The Michael Shermer Show

Daniel Dennett, preeminent philosopher and cognitive scientist, reflects on his career and discusses the role of luck in success. He explores the challenges of writing for different audiences and the concept of responsibility. They also discuss free will and determinism, consciousness, beliefs, and desires. Evolutionary explanations for traits like intelligence and humor are explored, along with the role of sexual selection.

Historian Matthew Dallek discusses the radicalization of the American right, connecting the John Birch Society to figures like Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Donald Trump. The podcast explores the origins of the Society, the evolution of conservatism, and the impact of conspiracy theories on the right-wing movement. It also delves into the connection between the theory of evolution, abortion, and the conservative movement, and raises concerns about the future of the Republic and the potential for a civil war.

Environmental scientist Michael Shellenberger, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond, philosopher Peter Boghossian, and scientist Michael Shermer gather for a public event by the Skeptic Society and Skeptic Magazine. They discuss workshops, live podcast recordings, great food, and hanging out with the speakers during the event.

Polina Marinova Pompliano, founder of T... discusses personal journey, distinguishing the truly exceptional, genius, victimhood, fear, updating beliefs, pursuing goals, and trust. Topics include building trust, hidden genius, luck and genes, building competence, characteristics of successful creators, childhood obsession, and overcoming fear.

Guest Lee McIntyre, Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University, discusses disinformation and protecting democracy with Michael Shermer. They cover topics such as the source of disinformation, erosion of democracy under Trump, the impact of misinformation on voter behavior, effectiveness of masks, balancing extremism, and engaging in meaningful conversations to fight disinformation.

History of church-state separation in the US • Founders' views on religious freedom and minority protection • Inequalities in tax exemptions for religious institutions and secular nonprofits • Cultural preferences and the risk of favoring a specific religion • Influence of the Federalist Society on Supreme Court appointments • Religious freedom and discrimination cases • Defining religion and discrimination against nonbelievers • Abortion rights debate and state authority • Religious right's impact in the 1980 presidential election • Supreme Court rulings on church-state separation • Threat of a constitutional convention to freedom and separation of church and state

Nancy Segal, author of Twin Children of the Holocaust and Gay Fathers, Twin Sons, discusses the fascinating world of twins, including accidental and intentional separations, reunions, and twins in different family arrangements. They delve into twins' history, the gay fathers and twin sons case, immigration and naturalization issues, eugenics, and the relative role of nature and nurture in shaping lives.

Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb announces the discovery of material from an interstellar meteor on the ocean floor. He discusses the analysis of the meteor's composition, address criticism, and the process of submitting his work to peer review. They also explore the controversy surrounding the meteor's origin and the likelihood of extraterrestrial civilizations. The chapter concludes with a discussion on Mars lava tubes and the search for life.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson discusses the founding of America, the attitudes of the Founding Fathers towards slavery, and the justification of slavery. They also delve into the U.S. Constitution, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, the Atlantic slave trade, and the push for abolition. The conversation explores the Three-fifths Compromise, the Dread Scott Decision, Abraham Lincoln's reasoning for ending slavery, and the future of race relations in America.

David Burns, a guest on the podcast, discusses the illusion of perfectionism and its negative consequences. The conversation explores topics like the Big Five Personality Scale, origins and consequences of perfectionism, the impact of social media and helicopter parenting, and generational differences. They also touch on subjects such as income inequality, UBI, and the influence of parents on children's lives.