Malcolm and Simone have a thoughtful discussion about the meaning of utopia, examining why abundance, luxury, and leisure often fail to bring lasting happiness. They reflect on wealthy people they know who seem unhappy despite having everything, and posit that utopia may actually lie in having the opportunity to meaningfully impact the future and matter. Malcolm suggests that living during a pivotal point in history provides that chance to matter. Simone notes people likely imagine utopia as sim...
Sep 26, 2023•31 min
In this thought-provoking discussion, Spencer Greenberg shares his predictions for how AI could transform society in the next 10 years. He envisions prolific AI spam, propaganda bots, highly addictive personalized content streams, and hacked emotions. But AI also holds promise for revolutionary advances in healthcare and entertainment. Overall, Spencer emphasizes AI's vast potential for both tremendous benefit and harm to humanity. Spencer: [00:00:00] systems like tick tock, imagine a world wher...
Sep 25, 2023•26 min
Malcolm and Simone contrast their parenting approach with Jordan Peterson's authoritarian tactics. They believe kids should develop internal morals, not obey external authority. Simone: what you do now with our children is show when their will has crossed a line with your will, whereas Jordan Peterson's strategy is, I am going to let my will rule this household, and you have to bend to my will. Mm, . Malcolm: Yeah, no, no, no. It makes perfect sense. Malcolm: And I understand, like, I, I really,...
Sep 22, 2023•36 min
We explore overlooked aspects of Africa's future, including its cultural/genetic diversity, selective pressures, and mindsets. We discuss resilience to woke ideology, potential for conflict, impacts of globalism's decline, and groups embracing technology. Though many regions face collapse, Africa's sheer variety may allow winning cultures to emerge. Malcolm: [00:00:00] in Africa those conflicts are going to get worse in the short term, but I, where it all hashes out. Malcolm: A lot of the world'...
Sep 21, 2023•38 min
Malcolm details the aggressive dating tactics he used to find a wife, treating it like a sales and marketing funnel. He optimized for volume and pre-vetted candidates. Simone: [00:00:00] Yeah. And I'd also love to talk, I think like tactically, I think people would find it interesting, the things you did to make your high throughput screening scale Malcolm: So really important thing to remember is every interaction with an individual you might marry can be thought of as a roll of the dice, which...
Sep 20, 2023•34 min
Malcolm and Simone discuss the unsustainable lifestyle promoted by "trad wives" on social media. They argue these women are actually trophy wives dependent on hidden male labor. Simone: [00:00:00] they show all this video or photos of them making pies at home and living in a very cottage core way and like doing, hanging up laundry to air dry. And picking mushrooms and they're these women for the most part, like I get this, like. Really visceral reaction to these because the lives that these wome...
Sep 19, 2023•29 min
Malcolm and Simone have an in-depth discussion about the underlying messaging in the new Barbie movie. They analyze how the movie portrays feminism, gender dynamics, and societal roles. Malcolm: [00:00:00] obviously big spoilers in this, in this talk through I think structurally every part of the movie was literally as based as could be first part of the movie women, they do not treat men with any respect. This is seen as a world created from the aspirations of women in our society. Second part ...
Sep 18, 2023•40 min
Description: Brian Chau joins Simone and Malcolm to discuss the latest data on Gen Z sexuality and relationships. They analyze declining physicality, porn addiction, anime girl attraction, generalized neuroticism, and more "cursed" stats from Brian's interviews with young alt-righters. Brian Chau: [00:00:00] this episode specifically, was in part a, an excuse for me to interrogate the love lives of my Zoomer friends. I am on the older side of Zoomer of the Zoomers. Brian Chau: And yeah, I basica...
Sep 15, 2023•44 min
I recently discovered that the Coen Brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou? was actually based on a true story involving my family! In this video, I share the fascinating tale of how my great-grandfather tapped a popular 1930s musical group to help a politician he supported win a Texas governor's race against a candidate with ties to the KKK. I talk about the real-life people and events that inspired the movie's characters and plot, and reveal details that weren't included in the film. From the ...
Sep 14, 2023•23 min
We explore the phenomenon of cultural speciation - when cultures fragment into distinct new cultures. We discuss why groups feel most hostility towards similar groups, the role of cultural isolation, threats to young movements, Catholic orders as cultural "stem cells", and more. Malcolm: [00:00:00] Are you saying Simone: that you're saying that Catholicism is a nepo baby? Malcolm: Catholicism is a nepo baby. Malcolm: It's a nepo baby of the Roman empire. Simone: I mean, Malcolm: we. So, I mean, ...
Sep 13, 2023•27 min
Malcolm and Simone have a thought-provoking discussion contrasting toxic masculinity and toxic femininity. Malcolm argues that toxic femininity is actually more dangerous, as feminine mindsets optimize for safety over truth. He explains how female dominance in bureaucracies and power structures leads to collectivist thinking that coerces adherence to cultural norms over facts. They also touch on the pros and cons of masculine vs feminine psychologies, gender differences in locus of control, and ...
Sep 12, 2023•30 min
We discuss the aspects of Jordan Peterson's thinking that resonate with us and where we differ. We cover his reliance on archetypes and narratives, his traditional views on gender, and his appeal to personal responsibility and paternalism. Though we disagree on some areas, we find value in engaging with his perspectives. Simone: [00:00:00] I think that's kind of what it is with Jordan Peterson that okay, the tendency isn't exactly to be like this paternalistic disciplined ideal, this ordered ide...
Sep 11, 2023•32 min
After a relaxing family vacation, Malcolm and Simone get an alarming call from CPS accusing them of child abuse and neglect. They break down the ridiculous reasons like used clothing, letting kids play outside, and separating sick kids that show those filing reports are out-of-touch with normal parenting. Malcolm argues it reveals a dangerous form of cultural genocide by progressives who believe they have the right to police child-rearing they disagree with. He warns conservatives are being push...
Sep 08, 2023•31 min
Malcolm outlines his controversial theory on variable AI risk - that we should try to develop AGI faster, not slower. He argues advanced AI is less likely to see humanity as a threat and more likely to share human values as it converges on a universal utility function. Malcolm critiques common AI safety perspectives and explains why LLMs pose less risk than people assume. He debates with Simone on the actual odds superintelligent AI wipes out humanity. They also discuss AI safety organizations p...
Sep 07, 2023•34 min
Malcolm argues the trend toward flat-chested female leads in movies and TV shows reveals an unhealthy demonization of female sexuality by progressives. He traces how vilifying anything that arouses men led to removing feminine traits, resulting in more masculine or underage-looking female characters. Malcolm and Simone debate if this stems from misogyny, class divides, fashion trends, or producers being out of touch. They agree it likely hurts young women who can't see role models that embrace b...
Sep 06, 2023•28 min
Simone: [00:00:00] So we would also argue that when it comes to crafting culture or changing behavior on a very big meta scale, one of the things you can do that's very meaningful if you are someone in the media or you are a government is like literal, this is it is, it is propaganda. But create more archetypes for pro social behavior, for types of behaviors that you want to elevate. Simone: And this is actually something that we saw back in the 1950s, 60s, 70s. There were literal propaganda sla...
Sep 05, 2023•33 min
Malcolm argues conservatives have been falsely portrayed as more racist than liberals. He analyzes poll data showing white Democrats were more opposed to a black president and living in mixed neighborhoods than Republicans until recently. Malcolm argues the stereotype comes from progressive elites being disconnected from their base and extremist views getting amplified online. He makes the case that real racism today comes more from progressives self-segregating and conservatives actually having...
Sep 04, 2023•45 min
Malcolm explains his concept of "evolutionary vortexes" - how cultures create bottlenecks selecting for certain sociological profiles over generations. He analyzes examples like Calvinists' happiness, Jewish mysticism, and Catholic anti-nepotism norms. Simone questions why this isn't more obvious. They discuss how technology will let intentional cultural selection rapidly shape future minds. Malcolm: [00:00:00] So a great example of this that I'd always say, is when I talk to people and I'm like...
Sep 01, 2023•31 min
Description: Malcolm and Simone have a fascinating discussion on the evolutionary origins and cultural purposes of music. They analyze how music builds in-group cohesion, signaling identity, glorifying values, and shaping emotions. From military marching songs to religious chanting to teenage subcultures, music plays a key role in cultural programming and bonding. But they argue overusing music can be indulgent and dulling. An insightful talk on the sociology and psychology of music! Malcolm: [0...
Aug 31, 2023•28 min
Journalist Katherine Dee joins Simone and Malcolm for a deep dive on mediated relationships. They discuss intimacy via screens, "real" internet friends, social media personas, roleplaying communities, and lessons from Katherine's experiences with online dating. Katherine Dee: [00:00:00] In the kind of environment we live in, either you have no friends and only very perfunctory relationships, or you have, or you're, like, isolate, you're physically isolated but you have these deep internet relati...
Aug 30, 2023•29 min
Malcolm and Simone have an insightful discussion about the paradoxes in progressive culture's view of diversity. They analyze how progressivism claims to value diversity yet enforces ideological conformity, and how "minority status" is defined in strange ways. Malcolm argues progressivism commits cultural genocide, while Simone provides nuance on progressives' motivations. Their dialogue highlights the clashing worldviews underlying today's culture wars. Malcolm: , [00:00:00] you've got to under...
Aug 29, 2023•42 min
Malcolm and Simone have a thought-provoking discussion on the origins and psychology behind sexy nurse and teacher fetishes. They argue these tropes became popular because those were some of the only roles where men were expected to submit to women in a caring yet dominant context. This fulfilled an innate need for submission among many men that society doesn't provide outlets for. They trace how dominance displays evolved through sexuality due to evolution "borrowing code." The conversation cov...
Aug 28, 2023•27 min
Malcolm: [00:00:00] And I was like, oh, brain computer interface. That's the next big thing. And I really invested my early career in brain computer interface. Malcolm: It's what I did my thesis on in college. It's what my first job was. It's, you know, I, I did a lot of stuff in the space. Malcolm: people think you'll have this like super fast communication system that communicates with your brain as easily as your brain can think. Malcolm: And that is just not what you're going to get. Malcolm...
Aug 25, 2023•24 min
Sandman, a leading figure in the MGTOW community, joins Simone and Malcolm to discuss high-tech reproductive strategies. They explore surrogacy, genetic selection, artificial wombs, sexbots, and more ways men can have children without partners. Other topics include all-male vs all-female societies, economics, and virtual intimacy technologies. Sandman: [00:00:00] a lot of guys are also looking for, they want loverbots or sexbots because they're trying to, you're trying to compartmentalize every ...
Aug 24, 2023•29 min
In this candid discussion, we explore the nuances around polyamory and open relationships. We look at how polygyny historically existed among elites, the market forces leading more high-value men to pursue open relationships today, and the differences between cheating vs consensual non-monogamy. We share our own open relationship dynamics and how radical honesty helps us maintain a strong marriage. Simone: [00:00:00] Hello, Malcolm. Malcolm: Hello, Simone. Today, we are going to discuss an inter...
Aug 23, 2023•40 min
Economist Bryan Caplan joins Simone and Malcolm to discuss ways to boost declining fertility rates. They analyze the role of education, long vs short time preferences, and winning over analytical men. Other topics include immigration policy levers, using AI for politics, Ron Paul's electoral success, and more ways to cultivate leaders. Simone: [00:00:00] You're really good at being evil, Malcolm: Simone. Thank you, Malcolm. How can we use an AI to win a local election? Yeah, this Simone: is, thi...
Aug 22, 2023•34 min
In this video, we discuss traditional gentlemanly behavior and why it has been lost in modern American culture. We explain how acts of deference like opening doors and paying for meals used to signify male dominance when done proactively from a position of power. However, today these acts are often misconstrued as weakness due to discomfort with class differences. We explore the importance of anticipating a partner's needs, showing gratitude, and maintaining good form in relationships. Our goal ...
Aug 21, 2023•33 min
In this video, we dig into why today's billionaires and high status people often have very muscular physiques. We explore how physical attributes like muscularity have historically signaled social status in different ways across different cultures and time periods. From tanned skin to calf muscles to informal clothing, status symbols are always changing. We talk about how steroids and social media are disrupting traditional notions of high status masculinity. Finally, we speculate on what the ne...
Aug 18, 2023•35 min
Brian Chau joins Simone and Malcolm to discuss the Alliance for the Future, a new think tank aiming to prevent excessive regulation of AI. They analyze the motivations behind potential AI bans, rebut "doomer" arguments, consider impacts on jobs and culture, and more around ensuring the continued development of transformative technologies. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit basedcamppodcast.substack.com/subscribe...
Aug 17, 2023•37 min
Malcolm and Simone dive deep on the difference between aesthetic conservatism (trappings without core values) and substantive conservatism focused on cultural reproduction. They analyze how to convert people, the role of government restrictions, dominating vs symbiotic cultures, and more keys to building an enduring worldview. Malcolm: [00:00:00] Once you begin to normalize the psychological practices that people are supposed to learn how to undertake on their own. And are supposed to require me...
Aug 16, 2023•28 min
