The Dissenter
Ricardo Lopes
My name is Ricardo Lopes, and I’m from Portugal. Thank you for visiting my podcast.
Over the past few years, I have conducted and released more than 900 interviews and talks with experts and academics from a variety of areas and disciplines, ranging from the Arts and Philosophy to the Social Sciences and Biology. You will certainly find a subject of your interest covered here.
New interviews are released on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Over the past few years, I have conducted and released more than 900 interviews and talks with experts and academics from a variety of areas and disciplines, ranging from the Arts and Philosophy to the Social Sciences and Biology. You will certainly find a subject of your interest covered here.
New interviews are released on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Episodes
Mentioned books
11 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 54min
#1233 Steven Hollon: A Clinical and Evolutionary Approach to Depression
Steven Hollon, a Vanderbilt psychology professor who studies the causes and treatment of adult depression. He discusses what depression is, diagnostic patterns, and why rates spike in adolescence. He explores an evolutionary view of sadness, hard-to-treat chronic depression, and compares psychotherapy versus medication. He ends by outlining when different treatments are appropriate.
Mar 26, 2026 • 50min
#1232 Michael Mann - Science Under Siege: The Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World
Michael Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor and climate scientist, discusses his book Science Under Siege. He examines five major forces undermining science: plutocrats, petrostates, credentialed pros, propagandists, and a complicit press. Short segments cover climate denial’s evolution, media false balance, and strategies for scientists to push back and communicate more effectively.
6 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 2h 16min
#1231 Michael Gurven - Seven Decades: How We Evolved to Live Longer
Michael Gurven, an evolutionary anthropologist and author of Seven Decades, explores why humans live into their seventies. He discusses evolutionary trade offs, lessons from traditional societies, healthspan versus lifespan, and the roles elders play in families and societies. Short, clear takes on aging, activity, diet, social ties, and how environments shape long lives.
21 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 1h 10min
#1230 William von Hippel: Autonomy, Connection, and Why We Need Both to Find Happiness
William von Hippel, an evolutionary psychologist and author of The Social Paradox, explains how humans balance autonomy and connection. He explores their evolution, cultural and political effects, urbanization, education, and tech’s role. Short, sharp discussions cover loneliness, marriage changes, hunter-gatherer happiness, and practical ways to rebuild social ties.
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 7min
#1229 Nandita Bajaj, Zachary Neal, and Jennifer Neal: Debunking Pronatalist Claims
Jennifer Watling Neal, psychology professor studying childfree adults; Zachary Neal, psychology professor researching fertility trends; Nandita Bajaj, reproductive-choice advocate and population scholar. They debunk pronatalist claims, define childfree versus involuntary childlessness, examine why people opt out of parenting, analyze fertility declines and contraception’s role, and discuss population, policy, and reproductive rights.
Mar 16, 2026 • 1h 11min
#1228 David Calnitsky: Basic Income, Poverty, and Socialism
David Calnitsky, an Associate Professor of Sociology studying poverty and basic income, explains what basic income is and how different variants work. He discusses evidence from experiments, effects on work, wages, poverty, and domestic violence. He also contrasts individualist and structural views of poverty and outlines institutional definitions of socialism and gradual policy paths toward it.
Mar 14, 2026 • 3min
8 Years of The Dissenter: I Need Your Support, Please
A celebration of eight years and a heartfelt call for financial support to keep the project sustainable. Discussion of current Patreon shortfall and the $900 monthly target. A plea for small monthly pledges of $1, $3, or $5 and encouragement for free members to convert. Clear instructions on where to donate and what perks supporters receive. Gratitude toward long-time patrons and collaborators.
Mar 13, 2026 • 45min
#1227 Steven Sloman - The Cost of Conviction: How Our Deepest Values Lead Us Astray
Steven Sloman, a Brown University cognitive scientist and author of The Cost of Conviction, explores how sacred values differ from consequentialist reasoning. He breaks down when people think in absolute, binary terms versus weighing trade-offs. The conversation covers causal reasoning, why simplified sacred-value messaging empowers extremists, subconscious drivers of outrage, and possibilities for reframing entrenched beliefs.
Mar 12, 2026 • 46min
#1226 Nicolas Jabko - Technocrats in Turmoil: The Fed, the ECB, and the Changing Politics of Money
Nicolas Jabko, a Johns Hopkins political scientist who studies European politics and the political economy, discusses the politics of money and central banking. He explores how central banks fought 1980s inflation, the rise of economic technocrats and technocratic neoliberalism, changes after 2008, central bank responses to COVID-19, and what all this means for economics, power, and democracy.
Mar 9, 2026 • 60min
#1225 Brittany Andrews: How Policies Against Sex Work Reinforce Patriarchy and Misogyny
Brittany Andrews, Hall of Fame performer and studio owner with 30+ years in adult entertainment, reflects on career shifts and industry tech changes. She discusses performer entrepreneurship, advice for newcomers, and how anti‑sex‑work policies and platform discrimination reinforce patriarchy and harm safety. She also talks about destigmatization, consent improvements, and expanding opportunities for older performers.
