What Happened to the Intellectual Dark Web?
Outside of the academics and activists whose ideology came to dominate the West in the second decade of the twenty-first century, arguably no group influenced public discourse as much as the Intellect...
1 Apr 20251h 19min
Sex and Beauty: The Extraordinary Implications of Darwin's Strangest Idea (Matt Ridley)
In all animals, mating is a deal. But few creatures behave as if sex is a simple, even mutually beneficial, transaction. Many more treat it with reverence, suspicion, angst, and violence. Matt Ridley ...
25 Mar 20251h 15min
The Hoax of the Century: Iron Mountain
Phil Tinline, author of the new book Ghosts of Iron Mountain, explores the origins of the infamous Report from Iron Mountain, its role in conspiracy culture, and its lasting influence on perceptions o...
18 Mar 20251h 42min
Does the West Need a Religious Revival? (Shermer Solo)
A few reflections on religion following The Free Press debate in Austin, TX on February 27, 2025. Michael Shermer and Adam Carolla (atheists) faced off against Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Ross Douthat (Christ...
11 Mar 202537min
Money, Lies, and God
Michael and Katherine Stewart discuss the rise of religious nationalism in America, its impact on public education, and the broader implications for democracy. They explore the strategies employed by ...
11 Mar 20251h 37min
Who Counts? Ethics in the Treatment of Animals and AI
Michael Shermer and Jeff Sebo explore moral philosophy, focusing on animal rights, sentience, and consciousness. They discuss the definitions of morality, ethical pluralism, and the divide between con...
8 Mar 20251h 27min
New Research on The Evolution of Intelligent Life
The guests today are co-authors of a new paper in Science Advances titled: "A reassessment of the 'hard-steps' model for the evolution of intelligent life." Jennifer Macalady is a Professor of Geoscie...
2 Mar 20251h 12min
Sex Work, Ethics, and Evolutionary Psychology: What REALLY Happens on Sugar Daddy Websites?
What is a sugar daddy, really? The answer might disturb you. Brook Urick takes us into the shadowy world of sugar dating, where young women are lured into dangerous situations under the guise of finan...
18 Feb 20251h 45min
