Seize the Moment Podcast
Seize the Moment Podcast, hosted by Leon Garber and Alen Ulman, aims to bring important ideas in psychology, philosophy, and personal development to a mainstream audience. It features guests from diverse backgrounds, including artists, musicians, comedians, entrepreneurs, philosophers, and psychologists. The show seeks to make essential knowledge widely accessible and positively transform listeners' lives. Leon Garber is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in existential psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and trauma therapy, while Alen Ulman is a content creator and lifelong autodidact who runs the community page Ego Ends Now.
Episodes
Saul Levmore & Ward Farnsworth - Why Smart People Make Bad Everyday Decisions | STM Podcast #267
On episode 267, we welcome Saul Levmore and Ward Farnsworth to discuss how we make everyday decisions, the complexities of tipping, deciding who should pay for a first date, competing values and loyalties as sometimes expressed by a love/hate relationship with one's country, social norms and how they're created, disingenuous praise as a potential good, enthusiasm as a potential expression of genui
Mark Schroeder - Why Small Arguments Become Personal | STM Podcast #266
On episode 266, we welcome Mark Schroeder to discuss why we tend to misunderstand each other so much when arguing, the difference between signal and noise, the fundamental attribution error and what philosophers mean by attribution, what addiction is, taking responsibility as a means of improving mental health, whether others know us better than we know ourselves, overestimating ill-will from othe
Colin Marshall - How to Change Someone's Mind Without Manipulating Them | STM Podcast #265
On episode 265, we welcome Colin Marshall to discuss ethical persuasion, how it differs from debating, the importance of respecting others' life choices and taking them seriously, Colin's experience phone-banking during the last US presidential election, virtue signaling and bullying as barriers to persuasion, Daryl Davis and persuading people away from white supremacist beliefs, staying true to y
Arlie Russell Hochschild - How Trump Turned Shame and Fear Into Political Power | STM Podcast #264
On episode 264, we welcome Arlie Russell Hochschild to discuss Trump's appeal in rural America, 'the pride paradox' and shame being the natural result of believing you're completely in charge of your own destiny, how Pikeville, Kentucky addressed a white supremacist march, navigating political polarization and learning how to humanize each other, shame and blame as irrelevant to real but complex u
J. Aaron Simmons & Benjamin W. McCraw - The Hidden Philosophy of Heavy Metal | STM Podcast #263
On episode 263, we welcome J. Aaron Simmons and Benjamin McGraw to discuss the philosophy of heavy metal, the satanic panic and the Judas Priest trial, metal as an expression of liberty and individuality, the intellectual diversity in metal, challenging racist and misogynistic ideologies in the sphere, music as an expression of rebellion and critical thinking, the battle between reactionary and pr
Mike McIntire - Why America Can't Escape Gun Violence | STM Podcast #262
On episode 262, we welcome Mike McIntire to discuss American gun ownership, the Supreme Court's misinterpretation of the second amendment of the bill of rights, the proliferation of guns for both defense and conquest throughout American history, gun ownership as a symbol of responsibility and masculinity, the NRA's existential fear of gun reforms, the philosophical divide at the heart of the debat
Ilan Stavans - Why Americans Can't Stop Arguing About God | STM Podcast #261
On episode 261, we welcome Ilan Stavans to discuss the historical incarnations of god, god as a symbol of both oppression and liberty, Moses's rebellion against god and how it symbolizes modern faith, god as an ineffable experience, why we continue to create god, militant atheism as a response to deep-seated hope for the existence of god, Jesus dying for the sins of Yahweh, morality without religi
David Ost - The Hidden Connection Between Fascism and Modern Populism | STM Podcast #260
On episode 260, we welcome David Ost to discuss the philosophy of the red pill movement, the similarities and differences between red pill and fascism, why people are drawn to authoritarian figures, the rise of Trump, populism as an ideological framework for fascism, Soviet communism as the extreme end of the left's failures to improve lives, sports and worker's rights, and the New York Knicks as
Ann Larson - The Untold Reality of Poverty Wages in America | STM #259
On episode 259, we welcome Ann Larson to discuss her experience working as a grocery cashier during the COVID-19 pandemic, the complex emotional and structural factors involved in professional success and failure, meritocracy as a simplification of economic outcomes, the multiple forms of labor involved in supermarket work, the difference between one's status and skillset, food waste at the expens
David R. Samson - Why You're Optimizing Sleep Wrong | The Evolution of Human Sleep | STM Podcast #258
On episode 258, we welcome David Samson to discuss sleep hygiene and the wellness industry, how we misunderstand the optimization of sleep, glorifying and idealizing ancestral societies, sleep's relationship with mental health, moving from sleeping in trees to communal "shells," sleep's importance in regulating brain health, the paleo gear and the optimal gear in sleep science, the trade-offs in s
Christian B. Miller - The Collapse of Honesty in Modern Society | STM Podcast #257
On episode 257, we welcome Christian B. Miller to discuss the growing honesty crises shaping modern society, the philosophical and psychological roots of dishonesty and self-deception, the impact of AI and deepfakes on our ability to trust reality, the rise of AI use and academic integrity concerns in education, how social media rewards performance over authenticity, the spread of misinformation a
Gail Straub - She Traveled the World and Realized This About Humanity | STM Podcast #256
On episode 256, we welcome Gail Straub to discuss her work empowering women across the globe, being a civilian diplomat, not being taken seriously in Russia as an American Marxist, lessons about inner strength from traversing the Himalayan mountains, the complexity of political activism in China, diversity as a core component of peace, the elements of human nature uniting all of us, and what insti
Jonathan Vigliotti - Who Failed Los Angeles? The Real Story Behind the Fire" | STM Podcast #255
On episode 255, we welcome Jonathan Vigliotti to discuss the 2025 Palisades Fire, the systemic failures that caused and maintained it, the ethics of hiring private fire brigades, how climate change influenced the fire, the political neglect and flawed reasoning around effective management, fire safety standards as the bare minimum, bureaucratic collapse, Mayor Karen Bass's mistakes, incentivizing
Aaron Poochigian - Marcus Aurelius' Meditations: Philosophy as Psychological Training | STM #254
On episode 254, we welcome Aaron Poochigian to discuss his new translation of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Aaron's struggles with addiction and how the book helped him in recovery, suffering as stemming from interpretations of rather than facts about the world, meaning as stemming from virtue rather than reputation, learning to accept all of nature to manage suffering, applying the concept of '
Christopher Mathias - The Fascists Next Door — And How They're Exposed | STM Podcast #253
On episode 253, we welcome Christopher Mathias to discuss the meaning of fascism and what ANTIFA is, fascism's ideological roots in greed and domination, the Charlottesville protests, fascist masking and the threat of being charmed by appearances, whether we owe it to fascism to allow for open debates, whether fascists care about finding the truth, if it's possible to differentiate between conserv
Benjamin A. Saltzman - Why Turning Away Might Be an Ethical Act | STM Podcast #252
On episode 252, welcome Benjamin Saltzman to discuss the gesture of turning away, the shame and grief behind it, how it became a moral topic, turning away in art and Timanthes's lost painting of Agamemnon, Plato's tripartite concept of the soul and turning away as a mark of confusion, rigidity and steadfastness as signs of courage and character, cognitive flexibility and knowing when to turn away,
Patricia Martin - Who Are We Becoming? Identity in the Internet Age | STM Podcast #251
On episode 251, we welcome Patricia Martin to discuss identity formation in the modern world, our preoccupation with external validation and why it's unsustainable in the internet age, Carl Jung's understanding of the persona and our tendency to perform, the persona and chronic self-doubt, socially prescribed perfectionism and the fog of self, physical practices to re-center oneself, and the impor
Amy Nathan - The Untold Story of Civil Rights Icon Sara Keyes Evans | STM Podcast #250
On episode 250, we welcome Amy Nathan to discuss civil rights icon Sara Keyes Evans, her own decision to not move to the back of a bus, the decades long legal battle that followed, the battle between federal and state laws regarding interstate travel for minorities, Sara's more measured and less aggressive stance on social justice, the values and temperament that were the foundation of her brand
Jack El-Hai - Were the Nazis Insane? The Psychiatrist Who Studied Hitler's Inner Circle | STM Podcast #249
On episode 249, we welcome Jack El-Hai to discuss the Nuremberg trials and the recent film about them, the psychiatrist who analyzed Hermann Göring, Dr. Douglas Kelley's motivations for doing so, whether Nazis were monsters and if being human makes them scarier, how the results of Göring's Rorschach test reveled a narcissistic personality, the foundation of evil, Kelley's stifled ambitions and why
Dorothy Roberts - Interracial Marriage Is an Important Step to Ending Racial Inequality | STM #248
On episode 248, we welcome Dorothy Roberts to discuss the history of interracial marriage in the US, how it was used to help sustain Black slavery, Dorothy's resistance to and eventual acceptance of being biracial, her disagreements with her father (a fellow researcher) on the benefits of interracial marriages, defining race and why Nazis and white supremacists both struggled to define whiteness,
Lybi Ma -The Mental Habits Keeping You Miserable (And How to Stop Them) | STM Podcast #247
On episode 247, we welcome Lybi Ma to discuss the thought patterns we get trapped in, the differences between ruminating and deliberating, why avoiding and suppressing our emotions can make them feel more intense, challenging the negative narratives we create about our lives, why our brains are programmed for survival rather than happiness, why Freud was right, spotting cognitive distortions, the
David Bather Woods - Can Pessimism Save Us? Schopenhauer's Surprising Message About Life | STM Podcast #246
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 c
Michael Uebel - Philosophy Meets Psychotherapy: On Equanimity as Awareness | STM Podcast #245
On episode 245, we welcome Michael Uebel to discuss the practice of equanimity, its similarities and differences from mindfulness practices, how perspective taking helps mitigate difficult feelings as in PTSD, how it can be used to help bridge political divides, shifting goals to less ambitious ones for greater equanimity, perspective taking and its influence on self-esteem, and psychoanalysis as
Troyen A. Brennan - America's Healthcare Is Broken — Can Primary Care Save It? | STM Podcast #244
On episode 244, we welcome Troyen Brennan to discuss the pitfalls of the US healthcare system, the fee-for-service model's implications for patient outcomes, primary care as a more viable alternative, Walmart's failed attempt to establish primary care clinics, Optum's contrasting success, how to incentivize primary care, AI streamlining prior authorizations, increasing government funding and ventu
Eram Alam - Why U.S. Healthcare Depends on Immigrant Physicians | STM Podcast #243
On episode 243, we welcome Eram Alam to discuss the experiences of foreign-born physicians practicing in the US, the structural problems that led to significant deficits in healthcare across the US, the Hart-Celler Act of 1965 and the other political underpinnings of migrating physicians to the US, skepticism of immigrant physicians from rural populations, the exploitation of healthcare by capital
Cass R. Sunstein - The Surprising Truth About Fame: It's Not What You Think | STM Podcast #242
On episode 242, we welcome Cass Sunstein to discuss the foundations of fame, the roles of information cascades and reputation cascades in fostering one's success, the rise of Obama as a cascade, whether talent is enough for sustainable success, how group polarization influences our perceptions, network effects and our dependence on others, the significance of luck, why talent doesn't always see th
Natalia Kholodenko - Understanding the Trauma of War: Surviving in Ukraine | STM Podcast #241
On episode 241, we welcome Natalia Kholodenko to discuss the psychological impact of trauma, how the citizens in war-torn countries respond to trauma, Natalia's own trauma when fleeing from Ukraine after Russia began its bombing campaign, the importance of maintaining a strong value system in the face of tragedy, Judith Herman on the importance of reintegrating one back into a community when heali
Mark D. White - Is It Clobbering Time? - The Philosophy Behind the Fantastic Four | STM Podcast #240
On episode 240, we welcome Mark White to discuss the ethical philosophies behind the fantastic four, applying utilitarianism to Reed Richards, deontology to Ben Grimm (The Thing), virtue ethics to Sue Storm, examining the moral growth of Johnny Storm, Dr. Doom's twisted morality, how superheroes embody the emotions associated with moral decision-making, whether moral decisions can be perceived as
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling - The Spiritual Crisis Behind Ghosts and UFOs | STM Podcast #239
On episode 239, we welcome Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling to discuss his foray into the paranormal, our innate spiritualism and why some lean into it while others don't, how anti-establishment people and institutions misuse the scientific method, who's to blame for the widespread anti-science bias, the challenge of defining the 'soul,' what happens when experience conflicts with empirical data, alien ab
Emile Suotonye DeWeaver - The Near Enemy of Justice: Dismantling Mass Incarceration | STM Podcast #238
On episode 238, welcome Emile DeWeaver to discuss reforming the US criminal justice system, the lack of a systematic understanding of crime in most rehabilitation programs, white supremacy as a version of the human tendency to dominate, the "near enemy" of incremental change, the roots of US policing and the need for a collective mind to replace it, the struggle with assimilation for formerly inca
Steven Poser - Psychoanalysis and Psychosis | STM Podcast #237
On episode 237, we welcome Steven Poser to discuss psychotherapy for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, the symbolism of hallucinations and delusions, transference and countertransference with psychosis, how trauma contributes to the forms hallucinations may take, treating hostile patients, the shared humanity with psychotic patients, psychological defenses as covers for deeper pain, and
Nicole Karlis - Your Brain on Altruism: How Kindness Rewires Us | STM Podcast #236
On episode 236, we welcome Nicole Karlis to discuss the benefits of altruism, the link between depression and feeling unimportant, the disaster effect and bounded solidarity, the myth of self-love, burnout as an indicator of poor social structures, why some people won't accept help, how helping others aids our own mental health, altruism's effects on the brain, co-regulation as the rule rather tha
Jaz Brisack - Unionize Your Job? What Every Worker Needs to Know | STM Podcast #235
On episode 235, we welcome Jaz Brisack to discuss unionizing efforts for Starbucks workers and Project Germinal, how unions form and why workers may fear them, the popular ideas of unions and how they're misrepresented by corporate media, Jaz's experiences in the Starbucks union and "salting," whether corporate managers act in good faith, anti-union tactics and why they should be considered psycho
Vanessa Daniel - Intersectionality, Social Justice Movements, and the Real Left | STM Podcast #234
On episode 234, we welcome Vanessa Daniel to discuss the personal and professional challenges women of color face, how trauma influenced Vanessa's understanding of the world, how to understand intersectionality, what it means to leave no marginalized groups behind as democrats fight for power, the importance of solidarity in addressing individual trauma, 360 degree vision, the lack of courage amon
Constantine Sandis - Did Wittgenstein Believe We Could Understand Each Other? | STM Podcast #233
On episode 233, we welcome Constantine Sandis to discuss the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, his lifelong preoccupation with the question of understanding others, the social and clinical consequences of misunderstanding others, Wittgenstein's personal struggles with misunderstanding, criticisms of empathy and how it may lead to further conflict as opposed to resolving it, the problem of mind-re
Adam Chandler - 99% Perspiration, 100% Self-Made Myth | STM Podcast #232
On episode 232, we welcome Adam Chandler to discuss the American myth of the self-made man, how it's evolved over time, a potentially better argument for social benefits than the one normally provided by the left, the flaws of the "bootstrap" mentality, the self-made myth of Elon Musk, how billionaires benefit from us believing in the American Dream, the inconsistencies of the libertarian philosop
Elaine Weiss - How Education Became the Foundation of the Civil Rights Movement | STM Podcast #231
On episode 232, we welcome Elaine Weiss to discuss the grassroots foundation of the civil rights movement, the origins and aspirations of the Highlander Folk School, how and why Black people educated themselves when schooling was illegal for them, Septima Clark and the activism of ordinary people, Esau Jenkins teaching Black citizens on his bus rides, literacy tests and other ways voting for Black
Michelle Sherman - Mental Health & Family: How to Support a Loved One Struggling with Illness | STM Podcast #230
On episode 230, we welcome Michelle Sherman to discuss mental illness within families, the missteps people make in attempting to address it, our tendency to personalize others' struggles, what happens when others aren't aware of why they're struggling and can't explain it, the 4Cs model of navigating mental illness in others, the effects and trauma and neglect, asking for support and overcoming th
Steven J. Heine - Your Brain on Existential Anxiety: Why We Struggle to Find Meaning | STM #229
On episode 229, we welcome Steven Heine to discuss his research in existential psychology, humans as meaning-making creatures, existential crises as crises of meaning, the importance of story-telling in cultivating a deeper sense of purpose, cultural differences in meaning and our innate desire to contribute to our cultures, terror-management theory, Nietzsche's nobleman and action vs reaction, tr
Lorraine Besser - Beyond Happiness and Meaning: The Missing Key to a Good Life | STM Podcast #228
On episode 228, we welcome Lorraine Besser to discuss the philosophy of the interesting, why the obsessive pursuit of success tends to backfire, Aristotelianism and Epicureanism, psychological richness as an alternative to happiness, the arrival fallacy, the importance of experiences, cultivating a mindset of open-mindedness, Lorraine's own story of being unfulfilled by professional success, why w
Robert C. Smith - Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? A Doctor's Bold Call to Fix Mental Health Care | STM Podcast #227
On episode 227, we welcome Dr. Robert Smith to discuss the state of mental health care in the US, the historical split between mind and body and its modern ramifications, Robert's struggles as a young doctor addressing mental illness in his patients, the hyper-focus on brain chemistry in psychiatry, the consequences of primary care doctors providing the most amount of care for mental illness, inte
William Haldeman - Leadership Lessons from America's Most Transformative Presidents | STM #226
On episode 226, we welcome William Haldeman to discuss five great US presidents, George Washington's prudence and humility in stepping down, FDR's ability to communicate with the American public, his sense of confidence in navigating the Great Depression and World War 2, Ronald Reagan's optimism in the face of Soviet communism, the necessity of it for electoral victories, podcasting as a medium fo
Casey Michel - Foreign Influence Unmasked: Inside America's Lobbying Crisis | STM Podcast #225
On episode 225, we welcome Casey Michel to discuss the roles foreign lobbyists play in shaping US foreign policy, the good and bad aspects of the lobbying industry, Paul Manafort's and Ivy Lee's efforts to aid propaganda for dictators, the differences between government lobbying and diplomacy, US congressional ties to authoritarian regimes and how congressmen are bought, the reasons the democrats
Rob Jackson - From Climate Chaos to Restoration: Roadmap for Change | STM Podcast #224
On episode 224, we welcome Rob Jackson to discuss the effects of climate change, the human contributions to it, weighing the costs of revenue loss against environmental harm, the historical contributions of the Republican party to environmental protections and their road to climate denial, worries about another Trump presidency, the effects of climate change on poor communities, the promise of ele
Claudia Strauss - Beyond the Puritan Work Ethic: The True Meaning of Work | STM Podcast #223
On episode 223, we welcome Claudia Strauss to discuss the four types of work ethic, the glamorization of hustle culture and what type of work most people value, how productivity became associated with one's moral standing, whether and how much meaning should be expected from a job, how automation might impact our work lives, studies about the effects of a four day work-week, and the myth of people
Jon Michaels & David Noll - Democracy Under Siege: The Rise of Legalized Extremism in the US | STM Podcast #222
On episode 222, we welcome Jon Michaels and David Noll to discuss the alliance between vigilante groups and governments in the US, the four types of vigilantism and how they affect our lives, how vigilante groups utilize state laws to limit freedom of movement, the roots of vigilantism in the slavery era, the argument of individual liberty as a veil for tyranny, and the societal effects of the mer
Randy Fertel - The Power and Peril of Improvisation in Politics and Culture | STM Podcast #221
On episode 221, we welcome Randy Fertel to discuss the rich history of improv, hot cognition and cold cognition, the importance of a liberal arts education for creativity, Trump's charisma and use of off the cuff comments to charm his audience, the neuroscience of creativity, Saturday Night Live and how those comedians embodied the dark side of improv, improv as a symbol of authenticity and why th
Jason Stanley - How Fascists Rewrite History to Control the Future | STM Podcast #220
On episode 220, we welcome Jason Stanley to discuss the rising tide of fascism among Republicans, the pivotal role education plays in cultivating it, the divided US and how winning came to override all other values, the authoritarian war on intellectualism, fascist historical revisionism and why the history written by fascists is based on fear and pride, the fascist tendency to target minority gro
Alice Driver - On Worker Exploitation: The Hidden Costs of Your Chicken Nuggets | STM Podcast #219
On episode 219, we welcome Alice Driver to discuss the widespread labor violations of the meatpacking industry, Tyson's treatment of its workforce, how the company is able to employ undocumented immigrants, the Arkansas law that allows child labor, how prison labor is used to keep company costs low, the political power of the industry and how government subsidies help sustain it, and the various p
Constantine Sandis - Debunking Trans Myths: Detransition, Sports, and Epistemic Injustice | Seize The Moment Podcast #218
On episode 218, we welcome Constantine Sandis to discuss the manifestations of transphobia, why feeling you're in the wrong body isn't delusional, the errors of segregation, ways of addressing the placements of trans people in sports, how biology and culture may interact to form trans identities, the rates and common causes of detransitioning, the sensationalism behind transphobic reactions, epist
Bill Sullivan - The Hidden Forces That Drive Us: The Interplay Between Genes and Environment | #217
On episode 217, we welcome Bill Sullivan to discuss the burgeoning field of epigenetics, why genes are better thought of as dimmers rather than light switches, the antipsychiatry argument against mental illness and why all mental illnesses are organic, what we discovered about the microbiome, the Libet experiments and whether they cast doubt on free will, how genes and parasites affect personality
Mark D. White - The Ethics of Captain America: Justice, Integrity, and Sacrifice | STM Podcast #216
On episode 216, we welcome Mark White to discuss the philosophy of Captain America, how his moral perfectionism informed his decisions and affected him afterward, the clash of morals in his rivalry with Iron Man, why being hard on himself benefited his community, the similarities and differences of deontology and utilitarianism, if we can consider his stubbornness as a moral failing, the qualities
Roberto Olivardia - Beyond the Diagnosis: Experiencing and Managing ADHD | STM Podcast #215
On episode 215, we welcome Roberto Olivardia to discuss Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, its comorbidity with other mental health struggles and learning disorders, ways Roberto learned to manage his own ADHD, how it affects relationships and how to address it in them, why teachers in the past were unable to cope with it in their students, the stigma and shame that may accompany it, why Le
Tom Chivers - From Science to Daily Life: The Impact of Bayesian Thinking | STM Podcast #214
On episode 214, we welcome Tom Chivers to discuss Bayesian statistics, how their counterintuitive nature tends to turn people off, the philosophical disagreements between the Bayesians and the frequentists, why "priors" aren't purely subjective and why all theories should be considered as priors, the difficulty of quantifying emotional states in psychological research, how priors are used and misu
Ed Simon - Faust in the 21st Century: Have We Made a Deal with the Devil? | STM Podcast #213
On episode 213, we welcome Edward Simon to discuss the mythological history of the tale of Faust and Mephistopheles, god and the devil in theology, whether both figures can represent internal struggles between right and wrong, why so many identify with Faust's decisions, whether the story implies that willful ignorance is just as evil as maliciousness, how Faust was redeemed in Goethe's telling, w
Mark L. Ruffalo - Misunderstanding the Medical Model of Mental Illness | STM Podcast #212
On episode 212, we welcome Mark L. Ruffalo to discuss the misunderstanding of the so-called "medical model" of psychiatry, why there's a gap between mainstream medicine and trauma-informed care, the ways in which biology and environment interact to produce mental illness, the difference between responsibility and blame, Judith Herman and the historical misuse of personality labels to mistreat wome
Mark Tuitert - From Olympic Champion to Stoic Philosopher: The Stoic Mindset | STM Podcast #211
On episode 211, we welcome Mark Tuitert to discuss stoic philosophy, Mark winning the Olympic gold medal in speed skating in 2010, our cultural obsession with winning, why success doesn't lead to long-term happiness, the stoic focus on character in cultivating a good life, Mark's relationship with his dad and how suspending judgment improved it, if one can be a stoic and a winner at the same time,
Sabrina B. Little - Running Toward Virtue: Guide to Ethical Athletics | STM Podcast #210
On episode 210, we welcome Sabrina Little to discuss the virtues of ultramarathon running, the importance of desire in being good, the deification of American sports, if excellence in performance and good character are mutually exclusive, using envy to better oneself, the mindsets of Tom Brady and Michael Jordan, Sabrina's athletic achievements, if there's an objective basis for defining the good
Robin Reames - From Aristotle to Twitter: The Timeless Tactics of Rhetoric | STM Podcast #209
On episode 209, we welcome Robin Reames to discuss how the art of rhetoric is used to spread misinformation, how the concept of truth evolved from Ancient Greece to us, confronting fact-resistant individuals, the spectrum of misinformation and how some use science to mask it, cultivating negative emotions while offering harmful solutions to them, Donald Trump as a truth-teller and how that influen
Louis King - Aim4theheart: How 2Pac & Emotional Literacy Inspire My Mission | STM Podcast #208
On episode 208, we welcome Louis King to discuss Aim4theheart, working with Leila Steinberg, how 2Pac inspired Louis and Leon, emotional literacy and learning how to access and understand feelings, meeting Edi Mean of the Outlawz, Louis' musical roots, how the music industry shortchanges its artists, selling music as crypto and empowering them, and Louis' work as a music teacher helping underprivi
Constantine Sandis - From Thought to Action to Ethics | STM Podcast #207
On episode 207, we welcome Constantine Sandis to discuss free will and determinism, the Libet experiments and criticisms of them, weakness of will and whether belief in it stems from a lack of understanding decisions, the difficulty in separating external and internal reasons for acting, self-deception and whether we can overcome it, if self-knowledge is possible and actually aids understanding, t
Mark D. White - Dissecting Antitrust: Balancing Rights and Welfare | STM Podcast #206
On episode 206, we welcome Mark White to discuss the drawbacks of antitrust laws, what rights consumers actually have, if trusts are unfair and unjust, the utilitarian argument against those laws, the flawed healthcare insurance system in the US and how its consumers struggle, whether it's feasible to constantly have new entrepreneurs challenging trusts, the trading system in the NFL and how it pr
Jack Symes - Does God Exist? Debating Religion, Evil, and Atheism | STM Podcast #205
On episode 205, we welcome Jack Symes to discuss the possible existence of god, the strongest arguments for it, whether Pascal's Wager justifies belief in god, the different religions and whether they make belief in god irrational, god necessarily existing and being all good, how evil can stem good, whether evil even exists, the simple god hypothesis, if atheism is epistemically justifiable, the d
Aaron James - The Variety of Assholes | STM Podcast #204
On episode 204, we welcome Aaron James to discuss assholes, who they are and how they think, the difference between a regular asshole and someone with narcissistic personality disorder, whether all politicians are narcissistic and if regular people ever seek power, if assholes understand and care about the rules, how narcissists use the cover of autism to hide their bad behavior, using entitlement
EDI Mean - Street Fame: The Ecstasies and Perils of Hip Hop | STM Podcast #203
On episode 203, we welcome EDI Mean to discuss his book 'Street Fame', how it mirrors and differs from the music industry, EDI's love of hip-hop and his warnings to up and coming rappers, what made 2Pac special, whether conscious rappers can thrive in the current market, how EDI's understanding of mental health and trauma evolved, meeting the rest of the Outlawz, EDI's rules for living and his leg
Michael Amster - The Power of Awe: How Simple Moments Can Transform Your Life | STM Podcast #202
On episode 202, we welcome Michael Amster to discuss the A.W.E. method, how changing your perspective and seeing miracles in the everyday alleviates suffering, how feeling awe interacts with chronic pain, the vagus nerve and the physiological affects of awe states, personality changes that can occur with psychedelics and meditation practices, what stepping away from the ego looks like, and how lim
J. Aaron Simmons - Philosophy in the Wild: On 'Camping with Kierkegaard' | STM #201
On episode 201, we welcome J. Aaron Simmons to discuss why we're so unhappy, the limitations of pursuing external success, faith as risk with direction, Kierkegaard and the aesthetic life, status obsession as a form of avoidance, why cultivating good relationships may be more challenging than becoming rich, the archetypal seducer, becoming trapped in the goal-oriented mindset, and the meaning of a
Tom Morris & Gregory Bassham - The Metaphysical and Practical Philosophies of Stoicism | STM #200
On episode 200, we welcome Tom Morris and Gregory Bassham to discuss stoic philosophy, radical acceptance and its relationship with the divine, what the stoics believed about god and the afterlife, the four cardinal virtues and why one needs to cultivate all of them, whether the stoics actually sought to eliminate negative emotions, how they addressed death and grief, explore what we can and can't
Jeff Fuhrer - Fixing Our Broken Economy: Insights from 'The Myth That Made Us' | STM Podcast #199
On episode 199, we welcome Jeffrey Fuhrer to discuss the fallacy of trickle down economics and the self-made myth, what companies actually do with tax breaks, the distinct perspectives of the flaws of human nature in communism and capitalism, the wealth gap and racial income disparities, what happens when governments intervene with subsidies for poor people, the hubris of corporations in zero-sum
Mark D. White - Unmasking Daredevil: A Deep Dive into Philosophy and Comics | STM Podcast #198
On episode 198, we welcome Mark White to discuss the philosophy of Daredevil, applying utilitarianism and deontology to his vigilantism, his apparent OCD-like tendencies and inability to make firm decisions, Kant's understanding that ethical decisions are ultimately our own, why Daredevil didn't often include others while making choices, his apparent inability to work within the legal system and g
Roberto Olivardia - The Hidden Battle: The Adonis Complex and Male Body Image Challenges | STM Podcast #197
On episode 197, we welcome Roberto Olivardia to discuss the Adonis Complex and muscle dysmorphia, how men become obsessed with becoming more muscular, whether the obsession is about attracting a potential mate or something else, Leon's personal history of muscle dysmorphia and Alen's past preoccupations with his body image, the importance of focusing on underlying values and highlighting better st
Richard Deming - Loners, Outcasts, & Creativity | This Exquisite Loneliness | STM Podcast #196
On episode 196, we welcome Richard Deming to discuss chronic loneliness, being lonely around people, Richard's past tendency to avoid it with excessive alcohol use, loneliness as an existential fact of life as opposed to an illness to be remedied, how it fosters creativity, how writing bridges the gap between people, the different layers of intimacy, writing as inspiration for others, Rod Serling
Eric G. Wilson - Deconstructing Trauma and Revenge in Point Blank | STM Podcast #195
On episode 195, we welcome Eric G. Wilson to discuss the cult classic 'Point Blank', toxic masculinity and its deleterious mental health effects, what made the protagonist so appealing, Lee Marvin's real-life war trauma, the obsession with revenge and if it ever resolves pain, the unpredictability of the universe and our never-ending quest for control, if one can ever offset trauma, the nature and
Tom Morris - The 7 Cs of Success and Early Days of Public Philosophy | STM Podcast #194
On episode 194, we welcome Tom Morris to discuss his 7 C's of Success, developing confidence in the face of difficulties, the importance of consistency and finding meaning outside of the hoped for results, Alen and Leon's podcast journey and the hyper-competitiveness of podcasting, the importance of mentorship amid struggles, Tom's initial foray into public philosophy and doing speaking engagement
Al Snow - Breaking Down the Ring: Wrestling's Realities and Myths | #193
On episode 193, we welcome Al Snow to discuss the Netflix documentary series 'Wrestlers', what makes Ohio Valley Wrestling special, the trajectory of Al Snow's wrestling career, why his earlier WWF characters weren't appealing, the creation of Al Snow and Head and how a severely mentally ill character became popular, the current trend of wrestlers focusing more on their in-ring skills rather than
Eric Gosselin - The Reality of the Ring: 'Wrestlers' & the Heart of Professional Wrestling | STM Podcast #192
On episode 192, we welcome Eric Gosselin to discuss the Netflix show 'Wrestlers', the history of Ohio Valley Wrestling, the documentary series as a human interest story and microcosm of capitalism, succeeding in wrestling and why being great is often not enough, Al Snow's journey in the WWE and pivoting after being released, the documentary exhibiting the complexities of its characters, why the be
Dannagal G. Young - Info Wars: The Battle Against Misinformation | STM Podcast #191
On episode 191, we welcome Dannagal Young to discuss our susceptibility to misinformation, how she fell for and later abandoned conspiracy theories, the hidden incentives behind the media's extreme partisanship, Covid as an indicator that most people form their beliefs based on their tribes, the clout chasing behind the extreme stances in the Israel/Palestine conflict, the types of misinformation
Claire Jean Kim - Understanding Structural Racism and Anti-Blackness | STM Podcast #190
On episode 190, we welcome Claire Jean Kim to discuss affirmative action and the arguments for and against it in recent Supreme Court cases, the history of Asian minorities in the US being weaponized against Black minority groups for political ends, if institutions should be considered as contributing to a racist society if some minority groups prosper within them, the economic ceiling of non-whit
Roy Richard Grinker - Nobody's Normal: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness | STM Podcast #189
On episode 189, we welcome Roy Richard Grinker to discuss the cultural differences of conceptions of mental illness, the WEIRD model of mental health and its limitations in helping us understand it, the false dichotomy of the social/cultural and biological models of psychological disorders, the limits and benefits of using the DSM, how the model of neurodivergence doesn't negate the existence of e
Wendy Dio - Rock's Power Couple: My Life with Ronnie James Dio | STM #188
On episode 188, we welcome Wendy Dio to discuss her marriage to and career managing Ronnie James Dio, Dio's relationship with Ritchie Blackmore and time in Rainbow, moving on to Black Sabbath and whether he was intimidated by replacing Ozzy Osbourne, his refusal to write commercially focused music and how that caused him to form his own band, the meaning of Dio's music and the themes of magic and
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