Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

Eliezer Yudkowsky, Eneasz Brodski; ty to JK Rowling
undefined
Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 3min

Unum 05: It’s Not You, It’s We

Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 5 of Pluribus. We hope you enjoy this exploration of the complexities of handling the unassimilated. Remember, your choices are your own.
undefined
Dec 4, 2025 • 1h 10min

Unum 04: Can I Get My Heroin To Go?

Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 4 of Pluribus. We hope you enjoy this exploration of the complexities of handling the unassimilated. Remember, your choices are your own.
undefined
Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 1min

Unum 03: Would You Like a Cup of Coffee With Your Nuke?

Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 3 of Pluribus. We hope you enjoy this exploration of the complexities of handling the unassimilated. Remember, your choices are your own.
undefined
Nov 26, 2025 • 1h 5min

Unum 02: A Meeting of the Minds

Welcome back to Unum! Steven and Brian discuss the second episode, gush about their favorite parts, and have fun speculating wildly about what “reasonable” people might do in this situation. The format of this show will be full spoilers for the episode we’re covering and we’ll do an accelerated release schedule to catch up with the show. We hope you have fun!
undefined
Nov 24, 2025 • 57min

Unum 01: The Day The World Ended

Welcome to Unum! Steven loved Pluribus so much that he needed to talk about it and Brian was on board to join! The format of this show will be full spoilers for the episode we’re covering and we’ll do an accelerated release schedule to catch up with the show. We hope you have fun!
undefined
Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 45min

Blindsided 12: I Prefer a World Where Someone’s Home

Join Brian and Steven as we wrap up our journey through the awesome and thought provoking world of Blindsight. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “You cannot prevent and prepare for war at the same time.” —Einstein The end quote for this episode is… Nothing. Thanks for listening and thank you to Peter Watts for writing this wonderful mind fuck of a story!
undefined
Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 16min

Blindsided 11: Consciousness Is a Bug, Not a Feature

Brian and Steven tackle the intricate nature of consciousness and its philosophical implications. They explore character motivations, particularly through the lens of vampirism and genetic engineering. Delving into trauma's impact on self-awareness, they challenge the boundaries between human consciousness and AI capabilities. The conversation also examines cooperation's role in evolution and the deceptive nature of communication. Personal anecdotes of superstitions add a human touch to the analysis, prompting reflections on identity and reality in both fiction and life.
undefined
Jul 28, 2025 • 1h 7min

Blindsided 10: Ow! What the Hell??

Brian and Steven continue their journey into space madness. Buckle up – this one gets nuts! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The starting quote for this episode is: “If I can but make the words awake the feeling” —Ian Anderson, Stand Up This episode’s discussion ends at the quote: “If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn’t.” —Emerson M. Pugh For next week, stop reading when you get to the quote: “You cannot prevent and prepare for war at the same time.” —Einstein
undefined
Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 9min

Blindsided 09: Is It Wrong to Torture a Roomba?

Join Brian and Steven as we put jumper cables on this roomba to see if it feels pain! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The starting quote for this episode is: “Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by What is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him?” —Pierre Troubetzkoy This episode’s discussion ends at the quote: “If I can but make the words awake the feeling” —Ian Anderson, Stand Up For next week, stop reading when you get to the quote: “If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn’t.” —Emerson M. Pugh
undefined
Jul 15, 2025 • 1h 20min

Blindsided 08: We Got A Live One!

Join Brian and Steven as we wrangle up some aliens of dubious sentience so we can confine them and do some mad science at them! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The starting quote for this episode is: “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them” —Einstein This episode’s discussion ends at the quote: “Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by What is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him?” —Pierre Troubetzkoy For next week, stop reading when you get to the quote: “If I can but make the words awake the feeling” —Ian Anderson, Stand Up

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app