Assume I’m an Idiot

Ruff & Tumble

The podcast that asks: Do we really understand how anything works at all? No question is too dumb, no topic is off limits. Assume I’m an Idiot takes complex ideas, hot takes, and basic things you should know, and boils them down so even a 7-year-old can understand. Can a guy with the IQ of a Wood Tick find a way to help folks understand the way the world functions? You be the judge.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    WHAT PART OF A.I. SHOULD I *REALLY* BE SCARED OF? With Dr. Hany Farid

    AI can be fun. It can be scary. And, it turns out, it can be incredibly dangerous. JR dives in to AI’s effect on the creative industry, the media industry, and society as a whole. And discovers just how far deep fakes and generative content can go… explained with the help of his special guest: super-smart brainiac, Chief Science Officer, and renowned digital content authenticator Dr. Hany Farid!

    1h 20m

  2. May 26

    A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER: ARE YOU READY FOR BOTH? Pt.2 With Tom West

    Attention planners, procrastinators, and crashers! We talked about our golden years, now let’s talk about our final hours. An insightful look at the psychology, prep, and emotional roller coaster that is death planing. Part 2 of a special double episode with JR featuring the dulcet tones and sage wisdom of his special guest, Tom West.

    58 min

  3. May 19

    A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER: ARE YOU READY FOR BOTH? Pt.1 With Tom West

    Life is hard. It turns out death is, too. Join our resident idiot as he discovers all the legal, technical, and emotional stuff involved with aging, retirement, and our surprisingly complicated post-mortem… So much, in fact, it’s gonna take 2 episodes to cover it. All with the guidance of JR’s special guest: industry expert Tom West!

    1 hr

  4. May 12

    HOW CELLULAR WORKS… AND WHY SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T.

    All of us rely on it daily, but none of know how it works. JR digs into where cellular service came from, how it works, why it doesn’t, and where it’s going… and discovers that our “state-of-the-art technology” is over 125 years old.

    40 min

  5. May 5

    WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT WHATEVER THE GDP IS?

    It seems like politicians and the media like to throw around important sounding initials, thinking we know what it all means. JR explains what the GDP is, how it’s different than the GNP, and why we should all C-A-R-E ASAP.

    30 min

  6. Apr 28

    HOW THE HECK DOES SOCIAL MEDIA MAKE MONEY?

    We all use it… for free. So how are Social Media companies so valuable? You might say “advertising”… but JR digs into discover what makes their advertising different. And, maybe a little creepy. Are we using it, or is it using us?

    36 min

  7. Apr 21

    WHAT IF WE CURED CANCER?

    Everyone wishes for a cure for cancer, but what would happen if we actually found one? JR dives into the economic, scientific, and social impacts if cancer was finally eradicated… it may not be all wine and roses.

    40 min

  8. Apr 14

    HOW BIG IS THE UNIVERSE…REALLY? With Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi

    Ever wondered about the true scale of our universe? Well hold on to Uranus as JR finally gets the answer from his special guest: the esteemed astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi!

    1h 6m

  9. Apr 7

    What are credit scores, and why do they suck so hard?

    Credit scores can be confusing… and also infuriating. JR mashes it all down to the basics and talks about why they exist and why the whole thing can be a lose-lose nightmare.

    26 min

  10. Mar 31

    ELECTRIC CARS: ARE THEY MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

    We’ve all been told that switching to electric has a massive impact on the environment. But how much of that is true and how much is wishful thinking? JR gives you the straight dope on what going electric really means to ol’ Mother Earth.

    35 min

  11. Mar 24

    HOW THE STOCK MARKET CONTROLS YOUR WHOLE STINKIN’ LIFE

    How is it that something we can’t see, touch, or really use determines our entire financial life? JR digs through the bear and bull to get to the who, what, when, where, and why of the stock market.

    36 min

  12. Mar 17

    Going to Mars: Should we be doing this?

    Strap in as JR dives deep into the reason we want to travel to our nearest cosmic neighbor, the task of getting there, and the reasons humans have no business even trying.

    30 min
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The podcast that asks: Do we really understand how anything works at all? No question is too dumb, no topic is off limits. Assume I’m an Idiot takes complex ideas, hot takes, and basic things you should know, and boils them down so even a 7-year-old can understand. Can a guy with the IQ of a Wood Tick find a way to help folks understand the way the world functions? You be the judge.

Information

  • Creator
    Ruff & Tumble
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Assume I’m an Idiot