The Caffeine Stream (C.B. Robertson)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Caffeine Stream
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug 2023 | Episode 45: Inside Bo Burnham (Remembering Lockdowns) | 00:23:48 | |
Today we go back a few years to talk about Bo Burnham's production "Inside," a performance of himself, by himself, trapped inside during COVID lockdowns. We go over the psychology of the internet, of oversocialized leftism, of pandemic disgust associations, as well as the artistic merit of the production itself. Original essay: https://caffeineandphilosophy.com/2021/07/10/inside-bo-burnham/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 11 Nov 2022 | Episode 25: An Introduction to Vox Day | 00:53:39 | |
Today we take a look at an interesting and controversial contemporary philosopher named Vox Day. Vox Day is a economist, political philosopher, musician, video-game designer, fantasy writer, science fiction editor and publisher, historian, and Christian intellectual, among many other things. We take a look at some of his more interesting arguments, including:
You can find most of his works on Amazon, including his more famous works like Cuckservative, SJWs Always Lie, and Jordanetics. However, my own strongest recommendations are his debate-books, including: And of course, you can find his daily writings at his blog voxday.net. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | Episode 4: Anarcho-Primitivism (with Ben Brower) | 01:34:29 | |
In this episode, I'm joined by Ben Brower, a blacksmith and former activist in the anarcho-primitivist movement. In a fairly wide-ranging conversation, we go over:
You can find Ben's work on Instagram @pitchblackforge, or his website at www.pitchblackforge.com. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | Episode 13: Utilitarianism Sucks (and so does Sam Harris) | 00:46:59 | |
In which Sam Harris forces my hand and makes me talk about Utilitarianism, and not only because it is moral to care whether dead children are in Hunter Biden's basement. After going over the 5 major moral theories (divine command, virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, nihilism) and some general Sam-bashing, we dive into the the meat of Utilitarianism and its various problems, including:
Source videos: Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 30 Oct 2022 | Episode 23: The Pornography Question | 00:48:43 | |
Today we explore the dangers and defenses of pornography as we contemplate whether or not it would make sense to ban it. Among the issues discussed:
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 03 Jul 2022 | Episode 6: Art and AI Art (with Jack Donovan) | 01:06:01 | |
Today I sit down with author Jack Donovan to talk about art and the relationship between man and art, especially with the advent of AI-generated images. Among the subjects we go over:
You can find Jack's work on Instagram @starttheworld, or his website at jack-donovan.com. His writing appears in CHEST magazine, including the mentioned essay on sex-pollution, "Beyond the Man Cave." All of his works are available on Amazon. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 01 Sep 2023 | Episode 46: The Virtue of Manual Competence (with Ben Brower) | 01:34:55 | |
Picking up on themes from Episode 42, I'm joined again by Ben Brower to delve deeper into the value of working with one's hands. We meander through our own experiences in the trades (while occasionally borrowing from the works of Robert Pirsig and Matthew Crawford) in an attempt to describe how making and fixing things changes how manual competence changes how we think, how we speak, even how we see... and also how other people see us. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 04 Oct 2022 | Episode 7: Were Achilles and Patrokles Gay? | 00:33:42 | |
[EDIT: I have been corrected, and indeed, a character in Plato's "Symposium" does assert that Achilles and Patrokles are lovers. Given Plato's tendency to put multiple contradicting arguments in the mouths of different characters, and to explore ideas without holding them, this view should not be taken as Plato's position, and the linguistic argument made here still stands.] Today we go over a new theory in the world of the classics and evaluate its merits: were Achilles and Patrokles -- the great warriors in Homer's Iliad -- really gay lovers? We discuss
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 19 Apr 2023 | Episode 34: The Vitalism of Bronze Age Pervert | 00:31:15 | |
And we're back to discuss Bronze Age Minset by the pseudonymous Bronze Age Pervert. First, who is Bronze Age Pervert, and why should we care about an anonymous author? We dive into the philosophical content of Bronze Age Mindset, but perhaps more importantly, delve into the style of writing and presentation, and find perhaps a stylistic congruency between content, form, and anonymity in this strange and fascinating book. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 05 Nov 2022 | Episode 24: Q&A Podcast! | 00:35:48 | |
Today we answer questions from Instagram!
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 05 May 2023 | Episode 35: Dignity and Honor | 00:40:07 | |
Today we jump off the diving board of gun law straight into Kantian ethics. Does the second amendment have anything to do with dignity? (see Episode 3), and if so, what is dignity anyway? We go over the ideas of honor and dignity as competitive frameworks for ascribing human value, and the political dangers that arise if we reject both of these frameworks... which is a danger we seem to be facing in greater degrees today, where contempt of the rulers for the ruled seems higher than at previous points in American history. But if honor and dignity are less different than they at first appear... might there be some way out and forward? Referenced works: Why Honor Matters by Tamlar Sommers Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant "Dignity, Honor, and Human Rights: Kant's Perspective" by Rachel Bayefski Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 10 Jun 2022 | Episode 3: The Second Amendment | 00:51:59 | |
Continuing on the semi-morbid subject of guns, we dive into the surprisingly simple legal history of the second amendment... and its significantly less simple challenge of interpretation. In this episode, we talk about:
| |||
| 20 Oct 2022 | Episode 21: Hatred | 00:55:13 | |
Today we explore the nature and morality of hatred, the subject of my first book In Defense of Hatred. Due for some revisions and some scientific validation, we go over the basic arguments and points, including:
Referenced material:
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 02 Sep 2023 | Episode 47: Is Science Bad for your Health? (with Joe Peters) | 01:58:24 | |
Today I'm joined by Joe Peters to discuss the business side of the health industry and how that often-neglected logistics side influences science and healthcare. Ranging over sales experiences in hospitals and personal experiences with doctors and nurses and struggling with our own challenges, we try to get down to the question of how to be healthy people in an age where the financial and insurance requirements of the industry don't always permit them to prioritize the patient in the way that we might hope... and whether science is the problem or the solution to the challenges of bureacracy. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 23 Oct 2022 | Episode 22: "Free Speech" and the First Amendment | 00:32:31 | |
Today we flesh out what "the freedom of speech" is all about, especially as described by the first amendment of the American Constitution, where it is somewhat ambiguously enshrined. We discuss:
Referenced resources:
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 29 Dec 2022 | Episode 28: The Case for Marriage | 00:54:29 | |
Today I'm joined by Sierra to dive into the question of marriage: to get married? Or not to get married? We go over some of the arguments against marriage, and attempt to address them as best we can in an informal, somewhat rambling conversation. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 09 Nov 2023 | Episode 52: Thinking and Living with Systems (with Dylan Bain) | 01:06:05 | |
Today I'm joined by Dylan Bain, who guides us through the wild and sometimes counterintuitive world of systems, from education and standardized tests to business and economic infrastructure. We look at the epistemological strengths and limitations of systems-based thinking, as well as the value in a systems-based understanding of the world in terms of understanding it and in terms of changing your own life. Follow Dylan Bain on
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 10 Jul 2023 | Episode 39: Polling Problems (with Sierra) | 00:57:39 | |
Today Sierra and I dive into polling, particularly political "opinion polls." Much of our discussion revolves around Christopher Hitchens' 1992 essay "Voting in the Passive Voice," which can be found on Harper's archive here: We also discuss Gaetano Mosca's notion of "political formulas," a concept I learned about from Curtis Yarvin, but which can be read about in The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom by James Burnham, which is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Machiavellians-Defenders-Freedom-James-Burnham/dp/1839013958
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 24 Mar 2024 | Episode 57: Power, Influence, and Israel (with Daniel Clancy) | 02:27:29 | |
Why are there so many Holocaust museums scattered around the world? Today I'm joined by Daniel Clancy -- aka 03OG -- to discuss political power, the difference between "power" and "influence," and the strange role of Israel in our political landscape. Starting from what got us both into the military as teenagers, we wind up in the domain of political philosophy more broadly, from Plato and Nietzsche to Machiavelli and Mosca to Herzel and Biden; from Dante's de Monarchia to the Balfour Declaration and the October 7th attack. Our conclusion to the general question of power is a hopeful (but far from optimistic) kind of message for other young men who may be considering something like joining the military... but the takeaways go far beyond (perhaps begin far beyond) teenagers, and might be useful -- or, at the very least, entertaining -- to people of all ages over 30. You can follow Daniel on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/03_og/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 30 May 2022 | Episode 1: School Shootings and the Columbine Hero Cult | 00:31:19 | |
Whenever there is a major shooting in the news, various pundits and experts jump into the fray to dissect the many causes (and of course, the purported cures) for these events. SSRIs, involuntary celibacy, and American gun culture are commonly invoked as causes, but in this episode, I focus on a different, more religious frame that might help explain why these mass shooting events keep happening. In this episode, we talk about:
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 13 Aug 2022 | Episode 12: "Seasonality" (with Sierra) | 00:50:48 | |
After a mildly inebriated ramble about what it means to be "seasonal," we emerge with slightly more wisdom about living in time with our surroundings and each other. Among the bigger topics we tackle:
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 15 Jul 2023 | Episode 40: Drag Shows and Feminism (with Sierra) | 01:14:07 | |
Today Sierra and I spend an evening on the patio with the wrong (or right) beverage, going over our disagreements about drag performances and feminism. Is drag always an insult to women, like "black-face" with gender? Was there, at one point, a good argument for feminism? And how much concession is worthwhile in conversations with friends before it begins to become insidious? Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 21 Nov 2023 | Episode 53: Becoming Chris - A Birthday Episode (with Sierra) | 01:32:28 | |
Today we turn biographical and attempt to answer a common question from Instagram: how did you become the way you are? From philosophy courses and walks with friends to religion and the military, we dig through my life to try to find clues and ideas to help others who aspire to philosophize... as well as ask (but perhaps not answer) the question: "is it desirable to become a philosopher?" Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 07 Aug 2022 | Episode 11: "Silence" and the Silence of God | 00:30:28 | |
Today we dive into Scorsese's 2016 film "Silence," a story about Jesuit priests traveling to medieval Japan, and some of the themes brought up in that film:
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 17 May 2023 | Episode 36: Shooting as an Origin of Consciousness? | 00:47:14 | |
Today we cover a recent essay I co-wrote with Ed Hamann offering a speculative hypothesis on the origins of consciousness in shooting, with some added commentary and background. Referenced works: "The Aim of Agency" The Origins of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 08 Dec 2023 | Episode 54: The Holy Grail (with Kyle Brickell) | 01:03:47 | |
Today I'm joined by Kyle Brickell from Sol Anahata who joins me on an informal, exploratory dive into grail myth. What is the grail? Is it a cup? A stone? A woman? A cave? By what mechanism does it bestow immortality? Bouncing back and forth between Julius Evola, Christianity, and Homer, we don't exactly resolve any mysteries, but manage to come up with a few intersting ideas. Follow Kyle's work with Sol Anahata at: https://sol-anahata.bandcamp.com/ Follow Kyle on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/solarus_cascadia/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 28 Aug 2022 | Episode 14: Philology, Myth, and Epic (with Greg Nagy) | 01:03:48 | |
Today I sit down with Gregory Nagy, renowned philologist and classicist. to talk about art and the relationship between man and art, especially with the advent of AI-generated images. Among the subjects we go over:
Greg Nagy's writings can be found at the Center for Hellenic Studies, as well as at Classical Continuum. Of particular note is Nagy's "Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours," which can be read online for free, or found on Amazon. Mentioned are my essays on "The Spiritual Origins of Science" and "The Cattle of the Sun." And in the spirit of Greg Nagy's openness, I have published "The Hero and the Man" in full for free on the blog so that everybody can access the work. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 29 Mar 2024 | Episode 58: A Resilient Body (with Josh Wood) | 01:02:53 | |
Today I'm joined by Coach Josh Wood of Strong for Life to explore some of the psychology behind health and fitness. Does good health preceed confidence and a healthy mind? Or is it the other way around? What exactly is the relationship between physicality and problem solving? Is it something you just have or don't, or are physicality and confidence things you can build up over time? And are there any philosophical implications to any of this? These are some of the questions Josh and I attempt to answer in our conversation, which fits within a broader, somewhat Nietzschean understanding of the importance of the body to philosophy, especially when it comes to resilience and the endurance of pain. You can follow Josh Wood on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/coachjoshwood/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 17 Jan 2023 | Episode 31: The Philosophy of Chess | 00:29:48 | |
Today we dive into one of the oldest and greatest games: chess. But is it worth playing? Is there any value or utility in playing chess? Is it any better than modern video games, or perhaps worse? In this expisode, we go over
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 24 Sep 2022 | Episode 18: Transhumanism | 00:58:33 | |
Today we dive into the movement known as "transhumanism." Beginning with what it is, is not, its origins, and some of its more notable thinkers, I try to make the case that transhumanism is essentially bad, but not before trying to explain the arguments for the movement. Some of the bigger themes:
Referenced Links:
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 29 Mar 2023 | Episode 33: Ryan Holiday and The Philosophy of Stoicism | 00:57:18 | |
Today we take a critical look at one of the most prominent teachers of philosophy: Ryan Holiday. Famous for his book "Trust Me, I'm Lying," Holiday transitioned from a life of self-described "media manipulation" to a life of philosophy and stoicism... or did he? We go over some of the features and characteristics of Holiday's life and work, including his interpretation of Stoicism. And in the end, turn our sights on stoicism itself, ultimately asking not whether or not it is a good philosophy, but is it a philosophy at all? You can read Ryan Holiday's letters to his father (mentioned in the episode):
For all the critical comments, I still encourage looking at Holiday's work for yourself, which can be found on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyStoic as well as in his books. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 30 Oct 2023 | Episode 51: Analyzing Top Gun... via Harry Potter and Homer (with Sierra) | 00:45:55 | |
Is Maverick a Gryffindor? Is Iceman a Slytherin? Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 20 Feb 2024 | Episode 55: Flat Earth Theory | 00:31:04 | |
I have RETVRNED! Today we dive into flat earth theory... beginning with an appreciation for the value of the debate, which is often dismissed as annoying or irrelevant. Looking at one argument for flat earth and one argument against flat earth, we go over how such a debate might at least start. We also go over some of the history of the flat earth movement, which is less philosophical though still relevant in thinking about how to approach claims. Referenced links: "Can we see too far?" (the water test): The Coriolois effect: Who started Flat Earth conspiracy theories? (Ryan Reeves): Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 04 Mar 2024 | Episode 56: Autism is a Psy-Op (with Sierra) | 01:07:46 | |
Today I'm joined by Sierra to discuss the extraordinary explosion of autism diagnoses, and the social mechanisms by which autism appears to have been increasing... but might not be. Is it Marxism? Pharmaceutical financial interests? Chinese subversive influence through TikTok? Perhaps a little bit of all? And perhaps more importantly, how are people persuaded that they might have autism when they are, in fact, normal and functional human beings? Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 21 Sep 2022 | Episode 17: An Introduction to Matthew Crawford | 00:57:10 | |
Today we take a look at a favorite contemporary philosopher named Matthew Crawford. Crawford is a political theorist-turned-motorcycle technician, writer, and (I argue) model pagan. I go over Crawford's three books and what they're all about:
You can find Matthew Crawford's shorter essays on his website. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 20 Nov 2022 | Episode 26: Christianity is not Masculine (Part 1) | 00:57:33 | |
Today I recap some drama I started regarding whether or not Christianity is masculine, which was itself a response to increasingly assertive traditionalist revivalists. Judge for yourself how I did! Among the many subjects addressed in this podcast:
and the big one...
The original videos: There are a number of book titles in this episode, here are the links if some sound interesting to you:
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | Episode 2: "Wholesome Paganism" | 00:32:23 | |
Can paganism be wholesome? In my book, Letter to Anwei, I outlined the beginnings of a religious practice centered around family and the lineage. Since then, my wife and I have been putting this idea to the test as we grow our family. Most of the paganism we might be familiar with is esoteric, dark, or occult. But could there be a practical pagan faith that is more family friendly? In this episode, my wife joins me to discuss:
For links and resources mentioned in the podcast, check out the show notes at caffeineandphilosophy.com/2. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 23 Jun 2023 | Episode 38: Capitalism Does Not Exist | 00:49:51 | |
Today we explore whether the term "capitalism" has any utility at all.
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 23 Jul 2022 | Episode 9: Filth, Art, and Rammstein (with Jonas Weaver) | 01:42:24 | |
Today I sit down with Jonas Weaver to drink and ramble about what makes Rammstein so special. Over the course of our wandering, we discuss:
You can find Jonas on Instagram @the__hinterland. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 27 Nov 2022 | Episode 27: Christianity is not Masculine (Part 2) | 01:01:19 | |
And we're back to conclude the Christianity and Masculinity subject. Today we're joined by Sierra to address the second counterargument to the original claim that "Christianity is not Masculine", which is the ontological claim that God is necessarily masculine because he is the source of masculinity (the first counterargument addressed in episode 26 was the historical claim that Jesus' actions and character were masculine). We go over:
With many digressions into philosophy, theology, and contemporary silliness. For those catching up, here are the original videos: And of course, the main book on this subject is Holy Nihilism: The Moral and Spiritual Case Against Christianity. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 11 Oct 2022 | Episode 20: An Introduction to Friedrich Nietzsche | 00:34:56 | |
Today we take a quick look over one of the most controversial philosophers in history: Friedrich Nietzsche. With a special attention on The Genealogy of Morals, The Gay Science, and The Antichrist, we take a look through Nietzsche's views on:
You can find full versions of these three texts online: The Genealogy of Morals If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 24 Jul 2023 | Episode 41: Defending Plato's Republic | 01:04:40 | |
Today we dive into perhaps the most important and also misunderstood thinker in all of philosophy: Plato. Was Plato an idealist who believed we are trapped in a cave of unreality? Was he a totalitarian, advocating the "noble lie" and censorship? Or is there more going on in this (in)famous text that is somehow both the foundation of Western philosophy and also -- seemingly -- the aggregation of everything most hated by Western man? Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
-- Intro clip courtesy of the digitally-banished Stefan Molyneux. (Mirror of his full 4 minute rant (NSFW) can be heard here: | |||
| 09 Sep 2022 | Episode 16: Morality and Autism | 00:32:02 | |
In today's episode, we begin by addressing the age-old question "can you be good without God?" and springboard into a broader discussion about the relationship between autism and contemporary Western Morality:
I am also including a link to Jonathan Haidt's presentation, which everyone interested in this subject should read or hear. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 14 Dec 2024 | Episode 62: Solar Idealism | 00:32:20 | |
Today give a brief explanation of Solar Idealism, a religious framework created by Jack Donovan in his book Fire in the Dark. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast. Find more Caffeine and Philosophy content online: https://caffeineandphilosophy.com/ On Instagram: /caffeineandphilosophy All my books can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.B.-Robertson/author/B01N4W1M7Z
My most recent writings have been published in the Journal of Solar Culture, which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/PH2T3R-Journal-Culture-Jack-Donovan/dp/B0CWVYSN36/
| |||
| 30 Jun 2022 | Episode 5: Post Physique | 00:31:59 | |
Today we dive into the internet phenomenon of "post-physique," where online guys ignore other online guys who don't post pictures of themselves while or after working out. We go over two arguments for posting physique:
and try to address two arguments against posting physique:
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 23 May 2023 | Episode 37: History and Practice in Pagan Religion (with Mathias Nordvig) | 01:09:23 | |
Today I sit down with Mathias Nordvig, professor of Viking studies and Nordic culture at the University of Colorado at Boulder. We have a lengthy chat about the various literary and archeological information that has been discovered about Nordic pagans, and try to parse through the challenge of if -- and how -- such knowledge can be applied to a living pagan religiosity today. Much of Nordvig's work (including his own "Sacred Flame" podcast) can be found on his website: Nordvig also published a recent book relevant to our discussion, "Asatru for Beginners: A Modern Heathen's Guide to the Ancient Northern Way" Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 17 Jul 2022 | Episode 8: A Simple Introduction to Homer | 00:32:23 | |
In today's episode, we scratch the surface on arguably the greatest artist in the history of the West: Homer. In addition to exploring the depth of Homer's influence on our culture, I offer some recommended readings for understanding Homer, which include:
We also go over the introductory lines of the Iliad and the Odyssey and cover some key themes in their original Greek, including:
Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 02 Oct 2023 | Episode 49: Men's Rights Activism (with Sierra) | 01:33:28 | |
Today I'm joined by Sierra to counterbalance our discussion of feminism from before and talk about Men's Rights Activists (MRAs). We try to give a (very) brief history of the movement, as well as going over some of the things we like and dislike about their positions, especially in relationship to marriage. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 22 Mar 2023 | Episode 32: James Lindsay | 01:00:03 | |
After a fairly long vacation from the podcast, we return to discuss the academic spelunking of James Lindsay, agent of the "Greivance Studies Affair," mathematician, martial artist, and tireless critic of Marxism and other forms of progressivism. We go over some of the major who's-who in the academic progressive world, including:
And perhaps most importantly, we talk about the importance of having "philosophical attack dogs" ('noble puppies,' we might say) to defend the world from bad ideas. Everyone likes to rag on negativitiy, but the naive rejection of some combativeness cedes the world to sociopaths and manipulators. It's a better place with people like Christopher Hitchens, Vox Day, and James Lindsay who are itching to go to war with bad people, and maybe teach us not just to participate in, but even to enjoy that intellectual combat. If nothing else, its an education in its own right. James Lindays' YouTube Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@newdiscourses The significant Hegel podcast (of particular import) can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf4R0gX7g3w Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 12 Aug 2023 | Episode 44: Language and Purpose - A Podcast Roundup (with Sierra) | 01:20:55 | |
Today we look back over a few of the more recent podcasts, slightly rehashing the drag discussion and the relation between the word "drag" and the behavior being described, along with digging back up Plato and the podcast about work to explore some of the themes a little bit further... with the aid of White Claw and a woman's weigh-in. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | Episode 15: Monism and the Fire of the World (with Clinton McMillan) | 01:15:06 | |
Today I talk with Clinton McMillan, a linguist and the high priest of Waldgang in the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, we discuss a variety of topics, including:
And more than can be totally summarized in bullet points. You can find Clinton's writing at https://clintonmcmillan.com/, and on instagram. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 05 Aug 2023 | Episode 43: Simulation Theory and Artificial Intelligence (with Sean Bradley) | 01:24:56 | |
Today I'm joined by Sean Bradley to explore some of the arguments against Nick Bostrom's famous Simulation Argument, as well as a wide-ranging and meandering dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and its implications for our society, our economy, and perhaps our existence. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 03 Oct 2022 | Episode 19: Sacrifice and Pagan Language (with Sierra) | 00:51:16 | |
Today Sierra and I dive into the question of "sacrifice": what is it? Is it only sacrifice if you're killing virgins, or does any rational trade-off make an opportunity cost into a "sacrifice?" Is it a gateway to barbarity and irrationality, or is it something inescapable and a part of human existence? Or is it better not to think of it through a list of false binaries? Check out Sierra's podcast "The Wholesome Pagan." Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 14 Sep 2023 | Episode 48: Physicality in a Digital Age (with Josh Tyler) | 01:21:52 | |
Today I'm joined by Josh Tyler for a wide-ranging conversation on physicality and the dangers of quantitative thinking. We take turns bashing power-lifters and philosophers and other unbalanced modes of thinking, in an attempt at something more balanced and higher quality in our experience of life. You can follow Josh Tyler's work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joshtylermma/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 30 Jul 2022 | Episode 10: Moldbuggian Monarchism: An introduction to the Philosophy of Curtis Yarvin | 00:36:03 | |
Today we take a look at a contemporary political philosopher named Curtis Yarvin, sometimes better known by his early pseudonym "Mencious Moldbug." A highly influential writer of the political right, understanding Yarvin can provide a window into some common phrases of contemporary political conversation, including:
Yarvin's writing covers a wide range of subject matter, but probably the three biggest ideas he advocates are:
More of Curtis' writings can be found at the Unqualified Reservations blog, and his current project is on substack, with the working title "The Gray Mirror of the Nihilistic Prince." Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 19 Oct 2023 | Episode 50: Druidry (with Awen) | 00:43:41 | |
Today I'm joined by Awen (aka Lilith) to discuss the world of Druidry, from its historical origins through to its modern practice today. We go over the social and political role of the Druids within ancient Celtic society, their views of the afterlife, human sacrifice, the path to druidry, and much more... as well as mentioning the organizations that have maintained the living tradition of druidry to the present. Her work can be found at https://www.primaldruidry.com/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 03 Jan 2023 | Episode 29: The Much-Needed Death of Expertise | 01:00:15 | |
Today we dive into the subject of "expertise." How do we identify an "expert," or otherwise delegate legitimate knowledge? Can we trust experts? To try to answer these important contemporary questions, we examine three books:
Mostly, we address the horrific and absurd problems with Nichols, the tragic good intentions of Rausch, and the insight and observation of Taleb that most advocates of "trusting the experts" miss in our persistent search for better decisions in a changing and uncertain existence. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 02 Aug 2023 | Episode 42: Tate, Ferriss, Rowe, and the Philosophy of Work | 00:40:01 | |
Today we dive into the question of work -- is it for suckers, and a waste of time? A necessary evil? A path to power and status? Meaningless vanity? Worthwhile in its own right? Or something else? We dive into some of the modern thinkers and philosophers on work -- namely, Tim Ferriss, Andrew Tate, and Mike Rowe, along with a Biblical interlude to flesh out some of the different philosophies and approaches to work within the broader context of life. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 29 Oct 2024 | Episode 61: Biology and Relationships | 01:38:25 | |
Today I am rejoined by Sierra in an anecdotal exploration of relationships, and the various ways in which relationships sometimes don't work out the way we hope. The discussion is an introduction to an idea of "philosophizing with the body," which will likely be an object of exploration further down the road. The emphasis today is on the importance of physicality and experience -- of "being there," in the Heideggerian sense -- to making relationships work, and in being the sort of person who will attract the sort of person you want to be with. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast. Find more Caffeine and Philosophy content online: https://caffeineandphilosophy.com/ On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CaffeineAndPhilosophy On Instagram: /caffeineandphilosophy All my books can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.B.-Robertson/author/B01N4W1M7Z
My most recent writings have been published in the Journal of Solar Culture, which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/PH2T3R-Journal-Culture-Jack-Donovan/dp/B0CWVYSN36/
| |||
| 09 Sep 2024 | Episode 60: A Jungian Look at Odysseus (with Adam Magers) | 01:03:05 | |
We're back! Today I'm joined by Adam Magers, Iraqi War Veteran and Psychotherapist to discuss his book "Odysseus and the Oar." You can follow Adam Magers on Instagram at instagram.com/odysseusandtheoar/ or on his website thebattlewithin.org. Get his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Odysseus-Oar-Healing-Military-Service/dp/1963803051/ Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast. Find more Caffeine and Philosophy content online: https://caffeineandphilosophy.com/ On Instagram: /caffeineandphilosophy All my books can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.B.-Robertson/author/B01N4W1M7Z
My most recent writings have been published in the Journal of Solar Culture, which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/PH2T3R-Journal-Culture-Jack-Donovan/dp/B0CWVYSN36/
| |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | Episode 59: A Brief Classical History of Disarmament | 00:22:32 | |
Today I decided on a whim to bring up some classical source text I think more people should be aware of and mindful of on the subject of weapons, gun-control (and knife-control, for you dangerous Brits), and disarmament more generally. It is often assumed that our position today is fundamentally different, due to differences in technology and arguments that were foreign even 100 years ago, before the horrifically deadly ASSAULT RIFLE. Yet when we look back to Machiavelli, to Plato, and to Homer, we find a striking similarity in the nature of the arguments and in the motivations for making them. As always, I encourage everyone to read the source texts directly, for their own edification as well as for understanding the true nature of often misused quotations. The Odyssey, the Republic, and the Prince are all works in the public domain, and can be read (or listened to) online. Leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||
| 12 Jan 2023 | Episode 30: The Right-Wing Case for Abortion | 00:42:51 | |
Today we get (even more) controversial and explore the political complexities of abortion Discussed:
If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating and review, it really helps others to find the podcast.
| |||