On What Matters - podcast cover

On What Matters

Coleman Snellxriskpodcast.com
What are the greatest forces, risks, and ideas that define the 21st Century? Each week existential risk researcher Coleman Snell speaks with academics, thinkers, and artists whose work speaks to life in the 21st Century for the modern individual. We talk about the biggest risks/challenges facing our species, solutions, unique aspects of 21st Century Life, and how we can find meaning in this strange century. Learn more about the field of global catastrophic & existential risk and about the podcast at https://xriskpodcast.com/ Thanks for supporting the Podcast! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onwhatmatters/support
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Episodes

#25 - TTotal Part 2, Biorisk and AI Risk

In part 2 of Coleman's discussion with TTotal, the pair discuss biorisk, ai risk, and various other components of the current existential risk landscape--focusing in on their points of disagreement and agreement.

Dec 17, 202445 minSeason 2Ep. 4

#24 - Critqiues of X-Risk, AI, and EA with TTotal

Become a Patron on Patreon and support the show! Check out Titotal's Articles if you enjoyed the conversation! In this conversation, Coleman and TiTotal discuss critiques surrounding Effective Altruism and the rationality community. They emphasize the complexities of computational physics and the limitations of AI in making significant scientific breakthroughs. The discussion also touches on the importance of peer review, the challenges of nanotechnology, and the need for humility in scientific ...

Nov 29, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 2Ep. 3

#23 - National Security and Surviving Disinformation with Ryan McBeth

Become a Patron on Patreon and support the show! Check out Ryan McBeth 's channel if you enjoyed the conversation! Ryan McBeth, a software engineer and cybersecurity expert, discusses his work in combating disinformation and misinformation online. He explains his methodology of using Occam's razor to analyze information and debunk conspiracy theories. Ryan also talks about the importance of internet literacy and the promotion of critical thinking. He shares examples of disinformation he has enco...

Nov 14, 20241 hr 32 minSeason 2Ep. 2

#22 - Superintelligence, AI, and Extinction with Darren McKee

On this episode of the podcast, Coleman sits down with Darren McKee to discuss his book Uncontrollable: The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence and the Race to Save the World . The two discuss the central case for concern surrounding AI risk, deep fakes, and Darren’s approach to understanding the rapidly changing AI risk landscape. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onwhatmatters/support...

May 03, 20241 hr 27 minSeason 2Ep. 1

#20 - Animal Ethics and the Moral Weight Project with Bob Fischer

Support 21st Talks on Our Patreon ! Coleman spoke with Bob Fischer, a researcher at Rethink Priorities who recently worked on the Moral Weights project . In the discussion, Dr. Fischer and Coleman discussed a range of topics relating to animal ethics, including the research methodology of the team and the role that intuitions play in striving to live a moral life. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onwhatmatters/support...

Feb 07, 20231 hr 22 minSeason 1Ep. 20

#19 - Tobias Baumann on S-Risks and Avoiding the Worst for Humanity

To stay up to date with all things 21st Talks, follow Coleman's Twitter & Instagram . Remember to rate this episode and, if you have the means, become a member on our Patreon ! This week Coleman sat down with Tobias Baumann and discussed his recent book on the topic of suffering risks (s-risks)! They spoke about the ethical claims behind aiming to minimize pain vs. aiming to maximize flourishing, distinctions of pain and suffering, and potential paths towards literally the worst ethical situ...

Jan 16, 20231 hr 21 minSeason 1Ep. 19

#18 - Anders Sandberg: Longtermism, Transhumanism, and Making Sense of the Existential Risk

In this episode, Coleman interviews Anders Sandberg, a senior research fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford. Dr. Sandberg and Coleman discuss living forever, transhumanism, longtermism, and new approaches to understanding existential risk work in the 21st century. Thank you to those in our community who have continued to show love and support for 21st Talks despite our extended hiatus. We are back and what an episode to jump into season 2 with! Stay in touch by following Coleman ...

Dec 19, 202246 minSeason 1Ep. 18

#17 - Artificial Intelligence Governance

Remember to support 21st Talks on Patreon with as little as $3 dollars a month! The first 25 patrons will receive exclusive 21st Talks sweatshirts that will only be available for a limited time! On this episode, Coleman explored the obstacles & successes of governing advanced technological risks of Artificial Intelligence with Cornell Professor Dr. Sarah Kreps and Researcher and Cornell Ph.D. Candidate Amelia Arsenault. Topics covered in this episode of the podcast include : The political ra...

May 27, 202257 minSeason 1Ep. 17

#16 - Emmanuel Daudu on Prison Reform, Freedom of Speech, and 21st Century Politics

Support us on Patreon ! This week Coleman sat down with Emmanuel Daudu, an incoming Google Legal Analyst and close friend at Cornell University where he is Pre Law. The two jump into a wide range of questions, including the development of a new politics for a 21st century, working-class struggle, and the underlying woes associated with 21st-century capitalism and what we can do to improve the system. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onwhatmatters/support...

May 01, 20221 hr 27 minSeason 1Ep. 16

#15 - The Heart of Effective Altruism with Dr. SJ Beard

In this episode, Coleman sat down with existential risk ethicists and researcher Dr. SJ Beard from Cambridge's Existential Risk Institute about the far future of humanity, ethical growth through generations, and the psychology behind striving to do the most good. The two also discussed opening the number of possible future worlds and how it connects to motivation to do the work that morally we must this century. "We are motivated by what we believe we can achieve, much more than what we think we...

Feb 06, 202257 minSeason 1Ep. 15

#14 - Governing Global Risks with Catherine Rhodes and Luke Kemp

In this episode, Coleman and Nathaniel speak with Luke Kemp and Catherine Rhodes, about the two researchers' views on governing existential threats within our international system. The four also discuss some of the leading challenges to effective international cooperation and mitigation of pressing threats facing our world like climate change, advanced technological threats, biosecurity, and inequality. Support 21st Talks on Patreon ! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/...

Dec 04, 20211 hr 27 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Q&A #1 - "Why Existential Risk Work?"

Support us by becoming a Patreon! Thank you for listening to the first episode of 21st-Talks Q&A! Remember to like and rate the podcast if you enjoyed it! It really goes to support the show's growth! Big thanks to everyone who has submitted questions for future Q&A #1! If you have a question you want answered for me or any other members of the 21st Talks project, you can follow me on Twitter at MajorKant and DM me directly. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho...

Oct 22, 202113 min

#13 - History of Existential Risk With Dr. SJ Beard (1/2)

Support Us by becoming a 21st Talks Patron What role have philosophers played in existential risk? What conditions lead to the field's origin? Today Coleman Speaks with Dr. SJ Beard of The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at Cambridge. Covering topics from SJ Beard and Phil Torres' 2020 article Ripples on the Great Sea of Life, which covers in great depth the history of existential risk. Share this episode with 1-3 friends or family, or give us a rating on spotify. Your support he...

Sep 17, 202137 minSeason 1Ep. 13

#12 - Can Engineering Inspired By Nature Save Humanity? W/ Dr. Joyce Cooper

Engineering practices are fundamental to overcoming obstacles facing society in the 21st Century. Existential threats like climate change, artificial intelligence, looming food and water insecurity Today I am speaking with Dr. Joyce Cooper who is a professor and researcher at the University of Washington’s Mechanical Engineering Department. Her work largely focuses on combining environmental assessment with product design and engineering. My co-host today is John Hamann, who is one of the Master...

Apr 01, 20211 hr 29 minSeason 1Ep. 12

#11 - Global Justice and Existential Risk with Dr. Ndidi Nwaneri

2Is global inequality an existential threat? How do question social justice connect to questions of the greatest threats facing our world in the 21st century and what might conceptions of global justice inform our approach to looming risks like climate change and how might global justice help us in our overcoming of these risks? This week Coleman speaks with Dr. Ndidi Nwaneri from Loyola University in Chicago. Dr. Nwaneri'ss research surrounds social development, global justice, and existential ...

Mar 15, 20211 hr 48 minSeason 1Ep. 11

#9 - Creating Sustainable Change with Dickson Despommier

How do we create sustainable change going forward into the future? Where do questions of equity fit into this discussion of the long-term health of global citizens? This week Coleman spoke with Dickson Despommier, an academic with over 30 years of experience in Public health at Columbia University and Fordham University. Dr. Despommier and Coleman discussed the future of agriculture and vertical farming in Episode 4 of the 21st talks podcast . Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on the Podca...

Dec 10, 20201 hr 41 minSeason 1Ep. 9

#8 - Lessons from Cambridge's Conference on Catastrophic Risk 2020

This was recorded on Coleman's third day of Cambridge's Conference on Catastrophic Risk 2020. Which is a conference with the world's leading experts on Global Catastrophic Risk put on by The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and Cambridge. This conference was incredible, I am so thankful for the insights and growth into this field that I love talking, reading, and researching so much. Existential Risk is here to stay and is quickly coming into a renaissance of discovery into questions con...

Nov 19, 202011 minSeason 1Ep. 8

#7 - Trumpism, Bipartisanship, and Threat to Democracy

Click here to Follow Us on Instagram What does Trumpism tell us about the future of Democracy? Is Democracy in threat by Bipartisanship? This week Coleman spoke with Professor Richard Arenberg from Brown University's Watson Institute about his research on Bipartisanship, where it came from, and why it continues to get worse! Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on the Podcast, Blog, and to apply for our Meaning Oriented Communities (MOC) program. Or fill out this link to get onto the MOC emai...

Nov 19, 20201 hr 15 minSeason 1Ep. 7

#5 - Correcting Quantum Mistakes With Elliot Lehrer

What are common misconceptions about Quantum Mechanics? What have been previous approaches to the field and what have past physicists, pop culture writers, and some new age folks on mass gotten wrong? This week’s conversation is with Elliot Lehrer, the science writer, and researcher for the 21st Century Blog and 21st Talks Podcast. Elliot is a senior at Brown University studying Physics. Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on the Podcast, Blog, and to apply for our Meaning Oriented Communiti...

Oct 26, 20201 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 5

#4 - Vertical Farming and the Future of Agriculture with Dickson Despommier

This week Coleman spoke with past Columbia University professor of Microbiology and Public Health Dr. Dickson Despommier. Despommier is a serial author, Ted talk deliverer, and speaker who has given numerous lectures on the role Vertical Farming will play in the future of agriculture and the tremendous threat a lack of innovation and change in our food systems will bring unless we change. Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on the Podcast, Blog, and to apply for our Meaning Oriented Communit...

Oct 20, 20201 hr 40 minSeason 1Ep. 4

#3 - Communicating Existential Threats with Dr. Lara Mani

How do you communicate facts about climate change, AI, and other global risks in a way that motivates action? What role does communication play in the field of Existential Risk? In episode #3 of the 21st Talks Podcast, Coleman talks Dr. Lara Mani who is a researcher at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge. The two discuss the challenges of communicating about existential/global catastrophic risks to the public, politicians, and business people, as well as effective routes to...

Oct 12, 20201 hr 23 minSeason 1Ep. 3

#2 - 21st Century Story Telling with Rycon Roleplays

In episode #2 of the 21st Talks Podcast, Coleman interviews Youtuber Rycon from the channel Rycon Roleplays. Rycon tells stories fully told to the audience through his voice acting and different video games. It's called Let's Roleplays and Coleman and Rycon discuss what this new mode of storytelling may have in store for the future as well as talking about Story Telling and its role in our lives (past, present, and future). Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on the Podcast, Blog, and to app...

Oct 11, 20201 hr 18 minSeason 1Ep. 2

#1 - Lessons from Deep History, Paleontology, and Existential Risk in a Modern Pandemic — With Adrian Currie

In the first episode of 21st Talks, Coleman Snell talks with Philosopher, Paleontologist, and Existential Risk expert Adrian Currie. They talk about disasters, What paleontology can tell us about our world's response to Covid-19, and the importance of cultivating narratives for our disaster response. What can the deep past tell us about our modern predicament? Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on the Podcast, Blog, and to apply for our Meaning Oriented Communities (MOC) program. Or fill ou...

Oct 07, 20201 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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