Permeable Minds: Recent Episodes
Ethan Yun and Yvonne Betts
Each week Ethan and Yvonne bring a new topic to the table to discuss. There are no wrong answers, and all we ask is for you to keep an open mind!
Have you ever taken a personality test? Are you a Protagonist or Virtuoso? Does it shape how you act?
This week, Ethan and Yvonne discuss personality tests!
From their use in employability and recruitment to the social implications of the results, Yvonne and Ethan talk about their feelings towards these tests. They touch upon toxicity, the potential for recruitment benefits as well as discrimination, and the impact of being labelled. Yvonne brings her unique perspective as someone who uses them at work, while Ethan tries to convince people to take a philosophical health check.
Check out these websites:
16 Personalities
Why take a personality test?
The Top 8 Advantages of Using Personality Tests in the Hiring Process
Via Character
Philosophical Health Check
What does it mean to choreograph something lyrically? Can you disassociate the singer from the songwriter? Did you root for Will Young or Gareth Gates?
This week Ethan and Yvonne discuss all things MUSIC!
Ethan gives us a run down of the top 5 things that are most important to him when deciding what music and songs he likes to listen to while Yvonne declares her two true loves of music which couldn't be more polar opposite. We also discuss the different emotions that songs and music evoke for us both as well as how much we both love performing.
You're going to have to listen to the very end to find out what our chosen karaoke songs are and your hosts have never been so close to having a fall out... will they make up before the next episode? Tune in to find out!
Bonus PM Drinking Game: Every time Ethan and Yvonne mention a song or artist you have heard, DRINK!
Recommended Listening:
- Siren
- Led Zeppelin - Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
- Alcest
- Banks - Contaminated + Choreography
- Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time of My Life
- Brian McKnight - One Last Cry
- Brian Puspos Wet The Bed Choreography + Wedding Dance
- Bo Burnham - Can't Handle This
- Smokey Robinson
- Chris Brown - Forever
- Patrick Swayze - She's Like the Wind
- Maroon 5 - Memories
- Jessie J - Who You Are
- Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude
- The Jonas Brother
- DNCE - Cake by the Ocean
- JLS
- Rain
- Gareth Gates - Unchained Melody
- Grease Megamix
- Chinese Ballad Melody
- Chris Brown - Look At Me Now
Do you have any fears? What are the reasons behind your phobias? Are they physical or emotional?
This week Ethan and Yvonne delve into some of their biggest fears. From heights to loss to ageing (guess who?) to fears on a cosmic level, they discuss what makes them afraid and how they try to cope. They also explore the joys of being afraid as well as the differences between fear and anxiety.
Oh, and also Dirty Dancing and Patrick Swayze 😍 Have something to add to the debate?
You can reach out to us on social media @PermeableMinds or email us over at permablemindspodcast@gmail.com
Links:
Permeable Minds YouTube Channel
Fear and Anxiety
Fear vs Anxiety
HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu
Do you use home or virtual assistants? Do you feel validated by the amount of attention you receive on social media? Do you automatically pick up your phone when you're alone in public? Could you survive in a world with premillennial technology?
This week Ethan and Yvonne discuss how advances in technology have changed society for better or for worse. So many questions were thrown into the air this episode about the way we interact with others, the impact of social media, whether there any unnecessary technologies and the rapid progression of phone applications and their uses.
Yvonne also gives an insight from her own personal experience on how new technologies have helped manage her health condition and Ethan sparks a debate around the worries of gamification and being obsessed with always beating your personal bests, even when it comes to health-related goals and targets.
Have something to add to the debate? You can reach out to us on social media @PermeableMinds or email us over at permablemindspodcast@gmail.com
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mirror
Happy New Year to every as Permeable Minds is back for Season 2!
We kick off the new year and new season with an exploration into resolutions, goal setting and the balance between ambition and achievability.
Do health resolutions actually count? How successful are you at completing resolutions? What the hell is an accidental goal? Yvonne also opens up about her feelings towards each new year, while Ethan reveals his big plans for 2023.
Resources:
- SMART Goals
- Ethan's Video Channels on Bilibili and RED
Do traditions mean anything to you? Do you practice traditions for traditions sake? What type of traditions are there? And most importantly, when did you stop believing in Santa? Your hosts ask some hard hitting questions taking you into the festive period as we wrap up season one with a very Christmassy episode delving into the concept of traditions.
Firstly, we wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And secondly, a huge thank you to all of our friends, guests and listeners for your continued support, contributions and challenges that have helped us evolve as a podcast, as a duo and as individuals! We cannot wait to bring you fresh content for 2023 and look forward to continuing to have these open and candid discussions in the new year!
Will Ethan and Yvonne end up on the same side of the fence for once for the final episode of the year? You will need to TUNE IN to find out!
Resources:
https://www.ogilvyasia.com/topics/topics-features/four-reasons-why-traditions-matter/
Do you bleed red and white? Is football coming home? What a better time to host this episode then in the midst of the World Cup!
This week your hosts Ethan and Yvonne are reintroducing two previous panellists Tom and Jason who claim to be knowledgeable and highly opinionated on the subject of sport. We also introduce first time guest Arthie to the panel who reveals she is not an expert in the slightest but would like to challenge our hosts on a few scandalous views and tactics.
Do you support teams or players? Should we turn a blind eye to doping? How do we make sports more accessible for people to play? And should Ethan's 'grey area' goal have been allowed? We invite you all to tune into our final Listeners' Panel of 2022 as we navigate the world of sport and the controversies that come along with it.
Do either of our hosts or panellists deserve a yellow or a red card for this episode? As always, we cannot we to hear your reactions and thoughts!
Do you split the bill evenly with friends or count every single penny? How much are you willing to spend for destination weddings? And how do you feel about sharing your salary with others?
This week Ethan and Yvonne talk about all things money! We welcome you all to join us in discussing the many different areas that finance impacts our everyday lives. The pressing questions are whether Ethan is secretly balling it and should Yvonne be so generous with her living quarters?
Who knew there was so much to unpack? Can't wait for you all to give us your two cents on this episode!
Our favourite go-to money website: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Should sport's people be stripped of their wins and titles years later? Has technology improved the enjoyability of sports? Is sport a product to be consumed or a form of entertainment? What is your opinion on the 'Hand of God'?
Just some of the hard hitting questions that Ethan and Yvonne deliberate on this week's episode on all things sports. From darts to tennis, basketball to football - never have either of us thought about sports and it's intricacies in such depth before, including gender, doping and the influence of sports officials.
Even if sports isn't your forte, we want to hear your thoughts on the controversial anecdotes, tactics and opinions shared in this episode - you won't want to miss it!
Films and documentaries references:
Diego Maradona (2019) - I, Tonya (2017) - Rush (2013)
Related articles:
https://www.dw.com/en/darts-women-aiming-to-make-an-impact-in-mens-world/a-59687661
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cyclist-lance-armstrong-is-stripped-of-his-seven-tour-de-france-titles
Have you ever experienced choice paralysis? Do you tend to write down a pro and con list or draw a decision tree for yourself?
Are your decisions backed up by facts and research? Or do you tend to listen to what your body is telling you?
This week Ethan and Yvonne discuss further some of the methods they have used to help them make previous decisions. Your hosts also make some insightful observations about their current decision making processes which will hopefully help themselves and others make future choices.
Have you got any feedback about the conclusion of today's episode? Get in touch @permeableminds or email us at permeablemindspodcast@gmail.com
How do you make decisions? Do you like to share with friends or are you more of a lone wolf?
This week Ethan and Yvonne face some of the big decisions they have in their lives and discuss how they go about making them. They talk about heart vs head, influences that go into making a decision, and whether some decisions are made for them.
And if you have a decision you need made, feel free to let us know and we'll make it for you.
This week we introduce Tom and Richard to Permeable Minds and welcome back Ilaria for our third Listeners' Panel!
Tom, Richard and Ilaria have some comebacks in store for Ethan and Yvonne as we revisit the topic of food. Each panellist shares their thoughts on whether food and dishes are sacred while trying to correct our hosts wrongs to rights.
Whether it's our taste in cheese, wine*, pizza, meat or crisps you want agree with or have a moan about, there is truly something for everyone this episode.
As angry Ethan makes a resurgence and Yvonne shows her sassy side, we can't thank our guests enough for this opinionated episode!
*Please note: Yvonne meant SIGNATURE WINE rather than house wine. We can all relax now!
References: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPPvfzFVLIc
This week Ethan and Yvonne finally felt ready to broach the subject of grief.
In this episode we discuss the 5 stages of grief, the differences between grieving and mourning, the various causes of grief and speak very honestly and openly about our own thoughts and experiences.
Grief can appear in all shapes and sizes, people process it in different ways, and bounce back from it at different paces. We understand this is a sensitive subject, but we hope you feel comfortable letting us know how you cope with loss, let us know whether there is anything else we can add to this episode or feel comfort in knowing you are not alone in how you feel on this subject.
Reading and resources:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/experiences-of-grief/
https://psychcentral.com/health/mourning-vs-grief#what-is-grief
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-truisms-wellness/201702/the-ways-we-grieve
What do you consider as a healthy friendship? Are you best friends with your other half? Is it possible to truly be friends for a lifetime?
So many twists and turns this episode as Ethan and Yvonne analyse their own friendships and how they perceive themselves as friends. We also discuss whether length of time matters in friendships, how often you maintain contact and even delve into Aristotle's 3 types of friendships - utility, pleasure and virtue.
So many layers of friendship to unravel on this one, so looking forward to your thoughts, opinions and self-analysis.
Other podcasts referenced:
Reply All - The Contact List: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PovVU33B0pCS7BFGWmz52?si=yIWP9n1SRq-hpKVjK7hGaQ
Overthink - Friendship During Covid: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XednHb4ep25rBV32ffgyp?si=5UpavquESBqwYjbnPeQAZg
Do you believe fate led you to where you are now? Do you believe destiny will drive where you want to go? This week Ethan and Yvonne do a deep dive on their past decisions and their options going forwards - or are our futures already written in the stars? We discuss the concepts of free will and determinism, disclose whether we believe in soul mates, and try to answer the age old question of whether everything happens for a reason.
Looking forward to your commentary as always!
Resources:
Here’s a show for you… #241 — Final Thoughts on Free Will episode of Making Sense with Sam Harris
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zIKtXFs3k20U03AZ5CbtM?si=XVCIXhhXStCZl2-JU0UjIw
Are some emotions completely pointless? Is there a difference between feelings and emotions? What emotion do you feel the most? Do you have a favourite emotion?
This episode takes so many twists and turns, we really don't know how to feel anymore!
Join Ethan and Yvonne this week for an emotional rollarcoaster as we navigate the different emotions and feelings we are confronted with in our daily lives.
Completely agree or disagree with anything we've said? Please do GET IN TOUCH!
Reading and resources:
https://counseling.online.wfu.edu/blog/difference-feelings-emotions/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-pleasure-is-all-yours/202202/the-important-difference-between-emotions-and-feelings
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/feelings-vs-emotions-is-there-a-difference-between-them/
This week we introduce Linnie and Lucie to Permeable Minds as we host our second Listeners' Panel!
Don't be afraid to come and get entangled in the discussion as we navigate the different types of intelligence. Is it possible to be too emotionally intelligent? Did our education shape the way we perceive intelligence? Is there a gender bias towards one type of intelligence or the other? These are just some of the questions we discussed as well as witness live on the podcast minds being changed in real-time - an episode you won't want to miss!
Want to take part in the next Listeners' Panel? Get in touch at permeablemindspodcast@gmail.com or reach out on social media @permeableminds
Resources:
Daniel Goleman
Big Think - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Y7m9eNoB3NU
Emotional Intelligence - https://www.danielgoleman.info/
Why were certain subjects called 'soft' and did they deserve that label? Did you feel prepared to go into the working world after leaving education? And do you wish you learnt anything different at school?
This week Ethan and Yvonne are back for a second round of the education episode. Defences were raised, punches were thrown, but who came out on top when the final bell rang?
Were you pressured into thinking university was the only post-18 option? Do you think exams are a fair way of assessing students? And which subjects should be mandatory as part of the current curriculum?
YOU'VE GUESSED IT - this week Ethan and Yvonne attempt to navigate the UK education system. We tackle the age old question as to whether certain types of schools should be abolished once and for all, discuss how supported and/or influential our parents and teachers were when paving the way for our futures and debate whether going to university is the best option for everyone.
As always, you are welcome to contribute your two cents by emailing us at permeablemindspodcast@gmail.com or feel free to message us on social media @permeableminds
That's right, you guessed it - this week it's all about FOOD!
Ethan and Yvonne have never disagreed more as they question each other's food choices. We also hear from friends of the podcast on their cooking do's and don'ts as they help us navigate the culinary landscape.
Sit back with your spaghetti stir fry and frothy hot tea and enjoy!
This week Ethan and Yvonne introduce the first ever Listeners' Panel. We welcome Ellis and Ilaria to Permeable Minds who both had extra ideas to contribute to the discussion of whether you can you separate the art from the artist. We explore the act of boycotting on both large and small scales; discussed various artists and directors and how their actions have impacted our views and decisions, or not; and came to the conclusion that maybe this topic isn't as black and white as it seems.
Have some ideas of your own? Want to be part of a future Listeners' Panel? Feel free to email us over at permeablemindspodcast@gmail.com or get in touch through the socials @permeableminds
This week, Ethan and Yvonne discuss whether or not they believe they owe their parents.
Things get deep and personal as they talk about parental expectations, feelings of guilt, and whether or not parenting should be gatekept.
Recommended Reading/Watching/Listening:
- The Philosophy of Filial Obligation
- Special Goods Theory
- Argument of Reciprocity
- CrashCourse - Family Obligations
- Overthink - Anti-Natalism
This week Ethan and Yvonne question each other's intelligence.
Join them in this week's episode as they navigate the classic IQ vs. EQ debate. You're all in for quite the ride as Ethan and Yvonne discuss how much they value each type of intelligence in other people and reveal where on the intelligence spectrum they think they both sit.
Reading List:
The Measurement of Emotional Intelligence
IQ vs EQ: Measuring Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
EQ vs. IQ Which is Most Important in the Success or Failure of a Student?
Comedy can be an intensely personal thing, so should there be limits to how far it can be pushed?
Ethan and Yvonne discuss there comedy preferences, whether there are topics that should never be joked about, and how to deal with skeletons in the closet.
Referenced podcast:
Absolutely Mental Season 2 Episode 1
And we're back with part 2!
We talk celebs as role models, why sportspeople may be different from other types of artists, and work through our thoughts in real time.
Yvonne also mistakes a musician for an athlete and Ethan is left speechless by a tough question.
On this week's episode, we discuss some TV show suggestions from listeners as well as poll results from the last episode.
We then get into the thick of it with Kanye West's documentary "jeen-yuhs" and whether or not we can separate the artist from the art they create.
A lot of curve ball questions were thrown and hopefully you listeners can enlighten us.
In this episode, Ethan and Yvonne discuss the pros and cons of streaming, the practice of bingeing content, and how it affects people socially.
They debate over whether the "shuffle" button is a good thing and Ethan is forced to make a promise he may live to regret.
Are special days all they're cracked up to be? Ethan and Yvonne discuss different days, why they enjoy some, and why others are completely meaningless.
They talk Christmas, New Year's, and regional holidays, including Chinese New Year, as well as different types of anniversaries, both happy and sad.
Is strict hierarchy a massive red flag in the workplace? How do you handle friendships with colleagues or your boss?
In this episode, Ethan and Yvonne discuss their thoughts on hierarchy at work as well as their experiences with juggling relationships in the workplace
Welcome to Permeable Minds. Join Ethan and Yvonne as they discuss topics from different points of view and try their best to keep an open mind. Even when it seems impossible.
Expect laughs, arguments, crying, and just a jolly good time.
Follow Permeable Minds on social:
Instagram: @PermeableMinds
Facebook: @PermeableMinds
Twitter: @PermeableMinds
Email Us: permeablemindspodcast@gmail.com