Best Michael Shermer Podcasts (2024)

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Max Boot — Why Ronald Reagan Wanted to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

4h ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss473_Max_Boot_2024_10_01.mp3 Download MP3 From best-selling biographer Max Boot comes this revelatory portrait, a decade in the making, of the actor-turned-politician whose telegenic leadership ushered in a transformative conservative era in American politics. Despite his fame as a Hollywood star and…

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Why Ronald Reagan Wanted to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Max Boot) 1:01:09

2h ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Max Boot’s revelatory biography of Ronald Reagan, a decade in the making, offers a nuanced portrait of the actor-turned-politician who ushered in a transformative conservative era in American politics. Despite his fame, Reagan remained enigmatic even to those closest to him. Boot’s work, avoiding both hagiography and criticism, charts Reagan’s epic…

1
Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker, and Michael Shermer Challenge Conventional Narratives

20d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss468_Pinker_Ridley_2024_09_13.mp3 Download MP3 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 c…

1
Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley Breaks Down the 2024 Election 1:13:08

44m ago1:13:08

1:13:08

Lance is joined by Douglas Brinkley, a bestselling author, Professor of History at Rice University, and Presidential Historian for CNN. Together, they discuss the challenges of lengthy election cycles, rising media polarization, and the uncertain future of U.S. leadership. Ketone-IQ: 30% off your first sub order + a free 6-pack when you use the lin…

1
Max Boot — Why Ronald Reagan Wanted to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

1h ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss473_Max_Boot_2024_10_01.mp3 Download MP3 From best-selling biographer Max Boot comes this revelatory portrait, a decade in the making, of the actor-turned-politician whose telegenic leadership ushered in a transformative conservative era in American politics. Despite his fame as a Hollywood star and…

1
Adam Kirsch — Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice

3d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss472_Adam_Kirsch_2024_09_28.mp3 Download MP3 Since Hamas’s attack on Israel last October 7, the term “settler colonialism” has become central to public debate in the United States. A concept new to most Americans, but already established and influential in academic circles, settler colonialism is sha…

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Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice 1:00:30

3d ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Since Hamas’s attack on Israel last October 7, the term “settler colonialism” has become central to public debate in the United States. A concept new to most Americans, but already established and influential in academic circles, settler colonialism is shaping the way many people think about the history of the United States, Israel and Palestine, a…

1
Adam Kirsch — Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice

5d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss472_Adam_Kirsch_2024_09_28.mp3 Download MP3 Since Hamas’s attack on Israel last October 7, the term “settler colonialism” has become central to public debate in the United States. A concept new to most Americans, but already established and influential in academic circles, settler colonialism is sha…

1
Dr. Michael Weist provides a crucial piece of evidence linking consciousness to quantum states in microtubules 56:37

3d ago56:37

56:37

In this episode I’m returning to the mysterious and challenging topic of consciousness and awareness, the elusive theory of mind that philosophers have chased for centuries, and is now coming to heel under the tools of neurobiology and the framework of modern physics. My guest today has performed experiments on rats that lend credence to the intrig…

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Scott Horton - Anti-War.com 2:38:39

3d ago2:38:39

2:38:39

Our deep dive into a world in peril continues with Scott Horton of http://anti-war.com/ who breaks down how we got here — on a day Beirut is burning and Israel is at the UN vowing to expand the war. Zelensky is filling his pockets while he tours DC with no end to that conflict in site even as Putin rattles his nuclear sabre. And Trish on depraved P…

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Gray Matters: Exploring the Frontiers of Neurosurgery 1:35:35

7d ago1:35:35

1:35:35

Dr. Theodore Schwartz’s book Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery offers a comprehensive exploration of neurosurgery, a field barely a century old that profoundly connects two human beings. The book delves into the history of how early neurosurgeons came to understand the complex human brain and how this challenging specialty emerged. Drawing…

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Colin Wright — Biology vs. Gender Ideology: The Science Behind the Debate

10d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss470_Colin_Wright_2024_09_21.mp3 Download MP3 Biologist Colin Wright joins the podcast to explore one of today’s most contentious topics: the intersection of biological sex and gender. Drawing on his expertise in animal behavior and evolutionary biology, Colin breaks down key concepts such as biologi…

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Colin Wright — Biology vs. Gender Ideology: The Science Behind the Debate

11d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss470_Colin_Wright_2024_09_21.mp3 Download MP3 Biologist Colin Wright joins the podcast to explore one of today’s most contentious topics: the intersection of biological sex and gender. Drawing on his expertise in animal behavior and evolutionary biology, Colin breaks down key concepts such as biologi…

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Biology vs. Gender Ideology: The Science Behind the Debate 19:19

10d ago19:19

19:19

Biologist Colin Wright joins the podcast to explore one of today’s most contentious topics: the intersection of biological sex and gender. Drawing on his expertise in animal behavior and evolutionary biology, Colin breaks down key concepts such as biological sex, gender identity, and gender dysphoria. He also examines the shift in societal definiti…

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Dr. Lindsey Cormack says ignorance of civics damages democracy 36:27

10d ago36:27

36:27

In this episode we’re going to chat with someone who understands the value of a good civics education. This comes at a time when observers are rating the US as a flawed democracy, and a current presidential nominee has been indicted for insurrection. Gerrymandering of districts is rampant, voter suppression bills are common, and a significant minor…

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War Breaks Out 2:33:57

10d ago2:33:57

2:33:57

Deep diving the precarious state of the world with the Middle East on fire and Ukraine about to lob missiles deep into Russian territory. Now there are credible concerns about a nuclear escalation. Hear a highly respected Russian studies expert with his prescient warning from four years ago, and John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs — two important fo…

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Taming Silicon Valley: AI’s Perils and Promise 1:11:21

14d ago1:11:21

1:11:21

AI could bring unprecedented advancements in science and technology, but Gary Marcus, in Taming Silicon Valley, warns it might also lead to democracy’s collapse or even human extinction. With Big Tech manipulating both the public and government, are we prepared for the consequences of AI’s unchecked power? Marcus urges that the choices we make toda…

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Taming Silicon Valley: Gary Marcus on AI’s Perils and Promise

14d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss469_Gary_Marcus_2024_09_17.mp3 Download MP3 On balance, will AI help humanity or harm it? AI could revolutionize science, medicine, and technology, and deliver us a world of abundance and better health. Or it could be a disaster, leading to the downfall of democracy, or even our extinction. In Tamin…

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Taming Silicon Valley: Gary Marcus on AI’s Perils and Promise

14d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss469_Gary_Marcus_2024_09_17.mp3 Download MP3 On balance, will AI help humanity or harm it? AI could revolutionize science, medicine, and technology, and deliver us a world of abundance and better health. Or it could be a disaster, leading to the downfall of democracy, or even our extinction. In Tamin…

1
Sharon McMahon says moral narcissism is destroying society 50:33

17d ago50:33

50:33

In this episode we’ll be discussing polarization and the idea of moral narcissism. My guest has published an article in a substack newsletter discussing this idea that people today are taking on absolute moral stancess in polarizing issues because of the status it gives them in their tribe, irrespective of the cost. In her blog she makes an analogy…

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David Affler and Ann Bauer on Switching Sides 1:23:44

17d ago1:23:44

1:23:44

Trish talks to two former Democrats who’ve switched sides over the party’s abandonment of the working class and leanings toward authoritarianism. Essayist Ann Bauer and New York Public Defender David Affler compare notes on the debate and ticking the box that says “Trump." Trish on the Tuesday night debate gang-up and a few words on the Coutts sent…

1
Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker, and Michael Shermer Challenge Conventional Narratives 56:42

18d ago56:42

56:42

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 lea…

1
Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker, and Michael Shermer Challenge Conventional Narratives

20d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss468_Pinker_Ridley_2024_09_13.mp3 Download MP3 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 c…

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Matthew Stewart on Slavery, Enlightenment, and America’s Refounding

21d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss467_Matthew_Stewart_2024_09_10.mp3 Download MP3 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 …

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Slavery, Enlightenment, and America’s Refounding 50:55

21d ago50:55

50:55

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 Doug…

1
Matthew Stewart on Slavery, Enlightenment, and America’s Refounding

23d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss467_Matthew_Stewart_2024_09_10.mp3 Download MP3 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 …

1
Dr. Michael Levin on cellular consciousness (re-release) 1:11:57

23d ago1:11:57

1:11:57

In this episode I’m going to be sharing with you an earlier interview with Dr. Micheal Levin that I found to be really mind bending. In it I wanted to explore the cellular basis of consciousness, and we delved into that a little bit, however the part that I found really interesting was his discussion of how cells work together and communicate to bu…

1
Jeffrey Kripal — How to Think About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything

23d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss466_Jeff_Kripal_2024_09_08.mp3 Download MP3 From precognitive dreams and telepathic visions to near-death experiences, UFO encounters, and beyond, so-called impossible phenomena are not supposed to happen. But they do happen—all the time. Jeffrey J. Kripal asserts that the impossible is a function n…

1
Jeffrey Kripal — How to Think About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything

23d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss466_Jeff_Kripal_2024_09_08.mp3 Download MP3 From precognitive dreams and telepathic visions to near-death experiences, UFO encounters, and beyond, so-called impossible phenomena are not supposed to happen. But they do happen—all the time. Jeffrey J. Kripal asserts that the impossible is a function n…

1
How to Think About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything 1:25:31

25d ago1:25:31

1:25:31

From precognitive dreams and telepathic visions to near-death experiences, UFO encounters, and beyond, so-called impossible phenomena are not supposed to happen. But they do happen—all the time. Jeffrey J. Kripal asserts that the impossible is a function not of reality but of our everchanging assumptions about what is real. How to Think Impossibly …

1
Jeffrey Tucker 1:28:12

24d ago1:28:12

1:28:12

Jeffrey Tucker, the OG of COVID dissidents, is back in the house! He and Trish unpack the latest New Normal heresies, absurdities and horrors, with depth and humour. Plus, Trish examines the underlying tragedy of the Georgia school shootings. Also, a scandal in the world of big money podcasters. Check out Trish on Substack and stay critical. Follow…

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Michael Shermer — Pseudohistory Makes a Comeback on Tucker Carlson’s Show

25d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss465_Michael_Shermer_2024_09_06.mp3 Download MP3 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 Sherm…

1
Michael Shermer — Pseudohistory Makes a Comeback on Tucker Carlson’s Show

25d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss465_Michael_Shermer_2024_09_06.mp3 Download MP3 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 Sherm…

1
Pseudohistory Makes a Comeback on Tucker Carlson's Show 25:54

25d ago25:54

25:54

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 Ca…

1
Will Gervais — The Science of Disbelief: Understanding Atheism and the Evolution of Religion

28d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss464_Will_Gervais_2024_09_03.mp3 Download MP3 In his new book Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species, Will Gervais, PhD., a global leader in the psychological study of atheism, shows that the ubiquity of religious belief and the peculiarities of atheism are connected pieces in the p…

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Will Gervais — The Science of Disbelief: Understanding Atheism and the Evolution of Religion

28d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss464_Will_Gervais_2024_09_03.mp3 Download MP3 In his new book Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species, Will Gervais, PhD., a global leader in the psychological study of atheism, shows that the ubiquity of religious belief and the peculiarities of atheism are connected pieces in the p…

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The Science of Disbelief: Understanding Atheism and the Evolution of Religion 1:41:48

28d ago1:41:48

1:41:48

In Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species, Will Gervais explores the interconnected nature of religious belief and atheism in human psychology. Gervais proposes that understanding religion requires solving two evolutionary puzzles: the Puzzle of Faith, examining how Homo sapiens became uniquely religious, and the Puzzle of Atheism…

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The Road to Singularity: Ben Goertzel on AGI and The Fate of Humanity

30d ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss463_Ben_Goertzel_2024_09_01.mp3 Download MP3 Dr. Ben Goertzel is a cross-disciplinary scientist, entrepreneur and author. Born in Brazil to American parents, in 2020 after a long stretch living in Hong Kong he relocated his primary base of operations to a rural island near Seattle. He leads the Sing…

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The Road to Singularity: Ben Goertzel on AGI and The Fate of Humanity

1M ago

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss463_Ben_Goertzel_2024_09_01.mp3 Download MP3 Dr. Ben Goertzel is a cross-disciplinary scientist, entrepreneur and author. Born in Brazil to American parents, in 2020 after a long stretch living in Hong Kong he relocated his primary base of operations to a rural island near Seattle. He leads the Sing…

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