Calvin Wayman was raised in a fundamentalist Mormon cult, with four mothers and 44 siblings. This world was everything he had known. At the age of 30, he left that world, and was effectively on his own, isolated from everything that had previously given his life meaning. We talk about that experience with a focus on the existential feelings of isolation and loneliness that accompanied it. Topics discussed include: how he began to question his world; factors he sees as present that made him someone willing to question things; Plato's allegory of the cave; The Matrix and our willingness to take the "red pill"; how his community and family reacted to his decision; the human desire for certainty; and more. The Khmer Rouge, Mr Clever and Me
In 1993, Chris Moon was captured by the Khmer Rouge. No westerner had ever survived. 
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the Show. To get ad-free episodes, and more, get a premium subscription. To learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

On the loneliness of leaving one's cult, with Calvin Wayman

This is a podcast about deciphering human behavior and understanding why people do the things they do. I, Zach Elwood, talk with people from a wide range of fields about how they make sense of human behavior and psychology. I've talked to jury consultants, interrogation professionals, behavior researchers, sports analysts, professional poker players, to name a few. There are more than 135 episodes, many of them excellent (although I may be biased). To learn more, go to PeopleWhoReadPeople.com.&nbsp;

Reviews:&nbsp;

"Consistent interesting and smart and humane and insightful."&nbsp; - Scott Stossel, National Editor of The Atlantic

"Intriguing topics weaved into a tapestry of insight into the human condition."&nbsp; - from an Apple Podcasts review

"Probably the best podcast I've come across... Very intelligent."&nbsp; - from an Apple Podcasts review

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

News

Politics

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

A talk with Brendan Bartholomew, who's a professional bus driver in San Francisco. We talk about the role understanding and predicting human behavior can play when driving a city bus. Topics discussed include: the importance of thinking ahead about potential pedestrian/traffic dangers; how bus drivers know who’s waiting for a bus and who’s not; thoughts on handling unruly and/or mentally ill passengers; how modern rideshare and scooter traffic have changed things for bus drivers. 

--------------The Khmer Rouge, Mr Clever and Me
In 1993, Chris Moon was captured by the Khmer Rouge. No westerner had ever survived. 
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the Show. To get ad-free episodes, and more, get a premium subscription. To learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

How a bus driver predicts the behavior of drivers and passengers, with Brendan Bartholomew

A talk with David Foster, who writes about polarization and media at knowthesystem.org and is the author of "Moderates of the World Unite!: Reworking the Political Media Complex." Topics discussed include: the optimal approach for reducing toxic political polarization (cultural change vs systemic changes); defining the word 'moderate' and examining some of the negative connotations it has; the difficulty of making changes in a polarized, high-animosity environment; why some conservatives dislike the idea of making systemic changes; the ideas in David's book for improving the media environment and political discourse.
------------------------------------------------------The Khmer Rouge, Mr Clever and Me
In 1993, Chris Moon was captured by the Khmer Rouge. No westerner had ever survived. 
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the Show. To get ad-free episodes, and more, get a premium subscription. To learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

To reduce polarization, is it optimal to work on systemic change or cultural change?, with David Foster

Elizaveta Friesem writes about media and about social power (i.e., the power people exert over other people).  I first interviewed her about media and polarization in 2021 about her book "Media Is Us." Topics we discuss here include: Michel Foucault’s ideas about power (often referenced in liberal academic world); the oppressed/oppressor framework (also often referenced); how simplistic views of social power can be divisive and result in a reduction in people's empathy; how the free will debate ties into these ideas; political polarization related to some of these ideas. The Khmer Rouge, Mr Clever and Me
In 1993, Chris Moon was captured by the Khmer Rouge. No westerner had ever survived. 
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the Show. To get ad-free episodes, and more, get a premium subscription. To learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

Do simplistic ideas of power (e.g., oppressed/oppressor framings) reduce empathy? with Elizaveta Friesem

A talk with Daniel Whiteson, a professor of physics and astronomy, about free will, with a focus on what the effects in one's life are when one doesn't believe in free will. Topics discussed: Our thoughts on why we think free will is unlikely to exist; psychological and emotional aspects of living without a belief in free will; the anxiety and even anger that some people can have about the idea that we lack free will; the idea that a lack of belief in free will can be part of a spiritual, positive way of experiencing the world; and more. The Khmer Rouge, Mr Clever and Me
In 1993, Chris Moon was captured by the Khmer Rouge. No westerner had ever survived. 
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the Show. To get ad-free episodes, and more, get a premium subscription. To learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

What's life like when you don't believe in free will?, with physicist Daniel Whiteson

A talk with journalist Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News (readtangle.com), which shares takes from across the political spectrum. I think Tangle is doing amazing work. I think the more Americans there are who read Tangle, the less toxically polarized we'll be. Topics we discuss include: aspects of Tangle News that make it depolarizing and anger-reducing; how Isaac conceives of the problem of political polarization; his work debunking "the election was stolen" narratives in 2020, and more.The Khmer Rouge, Mr Clever and Me
In 1993, Chris Moon was captured by the Khmer Rouge. No westerner had ever survived. 
Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the Show. To get ad-free episodes, and more, get a premium subscription. To learn more about the show, go to behavior-podcast.com. I'm on Twitter at @apokerplayer. See a summary of my work.

On the loneliness of leaving one's cult, with Calvin Wayman

Download our free app to listen on your phone