Very Bad Wizards

The hosts discuss William James's account of 'Attention' and its relevance today. They explore how attention functions in the mind and its connection to shaping our reality. They also touch on the controversial firing of a university chancellor and the debate on attentional capacity in psychology.

The hosts discuss their favorite things seen this year and delve into the philosophy, comedy, satire, and poignancy of Jorge Luis Borges' "The Aleph". They also recommend movies and TV shows, talk about making informed charitable donations, explore the limitations of language, discuss therapy during the holiday season, and analyze Borges' symbolic reflections.

Guest Vlad Chituc, returning guest, discusses donating his kidney, effective altruism movement, and his sexuality. They debate the role of neuroscience in climate change research and the skepticism towards it. Virtual conferences, academic footprint, TMS, and effective altruism are also discussed. They share personal experiences with anesthesia and fear of unconsciousness. The dangers of surgery, criticisms and limitations of effective altruism, and the turn to long-termism are explored.

Acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki joins the podcast to discuss his mystical and dreamy animated film Spirited Away. Topics explored include the beauty of argument, desire for shorter episodes, critiquing social psychology, communication dynamics, Miyazaki's portrayal of stillness, themes and maturation in Spirited Away, transformation and help from Haku, the boiler room character and sit sprites, the power of names, coming of age and devastation, identity and No Face, cleaning the stink spirit, Miyazaki's message, No Face's self-destruction, and shadow people and perspectives.

The hosts delve into the highly controversial and rarely discussed topic of zoophilia, examining the ethical and moral implications. They also explore the decline of civic engagement in America and the impact of technology on loneliness. The podcast touches on the concept of consent in relationships with animals, the future perception of their discussion, and the decline of social capital in the United States. Additionally, they discuss changes in entertainment consumption, the alarmist nature of articles, and the surprising insights of researcher Paul Bloom.

In this episode, the hosts discuss the importance of free speech and their disappointment with the lack of support for it. They also explore the concept of 'cool' and its evolving meaning. Additionally, they analyze the terms 'Riz' and 'Stan' and their connections to charisma and fan culture.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the supernatural elements in Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, analyze the cryptic epilogue, and offer suggestions for the film adaptation. They also explore the concept of passive aggression, reflect on their own experiences, and discuss the benefits of therapy. The enigmatic characters of Glanton and the judge are examined, along with their influence on the gang. The scene where the judge performs a coin trick is discussed, and speculation arises about his supernatural abilities. The symbolism in the epilogue and the casting for a film adaptation are also explored.

In this podcast, they discuss the character of the kid and his resistance to the judge's nihilism in the book Blood Meridian. They also delve into scenes such as the Comanche attack, Elrod's fate, and the tarot reading. Additionally, they explore cheating in the game Wordle and wallet returns across countries. The hosts touch on the benefits of therapy and compare the book to other literary works. They analyze the moral character of the kid and the battle of resistance against the judge's influence. Finally, they discuss the nightmarish horsemen and the surreal elements in Blood Meridian.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss opposite personalities in relationships and challenge the idea that 'opposites attract.' They also explore the correlations between various characteristics in romantic partners. They express gratitude to their listeners and discuss the benefits of therapy. The hosts delve into the book 'Blood Meridian,' highlighting the challenges of reading it and the portrayal of the character Judge Holden. They dissect the depravity and philosophical musings in the novel, as well as the dynamics between the judge and the protagonist. They also discuss other mysterious characters in the book.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss topics like conspiracy theories and unethical practices, the generosity of individuals in high stakes, the value of therapy during life transitions, and the critique of abstraction and concepts in daily life. They also explore the relationship between William James and Henri Bergson, and share their experience with Rocket Money, a personal finance app.