Decoding the Gurus
Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne
An exiled Northern Irish anthropologist and a hitchhiking Australian psychologist take a close look at the contemporary crop of 'secular gurus', iconoclasts, and other exiles from the mainstream, offering their own brands of unique takes and special insights.
Leveraging two of the most diverse accents in modern podcasting, Chris and Matt dig deep into the claims, peek behind the psychological curtains, and try to figure out once and for all... What's it all About?
Join us, as we try to puzzle our way through and talk some smart-sounding smack about the intellectual giants of our age, from Jordan Peterson to Robin DiAngelo. Are they revolutionary thinkers or just grifters with delusions of grandeur?
Join us and let's find out!
Leveraging two of the most diverse accents in modern podcasting, Chris and Matt dig deep into the claims, peek behind the psychological curtains, and try to figure out once and for all... What's it all About?
Join us, as we try to puzzle our way through and talk some smart-sounding smack about the intellectual giants of our age, from Jordan Peterson to Robin DiAngelo. Are they revolutionary thinkers or just grifters with delusions of grandeur?
Join us and let's find out!
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Mar 13, 2024 • 1h 56min
Hasan Piker: A swashbuckling Bromance
The podcast explores Hasan Piker's left-wing commentary and complex geopolitical topics, including Yemeni hostage situations and controversial slogans. It delves into Hasan's insights on political issues, drawing parallels to anime and challenging mainstream narratives. The conversation covers revenue sources for streamers, contrasting perspectives on global conflicts, and the importance of acknowledging patrons. The hosts navigate lighthearted exchanges amidst tense discussions, showcasing a mix of political analysis and personal anecdotes.
Mar 7, 2024 • 30min
Supplementary Material 1: Cringe Immunity & Supplemental Ethics
In this episode, they discuss a mysterious clip, Lex Fridman on Navalny, Jordan Peterson's fury, Cringe Immunity as a superpower, ethics of sponsorship, and more. The hosts analyze political figures' admiration, critique Jordan Peterson's views, and explore Brett Weinstein's behavior and fan reactions.
19 snips
Mar 6, 2024 • 2h 10min
Interview with Kevin Mitchell on Agency and Evolution
In this podcast, Kevin Mitchell discusses free will, determinism, consciousness, and agency from a scientific perspective. The conversation dives into evolutionary perspectives on behavior, consciousness, quantum uncertainty, decision-making processes, meaningful information in neural processes, emotions' influence on decision-making, AI creativity, theories of human intelligence evolution, and more.
Mar 2, 2024 • 2h 40min
Sean Carroll: The Worst Guru Yet?!?
This podcast discusses controversial physics figure Sean Carroll, his popular Mindscape podcast, challenges to orthodox beliefs, cultural topics, and the impact of large language models and AI advancements on society and ethics. The chapters cover unconventional desires, Western Buddhism, cognitive biases, AI evolution, and the divide between human and artificial intelligence.
Feb 28, 2024 • 51min
Mini-Decoding: Indulgent Monologuing
In this podcast, the hosts dissect a philosopher's meandering monologue, connecting it to historical events, conflicts, and enlightenment values. They explore atheism, religion, and human needs, delving into the criticisms of new atheism and the role of religion in society. The conversation also touches on historical wars, the evolution of toleration, and the challenges of managing long-winded monologues in conversations.
5 snips
Feb 17, 2024 • 2h 14min
Sam Harris: Right to Reply
Sam Harris, an author and podcaster, discusses the lab leak, introspection and the nature of self, motivations for extremism, coverage of the conflict in Gaza, and selective application of criticism. Other topics include Andrew Huberman's dog, Joe Rogan's conspiracism, and the value of AI protocol searches.
4 snips
Feb 9, 2024 • 1h 31min
The Passion of the Jordan and the Wisdom of the Bret
Checking in on old pals Bret Weinstein and Jordan Peterson, we find Jordan facing challenges with his clinical license while Bret cracks the code behind the Chinese evolutionary lineage. Topics discussed include contradictions in guru behavior, the impact of China's one-child policy on gender ratios, the discrepancy between ideas and delivery, internal struggle and resistance, creating opportunities in problems, and reflections on controversial traits of the guests.
Jan 30, 2024 • 41min
Mini Decoding: Yuval and the Philosophers
Join us for a thrilling ride as we decode reactions to a TEDx talk by well-known author and academic Yuval Noah Harari, where he discusses the fictionality of human rights and culture. We delve into topics like inequality in first-class seating, the concept of spreading wealth, and the importance of imagined realities in shaping societies. Get ready for a philosophical adventure!
Jan 19, 2024 • 32min
DTG's Face to Face Reflections 2024
In this podcast, the hosts reflect on their experiences skiing in a Japanese mountain retreat and discuss the progress made over the past three years. They also explore the impact of new media on the independent online media sphere and emphasize the importance of handling feedback with caution.
Dec 28, 2023 • 49min
Mini-Decoding: Huberman on the Vaccine-Autism Controversy
Dr. Karen Parker, an expert in Autism, joins host Andrew Huberman to discuss the vaccine-autism controversy. They address the debunked research of Andrew Wakefield and emphasize the consensus view that there is no evidence of a link. Huberman explores various perspectives, questioning the number of childhood vaccines and the influence of 'cancel culture.' The episode delves into the challenges of researching the subject and analyzes Huberman's role in advocating for vaccinations with an ambiguous stance.
