The Political Orphanage

Latest Episodes:

Clean Energy and Yucky Energy: Michael Webber Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

How do energy experts approach energy? Are there good sources and bad sources? What should we try to abolish and what should we lob subsidies at?

Dr. Michael Webber is a professor of Energy Resources and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of more than 500 scientific articles, columns, and books, including op-eds for the New York Times and Scientific American.

UFO Whistleblowers and Congress Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Recently former intelligence officer David Grusch appeared before Congress, and made the bold claims that the U.S. government owns multiple recovered extraterrestrial vehicles, as well as "biotics"--which is to say, alien bodies. How credible are these assertions, and how should the government respond to UFO's in general?

Brian Dunning is the host of The Skeptoid podcast, and host of the new film "The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See."

Links:

Brian Dunning's "The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See" https://www.briandunning.com/ufo/

TPO: Why UFOs are in the News https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-ufos-are-in-the-news/id1439837349?i=1000489860085

Heaton's novel, Frank Got Abducted https://www.amazon.com/Frank-Got-Abducted-Andrew-Heaton-ebook/dp/B00HSE9OZI/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=qNkeY&content-id=amzn1.sym.ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_p=ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_r=136-0886507-5175312&pd_rd_wg=1QCog&pd_rd_r=70c12931-a2c0-4e79-b4a1-130dac827ad2&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Orphan Meetup - Wings Edinburgh on Old Fishmarket Close in Edinburgh, Scotland at 7:00 PM, Wednesday Sept 6th.

Nuclear Renaissance of Tomorrow Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Is nuclear power cheap and safe, or dangerous and expensive? Dr. Robert Zubrin is the author of "The Case for Nukes: How We Can Beat Global Warming and Create a Free, Open, and Magnificent Future."

Zubrin holds Master of Science degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering, from the University of Washington. Prior to his work in aerospace, Dr. Zubrin worked in areas of radiation protection, nuclear power plant safety, thermonuclear fusion research, and as a secondary school science and math teacher.

Find his book at: mightyheaton.com/featured

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton

LINKS:

Zubrin on TPO: "I Want to Build a Moon Base" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-98-i-want-to-build-a-moon-base-guest-robert-zubrin/id1439837349?i=1000434628317

Zubrin on ATA: "Turns Out, We're All Probably Martians" https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/turns-out-were-all-probably-martians/id1488171922?i=1000474556038&l=da

Upwingers Fighting Downwingers Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Steve Fuller of Warwick University says the meaningful split in society is not Leftwing vs. Rightwing, but rather Upwing vs. Downwing. Both have radically different attitudes to both risk and human nature, which informs their policy decisions and the direction they want to steer society.

SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Dr. Fuller's book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Referenced in the show today:

TPO: "Was Abraham Lincoln Leftwing or Rightwing?" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/hyrum-lewis

"Transcenant Man" – Documentary by Ray Kurzweill about the Singularity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcendent-Man-Ray-Kurzweil/dp/B016V7WCLA

ATA: The Bioethics of Gattica – Discussed on Alienating the Audience https://alienating.libsyn.com/gattaca

ATA: How Cryonics Works – Interview on Alienating the Audience https://alienating.libsyn.com/we-can-freeze-you-how-cryonics-works

Lizard People and SuperPACs Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Lawrence Lessig of Harvard University is the nation's foremost thinker and advocate for campaign finance reform around SuperPAC's. He joins the show to argue for governing political campaigns and SuperPAC's under the same rules.

Lessig's website and contest: https://equalcitizens.us/crowdfund-video/

How to Spot Statistical Garbage Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

Statistics can be mangled to say whatever you'd like, and sometimes they're garbage to begin with.

Aaron Brown teaches statistics at New York University and at the University of California. He joins to tip us off on statistical malfeasance.

Government Minus Geography Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

America is less geographically-focused than ever, but her government is still foundationally built around land areas. What would politics look like if geography played less of a role? Max Borders joins to discuss. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton TOP TEN EPISODES: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof Max's Constitution writing contest: https://underthrow.substack.com/p/the-constitution-of-consent-contest Referenced Today: The Network State, by Balaji Srinivasan The Dawn of Everything, by David Graeber and David Wengrow

The Economics of Bad Films Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Thom Taylor is Los Angeles financial advisor who spent a decade writing for movie magazines. He knows the creative and business side of Hollywood, and how the current writer strike is apt to alter the trajectory of entertainment. Thom's website is www.delreycap.com Raymond Chandler article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/11/writers-in-hollywood/306454/?fbclid=IwAR1_W5PZ_esxYb8WCRViCmsVfnEyyw8eedUhOVN1hiPrXQ3ji3nIYemTtOI

Clarence Thomas Hates Affirmative Action Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

Last week the Supreme Court effectively banned race considerations in higher education admissions. Anastasia Boden returns to discuss the relevant constitutional law, and the underlying ideological issues.

Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Top Ten Episodes: mightyheaton.com/bestof

Mugs at: www.mightyheaton.com/merch

Anastasia's Twitter: @Anastasia_esq

The Longest Happiness Study in History Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

The Harvard Study of Adult Development spans 83-years of health and happiness data analysis, and counting! Its director is Dr. Robert Waldinger, author of "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness." He joins to discuss his findings.

Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Top 10 Episodes! www.mightyheaton.com/bestof

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/9JnUfp627n

Find the Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Waldinger's Sangha: http://newtonzen.org/teachers.html

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