Keep Talking

Steve Harrigan is a screenwriter, a journalist, and a writer for Texas Monthly. His books include "The Gates of the Alamo" and "Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas." During our conversation, Steve talks about his work, the path that led him to become a full-time writer, and honoring artistic talents and impulses.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple Podcasts------------(00:00) Intro(01:02) Get to know Steve Harrigan(02:02) Steve talks about his father(03:13) Steve explains how little he knew about his father growing up, and how he feels about him now that he’s learned more(05:42) Overcoming the shock post World War II(06:32) Steve shares the similarities he’s discovered between his father and him(08:21) Steve’s journey into becoming a writer(12:56) How did Steve come to realize that he was a gifted writer?(14:24) Steve shares how his mother played an instrumental role in helping him discover his writing abilities(15:44) Steve talks about his popular article in the Rolling Stone(17:48) How Steve was able to make writing his full-time profession(19:22) Some writers who proved influential in Steve’s career(22:49) What were the things Steve did to hone his craft at the beginning of his career?(25:07) Why is your art an integral part of your identity?(26:13) Why Steve calls his interest in writing a “discovery” rather than a calling(28:40) How Steve was able to honor his writing skills and dedicate himself to it(30:08) The period of Steve’s life between his first article and working as a staff for different magazines(32:50) The big hacks or processes to writing that Steve discovered over the years(37:07) What kept Steve moving in his journey as a writer despite not making huge financial gains out of it initially?(39:14) How writing gives Steve a sense of self-identity(41:00) What does a great working day look like to Steve?(43:42) A day in Steve’s life(46:37) How does Steve balance work and family?(50:10) Steve talks about his family’s role in shaping his career(51:56) Steve’s reasons behind his book The Gates of the Alamo(57:40) Steve talks about his six-year journey writing the book The Gates of the Alamo(01:00:14) What, according to Steve, is Texas's role in the development of America?(01:03:33) The fight about the Alamo and how Steve views its application to the rest of the country(01:11:18) Steve’s advice to people with an artistic bent and worried about the financial side of life

Cesare Fracassi is an Associate Professor of Finance and the Director of the Blockchain Initiative at the University of Texas - McCombs School of Business. During our conversation Cesare explains the fundamentals and benefits of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Crypto has gained significant momentum, value, and attention in the past few years, and is poised to change our society. Cesare provides a basic overview of where we are and where we might be heading with these technologies.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple Podcasts------------(00:00) Intro(01:10) Get to know Cesare Fracassi(02:13) How did Cesare get interested in blockchain technology?(03:54) Cesare explains his background in technology, developing interest in fintech and blockchain, and becoming the Director at a blockchain institute(07:42) What is meant by fintech?(09:14) Cesare explains the growing trends in blockchain technology(12:19) Centralized vs. distributed ledgers(12:54) Understanding centralized ledgers(14:02) Understanding decentralized ledgers and their evolution(16:23) In the case of decentralized ledgers, how does the whole network decide if a transaction is valid or not?(17:50) How Satoshi Nakamoto discovered a way for every node in a decentralized network to evaluate transactions as legit or not(18:51) The two challenges in allowing every node in a decentralized network to vote -- 1) No centralized vote-counting system, and 2) Sybil attack(20:34) The solution to enabling transactions through decentralized networks, according to Satoshi Nakamoto(23:22) How Bitcoin turned out to become the “digital gold”(30:54) What according to Cesare, is the best cryptocurrency to buy today?(34:09) Is it possible to reverse engineer Bitcoin to provide the benefits that Ethereum does?(36:16) What makes Ethereum smart contracts superior?(39:11) Where are we, at present, with respect to the development of cryptocurrency? What does the future hold?(46:58) What's the easiest way for people to enter the crypto world?(47:32) What is meant by Internet 2.0?(49:34) What would the future look like if cryptocurrency evolved the way we experts think it might?(54:26) Does Cesare believe cryptocurrency holds an opportunity for further growth?(59:04) What is a Private Permission Blockchain?(01:01:02) What would be the end result of a massive blockchain transformation?(01:06:33) Does cryptocurrency have the potential to improve our civilization and people's lives?(01:09:15) Blockchain resource recommendations from Cesare

Helen Joyce is a journalist at "The Economist" and is the author of the book "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality." During our conversation, Helen discusses the pernicious effects of the gender identity movement: the sterilization of children, the cultural incentives that encourage kids to question their sex, the regret that many with gender dysphoria have after sex reassignment surgery, that the vast majority of people who experience gender dysphoria are gay, rather than trans, why female-only spaces matter to women, and the public shaming of and attempts to silence those who disagree with the activist ideology.‌‌------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple Podcasts------------(00:00) Intro(03:06) What led Helen into writing her book, "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality"(04:06) Helen on how she dealt with resistance to asking questions as a journalist(07:14) How Helen feels about pushbacks to open journalism and how she believes we should fight it(09:51) What are the consequences of changing a society where gender is a matter of choice, rather than a matter of biology?(17:12) Helen talks about her research for her book(18:10) Understanding gender dysphoria(19:54) The possible reasons why kids feel they don’t belong to their gender(22:01) Helen cites the example of a female who underwent a full medical procedure and hysterectomy to become male - only to later realize that she was lesbian(28:52) Why most gender non-conforming children are likely to be gay(34:04) What happens when children are given puberty blockers?(40:16) The consequences of California allowing its prison inmates to decide their gender(45:37) Helen talks about gender literature in different countries(46:52) What is transphobia?(48:51) Why it’s essential to be clear about biological reality for child safeguarding(52:59) What is the right way to think about matters of gender?(01:05:40) Helen explains thought control, thought termination, self-censorship(01:08:42) The narrative of progress is bringing marginalized groups in from the cold - and how this is unlike other social justice movements(01:13:04) Helen’s three bits of advice for journalists who are committed to open discussion and open debate(01:14:13) Why your employer is your point of weakness when you’re a journalist or an academic(01:19:13) Helen talks about her friend and researcher Maya Forstater, who lost her job due to social media backlash(01:23:01) Where Helen thinks we are in terms of the policing of conversations and dialogue(01:32:03) What is free speech, according to Helen?(01:34:37) Writers, thinkers, public intellectuals, and groups who believe in an open exchange of ideas and information

Carole Hooven is a scientist, a professor, an educator, and she co-directs the undergraduate program in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. She is the author of "T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us." During our conversation, Carole talks about the crucial role of testosterone in shaping male and female nature, contemporary attacks against science, cultural pressure against freedom of speech in our society, and attempts to censor her knowledge within academia.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(00:00) Intro(02:24) Get to know Carole Hooven(02:45) How did Carole get interested in the subject of testosterone?(12:34) What is the general difference in expression of testosterone between men and women?(17:36) What is testosterone?(20:34) What changes in body and behavior could be observed if a female took male testosterone levels or if a male took female levels of estrogen?(21:18) Carole shares her experience interviewing three trans men who lived as women until their early 20s or 30s(24:55) Carole recounts her experience being a guest on the "Transparency" podcast(29:59) Is testosterone the most important hormone that distinguishes the genders?(30:51) Carole explains testosterone transitions in transgender people and what that means for non-transgender people understanding sex differences(32:46) The physical and reproductive differences between females and males(35:05) How can we explain why some men are more nurturing than others?(36:17) How to view high testosterone rates in men(37:30) The ranges of healthy, high, and low levels of testosterone in men and women(40:18) Why elevated testosterone levels in men need not necessarily imply an increased sex drive or aggression(44:21) Carole’s experience as a woman in academia(45:20) About Carole’s students at Harvard(48:26) Carole’s experience over the past year teaching her subject matter(53:20) Where does the reluctance to speak openly about academic subjects come from(01:02:17) Why is there an opposition to speak against subjects of academic interest?(01:13:32) Carole talks about her life at Harvard(01:14:22) Carole explains her fondness for her students at Harvard(01:17:20) How has social media increased instances of bullying against academic researchers(01:18:48) Carole talks about the DEI groups in colleges(01:20:43) How can we overcome the hindrance to free speech?

Jesse Singal is a journalist and author, and has written for The New York Times and New York Magazine. During our conversation, Jesse talks about freedom of speech in America, the effect of woke culture on journalism, cancel culture in our society, and the reaction to his Atlantic article, When Children Say They're Trans, published in 2018. Jesse writes on Substack and co-hosts the podcast Blocked and Reported with Katie Herzog.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow Keep Talking on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook------------(00:00) Intro(01:01) Get to know Jesse Singal(02:45) How did Jesse get interested in podcasting, writing, and journalism?(05:12) Jesse talks about Jonathan Haidt’s work and how it helped to shape his outlook on America, and on life(06:45) What about Haidt’s work changed Jesse’s sensibilities about people who disagreed with him?(09:15) Where are we right now with regards to freedom of speech and woke culture(11:16) What is meant by woke culture?(12:42) What trajectory led us to this point?(15:08) Jesse’s take on the percentages of the American population that's fomenting woke culture(17:39) How does Jesse explain the insistence on not using a phrase (like “pregnant women”) for fear of offending?(19:12) Jesse’s article for The Atlantic, When Children Say They're Trans(21:38) Jesse’s reasons for writing the article When Children Say They're Trans and the response it received(24:52) Why is it that a percentage of children regret their transition?(27:52) Jesse cites an example of a child who considered it a mistake to undergo transition therapy(29:53) Why is there a pushback to a more conservative approach to transition therapies for children?(32:08) Do we have the statistics to know what percentage of children under the age of 14 who transition later believe it was a mistake?(35:26) Does Jesse believe that journalism in America is in a state of peril?(40:21) Jesse’s advice to aspiring journalists who want to have the freedom to explore ideas and write openly(42:11) Jesse talks about his plans for the future(46:15) Getting the independence to openly share his thoughts(50:17) Journalists and news outlets that Jesse recommends

Eric Jorgenson is the author of "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant." During our conversation, Eric talks about the creation of the book, the vacuum that's been created for advice and wisdom in a secular age, and the ideas in the book related to wealth, health, and happiness.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow Keep Talking on Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(00:00) Intro(02:36) Eric shares how he learned about Naval Ravikant and what got him interested in learning more about him(04:11) Eric talks about Naval and his perception of him(07:00) On getting to know Naval Ravikant(11:15) Some of Naval’s principles that resonate most with Eric(16:46) Why was it so important for Eric to write his book?(19:14) How did Eric approach Naval and actually get access to him?(21:31) Eric shares his process for writing the book: digging into various resources (podcasts, articles, tweets) and arranging the information(24:10) Eric shares if he’s had experience as a writer before he wrote his book(28:07) About having creative control while writing the book(31:14) Eric shares Buddhism's influence on Naval’s and the knowledge that comes from Naval's own personal story(37:17) Eric discusses the book's primary principles that can be applied in life(42:19) Why combining different skills and stacking them makes you unique and valuable(51:55) Eric talks about financial freedom(01:01:38) About understanding the consequence of our actions(01:09:59) Learn about Naval’s principle of being authentically you in your relationships(01:12:52) How Naval is both Eastern and Western-minded(01:16:48) How the process of writing the book has affected Eric: how he’s developed, grown, or changed through doing all of the research

Jerry Rosenbaum is a psychiatrist, a world-renowned expert on mood and anxiety disorders, and the director of the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard and the Chief of Psychiatry at Mass General for 17 years, from 2002-2019. During our conversation, Jerry talks about his career in psychiatry, the role of rumination in mental illness, the potential for psychedelics to decrease suffering and improve human well-being, and the goals of the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow Keep Talking on Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(00:00) Intro(02:45) Jerry shares how he got into psychiatry, psychedelics and the role of rumination across mental illnesses(09:19) Jerry talks about The Default Mode Network of the human brain - people who ruminate are found to be more active in that network.(11:10) Jerry talks about the potential contributors to psychedelic study(18:31) Funds and investments to psychedelic study(24:02) Jerry discusses whether he was satisfied with the options available to help treat his patients in the past(24:31) What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?(27:21) Jerry’s thoughts on anti-depressants(35:17) How does an antidepressant function?(38:40) About ketamine and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy(42:03) Jerry shares more about research on psychedelics and the different psychedelics available today(45:08) Who would benefit the most from research?(47:39) The controversy in the world around psychedelics(51:26) What is the appropriate setting for taking psychedelics?(01:04:53) Where are we right now in terms of the efficacy of psychotherapy and related treatments?(01:09:09) How can individuals help in studies related to psychotherapy and psychiatry?(01:12:05) Jerry’s words to people who wish to help or need help right now(01:15:10) Jerry’s thoughts on accessibility for psychedelic medicines in the future(01:18:39) Jerry shares how what the treatment experience looks like for individuals

David Blankenhorn is the co-founder and president of Braver Angels. During our conversation, David talks about why Braver Angels exists, tribalism and division in the United States, Braver Angels' goal of depolarizing American society, the workshops it runs with "red" and "blue" Americans, and its workshop's success at discovering shared values and greater understanding among politically-opposed citizens.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow Keep Talking on Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(00:00) Intro(01:02) About David Blankenhorn(02:58) David shares the circumstances that led him to found Braver Angels(06:43) David talks about the various elements needed to bring people together for a better society(07:44) David shares why he feels we’re in the third big era of polarization(09:53) Can we create a society where people who vehemently disagree with each other can still get along?(15:33) David explains why and how he changed his mind on topics once very important to him(20:22) David talks about disapproving gay marriages and coming to accept it(35:17) Why does society not allow its citizens to change their minds without major repercussions?(45:08) Social virtues and collective beliefs and how they have kept political stridency at bay for a period of American history(51:16) About Robert Putnam’s book, The Upswing(57:10) What is the role of smartphones and social media platforms in polarization(01:04:39) The mission and goals of Braver Angels(01:31:02) David explains why “We're a lot less divided” than people commonly believe(01:43:54) What does David mean by braver politics?(01:48:27) What is the best way for people to help Braver Angels?

Ben Westhoff is an investigative journalist and author. In 2019, he published "Fentanyl, Inc.", the definitive story of the Fentanyl drug trade and its effects on American culture. During our conversation, Ben talks about his reasons for writing the book, where fentanyl is made and how it enters America, the pervasiveness and dangers of fentanyl to society, and what might be done to add a measure of safety to people at risk from its toxicity.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(00:00) Intro(04:41) Ben shares what got him interested in studying fentanyl(06:59) The role of China in the distribution of fentanyl in American society(11:50) Is it technically correct to say that although fentanyl export is illegal, its ingredients can be exported?(12:40) Where are we currently in terms of the death rates or the effects of fentanyl in society? Is it as bad as it ever was?(14:19) How are people affected by the drug?(17:29) What percentage of street drugs, including cocaine or heroin, has fentanyl laced within it?(18:39) How would you advise people to mitigate some of the risks of fentanyl(20:50) Do we know if fentanyl-laced drugs are more common in certain regions of the country?(24:09) What are your thoughts on India potentially taking over as a potential leader in the production of fentanyl?(25:54) What prompted Ben to do firsthand research on fentanyl?(30:06) Why did Ben decide to put himself at risk for the sake of his research?(31:54) Ben talks about his book, "Fentanyl Inc."(34:47) Ben shares the possible ways to improve the situation(37:07) Ben discusses if there is any city, state, or country, that is dealing with the use of the drug in the most rational way(38:59) Has Ben changed his mind on anything after publishing his book?(41:21) The legal ways in which fentanyl is used in the medical context(43:49) What do people taking substances like fentanyl experience?(45:38) What are the substances that people in our culture should be looking out for as a potential risk for having fentanyl in it?(48:09) Ben shares his interests and next steps

Peter Neufeld is a civil rights lawyer and the co-founder of the Innocence Project. During over conversation, Peter talks about how and why he and Barry Scheck created The Innocence Project, the importance of DNA testing in exonerating wrongly convicted citizens, common scientific and procedural errors that have been used to convict defendants, and how our culture might create a more fair and impartial criminal justice system.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow Keep Talking on Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(0:00) Intro(02:52) Peter shares what got him to found the Innocence Project(06:07) What were the issues in society back when Peter started the Innocence Project?(09:31) Peter shares what got him interested in law(12:15) The story behind starting the Innocence Project(18:41) Peter talks about his relationship with the Innocence Project co-founder, Barry Scheck(20:57) Why and how scientists use DNA typing(26:41) Peter’s thoughts on the systems that needed to be changed prior to founding the Innocence Project(30:55) How DNA testing was used to exonerate innocent people or to potentially introduce incontrovertible evidence that proved a person’s innocence(39:21) Peter talks about the emotional satisfaction he receives through his work. He also lists the first few cases that the Innocence Project took up(46:43) How the Innocence Project accepted cases at its beginning, and how that evolved over the years(51:46) How the Innocence Project has helped society at large(55:01) What are the hurdles to achieving a more just criminal justice system?(01:04:54) How Peter feels about the existing judicial system, and hope for improvement(01:08:24) What are the ways normal people could try to help the Innocence Project(01:14:35) What percentage of the population of convicted criminals, according to Peter, have likely been wrongly convicted?(01:27:48) What's the right attitude to have as a citizen and juror?(01:33:17) Some changes Peter wishes to see in America's criminal justice system