THUNK
Josh Pelton
A show about things that tickle your brain.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 16, 2014 • 5min
23. Concerts and Consent
April is the start of concert season, as well as sexual assault awareness month. Find out how sex and physical intimacy should be like a good rock concert.
Video: http://youtu.be/hzgsGGDQx3w Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/04/16/23.-Concerts-and-Consent.html
Apr 9, 2014 • 5min
22. Do You Have Free Will
The question of free will has been long-debated in philosophy, but do we have an adequate answer? Is it even a real question?
Video: http://youtu.be/xdfiRfvH10k Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/04/09/22.-Do-You-Have-Free-Will.html
Apr 2, 2014 • 4min
21. Simplicity, Complexity, and Democracy
It’s very easy to extrapolate large systems of thought from a few facts…and often dangerously wrong, especially for people who live in democracies. Find out why you should be wary of the Dunning-Kruger effect and its implications for how you think about complicated issues.
Video: http://youtu.be/IxFZPwdhxIg Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/04/02/21.-Simplicity,-Complexity,-and-Democracy.html
Mar 26, 2014 • 5min
20. The Matrix and Artificial Reality
Plot twist: the robots didn’t put us into the Matrix…we did. Find out why Cypher might have been right, and how video games might be our future.
Video: http://youtu.be/kAqZNbyJJ48 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/03/26/20.-The-Matrix-and-Artificial-Reality.html
Mar 19, 2014 • 5min
19. Cosmic Inflation Theory
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics just announced how the universe started. (It’s really blowing up.) Let me try to explain it to you.
Video: http://youtu.be/Vd2mPID1q7k Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/03/19/19.-Cosmic-Inflation-Theory.html
Mar 12, 2014 • 6min
18. Skepticism and Empiricism
Feynman’s first principle is: “you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” Thankfully, there’s some philosophy that can help us do precisely that. This week, I show how the human brain is primed to fool itself, how some interesting guys from ancient Greece combated that tendency, and why it matters.
Video: http://youtu.be/Y78EScMnTsk Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/03/12/18.-Skepticism-and-Empiricism.html
Mar 5, 2014 • 4min
17. Ender's Game
Ender Wiggin might be a compelling protagonist, but he’s also problematic. This week, I investigate how Ender’s Game can make you dumb.
Video: http://youtu.be/oheEl_WW774 Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/03/05/17.-Ender's-Game.html
Feb 26, 2014 • 7min
16. Culture and Bias
It’s very easy to dismiss systemic cultural bias, because it’s almost invisible if you’re not aware of it. This week, however, I argue that it exists, that it’s pervasive, and that you can and should work to combat it.
Video: http://youtu.be/7ypRxx50Z9Q Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/02/26/16.-Culture-and-Bias.html
Feb 19, 2014 • 5min
15. Speedrunning
3, 2, 1, go. This week, I look at two groups who compete at insane levels of performance: Olympians and video game speedrunners.
Video: http://youtu.be/vzCtEUFmPXU Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/02/19/15.-Speedrunning.html
Feb 12, 2014 • 5min
14. Google Glass and Augmented Reality
Okay, Glass, record and edit this week’s THUNK! . …nuts. This week, I show off my cool new toy from Google and discuss the potential future relationship between humans and machines.
Video: http://youtu.be/wu5Mbk9FSbw Show Notes: https://thunkshow.com/2014/02/12/14.-Google-Glass-and-Augmented-Reality.html
