Embrace The Void - podcast cover

Embrace The Void

Embrace The Voidwww.voidpod.com
Welcome friends, to a podcast for a darker timeline. Maybe the darkest of all timelines. Definitely not one of the good timelines. Maybe it’s always been a dark timeline, maybe the Hadron collider screwed us over. Science may never know. What we do know is that we live in the void. The void, a place where a chittering mass of void crabs can infest a person suit and win the presidency. The void, a place where we're just clever enough to know that climate change is happening, but not quite clever enough to do anything about it. The void seems terrible and cruel, but it loves you, in its own ironic way.

Episodes

EV - 123 Death Doulas with Brenda Goodman pt1

My guest this week is Brenda Goodman, a mediator with a Masters in Gerontology and a lifelong interest in aging and death. We discuss how she became interested in these culturally taboo issues and what she learned from her Death Doula training course. Part two will involve her asking me some of the preparation questions about death. Invocation: Death from Sandman Death Doula Resources: https://www.inelda.org/category/inelda-articles/ https://www.consciousdyinginstitute.com/sacred-passage-guide-c...

Jan 02, 20201 hr 1 minEp. 123

EV - 122 Better know Confucius with Bryan Van Norden

My guest this week is Bryan Van Norden (@BryanVanNorden), a prolific author and advocate for developing Western philosophy departments beyond their Eurocentric habits. We talk about the value of non-western philosophy generally and dive into Confucianism in particular. Invocation: Confucius Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by GW Rodriguez Sibling Pod Phil...

Dec 27, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 122

EV - 121 Better Know an Aristotle with Aristotle

My guest this week is Aristotle (from the @AristotlesStgra account on twitter). He preferred to answer questions in the voice of Aristotle himself, which gives us a fun opportunity to get to know more about this hugely important philosopher in a classic dialogue sort of fashion. Hope you enjoy! Invocation: Aaron's void Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by ...

Dec 19, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 121

EV - 120 Debating Scientific Racism with Dr. Mansa Keita

My guest this week is Dr. Mansa Keita (@rasmansa), a computer science PHD who spends a substantial amount of time engaging on academic twitter on issues like race that we've covered on the show before. We discuss his experiences with these conversations and why race is such a pervasive topic right now. Invocation: Michael Novak, Experience of Nothingness Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWs...

Dec 13, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 120

EV - 119 Discordianism with Brian Henriksen

My guest this week is my longtime friend Brian Henriksen, who joins me to discuss our shared love of Discordianism, the most important of all parody religions. The convo is a bit chaotic as befits the material. Principia Discordia: https://www.principiadiscordia.com/book/1.php Invocation: Apocrypha Discordia pg.9 Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by GW Rod...

Dec 05, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 119

EV - 118 Community Parkour with Kel Glaister

My guest this week is Kel Glaister, an instructor with Melbourne in Motion. We discuss her use of parkour and other exercise activities as a way to build inclusive communities and manage challenges like depression. Melbourne in Motion: https://www.melbinmotion.com/ Invocation: Justin K. McFarlane Beau Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by GW Rodriguez Sibli...

Nov 28, 201955 minEp. 118

EV - 117 Letters.Wiki with Clyde Rathbone

My guest this week is Clyde Rathbone (@ClydeRathbone), co-founder of the social discourse site letter.wiki , where people can engage each other in constructive dialogue through a long form letter writing format. We discuss the origin of the project and its impact on people's style of engagement. Clyde's Website: Letter.Wiki Invocation: Thomas Merton Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vv...

Nov 21, 20191 hrEp. 117

EV - 116 Zhuangzi and Scientific Realism with Aaron Novick

My guest this week is Aaron Novick (@AmneMachin), assistant professor of philosophy at Purdue University. We combine together two often requested topics that might not seem related at first glance. We look first at the work of Zhuangzi, a 4th century Chinese philosopher, and then consider how it informs our modern discussion of the nature of science. Aaron's Website: https://www.aaronnovick.com/ Invocation: Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youare...

Nov 14, 20191 hr 9 minEp. 116

EV - 115 Automation and Utopia with John Danaher

My guest this week isJohn Danaher, author of Automation and Utopia: Human Flourishing in a World Without Work. We go long to do a deep dive into every word in that title, and a few other topics as well. I really enjoyed John's book and highly recommend it to folks interested in the map of possible futures. Automation and Utopia: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674984240 Invocation: Aaron's fevered mind Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com...

Nov 07, 20191 hr 25 min

EV - 114 Neuro-Yogacara with Bryce Huebner

My guest this week is Bryce Huebner (@distributedcog), a Provost's Distinguished Associate Professor in Philosophy at Georgetown University. We discuss the distributed nature of cognition from both an analytic and Yogacara buddhist perspective, plus we talk meditation and metal! Bryce's personal page: https://brycehuebner.weebly.com/ Yogacara: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogachara Invocation: Rachel Sontag, House Rules Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.c...

Oct 31, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 114

EV - 113 Expressivist Kantianism with Florence Bacus

My guest this week is Florence Bacus (@morallawwithin), a grad student in the Tufts terminal masters program and an impressive consumer of great philosophical works. We discuss some of her recent work on epistemology as well as a deep dive into Kantian ethics and expressivist metaethics, with the tantalizing idea that maybe they're compatible in some way. Florence's Curious Cat page: https://curiouscat.me/morallawwithin Invocation: Avatar, the Last Airbender Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check o...

Oct 24, 20191 hrEp. 113

EV - 112 Leftist Martial Arts with Sam Yang

My guest this week is Sam Yang (@StuffFromSam), cohost of the Southpaw podcast and a strong advocate for more leftist philosophy in the world of marital arts. We grapple with the challenges in that Joe Rogan dominated community. Sam does a great job pinning down some tricky points. Southpaw Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/must-triumph/southpaw-2 Invocation: Jean-Luc Godard (suggested by the great Michael Morenko) Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn...

Oct 17, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 112

EV - 111 Plato v Aristotle v Nagel with Fabien-Denis Cayer

My guest this week is Fabien-Denis Cayer (@OldAristocles), a PHD student at the University of Ottawa and a writer at buriedincontemplation.com. He joins me to dive deeper into our discussions on Plato, Aristotle, and Nagel. All favorites! Fabien's work: https://buriedincontemplation.com/ Invocation: The Changing Room Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by GW...

Oct 11, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 111

EV - 110 Community Atheism with Stephanie Zvan

My guest this week is Stephanie Zvan, cohost of the Minnesota Atheists’ radio show and podcast, a regular contributor at The Orbit, and a board member of Secular Woman and Minnesota Atheists. She graciously cheers me up about the direction of the atheist movement. The Orbit: https://the-orbit.net/ Invocation: The Book of Genesis Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s...

Oct 03, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 110

EV - 109 Human Biodiversity with Kevin Bird

My guest this week is Kevin Bird (@itsbirdemic), a PhD student in evolutionary systems biology. Kevin helps guide me through the level of hell that is learning about the Human Biodiversity "Movement". Careful what you say about this one on twitter. They're listening. Kevin's Website: https://kevinabird.github.io/ Invocation: Lovecraft's "Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family" Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbc...

Sep 26, 20191 hr 5 minEp. 109

EV - 108 Logical Positivism with Dr. Liam Bright

My guest this week is Dr. Liam Bright, Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the London School of Economics and a thought leader on philosophy twitter (@Lastpositivist). Liam joins me for an informal installment in our "better know a philosopher series" where he puts in a heroic effort to rehabilitate my dim view of the Logical Positivists. Liam's Page: https://www.liamkofibright.com/ Study on replication and political bias: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330935931_Is_...

Sep 19, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 108

EV - 107 Gender Wars in the Void with Dr. Rachel McKinney

This week I'm joined by Dr. Rachel McKinney, Program Director for Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Suffolk University and Assistant Professor in Philosophy at Suffolk University. Dr. Mckinney studies the relationship between language, knowledge, and power. She also deals with the realities of communication every day debating the issue of trans rights and the science of gender on twitter. We discuss how these interests connect and dive into the historic background of the gender critical/TE...

Sep 12, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 107

Aaron's Sydney Skeptics Moral Luck Talk

Hey friends, here's the audio from my talk in Sydney at Skeptics in the Pub. We've got video but it needs a bit of editing together so in the meantime hope you enjoy. Thanks again to Sydney skeptics in the pub for having me, and if anyone else is interested in a skeptics themed ethics talk send me a message through a social media! Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ3...

Sep 07, 201957 min

EV - 106 Taxiderming the Void with Brant MacDuff

This week I'm joined by Brant MacDuff, taxidermist and conservation activist. I had a great time chatting with Brant at NECSS and was happy to have him on the show to discuss how an art about death can inspire concern for life. Brant's website: https://www.immortalanimals.com/about Invocation: Will Price (feel better!) Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by ...

Sep 05, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 106

EV - 105 Public Philosophy in the Void with Greg Sadler

This week I'm joined by Greg Sadler (@philosopher70). Greg is a public philosopher and cofounder of ReasonIO. We discuss the shifting trends in public philosophy and how philosophy can help us address important parts of our lived experiences, especially involving anger. ReasonIO: https://reasonio.wordpress.com/ Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by GW Rodri...

Aug 29, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 105

EV - 104 Deeply Learning the Void with Michael Cogswell

I'm joined this week by a friend of a friend of the show. Michael Cogswell is currently studying Deep Learning at Georgia Tech, and he helps me work through some of the important basics of deep learning and what it can mean for life in the void. Deep Learning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_learning Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day?fbclid=IwAR2L2_YIJvQpcw0nx6nTSfz0GmyJ1DtWsF--vvdI9W1ug3XW7IAtU6dQ36s Music by GW Rodriguez Sib...

Aug 23, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 104

EV - 103 The Panpsychic Void with Hunter Ash

I'm joined this week by Hunter Ash, longtime friend of the show and my go to source for a variety of sciency philosophy questions. He came to me with a really interesting argument to follow up on the brief discussion of panpsychism back in our Frankish episodes. I definitely recommend giving those a re-listen alongside this episode. Invocation: In the Metaphysicians office by Daniel Cappell Panpsychism primer: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/panpsychism/ Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check ou...

Aug 16, 201957 minEp. 103

EV - 102 Social Progress in the Void with Bo Winegard pt.2

Part two of my debate with Bo Winegard, Assistant Professor at Marietta College, cohost of the psyphilopod podcast, and frequent contributor to Quillette. We've engaged in several disagreements on twitter and thought it could be valuable to debate some of these issues on the show. We focused our debate on the question "should society attempt to promote social progress by changing human nature". Invocation: Dril https://twitter.com/dril/status/473265809079693312?lang=en Bo's article on Progressiv...

Aug 08, 20191 hr 19 minEp. 102

EV - 101 Social Progress in the Void with Bo Winegard pt.1

My guest this week is Bo Winegard, Assistant Professor at Marietta College, cohost of the psyphilopod podcast, and frequent contributor to Quillette. We've engaged in several disagreements on twitter and thought it could be valuable to debate some of these issues on the show. We focused our debate on the question "should society attempt to promote social progress by changing human nature". The argument is naturally wide ranging. Invocation: The Tower of Babel Bo's article on Progressivism and th...

Aug 01, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 101

EV - 100 Getting Leitered in the Void with Nathan Oseroff-Spicer

We made it! We achieved a major arbitrary numeric goal! So glad to be celebrating with my guest this week, fellow philosophy twitter fiend Nathan Oseroff- Spicer, who joins me to discuss the darker sides of philosophy twitter before succumbing to our realism lightening round. Definitely follow him if you're not already: @nathanoseroff Invocation: The Power by Naomi Alderman If you enjoy the show and want to celebrate our 100th birthday, please Like and Review us on your pod app, especially iTune...

Jul 25, 201956 minEp. 100

EV - 99 Dying in the Void with Dave Warnock

Death is a reoccurring topic on this show, but this week still feels a little different. I'm joined by Dave Warnock, who is currently engaged in a project called Dying Out Loud. Dave is living with a terminal diagnosis, and he's spending some of his remaining time generously communicating with others about the process of dying. Usually the title of this show is content warning enough, but in this case gonna just reiterate that this discussion may bring things up for folks. Dying out loud Faceboo...

Jul 18, 201957 minEp. 99

EV - 98 The Shunyata of the Void with SomeStingray

We love talking emptiness of the self here in the void, and so I got the perfect not self to join me and discuss lots of fun topics in the world of Indian Philosophy. @SomeStingray is a must follow on philosophy twitter and we have a great time here, especially during the real/not real lightening round. Philosophy twitter will want to take careful notes in that section so you can troll the fish later. Invocation: Listener Submission from Robert Souza If you enjoy the show, please Like and Review...

Jul 11, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 98

EV - 97 Dominating the Void with Toby Buckle

This week I'm joined by Toby Buckle of the Political philosophy podcast to discuss a particularly depressing theory of politics from his Machiavelli series centered around the desires to dominate/humiliate and the desires to avoid domination/humiliation. It feels very relevant to our current voidy moment. Invocation: Void Goddess Marianne Williamson's actual tweets. Political Philosophy Podcast: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/ Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://y...

Jul 04, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 97

EV - 96 Giving the Void an Argument with Ben Burgis

This week I'm joined by the verbose socialist Ben Burgis to discuss his book Give them an Argument: Logic for the Left. We talk best practices, the limits of discourse, and why we wish it were true that leftist teachers were actually rising up and seizing the means of education. Give the Right an Argument: https://www.amazon.com/Give-Them-Argument-Logic-Left-ebook/dp/B07RD8MZ4L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K0B9OIP1DZLO&keywords=give+them+an+argument&qid=1561561925&s=gateway&sprefix=give+them...

Jun 27, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 96

EV - 095 The Void after Transition with Callie Wright

This week I'm joined by the wonderful Callie Wright (@calliegetsit), host of the Queersplaining podcast (@queersplaining), where she does in depth reporting on less visible stories within the LGBTQ community. We discuss going beyond the reoccurring narratives about LGBTQ lives, and how that plays out internally and in public forums like sports and politics. Invocation: The Power by Naomi Alderman Editing by Brian Ziegenhagen, check out his pod: http://youarehere.libsyn.com/s02e02-rex-manning-day...

Jun 20, 20191 hrEp. 95