Cosmic Tortoise: Recent Episodes
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(Mostly) Rational exploration of ideas, science, technology, philosophy, society; musical performances; the sensible and the nonsensical; everything between and beyond.
Patrick Fuller is associate Professor of Neurology at both Harvard Medical School and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is involved with numerous organisations including the Society for Neuroscience and the Sleep Research Society.
Patrick enlightened me on present and potential future technological hacks for different brain wave states and sleep; some of the major neurotransmitters and hormones involved in sleep/wake regulation; the circadian clock and how we are affected by temperature and blue light; what monophasic, biphasic and polyphasic sleep patterns are and how to create an ideal sleeping environment.
Stanley Krippner is a Professor of Psychology at Saybrook University.
I caught up with Stanley in Vienna in October. We sat down to talk about free will, the definition of different entities and their influence on humanity, the nature of life in the universe and how to find meaning in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Show notes and links here
Recorded in Vienna, Austria and Orange, Australia
Theme Song by Cosmic Tortoise
Robin Hanson has studied physics, philosophy, artificial intelligence, economics, and political science, and is the founder and curator of the blog Overcoming Bias, the theme of which is how to move our beliefs closer to reality.
Electric James joined us to talk rationality, biases, social institutions, transhumanism, prediction markets/economics, the blockchain, cryonics and human emulation.
Show notes and links here
Robin’s work:
Jonathan Heppner studied Psychology at the University of Groningen and is a student of Philosophy. Jonathan is a deep thinker and an excellent conversationalist.
This conversation was recorded in Vienna amongst a myriad of inspirational people and institutions of the past and present. There’s certainly a vibe in Vienna that seems to seep intellectual discourse, as we had already been chatting for around 3 hours before we hit record on this one.
Show notes and links here
Recorded in Vienna, Austria[...]
Waldemar Ingdahl is the founder of a Swedish transhumanist think-tank; a science writer with work published in the Wall Street Journal Europe, the Financial Times, Tech Central Station; has appeared on Swedish television and on TedX Stockholm and is the author of several books including Cities On The Edge.
I find transhumanism to be an ethos full of intrigue and wonder and on the topic Waldemar delivered intelligent, open and lucid conversation.
If you’re curious about the future this is an episode for you.
Show notes and links here
Waldemar’s work:
Humanity+
Mimi, Ammie and Maureen are chimpanzee experts and have all spent time in Africa studying wild chimpanzee populations. I was fortunate enough to discover that one of the main centres in the world for Primatology was right here in Leipzig, and so one hot summer’s day Michael and I sat down with the girls over beer and coffee and talked deep into the chimp world.
I highly recommend curious minds check out the citizen’s science project mentioned in this conversation - it’s called Chimp and See and it’s awesome.
Show notes and links
Pubudu Senannayake holds a PhD in physics, works as a statistical analyst at Stats New Zealand and volunteers for Generation Zero,a youth based climate change initiative.
Michael and I chat with Pubudu chat about the applications of quantum mechanics in technology and the present and future issues of climate change.
Show notes and links here
Recorded in Leipzig, Germany
Jonathan Balcombe is a scientist, author and speaker specialising in animal sentience and emotions.
Balcombe holds 3 degrees including a PhD in ethology. He has published over 50 scientific papers on animal behaviour and animal protection and is currently the Director of Animal Sentience with the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy, in Washington, DC.
Some topics we talk about include sentience, animal emotions and ethics, cephalopods and the evolution of consciousness and some surprising animal behavioural anecdotes.
Jonathan’s books really influenced the way I thought about animals and I highly recommend checking them out.
Alan Watts was a brilliant philosopher; a fantastic speaker full of lucidity and cheekiness.
He wrote a wonderful small book called “The Joyous Cosmology”. It is the best description of the psychedelic experience I have come across, and when I couldn’t find a decent audio version of his book I decided to make one myself.
I feel this book would be of interest to curious people on either side of the psychedelic fence.
Since this book appears to be on the public domain, I don’t see any harm sharing it. I’m sure Alan wouldn’t mind.
This episode features Stanley Krippner: Professor of Psychology at Saybrook University, a contemporary and friend of Alan Watts, Albert Hofmann and Timothy Leary, author, co-author and editor of a vast body of fascinating work.
Some topics of this conversation include shamanism, the power of suggestion/placebo, dreams, psychoactive plants, Alan Watts, Albert Hofmann and Jungian psychology.
It was truly a privilege to talk to Stanley and I’m sure those interested in his areas of expertise will find this conversation as enjoyable as I did.
Show notes and links
I feel very lucky to have befriended such interesting fellows as James and Michael.
It’s with these two that I have spent many an evening talking about anything and everything into the early hours.
Michael and James are both highly knowledegable and curious people; they always carry a wide range of topical discussion plucked from a bunch of disciplines.
This conversation was particularly enjoyable. Some topics we discuss include: Brain interfaces, dreams, philosophy, the multiverse, gods, abstinence, pheromones, conspiracy theorists, food ethics, movies, craigslist and non-human entities…
So…strap yourself in - thi [...]
Royce is a beekeeper and good friend of mine. We go really deep into bees, honey making and everything to do with beehives and chat a bit about fermented foods and goats.
I think this converstaion would be a useful introduction for anyone seriously thinking about getting involved in beekeeping.
Enjoying the bakers yeast Mead
Show notes and links here
Recorded in Christchurch, New Zealand
Emily C Browning is a New Zealand musician. We talk about music (mostly) and Emily performs some of her songs.
Connect with Emily:
Facebook
Instagram
Songs:
“Lover” @ 01:00 (original video
Mark Chirnside is a good friend of mine. We go deep into coffee, NZ politics/globalism, Mark’s new rock opera and music.
Marks links:
https://chirny.com/
https://echolypse.bandcamp.com
https://secondi.bandcamp.com
Recorded in Christchurch, New Zealand
Theme song by Cosmic Tortoise
Last year I made friends with a young Syrian refugee while visiting a city in the Netherlands. This is his story.
Lebanese song: Melhim Zain - Ghibi ya Chams
Recorded in Breda, Netherlands and Christchurch, New Zealand
Theme song by Cosmic Tortoise