Serious Inquiries Only

Latest Episodes:

SIO418: The Polarization Express Jan 15, 2024

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Joe Magestro is back! First we get an update with what's going on in Wisconsin, and then we pick up where we left off in SIO405 to walk through why polarization happens, and what, if anything, we can do to reduce it.

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SIO417: Does Our Evolutionary History Doom Us To Failure? Jan 11, 2024

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When it comes to climate change, for example, it can certainly feel that way. Dr. Timothy Waring from The University of Maine has written a paper exploring these ideas. He's an expert in Cultural Evolution, and he believes that new lens may give us a clearer picture of our mysterious inability to solve many of these big challenges. You can read the paper here: Characteristic processes of human evolution caused the Anthropocene and may obstruct its global solutions Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO416: What Is A Living Wage? Jan 08, 2024

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And how does that differ from the minimum wage? Or, for that matter, the federal poverty line?California has mandated a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers starting April 1st. As far as I'm concerned, those folks are saints and deserve the world. But Glenn Beck and other conservatives strongly disagree and had a meltdown over it. But who is right? Will this new $20 wage cause California as we know it to cease to exist and drift off into the sea? Or is Glenn Beck an idiot?

Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO415: We Don't Live In A Simulation Jan 02, 2024

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THE SIMULATION SERIES FINALE! After much philosophy and physics reading, and after the excellent breakdown of the physics and computing aspects by Dr. Bryan Gillis, here is an episode on why I don't think we live in a simulation. I'm hoping this will be an accessible final episode to sum up the case for why we should not be worrying about this!

SIO414: So You Want To Simulate The Universe... Jan 01, 2024

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Ok, so we've done a bunch of philosophizing about whether or not we live in a simulation, but what about the physics and computing involved? Dr. Bryan Gillis takes us through what it might actually take to simulate our whole universe. Spoiler... it would not be easy. Find out why!

Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO413: The Search for the Man-Hating Feminist Continues Dec 31, 2023

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The elusive man-hating feminist avoided scientific detection in the previous episode, but the chase continues! The game is the foot!

Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO412: Do Feminists Hate Men? Dec 30, 2023

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I decided to call an audible and give us a mini-break from the intense philosophy and physics stuff, and instead invite expert Lydia Smith on to break down an extensive set of studies into the question: do feminists hate men? This is one of those interesting questions where on one hand, I could imagine that attitudes toward men might certainly be different among those who self-identify as feminists vs those who don't. But on the other hand... the man-hating feminist is definitely a myth perpetuated by the right to try to discredit the movement... So what does the science say? Find out!

Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO411: Zeno, Pascal, and Sleeping Beauty All Walk Into a Bar... Dec 29, 2023

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Do you like philosophical thought experiments and probability theory and have a structured settlement and want cash now? Have I got the podcast episode for you! Dr. Bryan Gillis takes us through some fun and fascinating philosophical quandaries related to the Simulation Hypothesis! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO410: Futurama and Simulation Theory Dec 28, 2023

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Good news, everyone! Today we embark upon a bit of a miniseries! Dr. Bryan Gillis and I began with the idea to do a sort of Philosophers in Space-esque kind of thing where we talk about a Futurama episode and then discuss the science and philosophy behind it. But as we did so, and as Bryan did more and more research (including calculations of his own!) around the question "Do we live in a simulation?" what unfolded was hours of really fascinating deep dive into the issue! And so here is part 1, where we set up the arguments a bit, and talk about a great episode of Futurama. If you want to watch it before listening, it's s11e10 "All The Way Down." Hope you enjoy! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

SIO409: Can You "Boost" Your Immune System? Dec 17, 2023

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It's an Emergen-C episode with Dr. Rick Sullivan! With the holidays approaching, you may be wondering if there's a good way to boost your immune system and prevent getting sick. Well, there are many products that purport to do just that. Vitamins, Emergen-C, etc. Do they work? Find out! Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!

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