91 episodes

chin-wag: to have a chat, a friendly conversation.

Actor Paul Giamatti and Stephen Asma, author and philosopher, join forces for a freewheeling series of conversations that dive deep (like, really, really deep) into the wilderness of the mind.

Featuring prominent guests from diverse fields, Chinwag is esoteric in the best way possible, as Paul and Stephen delve into anything and everything: Are we living in a simulation? What’s the most perfect sentence in literature? Is Bigfoot interdimensional? Science, the occult, philosophy, magic mushrooms… it’s all fair game!

Unexpected, hilarious, and maybe even profound — Chinwag is all about having a really, really good chat.

Send your stories, Qs, or thoughts to 📧 questions [at] chinwagpod [dot] fm

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Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG with Stephen Asma Treefort Media

    • History
    • 4.9 • 1.6K Ratings

chin-wag: to have a chat, a friendly conversation.

Actor Paul Giamatti and Stephen Asma, author and philosopher, join forces for a freewheeling series of conversations that dive deep (like, really, really deep) into the wilderness of the mind.

Featuring prominent guests from diverse fields, Chinwag is esoteric in the best way possible, as Paul and Stephen delve into anything and everything: Are we living in a simulation? What’s the most perfect sentence in literature? Is Bigfoot interdimensional? Science, the occult, philosophy, magic mushrooms… it’s all fair game!

Unexpected, hilarious, and maybe even profound — Chinwag is all about having a really, really good chat.

Send your stories, Qs, or thoughts to 📧 questions [at] chinwagpod [dot] fm

=========

Make sure to follow us @chinwagpod 👉🏼

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@chinwagpod


IG: https://www.instagram.com/chinwagpod/


Tik: https://www.tiktok.com/@chinwagpod


Website: http://chinwagpod.fm



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    Mailwag: War of the Worlds & Penis Clairvoyance

    Mailwag: War of the Worlds & Penis Clairvoyance

    📻✋🏼♆

    It’s back to the WagBag we go!

    This week, Chinwag listener Scott S. writes in with an account of his grandfather’s panic during Orson Welles’s famed 1938 The War of the Worlds broadcast. Paul recalls his own grandfather’s memory of that fateful broadcast, as well as that of the Hindenburg!

    Then, Barbara C. writes us with a fascinating tutorial of different types of intuitives. There are so many ways folks deign to read the future, including tarot cards, palms, crystal balls, and yes, penis shapes. And can you guess the most asked question by women to psychics? It might not be what you think!
     
    Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

    📻✋🏼♆

    =========

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    =========
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    • 25 min
    Breaking Down Buddhism (with the esteemed Dr. Khy Sovanratana)

    Breaking Down Buddhism (with the esteemed Dr. Khy Sovanratana)

    📿📿📿

    Paul and Stephen are honored to welcome the esteemed Dr. Khy Sovanratana, dear friend of Dr. Stephen Asma, and former monk in the Theravada tradition in Cambodia. After 34 years as a monk, Dr. Sovanratana removed his robe and left the monastery to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Cambodian government.

    Many think they know Buddhism, but Paul and Stephen go straight to the source for enlightenment. This in-depth Wag explores Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths, the five different buddhas, the definition of karma, the causes of suffering, Buddhist beliefs in death, reincarnation, souls, spirits, ghosts, the difference between the Buddha and Bodhisattva, and so much more.

    What motivates a young man of 17 years old to become a novice Buddhist monk anyway, and what’s a day in the life like? What were the political forces that tried to destroy Buddhism, and how is Dr. Sovanratana using Buddhist teachings in Cambodian diplomacy? If you want to really know the teachings of Buddhism from a master, this Chinwag brings the “bhodi”!

    Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Triton for the Chinwag.

    Until recently, Dr. Khy Sovanratana was one of Cambodia’s most senior monks in the Theravada tradition. Currently, Dr. Sovanratana is the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia in the new cabinet of Prime Minister Hun Manet.

    📿📿📿

    =========

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    Send your stories, Qs, or thoughts to 📧 questions [at] chinwagpod [dot] fm

    =========
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    • 1 hr 15 min
    Bonus-wag: AI'm Not A Robot (with Banks)

    Bonus-wag: AI'm Not A Robot (with Banks)

    🤖🌭🏦

    Recorded at Spotify Studios...

    Elizabeth Banks reflects on her collegiate aspirations to become the next Diane Sawyer, and whether AI could make its own Everything Everywhere All At Once. But…could it replicate the hot dog fingers fight scene?

    Among other topics, our hosts and Ms. Banks ponder why so many actors are introverts? And what does checking “I’m Not A Robot” really mean?

    You can take this interview to the "Banks"! Tune in, Chinwaggers!

    🤖🌭🏦

    =========

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    =========
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    • 16 min
    Cocaine Bears and Ghostly Stares (with Elizabeth Banks)

    Cocaine Bears and Ghostly Stares (with Elizabeth Banks)

    ❄️🐻👻

    Recorded at Spotify Studios... Join Paul and Stephen as they sit down to discuss death and their paranormal encounters with Paul’s Fred Claus co-star Elizabeth Banks.

    They discuss what drove Elizabeth to make her 2023 hit film Cocaine Bear, the omen of the white owl on her doorstep, and how they would all like to be buried or in Stephen’s case— shot into space! 

    Prepare yourself for Elizabeth’s chilling interaction with the ghost of the woman in the black dress, while Paul shares what he found in the creepy attic of his childhood home. What does Stephen think about all these ghost encounters? It may have something to do with the common thread within all the tales— napping!

    Chin-word of the week: HYPNAGOGIC

    Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Chinwag of Triton.

    Elizabeth Banks is an American actress, director and producer known for her roles in The Hunger Games and The 40-Year-Old Virgin as well as producing the Pitch Perfect franchise.

    ❄️🐻👻

    =========

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    Website: http://chinwagpod.fm


    YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@chinwagpod



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    =========
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    • 1 hr 14 min
    Bonus-wag: More Moon Lore & Owning the Moon

    Bonus-wag: More Moon Lore & Owning the Moon

    🧀🌝🛰️

    Paul and Stephen explore more moon theories…is the moon made of cheese? Might the moon be a spacecraft? Are we all descendants of moon-people? And can someone claim the moon?

    All this and H.P. Lovecraft, burgeoning schools of space law, and real estate on the moon (not to mention Pluto!!)

    Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer, and the self-proclaimed Emperor of Neptune. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. He also is the acting Minister of Chinwag of Triton.

    🧀🌝🛰️

    =========

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    Website: http://chinwagpod.fm


    YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@chinwagpod



    Send your stories, Qs, or thoughts to 📧 questions [at] chinwagpod [dot] fm

    =========
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    • 25 min
    SHOOTING THE MOON (CONSPIRACIES)

    SHOOTING THE MOON (CONSPIRACIES)

    🌒🌒🌒

    Ever since they tackled the hollow earth, Paul and Stephen have wanted to talk about weird moon conspiracy theories.

    Was the Apollo moon landing faked or was it really a movie set? Why does the American flag appear to be flapping on a windless moon? Where was Neil Armstrong’s camera in that famed picture and what about those eyewitness accounts of Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin playing the slots in Las Vegas? And then there’s filmmaker Stanley Kubrick’s interview with T. Patrick Murray that cast doubt on the whole thing.

    Then, Stephen digs into the historical context of the moon and tells of a Syrian named Lucian who imagined a civilization of people on the moon who were at war with folks who lived on the sun! And then the centaurs come in! German astronomer Johannes Kepler and the Copernican view get a mention, ice on the moon, folklore connections from different cultures, legends like the Zulu story of reptilian men bringing the moon to Earth, and yes of course - hollow moon theories are explored. 

    Chin-term of the week: LUNAR PAREIDOLIA

    Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art. 

    🌒🌒🌒

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    🚨🚨🚨 LIVE CHINWAG TAPINGS ANNOUNCED 🚨🚨🚨

    CHINWAG is coming to a city near you!

    Los Angeles on Tuesday May 14th ➡ https://chinwagpod.fm/losangeles


    Portland on Thursday May 16th ➡ https://chinwagpod.fm/portland


    Seattle on Friday April 17th ➡ https://chinwagpod.fm/seattle



    🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️

    =========

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    YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@chinwagpod



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    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
1.6K Ratings

1.6K Ratings

yoyolabelle ,

LOVE THIS

All I can say is thank you. ❤️

Sofie hatter ,

Love the show!!!

It’s so awesome that they invite different guests from different aspects. Some gets technical, some are just hangin out, chilling, chinwagging. The energy is always awesome. It’s information, funny and entertaining. Love it. Thank you, Team Chinwag.

ciinnamongiirl ,

New favorite podcast!!

Love Paul Giamatti! This show is the best and I’m so delighted to have found my new fave podcast!

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