When is Government Control Over Personal Health Decisions Justified? Also, Did Humans Share the Earth with Hobbits?
With the Supreme Court reportedly poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how the decades long effort which brought us here and consider what types of circumstances justify, and do not justify, the government dictating personal healthcare decisions (01:40). The guys also take a look at recent research which establishes that modern humans were...
Americans Seem to Love, and Hate, Both Market Economies and Democracy; Also, Toxic Productivity in the 21st Century
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider why the affinity many Americans profess for things like democracy and market economies often appears to be very conditional on the outcome being produced(01:34). The guys also discuss the idea of toxic productivity and how the feeling that one needs to be accessible and productive may be harmful for our health (36:31). Do...
Is the Push to End Amazon’s Government Contracts an Abuse of Power? Also, Action Still Beats Manifestation
Seeing Senator Bernie Sanders’ push to get the U.S. government to end its contracts with Amazon over the company’s labor practices, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the boundaries of the legitimate use of government power and whether labor and unions still have a place in society (01:34). The guys also compare Sanders’ push to Florida governor Ron Desantis’...
Streaming Between the Lines – Prohibition
“Prohibition”, the 2011 documentary miniseries, gives a pretty extensive look at America’s experiment with the prohibition of alcohol, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss what stood out most in this Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary as well as the lessons we can and should take away from America’s failed prohibition experiment.Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns and...
Florida’s Apparent Embrace of Big Government Principles; Also, Human Lifespan Explained
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how several recent of laws and regulations enacted by Florida’s state government reveal an unmistakable trend of seizing power from local authorities and requiring that everyone follow decrees coming from the state capitol (01:11). The guys also react to recent research which offers new insight into how the lifespan of mammals, including human...
Systematized Disinformation Exploits Our Human Nature; Also, Getting a Handle on Unhelpful Habits
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to a piece from Nobel laureate journalist and author Maria Ressa that breaks down how today’s media environment is in many ways biased against facts and explains how this can affect us all and threaten our societies (01:27). The guys also discuss several unhealthy habits that many people have and how we can...
How Record Gas Prices and Inflation Fit in our Larger Economic Picture; Also, Concerning Population Trends in the U.S.
Seeing both the recent jump in gas prices and also the inflation on lots of items that has been building for some time, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the economic conditions that are leading to these things and whether there is any end in sight (01:35). The guys also discuss what has been termed as the “collapse “...
Considering What the Metaverse Has to Offer; Also, Microplastics in Our Bloodstream
The metaverse is coming, and it appears it could transform our real and virtual lives, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at what is starting to happen in nascent platforms and consider what makes the metaverse both an exciting and risking commercial opportunity (01:24). The guys also discuss recent reports that microplastics have been found circulating...
Reacting to NATO Rediscovering its Purpose; Also, the Sleeping Trait That is a Gift and a Curse
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was put in place over 70 years ago in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how the alliance has responded to Russia’s recent aggression in Ukraine and how this aggression has illustrated its continued importance (01:29). The guys also react to...
The Glass Half Empty Approach is Dominating our Politics; Also, the Crypto Revolution will be Regulated
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which Americans of all political persuasions have drawn to more pessimistic political messaging and discuss how this affects our ability to deal with societal challenges (01:26). The guys also take a look at President Biden’s recent executive order on cryptocurrency and consider whether crypto may be going mainstream (28:13).Politics of...
Propaganda and its Incredible Effect on Perceptions of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine; Also, the Debate over Breakfast
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine involves not just kinetic action but also efforts to influence people’s perceptions of what is happening and why, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how powerful media persuasion and propaganda can be and discuss how the American system is designed to limit this (01:44). The guys also weigh in...
Culture Series: The Righteous Mind, a Book by Jonathan Haidt
As explained in its subtitle, Jonathan Haidt’s 2012 book “The Righteous Mind” considers “Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion,” and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at some of the key concepts presented in the book and discuss how they see some of them play out in our modern society. NOTE: This podcast contains...