Skeptic

Read More Skeptic Michael Shermer contrasts dystopian fears and utopian visions on artificial intelligence (AI), and proposes an intriguing alternative: “protopia.” What if we embrace a gradual and optimistic approach to AI, where each year brings incremental improvements to our lives? Can we harness the power of technology to amplify the good while mitigating the […]

Read More Skeptic Shermer and Junger discuss: his near-death experience and his curent beliefs • NDEs and OBEs • hallucinations • altered states of consciousness • sensed presence effect • sleep paralysis • why there is no “proof” of an afterlife • living forever • belief in life after death • empirical truths vs. mythic

Read More Skeptic Struggling to find common ground in today’s politics? In this episode, conservative scholar Yuval Levin explores how the Constitution, often blamed for political discord, actually holds the key to unity. In his new book, American Covenant, Levin blends history and analysis to reveal the Constitution’s power in fostering constructive disagreement and practical

Read More Skeptic Despite popular conspiracy theories, the evidence strongly supports the guilt of Bruno Richard Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in espionage. Sensationalism and conspiracy theories persistently promote their innocence, but these narratives often ignore or distort substantial evidence against them.

Read More Skeptic Shermer and Bhattacharya discuss: his blacklisting on Twitter in response to his calling COVID-19 lockdowns the “biggest public health mistake we’ve ever made” • loss of trust in medical and scientific institutions • what went right and wrong with the COVID-19 pandemic • the cost to the economy and education • the

Read More Skeptic Peter Kassan examines the hype and limitations of artificial intelligence chatbots and the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Read More Skeptic Shermer and Mackey discuss: timing is everything: how the 70s shaped a natural foods empire • mentors, education, and the entrepreneurial spirit • scaling up: from a single store to a market revolution • challenging business norms: unions, salaries, and ownership models • food quality: private vs. government regulation • spiritual evolution:

Read More Skeptic Brooklyn-based avant-pop music producer, Kate Brunotts, discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence on artists and the need for stronger protections for their intellectual property rights.