Best The Hard Problem Of Consciousness Podcasts (2025)

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72: ThinkWORKS 72 The Hard Problem of Consciousness! 22:36

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15d ago22:36

22:36

We've discussed consciousness as part of our Philosophy 101 episodes, but we've specifically referred to 'the hard question of consciousness' in our recent episodes on panpsychism and Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, so this delves into what the question is, why consciousness is proving so hard to define as a process, and what are t…

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#45 Sean Walsh: The Hard Problem of Consciousness, AI, and Conservatism 53:48

22d ago53:48

53:48

Sean has a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence. He writes well and thinks deeply. He's also experienced more grit than the average academic. This was not a light discussion, but I think you will find it well worth your time. Articles mentioned: Wandering Thoughts Artificial, human and angelic intelligence Sean is Associate Editor of Co…

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EP 320 David Shapiro on Mastering AI Tools for Research 55:07

1h ago55:07

55:07

Jim talks with David Shapiro about how to use AI language models as research and writing tools. They discuss post-labor economics, the evolution of AI tools from GPT-2 through GPT-4, using AI as a learning companion vs. relying on it completely, David's AI tool stack, exploring new domains, using NotebookLM for document management & searching, AI w…

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#48 Nico Lagan: Political Orphans, Masculinity, and Faith 1:08:01

10h ago1:08:01

1:08:01

The non-left in Canada includes an interesting and often overlooked group. They promote a mix of exercise, martial arts, masculinity, self defence, freedom, self sufficiency, honour, Christianity, and more. This group baffles academics and exasperates leftists. Both left and right seeks to dismiss and minimize their impact. But they represent a lar…

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74: ThinkWORKS 74 The Impact of Social Media Part 2 28:29

1d ago28:29

28:29

In this episode we look at the impact of social media on mental health and give some little hacks to help protect yourself or people you know, from the constant attentions that social media platforms seem to demand of their users. Join in the discussion at https://www.darreninform.com/forum/2-thinkworks-voiceworks/discussion/8bec9001-a30d-414e-8e97…

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Envisioning The 2100 Future | Human-AI Symbiosis, Digital Gods & Consciousness Currency 1:36:12

2d ago1:36:12

1:36:12

Juan didn't disappoint with his wacky, hair-brained ideas .... that he won't be able to protect! In Episode #491 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: a day in the life of the year 2100, the potential for cities to become the new countries, multigenerational housing as life expectancy increases, human-AI symbiosis plus normalised AI babies, humans beco…

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EP 319 Lawrence Cahoone on Emergence and Natural Order 1:32:55

5d ago1:32:55

1:32:55

Jim talks with Lawrence Cahoone about his book The Orders of Nature and his systematic approach to naturalist philosophy. They discuss fallibilist & local metaphysics, objective relativism, the rejection of simples, Jim's materialism which grants emergence first-class existence, Wimsatt's notion of emergence & nonaggregativity, downward causation &…

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Why the Next Generation Isn't Interested in Leadership | Tessa Kampen 22:56

5d ago22:56

22:56

Guest: Tessa Kampen - Team Engagement Catalyst Why are Gen Z and millennials avoiding leadership? In this conversation with Tessa, we unpack the future of leadership, bridging generations, and what new managers must do to create trust, mentorship, and lasting influence. Additional Links A New Kind of Diversity by Tim Elmore The 5 Levels of Leadersh…

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#47 Andy Crooks: Moral Courage and the Heart of Conservatism 1:10:51

8d ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Andy captures the heart of conservatism unlike anything I've found elsewhere. He has lived it. He embodies it. And he welcomes others to enjoy it. Andy Crooks spelled out what's at stake for Canada, and he explained what we must do to save it. Stark, fun, inspirational, and tragic. I can't think of a better embodiment of the heart an soul of conser…

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73: ThinkWORKS 73 The Impact of Social Media Part 1 36:33

8d ago36:33

36:33

This week we take a look at social media and the impact it has had on communication, privacy and safety. Join in the discussion at https://www.darreninform.com/forum/2-thinkworks-voiceworks/discussion/ebd6967d-6b69-4756-935c-1c7a7842e6b2 Please forgive the scratchy voice, I was under the weather when I recorded it.…

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Investing In Creators | A Technological Twist On The V4V Model 1:17:38

9d ago1:17:38

1:17:38

Time for Giga big brain ideas on the future of content creation. In Episode #490 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: how creators can monetise their work without diverging into unrelated business ventures, the distinction between spending and investing in creators, why images, audio, and video will be monetised via new technologies in the coming years,…

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EP 318 Adam B. Levine on Thinking on Demand 1:15:50

12d ago1:15:50

1:15:50

Jim talks with Adam B. Levine about humanity's rapidly changing relationship with AI and "thinking on demand." They discuss the GPT-5 release & pricing, open-source AI models, the three-dimensional framework of AI advancement (models & hardware & agent frameworks), the evolution of vibe coding, development tools, agent-based development, AI impleme…

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The Manager’s Guide to Emotional Intelligence 32:24

12d ago32:24

32:24

Discover how to grow your head, heart, and gut intelligence to strengthen emotional intelligence, build trust, hold employees accountable, and create a thriving team culture as a new manager. In this episode you’ll learn how to identify your dominant center (even without a personality assessment) and practical ways to grow all three so you can: Bui…

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EP 317 David Shapiro on Post-Labor Economics 1:39:16

14d ago1:39:16

1:39:16

Jim talks with David Shapiro about his six-part series on "post-labor economics." They discuss historical economic transitions, the logic of labor substitution, automation & AI's impacts on employment, the four basic human economic offerings (strength, dexterity, cognition & empathy), labor as a societal pillar, the pyramid of prosperity (universal…

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#46 Marco Navarro-Genie: Red Toryism, Canadian Identity, and the Role of Conservatism 1:08:19

15d ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Marco packages powerful barbs in (slightly) softened academic polish. It makes his writing and speaking fun to consume and hard to forget. Do check out his Substack https://substack.com/@navarrogenie Looking forward to hearing what you think! Thanks again! AI summary: Special guest Dr. Marco Navarro-Genie, VP of Research at Frontier Center for Publ…

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Juan's 2025 Annual Goals | Plus A Quick Review Of 2024 41:37

17d ago41:37

41:37

How did Juan go last year and what's he got his focus on? In Episode #489 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: his past year's achievements, the evolution from having numerous goals to focusing on fewer, why he wants to run a marathon (but not necessarily with people), expanding his mind with grand business ideas, filling up his soul by establishing f…

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EP 316 Ken Stanley on the AI Representation Problem 56:53

19d ago56:53

56:53

Jim talks with Ken Stanley about the Fractured Entanglement Representation hypothesis in deep learning neural networks. They discuss open-endedness in AI systems & evolution, the Picbreeder experiment & its significance, the objective paradox of finding things by not looking for them, comparisons between Picbreeder & SGD networks, visual difference…

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The Five Levels of Leadership: Why Your Team Follows You... Or Doesn’t | Heather Italiano 29:29

19d ago29:29

29:29

Guest - Heather Italiano, High-Energy Speaker and Facilitator Book - The 5 Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell Are your employees following you because they want to, or because they have to? In this episode, Heather Italiano unpacks the Five Levels of Leadership and how new managers can build trust, increase influence, and avoid falling into the t…

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The Moloch Problem | Destructive Forces From Competition 59:35

20d ago59:35

59:35

Call it what you want (Malthusian trap, prisoner dilemma, race to the bottom, coordination failure, tragedy of the commons), the problems are real! In Episode #488 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: the concept of the Moloch problem (a philosophical idea that explores the unintended consequences of competitive behaviour), over-scheduling children's ac…

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EP 315 Ed Latimore on Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business 2:09:32

21d ago2:09:32

2:09:32

Jim talks with Ed Latimore about his new book Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life. They discuss Ed's chess playing & street hustling, size differences in modern heavyweight boxing, growing up in Pittsburgh's Hill District, childhood trauma & violence, his relationships with his single mother & absent father, middle schoo…

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71: ThinkWORKS 71 The Forgotten Computer Giant That Still Speaks To My Inner Nerd! 36:57

22d ago36:57

36:57

After a few heavy subjects, it's now time for a total nerdfest episode as I journey through adventures with Atari computers, look at how the company began, give my assessments as to why Atari failed, and explain why I still have and use my STe, Mega STe, TT and Falcon computers to this day! And all without rubbishing the Amiga! You probably won't h…

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Monthly Goals | August 2025 41:17

24d ago41:17

41:17

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcoming…

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EP 314 Zak Stein and Marc Gafni on the Nature of Everything 1:38:59

25d ago1:38:59

1:38:59

Jim talks with Zak Stein and Marc Gafni about consciousness, attention, and value as fundamental aspects of reality. They explore continuity & discontinuity in evolution, phenomenology & naturalism, emergence, value theory, selection theory, mathematics as both discovered & created, pre-life organic chemistry, sexual selection & evolutionary dynami…

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How to Work With People You Can't Stand 26:45

26d ago26:45

26:45

Find Desiree Petrich and Tessa Kampen on Linkedin! Watch Desiree's Disrupt HR Talk: You're The Problem, and It's affecting Your Team! Struggling with difficult employees or clashing coworkers? In this episode, Desiree Petrich and Tessa Kampen unpack practical ways to improve team dynamics and work with people you don’t like. You rarely to choose wh…

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Too Big To Grasp: How a Calm Mind Defies Overwhelm 14:05

27d ago14:05

14:05

In this episode, I explore the profound concept of hyperobjects, entities so vast they surpass our understanding and how recognising their presence can lead to mental clarity. I dive deep into the idea that life’s overwhelming nature isn’t always due to complexity, but our relationship to that complexity. By reframing calmness as a conscious accept…

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#44 Tristan Rogers: Conservatism Past and Present--A Philosophical Introduction 1:06:32

29d ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Tristan and I discuss his new book on conservatism. It is fun and deep and convoluted...you will love it. The AI summary (below) chunks out the main sections. Books and articles mentioned: Conservatism Past and Present: A philosophical introduction, by Tristan Rogers https://amzn.to/4lYHPbC England: An Elegy, by Roger Scruton https://amzn.to/4lMKkO…

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70: ThinkWORKS 70 The Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics! 32:16

29d ago32:16

32:16

Reality is not certain. Actions and events have consequences that may create a universe for every possible outcome. And you exist in many of these realities all at once. This is the conclusion that Hugh Everett III made in the mid 1950s and faced so much scorn and resistance that he left the field. Today, the idea of MWI is taken as plainly self-ev…

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Australia's Fitness Culture | But Are We Actually Healthy? 1:02:31

1M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Suns out, guns out! In Episode #487 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the stark differences in gym availability and fitness facilities of Australia vs the rest of the world, dilapidated gyms in Montenegro & well-equipped calisthenic parks in South America, the prevalence of gyms even in regional areas, whether Australia's high gym memb…

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EP 313 Chris Colin on Why Customer Service Sucks 44:09

1M ago44:09

44:09

Jim talks with Chris Colin about his recent Atlantic article "That Dropped Call with Customer Service? It Was on Purpose." They discuss customer service hell & Chris's personal story with Ford, the concept of sludge, intentional friction in customer service systems, call center operations & tactics, high-quality customer service approaches, the imp…

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EP 312 Lee Cronin on Automating Chemistry 1:04:49

1M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

Jim talks with Lee Cronin about Chemify, his startup that aims to automate chemistry through "chemifarms" that turn code into molecules. They discuss Chemify as an AWS for chemistry, the development of a chemical programming language & its evolution to Turing completeness, quantum vs classical chemistry computation, open source tools & academic acc…

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The Truth About Employee Engagement - 3 Tools to Engage Your Team 17:13

1M ago17:13

17:13

Links The Truth About Employee Engagement by Patrick Lencioni List of my Favorite Books You’ve offered raises, perks, and flexible schedules, so why does your team still seem disengaged? In this episode, we explore the real reasons employees check out and what you can do to re-engage them. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the book The Truth …

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EP 311 Nicholas Humphrey on the Invention of Consciousness 1:29:15

1M ago1:29:15

1:29:15

Jim talks with Nicholas Humphrey about the ideas in his 2023 book Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness. They discuss the distinction between sentience & consciousness, access consciousness vs phenomenal consciousness, terminology in consciousness studies, ring-fencing theories, Nicholas's early experiments with phosphenes, the discovery of bli…