Best Benjamin Barnes Podcasts (2025)

1
#217 – Beth Barnes on the most important graph in AI right now — and the 7-month rule that governs its progress 3:47:09

1d ago3:47:09

3:47:09

AI models today have a 50% chance of successfully completing a task that would take an expert human one hour. Seven months ago, that number was roughly 30 minutes — and seven months before that, 15 minutes. (See graph.) These are substantial, multi-step tasks requiring sustained focus: building web applications, conducting machine learning research…

1
Dr. Bret Weinstein - Episode #365 1:15:34

6d ago1:15:34

1:15:34

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) is joined by evolutionary biologist and America’s rule-breaking professor, Dr. Bret Weinstein, to discuss his history of being a trouble maker in universities, the hidden epidemic of vaccine-related injuries, and a fascinating thing that is happening in the world of South American primates. And because they are both …

1
From the Magic Castle to Michelin-Star Crowds: Todd Day’s Secrets to Wowing Any Audience 43:03

8d ago43:03

43:03

Want to perform magic that actually connects? Todd Day breaks it all down. From the Magic Castle to high-end restaurants, Todd shares how he creates moments that matter—and why it's all about the audience. In this engaging conversation, Dr. Todd interviews professional magician Todd Day, who shares his inspiring journey into the world of magic—from…

1
Beyond human minds: The bewildering frontier of consciousness in insects, AI, and more 3:34:40

11d ago3:34:40

3:34:40

What if there’s something it’s like to be a shrimp — or a chatbot? For centuries, humans have debated the nature of consciousness, often placing ourselves at the very top. But what about the minds of others — both the animals we share this planet with and the artificial intelligences we’re creating? We’ve pulled together clips from past conversatio…

1
Buck Sexton - Episode #364 59:18

13d ago59:18

59:18

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) invites conservative pundit, talk show host, and brand-new father, Buck Sexton, onto the show to talk about the profound shift in ideals once becoming a parent, the idea that public schools are essentially a prison for kids, and the not-so-surprising way that government often mishandles crisis situations. https://x.c…

1
Fooling and Funny! With Magician Justin Purcell | S01E22 29:01

16d ago29:01

29:01

In this episode, Justin Purcell, a Chicago-based magician, shares insights into his journey in magic, his unique performance style, and the evolution of the Chicago Magic Lounge. He discusses the importance of improv in his performances, his approach to engaging audiences, and his favorite tricks. The conversation highlights the blend of comedy and…

1
Don’t believe OpenAI’s “nonprofit” spin (with Tyler Whitmer) 1:12:04

19d ago1:12:04

1:12:04

OpenAI’s recent announcement that its nonprofit would “retain control” of its for-profit business sounds reassuring. But this seemingly major concession, celebrated by so many, is in itself largely meaningless. Litigator Tyler Whitmer is a coauthor of a newly published letter that describes this attempted sleight of hand and directs regulators on h…

1
Ethan Suplee - Episode #363 1:04:58

20d ago1:04:58

1:04:58

You know him from practically every movie or show you watched in the 90s! Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) welcomes actor and the host of American Glutton, Ethan Suplee, onto the show to talk about every actor’s “fear of the flop,” the unexpected journey of the movie Dogma, the struggles to reinvent modern cinema, and what it’s like to film around a…

1
The case for and against AGI by 2030 (article by Benjamin Todd) 1:00:06

22d ago1:00:06

1:00:06

More and more people have been saying that we might have AGI (artificial general intelligence) before 2030. Is that really plausible? This article by Benjamin Todd looks into the cases for and against, and summarises the key things you need to know to understand the debate. You can see all the images and many footnotes in the original article on th…

1
Confessions of the Good Liar. Interview with Mentalist Brian Curry | S01E21 38:47

23d ago38:47

38:47

Get your Tickets to the "Good Liar" here: https://www.agoodliar.com/ Magi-Whirl 2025: https://ibmring50.org/lecturers/ New Merch! https://dr-todd-shop.fourthwall.com/ In this episode of Magician's Workshop, Dr. Todd interviews Brian Curry, a renowned magician and mentalist known as The Good Liar. They discuss Brian's journey into magic, his influen…

1
Emergency pod: Did OpenAI give up, or is this just a new trap? (with Rose Chan Loui) 1:02:50

26d ago1:02:50

1:02:50

When attorneys general intervene in corporate affairs, it usually means something has gone seriously wrong. In OpenAI’s case, it appears to have forced a dramatic reversal of the company’s plans to sideline its nonprofit foundation, announced in a blog post that made headlines worldwide. The company’s sudden announcement that its nonprofit will “re…

1
Kurt Metzger - Episode #362 (Live!) 58:40

26d ago58:40

58:40

It’s the very first “Your Welcome” Live show at The Creek and The Cave in Austin! Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) is joined by the always hilarious comedian, Kurt Metzger, to talk about the deep dive Kurt has taken on Kabbalah, the new Bond villain that’s running the WEF, and the question we all have wondered, “Is Kanye West a Frankist”? If you’re …

1
Tina Anderson and Kiran Krishnan - For Your Health Special 54:20

29d ago54:20

54:20

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) is joined by the CEO of Just Thrive, Tina Anderson, and microbiologist Kiran Krishnan for a gut-check you didn’t know you needed. They dive into the fascinating world of gut health, revealing how many of our physical and mental ailments start in the digestive system—and how to fix them. From the dangers of living in …

1
Unlocking Bar Magic Mastery: The Amazing Bibik Speaks |S01E20 53:52

1M ago53:52

53:52

Dr. Todd interviews The Amazing Bibik, a seasoned (mostly with oregano) magician with over 40 years of experience. They discuss Bibik's journey into magic, the importance of comedy in performances, and the unique magic scene in Chicago. Bibik shares insights on performing in restaurants, the challenges of hypnosis, and the significance of connectin…

1
#216 – Ian Dunt on why governments in Britain and elsewhere can't get anything done – and how to fix it 3:14:52

1M ago3:14:52

3:14:52

When you have a system where ministers almost never understand their portfolios, civil servants change jobs every few months, and MPs don't grasp parliamentary procedure even after decades in office — is the problem the people, or the structure they work in? Today's guest, political journalist Ian Dunt, studies the systemic reasons governments succ…

1
Steve Sailer - Episode #361 1:06:22

1M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) invites columnist and author, Steve Sailer, onto the show to talk about the genetic influences on intelligence, how the US can close the gap between education and race, and the Unabomber’s surprising and rarely discussed connection to gender identity. To dive more into the mind of Steve, grab a copy of his book, Noti…

1
Six Figures Doing Card Tricks? Jonah Babins Explains the Magic Formula. | S01E19 1:05:03

1M ago1:05:03

1:05:03

Holy Smokes! This one is a doozy. Jonah drops bombs of advice for every level of magician! In this episode of Magician's Workshop, Dr. Todd interviews Jonah Babins, a prominent magician and podcaster, who shares his journey into the world of magic, the evolution of his career, and insights from his experiences. They discuss the importance of commun…

1
Serendipity, weird bets, & cold emails that actually work: Career advice from 16 former guests 2:18:41

1M ago2:18:41

2:18:41

How do you navigate a career path when the future of work is uncertain? How important is mentorship versus immediate impact? Is it better to focus on your strengths or on the world’s most pressing problems? Should you specialise deeply or develop a unique combination of skills? From embracing failure to finding unlikely allies, we bring you 16 dive…

1
Jesse Lee Peterson - Episode #360 1:00:34

1M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) welcomes talk show host and political commentator, Jesse Lee Peterson, onto the show to talk about why black men are turning to Trump, the rising political tensions in America, and who Jesse thinks would be the best political dream team in the world. https://x.com/JLPtalk https://jesseleepeterson.com/show Grab Ticket…

1
The Legendary Chicago Magician Benjamin Barnes 47:06

1M ago47:06

47:06

This is an interview for the record books; this guest is an absolute legend. Whether new to magic or a seasoned pro, this interview has insights for everyone at every level. Dr. Todd speaks with celebrated magician Benjamin Barnes about his journey in the world of magic. They discuss Barnes' early inspirations, the importance of community, and the …

1
#215 – Tom Davidson on how AI-enabled coups could allow a tiny group to seize power 3:22:44

2M ago3:22:44

3:22:44

Throughout history, technological revolutions have fundamentally shifted the balance of power in society. The Industrial Revolution created conditions where democracies could flourish for the first time — as nations needed educated, informed, and empowered citizens to deploy advanced technologies and remain competitive. Unfortunately there’s every …

1
Douglas Murray - Episode #359 1:00:06

2M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) welcomes journalist and author Douglas Murray to discuss his new book On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and Future of Civilization, the lack of understanding that not all cultures are like the west, the current political climate in the UK, and Margaret Thatcher's bookcase. https://x.com/DouglasKMurray https://ww…

1
The Fierce and Fearless Lindsey Noel 58:22

2M ago58:22

58:22

Don't forget to Follow/Subscribe. Video version on www.youtube.com/@themwpodcast This magician is truly one-of-a-kind! We sit down with Lindsey Noel to uncover how she made the leap from designing costumes for the screen to dazzling audiences as a standout magician. They dive into the power of character, the art of scripting, and why what you wear …

1
Guilt, imposter syndrome & doing good: 16 past guests share their mental health journeys 1:47:10

2M ago1:47:10

1:47:10

"We are aiming for a place where we can decouple the scorecard from our worthiness. It’s of course the case that in trying to optimise the good, we will always be falling short. The question is how much, and in what ways are we not there yet? And if we then extrapolate that to how much and in what ways am I not enough, that’s where we run into trou…

1
Corey DeAngelis - Episode #358 1:00:18

2M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) is joined by author and school choice advocate, Corey DeAngelis, to discuss Trump’s unprecedented move to abolish the DOE, how red states are leading the way in the school choice revolution, and the shocking move that some blue states are taking to separate children from their parents. x.com/DeAngelisCorey instagram.…

1
The King of Corporate Magic: Inside Entertainment Juggernaut Magicorp with Bill Herz | S01E16 59:19

2M ago59:19

59:19

Follow and Share New Episodes Weekly All Hail the King! Bill Herz explores the fascinating world of magic, particularly in the corporate sector. Bill shares his journey as a corporate magician, the evolution of magic in business, and the importance of audience engagement. They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of performing for corpor…

1
#214 – Buck Shlegeris on controlling AI that wants to take over – so we can use it anyway 2:16:03

2M ago2:16:03

2:16:03

Most AI safety conversations centre on alignment: ensuring AI systems share our values and goals. But despite progress, we’re unlikely to know we’ve solved the problem before the arrival of human-level and superhuman systems in as little as three years. So some are developing a backup plan to safely deploy models we fear are actively scheming to ha…

1
Bryan Callen - Episode #357 1:04:24

2M ago1:04:24

1:04:24

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) invites comedian and new Austinite, Bryan Callen, onto the show to talk about Bryan’s reasons for his recent move to the lovely city of Austin, his critical look at Critical Race Theory, and what he means when it comes to, “the pesky truth.” Bryan and Michael also give their personal recommendations of the books that…

1
Magician Paige Thompson Does it All | S01E15 51:42

2M ago51:42

51:42

Hello Listeners! We have a treat today! The super cool Paige Thompson joins us today! Paige Thompson is a world-class magician known for her captivating performances and unique style. They explore Paige's journey into the world of magic, her experiences as a female magician, and her role as a resident magician at the Chicago Magic Lounge. The discu…

1
15 expert takes on infosec in the age of AI 2:35:54

2M ago2:35:54

2:35:54

"There’s almost no story of the future going well that doesn’t have a part that’s like '…and no evil person steals the AI weights and goes and does evil stuff.' So it has highlighted the importance of information security: 'You’re training a powerful AI system; you should make it hard for someone to steal' has popped out to me as a thing that just …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Benjamin Barnes Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen