What the Future will Bring | Cory Doctorow | The Lost Cause | #203 HR Podcast
Chris Jeffries and Cory Doctorow discuss his latest book, “The Lost Cause” which explores a future where humans adapt to a post-climate apocalypse and embrace radical changes to harness 0.4% of the sun’s energy. Doctorow also talks about the origins of money and the roles of governments and markets. He critiques rents, intermediaries, and rent-seeking in the technology sector, discussing Uber’s history of violating competition laws and its transformative impact on the industry. Doctorow emphasizes the need for competition law enforcement and legislation to level the playing field for small businesses and prevent monopolies. He also touches upon the historical context of Marxist theory and the interplay between competition and regulation. Throughout the conversation, Doctorow raises concerns about the concentration of power and wealth in the technology sector and its potential impact on the future.
How Not To Age | Dr. Michael Greger | #202 HR Podcast
In “How Not To Age,” Dr. Michael Greger talks about the eating habits of centenarians, drawing from research in areas known as “blue zones” where people live longest and healthiest. These individuals mainly consume whole plant foods, limit processed items, meat, dairy, eggs, sugar, and salt, favoring fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, and herbs. Dr. Greger also discusses the debate around coffee consumption and aging, stating that long-term health isn’t impaired despite short-term brain and arterial effects. He advises on optimal coffee consumption, such as filtered brewed coffee for the highest antioxidant benefits. Furthermore, Dr. Greger touches on topics like inflammation reduction through diet, natural anti-aging remedies, managing stress, and the impact of the food industry on health. He provides insights on increasing anti-aging enzyme AMPK through vinegar and black cumin, maintaining healthy blood sugar, and minimizing stress through healthy lifestyle choices. Dr. Greger criticizes the influence of food industries on nutrition science and encourages listeners to educate themselves and make informed decisions for their health
The Big Problem with Veganism | Chris Jeffries & Plant Geezer | #201 HR Podcast
Chris Jeffries and Plant Geezer discuss the challenges and misconceptions surrounding veganism. They highlight the mean-spiritedness of some within the vegan community, which makes it difficult to gain traction with non-vegans. They also address arguments against veganism, such as humans being omnivores, and dismiss them as flawed. The speakers stress the importance of not picking and choosing which injustices to care about and emphasize the need for cultural change in order to gain majority support for veganism. They also discuss the influence of capitalism and government subsidies in promoting unhealthy eating habits and the need to address food addiction. Despite the challenges, they express hope that the vegan revolution can overcome these obstacles.
How To End Injustice Everywhere | Dr. Melanie Joy Ph.D. | #200 HR Podcast
My Friend Dr. Melanie Joy, a Harvard-educated clinical and social psychologist, discusses her new book where she argues that all forms of injustice, including violence towards animals, humans, and the environment, share the same underlying structure and mentality. She also explores the concept of relational dysfunction, which stems from a non-relational mentality that disconnects individuals from their empathy and rational thoughts, leading to unjust actions and infighting within social movements. Dr. Joy emphasizes the importance of building relational literacy to combat this mentality and create a more relational world where dignity is honored for all beings. Additionally, Dr. Joy addresses the detrimental effects of infighting within the vegan community and the impacts of chronic disregulation on individuals and communication. She encourages individuals to prioritize self-regulation, clear communication, and emotional intelligence to reduce toxicity within movements and maintain productivity and effective engagement
How To DECOLONIZE Palestine | Professor Leila Farsakh Ph.D. | #199 HR Podcast
My Friend Professor Leila Farsakh Leila Farsakh discusses her book “Rethinking Statehood in Palestine” and her research on the doctrine of self-determination and decolonization. Farsakh argues that the creation of a Palestinian state after the 67 War and the UN resolution 242 was doomed from the start, as Israeli settlements destroyed the possibility of having territorial integrity and continuity in a potential Palestinian state. Farsakh also advocates for an alternative understanding of statehood that focuses on democratic institutions and depoliticizing ethnic identity in order to create a more inclusive state. She also discusses the history and principles of Zionism, and how Israel’s creation led to the displacement of two-thirds of the Palestinian population. Farsakh notes that Zionism was a colonialist movement that aimed to create a Jewish state as a project of salvation for the Jewish people. She discusses the hypocrisy of the global community’s response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly how it is so different from their responses to the ongoing violence in Ukraine. Despite the challenges, Farsakh remains hopeful that a political solution is possible with the growing activism and support for Palestinian causes in the US, and notes the importance of respecting international law and the rule of law in order to resolve the conflict.
The Truth Behind THE CONJURING | Matthew Brockmeyer | #198 HR Podcast
My Friend Matthew Brockmeyer discusses the history of the family and the events that led to the filming of the movie “The Conjuring.” Brockmeyer explains how the family thought the country house they bought was not trouble, but strange things started happening, including the appearance of a ghost. He also highlights how the witch is not as infamous as many believe and that the Family members were advised not to unboard the chimneys due to an old superstition about ghosts and chimneys.
Creating a Vegan World | Andrew Alexander | #197 HR
My Friend Andrew Alexander shares his journey to becoming vegan and discusses the challenges and opportunities he has encountered within the vegan community. He talks about the support he received from the community during the creation of his documentary, the importance of leveraging existing systems to make veganism more accessible and less socially conditioned, and the growing number of activists and influencers within the vegan community. Alexander believes that while there are challenges to growing the vegan movement, the potential rewards of creating a more compassionate and ethical world make it worthwhile. He encourages others to look for unique opportunities to make a difference within the community and stay focused on the long-term goal of creating a better world for all living beings.
Why We Should STOP Killing Animals | Dr. Marc Bekoff Ph.D. | #196 HR
My friend Dr. Marc Bekoff is a biologist and author who has published numerous books on animal behavior and the natural world, including “Minding Animals” and “Dog Demystified.” He attributes his interest in animals to genetic makeup and ability to understand their emotions. Dr. Bekoff has published “Rewilding Our Hearts,” a book aimed at encouraging people to reconnect with nature and build a bond with animals. In this section of his TEDx talk, he discusses his book “The Emotional Lives of Animals,” which explores animal emotions and behaviors, and establishes the credibility of studying animal emotions. Bekoff argues that humans should be more compassionate towards animals and strive to build a bond with them, regardless of their utility to humans. He believes that by doing so, we can lead a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle.
Life on the Road with Joseph Faison IV | Homeless Romantic | #195 HR
My friend Joseph Faison IV is a musician and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. He talks about his experiences living overseas, including time in Berlin, Greece, and a small village in Greece. During his time in Turkey, he faced difficulties obtaining the necessary documentation, leading to his departure for 90 days. He reflects on how he felt like bad luck was chasing him around, despite his desire to live a more carefree lifestyle. Faison also talks about his experiences playing guitar with a group of musicians he met while living in a diesel/biodiesel bus, including two brothers he grew up with in Nashville.
A Conversation with MUGS and POCKETS | Swamburger & Scarlet Monk | #194 HR
My friends MUGS and Pockets AKA Scarlet Monk and Swamburger discuss their musical influences including Sly Dunbar, James Brown, the Freestyle Fellowship, Jupiter, mic nine, and Brother Jay from X-Clan, Billy Holiday, Ace of Base, Madonna, Tupac, Biggie, Little Kim, and Missy Elliott. They both emphasize the importance of being able to piece together their compositions, and their influences have helped them develop their unique style.
The conversation then shifts to a discussion of an upcoming EP and single coming out inspired by trip hop music, features a non-poppy, genuine sound that is true to its roots and draws inspiration from subgenres of jazz.