Aleks Listens: Recent Episodes
Aleks Listens
It's normal to feel overwhelmed when thinking about success. Perhaps success reflects something about our true selves, or it may signal our intelligence or ability to be creative, or perhaps it demonstrates our capacity to conform to social norms. But success is one of those concepts that is so hard to define that it seems to be entirely subjective. In today's episode, I look at the psychology and philosophy of success, what it means to be successful, what we can do to make sure we are thinking about success in ways that reflect our true selves, and how we can recognise toxic cultural norms.
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It's normal to take antidepressants. They calm down the inner existentialist, they make depression manageable, they make it easier to get out of bed, and they generally make life feel less overwhelming. But none of us really know how they help, or whether it's worth pushing through some of the side-effects they cause. In this episode, we unpack how the most common antidepressants (SSRIs) work, what side effects we can sometimes experience, as well as potential reasons we may have for starting treatment. I also speak about my own experience with antidepressants, and how I combine medication with therapy to reduce the impact of side-effects.
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My 100th episode. Thanks for being here.
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It's 2023, Andrew Tate has just doxxed himself into a Romanian Prison, and somehow Jordan Peterson still one of the most popular public figures.
This episode focuses on 2 of the many issues I have with Jordan: his self-help, and his ambushing of vulnerable and isolated people.
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Setting goals feels counterintuitive because it inevitably ends up in self-loathig. Maybe, though, there's a way we can set goals AND be happy.
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Bryn Chapman-Parish is an Actor and Musician, best known for his role as Spider in Heartbreak High.
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I analyse and try to resolve 5 key issues within Progressive politics, while also keeping the Conservative alternative in mind.
I speak about the difficulty progressives have finding an idol, cancel culture, echo chambers, openness to experience and difference, as well as the psychology behind Progressive and Conservative views.
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After nearly 5 years on antidepressants, I've decided to come off them. This episode explores my reasons why, and what's changed in my life to encourage me to make this decision.
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Émile P. Torres is a Philosopher and Historian whose work focuses on existential threats to civilization and humanity.
Émile has published on a wide range of topics, including machine superintelligence, emerging technologies and religious eschatology, as well as the history and ethics of human extinction.
Follow Émile on Twitter, or visit their website
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Our world is made of thoughts, but we are lost in them.
Welcome to Lost in Thought, a podcast about our world, our thoughts, and how these things impact our mental health.
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Aurelia St Clair is a comedian, model, writer, and podcaster.
Aurelia and I spoke about 'idiosyncratic' Naarm/Melbourne meme and suburb cultures, the perils of being a content creator, as well as diversity, otherness, and whiteness.
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Tickets for my upcoming public interviews in Naarm/Melbourne
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Abbie Chatfield is a public figure: social critic, political activist, radio/tv presenter, podcaster, and business woman.
I ask Abbie about being a celebrity, what it means to have 400k+ followers on Instagram, and how stardom impacts mental health.
I also ask Abbie to define the meaning of life.
TW: Suicide
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I sat down and chatted with Anjelica Angwin of CLUB NITE.
CLUB NITE is a piercing, tongue-in-cheek analysis of Melbourne’s distinct party scenes; a live-action meme filled with banter, rainbow lighting, dance, certified bangers, and a cathartic commentary on Zoomer self-exploration and current social-woke-politics.
Get tickets to CLUB NITE
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Dr. Mehreen Faruqi is a Senator for NSW who represents The Greens.
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Get tickets to my public interview with Philosopher Justin Clemens
I talk about the loss of hope that comes with full-time work.
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Depressed people are often described as being melancholic. What does this mean? This episode focusses on Freud's essay "Mourning and Melancholia," where he seeks to define both experiences with reference to each other.
I break down some confusing Freudian language and apply Freud's theory to everyday life.
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Everyone is always like "Metaverse this, metaverse that.."
But, does anyone actually know what they're talking about?
In this episode, I dive deep into some big questions about the metaverse: what is it, is it good or bad, how can it help us, and what is the philosophy that underpins it.
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I sat down with the anonymous administrator of the notorious meme page @Merrellectuals2.0.
Together, Merrell and I dove deep into Melbourne culture, Meme culture, Australian/UK/US politics, progressivism and conservatism, patronage and how to keep the arts afloat.
I will not comment on whether this interview reveals any information about who may be behind @Merrellectuals2.0.
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Conversation around phone addiction is stilted and infrequent. What are our reasons for losing ourselves in our phones, and how can we hope to change our relationship to them?
Also, I mention and misquote an article about phone addiction. Correct stats are here: "the average smartphone user rarely goes two hours without using her device, unlocks her device 50 or more times a day, and swipes or taps on it as many as 2,617 times in the process."
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Simon Critchley is a Philosopher at The New School (NYC), an author, and a writer/moderator at The New York Times.
Simon and I spoke about the nature of philosophy, life before philosophy (which included punk music and an interesting evening with Lemmy of Motörhead), the current state of world politics, as well as how scenes, communities, and new ideas develop.
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2021 is winding up and I take a moment to reflect on the changes to my "philosophy of life," and I also ask the question of what we become when we are so plugged in (social media, internet, etc.)
You can also watch this episode on YouTube.
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Flex Mami / Lil Ahenkan is a Ghanaian-Australian Entrepreneur, Author (The Success Experiment), Podcaster, DJ, and TV Presenter.
Flex and I explore the marvels and perils of online life, influencing, setting boundaries, communicating with strangers, creating the world in one's image, and selling/commodifying the self.
Follow @flex.mami on Instagram.
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Moktar is an Egyptian / Australian producer based in Naarm / Melbourne. Moktar’s recent EP “Silk” is a meditation on Arabness, otherness, and self-discovery.
“Silk” represents a shift in Moktar’s sound which echoes his identity as a Middle-Easterner, an Egyptian, and an Arab.
Moktar and I discussed our experiences as Arabs in Australia, the changes in Moktar's sound, and what it takes to get in touch with one's history.
Follow Moktar on Instagram, and listen to his EP "Silk" here
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Becoming a social media influencer is a very strange phenomenon. You have incredible control over the priorities and beliefs or your audience. But, at what cost?
Have you ever thought about what it actually means to represent yourself online? How personally impactful is it when we develop an online personality? Is there a way to ethically influence people?
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Why is the West fanatical with productivity? Why are we always pushing to become more, to make more, to produce more? Today I consider a simple question: are we losing our sense of self by over-identifying with the things we make?
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After 6 months off Antidepressants, I'm back on them. In this episode, I reflect on what the past 6 months have been like, and what it's been like returning to antidepressants.
Love, Aleks x
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Jess Zanoni is a musician and writer living in Naarm. Jess is the singer and bassist of alt-rock band Arbes, and is currently working on a solo project called Za Noon.
Jess and I spoke about work, time, the infinite quest of establishing a routine, being creative (Jess does loads of creative stuff), escapism, distractions, and music.
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks x
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I reflect on the changes to my life since coming off antidepressants. One of the biggest changes has been the blurred lines between my depression before, during, and after antidepressant use.
It will be helpful (but not essential) for you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 before listening to this episode.
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Gregor is a progressive pop musician based in Naarm (Melbourne).
We spoke about the changing nature of Gregor's music, music as a form of therapy, perfectionism and validation, as well as multiculturalism and the creative scene in Naarm.
You can listen to Gregor's music on Spotify or Bandcamp.
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Berislav Marušić is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at The University of Edinburgh.
We discussed Beri's work on grief, love, and existentialism. I also asked Beri about the limits of neuroscience, the uniqueness of the human experience, and what it's like being a philosopher.
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Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, clinical neuroscientist, poet, novelist, and retired medical physician.
We spoke about free will, identity, the goal of philosophy, the limits of science and philosophy, and how our relationship to our goals/values change over time.
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You asked me a bunch of questions and I answered them through the lens of philosophy.
The two questions I responded to in this episode are:
1) Is Instagram a tool for meaningful change?
2) What is our purpose in life?
If you'd like to submit a question for the next episode of Aleks Answers, please send me a message on Instagram or send me an email.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube.
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It's been 6 weeks since I came off antidepressants. In this episode, I explore some of the twists and turns of life without antidepressants.
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Follow me on Instagram @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast
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You are not alone:
Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au
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How, if at all, can we conceptualise cancel culture to clearly promote social justice?
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I discuss my experience after, beyond, and without antidepressants.
For more 👉 follow @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast
Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal
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You are not alone:
Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au
Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au
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A discussion of perfectionism, how it manifests, how it feels, and how it can impact one's life.
Content Warning: this episode covers potentially distressing and upsetting topics. Themes include mental illness, depression, and anxiety
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I discuss some helpful (and some less helpful) ways of thinking about the questions 'what is meaning?' and 'what is meaningful?' I also talk about how depression stifles experiences of meaningfulness.
For more, visit www.aleks.co/ or check out my instagram @alekslistens
I explore the nature of grief, why we grieve, whether we can rationalise grief, and if we can reasonably say that grief serves a particular purpose.
Kelly Herbison is a Philosopher at The University of Melbourne, where she recently received funding to do a Postgrad Research Project.
Paul Podosky is a PhD at The University of Melbourne with an especial interest inSocial and Political Philosophy and Conceptual Engineering.
Both Kelly and Paul also run the Minorities and Philosophy Chapter at The University of Melbourne.
The three of us chatted about all kinds of things related to philosophy, from the nature of philosophy, to injustices in the academy, to the shortcomings of philosophical writing.
For more, visit www.aleks.co/
Dr. Graham Priest is a Professor of Philosophy at CUNY. We spoke ab out all kinds of things, from the nature of philosophy, to buddhism and its personal and political implications, and to political philosophy itself and the state of the world.
For more about Graham, visit his website: http://grahampriest.net/
For more about me, visit www.aleks.co
To support the podcast, visit www.aleks.co/support
I sat down with Dr. Charlie Bresler, Exec. Director of The Life You Can Save, a charity founded by Peter Singer to advance the ideas of his book under the same title.
We chatted about the act of giving, why we do and don't give, and negotiating the space between building a career, financial security, and marginal returns.
For more, visit www.aleks.co/
An introduction to one of the most important philosophers... ever... Wittgenstein talks about language, sense, meaning, and the responsibility of language users to use language properly.
For more, visit www.aleks.co/hey
This episode explores sobriety and alcoholism in anglo society. I talk about my reasons for being sober. I also talk about depression, hangovers, and alcohol as a social lubricant.
For more, visit www.aleks.co/
I saw down with Dr. Paul Cammell and spoke about the relationship between psychiatry and philosophy, the origins of depression, and the nature of therapy.
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For more, visit www.aleks.co/ and my instagram @alekslistens
I ask whether it is possible to think of morality as something that is entirely subjective.
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To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute
I talk about the dull and plain moments of depression that make it very difficult to find reasons to do anything.
I reflect on my depression and how it impacts my everyday experience of the world. Sending love your way.
If you're enjoying Aleks Listens, you can support it by visiting www.aleks.co/support
If you are struggling, or know someone who is, remember that there are services in place to support you. Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au, Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au, BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au
Back in October 2018, my friend Liam and I sat down with Julian Burnside AO QC. Julian is a barrister, human rights and asylum seeker advocate, and has recently turned to politics as a way of making change.
What's most curious about our interview with Julian is that he told us again and again that he wasn't interested in politics, and that he wasn't willing to comment on political topics (outside human rights and asylum seeker related themes).
For more, visit www.aleks.co
To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute
In this episode, I explore what it means to be happy, what form happiness takes, and whether it's a meaningful thing for us to strive towards.
Click here to read my essay on happiness.
Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @alekslistens or Facebook — subscribe on YouTube ~ sending love your way, Aleks x
I regularly ask myself something along the lines of "F*ck, why do I wake up in the morning? Is it always going to be this cyclical?" At the moment, I feel aimless; directionless; purposeless; confused; displaced; uprooted. I feel very uncertain about my past, present, and future. Is it ok to feel this way? Probably? Will my life be punctuated by these crises? Probably? I reflect on all of these things in this episode.
Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @alekslistens or Facebook — subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
I sat down with political philosopher Dan Halliday, lecturer at the The University of Melbourne, and spoke about Capitalism. We begin by defining Capitalism, then discuss its relationship to feudalism and socialism, and interrogate capitalism through a number of different lenses. We spoke about various policies which have traditionally been understood as 'capitalist' or 'neoliberal', and how they are in fact more closely aligned with other economic frameworks.
For more about Dan, visit: http://www.danhalliday.net.
For more about Dan's book, visit: https://www.ethicsofcapitalism.com
Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens or Facebook — subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
I sat down with Shahar Avin, a Senior Research Associate at The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (@ The University of Cambridge). We spoke about short-to-near term risks associated with AI, smartphones, algorithms, and pandemics. We simultaneously tried to make connections to the way politics and education can be reconfigured in order to normalise and generate true and helpful discussion on these topics. For more about Shahar, visit his website: https://www.shaharavin.com. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens or Facebook — subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
I had a chat with Jess @drjesseggy about all kinds of cool and colourful things. We spoke about the strange relationships, depression, anxiety, and I told Jess that I really hate cereal. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
People always talk about cancelled people or cancelling people. People also tend towards other people who agree with the big things they agree with. I talk about these things. I ask whether they're good, whether they're bad, how to engage with others, and that kinda stuff. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
In light of the recent (proposed) price increases for humanities degrees in Australia, I thought I'd make an episode to reflect on what this could actually mean. Can the price increases be justified? Are they a waste of time? (What the f do you think!?) Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
Aleks Listens turned ONE yesterday. So, I decided to sit down and think about what I've discovered about myself, and about others. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
Today I talk about normativity and what it means and what it is and why you should know about it and why you should care about it. That's pretty much everything.
Today I discuss whether or not we can draw a clear line between morality and the act of giving. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
I reflect on the past three weeks and its cognitive curveballs. This episode isn't very political, and I don't reflect on acknowledge the impact of world politics on my wellbeing (I'm saving that for my next interview). Instead, this episode is a meditation on what can go wrong when you're overwhelmed, and some things that I've been doing to stay afloat. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x
Today I spoke with Greg Restall, Professor of Philosophy and Logic at The University of Melbourne. The conversation began with me asking Greg to explain what 'Philosophical Logic' even is. Then, we moved onto some stuff about how we ought to think about the relationship between logic and belief, why thought and social progress is at risk of (if it isn't already enduring) a steep decline, where we can turn to inform and configure our morals. For more about Greg, visit his website. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Existentialism is one of the most important elements of Being a person. Whether we like it or not, we are constantly grappling with existential questions — What does it mean to be? Who am I? How free am I? What impact does history/culture/society have on me? These are the kinds of things I talk about in this episode. The amazing artwork is by my friend Jericho. You can find him @jericho_marcel or @delicatessen____. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I spoke with Steph. Steph is one of my closest friends. We talk about power dynamics in relationships, what it's like having Dads who want to tell you What and Who to Become, why we think freedom is good, and what value we have drawn from meditation. You can find Steph on instagram @gutgrenade. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Following up on the conclusion that I reached at the end of my last episode (that free will exists as a strange conscious illusion), I try to answer questions of being morally responsible, having personhood, and making decisions in light of our apparently illusory free will. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Day 6.02x10^23 of iso and I'm seeing pretty colours and talking about free-will and its philosophical foundations. I try to define free will and determinism (and fatalism (and don't fkn get them confused!)). I also try to talk about bananas and showering in a way that is novel, exciting, fruitful and replenishing. I also ask myself whether I have any freedom to talk in the way that I do. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I sat down and reflected on the relationship between preventable human suffering, wealth, and doing the right thing. This episode is based on an essay by Peter Singer called "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" written in 1972. Essentially, Singer claims that it is a moral requirement for us to minimise preventable human suffering if we are in a position where donating to effective charities will not jeopardise a reasonable level of comfort in our lives. I investigate how realistic and applicable this claim is. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I sat down (over Zoom haha!) with comedian/presenter/podcaster/coolguy Tom Ballard. We spoke about the way the West has responded to profound changes in its structure (9/11, the Global Financial Crisis/Great Recession, Covid-19), the ways in which various lefty/socialist policies can promote freedom and idleness, and the ways that we can think engaging with people who have different beliefs to us. For more about Tom, visit http://tomballard.com.au — For more about ME (coz I'm a narcissist so I couldn't forget MYSELF ha!), visit MY website https://www.aleks.co — Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I sit down and think about the ethical ambiguity of being or not being born into wealth and privilege. What does it even mean to have had a super elite education (mommy and daddy paying $20k a year for the first 18 years of your life (+a VW Golf for your 17th birthday!...)? What does it mean to know that you have a permanent financial safety net? And finally, what does it mean to have none of these things? Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I analyse one of the most important essays of the 20th century - Bertrand Russell's "In Praise of Idleness". Russell's essay speaks volumes about the way we privileged people (with time, freedom, money (relative) and choice) ought to reflect on the way we use our money, the way we consume, the way we use our idle/free time, and the way we think about labour. I analysed the essay through various lenses. I explored the ethics of consumption and automation, the role of education, Nietzsche's master/slave dichotomy and the necessity of idleness as a mode of connecting with our innermost authentic selves. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hey. Today I ruminated on the way we are when things get weird. What the hell does that mean? Ok. Well. It means that I have realised that we act in a particular way until things are on our doorstep. It also means that I have realised that we have a particular relationship with to our bodies/other bodies and this has been radically changed in recent times. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hello. Have you thought about your dating life recently? Do you have a dating life? Does coronavirus mean that we (single people) have to enter into a weird kind of celibacy? Today I sat down and thought about this kinda stuff. I also spoke about how we ought to think about Being indoors and what this will mean for the future of work. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hey. Today I had a long conversation with my friend Jeff. We spoke about what it's like coming from a family who from 'elsewhere' and the personal, social and economic implications this has. We spoke about our difficulty aligning ourselves with the 'Australian' national identity. We then moved onto some kinda philosophical/existential stuff - are we living in a simulation... can consciousness be uploaded to the cloud...classic softboi stuff. Finally, we discussed the economics of COVID-19 and whether or not it's going to bankrupt in every way conceivable. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Trigger Warning - this ep contains heavy mental-health themes Hey. I was very hesitant to release an episode like this (coz I'm also paranoid about my privacy??????) but here it is anyway. Today I talk about my experiences with depression, antidepressants, isolation, psychiatry, and establishing a strong support network. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks ///// If you are struggling, remember that there are services in place to support you. Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au, Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au, BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au
Hey. So, I sat down and tried to clarify some of the most fundamental questions about consciousness: What is consciousness? What are the requirements for something to be said to be conscious? Is our knowledge restricted to what we know of our own experience? How can we communicate our subjective experiences of consciousness to others? Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
In this episode, I had the honour of speaking with the world's foremost authority on cults, sects, and minority religions - Prof. Eileen Barker OBE FBA of LSE (London School of Economics). Eileen has been studying cults etc for 50 years (wow!!!!!!!!). We spoke about why people join 'cults' (and other related groups), what function they serve in society, whether there will always be cult-ish groups, and how they change over time. Eileen also debunked various conspiracy theories regarding brainwashing, indoctrination, and that kinda stuff. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
This is a rerun of a conversation my dear friend Liam and I had with Australian comedian, TV host, and activist Tom Ballard (March 2019). We spoke about the weird mix of trying to be conscious of your participation in a neoliberal model but also relying on it for support. We also spoke about the importance of taking risks and being transparent with your politics on the platforms you have access to (podcasts, writing, TV ect.) Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hey. Today I sat in front of the microphone with no guidance or plan. What materialised was an exploration of the purpose of this podcast, a criticism of Linkedin and all those slippery corporate-climbing characters, and then a rumination on the shortcomings of various nut milks. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hey. In this episode, I explore the relationship between productivity, capitalism, social media, and purpose. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hey. This podcast is also on YouTube with my face and all. Today I spoke about hedonism. I discussed what it means for something to constitute wellbeing, I explored the phenomenology of pleasure, and I made a conclusion about freedom being a core component of all hedonistic theories. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hey. This was originally recorded as a video, watch it on Youtube if you like. Anyway, Day 4 of self-isolation for me. I've been doing a lot of thinking about what the impact of Coronavirus has been so far. I asked and explored a few questions in this episode: What has Coronavirus meant for us as individuals? What has it meant for our sense of belonging? Why do we struggle so much to be apart from groups? Why is self-isolation so challenging? Do we need to change the way we engage with news? Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
I sat down with my dear friend and housemate Oliver and had a conversation on the eve of my departure from London. We reflected on fond memories as housemates and friends in London. We spoke about the importance of being playful and telling stories. We spoke about what this time of radical change means for our world. Also, Oliver is a professional storyteller, so naturally, I made him tell a story (or two). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
In this episode, which is actually ripped from a video I made for YouTube, I talk about French Philosopher Michel Foucault. Foucault is the Daddy of all things to do with power. I examine the relationship between power and knowledge (discourses). Then, I talk about 'expert discourses' - why do we trust medicine? Why do we (or don't we) have faith in legal/punitive systems? Finally, I look at Foucault's claims about 'surveillance' and I provide some frightening examples of how his claims were remarkably accurate and insightful. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I interviewed the most important person in my life - my Mum. She's in London at the moment so we took a break from the lonely and chilly clouds and had a chat. We spoke about her experience of migrating from Macedonia. We spoke about the experiences of racism and exclusion that she faced as a Macedonian in Melbourne. We also spoke about both our experiences with mental health, namely, anxiety and depression - two forces which appear to have heavy presences in both of our lives. Also, I just wanted to thank everyone for all their support thus far. Thank you. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I spoke with Dr. Maria Alvarez, Head of the Philosophy Department of King's College London. Maria's philosophy interrogates the question of agency: what are we, how are we shaped by the world, what does it mean to be shaped by the world etc. We spoke about what it means to be a thing that has decisions to make and has those decisions are influenced by the world around us. We also spoke about why people are racist, and why big tech companies need to be careful with our psychology. Anyway, thanks for listening. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Hi it's me. Today I spoke with Ed Fornieles and Omsk Social Club, two artists whose work principally focuses on Role Play (LARP) and embodied experiences. We spoke about the importance of experiencing things as a mechanism to understand oneself and the world around us. We also spoke about what it means to 'be', and how we can explore this question through role play and through the roles we play in everyday life. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Here is a re-run of an interview myself and my friend Liam did with Peter Singer, probably the most influential philosopher of the 21st century. We did the interview in late 2018. Topics include ethics, uh, ethics, and then how to make good fried potatoes. I'm not joking. Seriously, though, we spoke about AI, climate change, whether cars should be programmed to be utilitarians, and how to stay in a relationship for 50 years. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
I'm back for the second time in under a week. Can you believe it? I can't. So, to turn to the more important question, are you even real? Am I even real? Can I know that you experience things the way I do? Can I imagine what it's like for you to have a mind? These are the kinds of questions I speak about in this episode. It's really cool. It's a real challenge for philosophers (including myself (is it gross to refer to myself as a philosopher? probably...)). Also, I wrote an essay on it. Read it here. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I had an incredible conversation with Sanjay, a Reader in Artificial Intelligence at King's College London. We spoke about privacy, Surveillance Capitalism, I went on a rant about how I think Google (yeah! f*** you google!) are taking away my personhood, and Sanjay explained what kinds of things we will have to think about when making AI more and more sophisticated. For example, should we make AI look exactly like us? Should we treat AI the same way we treat other 'people'? Conversations like these are so important. They're not important because I'm in them, but they're important because our species is on the brink of a crisis that we've never had - the crisis of having to live with robots and that kind of stuff. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Australia is burning and so should the consciences of so many. Today I had a conversation (with myself) about how to talk to people who want to eat meat because it tastes good, people who don't care about future generations, people who don't believe they can make a difference etc. I also talk about hedonism. I ask how we should engage with people who don't believe in things which (at this stage) should be irrefutable (e.g. climate change, animals being sentient). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
2019 is nearly gone. Nearly. Good riddance, no? All drama aside, in this episode I talk about how I think about the past, present, and future. How are we to think about 2020 in a way that doesn't crush us? Is that even possible? I don't really know. I talk about what it's like being a self-destructive-over-ambitious-self-sabotaging perfectionist who regularly feels crushed by the past, disengaged (dégagé) in the present, and fearful of the future. Despite my cynicism and sarcasm and pessimism, thanks for your displays of energy and support. 2019 has been challenging for me but this podcast has helped very much. Thank you. And hey, one last time in 2019 - thanks for listening. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I had a conversation with my friend Mina. Mina was raised in the Yorkshire and now lives in London. Like me, Mina is mixed race - she is half Thai // half English. Unlike me, Mina works for an advertising company and thus no longer possess a soul. We spoke about what it's like selling your soul to an advertising company. We also spoke about what it's like growing up mixed race in a world that clings to desperately to whiteness and gets confused when things aren't white. Mina and I have both had many experiences of being racially profiled, being asked 'where we're from... no... where we're really from'. This is a sad conversation about how f** up the UK is going to be with the recent Tory (Conservative) victory, how f up it is when people assume we are fundamentally different to them because we have different skin or hair or eyes or a weird accent so you better f*** listen to this episode because it covers really important ground. Mina is awesome. Check her work out here. (Oh yeah, and the album artwork is by Mina! (and the hands are by me!)). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
This episode explores upsetting themes include mental health, trauma and suicide. One hour and fifteen minutes of me talking about my experience as someone who was diagnosed and has struggled with a Depressive Disorder a while ago. I am someone who has been challenged and crippled by serious episodes of depression for most of my adult-post-pubescent life. I don't want to feel ashamed for feeling the way I do. I don't want to have to hide it from people (but hey, I don't want to throw it at people either). I want to feel comfortable talking about it when I need to. That's why I made this episode. I want discussion and dialogue and discourse on the topic of mental health to be normalised. I want more conversation about Mental Health. I don't want any more stigmatisation. This episode was hard to record. It was hard to edit. It brought back unwanted thoughts and feelings. I'm sure it'll be challenging to listen to. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks /// If you are having a hard time yourself or know someone who is, these organisations will listen and help: Australia: 1300 22 4636 - https://www.beyondblue.org.au / United Kingdom: 116 123 - https://www.samaritans.org
If you have ever felt like you aren't able to make a big lifestyle change because it isn't within your power, this podcast will do wonderful things for you. Today I spoke with a really cool guy. His name is Dr. Jonathan Gingerich. He has studied at pretty much every elite University ever (Harvard, UCLA, Georgetown etc). Now, you might be thinking: sure, those are some good Universities, but why should I listen to this podcast? Well, Jonathan wrote his PhD on spontaneity. Jonathan and I spoke about the reasons why spontaneity is so important. One claim that Jonathan makes is that moments of human brilliance (e.g. Music, Art, Whatever), seem to arise out of instances where an individual can be spontaneous. There is also a degree of peacefulness and stillness that I feel when I realise that I can, within the boundaries of the confines of my universe (social, legal and economic boundaries), do whatever I want whenever I want to. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
This is the most challenging and important episode that I've done so far. What is unique about this episode is the way it deals with conflict. Sometimes, among my friends, there is a tendency to 'cancel' people for crossing boundaries. The person who I interviewed, Ralph, crossed a very sensitive boundary in the interview; I was made to feel silenced on the topics of Colonialism and Race. However, instead of this becoming a point of tension between us, we explored its nuances with the help of a close friend of ours called Oliver (who was present for the interview). Together, in light of a resounding example of how NOT to talk about Colonialism and Race the three of us searched for the safest and most respectful avenue to discuss these heavy topics. This episode is structured to capture the journey from upset and discomfort to acknowledgement of wrongdoing and collective support. Here's how it's structured:
In the first part of the interview, you will hear the challenging and upsetting final few minutes of the original conversation with Ralph. Ralph is my housemate. He is also a close, supportive and honest friend of mine. The conversation took an uncomfortable turn and we ended up having a very uncomfortable and one-sided conversation about Colonialism. I was very upset and ended the interview early.
In the second part of the interview, you will hear a discussion of what went wrong, why I felt the way I did, and how 'Colonisers' and the 'Colonised' can have safe and respectful conversations about Colonialism and Race. Oliver, who also lives in the same house as Ralph and I, was present for the first interview and will contribute to the second part of the episode. He provided a unique perspective on how Ralph's behaviour may have been harmful, and helped me articulate how I want to be listened to on such delicate and poignant topics. Thank you for continuing to show interest in this podcast. This episode was extremely difficult for me to record and edit. Conversations like these can re-open inherited wounds. Conversations like these can also promote reconciliation, respect and harmony.
Please take care of those around you. Please listen to your friends. Please create space for those around you to speak. Protect the voices of the marginalised. Listen before you share.
Today, my heart beats for my family, my friends and those are who are willing to respectfully engage in dialogue about matters.
Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Here it is. Finally. Here is the long awaited, critically acclaimed, profoundly esteemed, highly regarded and tastefully requested first episode of the On Being mini-series. The On Being series aims to distil and investigate questions of what it means 'to be'. How cool is the art for the episode? Thanks @fkncoco! In this episode, I talk about the Philosophy of Being (duh...). I set out the parameters for a philosophical understanding of Being by looking at three central figures of Existentialist Philosophy (Sartre, Heidegger and Nietzsche). I elucidate the challenges posed by matters related to being - free-will, consciousness, artificial intelligence, the ethics of decision making and whether anything is intrinsically valuable. (I also have a discussion of why I chose these three old problematic white men as opposed to drawing on non-Western-white-male Philosophers). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I spoke with Pia (@piacattapan), an influencer and model from Melbourne who now lives in London. Pia shared her experience as someone who has significant influence over a large online audience, as someone who has a curated online identity, as someone whose appearance has been commodified to advance the interests of companies and as someone who has to regularly consider the "fine line" between financial stability and saying "no" to work that is unethical or immoral (such as modelling for Marlboro or Amazon or something like that). Pia also spoke about her relationship with insecurity and self-consciousness in light of her success in the modelling world and on instagram.
I want to thank Pia for her openness and honesty in exploring these very personal and challenging topics.
I also want to note that this episode covers mental health and body image related themes.
If you are having a hard time yourself or know someone who is, these organisations will listen and help:
Australia: 1300 22 4636 - https://www.beyondblue.org.au
United Kingdom: 116 123 - https://www.samaritans.org //
Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
This is a pretty funny episode. I made some important announcements and I also read out a funny short story that I wrote. The story is based on something that happened to me earlier this week. I suppose it's up to you to decide how much is fact and how much is fiction.
Back to those announcements:
- I made a website. Go and explore it - www.aleks.co
- You can now support the podcast. I rambled on about how and why you should support me in the episode. You can do so in two ways:
- Via PayPal
- Via Patreon
- You can find more info on the Contribute tab of www.aleks.co
As usual, please reach out to me. You can do so by messaging @alekslistens on Instagram or you can email contact@aleks.co
Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks
Today I had a chat with my dear friend Grant. Also, sorry it's been so long since I released an episode. I've been distracted for nearly three months now.
Anyway, Grant and I met under maybe the most miraculous circumstances ever (someone thought I was Grant for half a year). In the interview we spoke about really cool things. One of the coolest things we spoke about was love. But, we also spoke about things that weren't love. We spoke about what it's like growing up in a world where people (including us) struggle to translate thoughts about morality into good actions.
We also explored what drives us and Grant tried to explain to me how he understands occupying a position of privilege in terms of whether this gives rise to particular duties. You should listen to this episode if you're wondering how you can begin helping those around you (Grant is extremely insightful on this topic).
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks
For extra resources, visit www.aleks.co
Enjoying the podcast? Think about supporting it via Patreon or Paypal.
The boys from Good Morning came and spoke with me today. Stefan and Liam talk to me about their friendship, what works and what doesn't in terms of creating music, and their experience with performance anxiety and touring. We speak about what if feels like to present an honest and raw part of ourselves to the public. We speak about the internal confusion that follows when experiences with depression and anxiety are channeled through creative forms, or even just channeled through our personality, and are received by others as communicating something light and positive.
Stefan and Liam spoke very openly in what they told me was their longest interview as a band. Their honesty means very much to me.
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks
Where should we draw the line in terms of what we can say in public? Where should we draw the line in terms of what academics can research and teach? What can students and young people to do protect Freedom of Speech when it is challenged? In my fourth interview, I explore these questions with Professor Adrienne Stone of the Melbourne Law school. Adrienne is an expert on topics of Freedom of Speech, Academic Freedom and the relationship these topics have with the law and with the constitution (Adrienne is the editor of the Oxford Handbook on Freedom of Speech and holds many other incredible positions).
I ask Adrienne who should be able to speak at Universities and what they should be able to speak about, which role Universities should play in society, and, of course, I ask about Assange and Freedom of Press.
I also ask about the ethics of deplatforming and how to understand and navigate competing views.
For more about Adrienne, click here
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks
Steph is my housemate. I wanted to interview someone who I had shared experiences and spaces with, who could empathise with my experience as the child of an Arab father, and who knew how to navigate the interview format so as to elicit insights from me that I may not have felt comfortable exploring with someone else. For a bit of background on Steph, she studied psychology and anthropology, currently works in a bookshop, makes really good soup, and draws things that put Alex Grey to shame.
We speak about all kinds of things from the experience of growing up with Arabic parents, to living in an 'exotic' body, to the ethics of having kids, to the wearing of a 'mask' when socialising. We analysed a lot and covered a lot of ground. It is a raw, open, honest and heartfelt conversation.
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks
L. A. Paul is a Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science from Yale University. Laurie (or, 'L') and I talk about her recent work on the 'Transformative Experience'. The Transformative Experience interrogates the question of whether we can make 'informed decisions' about things that we have not yet experienced. (For example, can I know that I want to visit city A if I have not yet visited city A? Can I know that I want to eat food B if I have never eaten food B?).
We then examine the roles of meditation and of her studies of philosophy in her life. We also consider the role that the Transformative Experience can play in convincing and communicating, and we discuss whether or not Philosophy is worthwhile (intellectually, financially, spiritually, emotionally, and so on).
You can learn more about Laurie on her website.
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks
Madison is an activist, poet, producer and writer from Melbourne. She has been published in places like VICE, The Guardian and SBS.
Madison and I spoke about our experiences in Melbourne as people of colour, as people raised by migrant parents, as people who sometimes felt as though they existed on the outside. We spoke about cancel culture and social media and their shortcomings. We also spoke about how mental health fits into all of this. Naturally, we ended by having a laugh about online dating.
You can find Madison's work here:
VICE, The Guardian, SBS, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram.
This is a raw and honest conversation. We touched on delicate and upsetting themes of racism, mental health and suicide.
If you are concerned about your own health or someone else's, or if you need someone to talk with, visit:
Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au
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Thanks for listening.
Love,
Aleks
So, what even is 'Aleks Listens'?
Aleks Listens will be an interview-based and semi-autobiographical podcast through which I hope to be able to answer questions that have bugged me for a long time. After having spent much time trying to answer these questions myself, I turn to experts and friends to help me find clarity. I will also see what's going on inside me every now and then.
The questions that I will ask are mostly about purpose, race, ethics and being, but I'm sure there will be other questions too.
I hope you enjoy the show.
Thanks for listening.