Podcasts about Pessimism

This is a repost of an episode from 2003, but with an added leadoff that we recorded recently.   This episode discusses a topic that bears constant revisiting: our pessimism (because of intellect) and our optimism (because of will). No, it's not just a doomer affectation that we can use to sound as cool as we look; it's a critical method of engaging with the bleak reality that faces us. The only way out is through, but getting through is possible. Revolutionary Pessimism: The Worst is Yet to Come https://www.christiansocialism.com/2020/05/12/covid-peter-fleming-revolutionary-pessimism-capitalism/ Pessimism of the Will https://viewpointmag.com/2020/05/28/pessimism-of-the-will/ CRITICAL PESSIMISM AND THE LIMITS OF TRADITIONAL MARXISM  https://www.jstor.org/stable/657342  For A Refresher: The Proper Amount of Bumming People Out: Pessimisms and Optimisms of Intellect and Will https://regrettablecentury.buzzsprout.com/220523/1410229-the-proper-amount-of-bumming-people-out-pessimisms-and-optimisms-of-intellect-and-will Scattered Thoughts on Melancholia and the Organization of Pessimism https://regrettablecentury.buzzsprout.com/220523/1320682-scattered-thoughts-on-melancholia-and-the-organization-of-pessimism Pessimism of the Intellect, Pessimism of the Will https://regrettablecentury.buzzsprout.com/220523/889740-pessimism-of-the-intellect-pessimism-of-the-will Music- Англия - Сказочный мир

Peter Stansky attributes the pessimism in 1984 to Orwell's belief that leaders prioritize power over revolutionary goals, though he remained optimistic about the English people, noting the novel's enduring relevance regarding modern technology and political disinformation.1951

Peter Stansky attributes the pessimism in 1984 to Orwell's belief that leaders prioritize power over revolutionary goals, though he remained optimistic about the English people, noting the novel's enduring relevance regarding modern technology, political disinformation, and its historical use as a Cold War cultural document.1899 LITTLE RUSSIA

In this episode, Megan and Frank explore the prophecies of Nostradamus. Nostradamus was a prophet--but what is a prophet? What should we make of his seemingly accurate predictions of major world events? Do prophetic powers imply that the future is determined? Or are we simply bound to an immovable fate? And what, if anything, does Nostradamus have to tell us about our futures? Thinkers discussed include: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Friedrich Nietzsche, Brian Leiter, and David Foster Wallace.Hosts' Websites:Megan J Fritts (google.com)Frank J. Cabrera (google.com)Email: philosophyonthefringes@gmail.com-----------------------Bibliography:Nostradamus : how an obscure Renaissance astrologer became the modern prophet of doom : Gerson, Stéphane (source for biographical details, anxiety vs. fear, and WWII propaganda)The prophecies : a dual-language edition with parallel text : Nostradamus, 1503-1566Nostradamus' grim predictions for 2026 revealedDavid Foster Wallace and the Challenge of Fatalism | Blog of the APAFuture Contingents | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy The Birth of Tragedy, or Hellenism and Pessimism, by Friedrich Nietzsche.The Twilight of the Idols, by Friedrich Nietzsche.Brian Leiter- Moral Psychology with NietzscheMoral Psychology with Nietzsche | Reviews | Notre Dame Philosophical ReviewsNietzsche's Moral and Political Philosophy (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Intersubjective Accountability: Politics and Philosophy in the Left Vienna Circle-----------------------Cover Artwork by Logan Fritts-------------------------Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/neon-signsLicense code: AJWTULC6PYYNJ7BJ

It is common for fear, anxiety, and a general lack of confidence to be confused in both the professional and guardian space. Understanding the difference between these three, and therefore how to treat them, is vital to addressing these welfare-threatening mindsets our dogs experience. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Barry Bennett reveals how your attitude affects your relationships and can lead to positive change.

In this episode of Preconceived, Zale explores the concept of happiness and melancholy with Professor Julie Norem, a psychology expert from Wellesley College. They delve into the strategy of defensive pessimism, discussing how it can be a beneficial approach for managing anxiety and achieving goals. The conversation also touches on societal pressures to maintain constant happiness and the value of embracing negative emotions as part of a rich, authentic life.Check out Julie's book at https://www.amazon.ca/Positive-Power-Negative-Thinking/dp/0465051391 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Tamar Kasriel is a futurist and author of Could: The Smart Thinking Handbook for When Nothing Is Certain.In this conversation, Tamar traces her unconventional path, from studying history at Oxford to teaching English in rural Japan to advising some of the world's biggest brands on what's coming next. Along the way, she explains why the skills she learned studying historiography (the study of how history is written) are surprisingly useful in an age of disinformation, and why the goal of futures work isn't prediction. It's readiness.We explore why multiple truths can coexist, why pessimism has no predictive advantage, and why agency, not certainty, is what leaders actually need right now.This is Part One of two conversations. In Part Two, we'll dive deeper into the ideas in Tamar's book. Timecodes00:00 Introduction02:00 From Oxford to Japan: An unplanned path08:00 Why multiple truths can coexist13:00 Retail as "the sharp end of consumption"21:00 Selfridges: From icon to cautionary tale28:00 "It's not about being right, it's about being ready"37:00 How scenario planning saved supermarkets in COVID44:00 Herman Kahn and the origins of scenario planning47:00 Why the book is called "Could"50:00 "Pessimism has no predictive advantage"55:00 Agency comes with accountabilitySocialsLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarkasriel/Website https://www.tamarkasriel.com/LinksCould: The Smart Thinking Handbook for When Nothing Is Certain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hidden Lightness with Jimmy Hinton – Adding to the economic tailwinds are sizable tax refunds reaching American households. While often dismissed as routine, refunds play a significant role in consumer behavior. Many families use them to pay down debt, invest, or make long-delayed purchases. Others channel that money into savings or entrepreneurial ventures. This infusion of cash...

Pessimism for the Christian is both unnecessary and unfounded.

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: A discussion with Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York on his confrontation with Republican leadership for not acting on expiring ACA subsidies. Then: a conversation with John Della Volpe – polling director at the Harvard Institute of Politics. We'll talk about the Institute's latest youth poll – showing growing pessimism among young Americans about the direction of the country. Finally: we'll talk about President Trump's executive order blocking artificial intelligence regulations at the state level with Neil Chilson – former Chief technologist for the FTC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Madrid sits down with one of the most respected voices in Latino research—Dr. Mark Hugo Lopez, Director of Race and Ethnicity at the Pew Research Center—to unpack a brand-new, blockbuster dataset on Latino attitudes on the second Trump administration and their situation in the country.Pew's October survey of almost 5,000 Latino adults reveals something unprecedented: 65% of Latinos now say the situation for Latinos in the U.S. is worse than a year ago—the highest level of pessimism ever recorded in Pew's history. Dr. Lopez explains how Latino sentiment has shifted dramatically between the 2024 and 2025 elections, with approval ratings, concerns about immigration enforcement, and feelings about economic policies all showing significant changes.Key topics include:Why one-third of Latinos have considered leaving the United States in the past six monthsHow worry about deportation has jumped from 37% to over 52% since FebruaryThe paradox of personal financial optimism amid broader pessimism about Latino progressWhat validated voter data reveals about Latino Trump voters and their evolving viewsThe decline in Latino immigration for the first time in 50 years and what it means for future generationsDr. Lopez brings decades of expertise tracking the political maturation of the Latino electorate through one of America's most profound demographic transformations. He provides essential context for understanding the dramatic electoral swings we've witnessed and what they signal about Latino political identity in an increasingly US-born, intermarried, and established community.-Recorded December 4, 2025.

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Poet, novelist, and broadcaster Salena Godden on turning love, grief, and fury into books and poems, surviving years in the wilderness before publication, and sustaining a boundaryless creative life through performance, early-morning writing, and community.You'll learn:Why you don't have to be a “starving artist” and how to make powerful work while loving yourself and looking after your health.How to treat your story as uniquely yours, with material that no one else can reproduce.How Salena's “rule of three” can help you balance meaning, generosity, and income in a creative career.Ways to draft poems and prose from an image or phrase and reshape darker early drafts into a final piece.How to write for “tomorrow you” first, using self-doubt and a critical future self as fuel for deeper revision.What it looks like to carry a memoir from years of rejection to publication without letting the work disappear.How to “compose on the lips” by walking, speaking drafts into your phone, and writing in the space between sleep and waking.Ways to ground yourself after writing emotionally charged work, including nature, slow rituals, and leaning on trusted loved ones.Resources and Links:

In this conversation, Jon G. Sanchez and Jason Gaunt discuss the current state of the market, focusing on the tug of war between bullish and bearish sentiments. They analyze various economic indicators, including PCE data, consumer sentiment, and labor market dynamics, while also addressing geopolitical tensions and valuation concerns. The discussion highlights the complexities of the market environment and the factors influencing investor sentiment as they approach year-end.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Market Overview01:47 Optimism vs. Pessimism on Wall Street04:36 Bullish Sentiment and Economic Indicators07:18 PCE Data and Inflation Concerns09:46 Earnings Season and AI Trends10:12 Consumer Wealth and Economic Sentiment13:00 Looking Ahead: Bulls vs. Bears20:01 Market Overview and Economic Concerns21:36 Geopolitical Tensions and Their Impact22:55 Consumer Behavior and Economic Indicators25:26 Technological Advancements and Employment27:35 Market Valuations and Investor Sentiment31:13 Disclaimer

In this episode, we once again talk about AI, and oh boy do we get off topic.Here's the AI tool Rick mentioned for recording your screen (we'll talk about that in a future episode)Here's the AI report Rick mentioned

The King vs. Grubby Politics — Gregory Copley — Copley highlights the pervasive economic pessimism and political instability characterizing the United Kingdom under Prime Minister Starmer's governance, which has adopted economically contractionary fiscal policies and welfare constraints. Copley contrasts the government's questionable political tactics with King Charles III's robust, positive institutional influence through diplomatic engagements and constitutional authority. Copley notes that the monarch possesses reserve powers to prorogue (suspend) parliament if the constitutional structure is threatened by governmental overreach, providing ultimate constitutional safeguard against executive abuse transcending democratic checks. 1910 WINDSOR

In this episode, I explore how philosopher Eugene Thacker's ideas about pessimism, horror, and “the world-without-us” unexpectedly illuminate the heart of existential therapy. Thacker argues that moments of dread, uncertainty, and limit-experience reveal the limits of human control and understanding—and these moments show up in the therapy room all the time.I talk about how existential therapy helps us sit with the mystery instead of running from it, and how confronting the unthinkable can actually open the door to clarity, growth, and deeper self-understanding. From anxiety and identity shifts to grief, burnout, and meaning crises, we look at how therapy becomes a place to face life's vastness without collapsing into fear.If you're curious about the intersection of philosophy, horror, and the therapeutic journey—especially with teens, neurodivergent clients, and adults navigating major transitions—this episode offers a grounded, accessible reflection on how we can live meaningfully in an uncertain world.

US September retail sales data were old news, but slightly softer. While it is tempting to blame the accelerating US inflation rate, retail sales are nominal numbers and include inflation effects. Pessimism should be limited, however. The numbers will almost certainly be revised. Ongoing shifts in consumption patterns have consequences (Instagrammers showcasing their latest holiday contribute less to retail sales than buyers of new washing machines). Credit card data suggests no reason to panic.

Rey attempts to tell the story of the Young Conservative current of CR in Germany 1918-1932 (as per Armin Mohler), but fails and gets sucked in by the vortex of the 19th century (our old foe), and manages to talk only about their predecessors. Subscribe to patreon.org/tenepod @tenepod.bsky.social  x.com/tenepod

Garrett Melson joins Diane King Hall at the NYSE set to get his vantage point on the current markets. He examines the gains between the Mag 7 and the "S&P 493" to break down the performance between them. Garrett doesn't see any let up in capex spend from the hyperscalers and says the market pessimism isn't making sense to him. On the more macro front, he sees a potential "pause and skip" for the FOMC. Garrett later looks at the jobs market, with a low hire/low fire rate continuing to limit job openings calling it a "linear cooldown" but not a cracking in the labor market. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – / schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – / schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-network About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

► If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a good review!► More from PIF: https://linktr.ee/practicalislamicfinanceIrrational Pessimism In this episode, we will cover:Intro & Market Selloff OverviewVIX Spike and Why It's OverblownMicroStrategy, Tesla & Bitdeer SelloffsBitcoin Resilience vs. Altcoin WeaknessWhat Actually Happened: Rate Cut ProbabilitiesWhy the Panic Makes No SenseLiquidity outlook & political incentives for easingPrice-to-Earnings Growth vs. Bubble FearsBitdeer Breakdown: Hashrate, Revenue & MispricingKey Reminders: Perspective, Faith & Long-Term ThinkingQ&A SegmentCONTACT USsalam@practicalislamicfinace.comABOUT OUR PODCASTOur podcast is about helping people ethically build wealth. We cover a broad range of topics, including stock and crypto investing, product reviews, and general financial well-being.

From '1st & Pod' (subscribe here): Patrick Peterson and Andrew Fillipponi talk about the disappointing day the Steelers had in Los Angeles against the Chargers. Are they losing their grip on the AFC North? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from the Senior Living Innovation Forum's Fall Conference, Steve Moran sits down with entrepreneur and former public-company CEO Ben Lytle to rethink aging through the lens of human potential. They dig into why perspective is the beginning of wisdom, how the "tension of opposites" unlocks better decisions, and how communities can become places where older adults live their best lives and leave a legacy. Ben lays out practical plays: behavior-change ecosystems (beyond apps), incentive-aligned healthcare, gamified and personalized wellness, intergenerational engagement—and even AI "alter egos" that preserve residents' stories while supporting daily well-being. If you're building tomorrow's senior living, this conversation is your blueprint. They cover: Perspective > pessimism: By most measures we're in the best time in history; wisdom starts with context and proportion. Tension of opposites: Leaders who hold and integrate conflicting viewpoints create more innovative, workable solutions. Human potential as a value proposition: Market your community as a place to live your best life and leave a legacy. Legacy tech: Offer residents AI "alter egos" to capture stories, wisdom, and family history—and even support daily wellness checks. Behavior change needs an ecosystem: App + clinical endorsement + coaching + community = real, sustained health improvements. Gamified, personalized health: Give residents clear "optimal health scores," daily actions, and peer comparisons to drive engagement. Realignment of incentives: Pay providers for improving outcomes, not volume—primary care and aging services benefit first. Democratizing senior living: Use scalable tech and redesigned services to deliver quality experiences at a lower cost and to more people.

Welcome to a Brain Wrinkling Wednesday with Fr. Tom Koys.  Today Father open with reflection on what has happened over the last week with so much going on in the world. He focuses on speaking about optimism and pessimism in Catholicism. He uses Narnia to help offer insight on how to be optimistic as a Christian in a world in a time when a lot of negative, pessimistic stuff is going on.  To be optimistic is not really the virtue of Christian Hope, because Christian Hope includes hope in a power above and beyond us.  That's why we can never deny the cross, never make fun of it as many people are carrying the cross. The spirit of always being upbeat and happy at Catholic mass doesn't seem to fit because part of the mass is to give us the supernatural hope of God's ability to conquer the problem and walking with us in our sorrows. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

China's Censorship Campaign Against Pessimism and Social Discontent. Charles Burton discusses how China initiated a two-month campaign against "pessimism," targeting citizens who criticize the state due to economic failure, unfair housing, or joblessness. The regime ignores serious societal issues, relying on propaganda while profound discontent exists privately. Censorship is counterproductive, leading to false reporting and increasing internal cynicism toward the leadership. With official news censored, people rely on fast-running rumors, which the government attempts to deal with by arresting activists and rumor-mongers.

Patrick Peterson and Andrew Fillipponi talk about the disappointing day the Steelers had in Los Angeles against the Chargers. Are they losing their grip on the AFC North? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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PREVIEW. China's Campaign Against Pessimism: Growing Private Discontent and Severe Censorship. Charles Burton discusses how China has launched a campaign to discourage people from being pessimistic on social media, utilizing severe censorship. However, this forces unhappiness into private settings—friends and family—where frustration grows. Burton notes that profound discontent exists against Xi Jinping, partly because declaring himself "emperor for life" removed the hope of a better alternative. 1906

PREVIEW. Canadian-Chinese Struggles; China's Campaign Against Pessimism and Public Discontent. Charles Burton discusses China's campaign to discourage pessimism on social media, noting that while severe censorship works, unhappiness persists privately among family and friends, leading to growing frustration. The discontent with Xi Jinping's leadership is profound. This is exacerbated by him declaring himself "emperor for life," which removed any hope for limited future terms. 2884 OTTAWA

On episode 246, we welcome David Bather Woods to discuss the life and philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, how his father's suicide shaped his beliefs about suicide, suffering as the source of compassion, happiness as the negation of pain, Schopenhauer's anti-slavery sentiment, his difficult relationship with Marxist thought and its thinkers, whether writing about changing the world for the better can be enough, why he believed life was worth living, and whether it's fair to judge his philosophy by his life and choices. David Bather Woods is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Warwick. He is coeditor with Timothy Stoll of The Schopenhauerian Mind. He has contributed chapters to The Proustian Mind, Schopenhauer's Moral Philosophy, and The Palgrave Schopenhauer Handbook. His new book, available November 18, 2025, is called Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist. | David Bather Woods | ► Website | https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/philosophy/people/woods ► Twitter | https://x.com/dbatherwoods ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/all_academic ► Bluesky| https://bsky.app/profile/davidbatherwoods.bsky.social ► Arthur Schopenhauer Book | https://bit.ly/ArthurSchopenhauerBiography Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast  

Send us a textWe confront tribal habits, set aside ego, and explore how to disagree without scorched-earth rhetoric. Nathan Smolensky shares tools for curiosity, active listening, and clear messaging, plus a realistic path for independents in a system built for two.• defining the problem of outrage-first politics• using curiosity to lower defenses• active listening as a repeatable habit• balancing humility with confidence in your voice• replacing coded language with clear, simple words• designing conversations to test ideas, not people• moving from fact fights to shared guardrails on power• concise, story-led messaging supported by data• opportunities for independents beyond purple states• spoiler fears, closed primaries, and reform• realistic optimism and strategic action• when to disengage and redirect your effortFollow Nathan SmolenskyHis websitehttps://nathansmolensky.com/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578763780653LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-c-smolensky-99279821/Substackhttps://substack.com/@unifireFollow Braver Angels to join tough but civil political conversations.https://braverangels.org/Support the showFollow your host atYouTube and Rumble for video contenthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUxk1oJBVw-IAZTqChH70aghttps://rumble.com/c/c-4236474Facebook to receive updateshttps://www.facebook.com/EliasEllusion/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasmarty/ Some free goodies Free website to help you and me https://thefreewebsiteguys.com/?js=15632463 New Paper https://thenewpaper.co/refer?r=srom1o9c4gl

******Support the channel******Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenterPayPal: paypal.me/thedissenterPayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuyPayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9lPayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpzPayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9mPayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao ******Follow me on******Website: https://www.thedissenter.net/The Dissenter Goodreads list: https://shorturl.at/7BMoBFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/Twitter: https://x.com/TheDissenterYT This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/ Dr. David Cooper is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. He has published across a broad range of philosophical subjects, including philosophy of language, philosophy of education, ethics, aesthetics, environmental philosophy, animal ethics, philosophy of technology, philosophy of religion, history of both Western philosophy and Asian philosophy, and modern European philosophy, especially Heidegger, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein. He is the author of several books, the most recent one being Pessimism, Quietism and Nature as Refuge. In this episode, we focus on Pessimism, Quietism and Nature as Refuge. We start by discussing what is misanthropy, what is pessimism, and how pessimism combines with misanthropy. We talk about the human condition, and whether it can be improved. We then get into quietism, nature as refuge, and preserving nature.--A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航 豊川, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, HUGO B., JAMES, JORDAN MANSFIELD, CHARLOTTE ALLEN, PETER STOYKO, DAVID TONNER, LEE BECK, PATRICK DALTON-HOLMES, NICK KRASNEY, AND RACHEL ZAK!A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, NICK GOLDEN, CHRISTINE GLASS, IGOR NIKIFOROVSKI, PER KRAULIS, AND JOSHUA WOOD!AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, ROSEY, AND GREGORY HASTINGS!

Here's a question for you, about us: Are we chronic pessimists? Just when will it be a good time to buy a large household item? The ANZ Consumer Confidence figures came out Friday, and we have sunk again. Unlike business, which went up eight points while punters went down another two points. What about household items, like a fridge? We haven't felt good about that for any month in four long years. 48 months. Month after month we think it's not a good time to be sticking a bit of Samsung or Sub-Zero or Miele in your house. Yet how can business feel half-decent given the people they deal with are miserable? And how is it, as the bank pointed out, that the stats don't actually align with our mood? Spending is up – no, not by a lot, because this isn't a gold rush. But spending is up and the job ads are up. There are more jobs being advertised. My bet is when the unemployment stats arrive this week at 5.2% or 5.3% that will be it. It will get no worse. The layoffs are over. There are genuine, tangible, indisputable signs in the economy that things have turned. Call them whatever you want, flickers or green shoots or better days, but they are there. Like all economies, the tide doesn't rise and bring everyone with it. But it has to bring some, and some must be feeling better, or good, or (God forbid) upbeat. Is there a determination among some that we will simply not be happy? We refuse to accept the light at the end of that tunnel. Where once a trip to the seaside and an ice cream on a sunny day lifted the spirit, now we want the whole circus and a merch bag as well before we dare utter anything remotely upbeat. I have no doubt the tide has turned. I see too many data points, stats, and results to feel any other way. But New Zealand has caught a disease. You see it in Britain (they have it bad) and also Australia (but a bit less). There's a refusal to accept good news the way we used to. Where once the possibility was enough to lift a spirit, now you need a tsunami to bowl you over. The early bird, as always, will catch the worm on this. By the time we hit February or March of 2026 and a lot of people join the bandwagon, the early adopters will have been having a good time for months. It's only negative if it's actually factually negative. Being determined to be that way is a state of mind, not a reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well-being science reveals that, despite signs of economic growth during the post-COVID recovery, a widespread "vibecession" phenomenon of U.S. consumer pessimism persists. This challenges the traditional economic assumption that increased discretionary income automatically translates into higher national happiness. To explore well-being science, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Carol Graham, a senior scientist at Gallup, an author, and a senior fellow in the Economic Studies program at Brookings. Carol discusses the lack of civic and economic education in the US and how that affects vulnerable populations. She also presents statistics on the decline of mental health and wellness among US teens and how a loss of hope contributes to consumer pessimism.This episode is proudly sponsored by:Calm—Offers the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Download Calm and find a place made just for you to rest. Visit Calm.com/HHTR Listeners get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription. and LEAN—Offers clinically formulated weight management blended with ingredients that support metabolism, appetite control, and healthy fat utilization. Visit http://takelean.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get 20% off your order. and Signos—Offers the world's first FDA-cleared AI-driven app and CGM for weight management and wellness that turns data into lasting habits for better health. Visit Signos.com and use promo code HHTR to get $10 off select plans. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Part 4 of Ronnie's series on The Serenity Prayer: "God grant me wisdom." Ronnie says, "Optimism is a false hope. Pessimism is as suicide pact. Idealism is a fool's errand - as a recovering idealist, it pains me to say that. This world can only be navigated by realists; realists who feel the strain, experience the tension of keeping balance, and beg God for wisdom." 

Sci-fi titan Neal Stephenson, whose Snow Crash coined the term "metaverse" and Cryptonomicon sketched the contours of crypto, joins Friederike to talk about his foray into championing empowering creators with direct micropayments and IP sovereignty, without the data-exploiting enclosures of Web2, with Lamina1 as its co-founder. Neal unpacks his detached craft plausible worlds that inadvertently blueprint reality while cautioning against Web3's traps: Criminal stigma, abysmal UX alienating normies, and risks of becoming surveillance superhighways or bank shiny toys. Spotlighting Lamina 1's launch with "Artifact" (a Weta-forged sci-fi game), he envisions success as creative output flourishing where blockchain fades to the background. Topics discussed in this episode:(00:00) Introduction to Decentralization and Blockchain(01:20) The Role of Storytelling in Technology Prediction(03:48) The Balance of Optimism and Pessimism in Fiction(06:27) Web3: Promises and Pitfalls(08:36) The Evolution of the Web: From Decentralization to Centralization(13:37) Metrics for a Decentralized Web(15:55) Lamina One: A New Vision for the Metaverse(23:44) Creating a Financial Layer for the Creator Economy(25:08) Legal Implications of Smart Contracts(27:38) The Strength of Smart Contracts(31:04) Decentralization vs. Centralization in the Creator Economy(36:21) The Decline of Centralized Platforms(41:23) Financialization and the Creative Economy(45:47) The Future of Web3 and User Experience(51:17) Potential Failure Modes of Web3Links mentioned in this episode: Neal Stephenson, Co-founder Lamina1: https://x.com/nealstephenson Lamina 1: https://lamina1.com/home Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at gnosis.io This episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst.

This week, Jason and Ben sat down to acknowledge and resolve all the contradictions that have manifested in our discussions on this podcast. Actually, we don't resolve anything, but we do acknowledge some things. Our listeners will know that we often disagree with the broader left, each other, and our earlier selves. While we don't manage to piece together a solid line for the podcast, we do manage to talk a lot about those contradictions.Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the showVisit the Regrettable Century Merch Shop

Sean Bowe is a cryptographer and engineer who is best known for revolutionizing Zcash. After cooperating to fix the inflation bug in the first version of the network, he built Halo to remove the trusted setup – basically obliterating the main reason why Bitcoin did not activate the Zerocash soft fork in 2013. More recently, Sean Bowe announced project Tachyon: an ambitious initiative to scale ZK SNARKs (the technology enabling shielded transactions) to billions of users. Time stamps: 00:01:19 - Sean Bowe's Work on Zcash and Hidden Inflation Bug Fix 00:01:36 - Introduction to Halo and Halo 2: Eliminating Trusted Setup 00:01:51 - Overview of Project Tachyon for Scaling ZK-SNARKs 00:02:43 - Zcash Price Pump and Dance Celebration 00:04:48 - Using Zcash for Encrypted Messages via Zashi Wallet 00:05:42 - Comparing Zcash Messaging to Signal 00:07:17 - Sean Bowe's Early Involvement in Zcash and Bitcoin 00:10:34 - Sean Bowe's Age and Start in Cryptography at 21 00:11:13 - Discovering Bitcoin in 2011 and Privacy Needs 00:13:42 - Contributing to BIP 39 with Slush and Trezor 00:14:19 - Realizing Bitcoin's Lack of Privacy 00:17:50 - Privacy vs. Deniability in Bitcoin and Banks 00:20:23 - Wasabi Wallet and CoinJoins Limitations 00:21:46 - Optional Privacy in Zcash and Wallet Defaults 00:23:16 - Viewer Question: Source of Sean Bowe's Smartness 00:24:47 - Viewer Question: Ideas from Scaling Bottlenecks 00:27:09 - Viewer Quote from Oscar Wilde on Privacy 00:28:07 - Viewer Question: Zcash Network State Meaning 00:30:00 - Viewer Question: Timeline for Tachyon Success 00:33:15 - Chronological Approach to Interview and Tachyon 00:37:33 - Differences Between Zerocoin (Firo) and Zerocash (Zcash) 00:39:55 - Greg Maxwell's CoinJoin and Zerocoin Views 00:42:57 - Moon Math and Cryptographic Assumptions 00:46:33 - Sponsor: Citrea ZK Rollup with BitVM 00:47:19 - Sponsor: Layer2 Labs ZSide Drive Chain 00:49:01 - Sponsor: Bitcoin.com News 00:50:16 - Zcash Leads Crypto Rally News 00:58:49 - Bitcoin's Constraints and Creativity like BitVM 01:05:00 - Zcash Contributors and Zebra Rust Node 01:14:00 - Friendly Forks in Zcash 01:31:00 - Monero Hater Comments and Zcash Anonymity 02:23:00 - Superhero Backstory Tease 02:26:14 - Bitcoin Talk Username and Early ASIC Mining 02:28:35 - Pessimism on Bitcoin Development Speed 02:50:41 - Shielded Zcash Dust Problem 02:52:11 - Quantum Resistance and Self-Transfers 02:53:00 - Long-Term Storage Pool for Quantum Safety 02:54:56 - Avalanche Pre-Consensus like eCash 02:55:04 - Tachyon and Oblivious Synchronization 02:58:56 - Scaling to Billions: Math and No Bottlenecks 03:02:12 - Solving Privacy-Scaling Trilemma 03:04:51 - Off-Chain Secrets and Payment Protocols 03:06:24 - Tachyon as New Privacy Pool 03:12:56 - Wallet Syncing with Tachyon Servers 03:14:50 - Shielded Aggregation in Tachyon 03:17:00 - Tachyon Team Size and Hiring Rust Engineers 03:18:41 - ETA for Tachyon: Next Year 03:23:15 - Greg Maxwell Paper Citation Story 03:25:11 - Explaining ZK-SNARKs to Polkadot Cryptographers 03:31:01 - Zcash Governance and No Benevolent Dictator 03:35:06 - Memos Bloating Blockchain and Anonymity Boost 03:38:06 - Zcash Compatibility with Bitcoin Privacy 03:39:01 - Following Sean Bowe: X Account and Blog

Oh boy...you know it's bad when Ryan and Vince are getting together on a Sunday evening. Other schools are wasting no time in getting on with the inevitable. Are decisions being made at FSU?

Continuing on "Directions for Decomposition" from A Short History of Decay (1949). What is it that humans are inevitably trying to avoid that seems so bad to us? It's our existential separation from others, our essential, incommunicable solitude. Plus, ennui, sloth, and being a "traitor to existence." Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health.

Revelation 21Support the show: https://www.oneandall.church/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Think Thursday, we're exploring an idea that turns conventional wisdom on its head: defensive pessimism. While it may sound like a negative mindset, it's actually a powerful, evidence-based cognitive strategy that helps anxious or overthinking brains perform better, reduce stress, and follow through on goals more effectively.Defensive pessimism isn't about catastrophizing or giving up. It's about anticipating obstacles and using those thoughts to prepare instead of panic. In this episode, you'll learn how this approach taps into the brain's natural tendency to predict outcomes, and how making one critical shift — understanding the difference between prediction and probability — can dramatically improve your results.We'll talk about:What defensive pessimism is and why it worksThe neuroscience of prediction and how it affects your behaviorWhy your brain's “what ifs” might be trying to help youA simple three-step process to start using this strategy todayWhether you're trying to build a new habit, overcome self-doubt, or just want to feel more in control of your daily life, this mindset can help you stop overthinking and start planning with confidence.Want more support? Join the Alcohol Minimalist Facebook group or email Molly directly at molly@mollywatts.com. We'd love to hear how you're using defensive pessimism to create change. ★ Support this podcast ★

Revelation 21Support the show: https://www.oneandall.church/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On A Short History of Decay (1949), a pessimist/existentialist somewhat text from the most famous Romanian philosopher. Cioran's short essays touch on art, humor, God, salvation, time, nostalgia, mourning, death, disease, suicide, revolt, freedom, Buddhism, Daoism, and the role of the philosopher. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health.

Barstool Nate joins the show to discuss the Commanders week three win, some of the injuries around the team, and why he isn't buying the Maryland football hype.

Author of "Edward Said: The Politics of an Oppositional Intellectual," professor Nubar Hovsepian joins us to delve into the nuanced legacy of Edward Said, exploring common misunderstandings of his work, the reception of "Orientalism" within academia, and Said's vision of the "oppositional intellectual." The discussion also covers the evolving discourse around Zionism and Palestine, the challenges faced by the Palestinian liberation movement, and the critical need for new forms of struggle and organization. This conversation offers a candid look at the intellectual journey of Edward Said and its enduring relevance in contemporary Arab and global contexts. 0:00 Edward Said: The Oppositional Intellectual0:20 Orientalism as a System of Domination1:07 Misunderstandings of Edward Said's Work3:18 The Reception of "Orientalism" in Academia11:00 Columbia University and Ideas About Israel and Zionism14:00 The Evolving Discourse on Zionism18:24 Defining the Oppositional Intellectual20:59 Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will22:50 The Palestinian Liberation Movement: Peaks and Valleys30:47 The Democratic Secular State and Its Opponents34:09 Shifting Perceptions of Palestine Among Youth37:00 Advice for Young Activists and Intellectuals38:57 Mistakes of the Palestinian Movement44:30 The Concept of Citizenship Versus Subjecthood47:00 Edward Said's Relationship with America and the Arab World50:27 Recommended Readings by Edward Said Nubar Hovsepian is associate professor emeritus of political science at Chapman University in Orange, CA. He is the author of "Edward Said: The Politics of an Oppositional Intellectual," "Palestinian State Formation: The Construction of National Identity," and editor of "The War on Lebanon." Hovsepian served from 1982 to 1984 as political affairs officer for the United Nations conference on the Question of Palestine.Connect with Nubar Hovsepian

We live in a culture obsessed with hope. We are trained to believe that being hopeful is the key to success. Stay positive. The sun will come out tomorrow. Keep the faith. But maintaining that kind of blind hope is hard. When our hopes are dashed, we often feel defeated. In a world that's filled with lots of dark clouds and very few silver linings, perhaps we need a better way to balance our hope and our pessimism. In today's episode, Sean interviews philosopher Mara van der Lugt about her new book Hopeful Pessimism. The two talk about how to sustain hope when you're feeling pessimistic, the pitfalls of blind hope, and what the climate movement can teach us about staying motivated when success is unlikely. Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling)Guest: Mara van der Lugt, lecturer in philosophy at the University of St Andrews and author of Hopeful Pessimism. Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices