Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael Shermer

What began as a call for justice has, in many cases, become an engine of conformity. In this searching conversation, Andrew Doyle (author, satirist, and cultural critic) joins Michael Shermer to unpack the trajectory of the woke movement: from its roots in anti-bigotry and awareness to its current entanglement with censorship, identitarian dogma, and ideological rigidity. Drawing on his new book, The End of Woke Doyle traces the intellectual history of contemporary activism, explores the authoritarian impulses emerging on both the left and the right, and makes the case for a return to classical liberalism as a defense against escalating cultural tribalism. Together, Shermer and Doyle explore themes ranging from the legacy of Shakespeare and Milton, the tension between equality and meritocracy, and the broader sociopolitical dynamics shaping public discourse. This episode offers a sharp, historically grounded analysis of one of the defining cultural shifts of our time—and a call to revive liberal principles in the face of rising ideological orthodoxy. Andrew Doyle is a writer, satirist and political commentator. He was formerly a Visiting Research Fellow at Queen's University Belfast, and a lecturer at Oxford University where he completed his doctorate in Renaissance Literature. He is the creator of satirical character Titania McGrath, under whose name he has written two books: Woke: A Guide to Social Justice and My First Little Book of Intersectional Activism, both published by Little, Brown. Titania McGrath has over half a million followers on X. His previous books include Free Speech and Why it Matters and The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World. His new book is The End of Woke: How the Culture War Went Too Far and What to Expect from the Counter-Revolution.

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Michael Shermer for a compelling conversation about Richard's latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead along with a wide array of topics including evolution, genetics, science, and the broader cultural forces that shape our understanding of truth. This episode was filmed at as part of Richard Dawkins' tour. Michael Shermer is a science writer and historian, founder of The Skeptics Society, and host of The Michael Shermer Show.

In this eye-opening episode, Michael Shermer chats with evolutionist Telmo Pievani about the surprising coexistence—and hybridization—of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. They discuss recent scientific discoveries, the evolving understanding of race and biology, and the crucial role of serendipity in advancing scientific knowledge. This episode offers a nuanced perspective on how unexpected findings continue to reshape our understanding of human origins and the scientific process itself. Telmo Pievani is Full Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Padua, where he covers the first Italian chair of Philosophy of Biological Sciences. A leading evolutionist, science communicator, and columnist for Corriere della Sera, he is the author of The Unexpected Life, Creation Without God, and Imperfection (MIT Press). His new book is Serendipity: The Unexpected in Science.

What does your diet have to do with your mood? Is mercury in fish really dangerous? Psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey joins Michael Shermer to discuss the science behind nutritional psychiatry and how food, sleep, exercise, and social habits influence brain health. They explore why mental health issues are rising—especially among teens—and what role parenting, social media, and modern lifestyles play. The conversation also covers the effectiveness of SSRIs and other treatments, the role of inflammation in mental health, and the importance of sleep and tracking sleep quality. Drew Ramsey, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, author, and leading voice in Nutritional Psychiatry and integrative mental health. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. For twenty years, he served as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. He has authored four books, including the international bestseller Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety. His new book is Healing the Modern Brain.

Outside of the academics and activists whose ideology came to dominate the West in the second decade of the twenty-first century, arguably no group influenced public discourse as much as the Intellectual Dark Web. Challenging the intellectual and cultural orthodoxies that engulfed universities, the media, and big tech, this group—a loose collective of politically diverse intellectuals, commentators, and scholars critical of political correctness, identity politics, and cancel culture—relied on alternative platforms like podcasts, digital magazines, and YouTube to promote free speech, universal rights, and individual liberty. While the term is most commonly identified with Sam Harris, Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson, Bret and Eric Weinstein, and Joe Rogan, the group's concerns and philosophy extended more broadly to include a wide range of individuals who helped mainstream critiques of “woke” culture and a robust defense of free speech, including Steven Pinker, Michael Shermer, Jonathan Haidt, Dave Rubin, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Stephen Fry. The Intellectual Dark Web's coherence began to unravel in the early 2020s due to internal differences (such as over the response to COVID-19 and climate change), and its full legacy and historical impact are yet to be determined. Jamie Roberts is a lecturer in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. His new book is The Intellectual Dark Web: A History (and Possible Future).

A team of scientists, well-respected in their fields, have made a mind-boggling claim that many archeologists are struggling to believe. A team led by Corrado Malanga from University of Pisa and Filippo Biondi from the University of Strathclyde claim to have discovered huge structures lying beneath the Pyramids of Giza, based on a new technique that utilises Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). These structures could be 10 times larger than the pyramids themselves, which is why many researchers and Egyptologists are finding it hard to believe... For a deep dive into this fascinating claim, Piers Morgan talks to Jay Anderson from The Project Unity, Jimmy Corsetti from the 'Bright Insight' Podcast, Dan Richards from 'DeDunking the Past', archaeologist and YouTuber Milo Rossi (AKA Miniminuteman) and editor of Skeptic Magazine, Michael Shermer. Uncensored is proudly independent and supported by: American Hartford Gold: Protect your wealth with precious metals! Call American Hartford Gold today & get up to $15,000 in free silver on your 1st order! Call 866-692-2474 or Text PIERS to 65532, or Click the link below: https://offers.americanhartfordgold.com/piers-morgan/ Beam: Visit https://ShopBeam.com/PIERS and use code PIERS for up to 40% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The one where we investigate the latest UAP craze and its many proponents, discuss the psychology of ufology, excavate the 1947 Roswell "crashed saucer" story, ruminate over the life and mind of “Close Encounters Man” J. Allen Hynek, and gawk at a plethora of funny lights in the sky with veteran UFO Skeptics Michael Shermer and Robert Sheaffer. Brought to you by a little blue pill that will keep you from having to think for yourself all the time.  ...Or is it the red pill?  Better take both to make sure. Time Stamps:0:00:00  Introduction0:04:42  Interview with Michael Shermer (par 1)1:10:54 A Word from our sponsor  1:13:58  Interview with Michael Shermer (part 2)1:50:20   Closing credits(NOTE: None of these timestamps swallowed the red pill)Click here to visit Michael Shermer's Skeptic magazine website and podcast. Question Jar (send us a text message)Support the showVisit our website at www.paranoidplanet.ca

Last week Bari traveled to Austin, Texas, to host a debate on a simple little topic: religion and whether we need more of it. There's a line from Proverbs that has guided believers for at least the past 2,000 or so years. It goes like this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” But for most of our lives, this message has been turned on its head. We can't entirely blame the so-called New Atheists, who dominated the American intellectual scene in the first part of this century, for the death of God—for that, we'd need to go back to Nietzsche or Darwin or the Enlightenment. But the point is that for people of Bari's generation and cohort, to be an educated, sophisticated, respectable person was to be an atheist. Or at the very least, an agnostic. The percentage of Americans who identify as Christian fell from 90 percent in 1972 to 64 percent in 2022, while the religiously unaffiliated (the so-called “nones”) rose from 5 percent to 30 percent in the same period, according to Pew Research.The shift toward secularism has been even more pronounced across the Atlantic. Among Europeans ages 16 to 29, 70 percent say they never attend religious services. But after years of decline, this trend may be starting to reverse. A massive new Pew survey found that the share of Americans identifying as Christian has, after many years of decline, finally started to rise again. And the share of Americans identifying with other religions is actually increasing. So are we better off with or without God? The other night in Austin Bari sat down with Ross Douthat, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Michael Shermer, and Adam Carolla. They came together to debate the following resolution: Does the West need a religious revival? Ross and Ayaan argued yes. Ross is a New York Times opinion columnist. His most recent book is Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. Ayaan is an activist and best-selling author of many books including Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights.  On the other side, Michael Shermer and Adam Carolla argued no, we do not need a religious revival. Michael is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and the host of The Michael Shermer Show. He, too, is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers on science, psychology, and faith. Adam Carolla is a comedian, actor, radio personality, TV host, and best-selling author. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show. If you liked what you heard from Honestly, the best way to support us is to go to TheFP.com and become a Free Press subscriber today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does the West need a religious revival? This was the subject of a debate hosted by The Free Press at the Paramount Theater in Austin Texas on February 27th. The debate pitted two religious advocates—Ayan Hirsi Ali and Ross Douthat—against two avowed atheists—Michael Shermer and Adam Carolla—in search of an answer. The scene of current affairs in the West was set by The Free Press as follows:“The West has experienced a rapid erosion of our shared culture. Political polarization, loneliness, depression and addiction have surged, while marriage and birthrates have plummeted. There's a crisis of meaning, and a growing chorus of intellectuals are pointing to secularism as the cause. Studies show that religious service attendance correlates with lower rates of depression, suicide and substance abuse. Religious individuals are also more likely to marry, stay married, and have children. For the first time in U.S. history, church membership among Americans has fallen below 50%. Less than a fifth of Western Europeans attend church regularly. In Sweden, over 75% of young people claim no religion at all. So, is the decline of religion to blame for our social unraveling? Or are rapid technological changes, growing economic inequality, and other social disruptions the culprit? And would empowering religious institutions, which have historically abused their power to stifle scientific progress, fuel war, and discriminate against perceived enemies be a mistake? In short, would a return to faith restore order, or simply revive old divisions?”David Hanegraaff traveled to Austin, Texas to cover the event—you can find his review and response here. [Coming Soon!]  He joins his father Hank Hanegraaff on this edition of Hank Unplugged to discuss the debate, his role at the Christian Research Institute and much more.  Topics discussed include: The Free Press organized a debate about religion that was unique for our time—secularism was not regarded as the default, but forced to defend itself (2:15)Who were the debate participants? (4:45)Why is the perspective of Ayaan Hirsi Ali so important? (6:30)Is a religious revival on the horizon? (8:00)What are the detrimental impacts of secularization on society? (12:25)Were the arguments made by the atheists—Adam Carolla and Michael Shermer—convincing?  (14:00)New atheists, same old, tired arguments (16:50)Richard Dawkins claims to be a cultural Christian (18:15)The consequences of an unexamined life—worldviews matter (20:50)The role of technology in our world today (25:50)Why was this debate significant? (27:00)The importance of localism (30:25)The transformational nature of a Christianity lived out in practice (33:20)What was it like growing up as the son of the Bible Answer Man? (37:05)The legacy of Johannis Hanegraaff (40:00)The importance of apologetics (42:30)The sign of the cross (49:30)The importance of being equally yoked (53:30)Church and life are inextricably woven for Christians (55:15)The detrimental impact of bad theology (58:25)The joy of parenthood (1:02:20)Meeting Jay Richards in Greece—a favorite Hank Unplugged guest (1:07:15)Traveling to the monastic community at Mt. Athos (1:10:45)The joy of having your children in the Church (1:14:45)Why David Hanegraaff loves the Republic of Georgia—aggressive hospitality (1:20:00)A boy named Grace—why? (1:23:20)The importance of reading and the role books play on the Hank Unplugged podcast (1:26:00)Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are  on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

David Volodzko speaks with Katherine Brodsky about her book No Apologies: How to Find and Free Your Voice in the Age of Outrage—Lessons for the Silenced Majority.Brodsky is a former guest on the pod, when she appeared to discuss civility and open discourse. She is also the author of the newsletter Random Minds and a columnist at Michael Shermer's newsletter Skeptic. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theradicalist.com/subscribe

The one where we investigate the latest UAP craze and its many proponents, discuss the psychology of ufology, excavate the 1947 Roswell "crashed saucer" story, ruminate over the life and mind of “Close Encounters Man” J. Allen Hynek, and gawk at a plethora of funny lights in the sky with veteran UFO Skeptics Michael Shermer and Robert Sheaffer. Brought to you by a little blue pill that will keep you from having to think for yourself all the time.  ...Or is it the red pill?  Better take both to make sure. Click here to visit Michael Shermer's Skeptic magazine website and podcast. Click here to visit Robert Shaeffer's Bad UFOs blog.Question Jar (send us a text message)Support the showVisit our website at www.paranoidplanet.ca

In this episode I'm following up on a tip from a listener who suggested that I should speak with David Bernstein. David was on Michael Shermer's podcast discussing civil liberty, free speech, and constitutional law issues. In the current situation of highly polarized public debate it is critical that we listen to both sides of the argument and don't fall victim to bias. This is a job for The Rational View! David E. Bernstein holds a University Professor Chair at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. He is the author or co-author of seven books including, most recently, Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America. Find my on Facebook, LInkedIn, and Instagram

A few reflections on religion following The Free Press debate in Austin, TX on February 27, 2025. Michael Shermer and Adam Carolla (atheists) faced off against Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Ross Douthat (Christians). You can watch the debate here: https://www.thefp.com/p/watch-does-the-west-need-a-religious

Michael Shermer and Jeff Sebo explore moral philosophy, focusing on animal rights, sentience, and consciousness. They discuss the definitions of morality, ethical pluralism, and the divide between consequentialism and deontology. The conversation examines who belongs in our moral circle, the ethics of insect farming, the future of animal agriculture, abortion, and whether advanced AI could be considered sentient beings or even co-citizens.

The Nicest Debate I Have Ever Heard. Michael Shermer of Skeptic Interviews/Debates Dr. Stephen Meyer. The Return of The God Hypothesis. Stephen Meyer—Return of God Hypothesis: 3 Scientific Discoveries Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief — that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin's Doubt, Meyer claims that discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe. Shermer responds to each claim and a stimulating and enlightening conversation ensues. Watch this interview at- https://youtu.be/On-4lOWuWQQ?si=1JxDA_vpGoOMou0Q 124K subscribers 159,391 views May 29, 2021

Time to debunk some conspiracy theories, urban myths and misconceptions with editor-in-chief of Skeptic magazine Mr. Michael Shermer. During our discussion Michael shared his opinion on Trump's second term so far, why certain beliefs persist in society, why it is important to be develop healthy dose of skepticism and more. Enjoy!

What's the best explanation for the origin of complex life? And while skepticism is healthy, can perpetual skepticism prevent us from moving closer to the truth? On this ID The Future, enjoy the second half of a stimulating conversation between philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer and historian of science and Skeptic Magazine founding editor Michael Shermer. The conversation was hosted by comedian and podcaster Bryan Callen on The Bryan Callen Show. In Part 2, Meyer and Shermer both address where they think complex life comes from. They also discuss the mind-body problem and debate the merits of skepticism. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. We're grateful to the producers of The Bryan Callen Show for permission to share this exchange on ID The Future! Source

Humans seem to be drawn in a certain direction toward truth and beauty. Is that an accident of nature? Or is there a higher truth prompting it? On this ID The Future, we're pleased to share the first half of an engaging conversation between philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer and historian of science Michael Shermer about science, God, the origin of information, and the nature of mind. The conversation was hosted by comedian and podcaster Bryan Callen on The Bryan Callen Show. In Part 1, Meyer and Shermer discuss arguments for design, the Big Bang, the origin of information, and the role of mind in the universe. This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode of ID The Future. We're grateful to the producers of The Bryan Callen Show for permission to share this conversation on ID The Future! Source

In our 501st episode, Michael Shermer takes a moment to reflect on his long journey with skepticism and what he learned recording half a thousand episodes of this podcast. He shares his thoughts on what it means for something to be truly “real” by comparing our personal experiences with evidence-backed facts, tackles the challenge of controversial and extraordinary claims, and even explores how mystical ideas or literary works can offer their own kind of truth.

The founder of Skeptic magazine discusses whether conspiracy thinking is on the rise and whether it's coded right or left.

Guy P. Harrison is an acclaimed author of nine thought-provoking books that encourage curiosity and critical thinking. In this engaging episode, he and Michael Shermer discuss how science fiction inspires us to think beyond the ordinary and explore the vast possibilities of human progress. From his latest work to his passion for rational dialogue, Harrison's insights are both inspiring and accessible. Shermer and Harrison tackle a diverse range of topics, including the societal value of science fiction, the flawed debates about religion and evolution, and why humanity might ultimately prevail despite existential threats like AI. They examine UFOs and the Fermi Paradox, discuss redefining atheism, and share optimism about human progress. Harrison's engaging insights inspire curiosity and critical thinking throughout the episode. Guy Harrison is an award-winning writer and author of nine books, including Think: Why You Should Question Everything, At Least Know This, 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God, and Good Thinking. His work has been featured in Skeptic, Reader's Digest, The Institute of Arts and Ideas, Skeptical Inquirer, Free Inquiry, Big Think, and many other publications. Guy is a longtime essayist for Psychology Today and contributed a chapter about race and racism to The Cognitive Science of Beliefpublished by Cambridge University Press. Random House featured his book Think: Why You Should Question Everything as recommended reading for all first-year university students, and the San Diego Union-Tribunenamed At Least Know This a top-five summer read. His new book, Damn You, Entropy! 1,001 of the Greatest Science Fiction Quotes was a New Scientist magazine “Best Science Fiction Books of the Month” selection.

Michael Shermer interviews Jon Mills, a psychoanalyst and philosopher, on a variety of topics, including the evolution of psychoanalysis, the dynamics of therapeutic relationships, and the psychological roots of aggression and trauma. Mills explains Freud's lasting influence, the moral implications of aggression, and the role violence plays in society. The conversation also explores how trauma affects individuals and families across generations and the difficulty of understanding human behavior when faced with global challenges. The discussion extends to broader issues such as individuality, the struggles faced by modern youth, and the evolution of belief in God. Shermer and Mills discuss how technology impacts mental health and the pursuit of spirituality without relying on traditional religion. Jon Mills, PsyD, PhD, ABPP, is a philosopher, psychoanalyst, and clinical psychologist. His two latest books are Inventing God: Psychology of Belief and the Rise of Secular Spirituality, and End of the World: Civilization and its Fate.  

What utility do your beliefs have in your everyday life? From the way you decide on political issues to the way you tune out dissenting views, and decide against conversations with certain people every choice is backed by some belief in what you consider to be right. Michael Shermer, who I dubbed, the King Skeptic, joins me and discusses why free speech matters most when people don't want to hear it, and the power behind social signaling that helps shed light on some of the breakdowns being seen on a global scale. Michael's ability to think through strong opposing arguments searching for truth and charitable interpretation and tolerance for others is foundational.  Order Michael Shermer's book, Giving The Devil His Due: https://amzn.to/2TWVvfq  [Original air date: 6-24-21]. Follow Michael Shermer: Website: https://michaelshermer.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelshermer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michael.Brant.Shermer Podcast: https://www.skeptic.com/michael-shermer-show/ 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

In this special solo episode, Michael Shermer reflects on the 2024 election.

Can we really get our morals from science? Glen Scrivener reflects on his recent debate with Michael Shermer for Premier Unbelievable?Watch the full debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iy2GcLzqjUWatch Glen's previous two videos reflecting on the debate:https://youtu.be/s7i8tGQW8BUhttps://youtu.be/J3hC4JDoTgMOr listen via The Speak Life Podcast (SLP545 and SLP546)Contact the show: thomas@speaklife.org.ukSee 321: 321course.comSubscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre:youtube.com/SpeakLifeMediaSubscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all:youtube.com/@ReformedMythologistDiscord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There's bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here:speaklife.org.uk/discordSpeak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world.Learn more about us here:speaklife.org.ukSupport the show

Can Morality be explained without God? Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of the Science Salon Podcast, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. Today, he's here to argue that science can explain morality better than God. *Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf) *USE Discount Code [SMDCERTDISC] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM) *See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK) FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: @sean_mcdowell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/ Website: https://seanmcdowell.org

What does S9E23 of The Simpsons have to do with human rights? Glen Scrivener reflects on his recent debate with Michael Shermer.Watch Glen's previous video about the debate:https://youtu.be/s7i8tGQW8BUOr listen via The Speak Life Podcast (SLP545)Watch the full debate:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iy2GcLzqjUContact the show: thomas@speaklife.org.ukSee 321: 321course.comSubscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre:youtube.com/SpeakLifeMediaSubscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all:youtube.com/@ReformedMythologistDiscord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There's bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here:speaklife.org.uk/discordSpeak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world.Learn more about us here:speaklife.org.ukSupport the show

Glen Scrivener reflects on his recent debate with Michael Shermer for Premier Unbelievable?Watch the full debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iy2GcLzqjUContact the show: thomas@speaklife.org.ukSee 321: 321course.comSubscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre:youtube.com/SpeakLifeMediaSubscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all:youtube.com/@ReformedMythologistDiscord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There's bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here:speaklife.org.uk/discordSpeak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world.Learn more about us here:speaklife.org.ukSupport the show

Greg talks to Sean McDowell, author of End the Stalemate, about how cancel culture developed, communicating ideas well to others, dealing with your own biases, being charitable, steelmanning your opponent's arguments, and more.   Topics: Interview: Sean McDowell, author of End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations (00:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations by Sean McDowell Greg Koukl and Michael Shermer at the End of the Decade of the New Atheists – Debate transcript Sean McDowell and Matthew Vines on the Bible and Homosexuality – Video of the debate Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl   Related Links: Proverbs for Apologists by Amy Hall

In this solo episode, Michael Shermer discusses the upcoming election, reflecting on the historical context of past elections and the political polarization that has intensified over the years. 

Got an interesting debate for you, friends! Sean McDowell vs. Michael Shermer over whether morality is better explained by God or science. What are the arguments? How should we navigate this conversation? Let's get right into it!Link to original video: https://youtu.be/73Q0WtfS-A4?si=J3-LHai0dU2X-ZCyJoin my awesome Patreon community: www.patreon.com/WiseDiscipleAccess exclusive discounts to Logos Bible Software: www.logos.com/WiseDiscipleGet my 5 Day Bible Reading Plan here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/565289?view=expandedGet your Wise Disciple merch here: https://bit.ly/wisediscipleWant a BETTER way to communicate your Christian faith? Check out my website: www.wisedisciple.orgOR Book me as a speaker at your next event: https://wisedisciple.org/reserve/​​​Got a question in the area of theology, apologetics, or engaging the culture for Christ? Send them here: https://wisedisciple.org/ask/​

The great epistemologist, Peter Boghossian, created a video on Youtube that responded to me, in part. It's to be found in full here: https://youtu.be/5Vf-T8K0_zE?si=T2XkG8h8iNj1ZXGR This first part is largely a response to Richard Dawkins on his notion of "Middle World" and Michael Shermer's notion we are not evolutionarily capable of understanding anything.

From the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the rise of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and Artificial Intelligence, in this episode Steven Pinker, Matt Ridley, and Michael Shermer challenge conventional narratives and explore how we can continue to move forward. They discuss the state of democracy, autocracy, and the lessons learned from historical crises, while offering insights into how innovation, rationality, and education can lead us through challenging times. This session was presented at FreedomFest 2024. To see more speeches and sessions from FreedomFest, visit freedomfest.com/civl.

Michael Shermer and Matthew Stewart explore the heretical philosophical roots of the American Republic, including Enlightenment influences and the Founding Fathers' religious beliefs. They discuss Epicurean and ancient Greek ideas, slavery's moral contradictions, and its role in causing the Civil War, with figures like John Brown and Frederick Douglass shaping abolitionist movements that ultimately led to emancipation. Matthew Stewart is an independent philosopher and historian who has written extensively about the philosophical origins of the American republic, the history of philosophy, management theory, and the culture of inequality. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review, among other publications. In recent years he has lived in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, and is currently based in London. He is the author of Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic and An Emancipation of the Mind: Radical Philosophy, the War over Slavery, and the Refounding of America.

During a two-hour interview with Tucker Carlson, Darryl Cooper made sensational claims about the Holocaust and World War II, with Carlson calling him "the best and most honest popular historian in the United States." In this solo episode, Michael Shermer takes a critical look at the pseudohistory and historical revisionism presented by Cooper on Carlson's show.

As if 2024 couldn't get any weirder, tensions in the Middle East have escalated with the United States sending one of our nuclear submarines to the Mediterranean as a deterrent signal to Iran that they better think twice about attacking Israel. That sub, the Ohio-class USS Georgia, carries non-nuclear cruise missiles. But 14 of our 18 Ohio-class submarines have nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles—each sub has in its belly the nuclear equivalent of all the bombs dropped in World War II. Multiply that by 14 and let your imagination be properly staggered. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have pushed into Russian territory and Putin is outraged at the invasion. How far can Ukraine go before Putin uses his battlefield tactical nukes in response? In this solo episode, Michael Shermer discusses the threat of nuclear annihilation and explores the evolutionary origins of our moral emotions and logic of deterrence based on game theory. Focus of the analysis: the need to reduce nuclear stockpiles and shifting the taboo from using to owning nuclear weapons.

If we can censor one person, we can censor everyone.  Our freedom is strongly linked to other people's freedom ... Even those with whom we disagree.  This idea has been explored in great detail by Dr Michael Shermer in his book Giving the Devil His Due. I had the pleasure of reading the book and discussing it with Michael in the early days of the pandemic. So here is a little throwback episode for you! Enjoy.  — Key Takeaways:  00:00:00 Intro 00:05:01 Abducted by aliens  00:11:51 Judging a book by its cover 00:22:36 Free speech and campus culture 00:32:20 How should we govern Mars? 00:42:31 Science, religion, and mortality  00:55:19 Scientists as public figures  01:03:16 Challenges of teaching at a university level  01:12:44 Meaning and purpose in the universe 01:30:58 Skepticism as a movement  01:40:48 Final thoughts — Additional resources:  ➡️ Check out Michael Shermer: 

Interview with Michael Shermer by lotuseaters.com

After the Flying Saucers Came explores the global fascination with UFOs, tracing its origins to the summer of 1947 when a pilot's sighting in Washington State sparked widespread reports of “flying saucers.” This phenomenon, fueled by Cold War anxieties and space age aspirations, captivated the world, leading to disputed government inquiries, sensational news stories, and a fervent community of ufologists. Author Greg Eghigian delves into how UFO sightings and alien encounters have shaped cultural and scientific debates, influenced by fears of conspiracies, hoaxes, and the allure of extraterrestrial life. He chronicles the evolution of UFO discourse across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Russia, examining the impact of these mysteries on our perceptions of science, technology, and humanity. Through the lens of history, media, and personal testimonies, the book offers a comprehensive look at how UFOs have captured both the imagination and skepticism of society. Michael Shermer and Greg Eghigian explore the intriguing questions of extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena in this podcast episode. They delve into the distinction between the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and the scientific study of UFOs and UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena). By examining these two questions—Are they out there? and Have they come here?—they shed light on how each area approaches the evidence and implications differently. Additionally, they discuss Bayesian reasoning as a method to assess the likelihood and credibility of UFO sightings and claims. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this discussion will challenge your perceptions and deepen your understanding of the ongoing debate about extraterrestrial visitation.

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to Michael Shermer about conspiracy theories; the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump; the impact of DEI initiatives on STEM fields and the rise of "woke" culture; the dangers of the polarization of society and the potential impact on the republic; why a liberal like himself now hopes for a landslide victory for Trump in the upcoming election; the challenges faced by the skeptic community in the face of rising "woke" ideologies; and much more. Today's Sponsors: Contagion Emergency Kit - This prescription Contagion Emergency Kit from The Wellness Company provides you with a carefully selected assortment of effective medications for bird flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses. Rubin Report viewers save $45 at checkout PLUS free shipping when they use code: RUBIN. Kits are ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE USA. Go to: https://TWC.health/RUBIN and use CODE: RUBIN Gravity Defyer - Sick of knee pain? Get Gravity Defyer shoes. Minimize the shock waves that normal shoes absorb through your feet, knees and hips with every step. Use the promo code "RUBIN30" at checkout, to get an extra $30 off orders over $130 or more. Go to: http://gdefy.com and Use the promo code "RUBIN30" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the conspiracy theories surrounding the July 13 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. Despite the evidence suggesting the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, acted alone, numerous theories have emerged. These include claims that the Secret Service staged the event, foreign governments were involved, and the shooter was part of Antifa or backed by Never-Trumper Republicans. We delve into why such theories gain traction, examining cognitive and emotional factors like event magnitude, proportionality bias, anomaly hunting, personal incredulity, hindsight bias, patternicity, agenticity, uncertainty bias, and teleological thinking. While some legitimate questions remain unanswered, we emphasize the importance of applying the Conspiracism Principle: never attribute to malice what can be explained by randomness or incompetence. Tune in to understand why rational people often believe in irrational conspiracies.

Today's disagreement is on whether or not extraterrestrial life exists. We've brought on two guests who are out of this world. ;)Dr. Avi Loeb is an astrophysicist and professor of Science at Harvard University. As head of The Galileo Project at Harvard, Dr. Loeb directs the search for evidence of extraterrestrials. Avi is also the author of more than eight hundred scientific papers and the books Interstellar and Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine. He is the bestselling author of many books, including Why People Believe Weird Things and The Believing Brain. Michael is the host of the podcast The Michael Shermer Show and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University.Today we ask a wide range of important questions about extraterrestrial life:Do we already have evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life?What would it take for us to all agree there are technological civilizations beyond earth?How does the media complicate our understanding of the subject?And why is there so much tension in the scientific community about this work? Show NotesFermi's question: where is everybody? [3:45]Addressing anomalies [6:45]Radio communication versus finding objects [10:00]Why media coverage loves “aliens” [12:00]Skepticism and anomalies [14:00]Disagreements in the scientific community [16:00]Real material evidence and the US government [21:00]Machine learning for observing anomalous objects [27:00]Steelmanning [31:30]What did you think about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com. You can also DM us on Instagram @thedisagreementhq.

In the true crime space, we have noticed the creep of misinformation and conspiratorial thinking. It's not always easy to spot, though. Critical thinking can help us all engage better with stories about law and crime. But how can we start engaging in critical thinking around our favorite genre? Today's guest, Dr. Steven Novella, can help. Dr. Novella is a clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine. He's also one of the hosts of the podcast The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. We'll talk to him about how to spot a con job, our adversarial criminal justice system, Occam's razor, and the appeal of conspiracy theories. Learn more about Dr. Novella and his podcast The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe here: https://www.theskepticsguide.org/Check out the Science-Based Medicine website here: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/The Skeptics' Guide to the Future: What Yesterday's Science and Science Fiction Tell Us about the World of Tomorrow by Dr. Steven Novella, Jay Novella, and Bob Novella: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-skeptics-guide-to-the-future-what-yesterday-s-science-and-science-fiction-tell-us-about-the-world-of-tomorrow-steven-novella/18588557?ean=9781538709542Read the other book from the Novella brothers: The Skeptics' Guide to the Future: What Yesterday's Science and Science Fiction Tell Us about the World of Tomorrow: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-skeptics-guide-to-the-future-what-yesterday-s-science-and-science-fiction-tell-us-about-the-world-of-tomorrow-steven-novella/18588557?ean=9781538709542Read the other books that Dr. Novella mentioned!The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-demon-haunted-world-science-as-a-candle-in-the-dark-ann-druyan/6315853?ean=9780345409461Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time by Michael Shermer: https://bookshop.org/p/books/why-people-believe-weird-things-pseudoscience-superstition-and-other-confusions-of-our-time-michael-shermer/11054136?ean=9780805070897Nonsense on Stilts by Massimo Pigliucci: https://bookshop.org/p/books/nonsense-on-stilts-massimo-pigliucci/8283291?ean=9780226495996Support The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC .See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to Riley Gaines and Sage Steele about Lizzo's reaction to “South Park's” The End of Obesity episode which mocked her and the body positivity movement; high school transgender athlete Veronica Garcia winning the Washington state championship in the 400 meter; Neil deGrasse Tyson insulting and talking over Michael Shermer as soon Shermer points out some obvious facts about transgender athletes competing in women's sports; how “South Park” accurately predicted the problems with trans women in sports five years ago in their Board Girls episode; MSNBC's Joy Reid accidentally exposing that she doesn't believe her own woke talking points in her interview with Brittney Griner; TNT's “Inside the NBA” hosts Charles Barkley, Shaq and Kenny Smith having their hypocrisy on their attacks on Kyrie Irving for not caving to vaccine mandates exposed; and much more. WATCH the MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE segment of the show here: https://rubinreport.locals.com/ Check out the NEW RUBIN REPORT MERCH here: https://daverubin.store/ ---------- Today's Sponsors: Preserve Gold - Protect your retirement from inflation. Preserve Gold can get physical gold and silver delivered right to your door or inside your IRA, 401k or other qualified retirement account. Rubin Report viewers will get up to $10,000 in free Gold and Silver with a qualifying purchase or retirement account rollover. Preserve Gold will even throw in an immediate $500 account credit if you request your investor guide today. Go to: https://preservegold.com/dave Morning Kick - Ever wondered how Chuck Norris is still able to kick butt, stay strong and work out like he's in his 50s despite being in his 80s? Chuck made a special video that explains everything. Go to: https://ChuckDefense.com/Rubin Grand Canyon University – A private Christian university in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona that believes that we're endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights; to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University. Private. Christian. Affordable. Visit https://www.gcu.edu/dave Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My book Reframe Your Brain, available now on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/3bwr9fm8 Find my "extra" content on Locals: https://ScottAdams.Locals.com Content: Politics, TikTok Brain Rewiring, Tesla, Political Polls by Party, Jeff Daniels, War on Democracy, Battery Capacity, Democracy Stealing Biden, Anti-Trump Lawfare, President Trump, Biden Satan Reincarnated, Michael Shermer, Chris Cuomo, Axios Inflation Benefits, MIT DEI Hiring Statements, Jailed Peter Navarro, NYC Discrimination Settlement, President Biden's Character, President Trump's Character, Presidential Election Control, Anti-Protester Lawsuits, Lab Grown Meat, Governor DeSantis, W.H.O. America Control, Muslim UK, Scott Adams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you would like to enjoy this same content plus bonus content from Scott Adams, including micro-lessons on lots of useful topics to build your talent stack, please see scottadams.locals.com for full access to that secret treasure. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-adams00/support

My book Reframe Your Brain, available now on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/3bwr9fm8 Find my "extra" content on Locals: https://ScottAdams.Locals.com Content: Politics, President Biden's Empathy, Underage Social Media, Wales Crime Prediction, Don Lemon Show, Ronna McDaniel, Jen Psaki, MSNBC Management, President Trump, Truth Social Valuation, Trump Gag Order, Trump Bibles, Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr., P Ditty, Michael Shermer, Havana Syndrome, Mass Hysteria, Jeffrey Clark, J6 Insurrection Hoax, CISA 2020 Censorship, Mike Benz, DEI, Germany Foreign-Born Crime, Scott Adams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you would like to enjoy this same content plus bonus content from Scott Adams, including micro-lessons on lots of useful topics to build your talent stack, please see scottadams.locals.com for full access to that secret treasure. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-adams00/support

Dr. Jordan B Peterson sits down with mathematician, author, and theologian Dr. John Lennox. They discuss the axioms and dangerous aims of transhumanism, the interplay between ethical faith, reason, and the empirical world, that makes up the scientific endeavor, and the line between luciferian intellectual presumption and wise courageous exploration. Dr. John Carson Lennox is a ​​Northern Irish mathematician, bioethicist, and Christian apologist. He has written several books (Below), and was a professor at Oxford and Green Templeton College (Now retired) where he specialized in group theory. Lennox appeared in numerous debates with questions ranging from “Is God Good” to “Is There a God,” and faced off with academic titans such as Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, and Christopher Hitchens, among others. Lennox speaks four languages – English, German, French, and Russian, has written 70 peer-reviewed articles on mathematics, co-authored two Oxford Mathematical Monographs, and was noted for his role in translating Russian mathematics while working as a professor.  For Dr. John Lennox: Website https://www.johnlennox.org/ The Oxford Center For Christian Apologetics https://www.theocca.org/   The Veritas Forum https://www.veritas.org/ 

The Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, podcaster, and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University talks about why we believe weird things, how our brains seek patterns to stay safe, the state of science and journalism, intellectual humility vs. certainty, the surprising rise of antisemitism, and his book Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational.  Big thanks to our sponsor PrizePicks.com/Mike Use code MIKE for a first deposit match up to $100.