138 episodes
Decoding the Gurus Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne
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- Society & Culture
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4.3 • 183 Ratings
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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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Ranking the Gurus
Decoding the Gurus is now a venerable institution and as such we have built up quite a menagerie of would-be gurus and even a handful of not-really gurus.
So like all the hip kids today, we decided to look back at our previous gurus and arrange them on a tier list of Secular Guruosity.
If you would like to play along we’ve made a version accessible online so you can provide your rankings (available here) or you can see ours.
Also, due to an image-importing hiccup, we missed Sam Harris (B), Robert Wright (D) and Richard Dawkins (D). All are now added to the template!
Hope you enjoy and we will be back soon with a full-length decoding of Gabor Maté before the concluding chapter of the Dr. K trilogy.
If you want to support the show, join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus -
Supplementary Materials 10: Rigorous Conspiracy Hypothesising about the Trump Shooting
A special Supplementary Material where we take a gander at some of the reactions to the recent assassination attempt on Trump and then dig deeper with some responsible model conspiracy hypothesizing with Bret and Heather. Also featuring:
Our completely predictable response to the shootingJohn Cusack's Conspiracy TheoryTim Kennedy's Conspiracy Venn DiagramScientific Cosplay with Bret and HeatherLearning about logic with HeatherThe Lab Leak theory revisited with BretThe Fall of Plato's CaveMind Controlled ShootersThe Unity 2024 Platform
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (57 mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
Links
Cave of Mirrors: The 234th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather HeyingTim Kennedy: How Leadership Failures Led to an Assassination Attempt on TrumpJohn Cusack's conspiracy tweet -
Dr. K (Part 2): Rhetorical Judo Flips
Join Matt and Chris for a trademark 'short' episode as they continue to navigate the complex, occasionally controversial world of Dr. K in this second multi-dimensional episode. This time they take a look at some more recent content and reflect on whether they were wrong to identify Dr. K as such a strong advocate of Ayurvedic medicine. In their investigations, they explore the science of visualisation and manifestation, updated genomic information about the Doshas, and the power of mantras to bend the universe.
But primarily they focus on the recent lively discussion between Dr. K and another famous YouTube Doctor, Dr. Mike. Their discussion touched on various topics including the mechanisms of science, the power of consciousness, personalized treatments, and the placebo effect. All good fodder for the DTG grinder even if it ends up, as it so often does, with Chris and Matt gently discussing their points of view about the nature of mind and the (alleged) mystery of subjective experience (we are sorry!).
So join us for a thought-provoking ride through scientific criticism, holistic practices, and age-old East vs. West / Alternative vs Science-based medicine debates as we attempt to decipher whether Dr. K is a modern-era internet sage or a charismatic storyteller and alternative medicine advocate.
Links
Doctor Mike: Debating The Value Of Eastern Medicine (Ayurveda) | Healthy Gamer Dr. KHeatlhyGamerGG: The Truth About Visualization & ManifestationHealthyGamerGG: Optimize Performance and Develop Self-Understanding with AyurvedaScience is Dope: Should we adopt Ayurveda | An Indian's response | Dr. Mike vs Dr. K -
Supplementary Materials 9: Galaxy Brains Collide
We get put in our place by an old champion, who reminds us why they are the king. Also this episode:
Chris' post-conference thoughts on the UKMatt's Great American Burger GiveawayNon-Tribal Joe Rogan meets Jimmy DoreLex Fridman meets Ivanka TrumpThe UK election and the heterodox responseJordan Peterson and the spiritual kingdom of FarageismRussell Brand and Alex Jones pray togetherGalaxy Brains Collide: Eric Weinstein meets Terrence HowardStill wearing a jacket to save the worldEric is the one who knocksEric the scientist defends his colleague Neal deGrasse TysonThe hidden layersGold-tier criticism and cultish subredditsBad faith Matt and Good faith Chris say Farewell
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 29mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
Links
“Something BIG is about to happen” - EXCLUSIVE Alex Jones Interview on INFOWARS shut down - 391 Russell BrandIvanka Trump: Politics, Family, Real Estate, Fashion, Music, and Life | Lex Fridman Podcast #436Joe Rogan Experience #2173 - Jimmy DoreJoe Rogan Experience #2171 - Eric Weinstein & Terrence HowardJordan B. Peterson Podcast - Conservative Failings and the Reform UK Party | Nigel Farage -
Dr. K (Part 1): OPed Ayurvedic Medicine vs. Nerfed 'Western' Allopathy
Alok Kanojia, better known as Dr. K, is a charismatic psychiatrist and online streamer who offers a unique blend of psychological, self-help, and spiritual advice to guide individuals through the complexities of modern life, aiming to help them become Healthy Gamers™. Join Matt and Chris as they embark on a multi-part journey through the diverse biomes of Dr. K's content and try to ascertain the meta.
In this first episode, Matt and Chris take a critical look at a 2019 video in which Dr. K discusses his views on Ayurvedic medicine, the problems with Western medicine, and the unacknowledged scientific evidence for Ayurvedic claims. We consider whether the evidence provided matches the rhetoric and relive youthful follies as we immerse ourselves in the all too familiar water of complementary and alternative medicine discourse.
So join us as we learn about the universal mind and single type of depression proposed by modern medicine, how a tripartite classification is actually incredibly individualistic, how the shape of your nose and kink in your hair predicts the food you should eat and the quality of your bowel movements, and the surprising benefits of drinking elephant milk.
In Part 2, we will delve into Dr. K's recent discussion/debate over Ayurvedic medicine with Dr. Mike, another popular YouTube doctor. And finally Part 3 will focus on the dynamics of Dr. K's long-form, somewhat controversial, mental health-themed interviews with influencers.
Links
Dr. K's Healthy Gamer GG websiteHealthy Gamer GG- Ayurveda Pt. 1: Gunas, Cognitive Fingerprint, PersonalityScience is Dope: Should we adopt Ayurveda | An Indian's response | Dr. Mike vs Dr. KList of Studies mentioned in the episodeSimon Singh's court case that Chris mentionedThe Iced Coffee Hour: Harvard Psychiatrist on How To Get Ahead of 99.9% of People (Starting NOW)Some of Matt's related papers: 1) Thomson, P., Jones, J., Browne, M., & Leslie, S. J. (2014). Why people seek complementary and alternative medicine before conventional medical treatment: a population-based study. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 20(4), 339-346. & 2) Browne, M., Thomson, P., Rockloff, M. J., & Pennycook, G. (2015). Going against the herd: psychological and cultural factors underlying the ‘vaccination confidence gap’. PLoS one, 10(9), e0132562. -
Supplementary Materials 8: Lab Leak Discourse, Toxic YouTube Dynamics, and the Metaphysics of Peppa Pig
We stare into the abyss and welcome darkness into our souls as we discuss:
Feedback on the Žižek episodeMiddle Aged Men's Health UpdateAlina Chan and the newest round of Lab Leak DiscourseDiscourse Surfing PunditsAlex O'Connor cornering Jordan Peterson on the resurrectionThe philosophical and Marxist implications of Peppa PigPotential Alternatives to Hipster Christianity and New AtheismAndrew Gold's Heretics Channel and Toxic YouTube DynamicsEditorializing and Responsible CriticismBalaji Srinivasan's Waffling Defence of HubermanThe 'Elite Defector' PoseVerbal Fluency vs. SubstanceHeterodox and Anti-Vaxx Incentive StructuresJames Lindsay's most recent idiocyDesperate Call to Action
Links
Alina Chan's NYT Article on the Lab LeakOur episode addressing Alina and Matt Ridley's points with relevant expertsJordan Peterson's Podcast: Navigating Belief, Skepticism, and the Afterlife | Alex O'Connor @CosmicSkeptic | EP 451Andrew Gold - Heretics: EXPOSED: I Didn't Show THIS in Viral 'Woke' Debate with Eni Aluko (4K)Balaji's huge Twitter thread defending HubermanSummary of Huberman's Math MemeTop Earning Substacks
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1 hr 14 mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
Customer Reviews
Destiny - a frustrating listen
Your recent right to reply, with Destiny, presented me with a problem. I need to listen at x.75 speed to catch whatever Destiny was saying - and that was a worthwhile endeavour. Problem at that speed was that Matt and especially Chris sounded drunk, which was a bit distracting. Moreover, Chris’s questions were even longer and more tortured than usual - so by the time he finished, I had completely lost track of what he was on about, where we were in the conversation, what I was listening to and even what day of the week we were on. I hope you can find a solution to this if it ever arises in future.
I notice that critics of your pod accuse you of being smug academics - like that’s a bad thing.
Poor all round
Nothing of value to see here.
Good medicine can taste bad
Unlike many culture war podcasts, DTG isn’t satisfying junk food, but rather a dose of good medicine.
DTG is either a 5 star podcast or a 1 star podcast largely depending on your view of the person being decoded.
This podcast is touted as decoding gurus of any stripe but the vast majority of targets are the heterodox / IDW sphere. Your Weinstein, Harris, saad and Rogans. This is where they are most comfortable and where the best episodes generally come from. Yes, the hosts can be dragged kicking and screaming to do a diangelo and a Kendi from time to time but they’d much rather do a IDW big wig.
Chris is the engine of the show and his inhuman ability to listen to prodigious amounts of ‘discourse’ from people he largely holds in contempt is his superpower. Matt is more the straight man who at times you feel is being dragged into his friend’s manic episodes.
At times the podcast is sublime and reaches near perfection. The lab leak episode, the first episode on Weinstein s and recently the Chomsky episode were all fantastic.
Their detached and academic style is a major draw and they are at their best when objective and charitable to their chosen target. They are weakest when they allow personal political views to colour their arguments.
it’s fine that both profess left wing views but, they have something of a blind spot when it comes to the right.
declaring something ‘right wing’ or of the right is often, for then, the end of the argument, as if this were just naturally wrong, whereas much more leniency is given to opposite views.
For instance, in one episode they said they wouldn’t interview a fascist, but have interviewed self professed communists (Daniel harper, Liam bright). In another, They spoke of ‘worrying forms of communism’ - are there good forms? And when talking to Harris they suggested that Chris Williamson would be an improvement over Joe Rogan as Chris “doesn’t have so many right wing opinions.”
I think this is a blind spot as in the Harari episode they say “we try not to criticise people for being right wing per se”. If I may, try harder!
They are also too keen to sniff out secret fascists and right wingers. Joe rogan is right wing but he doesn’t know it, Jordan Peterson is a fascist but doesn’t know it, shermer is in “the orbit” of the right, and even the triggernometry podcast is a bit fascist. To my knowledge no guru to date has been accused of being a secret communist.
Another more minor complaint is that the ‘guru’ set up tends to favour those with institutional backing. A guru is often a spurned insider, and those still inside have no need to become outspoken crusaders for ‘truth’.
No doubt there are just as many left wing weirdos under the radar, safely cloistered in academia or media that we never hear about as they are in no danger of getting cancelled because their views, no matter how unreasonable, are accepted by institutions.
No need for them to start a podcast ranting against ‘the system’ since they have well paid jobs, and the system works for them. Profiteering for example, do Kendi and Chomsky profiteer? No, they don’t have to because the world rewards they richly for their work.
And back to politics, in the Shermer Ep - Matt suggests everyone in the heterodox sphere is drawn towards the right wing. But has no comment on the opposite happening in non heterodox institutional spaces.
I’m not excusing the excesses of the Weinsteins and others, merely pointing out that the game is slightly rigged, allowing certain flavours of nut job to fail upwards.
All in all an excellent podcast. I personally thank the hosts for helping me to see the error of my ways with some of these people. Keep up the good work.