Decoding the Gurus

Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne
Podcast Decoding the Gurus

An exiled Northern Irish anthropologist and a hitchhiking Australian psychologist take a close look at the contemporary crop of 'secular gurus', iconoclasts, and other exiles from the mainstream, offering their own brands of unique takes and special insights. Leveraging two of the most diverse accents in modern podcasting, Chris and Matt dig deep into the claims, peek behind the psychological curtains, and try to figure out once and for all... What's it all About? Join us, as we try to puzzle our way through and talk some smart-sounding smack about the intellectual giants of our age, from Jordan Peterson to Robin DiAngelo. Are they revolutionary thinkers or just grifters with delusions of grandeur? Join us and let's find out!

  1. -1 J

    Darryl Cooper, Nazi Apologetics, & Disturbances in the Discourse

    Join Matt and Chris for a deep dive into the discourse created by Darryl Cooper’s controversial interview with Tucker Carlson. The decoders tackle Cooper’s revisionist takes on Winston Churchill, Hitler, and WWII, asking whether throwing in strategic disclaimers really makes it all okay. They also explore reactions from the wider comment-o-sphere, including the musings of libertarian firebrand/idiot Dave Smith, mainstream historians and history YouTubers, and the hosts of Triggernometry, Konstantin and Francis, as they try to unpack Niall Ferguson’s sharp critique of Cooper. Along the way, Sam Harris enters the fray, on a search for grown-ups in the alternative media. But does Harris offer a mature critique, or is he engaging in his own cycle of grievance-mongering? Matt and Chris examine his response and consider if it rises above or contributes to the podcasting noise. Whether you are a staunch critic of Sam Harris or a devoted fan, we promise this episode has something to disappoint everyone! Links Tucker Carlson: Darryl Cooper: The True History of the Jonestown Cult, WWII, and How Winston Churchill Ruined EuropeThe History Underground: Was Churchill the Chief Villain of WWII??? A Response to Darryl Cooper & Tucker CarlsonCooper's follow up thread on X.Triggernometry: “Tucker Has Become an Enabler of Fascists” - Sir Niall FergusonDave Smith | Darryl Cooper | Part Of The Problem 1169Sam Harris: Episode 383 Where Are the Grown-Ups?Free Press: Sohrab Ahmari. Pseudo-Scholars and the Rise of the Barbarian RightSPLC: McInnes, Molyneux, and 4chan: Investigating pathways to the alt-rightVox: Ezra Klein. Sam Harris, Charles Murray, and the allure of race scienceVox. The Sam Harris Debate.Arthur Jensen Profile at SPLC. The researcher who contributed to the Neo-Nazi journal.The Churchill Project. Reply to Darryl Cooper: The Truth About World War II.The Bulwark: Robert Tracinski. The “Charlottesville Hoax” Hoax.Independent Article on the 'Cat' roasting video.a...

    2 h 24 min
  2. 16 SEPT.

    Supplementary Material 15: Russian Stooges, Lex Love-bombs, and Heterodox Hypocrisy

    We rip off the unconvincing plastic mask to reveal the true gurus lurking underneath and discuss: Russian Propaganda and Influencer ScandalProfit Incentives in Alternative Media and the Need for DisclosureExcessive Profiteering and AdvertisingLex Fridman interviews Trump (with love)Trump and Anti-Vaxx Conspiracy TheoriesTrump and Kamala Debate Reactions and Heterodox TakesDestiny vs. the Low Bar of the Alternative MediaWhen Joe met BretRogan & Bret's Massive Projection and HypocrisyFinancial Incentives in Alternative MediaGabor Maté cites some Neuroimaging StudiesMatt's HUGE Correction on Twitter FundingThe University of Austin in Texas still exists! The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1 hr 47 mins). Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus Links Legal Eagle video on the Tenet Media scandalKanai, R., Feilden, T., Firth, C., & Rees, G. (2011). Political orientations are correlated with brain structure in young adults. Current Biology, 21(8), 677-680.Boekel, W., Wagenmakers, E. J., Belay, L., Verhagen, J., Brown, S., & Forstmann, B. U. (2015). A purely confirmatory replication study of structural brain-behavior correlations. cortex, 66, 115-133.Joe Rogan Experience #2198 - Bret WeinsteinDonald Trump Interview | Lex Fridman Podcast #442The Guardian: We each have a Nazi in us. We need to understand the psychological roots of authoritarianism. Gabor Maté.

    52 min
  3. 13 SEPT.

    Dr. K (Part 3): Therapeutic Non-Therapy

    Join Matt and Chris as they conclude their deep dive into the content of Dr. K, the streaming psychiatrist behind Healthy Gamer GG. In previous episodes, they explored his promotion of Ayurvedic medicine and his use of the rhetorical strategies often seen in Complementary and Alternative Medicine spaces. This time, they tackle his more controversial work: the (non)therapy sessions with influencers, focusing particularly on his challenging and controversial conversation with the late streamer Reckful. The episode considers how Dr. K navigates the boundaries between professional therapy and public conversation, examines his response to an official reprimand from his governing body, and questions whether his justifications withstand scrutiny. Matt and Chris critically assess the validity of legalistic defences, the ethics of publicly streaming sensitive conversations with vulnerable individuals, and broader concerns about mixing mental health care with entertainment. It's a lengthy episode and features discussions on patient-therapist power dynamics, definitional debates, and the complexities surrounding regulatory oversight and professional/general ethics. We warn you this is not a very light episode and deals with sensitive issues related to suicide and mental health. Links HealthyGamerGG: Talking Depression with ReckfulHealthyGamerGG: EthicsHealthyGamerGG: Ludwig and Dr. K's Journey of Death and ConsciousnessHealthyGamerGG: Tired of Work, Society, and Life... (featuring response to reprimand)Dr. K's official reprimand by the Medical BoardDr. Mike: Debating The Value Of Eastern Medicine (Ayurveda) | Healthy Gamer Dr. KCritical Video by MrGirl: Dr. K - RecklessCritical YouTube video by Koubitz: Dr. K's Hidden AgendaThe New York Times: The Gamer and the PsychiatristHealthyGamerGG Official Response to Reprimand on Reddit

    4 h 29 min
  4. 31 AOÛT

    Supplementary Materials 14: Return to the Gurusphere

    World travels complete the Guru Decoders reconvene to examine how the Gurusphere has been behaving in their absence. Bad news abounds. Featuring: Introduction and Hosts' ReunionChris's Travel Tales Cultural Observations and ComparisonsHealth Concerns and Anti-Vax MovementRFK Jr. and Political EndorsementsQuarantine Measures in HistoryBret Weinstein endorses TrumpEric Weinstein's quasi-endorsementStephen Bartlett promotes Bret and gets in trouble for adsPlagiarism Allegations against Robin Di AngeloElon Musk's Twitter Investors RevealedKonstantin Kisin vs. a normal InterviewJonathan Pageau and 5G ConspiraciesSam Harris & Destiny ConversationSam's Analysis of Jordan PetersonSocial Media Derangement: Sam vs. DestinyOffline vs Online BehaviourFocus on the Far Left vs. the Far RightClosing Thoughts & Next Episode The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1 hr 36 mins). Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus Links RFK endorsing TrumpDelusions, Right and Left: A Conversation with “Destiny” (Steven Bonnell) (Episode #381)Konstantin Kisin vs. NBC interviewerFortune: Elon Musk was just forced to reveal who really owns X. Here’s the listBBC: Steven Bartlett nutrition adverts banned for being misleadingEric's quasi-endorsement of RFK Jnr. and TrumpBad Stats clip of Pageau from Peterson AcademyBret endorsing Trump and RFK Jr.Free Beacon: Robin DiAngelo Plagiarized Minority Scholars, Complaint Alleges

    46 min

À propos

An exiled Northern Irish anthropologist and a hitchhiking Australian psychologist take a close look at the contemporary crop of 'secular gurus', iconoclasts, and other exiles from the mainstream, offering their own brands of unique takes and special insights. Leveraging two of the most diverse accents in modern podcasting, Chris and Matt dig deep into the claims, peek behind the psychological curtains, and try to figure out once and for all... What's it all About? Join us, as we try to puzzle our way through and talk some smart-sounding smack about the intellectual giants of our age, from Jordan Peterson to Robin DiAngelo. Are they revolutionary thinkers or just grifters with delusions of grandeur? Join us and let's find out!

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