I am joined once again with Kenny as we discuss why it is exactly that our television shows, movies, and songs have completely corroded in intellectual quality and weight over the past few decades.

Some Topics Covered:

◉ What made artists take more chances in the 60's?

◉ Elite filmmakers versus the masses.

◉ Can money turn artists into sellouts?

◉ The impact of 'high art'

◉ Are intellectually rigorous forms of art for everyone?

I am joined with Jon Lindinger, who helps me understand why it is so essential that we as humans constantly grow.

Some of the topics we touch upon are:

◉ Investing in one's self due to uncertainty.

◉ Relationships where only one partner is growth oriented.

◉ Growing in the shadows.

◉ Being unable to help others as a result of poor choices.

I am joined once again with Joe, as we try and figure out why our smartest members in society never seem to debate one another? Some of the areas we explore are:

◉ Why don't we value intellectual discourse like prized fights?

◉ The stacked deck of network television debates

◉ Does our current population have the intellectual stamina for intellectually heavy discourse?

I am joined once again with Alexander as we discuss, an idea floated in 2006's bestseller The Secret and work done by an organization called the Global Consciousness Project which claims to be able to measure varying amounts of consciousness in living organisms such as plants and on a global scale during cataclysmic events.

Some topics we hit upon:

◉ Healthy skepticism versus hostile rejection

◉ Pathways for fringe science to pass through the gates of scientific rigor

◉ Structural and bureaucratic limitations of science in academia

◉ Unexplained coincidences.

I am joined with Daniel as he talks about his spiritual journey attending Catholic school, getting confirmed, and how he lost and then rediscovered his spirituality in the form of eastern philosophy. I then share my own personal story of growing up Reformed Jewish, attending Hebrew school, and rekindling with my own spirituality.

This episode is the first part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay.

In this first part we talk about the functionality of the Roman Republic and what forces lead to it's ultimate demise....

I am joined once again with Gabby as she helps me examine an instance in my life where I thought I was helping someone in need...but things didn't go exactly how I imagined....

I am joined once again with Kenny, as we discuss why it is, that many of our popular films and television series seem to glorify evil. Topics include, good versus evil morality, the grey area in films, biological inclinations towards evil, and the impact newer films might be having on younger audiences.

Joining me on the program is Lauren Andreu, who helps me navigate the difficult terrain of class and identity, regarding where the focus should be in order to eradicate poverty and other various forms of injustice. Some of the topics that we explore are Affirmative Action, Hiring Discrimination, Inadequately funded public institutions, class versus group policy measures, and unfair incarceration practices.

A short story about how some of the best gifts in life aren't always material.