Lex Fridman & Douglas Murray: The Wise Man from the Land of Peace
In this very special decoding, Matt and Chris revisit the wisdom of the internet’s favourite philosopher-warrior/political theorist, Lex Fridman, as he dives once again into the complex realities of the Ukraine war. Joining Lex is IDW hero and conservative commentator Douglas Murray, who actually offers some sensible insights on the specific topic of Ukraine. Fear not, though, Lex ensures his signature 'non-partisan' approach remains intact, framing Zelensky as a potentially corrupt leader who is emotionally driven, and responsible for prolonging the conflict to evade the inevitable investigations. Meanwhile, Putin remains a tragically misunderstood patriot whose greatest crime is that he loves his country a little too much.Lex is in rare form, reaching new heights of weaponised naiveté, and bravely defending himself against the legions of online "grifters, drama-farmers, liars, bots, sycophants, and sociopaths." Expect generous servings of geopolitical delusions, questionable polemics, and heartfelt serenades to Joe Rogan—all delivered with Lex’s characteristic humility and wisdom as a love-filled Man of Peace. We are genuinely sorry to drag you back into Lex's world, but someone has to keep an eye on his Ukraine takes.Sources Lex Fridman- Douglas Murray: Putin, Zelenskyy, Trump, Israel, Netanyahu, Hamas & Gaza | Lex Fridman Podcast #463DTG: Lex Fridman's Take on the Zelensky Interview: The Wounded Bird and Ukrainian Bot FarmsDTG: Douglas Murray: Can indulgent dinner conversation save OUR civilisation?
6 Apr 1h 22min
Supplementary Material 25: Ancient Pyramids, Sesame Street Monsters, & MORE Lab Leak Discourse
We embrace our hybridity, stare down Lovecraftian Donkey-Dragon hybrids, and enter into true Dialogos.Supplementary Material 2501:06 DTG Grievance Mongering02:25 Book Club Reflections04:09 Important Health and Lifestyle Updates09:51 Andrew Huberman's Trail of Death17:14 Jeff Bezos and Media Control25:04 Another exciting round of Lab Leak Discourse!31:17 Scientific Evidence vs. Public Discourse38:28 Matt and Chris' Respectful Debate44:05 Rewriting of Covid History47:04 Conspiracies and Political Pressure50:40 Eric Weinstein is STILL Waiting for the Call59:41 Pageau considers the Lovecraftian Horrors of Sesame Street01:07:17 Sarah Haider (Re)Invents 'Pioneer Traditionalism'01:11:36 Chris Williamson's annual pilgrimage to the Khan01:12:37 Fact Checking Bullshit with Eric Weinstein01:17:16 Breathless Reactions to New Pyramid Theories01:22:59 Credulity Checking with Matt's Son01:24:40 Cruel Racist Attacks on Poor Graham Hancock from the Devil Flint Dibble01:31:44 The Insane Hypocrisy of Alternative Media: Corrupt Academics are being controlled!01:37:21 Soaring Rhetoric, Petty Tribalism, and Obvious Hypocrisy01:39:19 No Charity for evil Flint Dibble01:43:35 OutroThe full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 46 mins).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusSourcesNew York Times- Zeynep Tufekci: We Were Badly Misled About the Event That Changed Our LivesKristian Andersen's BluSky thread about the articleKristian Andersen's article about the emails/slack messages, etc.Huberman's lamentations for his dead friendsThe Rubin Report: Analyzing Trump’s Tactics | Eric WeinsteinJoe Rogan Experience #2293 - Chris WilliamsonFlint Dibble: Megastructures under Giza Pyramids⁉️ ARCHAEOLOGY REWRITTEN or viral 💩?Daily Express- Netflix Ancient Apocalypse: Graham Hancock slams neo-nazis using work to spread race hateThe last time we said the same thing about the Lab LeakChris doing a Dyno! and a little bonus
30 Mars 41min
Mini Decoding: Back in the K-Hole
In this very special episode, Matt and Chris, despite swearing off any further Dr. K content after their previous three-part series, find themselves bleary-eyed and once again tumbling into the familiar depths of the K-Hole.Yes, they’re back with Dr. K, everyone’s favourite enlightened Twitch non-therapy therapist, now emerging from a self-declared midlife crisis with some powerful new revelations. Chief among them: while enlightenment may not technically be for sale, you can certainly pay to “level up your propensity for it.”After years of humble-bragging about undercharging for his mental health guides, Dr. K has boldly pivoted to defending high-priced spiritual initiations. If you thought enlightenment involved effort, introspection, and maybe a bit of humility, think again—it turns out you can outsource your spiritual growth to a guru, who will do the grinding for you. Great news for Elon Musk.Join Matt and Chris as they machete their way through a jungle of surreal analogies—landscaping contracts, parental down payments, Bluetooth enlightenment, and monetised spiritual energy transfer—all in service of a worldview where the real obstacle to self-actualisation is your reluctance to wire $10,000 to a spiritually enriched craftsman for a golden amulet.So fill up your chakras, empty your critical thinking cup, and enjoy this trip through the mystic marketplace—where your spiritual awakening is just one overpriced relic away.LinksSqueex: Indian Hate on the Internet (A Discussion w/ Dr. K)DTG- Dr. K (Part 1): OPed Ayurvedic Medicine vs. Nerfed 'Western' AllopathyDTG- Dr. K (Part 2): Rhetorical Judo FlipsDTG- Dr. K (Part 3): Therapeutic Non-Therapy
29 Mars 1h 29min
Gurometer: Naomi Klein
In the wake of our Naomi Klein episode, the masses have spoken. And like the responsible Gurometricians that we are, we've taken your feedback to heart and thus open this episode with a series of scientific and spiritual recitations. Then it's straight back into the sweet science—and mystical art—of Gurometry, as we test how well it measures up to Naomi Klein’s anti-capitalist spirit. Fun for the whole family!P.S. Don't worry—Chris Langan’s Gurometer has not been forgotten and will be arriving very soon!The full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 4 mins).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusGurometer: Naomi Klein00:00 Introduction01:29 Sponsor Shoutouts!03:29 Naomi Klein Feedback05:03 Podcast Format Limitations and Reading the Book!11:37 Consistency in Standards of Evaluation20:21 Evaluating the Arguments Independent of the Conclusions24:53 The Importance of Disconfirming Evidence26:28 Differing Definitions Cross-Culturally29:36 The Gurometer29:59 Galaxy Brainness32:03 Cultishness34:02 Anti-Establishmentarianism38:12 Grievance Mongering38:55 Self-Aggrandizement41:29 Cassandra Complex44:06 Revolutionary Theories46:53 Pseudo Profound Bullshit49:25 Conspiracy Mongering53:57 Excessive Profiteering54:48 Moral Grandstanding56:04 Final Scores and Reflections58:52 Quickfire Guru Bonus Points
23 Mars 33min
Naomi Klein: It was Neoliberal Capitalism all along!
In this episode, your favourite neoliberal Decoder shills take a break from managing the decline of late-stage capitalism to examine the insights of famed writer and renegade activist Naomi Klein. The focus is her latest literary offering, Doppelganger, where Klein wrestles with the existential dread of being confused with Naomi Wolf and uses that mix-up as a gateway to explore the "Mirror World" of conspiracy theories and online gurus (a landscape our listeners know all too well).Along the way, Matt and Chris discover Klein's views on Steve Bannon's dubious charm (and what percentage he gets right), the cause of Russell Brand's descent, the real agenda behind conspiracy theories, and why neoliberal capitalism remains the root of all evil. Plus, special guest interviewer Ryan Grim parachutes to 'just ask questions' about the lab leak, vaccine side effects and other forbidden topics that the people were not allowed to talk about!So, whether you’re a champagne socialist, a crypto libertarian, a neoliberal shill, or just here for the popcorn, join Matt and Chris as they parse Klein’s content and consider: is Klein speaking truth to power, or just preaching to the choir?SourcesPenguin Books: How did conspiracy theories become mainstream? | Naomi Klein | Big QuestionsNaomi Klein. Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World.Politics and Prose. Naomi Klein — Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World - with Ryan GrimTHIS- The Rebel Sell: If we all hate consumerism, how come we can’t stop shopping?Ryan McBeth: Exposing the Military Industrial Complex
14 Mars 3h 23min
Special Supplementary Material: Two Psychologists, One Anthropologist, Three Beers
In this special quasi-crossover episode, we stare deeply into the abyss while enjoying a beverage with renowned psychologist and occasional podcast co-host, Mickey Inzlicht.P.S. The Decoding of Naomi Klein is coming next week!Two Psychologists, One Anthropologist, Three Beers00:27 Introduction05:57 Mickey's Sabbatical in Japan12:13 Sensemaking 3.025:25 Francis Foster's Bizarre Podcast Roast34:38 Sabine Hossenfelder thinks Academia is Communism36:11 The Irony of YouTube Incentives39:34 Proper Criticisms of Academia43:28 Is Academia Centrally Planned?46:24 Culture War Pandering53:53 Entering the Matt-rix55:00 In Bed with the Russians notices the Red Scare Wounded Bird Pose01:00:03 On the etiquette of Replications01:06:17 Academic Debates on the Effect of Culture on Visual Illusions: Joe Henrich vs. Amir & Firestone01:11:18 The Legend of Captain Cook: Sahlins vs Obeyesekere01:12:58 Ideas vs People: Sarah Haider, Colin Wright and an epidemic of hypocrisy 01:17:19 Admitting Mistakes and Research Integrity01:24:38 Interpersonal Relationships vs. Adversarial Systems01:33:24 Wastage in Academia01:39:49 Elon Musk, Pregnancy, and Modern Cults01:49:01 Signing OffThe full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 51 mins).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusSourcesMickey's Substack: Speak Now, Regret LaterInzlicht, M., Cameron, C. D., D’Cruz, J., & Bloom, P. (2024). In praise of empathic AI. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(2), 89-91.Chicago. And a summary article by Mickey!Bad Boys Done Good vs Triggernometry host Francis FosterSabine Hossenfelder - Should we defund academia?Alexander Beiner - From Rebel Wisdom to KainosJoe Henrich's thread responding to the Dorsa and Chaz paperChris' old blog on Captain Cook and the second partAmir, D., & Firestone, C. (2025, January 25). Is visual perception WEIRD? The Müller-Lyer illusion and the Cultural Byproduct Hypothesis. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/y7mtfIn Bed with the Russians - Red Scared
8 Mars 50min
Supplementary Material 24: Dialogos with Greek Gods, the Metaphysics of Pepe, and Red-Pilled Embarrassment
Chris and Matt confront their inner demons, manifest their personal deities, and dive into the Onto-Logos.Supplementary Material 2400:00 Introduction02:32 Matt's Surprise Shaming06:39 Jordan Peterson's Inner Monologue Revealed10:04 Trump on Ukraine15:22 Sean Carroll explains US cuts to science funding16:47 Bleak Prospects for the US24:14 Aella vs. Arrogant Red Pill Man37:22 Be wary of Overcorrecting43:11 John Vervaeke meets Hermes52:59 False Dichotomies of the Spirit01:03:38 Entering into Dialogos with Matt's Inner Darwin01:07:39 Perspectival and participatory phenomenological identity transformation.01:09:20 Other ways of knowing spirits01:13:45 Materialists and their Monological Mindsets01:18:37 Welcome to the Onto-Logos01:24:06 Bad Faith Commenters01:29:35 Pageau and the Metaphysics of Pepe the Frog01:36:32 Next Book Review: Other MindsThe full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 41 mins).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusSourcesThird Eye Drops: Encountering Higher Consciousness, The Daimon & The Paradox of Reality | Dr. John VervaekeDave Rubin's video of Peterson's speech at the ARC conferenceWhatever podcast: She Did 100 Men In 1 DAY?! 1,000 NEXT?! Lily Phillips, Eva Lovia, Aella, Andrew! | Dating Talk#227Aella's SubstackSean Carroll: Bonus Episode | Cuts to Science Funding and Why They MatterSabine Hossenfelder: Trump and Musk Take On AcademiaHuberman tweeting excitedly about the funding cutsJonathan Pageau: Supplement to the Metaphysics of Pepe Interview with Jordan Peterson
28 Feb 45min
Supplementary Material 23: Content Shark Psychology, Rorschach Tweets, and the Art of Radicalisation
Chris and Matt have their models exploded, the maps ripped up, and their minds blown as the Gurusphere expands into exciting new territory.Supplementary Material 2302:47 Chris Williamson blows our minds!08:57 Content Predator psychology and motivational posting12:28 Balancing the Scales14:07 Eric Weinstein the master of Rorschach Tweets20:26 Modern Sages Reunited: Bret Weinstein and Joe Rogan24:29 Open-Minded Joe Rogan34:26 Maybe prescriptions are actually bad!37:38 Andrew Gold expands into Race & IQ46:47 4 Warning Signs of Radicalism56:45 Monomaniacal Fixation vs. Pluralism01:05:26 Rejoinder: What if it is a diagnostic?01:09:43 Lex wants to join DOGE01:10:31 Lex's next world leader interview: Modi01:14:57 Matt's Final Thought: People contain multitudes01:16:57 OutroThe full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hrs 19 mins).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusSourcesEric Weinstein's profound tweet on history as we know itThe Joe Rogan Experience#2269- Bret WeinsteinAndrew Gold Heretics: CONTROVERSIAL: Are Some Races DUMBER? - Nathan Cofnas (4K)Lex wistfully imagines joining DOGE and thinks deeply about his upcoming interview with ModiRecent investigation of 'Race Realist' networks and outletsKruglanski, A. W., & Moskalenko, S. (2025). Psychology of the Extreme. Taylor & Francis.
22 Feb 33min
