Round Table Chats

Round Table Chats

Welcome to a platform where ideas are challenged and the life stories of extraordinary people from around the globe are explored, one conversation at a time. New interviews posted weekly. Available on Spotify, iTunes, and Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@roundtablechats2920

  1. RTC Episode 13- Music, Tribalism, and Postmodernism: a chat with Zeke Sky

    12/03/2018

    RTC Episode 13- Music, Tribalism, and Postmodernism: a chat with Zeke Sky

    Today my guest is Zeke Sky. Zeke is a gifted musician who’s album, “Animals of Gods & War” was released this year on iTunes and Spotify, which has been listened to by people around the world! I was blown away by his song, “Of God and War”, and highly recommend giving his music a listen. https://zekeskyband.com/ Zeke is an orthogonal thinker with a deep background in philosophy which made for a truly insightful, refreshing, and original conversation on many important topics. This is quite a long episode, but this was necessary. If you carefully meditate on the ideas we explore, the way you see the world may expand in surprising directions. A quick disclaimer: If you’re in favor of de-platforming controversial speakers and believe free speech should have certain restrictions, you may have a negative emotional reaction to the first hour of our conversation. You have been warned. For my listeners who are interested in hearing a truly novel perspective and a new take on trump, totalitarianism, postmodernism, and the potential differences between men and women... this, is the conversation for you. Topics discussed include: gratitude for living in the 21st century, failing to adapt to technology, unpacking cyber bullying, analyzing the Patriarchy, Truth being interdisciplinary and hard to access, breaking down why Jordan Peterson is so popular, acknowledging the incredible progress we’ve made while being cognizant of the work that still needs to be done, why Hitler was appealing to his followers, dissecting Trump, my concern of liberals not learning from the 2016 election, the need to have difficult conversations, the damage from de-platforming, the “Voldemort effect”, why Trump operates the way he does, Hillary Clinton’s crucial error in the 2016 election, the degradation of decorum in public discourse, the rise of tribalism, getting to the root about the fundamental differences between men and women, why I love being in a class with 90% women, breaking down “mansplaining”, guys being able to “shut down their brain”, why so many men are attracted to sports, football being a way of life and a religion globally, who is Zeke Sky, selling a record that’s heard around the world, listening to his beautiful album, Zeke’s artistic process, his attraction to the woods, Nature giving you the opportunity to “meditate with your eyes open”, finding strength in solitude, how urban environments contribute to mental illness, being present with your friends, the story behind why I was recently told by an UvA student that I’m “capable of doing great evil”, deconstructing postmodernism, the death of the author, “art isn’t real”, investigating Sam Harris’ desire to quantify morality, how science and ethics are intertwined, the Effective Altruism utilitarian philosophy, the importance of cultivating diversity of thought, the influence of Peter Singer on altruism and vegetarians, living in the age of being able to learn anything, the relationship between money and happiness, there being no limit to human greed, jumping off the hedonic treadmill, the danger of investing too much of your self worth on a single identity, how to slow your brain down, being one with the universe, cultivating flow, and Zeke Sky’s piece of wisdom for you the listeners! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_sGn6PdmIo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RaRQ9jPk4E

    2h 26m
  2. RTC Episode 12- Let's Rethink The World's Problems: a conversation with Juho Laaksonen

    11/27/2018

    RTC Episode 12- Let's Rethink The World's Problems: a conversation with Juho Laaksonen

    In today's very special and insightful episode, I interview my Finnish kindred spirit, Juho Laaksonen. Juho and I met over Facebook after he wrote a review for this podcast and recommended I speak to a best selling science author from Finland. We instantly had chemistry and after talking about a plethora of fascinating topics I realized he would be a perfect guest for the Round Table. And he did not disappoint. Topics discussed include: Education Reform, Climate Change, Feminism, how to effortlessly guide more girls into STEM fields, cultivating your child’s curiosity, teaching science, the true sources of happiness, who needs the most help, teaching electricity to his daughters, Neil Degrasse Tyson’s video on teaching science to kids being a parenting guide, emphasizing openness, a shout-out to Juho’s wife’s sacrifice, life before and after having children, when he discovered his passion for science, learning from failure, his child’s desire for a laboratory, parenting vs genetics, exploring the differences between boys and girls, Einstein’s quote on genius, the boredom problem, philosophy being the love of knowledge, Hans Rosling, misunderstanding data, the inspiring progress of humankind, our mutual admiration of Sam Harris, how to change fear into action, Mike Buckler’s story, disappointing progress in Malawi from foreign aid, communicating with the extreme poor and asking what they need, what is Effective Altruism, why empowering women is the cure for poverty, the inspiring progress for women in Bangladesh, who is highly neglected from aid, the power of micro-loans for empowerment, the disappointing lack of nuance in the #MeToo movement, Juho being scared as a feminist, the ramifications of #MeToo in Finland, the three levels of need, the appeal of Round Table Chats, jumping on opportunities, being open to the world, online chess friendships, shrinking the world, the value of taking risks, and “always be yourself, unless you can be Batman... then be Batman."

    2h 4m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to a platform where ideas are challenged and the life stories of extraordinary people from around the globe are explored, one conversation at a time. New interviews posted weekly. Available on Spotify, iTunes, and Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@roundtablechats2920