Embracing Uncertainty and Desire: A Reflection on Open-Mindedness

In episode 021 of the From78 podcast, Neil reflects on a personal anecdote about eating a bagel and connects it to his thoughts after reading a New Yorker article about Mahmud Mandani's 1964 bus trip across America. 

Neil then explores themes of open-mindedness, desire, and the subjective experience of time, questioning whether people today are still capable of embracing the unknown and unfamiliar without fear or defensiveness. Through these reflections, the host delves into the concept of desire within Lacanian psychoanalysis and challenges listeners to consider their own reactions to lack and absence.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote

01:52 Introducing the Main Topic

03:08 New Yorker Article Excerpt

05:41 Reflecting on the Past and Present

09:15 Exploring Human Nature and Desire

13:07 Concluding Thoughts