Mentally Unscripted

Mentallyunscripted
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Discover how to use critical thinking to tear complex issues down to their simple basics and have productive conversations with friends and family about any topic under the sun. www.mentallyunscripted.com

  1. 03/03/2022

    Ep57 – The Fog of War or the Fog of Propaganda?

    This week, Stefan and Scott wade back into current events to talk about the war between Russia and Ukraine. But, unlike seemingly everyone on social media, we aren't here to tell you what to think. Instead, we give you some tools to analyze the deluge of information and reach your own, honest conclusion. Is Putin a madman hellbent on nuking the world, or is Ukraine's friendliness towards the west threatened Russia's security? After listening to this episode, you won't need Twidiots to tell you what to think. You'll learn to use models such as probabilistic thinking, circle of competence, and reversibility, to decide for yourself. As always, we're building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com. And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Resources * TK News by Matt Taibi * Wag the Dog * Glenn Greenwald Substack * “When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will.” ― Frederic Bastiat Mental Models * Pick your trusted sources * Probabilistic thinking * Heuristics * Long-Tail Risks * Past performance is not a predictor of future performance * Don’t let a good crisis go to waste * Incentives matter * Circle of competence * Accountability * Reversibility * Second-order consequences * Compound decisions * Decision nexus * Short-term vs long-term thinking * Competency crisis Top Takeaways * We need to learn how to navigate through an information war. * Heuristics are useful shortcuts or rules of thumb to help us make decisions. To use them effectively, you must understand when your heuristics are wrong. * We don’t need to consider every last bit of information. Our models must, however, incorporate the information most critical to reaching a strong conclusion. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack.Engage with Stefan and Scott on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott is also on Instagram and rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason.Feel free to email him with questions, comments, or suggestions.We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    1h 1m

  2. 02/19/2022

    Ep56 – First Forays into Crypto and Did We Just Discover Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? with Mental Supermodels

    Note: We discuss investing, finance, and money in this episode. It’s simply four guys talking and no one should construe anything in this episode as investment, financial, money, legal, or any other kind of advice. By the way, Myron is not Satoshi . . . or is he? This week, Stefan and Scott welcome back Myron and Jeremy of Mental Supermodels. This time we hash out our beginner experiences with cryptocurrencies. We cover how our thinking has evolved from our first forays into the world of digital currencies to where we stand today. This episode touches on investment philosophies, hits and misses in crypto, and mental models we use when dipping a toe in this dynamic and often times confusing world. As always, we're building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com. And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Guest Information * Mental Supermodels * Myron Weber LinkedIn * Jeremy Thomas LinkedIn * Northwood Advisors Resources * Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? * The Byzantine Generals Problem * The Business Blockchain: Promise, Practice, and Application of the Next Internet Technology, by William Mougayar * Andreas M. Antonopoulos, The Bitcoin & Open Blockchain Expert * Ukraine Legalizes Bitcoin (BTC) and Cryptocurrencies * Russian Ministry proposes to legalize and tax Bitcoin mining * Is It Possible To Have A Quantum Resistant Cryptocurrency? * Mochimo – Quantum Resistant Cryptocurrency Review * Pros and cons of dollar-cost averaging * PlanB @100trillionUSD * Mental Supermodels Ep 1: Boundaries and the 6 Stages Top Takeaways * Fear of missing out or letting your emotions drive you into a market often leads to losses. Having a model or strategy in place to sidestep emotional decisions is a must for all investors. * The crypto culture is a driving force to achieving self-sovereignty. The community driven ecosystem surrounding crypto has attracted innovative people. * Crypto’s value is in bringing value to the end consumer by cutting out the middleman. * Because you have success at something once doesn’t mean you’re an expert. * Beware of authority without credibility. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan and Scott on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott is also on Instagram and rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. Feel free to email him with questions, comments, or suggestions. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    1h 7m

  3. 02/10/2022

    Ep55 – Why IP Laws Destroy Innovation and How Creatives Can Profit Without Them with Stephan Kinsella

    This week, Stefan and Scott welcome Stephan Kinsella to Mentally Unscripted. Stephan is a brilliant, articulate libertarian legal scholar who explains why the mainstream notion that intellectual property spurs innovation is wrong. He dives in by telling us why IP laws are simply government-issued monopolies that actually impede innovation. He explains why removing IP laws would make us more prosperous. And closes by discussing other innovative ways creators can profit without protectionist laws. As always, we're building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com. And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Guest Information * Stephan’s Website * Kinsella on Liberty Podcast: Libertarian Theory and Applications * Center for the Study of Innovative Freedom Top Takeaways * Intellectual Property (IP) is a body of law whose stated purpose is to protect a specific type of private property, such as inventions and creative works but is really a grant of monopoly power by the state. * Instead of spurring innovation and creativity, the monopolistic nature of IP laws stifles new creative output. * IP laws could be repealed today, and entrepreneurs would fill the void with new, innovative ways to earn money from their creations. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan and Scott on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott is also on Instagram and rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. Feel free to email him with questions, comments, or suggestions. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    1h 2m

  4. 02/03/2022

    Ep54 – Mental Supermodels on Bitcoin Maximalism, Neil Young v. Joe Rogan, and Is That a New Mental Model?

    Stefan is back this week, so you’re spared another week of Scott’s implacable droning. In Episode 47, Stefan and Scott recorded a short segment on Bitcoin Maximalism. Their friends Myron and Jeremy of Mental Supermodels recently released an episode that built on those initial insights. Today, Stefan and Scott returned the favor by adding their thoughts to Myron and Jeremy's. They define Bitcoin Maximalism then discuss its advantages and disadvantages and whether it's the best philosophy for realizing Bitcoin's promise of self-sovereignty. As always, we're building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com. And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Resources * Mental Supermodels Episode 17. Maximalism: response to Mentally Unscripted * The Fight For Bitcoin: Water’s Warm Maximalism * Mike Lindell Claims Banks Want to Cut Ties With Him Over 'Reputation Risk' * The 'Make Bitcoin Legal Tender' Momentum Grows * SWIFT and the Weaponization of the U.S. Dollar * Up Only Top Takeaways * A 3-level framework for slotting maximalists into your information architecture is based on openness to new ideas * Convictionalist: A strong, actively pursued opinion but is open to other ideas. * Maximalist: A strong opinion and is unwilling to change. * Toxic Maximalist: A strong opinion and actively puts down other views. * Self-sovereignty is crypto’s great promise. Can we do that with only Bitcoin or do we need other blockchain technologies playing in the same sandbox? * What does the game theory around Bitcoin look like? If we focus solely on Bitcoin, are we opening ourselves up to a government or other central authority exerting control over the network? * Bitcoin is criticized for not innovating fast enough but it’s moving at the speed needed to meet current demands. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan and Scott on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott is also on Instagram and rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. Feel free to email him with questions, comments, or suggestions. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    1h 4m

  5. 01/28/2022

    Ep53 – Garbage Truth, Stare Decisis, and Constitutional Interpretation! Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings are Coming!

    Stefan is still sidelined, so I’m again going solo to talk about judicial review. Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, and we’re already starting to hear about possible replacements. So, get ready to listen to pundits talking about stare decisis and judicial activism. In this episode, I will explain some of the significant theories of judicial review and explain why it doesn’t matter. As always, we're building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com.  And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there.  Resources * What Does ‘Constitutional Interpretation’ Mean, Anyway? Top Takeaways * Will we ever be able to cut through the noise and agree on the COVID situation? We likely won’t ever reach a level where we have separated the bare facts about COVID from the fiction, let alone agree on what those facts mean when viewed through our individual moral lens. And that’s okay as long as we arrive at our own personal truth honestly. * OSHA withdrew its vaccine mandate, which is good news, but it’s not necessarily the last time we’ll hear about it. * The U.S. Supreme Court isn’t a collection of unbiased legal scholars coldly reviewing constitutional questions when it comes down to it. The justices are as free to bend to their morals as any of us. Theories of Constitutional interpretation aren’t hard and fast rules the justices must apply but are often a mechanism for justifying decisions after the fact. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan and Scott on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott is also on Instagram and rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. Feel free to email him with questions, comments, or suggestions. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    43 min

  6. 01/24/2022

    Ep52 – Vaccine Mandates and Hiding Elephants in Mouseholes at the Supreme Court

    Stefan found himself on the DL for this episode, so I went solo and tackled the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in the OSHA vaccine mandate case and why it's not necessarily the primary victory, some claim. I start the podcast by explaining administrative law and why an executive agency like OSHA can make laws despite the Constitution not granting law-making authority to the executive branch. I also briefly recap on how we got to this point in the vaccine mandate case and what's to come. With the background material out the way, I give my thoughts on the well-publicized factual errors by some Justices and what they mean to the case. I then dive a little deeper and explain that the issue in the OSHA case wasn't whether a government agency could mandate a vaccine for an estimated 85 million people. It was which level of government can do so, leaving out any contemplation that the individual is best positioned to make their healthcare choices. Finally, I wade back into the discussion I started a few episodes ago about the rule of law and why the law is subjective. This was my first solo-podcast episode. While it certainly has its warts, I enjoyed doing it and hope to bring a different perspective to the Supreme Court's ruling on the OSHA vaccine mandate. As always, we're building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com. And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Resources * National Federation of Independent Business, et al., Applicants v. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, et al Top Takeaways * Justices bring their biases and outside facts into the cases the Supreme Court hears. * The central question in the OSHA vaccine mandate case came down to which level of government can mandate a vaccine for 65 million people. None of the majority, concurring, or dissenting opinions contemplated individual liberty and letting the people make healthcare choices for themselves. * Because language is vague, we must interpret laws. This reality means that law is subjective, not objective. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan and Scott on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott is also on Instagram and rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. Feel free to email him with questions, comments, or suggestions. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    1h 1m

  7. 01/14/2022

    Ep51 – The Power of Stories with Eric Chow

    In this episode, Stefan and I welcome Eric Chow to Mentally Unscripted. Eric is the host of The Eric Chow Empowers Podcast where he interviews people who have powerful stories of overcoming adversity. Eric is an intelligent, caring person. He shares with us his strategies for gaining the trust of people who are often uncomfortable sharing their stories. We discuss the importance of rapport and preparation. We also talk about how Eric knows when to push harder during an interview and when to let up. It’s an excellent conversation for anyone wanting to know more about drawing difficult stories out of people. As always, we’re building a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com.  And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Guest Information * The Eric Chow Empowers Podcast * Eric’s Twitter Resources * Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari * Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. * Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.     Mental Models * Hanlon’s Razor * The reptile brain Top Takeaways * Stories of overcoming adversities are some of the most memorable stories. Conversely, stories that lack sincerity and focus on getting attention for the storytelling instead of helping others are the least memorable. * The first 10 to 15 minutes of the interview are key. During this time, the interviewer must get the storyteller relaxed and comfortable to build trust and rapport. * Preparation is important for an interviewer to draw a deep, sincere story out of someone. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott has jumped on the Gettr bandwagon and is also on DeSo and Instagram. He rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    58 min

  8. 01/08/2022

    Ep50 – Top 5 Insights of 2021

    In this episode, Stefan and I look back at 2021 to identify the tools and insights that helped us most in the last year. We limited our review to five each, so we missed many things we could have included. But we think this list is a fun and informative tool anyone can use to have a better 2022. As always, we’re building want to build a community around Mentally Unscripted. So, share this episode with your friends and interact with us at MentallyUnscripted.com.  And remember, the conclusion you reach is less important than the process you follow to get there. Resources * Obsidian * How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking – for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers, by Sönke Ahrens * Where Good Ideas Come from: The Natural History of Innovation, by Steven Johnson * Substack * The Myth of the Rule of Law, by John Hasnas * The Anarchist Handbook, by Michael Malice * Anarchy and the Law: The Political Economy of Choice, by Edward P. Stringham * Vokes v. Arthur Murray, Inc. (Scott incorrectly referred to this case as the Fred Astair case in the podcast) * Mentally Unscripted Ep42 – How to Stop Fearing the Decentralized Tomorrow (crossover with Mental Supermodels) * Reactance * When Safety Proves Dangerous (Farnam Street) * New to KT Tape? * Mentally Unscripted Ep48 – Is Democracy the Opiate of the Masses? with Myron Weber * Mentally Unscripted Ep33 - Hubris and Misaligned Incentives: Mental Models in a Time of War Mental Models * Reactance * Learn how to learn * Risk assessment * Base rates * Asking the best questions * Paradox of safety * Start with the end in mind * Institutional capture * Incentives * Crisis of competence * Accountability * Self-preservation Top Takeaways * Obsidian is a tool that can take your note-taking to the next level. * Substack is a good tool for sharing content such as articles, podcasts, and newsletters. The Mentally Unscripted Substack page is the hub of the Mentally Unscripted empire. * The rule of law is the principle that we are a nation of laws, not of men so that all people are subject to the same laws. But this principle is a myth. * Reactance is the reaction to rules, regulations, etc. that threaten or eliminate specific freedoms. * Base rates are an important technique to help us assess risk. * How you go about learning something is an important aspect of learning. * We are witnessing a crisis of competence across institutions where they are unable to execute their most basic functions. Comments or Questions on this episode? Join the conversation at the Mentally Unscripted Substack. Engage with Stefan on the Twitter thought control machine. Scott has jumped on the Gettr bandwagon and is also on DeSo and Instagram. He rants and raves on his blog, Strength and Reason. We're also on Odysee. Rumble is coming as soon as Scott gets off his butt and uploads the podcasts. Here’s how to have stimulating conversations on blistering hot topics without fighting. It's easier than you think. Download How to Never Argue Again (Unless you Want To) at Mentally Unscripted and discover the secret "Go Meta" approach that makes any topic fair game. It's FREE (for now) and worth hundreds in therapy. Cheers! Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mentallyunscripted.com

    1h 27m
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About

Discover how to use critical thinking to tear complex issues down to their simple basics and have productive conversations with friends and family about any topic under the sun. www.mentallyunscripted.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mentallyunscripted
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2022
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mentally Unscripted
  • Show Website
    Mentally Unscripted