Beat Your Genes Podcast

245: Maximizing freedom, Are pets supernormal family stimuli?


Listen Later

In the last live episode of 2020, Dr. Howk and Dr. Lisle discuss: 1. I am in my mid forties and for almost my whole life I have been a strong advocate of much stricter controls of driving, smoking and drinking. Literally my only disclaimer is that I understand controls may lead the behaviour to go underground and so you'd have to allow for that. Otherwise: Bring on the controls of these dangerous activities! I personally do not own a car, do not smoke and do not drink by the way. Others seem not to feel the same and often strongly say the deaths are an acceptable cost to the ongoing enjoyment of smoking, drinking and relatively unsafe driving. How fantastic that everyone's cost-benefit-analysis has suddenly shifted so far to now accept infringements on personal behaviour to prevent covid deaths? I say "welcome to the saving lives party; I have been here enjoying it for many years and I welcome you. Perhaps now you are ready to save a few more million lives with some relatively minor additional infringements of personal liberty? Perhaps we could look at driving, smoking and drinking?" Muttered replies ensue. "Oh wait," I say, "covid is special? I've looked at the statistics and yes maybe it is. It seems to be by far the least dangerous of the four and yet we're doing much more about it. Wierd." 2. BYG listeners are sophisticated enough to recognize that and video games represent "supernormal stimuli" that can be problematic because they ultimately get in the way of achieving meaningful goals. But if we are really honest with ourselves, wouldn't we admit that dogs and cats are really just another form of this counterproductive "supernormal stimuli" - meaning that they tickle the reward pathways meant to incentivize family formation but could possible inhibit us from doing the work to form meaningful bonds/offspring with potential mates.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Beat Your Genes PodcastBy BeatYourGenes

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

431 ratings


More shows like Beat Your Genes Podcast

View all
The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance by Dave Asprey

The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance

7,211 Listeners

The Rich Roll Podcast by Rich Roll

The Rich Roll Podcast

11,893 Listeners

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein by Be Here Now Network

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

962 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,739 Listeners

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

2,533 Listeners

Nutrition Facts with Dr. Greger by Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM

Nutrition Facts with Dr. Greger

3,499 Listeners

NutritionFacts.org Video Podcast by Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM

NutritionFacts.org Video Podcast

879 Listeners

Heart Doc VIP with Dr. Joel Kahn by Dr. Joel Kahn

Heart Doc VIP with Dr. Joel Kahn

495 Listeners

The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee by Physicians Committee

The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

3,419 Listeners

The Proof with Simon Hill by Live better for longer

The Proof with Simon Hill

2,635 Listeners

The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

The Peter Attia Drive

8,010 Listeners

PLANTSTRONG Podcast by Rip Esselstyn

PLANTSTRONG Podcast

2,322 Listeners

Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

1,340 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,274 Listeners

The Dan Buettner Podcast by Dan Buettner

The Dan Buettner Podcast

71 Listeners