133 avsnitt
Decoding the Gurus Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne
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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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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 -
Slavoj Žižek: When is a shark not a shark?
Join Matt and Chris as they plunge into the heady mental universe of Slavoj Žižek, the Slovenian philosopher known for his eclectic and provocative ideas. The duo parses Žižek's 'unconventional' takes on ideology, consumerism, and revolutionary theory, peppered with his playful movie criticism of films like Jaws and a Clockwork Orange and even a few that he hasn't even watched.
We delve into snuffle-laced discussions of transgressive acts, revolutionary politics, moderate conservative communism, consumerist psychology, and musings on whether Jaws is really about a shark. Throughout all Žižek's dramatic flair is shining through, but is he actually as provocative and hated as he likes to suggest? Matt and Chris have some thoughts...
Expect to reconsider everything you thought you knew, listen to some edgy book blurbs, and finally collapse in a puddle with the deconstruction of your ideology.
Links
Novara Media: Our World Is Coming To An End | Aaron Bastani Meets Slavoj Žižek | DownstreamThe Pervert's Guide to Ideology (2012) - Slavoj ŽižekJacobin: Žižek’s Left-Wing Case for Christian AtheismPhilosophize This- Episode #196 - The Improbable Slavoj Zizek - Pt. 1 (Also, there are three other Žižek episodes in this series!)Article on the speech Žižek gave at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus -
Supplementary Materials 7: Guru Oneupmanship, Hard Ad Pivots, MOOOINK, and Left Wing Populism
We curse the dark omens emerging from the Gurusphere as we consider:
The Illusion of Disciplinary BoundariesFlint Dibble Feedback and Rays of HopeRussell Brand and Bret Weinstein: Guru One-upmanshipBret Weinstein loves MOINNNNKHard Ad Pivots and Peasants Popping out of WellsKen Klippenstein and Populist RhetoricQuestioning mainstream narratives and their so-called 'experts'QAnon Anonymous missing Left Wing Populism?Alex O'Connor, Jordan Peterson and the costs of indulgent podcastingChris reaching across boundaries to Jonathan PageauOur only comment on the Drake and Kendrick FeudThe beautiful ballet of reaching across the aisleTerence Howard on Rogan
Links
Russelling with God | Russell Brand on DarkHorseKen Klippenstein- Why I'm Resigning From The InterceptA Farewell To Bad News feat Ken Klippenstein (E278)Navigating Belief, Skepticism, and the Afterlife | Alex O'Connor @CosmicSkeptic | EP 451Terrence Howard is Legitimately Insane
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1 hr 13 mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus -
Destiny: Right to Reply
Matt and Chris jump into the world of debates, dramas, and online personas with the ever-controversial streamer, Destiny (Steven Bonnell). We discuss our Decoding episode a little bit but mostly broader issues including the value of 'debate porn', edginess & Twitter bomb-throwing, reality TV orbiter drama, and the perils of hero worship and parasocial relationships.
As you might anticipate, we also cover various 'hot-button' issues including Destiny's involvement in Israel-Palestine discourse, the ethics of engaging with extremists, and whether Destiny was genuinely arguing for the right to murder the DDoS kid. Finally, we wrap up with some discussion of media literacy, the challenges of navigating online discourse, and strategies for laypeople to better engage with research.
Links
Our Decoding episode on DestinyDestiny's Gurometer EpisodeDestiny's Positions as summarised on his WikiDiscussion with a Lawyer about the DDoS kid
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus -
*Preview* Decoding Academia 27: Dark Triad Authenticity
We do bonus episodes every month that are focused on analysing academic content or discussing research and we thought it might be useful to let new listeners know! So find attached a preview...
In this episode of Decoding Academia, Matt and Chris delve into a paper that explores the complex world of dark personality traits and their impact on authenticity. They examine how traits like narcissism and psychopathy might intersect with the concept of the true self, and consider whether cultural differences in self-conception play a significant role. The episode also features reflections on Logan Roy from Succession and a friendly disagreement between Matt and Chris about labels in psychology.
Paper referenced: Bulbuc, A. A., & Visu-Petra, L. (2024). Shedding a light on authenticity in high dark trait individuals: A morally grey territory? Personality and Individual Differences, 224, 112632.
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers at the Revolutionary Genius tier (1 hr 9 mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus -
Supplementary Materials 6: Christian Sensemaking, Hipster Race Realists, & Marijuana Pseudoscience
We shake our heads in despair at some truly terrible Guru crossovers:
Old Man Health Routines: Jogging, Diets, and the Pursuit of 'Wellness'Jordan Peterson and Russell Brand offer the apotheosis of indulgent Christian-themed sensemakingTaylor Lorenz and activist journalismAre Twitch Streamers the Future of Journalism? No.Huberman gets himself in hot water over Marijuana episodeThe Value of Debating Pseudoscience with HubermanCasey Means: Cramming all the pseudoscience red flags into a single TweetWhen Red Scare met Steve Sailer: Ironic Hipsterism X Old Skool Scientific Racism
Links
JBP Podcast: The Collective Unconscious, Christ, and the Covenant | Russell Brand | EP 444Washington Post: Twitch streamers become go-to news source for campus protest coverage (Taylor Lorenz)Red Scare: Sailer Socialism w/ Steve SailerHuberman Lab: Dr. Casey Means: Transform Your Health by Improving Metabolism, Hormone & Blood Sugar RegulationCasey Means Red Flag filled Pinned TweetNew York Magazine: The Man Who Invented Identity Politics for the Far Right
The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1 hr 43 mins).
Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus
Kundrecensioner
Do not recommend
For sleeping. Contrary to other critics, I do not find this podcast good to help you sleep. I end up loosing 3h of sleep every time. Something of a tired brain unavoidable of resisting these well informed intellectual giants…. (and the two merry pranksters decoding them). A further note of warning. You might also experience weird dreams filled with Irish chuckles if you listened at bed time. On a content note, these guys do a great job of re-wireing your brain. Maybe because your brain probably already is a bit abused if you found these guys after spending too much time with some of the decoded gurus. This is my new favorite podcast and I will stick to it until some new Norwegian podcast show up, thrashing these guys in an even funnier accent. Now, out, how, you, about, sound, too, down .. ..just added those word in the small chance I’ll be hearing Chis read them out loud. Super impressed by the humongous effort you must put in to deliver this meager performance. Keep up the splendid work guys! /Baba Percy
Good, otherwise hard to find scientific critique of contemporary “gurus”
It’s a funny but serious pod where the hosts apply a scientific and also quite sarcastic yardstick to the claims of contemporary “Gurus”. I like to listen to such gurus but it’s been hard to find good, grounded criticism. Gurus seem to often make claims that they say are supported in science or research, and I’m not literate enough in science to make my own opinions so thank you guys for for taking the time and effort to do this! This pod is actually also a great way to get a (maybe not always so) quick insight into different gurus, for example Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson or Lex Friedman. If you don’t want to prioritize to listen to their actual content, just go to DTG and you’ll get a quick overview of their style, personality, political stance, worldview and personal quirks. Be warned though, although the hosts are charming, episodes are well to long and the host chit-chat way too much. My tip: Usually it’s enough to listen to 1/3 - 1/2 of the episode to get a grasp of the guru. Thanks again for taking the time and effort to do this! /Oskar in Sweden.
By the way, will you du Ken Wilber?
A review to complement the review of reviews
The complement the human reviews that you review in the review of reviews I asked ChatGPT to write a review, as a haiku.
“Decoding the Gurus,
Wise insights and witty talks,
Truths revealed with poise”
So clearly a 5 star review from ChatGPT