321 episodes

Conversations with a series of people who have nothing in common except that program host Robert Wright is curious about what they’re thinking.

nonzero.substack.com

Robert Wright's Nonzero Nonzero

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.7 • 544 Ratings

Conversations with a series of people who have nothing in common except that program host Robert Wright is curious about what they’re thinking.

nonzero.substack.com

    Putin, AI, Ukraine, Crypto, the Noosphere, Futurism, and Other Stuff (Robert Wright & Anatoly Karlin)

    Putin, AI, Ukraine, Crypto, the Noosphere, Futurism, and Other Stuff (Robert Wright & Anatoly Karlin)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com

    0:29 Anatoly’s strange CV 4:20 How the 20th century set the stage for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine 9:42 Why did Putin turn against the West? 24:19 Anatoly: I underestimated Russia’s incompetence 28:29 Has the Ukraine war really shifted in Russia’s favor? 35:26 Russia’s “elite human capital” problem 42:02 Is the “bio-singularity” near? 51:11 Unipolar vs multipolar AI takeover scenarios 1:00:01 Heading to Overtime
    Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Anatoly Karlin (https://akarlin.com/, Nooceleration). Recorded April 16, 2024.
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
    Overtime titles:
    0:00 Can the world regulate AI wisely? 2:05 The case for crypto 10:08 What Anatoly would do as AI czar 14:05 When noospheres collide 23:52 Is controlling AI possible under capitalism? 31:56 Was Anatoly serious about taking the Ukraine war into outer space? 36:01 Anatoly: The nation-state is obsolete

    • 1 hr 3 min
    Israel Strikes Iran, David Cameron Crumbles (Earthling Unplugged)

    Israel Strikes Iran, David Cameron Crumbles (Earthling Unplugged)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com

    Robert Wright and Andrew Day discuss items from the Earthling.
    Read this edition of the Earthling:
    https://nonzero.substack.com/p/the-kay-burley-path-to-world-peace
    Recorded April 19, 2024.
    https://twitter.com/NonzeroNewshttps://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

    • 34 min
    How Iran’s Attack Benefits Israel (Robert Wright & Joshua Landis)

    How Iran’s Attack Benefits Israel (Robert Wright & Joshua Landis)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com

    0:59 Why Iran’s attack on Israel was an “own goal” 5:36 Did Iran minimize casualties on purpose? 12:11 The rising odds of Israel attacking Iran directly 19:39 America’s contradictory relationship with Israel 25:43 How conflict with Iran helps Israel 34:11 What China wants in the Middle East 43:27 America’s destabilizing role in the region 57:16 Heading to Overtime
    Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Joshua Landis (University of Oklahoma, SyriaComment.com). Recorded April 16, 2024.
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

    • 59 min
    Iran’s “Imminent” Attack (Earthling Unplugged)

    Iran’s “Imminent” Attack (Earthling Unplugged)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com

    Robert Wright and Andrew Day discuss items from the Earthling.
    Read this edition of the Earthling:
    https://nonzero.substack.com/p/marc-andreessens-mindless-techno
    Recorded April 12, 2024.
    https://twitter.com/NonzeroNewshttps://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

    • 34 min
    Daniel Kahneman and the Rationalists (Robert Wright & Paul Bloom)

    Daniel Kahneman and the Rationalists (Robert Wright & Paul Bloom)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com

    0:29 Why Paul’s eclipse experience eclipsed Bob’s 6:25 Remembering pioneering psychologist Daniel Kahneman 16:33 Bob fails gender affirmation test 21:14 Has the “replication crisis” tainted Kahneman’s legacy? 27:47 Eastern vs. Western “enlightenment” 35:58 How AI doomerism came to the rationalist community 45:42 3 Body Problem review goes into Overtime
    Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded April 10, 2024.
    Paul’s Substack:
    Overtime titles:
    0:00 Should humanity welcome AI/alien overlords? 4:44 What was the movie Harvey trying to say? 15:07 Psychedelics as psycho-technology 26:59 The therapy crapshoot 31:06 The self-immolating airman and the trouble with mental “illness” 42:58 Poor Things baffles Bob

    • 51 min
    Biden’s Israel Problem (Robert Wright, Derek Davison, Daniel Bessner)

    Biden’s Israel Problem (Robert Wright, Derek Davison, Daniel Bessner)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com

    0:34 A brief message from Bob 2:12 Derek and Danny stumble into Bob’s Zoom room 3:11 Israel’s doubly out-of-control week 12:13 How Biden's Gaza failures will shape the Democratic Party 26:42 Biden’s political incentives on Israel-Palestine 30:12 Heading to Overtime
    Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True), Derek Davison (Foreign Exchanges, American Prestige, Discontents), and Daniel Bessner (American Prestige, University of Washington). Recorded April 04, 2024.
    American Prestige on Substack: https://www.americanprestigepod.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=publication_embed&utm_medium=web
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

    • 30 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
544 Ratings

544 Ratings

Kevtao ,

Earthling Unplugged

Hey, about the year end Earthling Unplugged episode; Robert is the first person I have heard remind listeners that the Supreme (?) Court anointed W president. They have been an illegitimate organization since then at the very least. Thanks Robert. Love the work and frankly I am glad that Kaus is gone. I listen to the Friday podcasts now with the variety of people who rotate in.

Nico_laos ,

parrot room day 1

I’ve been listening for years. Since the lockdown started and dragged on, Mickey’s regular Friday night spot with Bob has been something I really look forward to.

JoboF IV ,

Omar Baddar

Bob is always great to listen to (and I am a hardcore conservative). But I thought more pushback against the October 7 attacks would have been in order.

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