The Human Element with Joe Massey

Joe Massey
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The Human Element is an investigation into the patterns of our past and the potential of our future. We bridge the gap between the four fundamental pillars to understand the core of who we are:• HISTORY: The context for understanding today.• SCIENCE: The blueprint of our identity.• EXPERIENCE: The frontier of human capability.• PHILOSOPHY: The connective tissue between the other pillars and humanity.From the ruins of Ancient Egypt to the cutting edge of CRISPR and the minds of elite performers—we interview world-class experts to uncover the "Golden Threads" that connect us all. 

  1. 1d ago

    #20 - History with Jackson: The Psychology of Tyranny and The Cost of Absolute Power

    Send us Fan Mail   Joseph Stalin ruled a quarter of the world's landmass with total control — and died alone, surrounded by people too terrified to save his life. In this episode, historian Jackson Van Uden  (@history_with_jackson) breaks down how a seminary dropout from a poor Georgian family became one of history's most paranoid and destructive leaders — and what his psychology reveals about power, trust, and control in all of our lives.  We trace Stalin from his childhood and the collapsing Tsarist regime, through his rise inside Lenin's inner circle, the Great Terror, his uneasy alliance-turned-war with Hitler, and the final years where his own paranoia, having purged the very doctors who could have saved him, directly caused his death.  This isn't just a history lesson. It's a case study in what happens when the pursuit of control replaces the ability to trust, and how that same pattern, at a much smaller scale, shows up in leadership, relationships, and our own instinct to grip tighter when we feel afraid.  Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: the psychology of power and control 01:20 – Who was Joseph Stalin? 02:51 – Childhood and the fall of the Tsars 08:16 – Ideology vs. nationalism: what really drove Stalin 14:52 – How Stalin caught Lenin's attention 19:59 – How ordinary Soviets viewed Stalin 23:09 – Consolidating power: the early purges 25:54 – Loyalty through fear vs. loyalty through love 30:49 – How much did the outside world know? 33:00 – Stalin, Hitler, and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 40:10 – Did the purges cripple the Soviet war effort? 44:14 – Post-war Stalin: exporting communism 49:32 – Fact or fiction: the standing ovation story 54:35 – Freedom, trust, and betrayal under Stalinism 58:58 – The paranoia that caused his own death 1:03:04 – Stalin's family and the human cost of power 1:11:50 – What Stalin's life actually teaches us 1:16:51 – Where to find Jackson  Guest: Jackson — History with Jackson Instagram: @history_with_jackson Podcast/YouTube: linked in bio Substack: writing on global authoritarianism  Follow The Human Element: Instagram: @the_humanelementpodcast YouTube: @Thehumanelementwithjoe

  2. Jul 8

    #19 - Micah Kunkle: The Ancient Greek Formula for Persuasion (That Still Works)

    Send us Fan Mail Micah Kunkle has debated some of the internet's most polarizing voices on Jubilee's Surrounded — and somehow stayed calm doing it. In this episode, we unpack the lost art of civil discourse: why debate culture has gotten crueler, how to argue without losing yourself, and what separates people who actually change minds from people just chasing clips. We also go back over 2,000 years to Aristotle's framework for persuasion — logos, ethos, and pathos — and why the ancient Greeks already figured out what most of today's internet debaters still get wrong. Turns out the formula for actually convincing someone hasn't changed; we've just forgotten it. We talk about the psychology of staying composed under pressure, why empathy might be the most underrated debate skill, and practical steps anyone can take to get better at real conversation — not performance. If you've ever felt your voice shake mid-argument, or wondered why online disagreement feels so much uglier than it used to, this one's for you. Follow Micah: @micahkunkle (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) Follow The Human Element: Instagram: @the_humanelementpodcast YouTube: @Thehumanelementwithjoe

  3. Jun 23

    #18 - Isaac Kenyon: He Rowed For 84 Hours Straight, By Hour 3 His Brain Was Inventing Injuries

    Send us Fan Mail  Isaac Kenyon is a world record holder, Atlantic Ocean rower, and one of the most quietly remarkable endurance athletes alive. But this conversation isn't really about rowing. It's about why your mind quits before your body even gets close to its limit. It's about the difference between mental toughness and resilience — and why confusing the two might be the most dangerous thing you're doing. It's about what happens to four men on a 29-foot boat in the middle of an ocean when one of them wants to jump off. And it's about why comfort, not hardship, might be the real crisis of our generation. Isaac has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, broken multiple world records, and run marathons on injury. In this conversation he breaks down the exact mental frameworks, team dynamics, and hard-won lessons from a life spent deliberately choosing discomfort — and what any ordinary person can take from that starting tomorrow morning. If you've ever started something hard and talked yourself out of it — this one's for you. In this episode: The real difference between mental toughness and resilience What breaks first — your mind or your body How to vet a team for survival, not just performance The comfort crisis and what it's quietly costing you When quitting is actually the right call Find Isaac Kenyon: 🔗 Search "Isaac Kenyon" to find his website and socials If this hit home, share it with someone who needs it. Subscribe for weekly conversations with people who've done the hard thing and come back with something worth saying. Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 00:44 — Rowing 84 Hours Straight: What It Actually Feels Like 02:24 — Why Nothing Is Ever Solo: The "We" Behind Every Achievement 05:03 — The Logistics Nobody Talks About: Food, Bathrooms and Powdered Maltodextrin 06:22 — The Mental Strategy That Gets You Through Anything: Radical Presence 08:16 — Why Focusing On The Outcome Is Slowly Killing Your Progress 11:10 — The Conqueror Mindset vs The Never-Ending Peak 12:18 — Mental Toughness vs Resilience: They Are Not The Same Thing 17:10 — Why Recovery Is The Hidden Secret Behind Every World Record 19:32 — What Breaks First — Your Mind Or Your Body? 22:38 — "Men Today Live Lives Of Quiet Comfort" — The Comfort Crisis 29:31 — What Stops A World Record Holder From Quitting 37:54 — How To Start Building Resilience From Zero Tomorrow Morning 42:06 — Rowing Across The Atlantic Ocean: The Full Story 45:43 — What Really Happens To A Team 48 Hours Into The Ocean 49:01 — The Moment A Teammate Wanted To Jump Off The Boat 52:26 — How To Recruit A Team That Survives Anything 57:17 — Knowing When To Push Through vs When To Actually Stop 1:03:05 — Where To Find Isaac Kenyon

  4. Jun 3

    #17 - Dr Alec Ryrie: We Forgot How to Define Good (And It's Ruining Us!)

    Send us Fan Mail  What if Adolf Hitler never really left? Not physically, but morally. For over 80 years, Hitler and Nazism have served as the West's ultimate symbol of evil. But what happens when an entire civilization builds its moral framework around what it hates rather than what it loves? In this fascinating conversation, historian and author Dr. Alec Ryrie explores the provocative ideas behind his book The Age of Hitler and How We'll Survive It. Together, we unpack why Hitler replaced Jesus as our dominant moral reference point, how World War II continues to shape modern politics, and why today's culture wars may signal the end of the post-war moral order. We discuss: 01:14 Why We're Still Living in "The Age of Hitler" 04:12 Are We Better at Avoiding Evil Than Pursuing Good? 07:51 Why Evil Became Our Common Moral Language 09:19 Why Hitler Became History's Ultimate Villain 13:46 Christianity's Moral Failure Before World War II 15:40 Godwin's Law & The Internet's Nazi Obsession 18:22 Why Society Is Always Searching for "The Next Hitler" 23:37 Are We Asking Too Much of World War II? 28:41 Peace Through Strength vs Appeasement 31:27 Have We Replaced Blasphemy With Bigotry? 36:50 The Return of Anti-Semitism 42:18 Why Our Post-War Moral Consensus Is Breaking Down 49:24 Are Human Rights Universal Truths? 53:15 Can Human Rights Survive Without God? 54:55 Are Judeo-Christian Values Making a Comeback? 59:24 The Future of Morality After Hitler 01:03:52 Three Big Questions 01:13:18 Where To Find Dr. Alec Ryrie's Work Along the way, Dr. Ryrie offers a powerful warning: when we become fixated on one form of evil, we risk becoming blind to others. This is a conversation about history, religion, politics, morality, memory, and the uncertain future of Western civilization. If you've ever wondered where our values come from, or where they're heading, this episode is for you.

  5. May 4

    #16 - Professor Ernst Wolvetang: The Age of the Bio Revolution

    Send us Fan Mail We are officially entering the Age of the Biological Revolution. In this episode, Ernst Wolvetang explains why the next century will be defined not by the machines we build, but by the biology we rewrite. As CRISPR technology and gene-editing mature, we are moving toward a future where "human nature" is no longer a fixed set of rules, but a hackable system. Ernst dives deep into the high-stakes world of genetic enhancement: The End of Aging? How we might soon modify genes early in life to prevent disease and increase longevity.Gene Doping and the Olympics: The terrifying and fascinating possibility of "genetically enhanced" athletes and why we may need entirely new categories for competition.Hacking the Senses: A look into a future where humans can onboard abilities from other species—like UV vision or moldable skin—directly into our nervous systems.The Character Gap: If we can "hack" our way to the perfect body or peak performance, what happens to the value of hard work and discipline?Join us for a provocative discussion on the moral and philosophical boundaries of being human in an era where we can finally go straight to the "heart of the machine" to change who we are.

  6. Apr 21

    #15 - Dr Randall Flannery: How to Overcome Loneliness and Beat Addiction

    Send us Fan Mail Clinical psychologist Dr. Randall Flannery joins me to unpack the loneliness epidemic, the hidden costs of our always-on digital lives, and why constant connectivity is making us feel more isolated than ever. From doom-scrolling and shallow digital reading to the decline of deep focus and authentic human connection, Dr. Flannery explains how devices condition our brains for distraction, reduce retention, and erode real-world relationships — especially among young people. Discover practical ways to reclaim your attention, build meaningful connections, and choose humanity over endless efficiency and productivity. If you're tired of feeling anxious, distracted, or lonely despite being "more connected" than ever, this episode offers clarity and actionable insights. Timestamps and full transcript available below. What’s one change you’re making to your device habits after watching? Comment below!

  7. Apr 6

    #14 - Shane Fielding: Inside the Extreme Life of a Pro Swimmer

    Send us Fan Mail What’s it really like to beat Michael Phelps in a race… then spend 20 years processing the “what ifs”? In this raw episode of The Human Element, ex-Australian swimmer Shane opens up about racing in the golden era alongside Thorpey, Hackett, and Klim, the brutal 1% margins that decide Olympic dreams, and the car accident that derailed his final shot at the Games. He shares the heavy toll of near-misses, the long road to reframing “failure,” and how fatherhood + converting to Catholicism reshaped his definition of success. From idolising superstars to realising they’re human, this is a heartfelt conversation about sacrifice, resilience, fame’s dark side, and finding peace beyond the podium. If you’ve ever chased a big goal and wondered “was it worth it?”, hit play.

  8. Apr 2

    #13 - Professor Ernst Wolvetang: Making Mammoth Meatballs & T Rex Leather

    Send us Fan Mail Join myself and Professor Ernst Wolvetang, a top bioengineer from the University of Queensland and Chief Scientific Officer of The Organoid Company,  as he shares groundbreaking work in genome editing, mini-brains, and regenerative medicine. In this episode you’ll hear about: 1. Lab-grown mammoth meatballs made with stem cells and ancient mammoth proteins — real meat, no animals harmed. 2. T-Rex collagen grown in chicken cells to make eco-friendly dinosaur-style leather. 3. The truth about de-extinction: bringing back mammoths, dire wolves, or even T-Rex — what’s actually possible and where the ethical lines are. 4. Tiny brain organoids that learn to play Pong, show signs of consciousness, react to psychedelics, and help study epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and PTSD. 5. How these mini-brains could lead to personalized medicine tailored just for you. 6. CRISPR fixing genetic diseases today — and the big questions about designing “perfect” humans. 7. Why losing genetic diversity could be risky, plus how AI is changing science (for better and worse). From ethical meat and dino leather to unlocking brain mysteries and the future of humanity, this chat dives into where biology meets sci-fi — and what it means for our health, planet, and who we become. How far is too far? Watch now and decide for yourself.

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The Human Element is an investigation into the patterns of our past and the potential of our future. We bridge the gap between the four fundamental pillars to understand the core of who we are:• HISTORY: The context for understanding today.• SCIENCE: The blueprint of our identity.• EXPERIENCE: The frontier of human capability.• PHILOSOPHY: The connective tissue between the other pillars and humanity.From the ruins of Ancient Egypt to the cutting edge of CRISPR and the minds of elite performers—we interview world-class experts to uncover the "Golden Threads" that connect us all. 

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