Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Latest Episodes:

What Does It Mean to Live a Fulfilling Life? The Candy Ken Show Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

What does it mean to live a fulfilling life? Why should we commit to one person? Why are we as a society so obsessed with wealth? And why do I consider being a parent the most important role in my life?

I had the pleasure of chatting about these profound topics with Candy Ken on his show. Enjoy!

Candy Ken is an Austrian rapper, model, and social media personality known for his flamboyant, colorful style and hyper-masculine persona that challenges traditional gender norms. He gained popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where he combines elements of kawaii culture, macho aesthetics, and pop culture references. He’s the host of The Candy Ken Show.

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro
01:13 Committing to one person
02:34 Chasing external achievements
04:00 The most important role in life
12:18 Cultural obsession with wealth
24:47 The importance of male role models
33:21 Are you a slave to work?
43:29 Losing the Nobel Prize
48:39 Into the Impossible
51:25 The politicization of the Nobel Prize
01:01:08 Aliens, ancient civilizations and religion
01:21:49 Finding happiness
01:29:51 Outro

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Additional resources:

➡️ Check out Candy Ken:

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzxn731KM8sfH_LS7-ekbTg

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How I Lost the Nobel Prize and What I Learned from the Experience w/ Jordan Harbinger Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

What’s it like to almost win and then lose the Nobel Prize?

In 2014, using the BICEP2 telescope, we believed we had caught a glimpse of the spark that ignited the universe. Millions watched our announcement live from Harvard, sparking rumors of a Nobel Prize. But were we truly seeing the cosmic prologue, or were we deceived by a galactic mirage?

I had the pleasure of discussing BICEP2's discovery, the intense scientific drama that followed, and what I learned from the whole experience with Jordan Harbinger on his show. Enjoy!

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro
01:47 The discovery that almost won me the Nobel Prize
03:30 Why I didn’t end up getting the Nobel Prize
10:41 Everything wrong with the Nobel Prize
16:36 Ethical wills
24:02 Deprogramming yourself
37:20 Reframing losses
46:37 Outro

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Additional resources:

➡️ Check out The Jordan Harbinger Show:

💻 Website: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giving the Devil His Due: In Defense of Free Speech w/ Michael Shermer Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

If we can censor one person, we can censor everyone.

Our freedom is strongly linked to other people's freedom ... Even those with whom we disagree.

This idea has been explored in great detail by Dr Michael Shermer in his book Giving the Devil His Due. I had the pleasure of reading the book and discussing it with Michael in the early days of the pandemic. So here is a little throwback episode for you!

Enjoy.

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Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:05:01 Abducted by aliens
00:11:51 Judging a book by its cover
00:22:36 Free speech and campus culture
00:32:20 How should we govern Mars?
00:42:31 Science, religion, and mortality
00:55:19 Scientists as public figures
01:03:16 Challenges of teaching at a university level
01:12:44 Meaning and purpose in the universe
01:30:58 Skepticism as a movement
01:40:48 Final thoughts

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Additional resources:

➡️ Check out Michael Shermer:

📚 Giving the Devil His Due: https://a.co/d/8q3Gzs1

💻 Website: https://michaelshermer.com/

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Dawkins On Genes, Memes, AI, Religion, and Life Beyond Earth [Ep. 454] Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

Why are men's sex drives so strong? Can genetic information be destroyed? And why does the desert lizard have such intricate patterns?

I had the extraordinary privilege of exploring these topics with Richard Dawkins, one of the world’s most influential and thought-provoking scientists!

Dawkins is a renowned evolutionary biologist, zoologist, and author. He is also a prominent figure in New Atheism alongside Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens and is well known for his criticisms of creationism and intelligent design.

In our wide-ranging conversation, we explored the evolution of sex drive and aesthetic appreciation, genetics, the intersection of theoretical and experimental science, the potential of artificial intelligence, and more.

Tune in!

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro
01:56 Why is the sex drive in men so strong?
04:44 DNA, origin of life and panspermia
10:28 Is there life elsewhere in the universe?
14:58 Memes and their evolution
21:13 Homage to Daniel Dennett
23:20 Natural selection and evolution
26:59 The threats and opportunities of AI
31:05 A shifting moral zeitgeist
35:15 Science communication
43:02 Audience questions
47:01 Technology, magic, and time capsules
56:22 Outro

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Additional resources:

➡️ Learn more about Richard Dawkins:

✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/RichardDawkins/

💻 Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com/

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What It Takes to Achieve Great Scientific Breakthroughs w/ Rick Walker [Ep. 453] Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

What does it take to achieve great breakthroughs in science? What makes Galileo’s approach to science still relevant today? And why is it essential for scientists to communicate their work to the general public?

Last month, I was invited to Rick Walker's podcast to give his listeners insight into the mind of a scientist. We also discussed the cosmic microwave background, unifying the laws of gravity and quantum mechanics, and more.

Tune in!

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Key Takeaways: 

00:00 Intro
01:18 Science, curiosity, and creativity
08:46 Entertainment scientists
12:59 The relationship between mathematics and science
20:22 Einstein’s unfinished dream
24:17 Heisenberg uncertainty principle
29:09 Galileo’s approach to science
34:51 My content creation process
39:49 The cosmic microwave background
48:16 Quickfire
52:25 Outro

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Additional resources:

➡️ Check out Rick Walker’s Podcast:

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3V74xC3Qv8HZchgn_tYWoA

🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rick-walker-podcast/id1667818152

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Truth About Terrence Howard's Patents: Part 2 Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

Getting it right is the hallmark of any great scientist. And when we don’t, we should be able to say we were wrong.

In part 2 of debunking all the claims Terrence Howard made on the Joe Rogan Experience, I start by first apologizing for misrepresenting the number of patents Howard has.

Even though he doesn’t have the 97 patents he claimed to have, he does hold quite a few, contrary to my earlier assertions.

But this episode is not all sunshine and rainbows. I actually go through 17 different newfound complaints about that conversation.

This video will go through each one of those points, and we'll even take a deep dive into one of Eric Weinstein's favorite hobby horses, peer review.

Tune in!

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

00:46 Apology for errors about Howard's patents

01:48 Overview of Howard's actual patent portfolio

06:48 Importance of precise scientific communication

14:37 Is there north and south in space?

15:28 Penrose stairs, scientific collaboration, quantum entanglement

19:36 The role of patents in science

22:44 The relationship between photons and electrons

25:45 Critique of Howard's scientific claims

31:04 Defense of peer review in science

43:32 Potential innovations in scientific publishing

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Additional resources:

➡️ Part 1: https://youtu.be/Et5Ripimfs8

➡️ Find the full list of Terrence Howard’s patents here: https://briankeating.com/th/

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pentagon’s Former UFO Chief Speaks Out On UAPs & Government Secrets | Sean Kirkpatrick [Ep. 451] Aug 11, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever wondered what’s happening inside the US government’s UFO program? How far has our hunt for aliens come? Are they hiding evidence of alien life or alien technology? And how should we deal with all the misinformation surrounding these subjects?

Here today to speak out on the intricacies of our national (and amateur) hunt for aliens is none other than Sean Kirkpatrick, Pentagon’s former UFO chief. Primarily a laser and materials physicist, Kirkpatrick became the first director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) at the United States Department of Defense. The AARO is responsible for investigating unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs. Later, he quit his position as director of the AARO due to constant threats and harassment.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro
01:43 Are we in a conspiracy?
06:48 The impact of Venus on UFO sightings
10:42 Does the public have a right to classified data?
18:22 Government projects mistaken for alien tech
21:30 Biases in UFO sightings
27:51 Trends in UFO reports
32:26 Trust in government agencies
36:38 Actors in the search for truth
44:29 Government investigations
49:50 Audience questions
59:22 Outro

Additional resources:

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perspectives on the Theory of Everything with Eric Weinstein, Sabine Hossenfelder, & Lee Smolin Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Are we any closer to understanding the fundamental nature of reality?

Experimental evidence for any current Theory of Everything is, at best, inconclusive. This is perhaps the greatest fundamental challenge facing physics.

That lack of progress has opened up a sea of controversy.

In this thought-provoking episode, I joined forces with Matt O’Dowd to debate some of the brightest minds in theoretical physics on the complexities surrounding the quest for a Theory of Everything. We were joined by Eric Weinstein, Sabine Hossenfelder, and Lee Smolin,

We discussed the historical context and current challenges of unifying quantum mechanics with gravity, and the need for fresh perspectives and a broader range of approaches.

Tune in!

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction to the quest for a theory of everything
03:35 Lee Smolin explains different meanings of "theory of everything"
07:22 Sabina Hossenfelder discusses approaches to quantum gravity
18:38 Eric Weinstein critiques the current state of theoretical physics
34:38 Debate on the role of beauty in physics theories
48:37 Discussion on the testability of quantum gravity theories
59:15 Eric Weinstein explains aspects of his geometric unity theory
1:14:19 Debate on resource allocation in physics research
1:20:25 Advice for young aspiring physicists

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Additional resources:

Connect with:

➡️ Sabine Hossenfelder

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SabineHossenfelder

Lost in Math: How Beauty Led Physics Astray: https://amzn.to/3kL9huy

➡️ Eric Weinstein

The Portal Podcast: https://ericweinstein.org/

The Portal Wiki: https://projects.theportal.wiki/

➡️ Lee Smolin

The Trouble With Physics: https://amzn.to/3agWJpH

Einstein's Unfinished Revolution: https://amzn.to/30LW7VV

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MASSIVE STEM Graduate Exodus - What’s Going Wrong? | John Skrentny Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

Did you know that most STEM graduates don't end up working in STEM fields?

This surprising fact isn’t due to a lack of demand—tech companies dominate our landscape, from AI to smartphones, yet up to 70% of STEM graduates choose different paths.

Why is that? Are we failing our STEM graduates?

I sat down with John Skrentny, a renowned sociologist and professor at UCSD. John recently explored this issue in his thought-provoking book Wasted Education. We unpack why many STEM graduates feel undervalued and unfulfilled in their jobs, leading them to leave the field entirely.

John shares his thoughts on the cultural and systemic problems within the tech industry that contribute to this attrition.

From poor employer treatment to the toxic work culture, we discuss what needs to change to retain our brightest minds in STEM.

How can we better support them? Tune in to this thought-provoking episode to find out.

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

01:07 Realities of STEM education and employment

12:18 The leaky pipeline in STEM education

17:35 Job satisfaction of STEM grads

18:36 Wasted Education Book Review

23:32 The ambiguity in the categorization of STEM

41:35 AI and the Future of STEM

51:12 Importance of science communication

58:04 STEM skills treadmill and constant retraining

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Additional resources:

➡️ Connect with John Skrentny:

Website: https://quote.ucsd.edu/jskrentny/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnskrentny

Wasted Education Book: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo206855230.html

Other books: https://quote.ucsd.edu/jskrentny/books/

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➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

—

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Carroll: Quantum Mechanics and the Many Worlds Interpretation Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I interview renowned theoretical physicist Sean Carroll to discuss his book Something Deeply Hidden. Sean breaks down complex ideas in quantum mechanics and cosmology in his popular science books.

His research involves theoretical physics and astrophysics, especially cosmology, field theory, and gravitation.

Sean takes us on a journey through the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, a theory that suggests every possible outcome of a quantum event actually occurs in its own separate universe.

He explains how this theory changes our understanding of reality by connecting to other areas like gravity and cosmology.

We discuss experiments that could test this mind-bending theory and why abandoning classical assumptions is key for scientific advancement.

Listen to this episode now and expand your understanding of the universe.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways: