Best Discussions With A Physicist Podcasts (2024)

1
Two days is not enough weekend. A Rational rant about inequity. 18:28

1h ago18:28

18:28

This episode is a rant about why people don’t have time to become better informed about the issues. It is about why people are rushed. It is about why people feel mistreated by the system. The Rational View is going to rant about inequity and highlight the growing resentment amongst the struggling middle class at the elite robber barons of capitali…

1
Dr. Luca Turin detects quantum clues to consciousness (re-release) 58:07

5d ago58:07

58:07

This episode is one of my favorite interviews. A great chat that was part of my series on consciousness—are we biological robots? I’m getting into some real science talking to a biophysicist who brings the esoteric world of quantum mechanics to bear on the topic. His groundbreaking work in the lab provides us with some real measurements that provid…

1
Edgardo Sepulveda gives Ontario wind energy a failing grade 1:02:45

10d ago1:02:45

1:02:45

In this episode I am interviewing a returning guest to the show to examine the economics surrounding Ontario’s foray into renewable energy. As is typical in divisive topics such as this, the government has made it very difficult to track down the actual costs of ideologically driven policies such as Ontario’s 2009 Green Energy Act that brough in ju…

1
Dr. Michael Shermer on conspiracies and the erosion of democratic institutions 59:34

17d ago59:34

59:34

In this episode I have a special returning guest, the famous Dr. Michael Shermer on the show to discuss the interesting times our neighbours to the south are experiencing. I’m hoping to discuss the polarization and the bias that have catalyzed conspiratorial thinking emerging around the Trump assassination attempt. Dr. Shermer is the Founding Publi…

1
Will the next US election be a clash of good vs. evil? 29:24

24d ago29:24

29:24

In this episode I’m responding to the political tension we are witnessing in the US with a historic election looming on the horizon. Many see this as some sort of battle royale between good and evil. But for some reason the options on the table for our neighbours to the south are four more years of increasing inequity in a reasonably well-off count…

1
Divisive politics and Project 2025 34:25

2M ago34:25

34:25

Today I’m taking a step back from science and addressing politics. I know certain of my listeners do not like to hear my opinions on this topic and I respect that, so if you need to stay in a silo to protect your political narratives please stop listening. This is your trigger warning. It was recently announced that the Supreme Court has ruled that…

1
Dr. Bonnie Steinbock on the ethics of abortion 42:50

2M ago42:50

42:50

In this episode I will be discussing the topic of abortion with a philosopher who has studied the moral arguments on both sides of the issue. I am interested in rational bases of moral decision making. I’d like to be able to work out moral rules from a set of socially acceptable first principles, but often I find that my moral intuition conflicts w…

1
Clayton Swope discusses weaponization of space 48:24

2M ago48:24

48:24

In this episode I’m delving into the weaponization of space. The space race was originally a military flexing competition between the US and the Soviet Union. Since that time space has been consistently used for surveillance, similar to early airborne operations, but weaponization of space has been off limits through treaties. Now the space race se…

1
Al and Kevin address manifestation LIVE 46:40

2M ago46:40

46:40

This episode is a recording of a live social media broadcast on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Riverside.fm where the Scott brothers revisit their previous disagreements over manifestation and magical thinking. Will they come to an agreement or will it come to fisticuffs? Manifestation is the idea that by aligning our thoughts and expectations wit…

1
Taking a rational view on the ethics of abortion 35:33

3M ago35:33

35:33

In this episode I’ve decided to wade into another highly polarized topic, the morality of abortion. This has become a hot political topic with the Republicans stacking the supreme court to overturn Roe v Wade. In many people’s opinion this is a large step on the way to Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale where women’s rights to self determination are…

1
Mike Conley says Earth is a Nuclear Planet 37:45

3M ago37:45

37:45

In this episode I will be talking to an author and screenwriter who has taken up the potentially poisoned chalice of popularizing nuclear energy for the world. Let’s see what he is planning to share with the world. The son of a career naval officer, Mike Conley has lived in Japan, Hawaii, and all over the US and has backpacked through Thailand and …

1
Mr. Anderson shares secrets on how to effectively debate Creationists 48:55

3M ago48:55

48:55

In this episode I will be talking more about how to debate Creationists. I have taken this topic on in the past, in my original episode on how to debate Creationists, and I have also interviewed well known evolutionary scientist Dr. Niles Eldredge who was one of the founders of the Punctuated Equilibrium theory of evolution alongside Stephen J. Gou…

1
Dr. David Green says we don't need UBI for a more just society 57:17

3M ago57:17

57:17

In this episode I’m continuing my investigation into Universal Basic Income as the natural solution to the AI and robotics revolution. One day we should be able to work because we want to improve the world and our situations, and not do it because we are under risk of death. The problem is that the intermediate period between having all of our need…

1
The science of learning with Scott H. Young 51:53

4M ago51:53

51:53

In this episode I’m going to be exploring the science behind learning with an author who has been exploring this topic for almost 20 years. How do we learn, and reason, how can we be more rational, and what can we do to make learning easier? Scott H. Young is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Ultralearning, a podcast host, computer prog…

1
Dr. Ben Heard on environmental advocacy in a polarized world 56:59

4M ago56:59

56:59

In this repeat episode I chat with Dr. Ben Heard about environmental advocacy and communicating science-based viewpoints in a polarised debate. Dr. Heard provides his assessment on the rationality of the anti-nuclear lobby. Dr. Ben Heard is recognised as a leading voice for the use of nuclear technologies to address our most pressing global challen…

1
Dr. Janet Tulloch asks if The Big Bang is just another origin story (re-release) 42:19

4M ago42:19

42:19

In this re-released episode I interview religious studies scholar Dr. Janet Tulloch to discuss the Big Bang, and other origin stories. Let's go explore where science and religion collide. I hope you find it an interesting journey! Janet Tulloch is an adjunct research professor in the College of Humanities at Carleton University in Ottawa. She is a …

1
David Moscrop says we shouldn't fund Catholic schools 53:33

4M ago53:33

53:33

In this episode I’m looking into a particular issue of government waste. Specifically I’d like to dig into the funding of religious schools in Ontario. Is this a good investment for society, or a ruinous subsidy to a single religious minority? This is a polarizing issue in Ontario that has been too hot to handle for politicians. The last time a pol…

1
Scott Santens dispels the myths blocking Universal Basic Income 57:03

5M ago57:03

57:03

In this episode I continue my investigation into the pros and cons of Universal Basic Income as a potential solution to the ongoing increases in automation from robotics and Artificial Intelligence and subsequent job losses. In one of my earlier podcasts ‘Income Inequality: We’ve botched it” I showed how the benefits of significant automation and p…

1
Dr. Karl Widerquist says we need Universal Basic Income now 56:00

5M ago56:00

56:00

In this episode I am discussing the economic impacts of the AI revolution, and whether or not it is time for UBI. AI will take over jobs and increase productivity per remaining worker to compensate. We are bound for a situation where owners will be able to squeeze more profits from a declining workforce, while the working class continues on the pat…

1
The deuterium episode controversies 42:47

6M ago42:47

42:47

I recently ran a pair of episodes investigating claims of the health effects of deuterium, a stable heavy isotope of hydrogen. The first interview was with a Naturopath, and the second was with a real medical doctor publishing peer reviewed papers on the topic. And my focus in this effort is on drilling through the BS to get to what the evidence sa…

1
Dr. Laszlo Boros reviews evidence for health impacts of deuterium 59:11

6M ago59:11

59:11

In this episode I’m digging deeper into the purported health effects of deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen. Deuterium has twice the mass of hydrogen, and it exists naturally in water. A hydrogen atom in H2O is replaced by deuterium in about 150 out of 1 million atoms. This trace compound interacts chemically as hydrogen, but because of its wei…

1
Petra Davelaar says heavy water is not healthy water 42:11

6M ago42:11

42:11

This episode is based on feedback from a listener who suggested I investigate the science of Deutenomics. The impact of heavy water on health. Apparently it’s a thing. Is it snake oil or is it real? Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen that is twice as heavy. It has a neutron plus a proton. Chemically it should be identical, but the reaction dynamic…

1
Zion Lights dissects degrowth 52:06

7M ago52:06

52:06

In this episode I am welcoming a returning guest, Zion Lights, to the podcast to discuss the growing influence of degrowth. This philosophy encompasses a wide range of thinking from return to nature Luddites to mild anti-capitalist zeitgeist. Zion Lights is a Science Communicator who is known for her environmental advocacy work. She is founder of t…

1
Humanist Joel Garreau believes humanity is poised for radical evolution 45:29

7M ago45:29

45:29

In this episode I’m continuing my series on human enhancement. I’ve previously interviewed Guilia Dominijanni on her experiments on how people adapt successfully to adding a third robotic arm. Technology continues to advance in robotics, computing, and brain-machine interfaces opening a huge pandora’s box on the potential for future enhancements. T…

1
Critical Thinking Skills with Melanie Trecek-King 46:18

7M ago46:18

46:18

In this episode I want to return to the theme of critical thinking. How can we teach people to immunize their minds? In the past I’ve interviewed two of the co-founders of the Mental Immunity Project, Andy Norman and Lee McIntyre to get their feedback on how to fight the pandemic of misinformation and disinformation that we are fed on social media.…

1
Information About Energy is More Critical Than Ever: Time to Reboot the IEA 36:36

7M ago36:36

36:36

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is 50 years old this year, created because of the 1973/4 “oil shock” that triggered a global recession. Today’s energy markets and geopolitics are just as vulnerable to similar disruptions, but the IEA has since shifted its mission to advocate for abandoning hydrocarbons, erasing its ability to serve as a credi…

1
Dr. Chris Keefer reviews a year of nuclear successes 40:26

7M ago40:26

40:26

2023 was a big year for the perception and advancement of nuclear power not only in Canada, but globally. In this episode I am interviewing friend of The Rational View and fellow podcaster Dr. Chris Keefer to reminisce about the work his group, Canadians for Nuclear Energy has accomplished in the past year. Chris Keefer is an emergency physician, m…

1
The Imminent Prospect of a Very Bad Idea: A Carbon Tax 33:39

8M ago33:39

33:39

At the end of 2023, Congress had four different pieces of proposed legislation directed at creating a carbon tax; three had bipartisan support. Thus, bookmakers see a rising prospect for some form of carbon tax. We return to unbundling why that’s such a bad idea, and the flaws in claiming that it would unleash “market forces” to create alternatives…

1
The Rational View 2023 year in review 35:36

8M ago35:36

35:36

This episode is a Rational View review of 2023, and an outlook for 2024. Happy New Year! 2023 was a big year for yours truly in that I uprooted my family and moved to a new city, and I apologize for the interruptions that this entailed. I’ve finally gotten settled in my new home and it’s time to take stock and make new plans. If you are interested …

1
Dr. Barbel Honisch tells how scientists know what CO2 levels were millions of years ago 44:31

8M ago44:31

44:31

In this episode I am returning to a topic that has become a favourite for pundits and trolls, and that is carbon dioxide. The near doubling of the atmospheric concentration of this colourless odourless gas has been identified by scientists as contributing to an accelerating heating of the biosphere that has significantly affected the climate. As a …

1
Giulia Dominijanni talks bionic enhancements for the masses 42:36

8M ago42:36

42:36

In this episode I am starting on a new interest—I want to talk about the emerging field of human enhancement. Technology is allowing us to modify our bodies in ways that people only dreamed of in the past. We’ve discussed genetic enhancements in previous episodes, but in this thread I want to dig into the state of the art of and ethics of alteratio…

1
The importance of dark skies with Rob Dick 41:30

9M ago41:30

41:30

This episode is a re-release of a much earlier episode (#11). While I'm busy moving houses I wanted to follow on the theme of my last episode on preserving an inspiring and beautiful natural resource for future generations: the vista of the universe. Please enjoy my discussion with friend, amateur astronomer and dark sky enthusiast Rob Dick. Amateu…

1
Chemicals, Climate, Carbon, and a Cri de Coeur for Rational Dialogue 48:21

9M ago48:21

48:21

Joining this episode, Peter Huntsman - CEO of a multi-billion-dollar US-based multinational with operations in 30 countries - for a far ranging-conversation about the role and nature of chemicals (used in everything from batteries to Boeings), workplace culture, regulations, energy issues, and the challenges of global competition. Biography of Pete…

1
Dark skies with Jim Goetz 37:59

9M ago37:59

37:59

In this episode I’m returning to the insidious advance of light pollution and what we can all do to bring back the night sky. I’m now in Guelph Ontario and the municipality is considering introducing a light pollution by-law. If you also would like to see the stars at night from a population centre, this episode will help you to understand the issu…

1
Will Climate Policies Throttle the A.I. Era? 42:43

9M ago42:43

42:43

We revisit, with new research, the astonishing energy appetite of artificial intelligence (A.I.), a reality completely absent from the just-released 18,000 word Executive Order on A.I. Yet the Administration's “whole-of-government” pursuit of climate policies is seen everywhere else. Meanwhile, fueling A.I. will propel the world beyond today’s zett…

1
How to train your brain with Andy Vasily 51:38

9M ago51:38

51:38

On this episode I chat with a long time friend and host of the Run Your Life podcast, Mr. Andy Vasily. Andy has been exploring learning methods and works professionally on coaching athletes to achieve peak performance. I have been exploring the science of consciousness and the technology of Artificial Intelligence. In this episode we explore the ne…

1
A rational rant about banking fees 20:20

10M ago20:20

20:20

In this episode I’m going to go on a bit of a Rational Rant. It’s a pet peeve of mine, and probably of yours too, but today I’m jousting at the windmill of excessive banking fees and lack of customer service. So be prepared to let off some steam for a cathartic ride through the wonderful world of our banking system as I get back a little of what th…

1
Hybrid-electric Cars: Faster, Cheaper, Better and Fairer Way to Cut Oil Use 32:46

10M ago32:46

32:46

If one feels compelled, and by that, I mean if Congress and state policymakers feel compelled to subsidize ways to reduce the amount of oil used by vehicles on the roads, the facts point to hybrids making far more sense. Sales figures in recent months suggest that consumers think so too. Related to this episode’s topic, to watch or listen to the Oc…

1
Dr. Steven Levitsky on the crisis in American democracy 34:25

10M ago34:25

34:25

In this episode I have a returning guest to discuss the fall. No not the weather. The fall of civilization. Our previous interview released September 12, 2020, was titled ‘This is how liberty dies’, where we discussed the frightening parallels between the evolving political situation in the US and events in multiple failed democracies. Despite thes…

1
Prof. Naomi Oreskes exposes the ’Big Myth’ of neo-liberal economics 46:35

10M ago46:35

46:35

In this episode I will be taking a look at the ugly side of unrestricted capitalism, and how lobbying has skewed the public debate and shifted the Overton window to the right. Some would argue that unrestricted capitalism has been a great boon lifting society into an age of plenty. Others would argue that it has done this by maintaining an economic…

1
David McRaney on how to change minds 1:00:33

10M ago1:00:33

1:00:33

In this episode I'm revisiting the topic of being an effective advocate of evidence-based and Rational Policy. To do this properly one must understand the science of how to influence people. I've found in the past that countering anti-science opinion with ridicule, although very cathartic, is not helpful. I've learned that just spouting reams of ev…

1
Jonah Messinger and Helium 4 are excited by Cold Fusion 51:01

11M ago51:01

51:01

In this episode I’m revisiting the topic of cold fusion with an MIT-affiliated researcher who is looking into the case for cold fusion. As you may recall, my review found that there are many anomalous results in the field that point to the potential for new physical phenomena. Pons and Fleischman’s premature announcement of cold fusion led to a fur…

1
Dr. Steven Levitsky on how democracies die 48:52

11M ago48:52

48:52

This episode is a re-release of episode 18 where I interviewed Professor Steven Levitsky, co-author with Daniel Ziblatt of 2018 best-seller "How Democracies Die". He has recently released a new book called "Saving Democracy, Tyranny of the Minority" so I thought it would be a good idea to see how his predictions from 2018 have held up based on more…

1
Artificial Intelligence and its Energy Appetite 42:06

11M ago42:06

42:06

The invention of useful artificial intelligence (AI), epitomized by the hype over ChatGPT, is the latest example of a basic truth about technology: There have always been many more inventions that use energy than those that can produce it. Only a few inventions over history are as energy-hungry as AI; it ranks up there with the invention of the aut…

1
Dr. Indranil Banik weighs in on dark matter vs. MOND 33:51

11M ago33:51

33:51

In this episode I’m digging into a recent announcement from the astronomy community. The Gaia satellite has been making high precision measurements of the position and velocity of billions of nearby stars. Researchers have used this data to test the theory of gravity, and more specifically Modified Newtonian Dynamics or MOND. This theory was develo…

1
What does science say about determinism and free will? 22:29

11M ago22:29

22:29

Thank you for inviting me into your head. In this episode I want to go deep and share some thoughts on brains and machines and free will. My thoughts on determinism and free resonate with the words of famous philosopher Bertrand Russell. My thinking on these topics is influenced by the evidence of physics, neuroscience, and AI. I hope you enjoy thi…

1
EVs and the Simplicity Trope 34:41

12M ago34:41

34:41

At the core of the belief that EVs inevitably displace conventional cars is the claim that EVs are, inherently, just simpler machines. That means, we’re told, fewer jobs—hence the ostensible reason for the UAW’s anxiety. But the simplicity claim is a canard. EVs entail a complexity swap, not a simplification. Electric Vehicles for Everyone? The Imp…

1
Polarizing Fukushima wastewater 25:18

12M ago25:18

25:18

Have you heard the news? The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is dumping radioactive waste into the Pacific ocean! Is this a travesty or is it a manufactured controversy? The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan is planning to dump over 1 million tonnes of radioactive wastewater in the ocean. Environmental groups around the…

1
Are we facing insect armageddon? 29:52

12M ago29:52

29:52

In this episode I want to investigate claims in the news of an insect Armageddon. Specifically it has been reported that insect populations around the globe have plummeted by up to 75% in recent years. As anecdotal evidence of this old timers like myself use the car windshield as a gauge. Back in the day, any summer drive would end up with your win…

1
Origins of the anti-nuclear movement 41:05

12M ago41:05

41:05

In this episode I answer the question, 'Who is misinforming the public about nuclear energy and why?'. I touch on the influence of the oil industry on anti-nuclear disinformation, and I explore the origins of the anti-nuclear protest movement. Support the podcast at patron.podbean.com/TheRationalView Give me your opinion on Facebook @TheRationalVie…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Discussions With A Physicist Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide