Best The Methods Of Rationality Podcast Podcasts (2025)

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What causes mass shootings? (with Ragy Girgis) 1:20:31

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21h ago1:20:31

1:20:31

Read the full transcript here. What do we miss when we treat public shootings as the whole story of mass murder? If public events are a small slice, how should prevention and attention shift? Does saturation coverage turn tragedy into aspiration for the fame-seeking few? Do school “active-shooter” drills protect kids—or seed fear and imitation? Sho…

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HoP 479 Gideon Manning on Cartesian Medicine 33:57

4d ago33:57

33:57

An interview exploring Descartes' interest in medicine, how his medical ideas relate to his dualism, and his influence on medical science.By Peter Adamson

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Contempt-free public discourse (with Robert Rosenkranz) 1:11:06

8d ago1:11:06

1:11:06

Read the full transcript here. What makes a forum truly open-minded rather than performative? When does listening change minds instead of just hardening identities? Are we teaching citizens to separate facts from frames? Do the best debates surface values as well as evidence? How can we reward calm argument over outrage economics? What reforms redu…

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249 – Red Heart and IABIED with Max Harms 2:08:06

8d ago2:08:06

2:08:06

We talk with Max Harms on the air for the first time since 2017! He’s got a new book coming out (pre-order your copy here or at Amazon) and we spend about the first half talking about If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies. LINKS Max’s first book, Crystal Society Eneasz’s audiobook of about the first two thirds of the first book And the official audiob…

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Choosing Life: Farming, Disability & Healing Through Nature – Henrich Berkhoff | EP 39 1:41:48

15d ago1:41:48

1:41:48

In this deeply moving episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson welcomes Henrich Berkhoff, farmer, father, politician, and founder of child-protection and education initiatives in Germany. From facing a devastating prenatal diagnosis to creating one of Germany’s first Green Care Farms, Henrich shares how his son’s birth with spina bifida tran…

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Beyond the assumption that humans are rational (with Barry Schwartz) 1:21:44

15d ago1:21:44

1:21:44

Read the full transcript here. What does rationality mean when life won’t fit a spreadsheet? If models demand one common scale, what happens to values that can’t be compared? Are we optimizing choices, or narrowing them to what’s easy to count? When do toy problems stop teaching us about real ones? Can preferences be “mapped” if the act of asking r…

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HoP 478 This Gland Is Your Gland: Cartesian Science 24:16

18d ago24:16

24:16

From comets to blood transfusions, embryology, and the debate over the pineal gland: Descartes’ impact on science, especially medicine.By Peter Adamson

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Cryosphere Chat ft. Emil Kendziorra 36:45

19d ago36:45

36:45

The gang catches up with Emil Kendziorra after the Biostasis 2025 conference at the European Biostasis Foundation. Watch it on YouTube here. Topics covered include: * How to get a Tomorrow Bio ambulance in your hometown * Tomorrow Bio’s plan to collect brain samples to check ultra-structure preservation in its patients - and how it will respond to …

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Will AI superintelligence kill us all? (with Nate Soares) 1:24:17

22d ago1:24:17

1:24:17

Read the full transcript here. Are the existential risks posed by superhuman AI fundamentally different from prior technological threats such as nuclear weapons or pandemics? How do the inherent “alien drives” that emerge from AI training processes complicate our ability to control or align these systems? Can we truly predict the behavior of entiti…

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248 – Seeking Alpha, with Jay 1:43:12

22d ago1:43:12

1:43:12

Jay talks with us about finding Alpha – returns above the base rate – in every day life (and what this means). LINKS Optimize Everything, Jay’s substack Jay on Twitter Arbor Trading Bootcamp Kelsey’s argument that We Need To Be Able To Sue AI Companies 00:00:05 – Alpha with Jay 01:28:53 – Guild of the Rose 01:31:00 – Miscellanea 01:40:58 – Thank th…

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The Science of Wonder: Jo Marchant on Mind, Body & the Present Moment | EP 38 2:19:39

29d ago2:19:39

2:19:39

In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with scientist, journalist, and bestselling author Dr. Jo Marchant (PhD in Genetics and Medical Microbiology) to explore the intersections between science, spirituality, and the human experience. From the placebo effect to consciousness, awe, and the nature of time itself, Jo unpacks…

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Do facts have an expiration date? (with Samuel Arbesman) 1:15:37

29d ago1:15:37

1:15:37

Read the full transcript here. What does it mean to treat facts as drafts rather than monuments? If truth is something we approach, how do we act while it’s still provisional? When definitions shift, what really changes? How do better instruments quietly rewrite the world we think we know? Are we mostly refining truths or replacing them? When do sc…

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HoP 477 The Mind Has No Sex: Cartesianism and Gender 20:44

1M ago20:44

20:44

Why Cartesianism appealed to women and became the inspiration for a pioneering feminist, Poullain de la Barre; and why Cartesianism was not the only option for women philosophers of the age.By Peter Adamson

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From prisoner to escaping inner prisons (with Shaka Senghor) 1:16:44

1M ago1:16:44

1:16:44

Read the full transcript here. What changes when we treat violence as a human problem rather than a demographic story? Are fear, anger, and shame the real levers behind sudden harm? How much agency can we ask of people shaped by chaos without ignoring that chaos? Where is the line between explanation and excuse? What would an honest narrative about…

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247 – The Void, with Matt Freeman, part 2 1:43:01

1M ago1:43:01

1:43:01

We continue discussing Nostalgebraist’s “The Void” in the context of how to relate to LLMs. If God imagines Claude hard enough, does Claude become real? LINKS The Void Audio reading of The Void, from AskWho The referenced episode where the three of us spoke of Janus’s post “Simulators” Claude-Clark post – Simulacra Welfare: Meet Clark, by Grace Kin…

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Cryosphere Chat 46:01

1M ago46:01

46:01

In this second episode of Cryosphere Chats we discuss Until Labs and Alcor’s organ preservation strategies, our experiences convincing others about cryonics, using terms like hibernation or cryosleep instead of death when explaining cryonics, and more! Watch it on YouTube here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other …

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Voices Beyond Words: Helena & Lina Hjalmarsson-Lyons on Autism, Love & Communication | EP 37 1:04:32

1M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

Once nonverbal, Lina Hjalmarsson-Lyons now communicates through a letter board and her own writing—sharing profound insights into love, autism, and the human spirit. In this extraordinary episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with long-time friend Helena Hjalmarsson and her daughter Lina to explore the paradox of autism, poetry …

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A new paradigm for psychology research (with Slime Mold Time Mold) 1:27:01

1M ago1:27:01

1:27:01

Read the full transcript here. What changes when psychology stops naming traits and starts naming parts - can “entities and rules” turn fuzzy labels into testable mechanisms? If the mind is a web of governors with set points, what exactly is being controlled - and how do error signals become feelings? Are hunger, fear, and status-seeking all negati…

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HoP 476 What He Should Have Said: the Early Cartesians 26:07

2M ago26:07

26:07

Early Cartesians including Cordemoy and de La Forge develop but also challenge Descartes’ ideas, defending atomism and occasionalism.By Peter Adamson

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Beyond saving lives: happiness and doing good (with Michael Plant) 1:12:05

2M ago1:12:05

1:12:05

Read the full transcript here. Are we trying to maximize moment-to-moment happiness or life satisfaction? Can self-reports really guide policy and giving? What happens to quality of life metrics when we judge impact by wellbeing instead of health or income? How should we compare treating depression to providing clean water when their benefits feel …

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246 – The Void, with Matt Freeman, part 1 1:43:12

2M ago1:43:12

1:43:12

We discuss Nostalgebraist’s “The Void” in the context of how to relate to LLMs. “When you talk to ChatGPT, who or what are you talking to?” LINKS The Void Audio reading of The Void, from AskWho The referenced episode where the three of us spoke of Janus’s post “Simulators” The Measure of a Man episode Darmok episode Kyle Fish on 80,000 Hours podcas…

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pre246 note 0:08

2M ago0:08

0:08

Audio reading of The Void, from AskWhoBy The Bayesian Conspiracy

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Cryosphere Chat - Replacement Technology, Updates From CI, Why Cryonicists Don’t Have Kids 41:58

2M ago41:58

41:58

We’re trying out a new format where the team behind the Cryosphere has an informal discussion on a range of cryonics related topics. Watch the video version on YouTube. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cryospherepress.substack.com…

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From Hippie to Stanford: Medicine, Horses & Quantum Consciousness with Dr. Beverley Kane | Ep 36 1:53:36

2M ago1:53:36

1:53:36

From hitchhiking to California with $35 in her pocket, to becoming a Stanford professor, medical doctor, and pioneer in equine-assisted programs, Dr. Beverley Kane’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and transformation. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Dr. Kane to trace her journey through medicine, sports…

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Darwinian Demons: Climate Change and the AI Arms Race (with Kristian Rönn) 1:17:40

2M ago1:17:40

1:17:40

Read the full transcript here. Are existential risks from AI fundamentally different from those posed by previous technologies such as nuclear weapons? How can global cooperation overcome the challenges posed by national interests? What mechanisms might enable effective governance of technologies that transcend borders? How do competitive pressures…

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HoP 475 Ariane Schneck on Elisabeth and Descartes 34:33

2M ago34:33

34:33

We finish our look at Elisabeth of Bohemia and Descartes by talking to Ariane Schneck about their correspondence, focusing on the mind-body problem and the passions.By Peter Adamson

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Seeing through cognitive traps (with Alex Edmans) 1:31:43

2M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

Read the full transcript here. How do we distinguish correlation from causation in organizational success? How common is it to mistake luck or data mining for genuine effects in research findings? What are the challenges in interpreting ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria? Why is governance considered distinct from environmental and so…

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245 – AI Welfare, with Rob Long and Rosie Campbell of Eleos 1:33:54

2M ago1:33:54

1:33:54

Do we need to be concerned for the welfare of AIs today? What about the near future? Eleos AI Research is asking exactly that. LINKS Eleos AI Research People for the Ethical Treatment of Reinforcement Learners Bees Can’t Suffer? Lena, by qntm When AI Seems Conscious Experience Machines, Rob’s substack The War on General Computation WaPo on Blake Le…

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Fear, Tribe & Escape Rooms: A Life of Risk and Resilience with Paul Illingworth | Ep 35 Live Free Ride Free 3:49:43

2M ago3:49:43

3:49:43

From the rugby fields of London to the Merchant Navy, Special Forces, skydiving, aviation, and entrepreneurship—Paul Illingworth’s life has been defined by risk, resilience, and relentless drive. In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Paul to trace a journey that spans fear, family, and the search for tribe. Paul sha…

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The most important century (with Holden Karnofsky) 1:48:10

2M ago1:48:10

1:48:10

Read the full transcript here. Has society reached ‘peak progress’? Can we sustain the level of economic growth that technology has enabled over the last century? Have researchers plucked the last of science's "low-hanging fruit?" Why did early science innovators have outsized impact per capita? As fields mature, why does per-researcher output fall…

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Should we try to live forever? (with Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston) 1:14:01

3M ago1:14:01

1:14:01

Read the full transcript here. Why do humans live as long as they do? Since whales have literally tons more cells than humans, why don't they develop cancers at much higher rates than humans? What can the genetic trade-offs we observe in other organisms teach us about increasing human longevity? Will we eventually be able to put people into some ki…

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244 – How and Why to Form a Church, with Andrew Willsen 1:23:13

3M ago1:23:13

1:23:13

Andrew Willsen tells us how incorporating as a church allows you to navigate modernity, and gives us the basic steps to doing so. LINKS Andrew’s church substack – The Church of the Infinite Game To incorporate in CA file ARTS-PB-501(c)(3) CA Form FTB3500 booklet IRS document 1828 (see also the summary) Nonprofit Compliance Checklist The Ethical Cul…

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Bayes Blast 45 – Bees Blast 13:28

3M ago13:28

13:28

Is a bee worth 1/7th of a human? Can a bee suffer at all? Nathan joins us to discuss what neural structures are needed for this question to make sense. Map of all the fruitfly neuronsBy The Bayesian Conspiracy

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From Horses to Human Rights: Rupert Isaacson’s Journey of Service, Healing & Self-Actualization | Ep 34 1:51:36

3M ago1:51:36

1:51:36

In this rare solo episode of Live Free Ride Free, host Rupert Isaacson shares his own extraordinary story—tracing a path from his multicultural childhood in London to horseback adventures, indigenous rights campaigns, and the creation of groundbreaking autism and equine therapy programs. Rupert weaves together vivid life experiences: from retrainin…

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Trying to convince Spencer to be a utilitarian (with Tyler John) 1:29:06

3M ago1:29:06

1:29:06

Read the full transcript here. How has utilitarianism evolved from early Chinese Mohism to the formulations of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill? On what points did Bentham and Mill agree and disagree? How has utilitarianism shaped Effective Altruism? Does utilitarianism only ever evaluate actions, or does it also evaluate people? Does the "veil …

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Blindsided 12: I Prefer a World Where Someone’s Home 1:44:51

3M ago1:44:51

1:44:51

Join Brian and Steven as we wrap up our journey through the awesome and thought provoking world of Blindsight. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “You cannot prevent and prepar…

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Blindsided 12: I Prefer a World Where Someone’s Home 1:44:51

3M ago1:44:51

1:44:51

Join Brian and Steven as we wrap up our journey through the awesome and thought provoking world of Blindsight. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “You cannot prevent and prepar…

1
Blindsided 12: I Prefer a World Where Someone’s Home 1:44:51

3M ago1:44:51

1:44:51

Join Brian and Steven as we wrap up our journey through the awesome and thought provoking world of Blindsight. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “You cannot prevent and prepar…

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A conversation with an autistic person (with Megan Neff) 1:35:19

3M ago1:35:19

1:35:19

Read the full transcript here. What does autism feel like from the inside? Do autistic people lack empathy? What is context insensitivity? What are some ways special interests can manifest in autistic people? What are some less common ways stimming can manifest? What are the main components of autism? Can you be diagnosed with autism if you meet al…

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243 – Wes Is Not The Monogamy Police, with Wesly Fenza and Jennifer Kesteloot 1:53:56

3M ago1:53:56

1:53:56

Wes defends his post I Am Not the Monogamy Police, while Jennifer asserts it’s about more than monogamy. LINKS Wes’s post I Am Not the Monogamy Police His blog, Living Within Reason The original tweets – monogamy vs charity Aella’s Chattel Childhood post The Mind Killer Our Groceries Paid Bonus content for the week – Mononormativity follow-up (patr…

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Bayes Blast 44 – Play-By-Post Storytelling 16:49

3M ago16:49

16:49

Olivia from the Guild of the Rose is back to tell us about the noble and most ancient tradition of play-by-post storytelling. (Spoiler, it’s the precursor to glowfic!)By The Bayesian Conspiracy

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Blindsided 11: Consciousness Is a Bug, Not a Feature 1:16:28

3M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

Join Brian and Steven as the scramblers and the vampire demon challenge the value of the very essence of of what makes us us. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “If the human b…

1
Blindsided 11: Consciousness Is a Bug, Not a Feature 1:16:28

3M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

Join Brian and Steven as the scramblers and the vampire demon challenge the value of the very essence of of what makes us us. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “If the human b…

1
Blindsided 11: Consciousness Is a Bug, Not a Feature 1:16:28

3M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

Join Brian and Steven as the scramblers and the vampire demon challenge the value of the very essence of of what makes us us. Check out the awesome companion website sxp made! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, but it does have natural stopping points separated by quotes. The starting quote for this episode is: “If the human b…

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AI: Autonomous or controllable? Pick one (with Anthony Aguirre) 1:31:28

3M ago1:31:28

1:31:28

Read the full transcript here. Is AI that's both superintelligent and aligned even possible? Does increased intelligence necessarily entail decreased controllability? What's the difference between "safe" and "under control"? There seems to be a fundamental tension between autonomy and control, so is it conceivable that we could create superintellig…

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From Burnout to Awakening – Ralf Daab on Channeling & Spiritual Business | Ep 33 Live Free Ride Free 2:57:39

3M ago2:57:39

2:57:39

What happens when a successful publisher hits rock bottom—and finds his way back through psychedelics, storytelling, and soul work? In this episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson sits down with Ralf Daab, a Cologne-based publisher and spiritual entrepreneur, to explore how dreams, and intuition reshaped his life. From sex with his soul-sel…