Seize the Moment Podcast

On episode 205, we welcome Jack Symes to discuss the possible existence of god, the strongest arguments for it, whether Pascal's Wager justifies belief in god, the different religions and whether they make belief in god irrational, god necessarily existing and being all good, how evil can stem good, whether evil even exists, the simple god hypothesis, if atheism is epistemically justifiable, the debate between Richard Swinburne and Richard Dawkins, Jack's philosophical development, and whether moral relativism negates the possibility of god's existence. Jack Symes is a public philosopher and writer. He is the producer of The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast and editor of the Bloomsbury series Talking about Philosophy. He is currently a Teacher and Researcher at Durham University, UK. He's the editor of the book Philosophers on Consciousness: Talking about the Mind which features a number of prominent contributors, as does his newest book, available now, Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence. | Jack Symes | ► Website 1 | https://thepanpsycast.com/panpsycast2 ► Website 2 | https://www.jacksymes.co.uk ► Twitter 1 | https://twitter.com/ThePanpsycast ► Twitter 2 | https://twitter.com/_JackSymes ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/thepanpsycast ► Philosophers on God Book | https://amzn.to/49anwSo Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 204, we welcome Aaron James to discuss assholes, who they are and how they think, the difference between a regular asshole and someone with narcissistic personality disorder, whether all politicians are narcissistic and if regular people ever seek power, if assholes understand and care about the rules, how narcissists use the cover of autism to hide their bad behavior, using entitlement to disregard others' feelings, the messiah figure and our pull toward it, why people love Donald Trump, the inherent complexity of those figures and why some people continue to love them, whether we can live with them, if humanity can tolerate a world with no good and bad guys, and a better narrative to good vs evil and how it can shape our national identity. Aaron James holds a PhD from Harvard and is professor of philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, Aaron was awarded the Burkhardt Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies, spending the 2009-10 academic year at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University He is the author of Fairness in Practice: A Social Contract for a Global Economy, the bestselling Assholes: A Theory, Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump, Surfing with Sartre and numerous academic articles. His latest book, co-authored by Robert Hockett is called Money From Nothing: Or, Why We Should Stop Worrying About Debt and Learn to Love the Federal Reserve. | Aaron James | ► Website | https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/150710/aaron-james/ ► Faculty Website | https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=4884 ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/OnAssholes ► Assholes: A Theory Book | https://amzn.to/49oANWX Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 203, we welcome EDI Mean to discuss his book 'Street Fame', how it mirrors and differs from the music industry, EDI's love of hip-hop and his warnings to up and coming rappers, what made 2Pac special, whether conscious rappers can thrive in the current market, how EDI's understanding of mental health and trauma evolved, meeting the rest of the Outlawz, EDI's rules for living and his legacy, what he enjoys about podcasting, EDI's passion for writing and why this book is important to him, how 2Pac was able to merge the different parts of his personality, and EDI's upcoming projects. Malcolm 'Edi' Greenidge is a co-founding member of the legendary Hip-Hop group "Outlawz" founded by Tupac Shakur in the late 90s. His voice can be heard on over 100 million in record sales worldwide. His new book, available now, is called Street Fame. | E.D.I. Mean | ► Website | https://o4ldigital.com ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/therealedidon ► Facebook 1 | https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEDIMEAN ► Facebook 2 | https://www.facebook.com/TheOutlawz ► Instagram 1 | https://www.instagram.com/edidono4l ► Instagram 2 | https://www.instagram.com/TheOutlawzOfficial ► Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@EDIMeanTV ► Street Fame Book | https://amzn.to/48NpxUg Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 202, we welcome Michael Amster to discuss the A.W.E. method, how changing your perspective and seeing miracles in the everyday alleviates suffering, how feeling awe interacts with chronic pain, the vagus nerve and the physiological affects of awe states, personality changes that can occur with psychedelics and meditation practices, what stepping away from the ego looks like, and how limiting and dysfunctional thinking shifts when experiencing awe. Michael Amster, MD, is a physician and faculty member at Touro School of Medicine. With twenty years as a pain management specialist, he is currently the founding director of the pain management department at Santa Cruz Community Health. A practitioner of meditation for over thirty years, he is also a certified yoga and meditation teacher. He splits his time between clinical work, research on awe, teaching mindfulness, and leading awe-inspiring retreats around the world. His new book, co-authored with Jake Eagle, available now, The Power of Awe: Overcome Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose―In Less Than 1 Minute Per Day. | Michael Amster | ► Website | https://thepowerofawe.com ► Linktree | https://linktr.ee/powerofawe ► Facebook | https://bit.ly/4bbGUzG ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepowerofawebook ► Tiktok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepowerofawe ► The Power of Awe Book | https://amzn.to/48IGdwk Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 201, we welcome J. Aaron Simmons to discuss why we're so unhappy, the limitations of pursuing external success, faith as risk with direction, Kierkegaard and the aesthetic life, status obsession as a form of avoidance, why cultivating good relationships may be more challenging than becoming rich, the archetypal seducer, becoming trapped in the goal-oriented mindset, and the meaning of authentic friendship. J. Aaron Simmons is a Professor of Philosophy, a widely published author, a popular speaker, and also a trout fisherman and mountain biker. Specializing in philosophy of religion and political philosophy, Aaron is the former President of the Søren Kierkegaard Society (USA). Simmons is an active public philosopher and hosts the YouTube channel, "Philosophy for Where We Find Ourselves" and a frequent writer on Substack, "Philosophy in the Wild." His newest book, available now, is called Camping with Kierkegaard: Faithfulness as a Way of Life. | J. Aaron Simmons | ► Website | https://jaaronsimmons.com ► Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtktPVW5IrLx0772vl8znWQ ► Substack | https://jaaronsimmons.substack.com ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/jaaronsimmons ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090093484022 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/simmonsphilosopher ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-simmons-ph-d-98109b36 ► Camping with Kierkegaard Book | https://amzn.to/3TZBSA4 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 200, we welcome Tom Morris and Gregory Bassham to discuss stoic philosophy, radical acceptance and its relationship with the divine, what the stoics believed about god and the afterlife, the four cardinal virtues and why one needs to cultivate all of them, whether the stoics actually sought to eliminate negative emotions, how they addressed death and grief, explore what we can and can't control, the stoic conception of good and bad, why being good was their purpose for being, Marcus Aurelius and his ability to balance nobility and humility, how the stoics dealt with perfectionism and overly harsh self-criticisms, and how Epictetus continues to inspire us by being an exemplar of stoic philosophy. Tom Morris is author of Philosophy For Dummies and 30 other books. He was a philosophy professor at The University of Notre Dame. He now heads The Morris Institute for Human Values and is an active business speaker. Gregory Bassham is author of The Philosophy Book, an illustrated history of philosophy, and 10 other books. Gregory was a professor of philosophy at King's College. Tom and Gregory have collaborated together to create a new book called Stoicism For Dummies, available next week on January 11th. | Tom Morris & Gregory Bassham | ► Website | https://www.tomvmorris.com, https://staff.kings.edu/sites/ghbassha ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/TomVMorris ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/tom.morris.562329, https://www.facebook.com/gregory.bassham ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/tomvmorris ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-morris-0955474 ► Stoicism for Dummies Book | https://amzn.to/48tJdfN Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 199, we welcome Jeffrey Fuhrer to discuss the fallacy of trickle down economics and the self-made myth, what companies actually do with tax breaks, the distinct perspectives of the flaws of human nature in communism and capitalism, the wealth gap and racial income disparities, what happens when governments intervene with subsidies for poor people, the hubris of corporations in zero-sum thinking, Leon's exit from libertarianism and the usual mental gymnastics of libertarians, cultivating a system of minimal wage in accordance with profits, reparations, and the importance of meeting people instead of forming preconceived notions of their struggles. Jeff Fuhrer is a nonresident fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a Foundation Fellow for the Eastern Bank Foundation. He was previously Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where he was also responsible for the bank's diversity and inclusion functions. His new book, available now, is called The Myth That Made Us: How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It). | Jeff Fuhrer | ►Website | https://jefffuhrer.com ► The Myth That Made Us Book: https://jefffuhrer.com/book Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 198, we welcome Mark White to discuss the philosophy of Daredevil, applying utilitarianism and deontology to his vigilantism, his apparent OCD-like tendencies and inability to make firm decisions, Kant's understanding that ethical decisions are ultimately our own, why Daredevil didn't often include others while making choices, his apparent inability to work within the legal system and going beyond it, his ruminations about not being a good person, the concept of satisficing in behavioral economics and how it helps us out of analysis paralysis, and how self-doubt can help us become better people. Mark D. White is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY, where he teaches courses in philosophy, economics, and law, and is also a member of the economics faculty at the Graduate Center of CUNY. He is the author of A Philosopher Reads Marvel Comics' Thor, A Philosopher Reads Marvel Comics' Civil War, The Virtues of Captain America, and Batman and Ethics. His newest book, available now, is called A Philosopher Reads...Marvel Comics' Daredevil: From the Beginning to Born Again. | Mark D. White | ►Website | https://www.profmdwhite.com ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/profmdwhite ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/profmdwhite ► A Philosopher Reads...Marvel Comics' Daredevil: From the Beginning to Born Again | https://amzn.to/47cbmqb Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 197, we welcome Roberto Olivardia to discuss the Adonis Complex and muscle dysmorphia, how men become obsessed with becoming more muscular, whether the obsession is about attracting a potential mate or something else, Leon's personal history of muscle dysmorphia and Alen's past preoccupations with his body image, the importance of focusing on underlying values and highlighting better strategies in treatment, the distorted thinking and perceptual errors involved in body dysmorphia, why the therapeutic relationship is just as significant as the actual CBT work, creating a more nuanced self-concept for self-esteem, and healthy ways of maintaining a positive body image. Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. He maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he specializes in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), executive functioning issues, and issues that face students with learning differences. He also specializes in the treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and in the treatment of eating disorders in boys and men. He is co-author of Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys. | Roberto Olivardia | ► Website | https://bit.ly/474j31N ► Adonis Complex Book | https://amzn.to/3v4Os6X Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 196, we welcome Richard Deming to discuss chronic loneliness, being lonely around people, Richard's past tendency to avoid it with excessive alcohol use, loneliness as an existential fact of life as opposed to an illness to be remedied, how it fosters creativity, how writing bridges the gap between people, the different layers of intimacy, writing as inspiration for others, Rod Serling and the expressions of his chronic loneliness on The Twilight Zone, and why all of us appreciate podcasting. Richard Deming is an award-winning poet and critic, whose work explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, and visual culture. He is the author of five books, including Day for Night and Art of the Ordinary. He teaches at Yale University, where he is the director of Creative Writing. His newest book, available now, is called This Exquisite Loneliness: What Loners, Outcasts, and the Misunderstood Can Teach Us About Creativity. | Richard Deming | ► Website | https://bit.ly/47VvjCT ► This Exquisite Loneliness Book | https://amzn.to/3uQDq54 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666