Rebel Wisdom

Latest Episodes:

Web3: Tech vs the Human Condition, Jordan Hall Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

Web3 is the collective name for the latest wave of innovation online. Touted as much more decentralised, democratic and creative than the current web ecosystem, for its evangelists it's our best hope to innovate our way out of many our most pressing societal problems.

Jordan Hall is a tech entrepreneur and Deep Code analyst, who has been deeply involved in what is now being called Web1, the early garage innovators who created the early internet, and also Web2, when cyberspace was colonised by the the new monoliths like Google, Facebook and Apple. He's deeply invested in the success of Web3.

In this conversation with Rebel Wisdom, Jordan discusses the possible trajectory of Web3, how well developed the space is, and also the problems that are becoming ever more apparent. In particular how the early hopes that Web3 might be able to find tech solutions to the eternal problems of human beings coordinating together, seem to be failing.

We will be hosting an open discussion on Web3 and the questions raised by this conversation on Tuesday December 21st, this will be open to all, register here to take part: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sc-mpqj4qE9XG61uH1sGi5KBUeICxwGcz

Tech, Cults & the Cryptoqueen, Jamie Bartlett Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

Jamie Bartlett is a writer and journalist who's been investigating our complex relationship with technology for years, through books like People vs Tech, and recently through the hit podcast the Missing Crypto Queen.

In this conversation with Rebel Wisdom's David Fuller he talked about how technology was starting to play an almost religious role in our lives, how the rise of tech was a fundamental challenge to democracy, and about his famous run in with Alex Jones.

Missing Cryptoqueen podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nkd84/episodes/downloads

To join conversations in our Digital Campfire check out our upcoming events and membership options here: https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/campfire-events

Pagan to Christian, Paul Kingsnorth Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

Paul Kingsnorth is one of the most interesting voices wrestling with the deepest questions of modernity, religion and the spiritual void in western culture.

A former pagan - and long time environmentalist - a couple of years ago he had a completely unexpected conversion to Christianity, which he outlined in his fascinating piece The Cross and the Machine: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2021/06/the-cross-and-the-machine

In this conversation in Rebel Wisdom's Digital Campfire we discussed his journey, and reflected on the deep Christian story that we're all immersed in in the west - and if it's even possible to move outside it?

To join conversations like this, check out our membership options: https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/plans

Check out Paul's newsletter, The Abbey of Misrule: https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com/

The Psychospiritual Legacy of The Beatles, Erik Davis & Anderson Todd Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

Why are we still obsessed with The Beatles, and is it healthy? Fifty years after they broke up, it seems that the mark they made on our culture has not faded. Does this demonstrate the timeless genius of the band, or is it a sign of a culture that is stuck?

A few days ago saw the release of an eight hour fly-on-the-wall documentary 'Get Back', made by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. It shows some of their last sessions as they put together the album 'Let it Be', and culminated in their famous rooftop concert.

Erik Davis is the foremost historian of the counterculture, and Anderson Todd works in the Wisdom and Consciousness Lab at Toronto University. In this epic conversational riff they examine what was captured in The Beatles' music and why it resonates today.

This conversation was recorded in the Rebel Wisdom Digital Campfire. To join conversations like this check out our upcoming events: https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/campfire-events

Check out Erik's newsletter, 'The Burning Shore' https://techgnosis.com/discover-burning-shore/

Will Magic Mushrooms Be Legalised? with David Nutt, Crispin Blunt & Tom Eckert Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Are the UK and US about to legalise magic mushrooms? A number of cities and states in the US have decriminalised psychedelics, and recent headlines in the UK have reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is thinking of rescheduling psilocybin.

But 50 years into the war on drugs, is widespread legalisation a real possibility? In this film Alexander Beiner speaks with three experts to find out. Professor David Nutt heads up Drug Science, the UK’s leading independent body on drugs. Crispin Blunt is a British Member of Parliament campaigning to reschedule psilocybin. Tom Eckert co-led the campaign to successfully legalise psilocybin therapy in Oregon, providing a model for how legalisation campaigns of the might look.

Become a Rebel Wisdom member to join practice sessions, live Q&A's and more on www.patreon.com/rebelwisdom Learn more about Drug Science on drugscience.org.uk

Find out more about the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group on https://www.cdprg.co.uk/

‘Is Reality All In Your Head?‘ with Bernardo Kastrup Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

Is reality created in our minds, or are the things you can touch and feel all that's real? Philosopher Bernardo Kastrup holds doctorates in both philosophy and computer science, and has made a name for himself by arguing for metaphysical idealism, the idea that reality is essentially a mental phenomenon.

In this Showcase he explains why he's come to this conclusion, and why this age-old debate in philosophy can help us make sense of everything from how we practice science to how we navigate the meaning crisis.
Check out Bernardo's work on https://www.bernardokastrup.com/
Follow him on Twitter @bernardokastrup
Participate in conversations like this in our Digital Campfire by becoming a Rebel Wisdom member on https://www.patreon.com/rebelwisdom

The Matter With Things, Iain McGilchrist Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

In ‘The Matter with Things’, Iain McGilchrist tackles the big questions: Who are we? What is the world? How can we understand consciousness, matter, space and time? What happens if we neglect the sacred and divine?

He argues that we have become enslaved to an account of things dominated by a partial view dominated by the brain’s left hemisphere, one that blinds us to an awe-inspiring reality that is all around us, had we but eyes to see it. He suggests that in order to understand ourselves and the world we need science and intuition, reason and imagination, not just one or two. When we do, we tap into an understanding that is both profound and beautiful, in line with the deepest traditions of human wisdom.

Dr. Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist, philosopher and literary scholar. He is a Quondam Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and of the Royal Society of Arts, as well as a former Clinical Director of the Bethlem Royal & Maudsley Hospital, London. With a gift for synthesising neuroscience, culture and philosophy, his thought has provided essential frames for making sense of the times we live in and proved particularly influential on Rebel Wisdom.

John Vervaeke, Documentary Project Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

This is a short podcast to announce an upcoming film project with John Vervaeke, and an opportunity to contribute ideas and skills to help make it happen.

The aim of the film is primarily to answer the question 'Where do you start?' when encountering John's work, what do you send to someone as an introduction?

We are particularly interested to hear from skilled animators, documentary producers or other TV folk. Other contributions on how to tell the story also welcome - email: projects@rebelwisdom.co.uk

Lab Leak For & Against, Yuri Deigin & Stuart Neil Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

The question of where Covid-19 came from has become one of the most contentious and heated topics. Even the US intelligence community is split between those who believe it most likely emerged naturally from the wild and those who believe it came from a lab, the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

This is a conversation about where the evidence points between Yuri Deigin of the DRASTIC collective that has been researching the lab, and Stuart Neil, a virology professor at Kings College in the UK.

There is a fair amount of technical detail in this conversation, which is being released unedited. To help the more casual viewer we have listed relevant timecodes to the more accessible parts of the dialogue.

03:30 - How has this debate been going so far?

05:14 - Yuri, how confident are you that it's a lab leak?

08:33 - Stuart, how confident are you that it's Zoonosis?

10:57 - Yuri, what are the key issues?

19:15 - Is the Furin Cleavage Site the 'smoking gun'?

27:07 - Stuart, what are the key issues for you?

27:23 - "No clear evidence of manipulation"

38:42 - "The design of the virus is implausible from an engineering perspective"

39:54 - Was the virus optimised for human transmission?

45:28 - Gain of Function experiments

51:15 - Is the DARPA grant a recipe for SARS-CoV-2?

54:26 - Are there any theories that can be discounted, eg: bioweapon?

01:00:14 - How much effort and manpower would it take to engineer?

01:04:30 - How would you engineer it?

01:10:42 - What do you think is the most likely scenario, Yuri?

01:13:10 - The livestock trade in China

01:15:19 - Why did the virus show up in Wuhan?

01:17:32 - What about the secrecy & cover up in China?

01:23:18 - The Mojiang mine & Drastic

01:27:38 - What about the virus RaTG13?

01:32:03 - How viruses are investigated in the lab

01:39:10 - What are the key questions that need to be resolved?

01:42:36 - Will we ever know the answer?

01:46:52 - Has anyone changed their mind?

Jules Evans - Essential Philosophy for Modern Life Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

What can Socrates teach us about identity politics? Can Mary Wollstonecraft give us a fresh take on free speech in the age of big tech? What would Carl Jung make of the strange union of the new age and far right known as ‘Conspirituality’?

This video introduces our latest course, led by award-winning public philosopher Jules Evans, looks at the big philosophical ideas and thinkers behind some of the noisiest issues of the day. With so much reaction and outrage in public debate, it can be difficult to step back and see the philosophical positions – the deep code – underlying these clashing currents. When we do, we can uncover essential insights that help us thrive in the times we live in.

https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/courses/essential-philosophy-for-modern-life

Essential Philosophy for Modern Life will take you on a journey of understanding the key philosophical ideas and arguments underlying today’s disputes. We will unpack these ideas in a critical and non-dogmatic way, introducing you to some of the leading thinkers and philosophies that can help you see where people are coming from, where your own philosophical sympathies might lie, and why there are always two sides to every argument.

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