In this episode, host Mike Donahue engages with the esteemed Professor Richard Abel, Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA, exploring his impressive academic journey and profound contributions to law and social science.

Abel recounts his initial intention to be a civil rights lawyer, his impactful work in Mississippi, and his academic pursuit at Harvard, Columbia Law School, and the University of London. He discusses his significant role in developing the field of law and social science, his critical research on professional responsibility within the legal profession, and his shift in focus towards social issues in the U.S. and the UK due to familial responsibilities.

Abel also delves into his inspiring research on the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, sharing personal anecdotes about Nelson Mandela and the role of law in social change. The conversation transitions to Abel's concern over the U.S. response to 9/11, the war on terror, and the subsequent legal and moral ramifications under the Bush and Trump administrations.

Abel highlights the erosion of democratic institutions, the polarization within the judiciary, and the pressing need for electoral reform in the U.S. to protect democracy. Despite concluding on concerns for democracy's future and the challenges ahead, Abel shares his passion for music as a source of transcendence and peace, reflecting on the therapeutic role it played for him, especially during difficult times such as 9/11.

00:00 Welcome to Tilting at Windmills: Introducing Professor Richard Abel

00:34 A Distinguished Career: From Civil Rights to UCLA

01:31 Journey Through Law: Civil Rights, London, and Beyond

02:27 Exploring Law and Social Science: A Shift in Focus

04:59 The South African Adventure: Law Against Apartheid

11:50 From South Africa to the War on Terror: Legal Battles

24:26 The Trump Era: Autocracy and the Rule of Law

30:27 Exploring Resistance and Democracy in the Trump Era

31:12 The Decline of Book Reading and Political Polarization

32:55 The Impact of Social Media on Political Echo Chambers

33:28 The Role of Presidential Debates in Political Discourse

35:17 The Decline of Journalism and Its Long-term Effects

36:42 Judiciary's Role and Political Bias in Court Decisions

42:40 The Importance of the Rule of Law and Democratic Institutions

46:13 The Potential Threats to American Democracy and Optimism for the Future

48:30 Improving Democracy: Election Laws and Political Polarization

49:53 The Role of Media and Public Perception in Political Issues

58:50 Personal Reflections and Recommendations

01:02:12 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

In this episode titled 'Exploring the Psychology of Political Beliefs', Mike Donoghue hosts Keegan Tatum, a creator specializing in political psychology, for an in-depth conversation on diverse topics. They begin by discussing Keegan's channel, Alien Perspective, which aims to understand and critique conservative ideologies from a political psychology perspective. Keegan shares insights on his educational background, his fascination with political psychology, and his critical stance on conservative politics, emphasizing a desire to maximize human well-being and freedom.

The conversation delves into the complexities of convincing individuals with differing political views through empathy and compassion, drawing on examples from history and current politics to illustrate the psychological differences between conservatives and liberals. Keegan, openly autistic, reflects on how his condition influences his detached, analytical approach to politics.

The discussion also covers proposals for improving American democracy, the psychology behind transphobia and the impact of media on public perception of political and social issues. Keegan recommends Democracy Now! as a news source and shares his admiration for a Lo-Fi remix of the Evenstar song from Lord of the Rings as a form of relaxation.

00:00 Introduction to Alien Perspective: A Unique Take on Political Psychology

01:05 Meet Keegan Tatum: A Political Psychology Expert

02:19 Exploring the Mindset of Conservatism vs. Liberalism

08:57 The Impact of Autism on Political Views

10:52 Debunking Myths: Healthcare, Capitalism, and Conservatism

14:12 Media Influence and Public Perception

16:43 Conservatism: A Psychological Analysis

31:20 Religion, Authoritarianism, and Political Ideologies

34:29 Bernie Sanders: A Personal Political Journey

36:07 The Political Landscape: Voting, Democracy, and Bernie Sanders

36:29 Addressing the Bernie Bro Trope and Electoral Participation

36:53 The Threat of Trump's Presidency and Authoritarianism

38:14 Improving American Democracy: Proportional Representation and Mandatory Voting

39:37 The Impact of Mandatory Voting and Political Engagement

40:31 The Role of Empathy and Open-mindedness in Politics

44:20 The Future of American Politics: Polarization and Progressivism

47:46 Addressing Climate Change and Global Empathy

51:38 The Evolution of Political Polarization and Authoritarianism

01:02:11 Understanding Transphobia and Gender Identity

01:08:44 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode of 'Tilting at Windmills,' host Mike Donahue interviews award-winning journalist and author Rebecca Claren about her latest book, 'The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance.' The book delves into the intertwined histories of Jews and Native Americans in the context of American colonialism and explores the complex legacy of escaping oppression only to become part of an oppressive system in America.

They discuss the ongoing harm to Native Americans, the responsibility of current generations to rectify past and present injustices, and the concept of being a 'good ancestor' by acknowledging and working to remedy the benefits derived from the harm done to Native peoples.

The conversation also addresses the challenges of grappling with America's colonial past, the need for a more truthful telling of American history, and suggests ways for individuals to contribute to repairing the harms caused.

Additionally, the episode explores cultural sensitivity, assimilation, and offers tangible steps for personal remediation towards Native nations.

00:00 Exploring the American Story of Oppression and Inheritance

01:07 Introducing 'The Cost of Freeland' with Rebecca Claren

01:33 The Interwoven Histories of Jews and Native Americans

05:57 The Ongoing Harm and the Quest for Reparation

14:42 Cultural Sensitivity, Empathy, and Learning from History

35:26 Personal Remediation and Steps Towards Healing

37:27 Drawing Parallels: From Native American Lands to Global Conflicts

40:28 Media Recommendations and Closing Thoughts

 Today on the show Mike is talking with Dr. Martha Rampton, professor at Pacific University about what feminism is and the many nuances that come with that topic. Mike and Dr. Rampton talk about the history of feminism and how it’s changed throughout time, and where she thinks it is heading. They talk about societal equity, what we can do about the wage gap, and the roles women have played in society.

 Dr. Rampton also discusses transgenderism and how it relates to feminism. She also touches on how it might feel to be treated poorly because you are transgender, and how we can all be a little more accepting towards the movement.

 TIMESTAMPS

 1:26 - Elevator Pitch on Feminism

3:05 - The Four Waves of Feminism

7:57 - Examples of Feminism Throughout History

9:31 - Examples of Matriarchal Societies Throughout History

10:58 Defining Equity

13:59 - Are We All the Same, and Should We Be Treated as Such?

17:07 - Equality of Results vs Equality of Opportunity

18:48 - Equity Being a Threat to Middle Aged White Men

22:16 - Thought Policing

25:20 - What is Hate Speech and What is a Difference in Opinion?

30:13 - How to Define Hate Speech

33:27 - What Should We Be Focusing on?

36:31 - Not Calling Someone By Their Preferred Pronoun

38:40 - Thoughts on TERF

40:39 - Difference Between Sex and Gender

47:49 - Straight Privilege

52:52 - Explaining Privilege Without Being Offensive

56:37 - Gender Pay Wage Gap

1:05:32 - What to do About the Wage Gap

1:12:31 - The Tradition of Women in Society

1:17:41 - Allowing Transgender People to Compete in Sports

1:24:11 - Gender vs Sex in Relation to Sports

Today on the show Mike is talking with Nikola Danaylov, #1 Bestselling Author of Conversations with the Future, Keynote Speaker, Strategic Advisor, and popular blogger and podcast host about the possible future that we may face. Mike and Nikola discuss the tough questions that come with the stories we all tell ourselves and how that plays such a big role in everything we experience.

What makes a human, human? How do we differentiate consciousness from sentseience? Nikola postulates that we are all living in a life of illusion, that everything we experience is going through some sort of filter that never allows us to fully understand what the world’s reality is vs our individual reality. 

If you’re looking for a philosophical discussion about the future of humanity, look no further, Nikola has some of the best insights of anyone.

TIMESTAMPS

1:09 - What is the Singularity?

9:04 - Uploading Human Consciousness to Hardware

10:00 - If Computers Take Over Before We’re Able to Be Uploaded

15:00 - Definition of Sentience vs Consciousness

16:39 - What Makes a Human, Human?

19:48 - Is the Mind a Biological Computer?

27:56 - A Life of Illusion

30:48 - The Implications of the Next Revolution

33:20 - Disruptive Impact of Automation on the Workforce

43:00 - Governments Taxation of Artificial Intelligence

50:01 - The Impact Stories Have on Humans

58:06 - Effects on the United States Economy

1:00:55 - People Who Will Lose Their Job Because of Automation

1:04:38 - Your Reality vs the World’s Reality

1:11:31 - Using Your Taxes for UBI

1:15:56 - Philosophy Is Not For the Poor

1:17:39 - Replacing Happiness with Money

1:21:21 - Give a Man a Strong Enough “Why”, He’ll Endure Any “How”

1:29:42 - Experiencing Different Perspectives Behind Happiness

1:36:57 - The Tangible vs the Ethereal

1:39:23 - Will the Singularity Create Utopia or Dystopia

1:43:40 - Parting Thought About the Interaction Between Technology and Mankind

Today on the show Mike is talking with Ron Kasdorf, a professor at the College of the Canyons. Mike and Ron discuss what the term “facts” actually means, is there objectivity in the world or is it all just subjective storytelling? It is not possible for us to take in the meaning of the world around us without adding our own filter onto it.

Culture plays a huge role in how we interpret the world. We decide what words mean, we decide that math and science binds the rules of the world together, and each culture is going to do that slightly differently.

Ron and Mike also discuss the education system and how school systems need to teach more critical thinking, so children can start to make up their own minds about what’s happening around them. Also, they discuss why Ron thinks that the government shouldn’t be involved in our education system.

Taking in the world around you is inherently subjective, we all agree on a set of rules that we call facts, that is the argument of Ron Kasdorf, do you agree?

Today on the show Mike is talking with Callie Wright, host and producer of Queersplaining, a podcast telling the stories of trans and queer people that don’t get a chance to share their stories. Mike and Callie discuss why our society has such an obsession with the “boxes” that need to be checked, the idea of having trans gender athletes compete on all levels, when someone should think about getting a reassignment surgery, and much more!

Listen in for tips on how to better handle the awkward conversations you might have with trans gender people, and how to avoid any discomfort felt by either party. For a masterclass in the trans, and queer community, be sure to tune in to today’s episode

Video Game Addiction

This is the slimmed down version – if you want to hear the full discussion, it is here: MP3