Intimate Discourse: Recent Episodes

Jason & Dimitri

Join Canadians Jason and Dimitri on their odyssey through the often murky cultural, social, and philosophical landscape of the western world. This podcast aims to apply a consistent and transparent logic in the ongoing search for truth, while seeking out those first principles in life which unite us all as humans. Through open and challenging dialogue between the hosts and their guests, Intimate Discourse strives to be a space for intellectual curiosity to flourish, while promoting engagement across the philosophical and political spectrum.

Comments welcome: id@intimatediscourse.com

Jason and Dimitri speak with author and educator Chris Soda on the subject of alien intelligence.

This episode was recorded on May 19, 2024 in Windsor, Canada.

In this solo episode, Jason explores the topic of Artificial Intelligence, including the dangerous trajectory that we're currently on as a society; the concept of Superintelligence, and the inherent dangers in this evolution. He discusses Generative AI, and how it is transforming both artistic creators and artistic consumers. He also asks where we're going with many of these endeavours, and questions whether we all actually want to go there in the first place.

This episode was recorded on February 2, 2024, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri discuss the benefits and perils of doing your own research, on everything from current events to medical issues. They stress the importance of examining this option, particularly as we enter into a new paradigm whereby trust in conventional institutions appears to be failing. Jason and Dimitri also discuss the risk vs reward of following the status quo; the dangers of placing one's trust in new, emerging monolithic Truth oracles; Sam Harris; and Braveheart.

This episode was recorded on February 4, 2024 in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri discuss the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza, and explore how Wokeism in the West has influenced reactions to the war.

This conversation was recorded on December 26, 2023, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, we postulate that the west is sinking into another Dark Age, and point to various markers leading us to this hypothesis. We discuss free speech, the hegemony of Big Tech, the adherence to tribalism, the reliance on institutional authority, the problems with putting ideology before reality, the hubris coming off the heels of society’s massive technological achievements, and ultimately the downside of democracy.

This episode was recorded on October 16th and October 23rd, 2022, in Toronto, Canada. We hope you enjoy the show!

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri explore the state of Canada's military with their special guest, Richard. They discuss problems facing recruitment; whether test standards are being lowered and, if so, why? The three men suggest improvements and strategies to attract higher quality recruits; and they also look at the overall place of Canada's military on the world stage today.

This episode was recorded on March 19, 2023, in Toronto, Canada.

Welcome to the second season of Intimate Discourse! Today, Jason and Dimitri examine the benefits of delayed gratification; the meretricious allure of convenience; the proliferation of deep fakes; the values and perils of doing your own research; the God Principle; questioning whether we need a new digital charter of rights; and the meaning of life. This conversation was recorded on March 19, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

This is the third episode in the series All Too Human, where Jason and Dimitri examine a number of distinctly human attributes. In this final episode of the 2022 season the lads do a deep dive on Pride. Throughout this series, the idea of Artificial General Intelligence will be touched upon and referenced, acting as both a contrast to the human emotions discussed, and as a general topic of great significance.

This conversation was recorded on September 11, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

This is the second in a series of episodes where Jason and Dimitri examine a number of distinctly human attributes. In this segment, they throw the spotlight on Ambition. Throughout this series, the idea of Artificial General Intelligence will be touched upon and referenced, acting as both a contrast to the human emotions discussed, and as a general topic of great significance.

This conversation was recorded on August 28, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

This is the first in a series of episodes where Jason and Dimitri examine a number of distinctly human attributes. They begin with the feeling of Remorse, and the act of the Apology. Throughout this series, the idea of Artificial General Intelligence will be touched upon and referenced, acting as both a contrast to the human emotions discussed, and as a general topic of great significance.

This conversation was recorded on August 14, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

Jason and Dimitri talk about the growing trend of western governments to leverage technology in order to influence public opinion and increase their hegemony over the average citizen. They also specifically detail a handful of new laws that act as testaments to this theory. This conversation was recorded on July 31, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri reflect on what can constitute a good and meaningful life. Their journey takes them from simple, family pleasures, to the amplified hedonism of fully immersive virtual reality. Personal destiny, ice showers, and precarious mountain precipices all feature in this slice of Intimate Discourse. This conversation was recorded on June 26, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri explore the exasperating dilemma of gun violence, and look for ways to balance the rights of gun owners with the concerns of a citizenry demanding action. They also examine a new Canadian law that seeks to further restrict gun ownership in Canada. This episode was recorded on June 12, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

Abortion rights and the overturning of Roe vs. Wade are discussed by Jason, Dimitri, and their very first guest, Marvin. This episode was recorded on May 15, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason & Dimitri tackle Virtue Signaling, and how its propagation across modern culture has influenced how we interact in society. This episode was recorded on May 1, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri discuss Bitcoin: What it is, how it works, and some of the socio-economic implications of this decentralized currency. This episode was recorded on April 17, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

Notes

Jason mistakenly referred to Asymmetric Encryption as Asynchronous Encryption.
Jason mentioned that the current Bitcoin block reward is 7.25, when it's actually 6.25. Apparently, Jason can't perform simple division.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri discuss the Canadian trucker convoy, and the influence it had on the country, and on the world. This episode was recorded on April 4, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri weigh in on the various issues surrounding the Covid-19 vaccines. They also step through their own Covid-19 timeline, and explain why they made the decisions they did.

The Scarlet Letter was recorded on March 20, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.

In this episode, Jason and Dimitri introduce themselves and explain why they decided to make a podcast.

Introducing the Band was recorded on March 13, 2022, in Toronto, Canada.