Robert meets World Podcast

Aqua Flamingo Media

Robert Meets World is an open-format exploration of ideas and people. Each episode features conversations with fascinating individuals who provoke thought, challenge conventions, and illuminate the world through their unique perspectives. From the metaphysical to the practical, we dive into discussions spanning technology, philosophy, art, economics, authentic living, wellness, creativity and the human experience. Robert Meets World Podcast is a media project produced by Aqua Flamingo Labs Inc.

Episodes

  1. RXW9 - Wes Myers: Modern Dating, Keeper Matchmaking, Dating Apps, Incentive Design, Soulmates

    07/27/2025

    RXW9 - Wes Myers: Modern Dating, Keeper Matchmaking, Dating Apps, Incentive Design, Soulmates

    Wes Myers is the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Keeper.ai, an experienced matchmaker, and relationship expert. He is working at Keeper to end human loneliness. How?  According to Keeper, by giving everyone the opportunity to start a happy, healthy family. Approaching modern dating challenges through a lens of long term relationship formation rather than casual dating. Keeper uses Technology based matchmaking with human expertise to create meaningful, long-term relationships, boasting a 10% success rate for first dates turning into committed relationshipsKeeper focuses on long term, marriage, and family formation rather than casual based datingPositioned as a matchmaking service with the aim of helping individuals find love Wes has authored several thought provoking articles on the Keeper blog including: The Science of Dating Preferences: The Data Behind What People WantWhy You’re Rejecting Your Soul MateYou’re Not A Perfect 10Why Do People Ghost on Dating Apps?Online Dating Clearly Isn’t WorkingAnd more In this conversation, Robert & Wes discuss 0:00 - Introduction 2:58 - Dating Apps >$1B revenue but Singles are Burned Out 7:13 - Low vs. High Information Dating Environment, Mobile Dating UX, Image Construction / Branding in Dating 14:10 - Digital Dating Normalization and Incentive Design 18:31 - Why Doesn't Technology Scale Dating Prospects? Bad Filtering 25:42 - What is Matchmaking? Values Alignment Driven Dating. 32:56 - What is Keeper 37:45 - Universal Objective Factors for Matchmaking, Matchmaking Criteria 45:07 - The Seven Deadly Singles; Why You Don't Want to Fit One of These Archetypes 49:12 - Third Spaces, Community in Dating, Loneliness 56:01 - Keeper and Long Term Partnerships; Maybe People Are Happy Single?; Keeper updates 1:03:09 - If Technology Has Created Certain Problems, How Does Adding More Technology Solve the Issue? More on Wes https://www.instagram.com/realwesmyers/https://x.com/realwesmyers

    1h 8m
  2. RXW8 - Dr. Wolfgang Palaver: Mimetic Theory, Rene Girard, Violence & The Sacred

    07/13/2025

    RXW8 - Dr. Wolfgang Palaver: Mimetic Theory, Rene Girard, Violence & The Sacred

    Dr. Wolfgang Palaver is a distinguished scholar in the field of political theology, christian social thought and the philosophy of René Girard. From 2002 to 2023 Dr. Palaver was professor of Christian Social Thought in the Institute of Systematic Theology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. His research focuses on the intersection of religion, politics, and violence, drawing extensively from Rene Girard's Mimetic Theory. He has authored a number of books and articles, exploring themes such as sacrifice, modernity, and mimetic desire. In specific, Dr. Palaver is the author of the comprehensive synthesis of Girardian Mimetic Theory entitled "Rene Girard’s Mimetic Theory". Dr. Palaver currently teaches part time at the University of Brixen-Bressanone, Italy. Dr. Palaver's work provides critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of human conflict and the potential for transcendence through understanding mimetic desires. In this conversation, Dr. Palaver & Robert discuss: 0:00 - Introduction 2:30 - Three pillars of mimetic theory 5:07 - Where does violence come from? 7:51 - Imitation and mimeses 12:45 - Reasons we imitate the desires of others, Sartre's Being & Non-being 14:21 - The resolution to mimetic crisis, origin of the scapegoat 15:59 - The scapegoat becomes the sacred 18:49 - Primitive cultures, mimesis, Levi Strauss 25:33 - Modernity redirecting mimetic desire, convergence, fashion and mimetics 29:55 - Sacralization process, static, dynamic religious & mysticism 38:16 - Sacred & mythology, timeless cultures, ritual rites 43:31 - Conversion, biblical revelations as a revelation of scapegoating 49:50 - How does Conversion happen? 57:10 - Girard & Conversion found in the great writers 1:03:46 - Solving Sartre's problem of being through imitation ? 1:08:51 - The problem of desire and mimetics - bridging mimetic theory and world religions? 1:15:35 - Meditation upon and dissolution of the self More about Dr. Palaver https://uibk.academia.edu/WolfgangPalaver https://twitter.com/wolfgangpalaver

    1h 18m
  3. RXW7 - Danielle Strachman: Backing Young Makers, 1517 Fund, Thiel Fellowship, Challenging Education

    06/22/2025

    RXW7 - Danielle Strachman: Backing Young Makers, 1517 Fund, Thiel Fellowship, Challenging Education

    Danielle Strachman is the co-founder and GP of 1517 Fund, a premiere pre-seed venture capital firm backing ambitious young high-school, college and makers working on big ideas. With a tag line of “Backing dropouts working on hard problems & sci-fi scientists at the earliest stages of their companies”, Danielle has been working on 1517 for 10+ years backing bright young minds to pursue great work. Prior to 1517, she worked as the early program director for the Thiel Fellowship, a grant based program offering $100K to high potential students to "stop-out" of college for a year and pursue an idea on their own. Some of the fellows of the program include: Dylan Field co-founder of FigmaAustin Russel CEO of Luminar TechnologiesVitalik Buterin - co-founder of the Ethereum blockchainLaura Deming co-founder of the longevity fund& moreDanielle is also the co-founder and board member of the K-8 charter school Innovations Academy. As described in depth in her co-founder Michael Gibson’s book “Paper Belt On Fire”, the 1517 co-founders have found themselves in a host of situations like catching power naps under desks at hackathons to hosting youth filled meetups raging with conversations of interplanetary physics to garage bioscience. In this episode Robert & Danielle explore: 0:00 - Introduction 3:20 - Danielle's Start at a Conscious Community 10:11 - Alternative Education Philosophies at Innovation's Academy 16:14 - How Impact Drove Danielle to the Thiel Fellowship 18:45 - Traits for Identifying, Multiple Intelligence, Developing New Lexicons for High Potential Makers 29:01 - LLMs and AI as Collective Consciousness 34:11 - Maintaining Imagination in AI Age 40:03 - Allocating Resources and Building Alternative Fellowships 51:00 - Community building + why 1517 is the "Harry Potter sorting hat" for makers 54:17 - Hard Learnings: How Danielle & Michael Got "Kramed Down" In Their Deal on Loom 1:06:37 - Flux Capacitor Program: Developing Deep Technology & Science Companies 1:16:01 - A Court Case in 1970s May Have Driven the Necessity of a College Degree? 1:22:17 - Accelerating vs. Stagnation and Finding Hope More on Danielle & 1517: 1517 Fund: https://www.1517fund.com/Danielle on Twitter https://twitter.com/DStrachmanMedici Project: https://www.1517fund.com/medici-project

    1h 31m
  4. RXW6 - MJDorian: Creative Codex, Creative History, Jungian Archtypes, Being An Artist

    05/24/2025

    RXW6 - MJDorian: Creative Codex, Creative History, Jungian Archtypes, Being An Artist

    MJ Dorian is an artist, educator, podcast creator, and award winning composer. He is the host of the podcast production Creative Codex, a compendium and compass to the arcane world of creativity exploring the questions of what is creative genius and where does it come from? Through his original research, composure and production, MJ explores artists such as Alexander McQueen, William Blake, Da Vinci, and more through the lens of Jungian Analytical psychology to unearth the source of creative vision and how it can be nurtured. MJ's talent in straddling the often nebulous world of creativity in a rational way without losing sight of the transcendental and mystic quality of art and creativity has allowed him to grow the show over the past 7 years in addition to his loyal audience. In this episode, MJ & Robert explore: 0:00 - Introduction 3:11 - What Is Creative Codex Really About? 5:35 - Art As Intrinsic Self Expression or Super Natural Inspiration? 10:57 - The Affinity To Archetypal Identities 15:11 - Carl Jung's Analytical Psychology As A Fantasy or Fan Fiction Franchise - Better Tools? 20:00 - Jung's Caution In Subjective Gluttony 26:57 - Untethering and The Positive Side Of Madness 33:05 - Most Surprising Figures from Creative Codex? 36:57 - Art as a Form of Possession and Exorcism 41:56 - Importance of Craft, Emulation and Apprenticeship in Art forms 45:45 - Taking On Ambitious Projects 51:21 - Stopping Perfectionism in Art: Tuning Into The Creative Vision 56:01 - Quality and Creative Codex 59:15 - External vs. Intrinsic Motivation and Validation in Creative Works 1:04:38 - Rene Girard's Theory on Transforming Personal Vanity into Universal Truth More on MJ Dorian: Creative CodexMJ on InstagramMJ Dorian's WebsiteIn Depth Creative Codex Patreon Community

    1h 12m
  5. RXW5 - Dr. Shannon Lodoen: Rhetoric of Smartphones, Convergence, Culture & Technology

    05/05/2025

    RXW5 - Dr. Shannon Lodoen: Rhetoric of Smartphones, Convergence, Culture & Technology

    Dr. Shannon Lodoen is an academic in the field of rhetoric studying the relationship between modern society and the smartphone. Obtaining her doctorate from the University of Waterloo, she has continued to explore the dilemmas present at the intersection of society, technology (in the form factor of the smartphone), and the individual. Using her lens of rhetoric as a framework, Shannon seeks to understand why the world is the way it is by analyzing the role of persuasion in technology. In this episode Robert & Shannon explore Shannon's ideas around the smartphone, the characteristics that make it unlike any tool or device in history, and what challenges the world is facing moving forward. OUTLINE 0:00 - Introduction 5:01 - What is Rhetoric? 10:34 - Why Does Rhetoric Exist (Why Would We Want To Understand It)? 15:55 - Overt vs. Covert Persuasion in Design 20:34 - Design Principles & Affordance, Smart Phone Design Compared to Cell Phones 22:18 - Analog vs. Digital World: Media Convergence, Digital Reality & Loss of Constraints 26:30 - Why Writing Changes Depending On Medium: Long form or by Computer 29:25 - Context & Information Loss, Flattening of People - Emoticons To Win the Peace Prize? 40:01 - Younger Generations Losing Opportunity to Trust Themselves? Lonely but not alone 45:12 - Entertainment vs. Tools in Computing, Attention Economy, Homogenization 59:01 - Convergence and Loss of Awareness of Consequences? 1:07:03 - Problems with Design to Make Everything "Smooth"? 1:16:11 - Dragging Feet Against Change & Cultural Adaptions 1:28:08 - What Can We Do? What Does The Future Hold - Optimism vs. Pessimistic Outcomes? MORE ABOUT SHANNON https://twitter.com/shannon_lodoen https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-lodoen-ab511310a Subscribe on your favourite platform Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & robertxworld.com

    1h 46m
  6. RXW4 - Freddy Gervasi: Soul Expansion, Wellness, Inner Mindset & Entrepreneurial Journey

    04/21/2025

    RXW4 - Freddy Gervasi: Soul Expansion, Wellness, Inner Mindset & Entrepreneurial Journey

    Freddy Gervasi is a former athlete turned entrepreneur, musician and now founder of the wellness & personal growth concert experience Soul Expansion. Through an 8 piece band offering original music, in a multi-sensory environment using breathwork and meditation, participants experience a community of mutual interest in expanding their sense of self. Freddy was inspired to bring his offering to light after a turbulent entrepreneurial journey steeped in the difficulties of fitting in and finding his way. Soul Expansion aims to recalibrate participant nervous systems and regulate emotional states using ancient practices in a non-judgement communal setting focused on self-development. In this episode, Robert & Freddy trace his origin story, and explore modern dilemmas facing men & women interested in living a more authentic, present, and full life, including: 0:00 - Introduction to Soul Expansion 7:48 - Freddy's Discovery of The Concert Experience 12:05 - Joining Othership 18:07 - Developing Intuition as an Entrepreneur 26:00 - Balancing Our Nervous System 31:56 - The Soul Expansion Experience 43:01 - The Allure of Party Scenes & Freddy's Growth as a Musician 54:02 - Discovering Freddy's Authentic Path 1:00:03 - The Challenge of Being Open To Change, Community 1:07:22 - Personal Agency & The "Big Why" 1:14:19 - Adaptation and Growing as an Entrepreneur You can connect with Freddy at: https://www.soulexpansion.co/ https://instagram.com/freddysounds Subscribe to Robert meets World on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & More or directly at robertxworld.com

    1h 26m
  7. RXW2 - Ian Timotheos-Pilon: Cultivating Clarity, Design Thinking, AI Agents, Agentic Payments

    03/10/2025

    RXW2 - Ian Timotheos-Pilon: Cultivating Clarity, Design Thinking, AI Agents, Agentic Payments

    Ian Timotheos-Pilon is a 10+ year product & experience designer, and author of Cultivating Clarity: The art of discerning what matters using contextual intelligence. In this episode, Robert & Ian catch up to discuss AI, AI Agents, Intelligence, the future and more. 0:00 - Intro 11:59 - Concerns of AI & Atrophy 16:13 - Physical Assembly 25:01 - What does AI mean to the human experience? 30:00 - Seeking for Other Forms of Intelligence 33:22 - What is Intelligence? 40:19 - Problems of Security 48:00 - Origins of the Book 55:01 - Jobs to Be Done Theory 1:02:01 - People Fight About The Wrong Things In Software 1:14:03 - Using AI to Write Books 1:20:11 - Intro to AI Agentic Payments & Hackathon 1:42:01 - Closing Thoughts SHOW NOTES Ian: https://x.com/IanTimotheos Cultivating Clarity: https://www.amazon.com/Cultivating-Clarity-discerning-contextual-intelligence-ebook/dp/B0CTHQKYKY?crid=UULK4YRL89L3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SNeMVnrRAojBuES5CEpMm157ckakveoWVd20nRkgp2Y.DjRyQVuvFD1VBDYQOy8CtTQBIM8vAM7jbuhmnSL4kGM&dib_tag=se&keywords=cultivating+clarity&qid=1741399515&sprefix=cultivating+clarity+%2Caps%2C86  --- INSIGHTS Cultivate awareness and intrigue, join my newsletter: https://robertxworld.com CONNECT https://instagram.com/robertsimoesmusic https://twitter.com/robert_x_world PODCAST INFO From the metaphysical to the practical, join me as we explore the modern world and our place in it. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iU7NttcWzdXo1Xye80nN0?si=70b5fd40e5f346e9 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcmVol85owTFezdX_Rewlpsq-qdBg2gmt

    1h 46m

About

Robert Meets World is an open-format exploration of ideas and people. Each episode features conversations with fascinating individuals who provoke thought, challenge conventions, and illuminate the world through their unique perspectives. From the metaphysical to the practical, we dive into discussions spanning technology, philosophy, art, economics, authentic living, wellness, creativity and the human experience. Robert Meets World Podcast is a media project produced by Aqua Flamingo Labs Inc.