Keep Talking

Maud Maron is a lawyer, a mother of four, and a Congressional Candidate for New York's 12th District. During our conversation, Maud talks about her career as an attorney at The Legal Aid Society, her work providing legal services to poor Americans, how her views in favor of colorblindness and specialized admissions tests and against race essentialism in education resulted in her being publicly labeled a racist by members of the Black Attorneys of Legal Aid Caucus and Attorneys of Color of Legal Aid, her lawsuit against The Legal Aid Society in which she claims she was forced out of her job and “discriminated against on the basis of race," Bari Weiss's article detailing her story, and how American culture might recommit itself to its core principles of freedom of speech, tolerating disagreement while co-existing amicably, resisting ideology and creeping totalitarianism.I have wanted to talk to Maud for well over half a year. She's the first person on this show who has been personally canceled by way of fantastic lies and gross misrepresentation. She has shouldered those consequences and moved forward, refusing to shut up or apologize for having her own point of view. She is a model of how we might all want to behave if we are wrongly libeled or slandered, with our reputation and livelihood on the line.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Get to know Maud Maron(02:41) Maud’s career at the The Legal Aid Society(05:55) Maud's interest in becoming a lawyer(07:07) The people who Legal Aid Society represents(12:48) Maud’s political views and her historic alignment with the Democratic Party(14:45) The state of America's education system(23:37) Equity in public education(33:28) Maud's New York Post article on racial obsession and its consequences(38:30) The reaction of The Legal aid Society after Maud's New York Post article(45:22) Why some are apt to wrongfully ruin someone’s reputation and livelihood(49:27) Racism in schools(52:13) Education in America(59:12) The percentage of the population encouraging totalitarian attitudes(01:05:10) Rooting out totalitarianism tendencies in America(01:09:32) Maud's response to those who canceled her(01:13:44) Recommendations for trusted information sources

Wilfred Reilly is a professor and the author of "Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk About." During our conversation, Wilfred talks about his early life and upbringing, taboos in American society, using empirical data to assess political claims, incentives within the media for fomenting controversy, race and racism in America, the "St. George in Retirement Syndrome," how many unarmed black men are killed by police, The 1619 Project, and political and cultural changes that might improve America.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(01:01) Get to know Wilfred Reilly(01:50) Wilfred Reilly’s personal background(16:51) Race in America(27:39) Using empirical data to test political claims(38:00) The media as an ad agency and its role in amplifying social controversy(45:24) St. George In Retirement Syndrome(57:56) The 1619 Project: its claims and its falsehoods(01:09:14) The kind of policies and cultural shifts that might improve America(01:16:19) Changing your mind through exposure to facts and new information(01:21:35) Maintaining independence of thought(01:26:20) Wilfred Reilly’s recommended thinkers and resources

David Daley is a journalist, the former editor-in-chief of Salon.com, and the author of "Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count." During our conversation, David talks about the watershed 2010 REDMAP initiative (short for the Redistricting Majority Project) and how gerrymandering has essentially rigged U.S. Congressional elections. He also talks about the second-order consequences of the success of REDMAP: that our political system increasingly incentivizes political extremism and disincentivizes compromise and working across the aisle.David believes that gerrymandering is an existential threat to our democracy, and I tend to agree with him. This subject reminds me of the Charley Munger quote: "Show me the incentives and I will show you the outcome." To me, gerrymandering isn't a partisan issue; we owe it to ourselves to have a republic that has fair elections. And we should rightly fear what's likely to happen to our society if we don't.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Get to know David Daley(02:55) How David got interested in gerrymandering(08:34) What gerrymandering is(18:21) REDMAP and its impact on the U.S.(25:17) The importance of electoral fairness in a democracy(34:01) How the Trump phenomenon was influenced by gerrymandering(42:01) The Republicans' and Democrats' attempt to control redistricting in 2020(45:51) Redistricting decision-making in a state controlled by one party(47:52) Who makes redistricting decisions in U.S. states?(50:30) Who you can refer to for unbiased views on gerrymandering?(58:22) The Democrats’ own gerrymandering in New York and Maryland(01:02:17) The hope for change around gerrymandering in the future(01:08:33) How gerrymandering is an existential threat to U.S. democracy(01:12:19) Pushing back against America's authoritarian tendencies(01:17:29) The future of gerrymandering in America

Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and the author of "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence." During our conversation, Anna talks about her journey to studying addiction, the downsides to dopamine surplus, modern addictions to devices and social media, what we can learn from drug addicts, the role of struggle in a healthy life, and how individuals might live wisely in our modern technological world.I think Anna is one of the most important figures in our society. Among other things, she provides us with what a good friend does: a mirror to ourselves, our habits, and what we are becoming.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:59) Get to know Anna Lembke(02:00) Anna Lembke’s interest in studying addiction(05:37) The "gremlin" theory of addiction and how it applies to the modern world(16:35) The characteristics of a modern addict(25:04) The stigma around addictions(28:02) Characteristics of a healthy person living today(35:06) The importance and role of struggle in a good life(42:20) The impact of addictions on human interactions(48:10) The importance of intentional inconvenience to maintain balance(53:27) The pernicious pace of addictions and their unconscious build-up(01:00:01) The effective and ethical way to address addiction(01:08:41) Workaholism as an addiction(01:21:29) The connection between shame and a “never enough” attitude towards work

Peter Verstrate is a businessman and the co-founder of Mosa Meat. During our conversation, Peter talks about Mosa Meat's technical breakthrough in making the world's first cultured hamburger - a burger that was created fully in a lab - without raising and killing livestock, the promise of cultured meat to combat climate change and decrease pollution and deforestation, its enormous potential for mitigating animal suffering, the economic challenges of making cultured meat affordable, and when people might expect to be able to purchase and consume such cultivated meat.If successful, companies like Mosa Meat offer an amazing potential future: one in which people might be able to inexpensively and healthily consume high-quality meat with little to no environmental damage and minimal harm inflicted upon sentient animals. This would be a massive win for our collective wealth, ethics, and habitat.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:56) Get to know Peter Verstrate(02:09) Getting into the meat industry(04:36) Mosa Meat creating the world's first cultured hamburger(13:43) The time it took to produce the world’s first cultured hamburger(15:13) The different stages of cultured meat production(20:02) How the idea of lab-grown meat came to be(22:17) Reducing animal suffering and the environmental benefits of clean meat(31:00) The negative impact of traditional meat production on agriculture and the Earth’s changing climate(34:32) The safety concerns around cultured meat production and consumption(42:03) The business challenges of running a clean meat production company(48:40) Economic viability and the future of cultured meat production(51:16) Assessing the quality of the meat used for producing lab-grown meat(54:05) The skills needed from people who want to work in the clean meat industry(57:04) Cultured meat production in the next few years(01:02:27) The best way to follow and support Mosa Meat

Ronan Levy is a lawyer, an entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Field Trip Health. During our conversation, Ronan talks about his journey into the psychedelic space, how currently-available ketamine therapy can help those with anxiety and depression, the possibility of the legalization of MDMA therapy in 2023, how Field Trip Health aims to provide a medically-supervised, professional "set and setting" for those who choose to have a psychedelic experience, the efficacy of empathogens and psychedelics on treating psychological disease, and how the legalization of medicinal psychedelic use might transform and improve our society.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:52) Get to know Ronan Levy(04:58) Ronan’s decision to quit the legal world(07:46) The five big personality qualities and Ronan taking the road less traveled(15:44) The past, present, and future of Field Trip Health(23:26) Ketamine-assisted therapy's psychological benefits(31:13) Psychedelic-assisted therapy's ability to address psychological trauma(38:20) Reasons why people avoid psychedelic therapy(44:06) The benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy and its future(50:30) Dissolving the superstition and stigma of psychosis(58:36) Validating psychedelic-assisted therapy with facts and data(01:04:58) Psychedelic-assisted therapy for a more healthy, cohesive society(01:12:53) Currently-available resources for people to alleviate their mental health issues

Paul Fletcher is a doctor, a researcher, and the Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at Cambridge University. During our conversation, Paul talks about psychosis and the brain, the sheer strangeness of psychotic episodes, why the human mind produces delusions and hallucinations, some triggers and causes of temporary psychosis, how we might more ethically treat homeless people in a psychotic state, and how we have improved in our treatment of psychotic people.I also share my own experience with the terror and confusion of marijuana-induced psychosis. I hope that such stories might help others facing such a destabilizing and debilitating human experience feel less alone and less stigmatized.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:51) Get to know Paul Fletcher(01:48) Paul Fletcher’s background and how he developed an interest in psychosis(04:38) Understanding Jerome Lawrence’s quote on psychosis(11:53) The difference between hallucinations and normal human experiences(23:49) Dan's marijuana-induced psychosis(37:45) What one can do to avoid transitory psychosis(41:39) The prevalence of transient psychotic breaks(45:46) Regaining normalcy after a psychotic break(49:15) Decreasing ignorance about psychosis and reducing its stigma(57:16) The video game "Hellblade," which highlights psychosis(01:05:02) The need to empathize with those experiencing psychosis(01:11:03) Alan Graham’s Community First! Village in Austin, TX(01:18:02) Psychedelics’ effect on the human brain(01:21:36) Potential ways to treat mental illness in the future

John McWhorter is a linguistics professor at Columbia University, an essayist for "The New York Times," and the author of "Woke Racism." During our conversation, John talks about the genesis of "The Elect" (his word for woke antiracists), the dangers and the flaws of the ideas of The Elect, how those ideas are counterproductive to helping black America, how The Elect abuse and intimidate those who disagree with them, maintaining standards in American society, the George Floyd murder, the relationship with black men and the police, policies that might help African American communities, and strategies for having courageous, nuanced, well-meaning conversations about race in America.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:51) Get to know John McWhorter(02:47) The reason for writing "Woke Racism"(05:51) John’s sense of duty in pushing back against the anti-racist movement(09:40) The state of racism in America in 2022(12:20) A description of “The Elect”(15:56) How the world will look if the ideas of "The Elect" take over society(18:57) An ethical way to approach race relations in America(26:21) Ideas of "The Elect" that are counterproductive to improving black communities(31:45) John’s assessment of the current state of black America(38:08) The relationships between the cops and black America(47:05) Advice for white Americans to have honest conversations about race in America(52:02) What a successful pushback against anti-racism would look like

Robert Glover is a speaker, a men's coach, and the author of the best-selling book "No More Mr. Nice Guy." During our conversation, Robert talks about his personal life, men and dating, the male need for tribe, admirable and toxic masculine traits, his views on what makes men both attractive and repellent to women, and what's limiting male development in modern society. Robert is candid and transparent, and offers practical advice to men looking to grow into the best version of themselves.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:51) Get to know Robert Glover(01:44) Robert's early life(08:58) A nice guy's beliefs and identities are rooted in childhood(19:53) Characteristics of a nice guy(29:36) Advice for nice guys to become more attractive to other people and more authentic to themselves(41:49) Unappealing traits of a nice guy(49:23) Positive emotional tension(50:02) How men can become better versions of themselves(59:56) Positive aspects of masculinity(01:05:21) Advice for parents or potential parents for raising good men and boys(01:12:40) Advice for men who've lost connection to their capital "S" self to become more authentic

Danielle Crittenden is an author, a mother of three, and the host of "The Femsplainers Podcast." During our conversation, Danielle talks about her book "What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us: Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman," feminism in the modern world, women and happiness, the role of mothers in our society, her 30+ year marriage to author and essayist David Frum, and advice she would give to young men and young women about the role of relationships and work in a happy, wise life.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:51) Get to know Danielle Crittenden(01:39) What led Danielle to write "What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us"(10:42) The modern messages received by women in academia and culture(18:43) The modern relevance of "What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us"(26:01) How not taking partnering seriously changes how women prioritize their lives(32:52) Creating "The Femsplainers Podcast" with Christina Hoff Sommers(39:49) How "The Femsplainers Podcast" has influenced Danielle's thinking(54:06) Danielle's marriage to David Frum, and advice for a successful relationship(01:00:21) The thinkers, writers, podcasters, and resources Danielle recommends(01:07:14) How to address some of modernity's common issues(01:12:31) Advice for young women to chase their dreams and lead a fulfilled, meaningful life