Best Shermer Podcasts (2024)

1
Taming Silicon Valley: Gary Marcus on AI’s Perils and Promise

6h ago

—

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

6h 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…

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

5d ago

—

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

7h ago

—

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

1h 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…

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

23m 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

23m 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

5d ago

—

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

7d ago

—

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

3d 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

8d ago

—

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

4d 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

9d ago

—

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

9d ago

—

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
Lost Chiropractic Throckmortons 1:14:30

5d ago1:14:30

1:14:30

It’s our first episode with new co-hosts Katrina Borthwick and Brad MacClure, so the Yeah… Nah! squad 2.0 get to work tackling some topical issues. Bronwyn, Katrina and Mark have all suffered through watching the entire season of spiritual healing reality TV show Lost Resort, and have a lot to say about it. Katrina has looked into a dubious chiropr…

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

6d 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

6d 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…

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

11d ago

—

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

11d ago

—

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

7d 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

14d ago

—

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…

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

14d ago

—

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…

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

12d 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…

1
The Road to Singularity: Ben Goertzel on AGI and The Fate of Humanity

17d ago

—

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…

1
The Road to Singularity: Ben Goertzel on AGI and The Fate of Humanity

16d ago

—

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…

1
The Road to Singularity: Ben Goertzel on AGI and The Fate of Humanity 2:25:38

12d ago2:25:38

2:25:38

Dr. Ben Goertzel is a multidisciplinary scientist, entrepreneur, and author, originally from Brazil. He currently resides on an island near Seattle after living in Hong Kong. He leads prominent AI organizations like the SingularityNET Foundation, OpenCog Foundation, and the AGI Society, which hosts an annual Artificial General Intelligence conferen…

1
Dr. Michael Walker on the evolution of mind 33:22

12d ago33:22

33:22

In this episode I’m continuing to look at consciousness and cognition and the working memory that sets humans apart from all other animals. Human working memory can be roughly quantified to hold about 7 items at once in a sequence and allow conscious manipulation, consideration, and attention to about 4 of them at a time. These numbers are surprisi…

1
Protecting Free Speech is Hard 1:48:44

13d ago1:48:44

1:48:44

Nico Perrino joins Trish to honour two great men who risked it all to save free speech by defending the indefensible. What we need to learn from the notorious Skokie, Illinois case the argued for Nazis to be able to parade and speak in a Jewish neighbourhood. It was a game changer and a story we must never forget. Check out Trish on Substack and st…

1
Unmasking the Unknown: UFOs, Alien Tech, and Military Secrets? 31:37

19d ago31:37

31:37

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. It’s no different when it comes to UFO frenzy. There is a need to separate fact from fiction in UAP claims. In this episode, Shermer delves into the growing interest in UAPs (formerly UFOs), especially in light of UFOlogist Lue Elizondo’s book Imminent. Elizondo claims the U.S. government has long b…

1
Michael Shermer — Unmasking the Unknown: UFOs, Alien Tech, and Military Secrets?

18d ago

—

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss462_Michael_Shermer_2024_08_30.mp3 Download MP3 Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. It’s no different when it comes to UFO frenzy. There is a need to separate fact from fiction in UAP claims. In this episode, Shermer delves into the growing interest in UAPs (formerly UFOs), especially …

1
Michael Shermer — Unmasking the Unknown: UFOs, Alien Tech, and Military Secrets?

18d ago

—

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss462_Michael_Shermer_2024_08_30.mp3 Download MP3 Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. It’s no different when it comes to UFO frenzy. There is a need to separate fact from fiction in UAP claims. In this episode, Shermer delves into the growing interest in UAPs (formerly UFOs), especially …

51
Are We Confused About Social Justice? (Helen Pluckrose) 1:17:48

17d ago1:17:48

1:17:48

The stated goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are often reasonable, if not noble—to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Yet, as more and more people are discovering, DEI as commonly practiced isn’t a natural extension of past civil rights movements or an ethical framework for opposing discrimination on the gro…

1
Helen Pluckrose — Principled Strategies for Surviving and Defeating Critical Social Justice

21d ago

—

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss461_Helen_Pluckrose_2024_08_27.mp3 Download MP3 The stated goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are often reasonable, if not noble—to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Yet, as more and more people are discovering, DEI as commonly practiced isn’t a natural exten…

1
Helen Pluckrose — Principled Strategies for Surviving and Defeating Critical Social Justice

22d ago

—

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss461_Helen_Pluckrose_2024_08_27.mp3 Download MP3 The stated goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are often reasonable, if not noble—to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Yet, as more and more people are discovering, DEI as commonly practiced isn’t a natural exten…

1
Q Ships 38:32

18d ago38:32

38:32

The Germans have invented an aquatic killing machine the likes of which the world has never known. If you are one of its victims, how do you trick sure death? By pulling an all-in audacious scheme that only works if you have the element of surprise. How long can the Royal Navy keep the Q Ship con going before time runs out? Hosted on Acast. See aca…

1
The Cultural History of Charles Fort and His Followers 1:17:25

24d ago1:17:25

1:17:25

Charles Fort, a maverick writer, fascinated by bizarre occurrences like flying saucers, Bigfoot, and frogs raining from the sky, scanned newspapers and magazines for reports of anomalies, advancing a philosophy that saw science as a small part of a larger system where truth and falsehood constantly transformed. His work found a following of skeptic…

1
Dr. Hector Manrique says a good working memory is uniquely human 52:50

19d ago52:50

52:50

In this episode I’m going back to look at consciousness and cognition, and specifically one aspect of our mental capacity that sets us apart from other animals. It’s our ability to recall items in a sequence, for those of you who are software buffs, basically we have a short term memory buffer that acts like a linked list. We can remember a list of…

1
Joshua Blu Buhs — The Cultural History of Charles Fort and His Followers

25d ago

—

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss460_Joshua_Blu_Buhs_2024_08_25.mp3 Download MP3 Flying saucers. Bigfoot. Frogs raining from the sky. Such phenomena fascinated Charles Fort, the maverick writer who scanned newspapers, journals, and magazines for reports of bizarre occurrences: dogs that talked, vampires, strange visions in the sky,…

1
Joshua Blu Buhs — The Cultural History of Charles Fort and His Followers

24d ago

—

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/sciencesalon/mss460_Joshua_Blu_Buhs_2024_08_25.mp3 Download MP3 Flying saucers. Bigfoot. Frogs raining from the sky. Such phenomena fascinated Charles Fort, the maverick writer who scanned newspapers, journals, and magazines for reports of bizarre occurrences: dogs that talked, vampires, strange visions in the sky,…

1
Julius Ruechel 2:40:57

20d ago2:40:57

2:40:57

Our old friend and genius writer Julius Ruechel is back after a two year hiatus for a deep dive into his new project, and a historical discussion about the C-19 years, tyranny, and the crumbling of democracies in service of state and institutional power. And Robert Kennedy Jr.’s remarkable speech announcing he is throwing his support behind Donald …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Shermer Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide