Bald, Blind, and Buddies

Timothy Cordes and John Boland
  • 5.0 (21)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Liberal v. conservative, right, left, or libertarian. Join a thoughtful discussion with Timothy Cordes, a blind psychiatrist, and John Boland, a bald alum of the London School of Economics, who don't agree on much, but always agree to serve up their ideas with friendship and humor. ideasfirst.substack.com

  1. recent legal rulings against Meta and Youtube

    5D AGO

    recent legal rulings against Meta and Youtube

    After trivia, the buddies begin with a re-imagining of A Few Good Men with a tech executive on the stand. They review two key adverse rulings against social media companies in New Mexico and Los Angeles. John asserts the primacy of individual choice and responsibility. Tim points out that there should be a higher standard for children. Tim reviews what addiction is and whether people can be addicted to social media. John points to the new suit against on-line gambling companies, and they speculate about what will happen next and how things could be improved. John’s whack-job spent three years in law school so that he could be fined for using AI to write his brief. Tim’s hero is a proponent of girl’s sport in Minnesota and a proud Gopher fan. Referred to: New Mexico social media lawsuit ends in $375-million verdict against Meta Verdicts against social platforms validate concerns long raised by parents, whistleblowers | AP News Meta had a 17-strike policy for sex trafficking, former safety leader claims | The Verge Broken Code by Jeff Horwitz Attorney Hit with Historic Fine for Citing AI-Generated Cases Meet the Blanket Lady, a Gophers Basketball Superfan Who Blazed Trails for Women’s Hoops - Racket We would love to hear from you. Send comments to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    44 min
  2. In memory of Lou Holtz

    MAR 20

    In memory of Lou Holtz

    We welcome University of Notre Dame football players Frank Stams and Wes Pritchett, members of the 1988 National Championship team, to the show to reminisce and share their thoughts on Coach Lou Holtz. The two expand on Lou’s leadership, vision, attention to detail, and consistency. Wes explains how he came to appreciate Lou more as he grew into a man with his own family. He recounts Lou’s Three Rules for Life. Frank and Wes share anecdotes and talk about the team’s chemistry. Our apologies, some of the audio is rough. I’d encourage you to stick with it. Referred to: Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography. Inside Lou Holtz’s impact on his Notre Dame players: Aaron Taylor A Confession of the Legendary Lou Holtz - Word on Fire Ten things about former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz you might not know We would love to hear from you. Send comments, suggestions, or show ideas to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Please, share this podcast with a friend. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    32 min
  3. Lauren Zelt on the problem of lawsuit abuse

    MAR 10

    Lauren Zelt on the problem of lawsuit abuse

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes welcome Lauren Zelt of Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) to Bald, Blind, and Buddies. Lauren expands on the hidden costs of lawsuit abuse highlighting staged accidents and unnecessary medical procedures as examples. She reviews state successes in beginning to address these problems. Tim and John wonder if there are ways to hold the lawyers who perpetrate fraud accountable. Tim reminds us how much the fear of legal action drags on healthcare providers and indirectly raises costs. Lauren reviews warning signs for people who need to engage legal help after an accident. Lauren’s hero is Governor Brian Kemp who signed a lawsuit reform bill in Georgia. Referred to: Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) 2025-2026 Executive Summary - Judicial Hellholes New U.S. Chamber Study: Lawsuit System Costs Reach Over $4,200 Per Household - ILR Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs off on sweeping new limits on lawsuits | AP News We would love to hear from you. If you have an alternate opinion, comments, suggestions, or non-AI-crafted show pitch send them to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM Please, share, like or subscribe to the podcast. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    46 min
  4. Dr. Louis Schlesinger on Forensic psychology and serial killers

    MAR 2

    Dr. Louis Schlesinger on Forensic psychology and serial killers

    This episode has mature topics including sexual violence. Dr. Schlesinger, a forensic psychologist and expert in criminal behavior, explains what we know, don’t know, and how we know what we do about serial killers. He reviews the role the Silence of the Lambs played in sparking interest in the topic and who is drawn to media on true crime. We speculate on why that may be. Dr. Schlesinger dispels common myths like serial killers are typically intelligent and shares ideas on whether rehabilitation is possible. We discuss the challenges in trying to study this topic and consider whether people need to fear serial killers in their daily lives. Dr. Schlesinger shares his hero, Dr. Eugene Revitch, a pioneer in understanding criminal behavior. Referred to: “He’s not the murderer” scene from “Seinfeld” The Masseuse (TV Episode 1993) Psychiatric Aspects of Criminal Behavior: Collected Papers of Eugene Revitch on Amazon Sexual Murder: Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides: Amazon We would love to hear from you. Tell us why you like ‘true crime.” Send show ideas, comments, or advice to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. If you want to do one thing to help the podcast, share it with a friend, acquaintance, or stranger. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    52 min
  5. A Million Ring Doorbells to Watch them all

    FEB 23

    A Million Ring Doorbells to Watch them all

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes address the Ring Doorbell Super Bowl ad, privacy controversy, and fallout. The Buddies begin with NFL trivia and Tim take prides in his “dumb” home. John and Tim discussed how the Ring Doorbell ad was supposed to warm hearts, but it had a chilling effect. Tim reviews history of Ring’s troubles. John explores tradeoffs between convenience and privacy. John uses the Nancy Guthrie case to illustrate how somehow video doorbells retained images from a device that was supposedly “off.” Tim applauds people who are thinking about these privacy-related decisions and making their own choices about whether they can just answer the door. John’s whack-jobs are two Supreme Court justices guilty of partisanship. Tim highlights Sweden as his hero, for putting books back in students’ hands after realizing the catastrophe of screens in classrooms. Referred to: Ring’s Super Bowl ad for dog-tracking cameras stirs controversy Ring’s privacy failures led to spying and harassment through home security cameras | Consumer Advice Security Companies Could Give Video to Police Without Consent - Consumer Reports Ring’s smart doorbell is a cautionary tale for China sourcing | Global Sources Swedish schools said they didn’t need books. Pupils proved them wrong The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr | Goodreads OpenAI considered alerting Canadian police about school shooting suspect months ago | Tumbler Ridge school shooting | The Guardian We would love to hear from you. Send comments, suggestions, or questions to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTAC.COM. The one thing you can do to help the podcast is to share it with someone. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    41 min
  6. Notre Dame picks pro-abortion professor to lead an institute.

    FEB 17

    Notre Dame picks pro-abortion professor to lead an institute.

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes reflect on Valentine’s Day, lessons from Cherion Koshy, our last guest, and ease into trivia. The Buddies review Professor Susan Ostermann’s appointment to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and the objections of Catholic bishops because of her pro-abortion advocacy. The buddies discuss whether Professor Ostermann’s public advocacy matters for her appointment to lead this department and whether it relates to her intellectual expertise. Both question whether a modern university can truly be Catholic. They reflect on President Obama’s controversial visit to campus. John’s whack-job is Pam Bondi for demonstrating “defining deviancy down” in front of Congress. Tim’s heroes are the indispensable puppy raisers who lay the foundations for young dogs to go on to become Seeing Eye dogs. Referred to: Notre Dame Abortion Controversy: Catholic Bishops Speak Out Against Pro-Abortion Appointee | National Review Tamara Kay and Susan Ostermann: How do we regain abortion rights? Take a page out of MADD’s playbook. – Chicago Tribune Data reveal scale of China abortions Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut We’d love to hear from you. Send comments, ideas, or questions to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. There is one thing you can do to help the podcast. Please, share it with a friend. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    39 min
  7. Generosity and giving with Cherian Koshy

    FEB 9

    Generosity and giving with Cherian Koshy

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes welcome Cherian Koshy, author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making to the Bald, Blind and Buddies podcast. Cherian Koshy describes the benefits of generosity considering that “generosity is the new green juice.” The Buddies and Cherian examine the gaps between the how and why of giving and how strategies can make giving easier for those predisposed to give. They consider whether some giving is better than others, if a truly selfless act exists, and if that matters. Meanwhile, they touch on the Met Gala, electoral reform, Congress, and the University of Notre Dame. Give this episode a listen. Referred to: Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision-Making: Koshy, Cherian: Amazon.com: The Anxious Generation | Jonathan Haidt Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing: Irwin, William: Amazon.com: Books 24 and Philosophy: The World According to Jack (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series): Amazon.com The one thing that you can do to help the podcast is to like it. John and Tim would love to hear from you. Send ideas, suggestions, comments, or advice to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    52 min
  8. Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, and the NFL

    FEB 3

    Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, and the NFL

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes first review news from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin finally flees the fly-over fields for Columbia University. Next, The Buddies dive into College Associated Minor League (CAML) sports trivia. John and Tim reflect on the appeal of sports and the Superbowl. They examine the choice of Bad Bunny for the half-time show considering the NFL’s international aspirations. They muse on commercials and Superbowl memories. John’s hero is Ed Davis, former Police Commissioner of Boston. Tim’s hero is a young man who acted quickly to resolve a dangerous situation. Along the way, John gives a lesson on Roman Numerals and The Buddies digress into the Origins of conventions around driving, salutes, and boarding a plane. Referred to: How Bad Bunny was chosen as the Super Bowl 60 halftime show performer - The Athletic NFL Hoping To Win Back Conservatives With Super Bowl Performance By Spanish-Speaking Man In Dress | Babylon Bee From Sport to Spectacle: The Evolution of the Super Bowl | Britannica 12-year-old saves mom’s life after she passed out while driving - WTMJ Interview with Edward Davis former Police Commissioner of Boston on Apple Podcasts We’d love to hear from you. Send your predictions for how long Jennifer Mnookin will last as president of Columbia University to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Don’t forget to share, like, or subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    39 min
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About

Liberal v. conservative, right, left, or libertarian. Join a thoughtful discussion with Timothy Cordes, a blind psychiatrist, and John Boland, a bald alum of the London School of Economics, who don't agree on much, but always agree to serve up their ideas with friendship and humor. ideasfirst.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Timothy Cordes and John Boland
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Timothy Cordes
  • Show Website
    Bald, Blind, and Buddies

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