The Blind Spot Podcast

Michel Bitbol, French philosopher of science who focuses on quantum mechanics and consciousness, offers an experience-first take on reality. He reframes consciousness as the immediate here and now. He links quantum probabilities to the role of the knower. He questions objectifying assumptions and discusses alternatives to standard brain-production stories.

Harald A. Wiltsche, Professor of Philosophy at Linköping and visiting scholar at Stanford, works on phenomenology and philosophy of physics. He contrasts analytic and continental styles. He explains phenomenology’s take on lifeworld, mathematical intuition, and how scientific models shape reality. He connects phenomenology to quantum puzzles, discusses QBism, and reframes superposition as an experiential horizon.

Dr. Yuria Celidwen, a Nahua and Maya research scientist blending Indigenous wisdom with academic inquiry. She explores Indigenous sciences as relational knowledge. She recounts Mesoamerican narratives and rituals as ways of knowing. She outlines an ethics of belonging and speaks about translating ceremonial, communal practices into contemporary research and action.

Kim Stanley Robinson, award-winning sci-fi author known for climate fiction and the Mars trilogy, joins to wander wide. He talks about imagining new futures, writing craft, and why climate storytelling matters. Conversations touch on space travel and colonization, geopolitical and energy shifts, AI and technology critiques, and how fiction helps us rethink our collective future.

EN: Let’s Talk About Aliens! In this episode Adam and Marcelo discuss the possibility of alien life in the galaxy. Starting with the mysterious 3I/A interstellar object (it is a comet folks!) they dive deeply into what we know and what we don’t know about alien life, visits to Earth, interstellar travel, and what would these other creatures would possibly look like, if they exist.PT:Vamos Falar Sobre ETs'!Neste episódio, Adam e Marcelo discutem a possibilidade de vida alienígena na galáxia. A partir do misterioso objeto interestelar 3I/A (sim, pessoal, é um cometa!), eles mergulham fundo no que sabemos — e no que não sabemos — sobre vida extraterrestre, possíveis visitas à Terra, viagens interestelares e como essas outras criaturas poderiam ser, caso existam.

Mary-Jane Rubenstein, Dean of Social Sciences at Wesleyan University and expert on the interplay between science and religion, joins the discussion on the multiverse. She explores how cosmological questions often reflect monotheistic assumptions and contrasts Western linear narratives with cyclical views from Indian and Tibetan traditions. The conversation delves into the implications of the multiverse as an alternative to God, critiques of fine-tuning, and the role of awe in scientific practice, as well as her insights from her book, Astrotopia.

EN:The Planet and The Planetary.In this episode we talk with philosopher Lukáš Likavčan about how human culture will respond to a climate changing planet.PT:O Planeta e o Planetário..Neste episódio, conversamos com o filósofo Lukas Likavčan sobre como a cultura humana responderá a um planeta em mudança climática.

Theoretical physicist Jacques Pienaar joins to explore the complexities of quantum theory and its interpretations, including Many-Worlds and QBism. He shares insights on nonlinear quantum dynamics and the intriguing concept of the 'Everett telephone,' allowing hypothetical conversations across parallel universes. The discussion delves into the challenges of reconciling probabilities with unobservable realities and the innovative QBism perspective that treats wavefunctions as tools for understanding uncertainty. A fascinating journey into the fabric of reality!

Explore the captivating world of thermodynamics, where heat and motion intertwine. Discover how 19th-century scientific breakthroughs shaped our understanding of energy and entropy. Delve into the concept of microscopic reversibility versus macroscopic irreversibility using everyday examples. Learn how living systems defy equilibrium, creating order from chaos. Finally, find out how atmospheric chemistry could reveal signs of life on distant planets, linking the principles of thermodynamics to the search for extraterrestrial existence.

Delve into the fascinating Gaia Hypothesis, exploring how Earth behaves as a self-regulating system influenced by life. Uncover the history behind this concept and the pivotal roles of scientists like Lovelock and Margulis. Discover the Daisy World model, illustrating how daisies can stabilize planetary temperatures. The discussion touches on criticisms from biologists, the idea of planetary agency, and the emergence of meaningful information in complex systems. Join an enlightening journey through Earth's connections between life, climate, and regulation.