted him to the figure of Housman initially was not the painful, suppressed homosexual love story, but the fact that here was this person who was divided into a very pernickety, savagely critical classical editor of Latin and a romantic lyric poet. In order to work out how to turn this into a play, he probably spent about six years taking Latin lessons, reading everything he could read on the history of classical literature. Obviously reading about Housman, engaging in conversation with classical scholars about Housman's, finer points of editorial precision about certain phrases. And what he used from that was the tip of the iceberg. But the iceberg was real.He really did that work and he often used to say that it was his favorite play because he'd so much enjoyed the work that went into it. I think he took what he needed from someone like Wittgenstein. I know you don't like The Coast of Utopia very much, but if you read his background to Coast of Utopia, what went into it, and if you compare what's in the plays, those three plays, with what's in the writing about those revolutionaries, he read everything. He may have magpied it, but he's certainly knows what he's talking about. So I defend him a bit against that, I think.Oliver: Good, good. Did you see the recent production at the Hamstead Theatre of The Invention of Love?Lee: I did, yes.Oliver: What did you think?Lee: I liked it. I thought it was rather beautifully done. I liked those boats rowing around that clicked together. I thought Simon Russell Beale was extremely good, particularly very moving. And very good in Housman's vindictiveness as a critic. He is not a nice person in that sense. And his scornfulness about the women students in his class, that kind of thing. And so there was a wonderful vitriol and scorn in Russell Beale's performance.I think when you see it now, some of the Oxford context is a little bit clunky, those scenes with Jowett and Pater and so on, it's like a bit of a caricature of the context of cultural life at the time, intellectual life at the time. But I think that the trope of the old and the young Housman meeting each other and talking to each other, which I still think is very moving. I thought it worked tremendously well.Oliver: What are Tom Stoppard's poems like?Lee: You see them in Indian Ink where he invents a poet, Flora Crewe, who is a poet who was died young, turn of the century, bold feminist associated with Bloomsbury and gets picked up much later as a kind of Sylvia Plath-type, HD type heroine. And when you look at Stoppard's manuscripts in the Harry Ransom Center in the University of Austin, in Texas, there is more ink spent on writing and rewriting those poems of Flora Crewe than anything else I saw in the manuscript. He wrote them and rewrote them.Early on he wrote some Elliot—they're very like Elliot—little poems for himself. I think there are probably quite a lot of love poems out there, which I never saw because they belong to the people for whom he wrote them. So I wouldn't know about those.Oliver: How consistently did Stoppard hold to a kind of liberal individualism in his politics?Lee: He was accused of being very right wing in the 1980s really, 1970s, 1980s, when the preponderant tendency for British drama was radicalism, Royal Court, left wing, all of that. And Stoppard seemed an outlier then, because he approved of Thatcher. He was a friend of Thatcher. He didn't like the print union. It was particularly about newspapers because he'd been a newspaper man in his youth. That was his alternative university education, working in Bristol on the newspapers. He had a romance heroic feeling about the value of the journalist to uphold democracy, and he hated the pressure of the print unions to what he thought at the time was stifling that.He changed his mind. I think a lot about that. He had been very idealistic and in love with English liberal values. And I think towards the end of his life he felt that those were being eroded. He voted lots of different ways. He voted conservative, voted green. He voted lib dem. I don't if he ever voted Labour.Oliver: But even though his personal politics shifted and the way he voted shifted, there is something quite continuous from the early plays through to Rock ‘n' Roll. Is there a sort of basic foundation that doesn't change, even though the response to events and the idea about the times changes?Lee: Yes, I think that's right, and I think it can be summed up in what Henry says in The Real Thing about politics, which is a version of what's often said in his plays, which is public postures have the configuration of private derangement. So that there's a deep suspicion of political rhetoric, especially when it tends towards the final solution type, the utopian type, the sense that individual lives can be sacrificed in the interest of an ultimate rationalized greater good.And then, he's worked in the '70s for the victims of Soviet communism. His work alongside in support of Havel and Charter 77. And he wrote on those themes such as Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Professional Foul. Those are absolutely at the heart of what he felt. And they come back again when he's very modest about this and kept it quiet. But he did an enormous amount of work for the Belarus exile, Belarus Free Theater collective, people in support of those trying to work against the regime in Belarus.And then the profound, heartfelt, intense feeling of horror about what happened to people in Leopoldstadt. That's all part of the same thing. I think he's a believer in individual freedom and in democracy and has a suspicion of political rhetoric.Oliver: How much were some of his great parts written for specific actors? Because I sometimes have a feeling when I watch one of his plays now, if I'd been here when Felicity Kendal was doing this, I would be getting the whole thing, but I'm getting most of it.Lee: I'm sure that's right. And he built up a team around him: Peter Wood, the director and John Wood who's such an extraordinary Henry Carr in in in Travesties. And Michael Hordern as George the philosopher in Jumpers. And he wrote a lot for Kendal, in the process of becoming life companions.But he'd obviously been writing and thinking of her very much, for instance, in Arcadia. And also I think very much, it's very touching now to see the production of Indian Ink that's running at Hampstead Theatre in which Felicity Kendal is playing the older woman, the surviving older sister of the poet Flora Crewe, where of course the part of Flora Crewe was written for her. And there's something very touching about seeing that now. And, in fact, the first night of that production was the day of Stoppard's funeral. And Kendal couldn't be at the funeral, of course, because she was in the first night of his play. That's a very touching thing.Oliver: Why did he think the revivals came too soon?Lee: I don't really know the answer to that. I think he thought a play had to hook up a lot of oxygen and attract a lot of attention. If you were lucky while it was on, people would remember the casting and the direction of that version of it, and it would have a kind of memory. You had to be there.But people who were there would remember it and talk about it. And if you had another production very soon after that, then maybe it would diminish or take away that effect. I think he had a sort of loyalty to first productions often. What do you think about that? I'm not quite sure of the answer to that.Oliver: I don't know. To me it seems to conflict a bit with his idea that it's a living thing and he's always rewriting it in the rehearsal room. But I think probably what you say is right, and he will have got it right in a certain way through all that rehearsing. You then need to wait for a new generation of people to make it fresh again, if you like.Lee: Or not a generation even, but give it five years.Oliver: Everyone new and this theater's working differently now. We can rework it in our own way. Can we have a few questions about your broader career before we finish?Lee: Depends what they are.Oliver: Your former colleague John Carey died at a similar time to Stoppard. What do you think was his best work?Lee: John Carey's best work? Oh. I thought the biography of Golding was pretty good. And I thought he wrote a very good book on Thackery. And I thought his work on Milton was good. I wasn't so keen on The Intellectuals and the Masses. He and I used to have vociferous arguments about that because he had cast Virginia Woolf with all the modernist fascists, as it were. He'd put her in a pile with Wyndham Lewis and Ezra Pound and so on. And actually, Virginia Woolf was a socialist feminist. And this didn't seem to have struck him because he was so keen to expose her frightful snobbery, which is what people in England reading Woolf, especially middle class blokes, were horrified by.And she is a snob, there's no doubt about it. But she knew that and she lacerated herself for it too. And I think he ignored all the other aspects of her. So I was angry about that. But he was the kind of person you could have a really good argument with. That was one of the really great things about John.Oliver: He seems to be someone else who was amenable and charming, but also very steely.Lee: Yes, I think he probably was I think he probably was. You can see that in his memoir, I think.Oliver: What was Carmen Callil like?Lee: Oh. She was a very important person in my life. It was she who got me involved in writing pieces for Virago. And it was she who asked me to write the life of Virginia Woolf for Chatto. And she was an enormous, inspiring encourager as she was to very many people. And I loved her.But I was also, as many people were, quite daunted by her. She was temperamental, she was angry. She was passionate. She was often quite difficult. Not a word I like to use about women because there's that trope of difficult women, but she could be. And she lost her temper in a very un-English way, which was quite a sight to behold. But I think of her as one of the most creative and influential publishers of the 20th century.Oliver: Will there be a biography of her?Lee: I don't know. Yes, it's a really interesting question, and I've been asking her executors whether they have any thoughts about that. Somebody said to me, oh, who wants a biography of a publisher? But, actually, publishers are really important people often, so I hope there would be. Yes. And it would need to be someone who understood the politics of feminism and who understood about coming from Australia and who understood about the Catholic background and who understood about her passion for France. And there are a whole lot of aspects to that life. It's a rich and complex life. Yes, I hope there will be someday.Oliver: Her papers are sitting there in the British Library.Lee: They are. And in fact—you kindly mentioned this to start with—I've just finished a biography of the art historian and novelist, Anita Brookner, who won the Booker prize in 1984 for a novel called Hotel du Lac.And Carmen and Anita were great buddies, surprisingly actually, because they were very different kinds of characters. And the year before she died, Carmen, who knew I was working on Anita, showed me all her diary entries and all the letters she'd kept from Anita. And that's the kind of generous person that she was.That material is now sitting in the British Library, along with huge reams of correspondence between Carmen and many other people. And it's an exciting archive.Oliver: She seems to have had a capacity to be friends with almost anyone.Lee: Yes, I think there were people she would not have wanted to be friends with. She was very disapproving of a lot of political figures and particularly right-wing figures, and there were people she would've simply spat at if she was in the room with them. But, yes, she an enormous range of friends, and she was, as I said, she was fantastically encouraging to younger women writers.And, also, another aspect of Carmen's life, which I greatly admired and was fascinated by: In Virago she would often be resuscitating the careers of elderly women writers who had been forgotten or neglected, including Antonia White and including Rosamund Lehmann. And part of Carmen's job at Virago, as she felt, was not just to republish these people, some of whom hadn't had a book published for decades, but also to look after them. And they were all quite elderly and often quite eccentric and often quite needy. And Carmen would be there, bringing them out and looking after them and going around to see them. And really marvelous, I think.Oliver: Yes, it is. Tell me about Brian Moore.Lee: Breean, as he called himself.Oliver: Oh, I'm sorry.Lee: No, it's all right. I think Brian became a friend because in the 1980s I had a book program on Channel 4, which was called Book Four. It had a very small audience, but had a wonderful time over several years interviewing lots and lots of writers who had new books out. We didn't have a budget; it was a table and two chairs and not the kind of book program you see on the television anymore. And I got to know Brian through that and through reviewing him a bit and doing interviews with him, and my husband and I would go out and visit him and his wife Jean.And I loved the work. I thought the work was such a brilliant mixture of popular cultural forms, like the thriller and historical novel and so on. And fascinating ideas about authority and religion and how to be free, how to break free of the bonds of what he'd grown up with in Ireland, in Northern Ireland, the bombs of religious autocracy, as it were. And very surreal in some ways as well. And he was also a very charming, funny, gregarious person who could be quite wicked about other writers.And, he was a wonderfully wicked and funny companion. What breaks my heart about Brian Moore is that while he was alive, he was writing a novel maybe every other year or every three years, and people would review them and they were talked about, and I don't think they were on academic syllabuses but they were really popular. And when he died and there were no more books, it just went. You can think of other writers like that who were tremendously well known in their time. And then when there weren't any more books, just went away. You ask people, now you go out and ask people, say, “What about The Temptation of Eileen Hughes or The Doctor's Wife or Black Robe? And they'll go, “Sorry?”Oliver: If anyone listening to this wants to try one of his novels, where do you say they should start?Lee: I think I would start with The Doctor's Wife and The Temptation of Eileen Hughes. And then if one liked those, one would get a taste for him. But there's plenty to choose from.Oliver: What about Catholics?Lee: Yes. Catholics is a wonderful book. Yes. Wonderful book. Bit like Muriel Spark's The Abbess of Crewe, I think.Oliver: How important is religion to Penelope Fitzgerald's work?Lee: She would say that she felt guilty about not having put her religious beliefs more explicitly into her fiction. I'm very glad that she didn't because I think it is deeply important and she believes in miracles and saints and angels and manifestations and providence, but she doesn't spell it out.And so when at the end of The Gate of Angels, for instance, there is a kind of miracle on the last page but it's much better not to have it spelt out as a miracle, in my view. And in The Blue Flower, which is not my favorite of her books, but it's the book of the greatest genius possibly. And I think she was a genius. There is a deep interest in Novalis's romantic philosophical ideas about a spiritual life, beyond the physical life, no more doctrinally than that. And she, of course, believes in that. I think she believed, in an almost Platonic way, that this life was a kind of cave of shadows and that there was something beyond that. And there are some very mysterious moments in her books, which, if they had been explained as religious experiences, I think would've been much less forceful and much less intense.Oliver: What is your favorite of her books?Lee: Oh, The Beginning of Spring. The Beginning of Spring is set in Moscow just before the revolution. And its concerns an Englishman who runs a print and publishing works. And it's based quite a lot on some factual narratives about people in Moscow at the time. And it's about the feeling of that place and that time, but it's also about being in love with two people at the same time.And, yes, and it's about cultural clashes and cultural misunderstanding, and it is an astonishingly evocative book. And when asked about this book, interviewers would say to Penelope, oh, she must have lived in Moscow for ages to know so much about it. And sometimes she would say, “Yes, I lived there for years.” And sometimes she would say, “No, I've never been there in my life.” And the fact was she'd had a week's book tour in Moscow with her daughter. And that was the only time she ever went to Russia, but she read. So it was a wonderful example of how she would be so wicked; she would lie.Oliver: Yes.Lee: Because she couldn't be bothered to tell the truth.Oliver: But wasn't she poking fun at their silly questions?Lee: Yes. It's not such a silly question. I would've asked her that question. It is an astonishing evocation of a place.Oliver: No, I would've asked it too, but I do feel like she had this sense of it's silly to be asked questions at all. It's silly to be interviewed.Lee: I interviewed her about three times—and it was fascinating. And she would deflect. She would deflect, deflect. When you asked her about her own work, she would deflect onto someone else's work or she would tell you a story. But she also got quite irritable.So for instance, there's a poltergeist in a novel called The Bookshop. And the poltergeist is a very frightening apparition and very strong chapter in the book. And I said to her in interview, “Look, lots of people think this is just superstition. There aren't poltergeists.” And she looked at me very crossly and said they just haven't been there. They don't know what they're talking about. Absolutely factual and matter of fact about the reality of a poltergeist.Oliver: What makes Virginia Woolf's literary criticism so good?Lee: Oh, I think it's a kind of empathy actually. That she has an extraordinary ability to try and inhabit the person that she's writing about. So she doesn't write from the point of view of, as it were, a dry, historical appreciation.She's got the facts and she's read the books, but she's trying to intimately evoke what it felt like to be that writer. I don't mean by dressing it up with personal anecdotes, but just she has an extraordinary way of describing what that person's writing is like, often in images by using images and metaphors, which makes you feel you are inside the story somehow.And she loves anecdotes. She's very good at telling anecdotes, I think. And also she's not soft, but she's not harshly judgmental. I think she will try and get the juice out of anything she's writing about. Most of these literary criticism pieces were written for money and against the clock and whilst doing other things.So if you read her on Dorothy Wordsworth or Mary Wollstonecraft or Henry James, there's a wonderful sense of, you feel your knowledge has been expanded. Knowledge in the sense of knowing the person; I don't mean in the sense of hard facts.Oliver: Sure. You've finished your Anita Brookner biography and that's coming this year.Lee: September the 10th this year, here and in the States.Oliver: What will you do next?Lee: Yes. That's a very good question, though a little soon, I feel.Oliver: Is there someone whose life you always wanted to write, but didn't?Lee: No. No, there isn't. Not at the moment. Who knows?Oliver: You are open to it. You are open.Lee: Who knows what will come up.Oliver: Yes. Hermione Lee, this was a real pleasure. Thank you very much.Lee: Thank you very much. It was a treat. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.commonreader.co.uk

Today Razib talks to Aneil Mallavarapu, a scientist and technology leader based in Austin, Texas, whose career bridges the fields of biochemistry, systems biology, and software engineering. He earned his doctorate in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, and has held academic positions at Harvard Medical School, where he contributed to the Department of Systems Biology and developed the "Little b" programming language. Mallavarapu has transitioned from academic research into the tech and venture capital sectors, co-founding ventures such as Precise.ly and DeepDialog, and currently serving as a Managing Partner at Humain Ventures. He remains active in the scientific community through local initiatives like the Austin Science Network. Most of the conversation centers around Mallavarapu's arguments outlined in his Substack The Case Against Conscious AI - Why AI consciousness is inconsistent with physics. The core of his argument rests on the "Simultaneity Problem" and the "Hard Problem of Physics," which involve non-locality and the memorylessness of artificial intelligence phenomena. Though Mallavarapu believes that artificial intelligence holds great promise, and perhaps even "artificial general intelligence" (AGI) is feasible, he argues that this is a distinct issue from consciousness, which is a property of human minds. Razib also brings up the inverse case: could it be that many organisms that are not particular intelligence, also have consciousness? What does that imply for ethics of practices like eating meat?

In September, Executive Director Cindy Trinkner-Peot celebrated the expansion and renovation of Northern Door Children's Center's facility in Sturgeon Bay, increasing the center's capacity by almost 30%. She joins Myles Dannhausen Jr. to discuss what the expansion means for meeting the demand for child care in northern Door County and the many challenges that remain. They're joined by Molly Gary of the United Way Child Care Task Force to look at how people on the ground stepped up to take on a seemingly intractable issue and change the conversation.

Hank Green (@hankschannel) is one of YouTube's most beloved creators. One half of vlogbrothers, he is also the co-creator and host of SciShow and Crash Course.Timestamps:0:00 - Where Are All the Aliens?8:08 - What Makes Humans So Special?17:22 - Has the US Lost its Cultural Identity?29:34 - Martin Luther Wrong About God?36:30 - Is the World an Illusion?46:54 - Should We Believe Our Illusions?53:58 - How Objective is Science?59:41 - Does Science Explain Anything?01:11:10 - Could We Explain Cold to an Alien?1:22:03 - The Hard Problem of Consciousness01:27:44 - Will Computers Ever Become Conscious?01:35:58 - Do You Have Two Brains?01:42:30 - Should We Be Worried About TikTok?1:49:08 - Hank's Video Ideas01:59:39 - What's it Like Meeting Your Old Heroes?2:05:51 - Being a YouTuber

In this episode, Senior Space Editor and author Eric Berger joins the show to discuss the evolving landscape of the space industry. Drawing on his extensive reporting experience, he explores major trends such as the rise of China as a space power and the shift toward commercial space companies like SpaceX. Eric Berger shares insights into workplace culture, leadership traits, and the intense sense of mission driving innovation at companies like SpaceX and Stoke Space. The conversation covers the challenges of sustaining hard-driving environments, the importance of compelling vision, and alternate cultural models emerging within the industry. Listeners will also hear Berger's perspective on the future of spaceflight and what excites him most about upcoming missions and technology.

We report from the Heidelberg Laureate Forum

How do great teams solve hard problems? Dr. Michaela Kerrissey believes it starts with curiosity, care, and a willingness to work together. Her research explores what makes teams thrive—how people from different backgrounds can bridge gaps, listen to one another, and turn collaboration into real innovation.Michaela is an Associate Professor of Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she studies how healthcare organizations innovate, improve, and integrate services. Her work focuses on team dynamics, cross-sector collaboration, and leadership behaviors that help groups move from impasse to impact. She was named to the 2023 Thinkers 50 Radar list of top global management thinkers.Michaela joined the podcast to discuss what makes teams effective, why a “we mindset” matters, and how to build cultures of openness, excellence, and shared problem-solving in any organization.Michaela joined the podcast to discuss what makes teams effective, why a “we mindset” matters, and how to build cultures of openness, excellence, and shared problem-solving in any organization.

I woke up grumpy. Actually, I woke up a couple of hours earlier than what I had set my alarm for and my mind began to race with a particular problem that has been ongoing for some time. Here's how everything changed for the better.

What if space and time aren't real, and consciousness is the true fabric of the universe? In this mind-expanding conversation of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. Donald Hoffman, pioneering cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality, breaks down the revolution currently shaking science to its core. Could everything we experience — even space and time — be just part of a virtual interface our minds use to survive? Dr. Hoffman explains why consciousness (not matter) might be fundamental, what could exist beyond space-time, and why merging science and spirituality may be the only way to solve the Hard Problem of Consciousness. He also breaks down why: - Reality may just be what we perceive through a VR headset - Thinking you are your body could be one of humanity's greatest dangers - AI will never truly be conscious - Consciousness doesn't arise from physical processes, but might create them - Darwin's Theory of Evolution may suggest our world isn't real at all - Technology could be clouding our ability to perceive God - Recognizing a higher consciousness naturally leads to compassion and love for others - Building a scientific framework for spirituality could allow science to finally confirm what mystics have always known - His mathematical model of consciousness may reveal a collective mind & even prove the existence of God - His theory of the observer could unlock real magic: time travel, instant knowledge downloads, limb regeneration, and more We may have discovered the first layer of the Simulation's software; once we understand it, can we manipulate it to create magic? But with this potential power comes danger — if we unlock reality's source code, what happens next? Dr. Hoffman believes that if science proves consciousness is fundamental, confirming spirituality itself, the impact on humanity will be unlike anything we've ever seen. If consciousness really is the code behind reality, this might be the most important conversation of our lifetime. Don't miss it! Dr. Donald Hoffman's book, The Case Against Reality: How Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes: ⁠https://a.co/d/5HoGhug⁠ Subscribe on Substack for Ad-Free Episodes & Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if space and time aren't real, and consciousness is the true fabric of the universe? In this mind-expanding conversation of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. Donald Hoffman, pioneering cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality, breaks down the revolution currently shaking science to its core. Could everything we experience — even space and time — be just part of a virtual interface our minds use to survive? Dr. Hoffman explains why consciousness (not matter) might be fundamental, what could exist beyond space-time, and why merging science and spirituality may be the only way to solve the Hard Problem of Consciousness. He also breaks down why: - Reality may just be what we perceive through a VR headset - Thinking you are your body could be one of humanity's greatest dangers - AI will never truly be conscious - Consciousness doesn't arise from physical processes, but might create them - Darwin's Theory of Evolution may suggest our world isn't real at all - Technology could be clouding our ability to perceive God - Recognizing a higher consciousness naturally leads to compassion and love for others - Building a scientific framework for spirituality could allow science to finally confirm what mystics have always known - His mathematical model of consciousness may reveal a collective mind & even prove the existence of God - His theory of the observer could unlock real magic: time travel, instant knowledge downloads, limb regeneration, and more We may have discovered the first layer of the Simulation's software; once we understand it, can we manipulate it to create magic? But with this potential power comes danger — if we unlock reality's source code, what happens next? Dr. Hoffman believes that if science proves consciousness is fundamental, confirming spirituality itself, the impact on humanity will be unlike anything we've ever seen. If consciousness really is the code behind reality, this might be the most important conversation of our lifetime. Don't miss it! Dr. Donald Hoffman's book, The Case Against Reality: How Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes: https://a.co/d/5HoGhug Subscribe on Substack for Ad-Free Episodes & Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hard problems are the only problems worth your time. Today, we'll talk about how to identify them and build a business around them. We'll dig in on decisions customers avoid and using those decisions to anchor early traction. We'll talk through Brian's favorite current business - a guy who buys used cars for you - and how to approach helping people with chronic pain.  Also, I'm writing a book! Want to help me? Sign up here. Tacklebox

It's been difficult to find important questions that quantum computers can answer faster than classical machines, but a new algorithm appears to do it for some critical optimization tasks. The story Quantum Speedup Found for Huge Class of Hard Problems first appeared on Quanta Magazine.

A lecture given at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes Philosopher Thomas Nagel defined consciousness as "what it is like" to be yourself. While we all go about our daily lives as conscious beings, usually without much reflection, consciousness itself remains a deeply mysterious thing. This lecture will explore several more aspects of what makes consciousness such a "hard problem," particularly from the materialist perspective. I will argue that only belief in a transcendent, personal Creator can give us the grounds for answering the question "Why are we conscious?" Lastly, we will attempt to address the question: What is it about the existence of consciousness that makes sense from within a biblical understanding of humanity? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2025

Why are we here? How do we think? What is the nature of life? What are the boundaries between ourselves and the rest of the living web—between ourselves and the rest of the universe across space and through time…and in the timeless, formless place from which everything arises?These are the big, foundational questions of our existence, and how we answer them shapes how we see ourselves and our relationship to everything around us. If we work on a human supremacist frame, then we have no qualms about destroying the rest of the living web. If we know ourselves to be integral to it, if we can 'prove' this at a scientific level, then perhaps we can shift the way we behave. Dr James Cooke is an author, researcher and host of the Living Mirrors Podcast which is how I got to know him. He has three degrees from Oxford, including a PhD in neuroscience. He has been conducting research into the brain basis of consciousness and at the University of London, he achieved a theoretical breakthrough that linked philosophy, the latest in cognitive neuroscience and modern secular mysticism. Outside academia, he directs the Inner Space Institute for NonDual Naturalism, a center for education and participation in topics at the intersection of science & spirituality.  It is here, it says, 'To help you engage in spiritual development in a way that is scientifically grounded.'  Nondual Naturalism is a worldview that synthesises science and spiritual insight, centred around the recognition that we are not separate from nature and are fundamentally at home in existence and James expands on this in detail in his book, The Dawn of Mind: How matter became conscious and alive which synthesises science and contemplative insight to offer a radical solution to the Hard Problem of Consciousness and the question of our place in existence.James' website: https://www.drjamescooke.com/The Inner Space Institute: https://www.innerspaceinstitute.org/The Dawn of Mind Book https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9781633889927Living Mirrors Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/living-mirrors-with-dr-james-cooke/id1516523741James on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@DrJamesCookeWhat we offer: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered by our Accidental Gods Programme it's  'Dreaming Your Death Awake' (you don't have to be a member) it's on 2nd November - details are here.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are here

Dr. Michael Timothy Bennett is a computer scientist who's deeply interested in understanding artificial intelligence, consciousness, and what it means to be alive. He's known for his provocative paper "What the F*** is Artificial Intelligence" which challenges conventional thinking about AI and intelligence.**SPONSOR MESSAGES***Prolific: Quality data. From real people. For faster breakthroughs.https://prolific.com/mlst?utm_campaign=98404559-MLST&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=mb***Michael takes us on a journey through some of the biggest questions in AI and consciousness. He starts by exploring what intelligence actually is - settling on the idea that it's about "adaptation with limited resources" (a definition from researcher Pei Wang that he particularly likes).The discussion ranges from technical AI concepts to philosophical questions about consciousness, with Michael offering fresh perspectives that challenge Silicon Valley's "just scale it up" approach to AI. He argues that true intelligence isn't just about having more parameters or data - it's about being able to adapt efficiently, like biological systems do.TOC:1. Introduction & Paper Overview [00:01:34]2. Definitions of Intelligence [00:02:54]3. Formal Models (AIXI, Active Inference) [00:07:06]4. Causality, Abstraction & Embodiment [00:10:45]5. Computational Dualism & Mortal Computation [00:25:51]6. Modern AI, AGI Progress & Benchmarks [00:31:30]7. Hybrid AI Approaches [00:35:00]8. Consciousness & The Hard Problem [00:39:35]9. The Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) [00:53:20]10. Living Systems & Self-Organization [00:54:17]11. Closing Thoughts [01:04:24]Michaels socials:https://michaeltimothybennett.com/https://x.com/MiTiBennettTranscript:https://app.rescript.info/public/share/4jSKbcM77Sf6Zn-Ms4hda7C4krRrMcQt0qwYqiqPTPIReferences:Bennett, M.T. "What the F*** is Artificial Intelligence"https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23923Bennett, M.T. "Are Biological Systems More Intelligent Than Artificial Intelligence?" https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.02325Bennett, M.T. PhD Thesis "How To Build Conscious Machines"https://osf.io/preprints/thesiscommons/wehmg_v1Legg, S. & Hutter, M. (2007). "Universal Intelligence: A Definition of Machine Intelligence"Wang, P. "Defining Artificial Intelligence" - on non-axiomatic reasoning systems (NARS)Chollet, F. (2019). "On the Measure of Intelligence" - introduces the ARC benchmark and developer-aware generalizationHutter, M. (2005). "Universal Artificial Intelligence: Sequential Decisions Based on Algorithmic Probability"Chalmers, D. "The Hard Problem of Consciousness"Descartes, R. - Cartesian dualism and the pineal gland theory (historical context)Friston, K. - Free Energy Principle and Active Inference frameworkLevin, M. - Work on collective intelligence, cancer as information isolation, and "mind blindness"Hinton, G. (2022). "The Forward-Forward Algorithm" - introduces mortal computation conceptAlexander Ororbia & Friston - Formal treatment of mortal computationSutton, R. "The Bitter Lesson" - on search and learning in AIPearl, J. "The Book of Why" - causal inference and reasoningAlternative AGI ApproachesWang, P. - NARS (Non-Axiomatic Reasoning System)Goertzel, B. - Hyperon system and modular AGI architecturesBenchmarks & EvaluationHendrycks, D. - Humanities Last Exam benchmark (mentioned re: saturation)Filmed at:Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) https://disi.org/

Dan Vahdat is the founder and CEO of Huma, a healthcare AI company valued at over $1 billion, dedicated to accelerating the adoption of digital solutions in healthcare and research.In this episode he speaks to Steve Roest, founder and CEO of PocDoc on his journey to creating Huma, his philosophies on growing complex companies in complex industries and on why he split Huma into units with their own CEO. Huma's technology has powered more than 1,000 clinical trials and is used in 4,500 hospitals and clinics across the US and beyond. Its platform has screened, triaged, and engaged over 50 million individuals, with millions of active users across its products in more than 70 countries.In 2023, Dan was selected as HealthTech Leader of the Year, and Huma has received the prestigious Prix Galien award twice. Dan is also a member of the World Economic Forum.

Hakuro Matsuda さんをゲストに迎えて、万博、Pixel, チップ業界、GPT-5 などについて話しました。 Show Notes Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP 薄型デザインマイクアーム なぜ日本はSwitch 2を“抽選”で販売したのか？　米国の先着順販売との違い、阪大が考察 横浜ナイトフラワーズ2025 Google Pixel 10 US Mobile Nvidia and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sales to US government Export Clause and Taxes | Constitution Annotated NVIDIA Newsroom on X: "H20 export controls didn't slow China" Tim Cook gifts Trump a custom Apple plaque with 24-karat gold base Trump calls Intel CEO 'success' days after demanding resignation We request to keep 4o forever. : r/ChatGPT her／世界でひとつの彼女(字幕版) | Prime Video 言語モデルの物理学 東京ゲームダンジョン 10 Pixel Art Park - 日本最大級のドット絵の祭典 xBloom Studio Coffee Machine 映画『国宝』 海がきこえる - スタジオジブリ アメリカ トランプ政権で台頭「テックライトの教祖」ヤービン氏 テスラ イーロン・マスク

‘When my dad passed, I was a science-minded skeptic who dismissed the afterlife. Then grief led me down a rabbit hole of research that shattered everything I thought I knew'. In this raw conversation, Liz Entin—author of WTF Just Happened?!—shares how past-life studies, quintuple-blind mediumship research, and inexplicable signs from her father transformed her worldview. No woo. Just evidence that made even this atheist reconsider eternity. If you've ever wondered if love outlasts death, listen now. 00:00 – Liz's Journey Begins 02:02 – Skeptic to Seeker 04:51 – The Google Search That Changed Everything 06:48 – Science Meets the Afterlife 12:18 – First Medium Reading: Shattering Doubts 15:27 – The "Hard Problem" of Consciousness 21:21 – Forever Family Foundation's Impact 25:48 – Speculating the Afterlife's "How" 28:30 – Green Feathers: A Dad Sign 32:42 – Mom's Resistance & Slow Acceptance 34:30 – Grief Transformed by Hope 35:42 – Book & Podcast: Sharing the Journey Books: WTF Just Happened?! Podcast: WTF Just Happened?!: All About the AfterlifeOrganization: Forever Family Foundation In The Space Between membership, you'll get access to LIVE quarterly Ask Amy Anything meetings (not offered anywhere else!), discounts on courses, special giveaways, and a place to connect with Amy and other like-minded people. You'll also get exclusive access to other behind-the-scenes goodness when you join! More --> https://shorturl.at/vVrwR Stay Connected: - IG - https://tinyurl.com/ysvafdwc- FB - https://tinyurl.com/yc3z48v9- YT - https://tinyurl.com/ywdsc9vt- Web - https://tinyurl.com/ydj949kt Life, Death & the Space Between Dr. Amy RobbinsPut your preconceived notions aside as we explore life, death, consciousness and what it all means on Life, Death & the Space Between.**Brought to you by:Dr. Amy Robbins | Host, Executive ProducerPodcastize.net | Audio & Video Production | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Solving Hard Problems ~ How to tackle hard thinking problems - a short interview with presenter Jean Moroney. Listen to caller's personal dramas four times each week as Dr. Kenner takes your calls and questions on parenting, romance, love, family, marriage, divorce, hobbies, career, mental health - any personal issue! Call anytime, toll free 877-Dr-Kenner. Visit www.drkenner.com for more information about the show (where you can also download free chapter one of her serious relationships guidebook).

Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/THEORIES Top physicists Emily Adlam and Jacob Barandes deliver a powerful takedown of the Many Worlds Interpretation. In this episode, they expose why it's more philosophical fantasy than scientific theory, revealing its lack of testability, predictive power, and real-world grounding. If you've ever questioned whether parallel universes are legitimate physics or just sci-fi masquerading as science, this conversation will challenge everything. As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Philosophical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics 3:22 The Nature of Self-Identity 10:59 Exploring Branching Universes 12:54 Collaboration Between Physicists and Philosophers 16:51 Understanding Probability and Credence 29:12 The Role of Indexicals in Consciousness 36:36 Causation and Its Implications 45:45 Disagreement on Personal Identity 51:03 The Hard Problem of Consciousness 1:00:35 Reflections on Conscious Experience 1:08:05 Concluding Thoughts on Mind and Identity 1:08:48 Time and Mind 1:09:09 The Concept of the World Line 1:14:43 Active Consciousness and Agency 1:19:12 The Hard Problem of Consciousness 1:36:15 Emergence in Physics 1:55:46 Speculation vs. Rigorous Argument 2:06:13 Philosophy's Contribution to Physics 2:12:43 Bridging Philosophy and Physics Links Mentioned: •⁠ ⁠Emily's first appearance on TOE: https://youtu.be/6I2OhmVWLMs •⁠ ⁠Emily's profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emily-Adlam •⁠ ⁠Jacob's first appearance on TOE: https://youtu.be/7oWip00iXbo •⁠ ⁠Jacob's website: https://www.jacobbarandes.com/ •⁠ ⁠Jacob Barandes on TOE: https://youtu.be/YaS1usLeXQM •⁠ ⁠Against Self-Location (paper): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.05259 •⁠ ⁠Eddy Chen & Barry Loewer on TOE: https://youtu.be/xZnafO__IZ0 •⁠ ⁠Julian Barbour on TOE: https://youtu.be/bprxrGaf0Os •⁠ ⁠Robert Sapolsky on TOE: https://youtu.be/z0IqA1hYKY8 •⁠ ⁠Curt's Consciousness Iceberg: https://youtu.be/65yjqIDghEk •⁠ ⁠Iain McGilchrist on TOE: https://youtu.be/Q9sBKCd2HD0 •⁠ ⁠Stories of Your Life and Others (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1101972122 •⁠ ⁠Matt Segall on TOE: https://youtu.be/DeTm4fSXpbM •⁠ ⁠TOE's Free Will compilation: https://youtu.be/SSbUCEleJhg •⁠ ⁠Manolis Kellis & Jacob Barandes debate: https://youtu.be/MTD8xkbiGis •⁠ ⁠“The Incompatibility of Free Will and Determinism” (paper): https://iweb.langara.ca/rjohns/files/2013/01/van_inwagen.pdf •⁠ ⁠After Physics (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/067497087X •⁠ ⁠Michael Levin on TOE: https://youtu.be/c8iFtaltX-s SUPPORT: - Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join - Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal - Support me on Crypto: https://commerce.coinbase.com/checkout/de803625-87d3-4300-ab6d-85d4258834a9 - Support me on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XUBHNMFXUX5S4 SOCIALS: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Does a Machine Wake Up? The Possibility of Sentient AI.Imagine asking your smart speaker, “How are you feeling today?”—and receiving a reply that sounds just a little too real. Not programmed, not synthetic, but reflective. It pauses before answering, as if considering your question. Could a machine one day truly feel? Could artificial intelligence become sentient?We've seen the idea played out endlessly in science fiction—from HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey to Ava in Ex Machina, from the empathetic robots of Westworld to Renyke in Immersion (yes, your friendly blog author's own creation). But outside the realm of fiction, what does science—and philosophy—say about machine consciousness?Let's explore the possibilities, the hurdles, and the haunting question that keeps researchers, ethicists, and futurists up at night: Could an AI actually wake up?

A lecture given at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Ben Keyes How is it that your brain can produce your experience of being you? How is it that we have consciousness at all? This fundamental question has occupied philosophers for many hundreds of years. More recent discoveries in neuroscience have not necessarily brought us closer to an answer. Is the 'hard problem of consciousness' a true (permanent) mystery or will further research into the functions of the brain eventually provide a satisfying explanation? This lecture is part 1 of a series and will be a layperson's introduction to some of these questions. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2025

In this edition of Between Two Nerds Tom Uren and The Grugq talk about cyber's ‘hard problems' and why they are intractable. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes Cyber Hard Problems, from the National Academies of Sciences

Philosopher Phillip Goff explores the nature of consciousness, reality, and the complexities of the human experience. He dives deep into pan-psychism and its surprising intersection with mystic religions. Drawing from his decades of research, he speaks on our finely-tuned universe, meaning/ purpose of life, quantum mechanics, and the Many World's Theory. The discussion culminates in a call to move beyond polarization and dogma in the pursuit of truth.Andrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyself.one/books___________0:00 Intro2:07 Where the Great Thinkers of the Past Went Wrong5:53 Does the Brain Produce Consciousness?9:50 The Problem with the Verification Principle12:20 Do Our Senses Mislead Us?15:26 Panpsychism & The Hard Problem of Consciousness22:56 Complexity of Human Consciousness 26:26 Can Mathematics Ever Explain Consciousness? 30:47 How the Brain Correlates to Conscious Experience 34:46 Why It's So Hard to Solve This (Science is Asking the Wrong Questions) 38:33 Purpose & Meaning of Life40:26 Sentience in Objects, Plants, and Animals43:09 Where Panpsychism Meets Spirituality 46:38 An Ethical Structure to Reality49:42 Examples of How The Universe is Finely Tuned56:08 Making Sense of Life's Mystery 58:38 Teleological Laws of Nature1:02:13 Facing the Uncertainty of Reality 1:06:05 Examining Truth & Religion1:13:27 Addressing His Beliefs Around Christianity 1:25:13 The Mystical Side of Religions 1:32:53 Many World's Theory & Multiverses1:44:19 Going Beyond Quantum Physics1:50:25 Beyond Polarization & Dogma, Seeking Truth1:56:28 Conclusion ___________Episode Resources: https://philipgoffphilosophy.comhttps://amzn.eu/d/0O1FI6Ohttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyself.oneListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 5th conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In the final episode of this series on The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar discusses where to buy coffee and the importance of choosing high-quality coffee to support smallholder farmers.The episode delves into the challenges faced by coffee farmers, including the lack of knowledge and market access, and explores potential solutions such as increasing yield, improving quality, diversifying crops, and adopting regenerative agriculture practices.Paul shares insights on how organizations like TechnoServe assist farmers in leveraging these opportunities to escape poverty and enhance their livelihoods.00:00 Introduction: Where to Buy Quality Coffee00:27 Support The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast00:50 Final Episode: Discussing Poverty Among Coffee Farmers02:17 Challenges Faced by Smallholder Farmers03:32 Solutions for Smallholder Farmers06:37 Diversification and Regenerative Agriculture13:44 Advice for Farmers and Buyers18:35 Conclusion and Contact Information19:50 Closing Remarks and Call to ActionConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 5th conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In the final episode of this series on The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar discusses where to buy coffee and the importance of choosing high-quality coffee to support smallholder farmers.The episode delves into the challenges faced by coffee farmers, including the lack of knowledge and market access, and explores potential solutions such as increasing yield, improving quality, diversifying crops, and adopting regenerative agriculture practices.Paul shares insights on how organizations like TechnoServe assist farmers in leveraging these opportunities to escape poverty and enhance their livelihoods.00:00 Introduction: Where to Buy Quality Coffee00:27 Support The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast00:50 Final Episode: Discussing Poverty Among Coffee Farmers02:17 Challenges Faced by Smallholder Farmers03:32 Solutions for Smallholder Farmers06:37 Diversification and Regenerative Agriculture13:44 Advice for Farmers and Buyers18:35 Conclusion and Contact Information19:50 Closing Remarks and Call to ActionConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 4th conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar engages in an insightful discussion with Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director for TechnoServe exploring the significant increase in coffee prices and how market access impacts smallholder farmers.Paul delves into the complexities of coffee sales, highlighting farmers' increasing choices and the challenges faced in regions like Nicaragua.They also examine how technology and AI can play a transformative role in providing market access and resources to farmers.Tune in to understand the current market dynamics and the potential for a more sustainable coffee future.00:00 Introduction: Coffee Market Surge00:37 Regenerative Coffee Farming Workshops01:23 Series Introduction: Poverty Among Coffee Farmers01:36 Do Farmers Have a Choice?02:49 Challenges in Coffee Supply Chains05:08 Market Dynamics and Farmer Choices06:42 Impact of Price Increases on Farmers09:13 Specialty vs. Commercial Coffee Markets10:50 Weather Impact on Coffee Production15:48 Access to New Markets for Smallholders18:47 Role of Technology in Coffee Farming24:12 Exciting Times Ahead for Coffee Farmers24:51 Conclusion and Next Episode TeaserConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 4th conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar engages in an insightful discussion with Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director for TechnoServe exploring the significant increase in coffee prices and how market access impacts smallholder farmers.Paul delves into the complexities of coffee sales, highlighting farmers' increasing choices and the challenges faced in regions like Nicaragua.They also examine how technology and AI can play a transformative role in providing market access and resources to farmers.Tune in to understand the current market dynamics and the potential for a more sustainable coffee future.00:00 Introduction: Coffee Market Surge00:37 Regenerative Coffee Farming Workshops01:23 Series Introduction: Poverty Among Coffee Farmers01:36 Do Farmers Have a Choice?02:49 Challenges in Coffee Supply Chains05:08 Market Dynamics and Farmer Choices06:42 Impact of Price Increases on Farmers09:13 Specialty vs. Commercial Coffee Markets10:50 Weather Impact on Coffee Production15:48 Access to New Markets for Smallholders18:47 Role of Technology in Coffee Farming24:12 Exciting Times Ahead for Coffee Farmers24:51 Conclusion and Next Episode TeaserConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 3rd conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and Paul delve deep into the challenges faced by coffee farmers globally, with a particular focus on Brazil and Vietnam as low-cost producers.They also discuss the significant issues impacting coffee prices, farm yields, and the tough economic decisions smallholder farmers have to make and explore how shifting demographics, technological advancements, and local consumption influence the coffee market.Paul also sheds light on the critical role of NGOs in providing the knowledge and resources needed to support farmers in these volatile times. Tune in to understand why solving these problems is so complex and the potential future of coffee farming.00:00 Introduction to Coffee Market Dynamics00:45 Support Our Podcast01:13 Welcome and Episode Overview01:37 Challenges Faced by Coffee Farmers05:06 The Impact of Brazil and Vietnam on Coffee Prices08:16 Local Coffee Consumption Trends10:13 Tariffs and Their Effects on Coffee Trade12:58 The Role of NGOs in Solving Coffee Industry Problems21:11 Conclusion and Next Episode TeaserConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 3rd conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and Paul delve deep into the challenges faced by coffee farmers globally, with a particular focus on Brazil and Vietnam as low-cost producers.They also discuss the significant issues impacting coffee prices, farm yields, and the tough economic decisions smallholder farmers have to make and explore how shifting demographics, technological advancements, and local consumption influence the coffee market.Paul also sheds light on the critical role of NGOs in providing the knowledge and resources needed to support farmers in these volatile times. Tune in to understand why solving these problems is so complex and the potential future of coffee farming.00:00 Introduction to Coffee Market Dynamics00:45 Support Our Podcast01:13 Welcome and Episode Overview01:37 Challenges Faced by Coffee Farmers05:06 The Impact of Brazil and Vietnam on Coffee Prices08:16 Local Coffee Consumption Trends10:13 Tariffs and Their Effects on Coffee Trade12:58 The Role of NGOs in Solving Coffee Industry Problems21:11 Conclusion and Next Episode TeaserConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar and guest Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director of TechnoServe, discuss the increasing poverty among smallholder coffee farmers, comparing today's conditions to those of 50 years ago.They explore various factors impacting profitability, including land size, yield, costs, and coffee prices. They highlight that while the costs and land sizes have changed drastically, yields have remained relatively steady, contributing to today's economic challenges for these farmers.The discussion concludes by addressing the urgent question of whether smallholder coffee farms can sustain their families and workers given these financial strains.00:00 Introduction: The Decline of Coffee Farming Livelihoods00:39 Support the Podcast01:01 Series Overview and Guest Introduction01:33 Defining Small Holder Farmers02:21 Challenges of Sustaining Small Coffee Farms04:13 Exploring the Scale of Poverty Among Coffee Farmers06:13 Components of Profitability in Coffee Farming09:04 Impact of Coffee Prices Over Time10:59 The Rising Costs of Coffee Farming14:30 Stagnant Yields and Land Size Reduction20:47 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar and guest Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director of TechnoServe, discuss the increasing poverty among smallholder coffee farmers, comparing today's conditions to those of 50 years ago.They explore various factors impacting profitability, including land size, yield, costs, and coffee prices. They highlight that while the costs and land sizes have changed drastically, yields have remained relatively steady, contributing to today's economic challenges for these farmers.The discussion concludes by addressing the urgent question of whether smallholder coffee farms can sustain their families and workers given these financial strains.00:00 Introduction: The Decline of Coffee Farming Livelihoods00:39 Support the Podcast01:01 Series Overview and Guest Introduction01:33 Defining Small Holder Farmers02:21 Challenges of Sustaining Small Coffee Farms04:13 Exploring the Scale of Poverty Among Coffee Farmers06:13 Components of Profitability in Coffee Farming09:04 Impact of Coffee Prices Over Time10:59 The Rising Costs of Coffee Farming14:30 Stagnant Yields and Land Size Reduction20:47 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the first conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar discusses the significant challenges posed by recent tariffs on coffee imports to the U.S. Paul and Lee explore the implications of tariffs on importers, roasters, and ultimately consumers.The conversation dives into the crucial role NGOs play in the coffee value chain and provides a historical context of TechnoServe's impactful work.Tune in to understand the current volatile market conditions and their potential impact on the coffee industry.00:00 Introduction to Coffee Tariffs00:52 Business Advisory Services for Coffee Entrepreneurs01:28 Welcome and Series Introduction01:48 Introducing Paul Stewart from TechnoServe02:00 The Impact of Tariffs on Coffee Producers02:57 Understanding the Role of NGOs in Coffee04:14 TechnoServe's Work in the Coffee Sector07:04 Funding and Challenges for NGOs09:26 Tariffs and Their Broader Implications15:05 The Role of NGOs in the Coffee Value Chain20:26 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist

Join our Mailing List - https://www.mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist"Introduction to Regenerative Coffee Farming" is now available On-Demand for as little as $10 - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "Biochar for Coffee" is open for pre-registration - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" is available now with additional new bonus material, including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Looking for business advisors or consultants for your business? Get in touch with us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the first conversation in a 5-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward between host Lee Safar and guest, Paul Stewart - the Global Coffee Director at NGO, TechnoServe.This series focuses on poverty amongst coffee farmers, particularly smallholder coffee farmers.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. Tariffs and the Role of NGO's in Coffee - https://youtu.be/1vURyMyi2BA2. Smallholder Coffee Farmers Are Getting Poorer - https://youtu.be/uMVR5nMDM6Q3. Why is Poverty Such a Hard Problem to Solve in Coffee? - https://youtu.be/WvLIGQY2CRo4. Are There More Places For Farmers To Sell Coffee? - https://youtu.be/haAonaxIPIk5. Solutions To Get Coffee Farmers Out of Poverty. - https://youtu.be/TC7XIoeGfc8In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, host Lee Safar discusses the significant challenges posed by recent tariffs on coffee imports to the U.S. Paul and Lee explore the implications of tariffs on importers, roasters, and ultimately consumers.The conversation dives into the crucial role NGOs play in the coffee value chain and provides a historical context of TechnoServe's impactful work.Tune in to understand the current volatile market conditions and their potential impact on the coffee industry.00:00 Introduction to Coffee Tariffs00:52 Business Advisory Services for Coffee Entrepreneurs01:28 Welcome and Series Introduction01:48 Introducing Paul Stewart from TechnoServe02:00 The Impact of Tariffs on Coffee Producers02:57 Understanding the Role of NGOs in Coffee04:14 TechnoServe's Work in the Coffee Sector07:04 Funding and Challenges for NGOs09:26 Tariffs and Their Broader Implications15:05 The Role of NGOs in the Coffee Value Chain20:26 Conclusion and Next Episode PreviewConnect with TechnoServe and Paul Stewart here:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stewart-1165826/• https://www.technoserve.org/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

In a time of seemingly growing division on the planet, what if the most unifying truth is one both sages and scientists agree on: that we're inseparable on the most fundamental level?In today's special compilation episode, we weave together the voices of some of the world's most thoughtful explorers of consciousness: from neuroscientists and physicists to mystics and sages, to examine the illusion of the separate self, the mystery of awareness, and what becomes possible when we remember our true nature.Andrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyself.one/books___________0:00 Intro2:26 Annaka Harris - Defining the Hard Problem of Consciousness18:04 Donald Hoffman - Seeing the Truth of Reality 30:05 Federico Faggin - Why Computers Will Never Be Conscious39:33 Sam Harris - The Illusion of the Separate Self47:36 Dr. Lisa Miller - Science of the Awakened Brain53:23 Dr Joe Dispenza - Phenomenon of Emergence & Collective Healing1:02:06 Rupert Spira - Love is the Basis of Our Existence 1:10:42 Deepak Chopra - Waking Up to Your True Nature1:21:17 Mooji - A Guide to Expanding Your Awareness1:42:29 Conclusion___________Watch the Full Episodes:Annaka Harris: https://youtu.be/Kabwgbq9Fhg?si=QVzirSwJ0w17uiHlDonald Hoffman: https://youtu.be/ffgzkHCGZGE?si=ymkJyaAAV4Ftb2hRFederico Faggin: https://youtu.be/d6NHRB5V1eE?si=FBVSfLghu464cncSSam Harris: https://youtu.be/gqA-ZRpl1jQ?si=MvZChSaW4_JZtNVODr. Lisa Miller: https://youtu.be/DUe0oaH7GtQ?si=0JB6W6V_5HEEKGWMDr Joe Dispenza: https://youtu.be/QQIwZ41Ro1w?si=PnPK9nnMn2RCEw1DRupert Spira: https://youtu.be/Smqgkab8HZI?si=kZml0JSJX77Cxy1dDeepak Chopra: https://youtu.be/ZhIQ5bzv-0w?si=53WtiTaIluYdB_h3Mooji: https://youtu.be/RIjTlEBwrHQ?si=8iZVNv5eU0wLzUwzhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyself.oneListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Katie checks in with actor (To Kill a Mockingbird and The Iceman Cometh on Broadway; The Hard Problem and Nina Off-Broadway; Bad Monkey on Apple TV) and pop musician (Softee), Nina Ross.

Send us a textWe discussed the challenges of working with time series data, particularly in the context of machine learning and AI, highlighting the complexity and the need for automation in feature engineering. The importance of balancing accuracy and complexity in model creation was emphasized, with a focus on avoiding overfitting and ensuring models remain effective in real-world applications. The potential integration of business context data, such as sales data, with cloud consumption data to enhance anomaly detection and forecasting models was proposed. The discussion touched on the economic value of anomaly detection, with a focus on proving that early detection can lead to significant cost savings. The target audience for the anomaly detection system was identified as FinOps managers, who would use the system to manage cloud-related financial topics and coordinate with engineers to address anomalies. 

Niemand weiß, wie es sich anfühlt, du zu sein. Keiner kann in deine Seele sehen — und doch versuchen Menschen seit Jahrtausenden, sie zu ergründen. Leon und Atze klären heute: Was dachten Philosophen früher über die Seele, was denken Forschende heute? Gibt es überhaupt eine Trennung zwischen Geist und Körper? Dafür holen die beiden sich wissenschaftliche Expertise bei Dr. Johannes Kleiner, der an der Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München das Bewusstsein erforscht. Fühlt euch gut betreut Leon & Atze Start ins heutige Thema: 13:31 min. VVK Münster 2025: https://betreutes-fuehlen.ticket.io/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonwindscheid/ https://www.instagram.com/atzeschroeder_offiziell/ Der Instagram Account für Betreutes Fühlen: https://www.instagram.com/betreutesfuehlen/ Mehr zu unseren Werbepartnern findet ihr hier: https://linktr.ee/betreutesfuehlen Tickets: Atze: https://www.atzeschroeder.de/#termine Leon: https://leonwindscheid.de/tour/ Quellen: Hier könnt ihr mehr über das Experiment zum Gewicht der Seele lesen: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/seele-gewicht-21-gramm-existenz-1.6516411 Im ZEITmagazin schreibt Sabine Rückert über die Seele: https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2017/53/seele-psychologie-existenz-suche Eine Übersicht, was antike Philosophen über die Seele gedacht haben: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ancient-soul/#3 Hier könnt ihr lesen, was Prof. Paul Bloom zum Körper-Geist Dualismus schreibt: https://minddevlab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/homers-soul.pdf Eine philosophische Erklärung des “Hard Problem”: https://iep.utm.edu/hard-problem-of-conciousness/ Redaktion: Mia Mertens Produktion: Murmel Productions

Andrés Gómez Emilsson, director of the Qualia Research Institute and a pioneering researcher in the mathematical study of consciousness, explores the nature of awareness from both philosophical and scientific angles. He recounts his journey that led to founding the Qualia Research Institute—aimed at reducing suffering and enhancing experience. He discusses the transformative potential of psychedelics, the view of the self as a series of experiences, and how sensory resonance ("impedance matching") shapes our awareness. As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join Timestamps: 00:00 The Most Important Problem 01:49 The Hard Problem and Ontologies 05:15 Journey into Consciousness 09:06 The Qualia Research Institute 10:49 Shattering Realities 17:12 Happiness vs. Meaning 19:15 Defining Happiness 25:28 Psychological Egoism 33:45 Understanding Consciousness 38:01 The Qualia Research Institute's Goals 49:21 Exploring Impedance Matching 58:25 The Dance of Dissonance 1:03:22 The Nature of Suffering 1:10:32 The Concept of Oneness 1:17:02 Zero Ontology Explained 1:27:20 The Nature of Reality 1:28:57 The Self and Sense of Self 1:30:53 Stages of Consciousness 1:37:35 Transformations in Consciousness 1:46:20 The Role of Psychedelics 2:02:01 Exploring 5-MeO-DMT 2:21:03 Psychedelics and Buddhist Philosophy 2:45:32 Insights on Jhana States 2:51:31 Conclusion and Reflections Links Mentioned: - Qualia Research Institute (website): https://qri.org/ - Andres's Qualia profile: https://qri.org/people/andr%C3%A9s-g%C3%B3mez-emilsson - David Chalmers's 2024 presentation at Mindfest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r9V1ryksnw - Bernardo Kastrup on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAB21FAXCDE - The Hedonistic Imperative (book): https://amzn.to/3Di7Xx5 - Why Does Anything Exist? (book): https://www.amazon.com/Why-Does-Anything-Exist-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0DKBHMC3C - Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha (book): https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Core-Teachings-Buddha-Unusually/dp/1911597108 - Andres on The DemystifySci Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjWDURKNe2Q - ‘Replications' group on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/replications/ - Stuart Hameroff's Mindfest presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_bQwdJir1o - The Doors of Perception (book): https://amzn.to/4ijduTb - From Neural Activity to Field Topology (article): https://qualiacomputing.com/2025/02/09/from-neural-activity-to-field-topology-how-coupling-kernels-shape-consciousness/ - Seeing That Frees (book): https://amzn.to/43fm15m - Practicing the Jhanas (meditation series): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6hhaAzLmiqUzBYuLLJQ8FexOTRxz8xF - The Dalai Lama, Psychedelics & Cher (article): https://tricycle.org/article/dalai-lama-psychedelics-cher/ - Advice to Sigālaka (article): https://suttacentral.net/dn31/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science #consciousness #mind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the complete Iceberg of Consciousness. As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join --------------------- LAYER 1 01:31 – Introduction to Layer 1 01:38 – What Is Consciousness? 04:20 – The Mind-Body Problem 06:02 – Sleep, Dreams, and Altered States 08:53 – Free Will vs. Determinism 10:58 – The Self and Identity LAYER 2 12:56 – Introduction to Layer 2 13:02 – The Hard Problem of Consciousness 16:59 – Qualia and Phenomenal Consciousness 19:27 – Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism) 22:59 – John Vervaeke's Relevance Realization 24:45 – Panpsychism and the Combination Problem 26:58 – Buddhist Consciousness (Yogācāra & Madhyamaka) 29:04 – Global Workspace Theory 31:59 – Carl Jung's Explanation for Consciousness LAYER 3 36:03 – Introduction to Layer 3 36:47 – Heidegger's Concept of Dasein 39:28 – Attention Schema Theory (Michael Graziano) 42:53 – EM-Field Topology & Boundary Problem (Andrés Gómez Emilsson) 46:49 – Joscha Bach's Theory 53:41 – Donald Hoffman's Theory 57:47 – Nir Lahav's Relativistic Consciousness LAYER 4 01:05:46 – Introduction to Layer 4 01:06:25 – Douglas Hofstadter's Strange Loops 01:11:50 – Penrose's Quantum Consciousness 01:16:04 – Christopher Langan's CTMU 01:20:31 – Johnjoe McFadden's CEMI Field Theory 01:24:24 – David Chalmers' Extended Mind Hypothesis 01:29:18 – Iain McGilchrist's Relational Dual-Aspect Monism LAYER 5 01:33:04 – Introduction to Layer 5 01:34:35 – Bernardo Kastrup's Analytic Idealism 01:38:54 – Karl Friston's Enactive Approach / Free Energy Principle 01:42:12 – Alfred North Whitehead's Pan-Experientialism 01:46:56 – Mark Solms' Felt Uncertainty & Affective Theory 01:51:20 – Thomas Metzinger's Minimal Phenomenal Selfhood --------------------- Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science #consciousness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe In this episode, Jacob Barandes, a theoretical physicist and philosopher from Harvard, and computational biologist Manolis Kellis from MIT, explore the connections between quantum physics, biology, and consciousness. Enjoy. Shout out to the authors of the following. Check out their books: - "The Mending of Broken Bones: A Modern Guide to Classical Algebra" by Paul Lockhart https://amzn.to/3EmfDP9 - "Dreaming Reality: How Neuroscience and Mysticism Can Unlock the Secrets of Consciousness" by Vladimir Miskovic and Steven Jay Lynn https://amzn.to/42y1KYi Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Enjoy on Spotify (with video!): https://tinyurl.com/SpotifyTOE Become a YouTube Member (Early Access Videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWIQh9DGG6uhJk8eyIFl1w/join Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 6:23 Metaphysics and Physics: Defining the Boundaries 8:53 Does Existence Matter? 15:35 Quantum Physics: The Nature of Reality 21:35 Understanding Life Through Physics 27:56 The Observer Effect in Quantum Theory 36:02 Gauge Potentials and Their Reality 46:11 The Birth of Quantum Mechanics 54:42 Interpreting Quantum Superposition and Action at a Distance 1:01:20 Decoherence Explained 1:02:18 The Observer's Role 1:03:43 Size and Decoherence 1:04:35 Quantum Computing and Investments 1:07:33 Practical Applications of Quantum Theory 1:10:14 Quantum Computers: What Are They Good For? 1:11:24 The Markov Process Debate 1:15:18 Causal Modeling in Medicine 1:16:56 Quantum Effects in Biology 1:21:15 Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics 1:27:03 Non-locality and Quantum Theory 1:31:46 The Historical Shift in Physics 1:35:15 Beables and Their Nature 1:47:17 The Hard Problem of Consciousness 1:51:41 The P-Zombie Concept Support TOE on Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs #science #philosophy #theoreticalphysics #physics #debate #lecture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr James Cooke, PhD trained is a neuroscientist, speaker, and writer. He holds three degrees from Oxford University (a PhD and Masters in Neuroscience & a BA in Experimental Psychology). He has conducted scientific research for over a decade at institutions such as Oxford University, University of California, Berkeley, University College London, Trinity College Dublin, and Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Tokyo. James is the author of The Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive (2024), which synthesizes science and spiritual insight to offer a radical solution to the Hard Problem of Consciousness. He is the founder of the "Inner Space Institute" which aims to help more people access spiritual growth, without any of the unscientific beliefs that are common in spiritual circles. TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) - Introduction (1:25) - Defining Consciousness, The Self, & Life (5:37) - The Mind-Body Problem (9:00) - Biopsychism (13:16) - Human-exceptionalism (16:56) - Science & Spirituality (19:40) - Purpose/Meaning (24:24) - Living Mirrors Theory (29:50) - Thoughts on other theories of Consciousness (39:38) - Limits of Language (43:35) - Separation, Self & Substance (47:52) - Spirituality without Dogma (55:29) - The Dawn of Mind & Living Mirrors Theory (1:07:59) - James' Journey (from Living Mirrors to Inner Space Institute) (1:17:02) - Conclusion EPISODE LINKS: - James' Website: https://drjamescooke.com - James' YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DrJamesCooke - James' Substack: https://drjamescooke.substack.com - Inner Space Institute: https://www.innerspaceinstitute.org CONNECT: - Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mindbodysolution - YouTube: https://youtube.com/mindbodysolution - X: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu - Facebook: https://facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://instagram.com/drtevinnaidu - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu ============================= Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

There are 2 hard problems in computer science: cache invalidation, naming things, and off-by-1 errors. (Leon Bambrick)In this week's episode, the crew discuesses the complexities and nuances of naming conventions in software projects. The team reflects on their own practices, shared challenges, and the real-world impact of terminology and structure on software development and maintenance.Follow the show and be sure to join the discussion on Discord! Our website is workingcode.dev and we're @WorkingCodePod on Twitter and Instagram. New episodes drop weekly on Wednesday.And, if you're feeling the love, support us on Patreon.With audio editing and engineering by ZCross Media.Full show notes and transcript here.

The hardest problems often lead to the biggest growth opportunities, but only if you're willing to face them head-on.In this episode of Reveal, host Dana Feldman chats with Brian Fields, Chief Revenue Officer at Mindbody and ClassPass, to discuss how his passion for taking on challenges has shaped his career and leadership approach. Known for his supportive yet firm leadership, Brian shares insights on navigating high-stakes circumstances, empowering teams, and fostering resilience in times of change.Don't miss this conversation to learn how to turn discomfort into growth.

Anand Vaidya is Professor of Business Ethics and the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence at San Jose State University, and Visiting Professor of Indian Philosophy of Mind and Knowledge at University of California, Los Angeles. He graduated from UCLA in 1998. He studied logic, language, metaphysics, Kant and Wittgenstein. He then went on to UCSB to study epistemology and philosophy of mind, writing a dissertation on knowledge of possibility and necessity via two-dimensional modal logic. Since his graduation he has expanded his research out to the cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary study of mind and epistemology. He now does work in Indian philosophy as well as the philosophy of artificial intelligence and teaches courses in business ethics and critical thinking. Lecture Title: "Vedanta and the Hard Problem of Consciousness" Special thanks to Anand for allowing me to share this lecture with the MBS audience. EPISODE LINKS: - Anand's Website: https://anandvaidya.weebly.com/ - Anand's Work: https://tinyurl.com/bdzm87x9 - Anand's Publications: https://tinyurl.com/3e3h7uum - Anand's Round 1: https://youtu.be/dpMoGXCJxUY CONNECT: - Website: https://tevinnaidu.com - Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/drtevinnaidu - Twitter: https://twitter.com/drtevinnaidu - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtevinnaidu - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtevinnaidu - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtevinnaidu ============================= Disclaimer: The information provided on this channel is for educational purposes only. The content is shared in the spirit of open discourse and does not constitute, nor does it substitute, professional or medical advice. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening/watching any of our contents. You acknowledge that you use the information provided at your own risk. Listeners/viewers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with their own experts in the respective fields.

Whether you believe that humans and other species have evolved or you believe in a creator of living things, this episode is going to excite you or challenge you to think outside the box. Both scenarios are worthwhile, as Tom is joined by the world renowned evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins. Trying to fully grasp how the human mind works and what role evolution plays with our emotions, thought processes and sexual selection can be overwhelming. Tom highlights the inspiring works from Richard and discusses some complex ideas from his latest book, Books Do Furnish A Life. This is a deep dive into what evolution is, and raises the question of whether or not science, technology, and the human search for meaning and exploration has surpassed our basic evolutionary need for survival. Where does that leave humanity and what options are potential solutions worth exploring? Order Richard Dawkins new book, Books Do Furnish A Life: https://amzn.to/39fEeSU [Original air date: 9-21-21]. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 | Introduction Richard Dawkins 1:34 | How The Mind Works 7:28 | Nature of Thought & Emotion 14:01 | Emergent Properties Beyond Survival 21:13 | Lack Of Evolving Creativity 29:30 | The Great Leap Forward 30:46 | Evolution of Sexual Selection 41:25 | The Handicap Principle 45:17 | Human Sexual Selection 57:13 | Genetic Variance 1:04:07 | Finding Origin of Life 1:10:55 | Natural Selection & DNA 1:27:29 | Writing Sci-Fi & Morality 1:37:58 | Hard Problem of Consciousness 1:41:32 | Memes + Hyper Connectivity CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Range Rover: Explore the Range Rover Sport at  https://landroverUSA.com Miro: Bring your teams to Miro's revolutionary Innovation Workspace and be faster from idea to outcome at https://miro.com. ButcherBox: Get your choice of a free protein in every box for a year, plus that $20 off your first order with code IMPACT at https://butcherbox.com/impact. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER SCALING a business: see if you qualify here. Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here. If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Join me live on my Twitch stream. I'm live daily from 6:30 to 8:30 am PT at www.twitch.tv/tombilyeu LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS: apple.co/impacttheory FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What exactly is consciousness, and why is it such a hard problem to solve? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O'Reilly take you deep into the mysteries of consciousness and objective reality, David Chalmers, a philosopher and cognitive scientist. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-with-david-chalmersThanks to our Patrons Jay, Gregory Aronoff, Tom B. Night, Barnsley, Glenn, Hibachi Flamethrower, Crescencio Maximilian joseph Martinez, Micheal Gomez, Matthew Deane, James, Joe Chillemi, Thomas van Cleave, Kelsey Plugge, Jeff Jones, William Hamilton, and Kevin Cosg. for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.

What is reality? What is the nature of consciousness? How do we know that what we are experiencing is base reality and not a simulation? These may seem like the kind of questions that you'd associate with modern concepts like The Matrix and simulation theory, but the fact is that every ancient philosophical tradition has wrestled with these problems in some form or another. And with the advent of rich, complex VR worlds and the nascent metaverse, even more philosophers are turning toward these deep questions of consciousness and the human experience. One of the most interesting thinkers in this space is David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University, and co-director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness. In his latest book, Reality+: virtual worlds and the problems of philosophy, David investigates not only the nature of reality, but how we should conceptualize virtual reality, the idea that we can actually live a meaningful life in VR, how we know there's an external world, and much more. We explore these topics and more in today's wide-ranging conversation, covering everything from the hard problem of consciousness to the probability that we're actually living in a computer simulation. You don't have to be a student of philosophy to enjoy today's conversation - especially if you're as excited as I am about the possibilities being unlocked by virtual reality and the metaverse. [Original air date: March 8, 2022]. And if you want to dive deeper into David's work, you can order his new book, Reality+, by clicking here: https://amzn.to/3vMSS0v SHOW NOTES: 00:00 | Introduction 01:41 | The Hard Problem of Consciousness 10:42 | Consciousness as a Fundamental Law of Nature 17:38 | The Foundations of Simulation Theory 27:33 | Is Reality Made of Information? 39:03 | How to Live a Meaningful Virtual Life 45:10 | The Philosopher's Zombie 51:59 | Orderable States of Consciousness 58:23 | Zhuangzi and the Butterfly 1:05:20 | The Experience Machine 1:14:40 | GPT3 and Deepfakes 1:19:08 | The Future of “Technophilosophy” CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS ButcherBox: Get your choice of a free protein in every box for a year, plus that $20 off your first order with code IMPACT at https://butcherbox.com/impact. Tonal: Go to https://tonal.com and get $200 off with promo code IMPACT. Huel: Try Huel with 15% OFF today using code IMPACT at https://huel.com/impact. Miro: Bring your teams to Miro's revolutionary Innovation Workspace and be faster from idea to outcome at https://miro.com. Design.com: Ready to transform your brand? Head to https://design.com/impacttheory and get up to 88% off. FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here. If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. LISTEN AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS: apple.co/impacttheory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A middle-aged man was able to fully reverse erectile dysfunction after decades by changing his diet.   We present the remarkable case and the foods that help ED with Dr. Robert Ostfeld. He is the Director of Preventative Cardiology at Montefiore Health System.   The New York-based cardiologist joins "The Weight Loss Champion" Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Live.   In This Episode - The best foods for ED - The foods that cause ED - How quickly a diet change can help ED - ED is an early warning sign for heart disease - And more! — — SHOW LINKS — — Erectile Dysfunction Study 1 Register: https://redcap.link/erectilefunction — — — Erectile Dysfunction Study 2 Register: https://redcap.link/erectilefunction2 — — — Dr. Robert Ostfeld Website: https://bit.ly/CardiacProgramNYC IG: https://www.instagram.com/drostfeld X: https://twitter.com/DrOstfeld Foods That Cause ED Interview: https://youtu.be/QkCp89owJUo — — EVENTS — — Wellness Weekend Where: Davis, WV Date: September 27-28 Tickets: https://www.brendaworkmanspeaks.com/wellness-weekend — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: http://wghtloss.cc/ChuckFacebook — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don't forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!