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Serious Inquiries Only

Latest episodes

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Dec 29, 2020 • 1h 2min

SIO270: NYT's Kristof Duped by Christian Anti-Porn Group

Today's show features fan-favorite Eli Bosnick explaining how much is completely wrong about an op-ed by Nicholas Kristof. The article claims that PornHub is "...infested with rape videos. It monetizes child rapes, revenge pornography, spy cam videos of women showering, racist and misogynist content, and footage of women being asphyxiated in plastic bags." These are very serious claims, and reading the article might make you feel ill. However, there is a serious problem with it. Listen in and hear the breakdown! Eli's Links: http://Trafickinghub.com, Daily Beast article about them, Exodus Cry page, Open Democracy on Exodus Cry, Exodus Cry's documentary on Netflix about how tinder leads to young teens getting kidnapped, Exodus Cry faq page, their Intervention manual, trafficking hub’s petition to shut the site down, Elevate Academy, their courses, their staff page, PornHub human screening, trusted flaggers, content removal form, digital systems for blocking content, PornHub best in class policies, Visa and other card companies pulled plug on PornHub.
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Dec 24, 2020 • 60min

SIO269: Evolutionary Psychology and Sex Differences

It's part 2 of the Defending Evo-Psych series! This one was so much fun. Lindsey talks about sex differences in different species and how they are also present in human behavior. We talk about ridiculous birds, mating dollars, casual sex, and all kinds of fun stuff! Studies referenced: Singh (2002) - REVIEW, WHR, attractiveness, and fecundity, Li et al. (2002) - necessities and luxuries of mate preferences
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Dec 17, 2020 • 50min

SIO268: Defending Evolutionary Psychology with Lindsey Osterman

Since Lindsey has started to appear on the show more often, we've heard from a few people who were under the impression that her field (evolutionary psychology) is "bunk" or is all unprovable just-so stories. As an expert, Lindsey takes us through where these objections come from and why they aren't accurate. Plus she takes us through some fascinating research! Studies mentioned: Wertz & Wynn 2014 Infant avoidance of plants, Wertz 2019 Ho plants shape the mind
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Dec 11, 2020 • 52min

SIO267: We Should Eat Less Meat

... and other monologues and listener questions! I have not eaten meat for 2 months, and I want to explain why and why I think you should do your best to reduce meat eating as well. Don't worry, no excessive shaming. I just want to share my reasoning and hope it influences people. Also, more listener questions!
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Dec 10, 2020 • 52min

Bonus: Yelling at Sam Harris

I asked the patrons over at patreon.com/seriouspod and they overwhelmingly said I should publish this on the main feed. Keep in mind, it's raw and explicit, but I think some great points were made and it's useful listening. If you'd like to hear episode 267 sign up as a patron!
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Nov 26, 2020 • 55min

SIO266: Why Sam Harris Is Wrong about Police Killings

It's been something like 70 years since the George Floyd protests, and the news cycle has had no choice but to move onto so many other huge and terrible things. But Lindsey Osterman and I still haven't forgotten the terrible arguments used by people like Sam Harris, and many in the right-wing information ecosystem, to push back against Black Lives Matter and to try to undermine the massive protests we saw. Lindsey takes us through two papers that have heavily influence this view, and why they're completely wrong. (spoiler: one was even RETRACTED!) This episode was far more focused on the academic papers than on Sam Harris, but if you'd like to hear us absolutely destroy his "Can We Pull Back From the Brink" episode, make to become a Patron!
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Nov 19, 2020 • 60min

SIO265: Did The System Work?

I'm finally answering my listener email! It's been a tense... year, and I haven't gone to the inbox for a while. Today that changes! Before that, I can't help but unload a bit about whether or not "the system worked." When I hear people say that, it just does not seem right. But also... it did... kinda? Then I get to your questions and comments, about Constitutional Conventions and lizard people and revolution and progressive policies and more!
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Nov 12, 2020 • 1h

SIO264: Did Progressive Causes Lead To House Losses?

After Democrats had a disappointing election in the House, there was a group call in which some centrist members blamed progressives. AOC responded in the New York Times. This has set off a pretty bitter debate. I wanted to get to the bottom of the claims using the actual voting data and see if there was anything to be learned going either way. Hours of data entry later, I believe I have (some) answers.
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Nov 5, 2020 • 53min

SIO263: Not The Worst Possible Outcome, But Close

As of recording, it's looking like a narrow Biden victory and Republican control of the Senate. This isn't set in stone, and there's still an outside shot of taking the Senate and winning the Presidency by a more comfortable margin, but this analysis is under the assumption that we won't. Here are my thoughts.
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Nov 3, 2020 • 47min

SIO262: I'm Perfectly Calm

Calmer than you are. It's election day. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Here are a series of disjointed thoughts. God damn I hope this all ends.

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