that's interesting

bandwidth.productions
  • 4.2 (5)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

a podcast to introduce ideas and spark curiosity. bandwidth.productions

  1. 075_ Interview: ๐Ÿก The beauty of designing a house in a spreadsheet | Passive house design and the future of how we build ๐Ÿ”จ

    3d ago

    075_ Interview: ๐Ÿก The beauty of designing a house in a spreadsheet | Passive house design and the future of how we build ๐Ÿ”จ

    Andrew Michler is a Santa Fe-based architect and author of Hyperlocalization of Architecture, and one of the leading practitioners of passive house design in the United States, including the first certified passive house in Colorado, which he built himself. Also checkout a great YouTube video ( and excellent channel ) walking through Andrew's Colorado Passive home. Passive house isn't a style. It's a methodology rooted in physics: rather than prescribing materials or following minimum code, it models the entire building. The insulation, airtightness, window placement, how the sun effects the warmth, even body heat from occupants, and targets aggressive performance outcomes. The result is a home that stays comfortable with a fraction of the energy a conventional house requires. In here we cover the basics of passive house from the ground up, including what separates it from traditional high efficiency build certification and passive solar design, why the "boxy German building" reputation is mostly coincidence, and how a house in Colorado stayed in the mid-60s for a week at -9ยฐF with the heating system off. We also dig into surprising economics of passive house construction (spoiler: it's closer to conventional than you'd think), and whether you can retrofit an existing home ~ a process Andrew is actively doing on a house in Oakland. Chapters (00:00) - Revolutionizing Home Building with Physics (02:44) - Understanding Passive House Design (05:29) - The Role of Physics in Architecture (08:04) - Passive House vs. Traditional Construction (10:43) - The Benefits of Passive Design (13:32) - Real-World Applications of Passive House (16:19) - Innovative Heating Solutions in Passive Houses (19:01) - The Importance of Ventilation and Air Quality (21:34) - Cost Considerations for Passive Houses (34:33) - The Cost of Building and Energy Efficiency (36:58) - The Value of Passive Homes (41:12) - Survivability in Extreme Weather Conditions (48:32) - Retrofitting Existing Homes for Energy Efficiency (53:54) - Opportunities in Passive House Design (57:23) - Insights from Japanese Architecture (01:02:45) - The Importance of Design in Architecture

    1h 18m
  2. 074_ Conversation: ๐Ÿ’ญ The consciousness problem | AI, awareness, and an ancient unsettled debate ๐ŸŒ€

    Jun 1

    074_ Conversation: ๐Ÿ’ญ The consciousness problem | AI, awareness, and an ancient unsettled debate ๐ŸŒ€

    We can't prove you're conscious either โ€” and that's kind of the point. Istanbul-based researcher Mesut Bilgili joins to reframe the AI consciousness debate around what we can actually measure. Plus: what your dog, a forest, and ChatGPT have in common, and why curiosity might be the only thing that saves us from ourselves. Check out Mesut's paper on Functional Awareness, and follow along for more of his work. Chapters (00:00) - Introduction: Philosophy and Bias in Observation (00:49) - Applying Philosophy to AI and Technology (01:57) - The Relevance of Consciousness in AI Use (02:57) - Guest Introduction: Basut Bidjuli and AI Research (04:01) - Defining Intelligence vs. Consciousness (06:00) - The Difference Between First-Person Experience and Functionality (09:04) - Debate on Panpsychism and Consciousness in Nature (11:48) - The Shaky Foundations of Consciousness and Observation (16:43) - What is Functional Awareness in AI? (19:56) - Ecosystems as Functionally Aware Systems (24:34) - The Primary Role of Consciousness in Reality (30:43) - Testing and Measuring Functional Awareness in AI (37:55) - AI Dreaming and Self-Modification Experiments (40:49) - The Fascination with AI Prediction and Potential (48:27) - The Impact of Technology on Society and Culture (54:38) - Cultivating Curiosity and Human Potential (55:34) - Final Thoughts: Humanity and AI Co-evolution

    1h 6m
  3. 073_ Interview: ๐Ÿ‹๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ Strength as a Skill | 8 Women: Off the Street to Dutch Team ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ (Part 2)

    May 26

    073_ Interview: ๐Ÿ‹๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ Strength as a Skill | 8 Women: Off the Street to Dutch Team ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ (Part 2)

    In part two of this episode, In this episode, Thom Van De Meer shares his journey from academic background to applying StrongFirst principles in training athletes, including the womenโ€™s rowing team he trained to prepare for the 2020 Olympicsโ€” Project2020. We explore the principles of strength training, the science of energy systems, and how targeted, sustainable training can enhance performance and health. Check out Thom's breathwork tracks on Spotify and his website to check out from him. Chapters (00:00) - Introduction to Knowledge vs. Wisdom (01:52) - The Impact of Mental Work on Physical Performance (05:29) - Strength Training Methodologies and Their Applications (06:42) - Transforming Athletes from Novices to Competitors (11:16) - Training Protocols and Recovery Strategies (17:53) - The Role of Energy Systems in Training (30:36) - Integrating Strength and Rowing Training (40:26) - Practical Strength Training Insights (43:18) - The Role of Neurology in Strength (44:45) - Understanding Strength Beyond Muscle Size (49:36) - Neurological Drive and Strength Training (57:28) - Complex Adaptive Systems in Training (01:03:54) - The Importance of Slow Changes in Training (01:12:14) - Vitality and Lifelong Strength Training

    1h 28m
  4. 073_ Interview: ๐Ÿ‹๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ Strength as a Skill | 8 Women: Off the Street to Dutch Team ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ (Part 1)

    May 22

    073_ Interview: ๐Ÿ‹๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ Strength as a Skill | 8 Women: Off the Street to Dutch Team ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ (Part 1)

    In this episode, In this episode, Thom Van De Meer shares his journey from academic background to applying StrongFirst principles in training athletes, including the womenโ€™s rowing team he trained to prepare for the 2020 Olympicsโ€” Project2020. We explore the principles of strength training, the science of energy systems, and how targeted, sustainable training can enhance performance and health. Check out Thom's breathwork tracks on Spotify and his website to check out from him. Chapters (00:00) - Knowledge vs. Wisdom: Understanding the Difference (02:52) - The Impact of Mental Work on Physical Performance (05:40) - Introducing Tom van de Meer and His Background (08:09) - The Role of Nature in Wellbeing (10:55) - Strong First Methodology: Training for Rowing Success (13:31) - The Journey to Becoming a Strength Coach (16:33) - The Influence of Pavel Tsatsouline and Strong First (19:14) - Building a Competitive Rowing Team from Scratch (23:19) - The Influence of Titans in Training (24:00) - Understanding Strong First Methodology (26:23) - Glycolytic vs Anti-Glycolytic Training (29:51) - The Science Behind Strength Training (34:19) - The Benefits of Anti-Glycolytic Training (38:18) - Sustainable Strength and Performance (40:58) - Cognitive Load and Physical Training

    51 min
  5. 072_ Interview: ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ The ground beneath your feet | Political ecology and the land we remake ๐ŸŒฑ

    Apr 20

    072_ Interview: ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ The ground beneath your feet | Political ecology and the land we remake ๐ŸŒฑ

    Where you live doesn't just shape your commute โ€” it shapes your culture, your politics, and your relationship with everything alive around you. Paul Robbins, Dean of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsinโ€“Madison, joins to unpack how the places we inhabit are never just backdrop. They're active participants in the story of civilization. We get into cultural geography and why culture varies so dramatically across space, the science of ecology and what a wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone can tell us about everything, and political ecology โ€” what happens when power, money, and ecosystems collide. We also dig into why bureaucracies keep repeating the same environmental mistakes (spoiler: it goes back to colonial France), why environmental determinism is a seductive but broken idea, and why gene banking in the Great Lakes might be one of the most important and underappreciated projects happening right now. Before Paul closing with a cautiously optimistic take on what the next century could hold โ€” if we can figure out the right levers to pull. ๐Ÿ“– Chapters ๐Ÿ“– (00:00) - Geography: The water we swim in (06:08) - What is cultural geography? (08:53) - What is political ecology and how do they differ? (10:58) - Ecology defined: The Indiana Dunes as a starting point (13:56) - Yellowstone: Wolves, elk, beavers, and cascading effects (19:10) - Human hunters vs. natural predators โ€” and why it matters (21:42) - The Columbian Exchange and ecological imperialism (25:24) - Does geography determine culture? Environmental determinism (31:54) - What political ecology has taught us about human nature (39:17) - Bureaucracies and the 33% forest rule that won't die (49:15) - The next century: degrowth, externalities, and structural change (56:53) - Gene banking the Great Lakes โ€” and why indigenous sovereignty comes first

    1h 2m
  6. 071_ Conversation: ๐ŸŽ“College is running out of people | Great Recession baby drop has caught up ๐Ÿ‘ผ

    06/11/2025

    071_ Conversation: ๐ŸŽ“College is running out of people | Great Recession baby drop has caught up ๐Ÿ‘ผ

    The dip in global population is something that's been gaining attention as of late, but mostly in the abstract. Something concrete in that dip is about to come due this fall, a staggering drop in the number of available 18+ year olds for the traditional college path. The first bellwether in what my guest for this episode labeled in a piece that, America is about to go over the โ€˜demographic cliffโ€™. Journalist Jon Marcus, joins for this episode to explore the intersection of demographic shifts, higher education, and the implications for the workforce. The conversation highlights the decline in birth rates, the resulting impact on college enrollment, and the broader economic consequences of college closures. We also get into the cultural perceptions of the value of a college degree and the challenges faced by institutions in adapting to these changes. Before ending on potential strategies for colleges to navigate the impending demographic cliff and its effects on education and the economy. ๐Ÿ“– Chapters ๐Ÿ“– (00:00) -The Future We Ignore: Human Behavior and Climate Change (03:00) - Demographic Shifts: The Decline in Birth Rates (06:02) -Higher Education in Crisis: The Impact of Enrollment Declines (09:07) - The Workforce Pipeline: Implications of Fewer Graduates (12:13) - Cultural Perceptions: The Value of a College Degree (15:05) - Economic Impacts: The Closure of Colleges and Community Effects (18:07) - Solutions and Strategies: What Can Colleges Do? (27:22) - The Impact of the Pandemic on Higher Education (30:14) - Exploring Alternative Markets for Universities (32:50) - The Economic Burden of Student Debt (34:48) - The Changing Landscape of College Admissions (38:19) - The Future of Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges (41:12) - Reconceptualizing Higher Education for the Future

    51 min
  7. 070_ Interview: ๐ŸŒ The Middle East, 5 Year Retrospective | Israel, Palestine and what's to come โ›”๏ธ

    06/05/2025

    070_ Interview: ๐ŸŒ The Middle East, 5 Year Retrospective | Israel, Palestine and what's to come โ›”๏ธ

    An update on what's happening with expert in the region from UCLA James Gelvin. He's joining us 5 years on from his last episode to give an update on what's occurred, and what's to come. We delve into the complexities of global conflicts, particularly focusing on the Israel-Palestine situation, by exploring the historical context of U.S.-Israel relations, the implications of arms sales, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following the October 7th attack. Professor Gelvin emphasizes the challenges and uncertainties facing the region, with a sobering outlook for the future. ๐Ÿ“– Chapters ๐Ÿ“– (00:00) - Global Conflicts and Their Complexity (05:02) - Understanding the Israel-Palestine Conflict (10:11) - U.S.-Israel Relations: A Historical Perspective (15:00) - The Role of Arms Sales in Middle Eastern Politics (19:52) - The October 7th Attack: A Turning Point (25:10) - The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza (29:48) - The Future of Gaza and the Role of Hamas (36:51) - Israel's Strategy in Gaza (40:04) - Public Sentiment and Media Control in Israel (43:38) - US Support and International Relations (47:48) - The Situation in Syria (55:24) - Kurdish Democratic Experiment (59:09) - Food Security in the Middle East (01:02:00) - US Policy Towards Israel (01:04:47) - Future of the Middle East (01:09:20) - Saudi Arabia's NEOM Project

    1h 16m
  8. 069_ Conversation: ๐Ÿฅฑ the banality of everyday things | design, art and our complex reality ๐ŸŒŒ

    05/08/2025

    069_ Conversation: ๐Ÿฅฑ the banality of everyday things | design, art and our complex reality ๐ŸŒŒ

    With only raw materials, could you recreate a toaster? Now could you do it considering the source of your materials, the effect extracting them has on the world, along with the use and inevitable destruction of it. This episode's guest did just that. Starting with the extraction of the materials, including learning 15th century techniques for smelting, created a toaster. Reflecting upon that project in today's world, is the topic of this episode. Where we dive into the philosophy of design needing a refresh in todays world in order to live in better harmony with our reality. Thomas Thwaites, Artist and Designer, joins me for this conversation. Check out his website for all of his projects, his TED talk and the project he's currently working on, a harmless car. ๐Ÿ“– Chapters ๐Ÿ“– (00:00) - The Essence of Design: Function Meets Aesthetics (05:50) - Sustainability and the Complexity of Modern Design (12:04) - The Toaster Project: A Journey into Design and Dependency (24:00) - Fragility of Modern Society: Understanding Interdependence (36:06) - Philosophical Reflections on Self-Reliance and Community (41:05) - Designing for Sustainability: Challenges and Considerations (46:22) - The Complexity of Consumer Power and Market Trends (51:44) - Regulation vs. Art: The Role of Influence in Sustainability (57:30) - The Harmless Car: A Thought Experiment in Design (01:03:08) - Ethics in Design: Choosing Who to Harm

    1h 11m
See All (80)

Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

a podcast to introduce ideas and spark curiosity. bandwidth.productions

Information

  • Creator
    bandwidth.productions
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ยฉ All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    that's interesting

You Might Also Like