Moonwalk

First off—it's been a thousand years.

But I have a quick update—and if you liked Moonwalk, I think you'll (most likely) be into it.

If you already know what it is (or just listened): here's the free system.

And the update is: I talked to a guy named Andrew, because Andrew read a book.

But when he read that book, it addressed a long-standing concern in his life.

On this quick 2-minute update, we talk about it.

For the book (the notetaking system is free, and you can read it in under 3 minutes) go here: www.mohnish.net/book

Music by Kevin Macleod

The future of Moonwalk, and where I'm going next.

Join the email list, where I'll post new projects, updates, and book recommendations, all at mohnish.net/insider

The Facts

Special thanks to Kevin Sanji, Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan, Armi Legge, Justin Sheppard, and - last but not least - you. Thanks for listening.

"But he listened to it and he says, 'That's good shit, dad!'"

- Paul Rozin

There's a deep, subjective feeling inside us. And it's the feeling that you know what tastes good, you know what movies are terrible, and you know that your grandfather's esoteric opinions on classical operas are actually spot-on.

But in a world filled with varying subjective preferences (as well as people who enjoy eating pickles whole), there is an idea that won't die.

It's the idea that someone can have "good taste". The idea that your taste can be better than my taste.

On this episode, we investigate:

- Does that idea make sense?

- Is is possible to improve your taste systematically?

- What are the components of someone who has good taste, and someone who doesn't?

- And how subjective is taste in a world with clear preferences?

The Facts

Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. 

Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji.

Special thanks to Anna Leonard and Paul Rozin.

Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations.   

Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Kevin MacLeod

"Worst case scenario, the spy gets killed" - Benedetta Lerva

If you hire a spy, a lot can happen. They can get caught. They can get tortured with endless roundhouse kicks to the face. And worst case scenario: they can die. So if you had to risk someone’s life to spy for your country, would you do it? And, more importantly, what does this teach us about what it means to be a better person? An economist helps us figure it out.

The Facts

Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Vysali Soundararajan.

Special thanks to Benedetta Lerva. The research: East-West Germany espionage paper, Rotten Kid Theorem paper, and the “Pay Not to Go to the Gym” paper.

Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations.

Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Broke for Free.

“My parents thought they hit the jackpot with me” - Gordie Bufton

There’s a woman who buys a ticket. She gets in a plane, and passes all these little cultures of hills and cars and highways, and then - 2,000 miles later - realizes that the man whom she gave birth to and bought diapers in bulk for, is actually a complete shit show. On this episode, we talk about the shit show, and dive into a question that’s older than Nietzsche himself: can disadvantages be turned into advantages? Is that completely wrong? And if it’s true, why does the research give a different picture?

The Facts

Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm, Justin Sheppard, and Mary Moran.

Special thanks to Gordie Bufton, Lisa Moore, and Mark Seery.

To sign up for the newsletter (and for more on this episode), go to mohnish.net

Music is by Podington Bear.

I'm in a bar, and I tell Kevin a story about an African village. But the story I tell is the lovely, made-for-television version of what happened.

The real story is worse. Much worse. 

On this episode, we uncover the secret of sharp thinkers.

###

Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted and co-written by Kevin Sanji. Feedback by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm.

A special thanks to Christian Hempelmann. A quick note: No podcast next month. I’ll be traveling for 40 days, and we have some great material cued up. We’re off next month, but can’t wait to get back on the horse.

Special thanks to Christain Hempelmann - his paper.

Go to moonwalkpodcast.com and sign up for the email list. 

Music is by Podington Bear.

There's a hidden side to your first impression that you forgot.

It's the secret that you forget - routinely - everyday when you slip on your carefully chosen off-color khakis, you spritz on your favorite cologne, and you spill orange soda all over your face. 

Now, it's time to remember. 

###

Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Editing direction was by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm.

Music is by Podington Bear.

Special thanks to Eliza, Mario, and Sam! Eliza is a WNYC Producer over at The Takeaway and Freakonomics Radio. 

Go to moonwalkpodcast.com for more, and sign up for the email list for exclusive updates. They are awesome. 

"...And then the dread sets in - that immeasurable depression and blackness of your future that you have no bearing of what it's going to hold" - Devyn Tammons

After you do the song and dance, put on the goofy outfit, and grab your diploma cover - graduation's over.

But then the void hits. You have too much time. Boredom sets in. That excitement you had - it's gone. You start asking what the meaning of life is, and negotiate whether or not you can find it between the melted cheese of a ham sandwich.

You are losing your mind.

But, thankfully - as you spiral into a deep and deafening madness - there is something you can do. 

On this episode, we talk about that something, how to do it, and why it's so, so important. 

###

Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji.  Feedback is by Justine Brumm.

Music is by Podington Bear.

Special thanks to Devyn Tammons and Alec! 

New essays can be found at mohnish.net

For more episodes, go to moonwalkpodcast.com

"And they say the exact same thing. They say, 'there's no way this is real...this can't be real', even though we're here and we're living it" 

- Finn

If you talked to other people, they’d say they made friends with the wrong person. That they did something they shouldn’t have. That, if given the chance, they should take it back, retrace their steps, and stop what they did.

But they wouldn’t say that.

We sit down with them - and a psychological anthropologist - to figure out why, and what it says about the human mind. 

###

The Facts

Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. This episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm.

Music is by Podington Bear.

Special thanks to Jonce and Finn. Huge thanks to T.M. Luhrmann.

You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com

New essays can be found at mohnish.net

This isn't a episode of Moonwalk. If you're on the email list, you already got this update.

But if not - well then - here's the update:

- The first is a big change: we're now releasing one podcast a month, and I'm releasing one written piece a month. In total, that's two pieces of content, but instead of both of them being podcasts, one of them will be written.

- This gives us more time for better stories, better science, and better productions (content that can rival the best in the business)

- This is a good strategy to save my sanity. 

- Also, writing is awesome, and I'm excited to get back into it. 

Get psyched every other Tuesday night (or, for people who love sleep, Wednesday morning). And of course, thanks for listening. We're pumped. 

Find the essays and new content all at www.mohnish.net and www.moonwalkpodcast.com