Infinite Monkeys (Infinite Monkeys Podcast)

Today on the podcast, Tao, Tyler, and Gunnar discuss murder documentaries! After a quick catch-up after Tyler’s vacation, the monkeys chat the effects of watching murder documentaries. Why are Canadians and Americans so hooked on consuming murder-media? What are the ethics of making so much content that revolves around real people doing horrible things? Why don’t we hide the names and faces of serial killers? Is Netflix and the creators of murder-media glorifying serial killers?

Today on the podcast, Tao and Gunnar talk about the accessibility of education and whether or not teaching creativity is feasible. Does increasing access to education lead to a reduction in standards? If everyone can get into a university or college; how can they guarantee providing high quality education? What’s with the

huge class sizes? Can universities teach people how to be creative?

After tackling Tao’s initial curiosities, a pleasant conversation about creating things for other people ensues. Topics like personal bias, being pretentious, clarity, simplicity, and the need for repetition are discussed. Is what you do important? Probably not. But do it anyway.

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Today on the podcast, Tao and Gunnar chat about creativity. How do people stay creative and consistently produce new things? When experiencing times of creative block, how does one escape this mindset? How does sleep and diet play into creativity? What kind of pitfalls can someone fall into during the creative process? How do people deal with their own delusions? How do people make money by creating things for free? Why do people even bother to create? How can you better support the artists/creators that you enjoy? All of these questions are discussed, and more!

Today Tao, Tyler, and Gunnar chat faith and whether or not all people practice some form of faith. Is having faith a good thing? What is blind faith? Is faith helpful when our explanations for natural events faulter? Scientific explanations are usually portrayed as the truth, but is this helpful? Does religious study belong in schools? Are there things that would shake your faith in whatever system you adhere to?

Today on the podcast the monkeys chat about quitting things and whether or not it is appropriate to give up. Tyler discusses how successful people peddle the idea that you have to work extraordinarily hard, but is this way of thinking good? Do people need to work 80+ hours in a week in order to be successful? Should kids be forced to not quit in order to teach them wherewithal and/or responsibility? How does a person recognize when we should give up on a thing? What can we learn from quitting things?

Today the infinite monkeys chat about words and abstract concepts like happiness! Tao introduces George Orwell’s take on the use of abstract language and how it deceives not only the reader but also the author. Abstract language is used a lot in many professional realms but is this helpful? The conversation leads to the abstract concept of happiness which leads to a discussion on what happiness actually is.

Today on the podcast, the monkeys talk about grad school and give tips that they’ve found helpful. Tyler, Gunnar, and robo-Tao offer up some advice on how to not only survive but thrive in grad-school. Should you work outside of the typical 40-hour work week? How can a person differentiate themselves in grad school (or work in general)? Work ethic, work-life balances, and workplace innovation are discussed.

Today the monkeys chat about their feelings of mortality. Giving their own takes of how they view death, the monkeys discuss ways we might be able to cope with this fact. When and how should people engage with children about death? What happens when you experience death? Is mortality a cause of mid-life crises? Why don’t people talk about this more often and why does this often get dismissed? How do you guys cope with your fears of death? Let us know what you think about the topic or the podcast as a whole on twitter! @taogaede @tylerjwenzel @gunnarrhys

Today the monkeys chat about their feelings of mortality. Giving their own takes of how they view death, the monkeys discuss ways we might be able to cope with this fact. When and how should people engage with children about death? What happens when you experience death? Is mortality a cause of mid-life crises? Why don’t people talk about this more often and why does this often get dismissed? How do you guys cope with your fears of death? Let us know what you think about the topic or the podcast as a whole on twitter! @taogaede @tylerjwenzel @gunnarrhys

Today on the podcast Tao, Gunnar, and Tyler talk worldviews. After a chat on new years resolutions and music the monkeys chat about optimism and cynicism. We’re all well versed with the common trope “is the glass half empty or half full?” but what exactly is optimism and cynicism? What pitfalls do these viewpoints create for people’s lives? How well does this cover the spectrum of people that we encounter on a daily basis? The monkeys find that merely looking at these extremes doesn’t really reflect people that well (surprise). Where do nihilists fall in this? What about people where everything matters? The monkeys attempt to fit life perspectives into a box with this one.