Darrell Becker is back for the third installment of the Artificial Intelligence series. This time we do a movie review of Transcendence, starring Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall. What are the major themes of the film, and how do they relate to our continuing discussion? This conversation goes from science to psychology to philosophy and beyond!
I’m joined by Fergus Hodgson, the Editor in Chief of the Pan Am Post. We discuss the challenges and rewards encountered working in “new media,” including being harassed by people who earn a paycheck from the government to troll on the internet. Is it important to follow current events? What about political action and personal action and your sphere of influence? Do people get their jollies by being felt up by the TSA? What does Fergus have to say about international living, perpetual travel, and...
Drew Sample and I do a book review of Christopher Ryan’s Sex at Dawn. Are pair bonding and monogamy human nature? What does science say about polyamory and promiscuity? We break down the evidence presented in the book spanning anthropology, human anatomy, psychology, and primatology. What can we learn about human sexuality from the shape and size of the human penis? What does it really mean to have “sex like an animal?” Are women kinkier than men? The conversation covers a lot of ground, even ge...
Darrell Becker is back for the second installment of the Artificial Intelligence series. This time we review the science fiction classic The Moon is a Harsh Mistress from Robert A. Heinlein. We cover in detail the role of artificial intelligence in this novel, plus many other interesting topics related to the tale. Is this book truly a libertarian manifesto? How well does it hold up as revolutionary guidebook? Are there superior family systems than monogamy? All that, and more! Click here for pa...
Here is part 2 of my discussion with a funeral director. We continue the deep dive into the industry of death, plus branch out into a few related (and not so related) topics, including grief counseling, finding your purpose, and growing your business. Here is a link to part 1: http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/two-beers-with-the-undertaker-part-1 Here is the standup comedy discussed during the show. You may wish to skip to about 9 minutes to get to the good stuff: http://www.nerdist.com/pepi...
Steve is back to talk about his day job as a funeral director. We get an inside peak into what it’s like working in this most fascinating of professions. In addition, we start the conversation off discussing a side topic: the relationship between humility, arrogance, and authenticity. Due to the length of the conversation, I’m releasing it in two separate podcasts. Part 2 will be published soon. Here is the standup comedy discussed during the show. You may wish to skip to about 9 minutes to get ...
Welcome to part one of the Artificial Intelligence series. In this episode, Darrell Becker and I review the Spike Jonze movie Her. We break down the movie and go over the major themes: love, intimacy, technology. The conversation then led into AI’s in general, the potential for good, the potential for bad, and how they are already changing our world. We laughed, we cried, we had a really good time. Check it out! Find more from Darrell here: http://voluntaryvisions.com/ http://choiceconversations...
Kevin Geary joins me for a discussion with Miro from the Raising Miro on the Road of Life blog. Miro tells us about his life style as an unschooler/world schooler. What are the pros and cons of his nomadic lifestyle? How did Miro and his mother Lainie obtain financial freedom? Where does Miro stand on freedom, liberty, and culture? All this and more in today’s show! Find more from Miro here: http://www.raisingmiro.com/ http://projectworldschool.com/ http://choiceconversations.libsyn.com/the-worl...
Drew Sample from The Sample Hour joins me for a wide ranging discussion. Here is just a “sample” of what we cover: Democrats and Republicans are half right. Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, and the NFL. Is voting important? Why democrats are a bigger threat to civil liberties than republicans. Why republicans grow the size of government. The importance of living a principled life. What we’ve learned from podcasting. The evils of prohibition. Prison is big business. Maurice Clarett, Terrelle Pryor, the...
I was recently on The Rebooted Body podcast with Kevin Geary, talking to blogger and author Christopher James Clark. Christopher wrote an article for The Huffington Post about a potential new tax on sugar in the United States. The three of us discuss this article at length and delve deep into the pros and cons of attempting to use government violence to force social change. Here is Christopher’s article on sugar taxation: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/christopher-james-clark/sugar-taxation_b_5...
Hunter Clarke-Fields joins me to discuss mindfulness, yoga, and self-care. What is the difference between meditation, mindfulness, and yoga? What are the benefits? Any useful tips for making life an amazing experience? We cover all of this and more during this engaging conversation. Find more from Hunter here: http://www.hunteryoga.com Check out my new podcast with Kevin Geary, Reboot Your Kids! Is one Chris Stefanick podcast not enough for you? I have just the thing! In the Reboot Your Kids pod...
So sacrifice is a virtue and selfishness is a vice, right? Not so fast! Wes Bertrand joins me to discuss the philosophy of self-interest. Of course much of the time is spent talking about Ayn Rand’s great book on the topic, The Virtue of Selfishness. What is wrong with sacrifice? Isn't selfishness evil? Wes and I go deep on this one, exploring the effects of the dominant belief in today’s culture, the philosophy of sacrifice, and how that contrasts with Ayn Rand's philosophy. Find more from Wes ...
I was recently a guest on The College Football Show with Andrew T. Evans, talking about Ohio State’s upcoming season. We cover Braxton Miller’s injury, J.T. Barrett, the new defensive coordinator, our predictions for the year, and much more! I realize this is a bit different from what you’re used to seeing here on Choice Conversations. I must admit that if you’re not a fan of Big Ten football then this is probably not the show for you. Find more from Andy here: https://twitter.com/osuae http://w...
In today’s show I have a round table discussion with Antony Sammeroff and Rock Barcellos on having relationships with people who are still plugged in to the matrix. What is it like after having taken the red pill? What do we mean when we say we’ve taken the red pill? We’re talking about going against cultural norms, going through a philosophical awakening. This covers a variety of topics which I’ve discussed in previous episodes: · Voluntarism · Atheism · Philosophy in relationships (defoo, etc)...
Kevin Geary started a new podcast called Reboot Your Kids, “the intersection of real food, peaceful parenting, alternative schooling, and a healthy lifestyle.” He asked me if I’d co-host, and I graciously accepted. Please give it a listen. I think you’ll like it. Find more from Kevin here: http://rebootyourkids.com/ http://rebootedbody.com/ Choice Conversations is now on Facebook. Stop in, say hi, discuss the shows, and more! If you like Choice Conversations then "like" me on facebook, get notif...
Antony Sammeroff is back, and this time we focus on parenting. We discuss the importance of being authentic and cultivating good will. I relate some of my personal experiences parenting, and Antony shares several of his experiences with children as well. There were definitely some touching moments in the conversation. If you think you’ll enjoy this discussion half as much as I did then you won’t want to miss it! Find more from Antony here: https://www.youtube.com/TheProgressiveParent https://www...
Paul Jaminet joins me to discuss his book and blog, The Perfect Health Diet. Paul delivers some great news: the perfect diet for health is also the most delicious diet! Learn how to lengthen your lifespan while pleasing your palate. No compromises here! We cover a great deal of ground, going beyond just diet. What are the benefits of intermittent fasting and how best to do it? Likewise, what are the benefits of improving your circadian rhythms and how best to do it? What are the best supplementa...
Jake Desyllas from The Voluntary Life podcast joins me to talk about financial freedom. What is financial freedom? What are the different paths to get there? How does investing fit in? What about real estate? We cover a great deal of ground in the conversation, dipping into related topics and not so related topics. What are the economics of voluntarism? Why does communism fail? How does the family relate to government? How does the family relate to a job you might take? All of that, and much, mu...
Erik Townsend is back to discuss the recent stimulus package from the European Central Bank. What was done? What was the thinking behind this move? What are the unseen risks? Are government guaranteed loans far behind? Is the economy faltering? Where do investors find yield in this negative interest rate environment? What is the status of the US bond market crisis? We cover all of this and more! Find more from Erik here: http://www.eriktownsend.com/ Previous appearances on the show: http://choic...
What do Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Glenn Greenwald, and Edward Snowden have in common? All were part of the discussion I had with Dan Carlin about the state of the media, be it mainstream or alternative. We talk about the importance of the media in a representative democracy, and how far things have gone awry. From there we segue nicely into a discussion of Dan’s political views and how they compare to mine. Find more from Dan here: http://www.dancarlin.com/ Previous appearance on the show by ...
Kevin Geary from the Rebooted Body podcast joins me for a discussion. In the first half of our conversation we talk about his approach to helping people down a healthier path as an integrative health coach. In the second half, we dive into the Chasing Greatness series he has on his podcast, detailing the steps required to free yourself from the chains of society and to become truly great. Topics covered include the importance of blood tests, supplements, authenticity, choosing who you allow in y...
Antony Sammeroff joins me for a discussion about authentic relationships. What are the benefits of authentic relationships and, what are the qualities needed to have them? I found this conversation to not only be both fun and intellectually stimulating, but also inspiring. Not only is Antony knowledgeable and well-spoken, but he has a presence about him where you can’t help but want to better yourself after listening to him. I hope you have a similar experience to mine with this interview. Find ...
Sylvia Haskvitz, author of Eat by Choice, Not by Habit, joins me for a discussion. Being both a registered dietitian and a certified NVC trainer, Sylvia offers a rare opportunity to talk about improving nutrition and communication at the same time. We discuss the importance of the language we use when talking to ourselves about food, and how self-awareness is key. Why are we eating? Are we hungry, are we filling a nutritional need, or is this a copying mechanism for something deeper? Sylvia has ...
Ralph Weber, President of Medibid Inc and author of MediCrats: Medical Bureaucrats that Rule your Health Care, joins me for a discussion. We talk about why the cost of healthcare keeps rising, and how his company, Medibid, can reduce those costs by stepping outside the system and enabling the free market. We discuss the ridiculousness of Obamacare, pre-existing conditions, insurance fraud, and more! Find more from Ralph here: http://www.medibid.com/ Also mentioned during the show, Anesthesia Fra...
Wes Bertrand from the Complete Liberty podcast joins me for a movie review as we tackle No Strings Attached, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. This is not your typical Siskel and Ebert or Rotten Apples style movie review. Instead, we take a more philosophical look at the movie, delving into the cultural memes, the psychological wounds displayed by the characters, the lack of self-awareness, and even a quick look at homophobia. Find more from Wes here: http://completeliberty.com http:/...
Greg and Priscilla Hunt from BetterMarriages.org join me to discuss marriage enrichment. Marriage enrichment is not like marriage counseling. Marriage counseling is triage for when a couple is in serious trouble. Marriage enrichment, on the other hand, is support for couples who are looking to improve their relationship and strengthen their connection, whether they’ve been married for 40 days or 40 years. It includes skills for healthy communication, creatively handling conflicts, increasing int...
Anna Perry, Executive Director of Seton Montessori Institute and Seton Montessori School, joins me to talk about the Montessori Method of education. We discuss the pros and cons of Montessori and relate some of our personal experiences with Montessori schools. Find more from Seton Montessori here: http://setonmontessori.org/ Montessori Madness with Trevor Eissler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcgN0lEh5IA http://www.montessorimadness.com/ American Montessori Society: http://amshq.org/ Links to ...
Kevin Koskella from the Freedom Lovin podcast joins me to discuss how he found freedom in an unfree world. We cover his six strategies for increasing personal freedom: 1. Emotional freedom. This is the first step before anything else. He recommends Nathaniel Branden's work, Non-violent communication, and Acceptance therapy. Without breaking free in this realm, you won't be free anywhere else in life. Focus on this personal stuff first and go out from there. 2. Travel. Traveling can open up new w...
Steve Patterson interviews me about my quest for better health. We discuss my story, going from a 38 inch waste and extra large size tee-shirts to a 32 inch waste and small tee-shirts, all while eating as much food as I want, and having more energy! What is the paleo diet? Why are grains unhealthy? What is 80/20, and how does it make sticking with the paleo diet much easier? How does the vegan diet stack up against the paleo diet? We discuss all this and more. For full disclosure’s sake, I missp...
Professional wrestler Glenn Jacobs, who goes by the ring name of Kane in the WWE, joined me on New Year’s Day 2014 for a great discussion. Glenn told me about his journey, getting into professional wrestling, and how that impacted the growth of his political and economic views. We then took a hard look at the Federal Reserve, the NSA, and the TSA. Was 9/11 not a big deal? Is the public school system undermining American freedom? How far is the USA from Soviet-style totalitarianism? Can the inter...
