Eco Punks

We discuss Tesla's historic recall and what it tells us about self-driving technology, autonomous cars, and responsibility. This episode features Jan Lemke, Greg Majster, Sherida Ryan, David Ryan, and Jesse Hirsh

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Jan Lemke and David Ryan initiate our ongoing series on the joy of aging and why we need to rethink our relationship with time.

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Jesse Hirsh and Jan Lemke discuss Elon Musk and his increasingly erratic and controversial behaviour. Is he sabotaging his business empire or shifting over to a political empire? Does he see the writing on the wall as the far right rises, or is he just an opportunist who sees profit in extremism?

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Sports, music, art, almost all of our contemporary culture depends upon sponsorship to sustain themselves and their operations. Yet at what cost? We explore the fluidity of trust and reputation in the larger industry of sponsorship and endorsements. Participants included Jesse Hirsh, Jan Lemke, and Chris Irwin.

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The governance conflict at OpenAI suggests that the internal disputes are more theological than ideological. Focused on the belief that AI may soon be sentient, and that it will be smarter and more powerful than humans. Legitimate science or pseudo spirituality? Eco Punks Jesse Hirsh, Jan Lemke, and Scott Suthren discuss and debate the potential divinity of OpenAI.

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Many industries are in crisis due to the increasing rudeness and incivility that many people are expressing towards front line staff. In this context, the labour shortage is not just a demographic issue, but more about workers being fed up and not taking it anymore. From healthcare, to retail, restaurants, and hotels, people are taking out their issues on workers and anyone else they can yell at. What’s up with that, and more importantly want can be done?

It’s not just rudeness, but a growing trend of public outbursts. People losing their shit for both legitimate and entirely made up reasons. Add to this a near ubiquity of smart phones and one person’s meltdown is fodder for clicks and lulz.

We can and should call this what it is, symptoms of a larger mental health crisis. However that only opens a larger conversation on what we ought to do in response. What supports should be in place, both for workers, but also people who are in need of help? Is the issue rudeness, or could we describe this as misguided civil disobedience? Is making a scene in public new, or is the recording and sharing of it what is new? Instead of each of us getting 15 seconds of fame, are we now promised 15 seconds of public rage?

Participants included: Jesse Hirsh, Jan Lemke, Jeanette Herrle, Chris Irwin, Jens Tathoff, Andrea Ostrowski, David Ryan, Michael Sansolo, Scott Suthren, and Gunnar Brune.

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Jesse Hirsh and Jan Lemke discuss the drama at OpenAI and what it means for the larger society vis a vis AI and Governance.

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Social media platforms are seemingly in flux as their role and influence in our society is changing. Whether the implosion and transformation of Twitter, or the ongoing rise of TikTok, the disruptors are now being disrupted. What does this mean for the larger attention ecosystems? What about the power of digital platforms?

Similarly, many of us Eco Punks are wrapping our heads and chatbots around LinkedIn, and how to best leverage a platform that many of us passively or actively ignored for well over a decade. It raises the question, what are the best practices for specific platforms, or conversely, are these platforms as much about timing as tactics and strategy? As Jens likes to point out, where does narrative and branding come in, especially when stretched across several stages?

Participants included: Jesse Hirsh, Jan Lemke, Jens Tathoff, Murley Herrle-Fanning, David Ryan, Sherida Ryan, Andrea Ostrowski, Silke Nunn, Christian Hedel, Lynn Chow, Rob Harvie, and Greg Majster

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Salon: Getting in Touch

Have you ever wondered why we promise each other to stay in touch or get in touch, why we talk about being in touch with something or someone, and never ever say “I’ll stay in sight.”, “I really need to get in taste with myself.”, “Thanks for getting in smell.” or “I’ll get in sound with my mother tomorrow?”

As with everything when it comes to language, there must be a reason for why it is touch that we keep referring to. What happens, what is the sensation and the magic that goes beyond the purely sensory experience and lead us to give touch that role in our vocabulary? Why is it that research has shown that basketball teams whose players touch each other prior to taking a free throw have higher scoring percentages than teams who don’t? Can’t touch this. I’m really touched - what is the magic of touch, and how can we all experience more of it if it is really that important?

Participants included: Jesse Hirsh, Jan Lemke, Sherida Ryan, David Ryan, Jeanette Herrle, Murley Herrle-Fanning, Scott Suthren, Andrea Ostrowski, Dean Bentley-Falke, Christian Hedel, Priscilla Gravenhorst, Vasiliki Bednar, and Oksana Hosvha.

The body and mind are one! At least that’s what science is increasingly saying. Forget about Cartesian duality, both the body and mind are far more complicated than previously believed, and their distinction is arguably arbitrary.

What are the implications of us embracing the idea that the body and mind are inseparable? Does this mean that mental health and physical health are connected? Are emotions and reason two sides of the same process? Is muscle memory deeper and smarter than previously perceived? Is Western civilization as we know it doomed?

Participants included: Jesse Hirsh, Jan Lemke, Sherida Ryan, David Ryan, Jeanette Herrle, Murley Herrle-Fanning, Scott Suthren, Andrea Ostrowski, Dean Bentley-Falke, Christian Hedel, Priscilla Gravenhorst, Vasiliki Bednar, and Oksana Hosvha.

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