NEW INC invited me to give an artist talk about Deep Reckonings, moderated by the illustrious Kat Cizek. In it, I do something I've never done before: guide people in writing Deep Reckonings scripts! In other words, guide people in imagining our better angels. In this case, the better angel of Jeff Bezos. This episode is better watched on YouTube: http://bit.ly/newincsteph In related news: Deep Reckonings was nominated for a Webby Award! LET'S WIN :) Please take a minute to vote: bit.ly/deepwebb...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 26
Call-out culture is all about straw manning: representing the weakest version of someone's position (or the weakest version of something they tweeted a decade ago). So call-IN culture would be all about STEEL manning: representing the strongest version of someone's position. But what would that actually look like in practice? This video is a teaser for a NEW INC talk I'm giving *this* Friday 4/16 from 11am-12:15 PT / 2-3:15pm ET. Join me to build some steel versions of our straw men: http://bit....
Apr 14, 2021•6 min•Ep. 25
The New York Times has a headline this week: "Online Schools Are Here to Stay, Even After the Pandemic." The article does the predictable tug-of-war between online and in-person learning, ultimately arriving at the obvious conclusion that online learning works better for some students than others, and that online and in-person can be mixed-and-matched. Perhaps that conclusion is the place to start? And if we STARTED with an understanding that different schooling styles work better for different ...
Apr 13, 2021•11 min•Ep. 24
Amazon workers in Alabama are trying to unionize. And influential people are trying to convince Jeff Bezos to support the campaign: Bernie, Danny Glover, even THE PRESIDENT. But what might actually move Bezos to support unionization, and more broadly, *change the game*? Also -- for those of you on Clubhouse, I'm hosting a conversation about the future of journalism! Friday, April 2nd from 10-11:30am PT / 1-2:30pm ET. To attend, join the Dent club or follow this link: https://www.joinclubhouse.co...
Apr 02, 2021•6 min•Ep. 23
How are religious myths metaphorically true? What if influencers are our modern-day Greek Gods? In which case, perhaps the issue is less the fact that there are influencers, and more *what* they're influencing? Be in touch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephlepp Join the party on Patreon: http://patreon.com/stephlepp
Mar 30, 2021•4 min•Ep. 22
After a year of living with the pandemic, it's painfully obvious that we can't treat health and economy as either/or. So how to we treat them as both/and? What's the equivalent of sustainable development -- which economic development with sustainability -- for integrating economic development with *health*? And....what could such a phenomenon be CALLED? Put your ideas in the comments below :) Say howdy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephlepp Join the party on Patreon: http://patreon.com/steph...
Mar 29, 2021•11 min•Ep. 21
Have you noticed the evolution of Disney? Have you noticed how the concept of good vs. evil, the women characters, and other aspects of the storylines have evolved over time? WELL THEY HAVE. But does that mean I only want my daughter to watch the most recent Disney movies, with more redemptive conceptions of evil and empowered women characters? Not necessarily :) If you appreciate this video, please tweet it at Chloé Valdary: https://twitter.com/cvaldary And if you appreciate this channel, pleas...
Mar 27, 2021•6 min•Ep. 20
In the aftermath of the Atlanta and Boulder shootings, we're doing the gun legislation impasse rigamarole. What could move things forward? Might it be helpful to hear from public servants who *expanded* their views on gun control — to include both gun rights and gun safety? Introducing the power of FORMERS. Watch on YouTube: http://bit.ly/gunformers Show Notes • Reckonings episode #10 — about the unlikely friendship between Congressional NRA 'point man' Jay Dickey and CDC director Mark Rosenberg...
Mar 25, 2021•8 min•Ep. 19
The New York Times' The Daily podcast on 3/16/21 was about how conservative lawmakers are increasingly embracing wind. Host Michael Barbaro and reporter Dionne Searcey refreshingly bring up the phenomenon of *identity* -- and talk about how a shift from coal to wind isn't just a change in jobs, but a change in identity. Which implies that coal miners, fossils fuel industry workers, and HUMAN BEINGS IN GENERAL need support with the personal dimension of social change. How can we steward the perso...
Mar 24, 2021•13 min•Ep. 18
What if the way to transcend our post-truth crisis is not to double-down on our Enlightenment-era relationship with truth and knowledge? What if transcending post-truth requires...a NEW Enlightenment? For years, I've been scared to share these thoughts. But I just shared them in a VPRO documentary: https://youtu.be/YBp7Hc6DEEw?t=1783 . And I've discovered that I have intellectual cover from public thinkers I deeply admire, like Daniel Schmactenberger and Zak Stein. So: it's time! NOTE: Infinite ...
Mar 04, 2021•17 min•Ep. 17
If Trump conceded, what would he say? This episode is part of Deep Reckonings — a series of explicitly-marked deepfake videos that imagine Mark Zuckerberg, Brett Kavanaugh, and other public figures having a reckoning. Here, an imaginary Donald Trump concedes the 2020 election. Want to see Trump give a real concession speech? Tweet: .@realDonaldTrump here's some actual fake news. Only you can make it real with @stephlepp: www.deepreckonings.com/trump Watch the full Deep Reckonings series: www.dee...
Dec 18, 2020•5 min•Ep. 16
'There's actually a wild way in which deepfakes can help us navigate this post-truth moment — because they allow us to see that truth is not just an end in itself, but also a means to an end.' BOLD STATEMENT. Which I elaborate on in this conversation with Dani Di Placido. He interviewed me about Deep Reckonings for an article in Forbes, and recorded our conversation. So I'm sharing it *unedited* with you :) + Read the article: bit.ly/DR-forbes + Watch the deepfakes: www.deepreckonings.com + Supp...
Nov 12, 2020•37 min•Ep. 15
If Brett Kavanaugh, Alex Jones, and Mark Zuckerberg had a crisis of conscience, what would they say? Infinite Lunchbox presents Deep Reckonings — a series of explicitly-marked synthetic videos that imagine public figures having a reckoning. Watch the full series and learn more about the project: deepreckonings.com
Sep 16, 2020•5 min•Ep. 14
How might our post-truth crisis actually be an *opportunity* for evolving our relationship with truth? What might be an integral conception of race, that better enables us to address racism? In this episode of the Infinite Lunchbox, fellow futon philosopher Ryan Nakade and I discuss these and other light topics ;) In related news....Infinite Lunchbox is exploring the possibility of a co-host! Or a rotating stable of co-hosts — to get you more episodes more often, along with less frequent solo vi...
Sep 08, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 13
My new favorite podcast is *Growing Down* — which brings together integral philosophy with progressive politics. (If you're a progressive who's dissatisfied with the Left, this show's for you!) In the last episode of Infinite Lunchbox, I had the pleasure of being interviewed on Growing Down. In this episode, I join Growing Down's roundtable for a lively powwow on public safety, racial justice, gender equality, and consensus-building. The roundtable features yours truly along with Ryan Nakade, Ma...
Jul 02, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 12
I recently discovered a new favorite podcast — *Growing Down*. It brings together integral philosophy with progressive politics (if you're a progressive who's dissatisfied with the Left, it's for you). And I was recently interviewed on the show! And thus, Infinite Lunchbox presents Growing Down featuring yours truly. Hosts Jeremy Johnson, Ryan Nakade, Matt Hudkins, and I talk about the 'integral left' philosophy that inspires my work, may inspire the likes of ContraPoints and Krystal Ball, and c...
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 11
In the last episode of Infinite Lunchbox -- Uncanceling ContraPoints -- we explored how YouTube Left superstar ContraPoints embodies *integral philosophy*. We theorized that integral philosophy can help her jujitsu with her detractors. And so: let's put that theory to the test! Let's see how integral thinking can help ContraPoints jujitsu with right-wing trans YouTuber Rose of Dawn. If you know ContraPoints, you need no convincing to stick around. If you don't, watch Uncanceling ContraPoints fir...
May 29, 2020•21 min•Ep. 10
She's been called the "Oscar Wilde of YouTube," and her videos have been archived by the Library of Congress. I'm talking about ContraPoints, aka Natalie Wynn -- a transgender ex-philosopher and leading personality of the YouTube left, who was recently canceled by many on the far left. In this episode of the Infinite Lunchbox: how can ContraPoints transcend cancel culture? And how can she do that through the emerging philosophy of the *Integral Left*? Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than hear...
May 12, 2020•22 min•Ep. 9
Joe Biden stands accused of sexual assault. And the Democratic Party leadership, which has been loud in its support for #MeToo, is conspicuously……..silent. Is it possible to support Biden's candidacy without abandoning #MeToo? Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider *watching* this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUoBYHx_cMs Show Notes: • Reckonings episode #23: http://www.reckonings.show/episodes/23 • Joe Biden's 2019 not-quite-apology video: https://twitter...
Apr 22, 2020•12 min•Ep. 8
As we sit at home — social-distancing and sheltering-in-place — we're suddenly feeling pretty grateful for Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facebook, and Twitter. And perhaps, not so resentful of our tech overlords. How does our relationship with different technologies *change* over time? In this episode of the Infinite Lunchbox, we explore the "backlash-to-the-techlash" with the help of the Gartner hype cycle. Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider *watching* this episode on YouTube: ht...
Apr 16, 2020•9 min•Ep. 7
How do we cover the communications of a White House that has little allegiance to truth? Especially in the context of a public health crisis, when lies can be fatal? Get ready for some *post-truth jujitsu*. NOTE: Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider watching on YouTube . Show Notes: • Jay Rosen on an "emergency setting" and tactic #3: The Truth Sandwich: https://pressthink.org/2020/03/today-we-switch-our-coverage-of-donald-trump-to-an-emergency-setting/ • Dan Froomkin on tact...
Apr 09, 2020•15 min
At the Infinite Lunchbox, we don't just make sense of this moment. We also make *lemonade*. And in that spirit, let's savor 10 political-yet-hopeful things that can give us faith in our capacity to navigate the pandemic. NOTE: Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider watching on YouTube . Show Notes: • The Redemption Project • Nanette • The Leadership LAB & Los Angeles LGBT Center's Leadership Treatment (scroll to 7:30) • This American Life's reconsideration of the LGBT Cente...
Apr 02, 2020•19 min•Ep. 5
Science is amazing at building public consensus……except when it's not. Think science on climate change, vaccines, and coronavirus. In these circumstances, the stakes and uncertainty are so high, that normal peer-reviewed science fails to reach public consensus. But if not normal science, what type of science can we use? Introducing *post-normal science*. NOTE: Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider watching on YouTube . Show Notes: • Post-Normal Science • Infinite Lunchbox epis...
Mar 25, 2020•12 min•Ep. 4
How did we get so tribal? And where did Trump come from?! There have been a gazillion attempted answers to those questions, and this episode, the Infinite Lunchbox offers a fresh one -- from the perspective of the evolution of *human consciousness*. You thought Maslow's hierarchy was good? Buckle up for the Spiral Dynamics of Consciousness. NOTE: Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider watching on YouTube: https://bit.ly/spiralbacklash Show Notes: • Spiral Dynamics: https://www....
Mar 19, 2020•19 min•Ep. 3
Why do we suddenly love New York Governor Andrew Cuomo? Perhaps because effective leadership is suited to its circumstances, and Cuomo's leadership style is uniquely suited to our public health crisis? In this episode of the Infinite Lunchbox, we get a fresh take on leadership in times of crisis, and strategy in times of change -- aka *integral strategy*. NOTE: Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider watching on YouTube: https://bit.ly/integralstrategy Show Notes: • Ken Wilber's...
Mar 18, 2020•11 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to the Infinite Lunchbox, where we're making sense of (and lemonade with) this moment. SWEET. And….what does that actually mean? Infinite Lunchbox is better viewed than heard — consider *watching* on YouTube . If you appreciate the Infinite Lunchbox, please keep it alive! Thank you: patreon.com/stephlepp
Mar 18, 2020•3 min•Ep. 1
