Nameless Light

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessie Yeung. Jessie teaches an undergraduate course called “Probabilities Everywhere,” which explores how probability shows up in everyday life—from elections and gambling to wartime decision-making and polling. Her work focuses on interdisciplinary research, statistics education, and social statistics, with a passion for making statistical thinking accessible and relevant.We talk about what polls actually measure, how to think clearly about uncertainty, and why understanding probability can transform how you see the world—from politics to poker.📖 Video Chapters0:00 – Intro0:28 – What Election Polls Actually Measure4:01 – Bias in Polling & Adjusting for It7:02 – Understanding Margin of Error & Confidence Intervals12:36 – How Sample Size Affects Accuracy14:46 – The “Magic Number” of 1,000 in Polls17:00 – Sample Size Calculations Explained20:03 – Why the House Always Wins: Casinos & the Law of Large Numbers23:00 – Lottery Economics: Expected Loss and Rare Profitable Cases25:30 – The Cash Windfall Lottery Hack by MIT Students30:18 – Sampling’s Hidden Superpower34:52 – Abraham Wald and the Bias in Wartime Data40:04 – Making Probability Relatable in Everyday Life41:39 – Why You Shouldn’t Trust Polls as Predictions42:48 – Rethinking Uncertainty: What Students Take Away43:34 – Lotteries, Casinos & the Myth of Getting Rich44:20 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

Political scientist Dr. Lucan Ahmad Way—Distinguished Professor of Democracy at the University of Toronto and co-author of “Competitive Authoritarianism” and “Revolution and Dictatorship”—joins me to unpack how democracies erode from the inside. Way’s work on hybrid regimes has shaped the way scholars think about democratic backsliding around the world.

Books mentioned:

“Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War” (2010)

“Pluralism by Default: Weak Autocrats and the Rise of Competitive Politics” (2015)

“Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism” (2022)

📖 Video Chapters

0:43 – Episode Intro – Introducing Dr. Lucan Way and His Two Landmark Books

1:46 – Intellectual Roots – Lucan Way’s Journey from California to Moscow

3:39 – Birth of “Competitive Authoritarianism” & The Deep-Dive Writing Process

5:53 – Can Political Science Be a Science?

6:24 – Competitive Authoritarianism Explained

7:42 – Democracies Backsliding: Hungary, India, Turkey & More

8:55 – Is the United States Already Competitive Authoritarian?

11:56 – The “Cost of Opposition” in a Tilted Playing Field

13:43 – Chilling Donors & Law-Firm Fears: Real-World Impacts

14:17 – Pushback: Can U.S. Institutions Still Halt Authoritarian Drift?

15:34 – Why a Second Trump Term Would Be Radically Different

17:15 – Second-Term Power: Loyalists & Scope for Abuse

17:42 – Ignoring Court Orders: A Brewing Constitutional Showdown

19:18 – Does Democracy Require More Than Two Parties?

20:50 – “Both Sides” Pushback: Cancel Culture vs State Retribution

22:24 – Lawfare & the Stormy Daniels Hush-Money Case

22:50 – Lawfare & the First “Mainstream” Targeting of Opposition

23:38 – False-Positive? Addressing the “You’re Seeing What You Want” Critique

24:58 – From Nixon to Now: Why Today’s University Crackdown Is Unprecedented

25:44 – The Authoritarian Blueprint: Purging the Civil Service

26:56 – Elon Musk vs. “Big Government”: Bureaucracy’s Role in Democracy

28:25 – Musk’s Loyalists Invade Federal Agencies

29:50 – Constitution Breached: Bureaucracy Under Siege

30:45 – Why Democracy Needs an Independent Civil Service

32:05 – Mass Firings & the “Startup Nation” Fallacy

33:30 – U.S. Wealth, Trump’s Unpopularity & Reasons for Hope

33:46 – Courts Ignored: An Openly Anti-Constitutional Administration

34:46 – Is the Crisis Transient? Optimism vs. “We’re Not Out of the Woods”

35:28 – Competitive Authoritarian Regimes Fluctuate: Historical Patterns

36:02 – What It Means for Canada: Defending Democracy & Fact-Based Media

37:18 – Film Pick: All the President’s Men (1976)

Enjoy the conversation, share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more deep dives.

This week, I sit down with Professor Karen von Kunes from the University of Toronto for a fascinating deep dive into the Czech and Slovak New Wave. We explore the surreal, the satirical, and the socially charged films that emerged during one of the most creatively explosive—and politically turbulent—moments in cinema history.

From Closely Watched Trains to Daisies, from Forman’s under-the-table realism to Kundera’s polyphonic prose, this conversation uncovers the strange magic that still lingers in these films decades later. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Czech cinema so quietly radical, this episode is for you.

Five films to watch from the Czech and Slovak New Wave:

1. The Audition / Competition (Miloš Forman, 1963) – mock talent‑show that launched the Wave
2. Loves of a Blonde (Forman, 1965) – bittersweet factory‑town romance
3. Daisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) – psychedelic prank that still feels avant‑garde
4. Closely Watched Trains (Jiří Menzel, 1966) – Oscar‑winning coming‑of‑age at a sleepy wartime station
5. The Firemen’s Ball (Forman, 1967) – small‑town raffle becomes a parable of socialist dysfunction

(Curious listeners can then graduate to The Joke (Jireš, 1969) and the 1996 Oscar‑winner Kolya.)

📖 Video Chapters:

0:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview

0:35 - 1960s Political Thaw in Czechoslovakia

2:00 - Prague Film Academy Sparks a Generation

4:40 - Slánský Trials & Cultural Opening

7:00 - Italian Neorealism Inspires Czech Filmmakers

12:00 - Defining the Czech New Wave Style

13:50 - “Daisies” vs “Closely Watched Trains” — One Movement?

14:36 - ‘Daisies’: Surrealist Rebellion Against 60s Consumerism

17:09 - Three Pillars of the Czech New Wave: Ordinary Lives, Humor & Sex

18:59 - Humor as a National Survival Strategy in Czech History

21:07 - Language, Subtitles & Why Jokes Get Lost in Translation

24:01 - Inside Closely Watched Trains: Sex, Satire & War’s Absurdity ​

29:05 - Underground Resistance in Closely Watched Trains

32:23 - What Defines a Czech New Wave Film?

33:55 - Miloš Forman’s Mock Audition (1963)

37:10 - Youth Culture, Motorcycles & Kinetic Camerawork

41:00 - Realism Rises After Socialist Fatigue

42:55 - Early Features: Black Peter and the Movement’s Peak ​

43:22 - Miloš Forman Goes Global: Black Peter & Early Awards

44:58 - Hallmarks of the Czech New Wave (Humor, Realism, Non‑Actors)

45:56 - The Firemen’s Ball — Subtle Satire & Political Easter Eggs

49:40 - “Everything Belongs to You”: Socialism, Theft & Daily Life

51:00 - Why Czech Audiences Flocked to These Films

55:56 - Beyond Realism: Films as a Wake‑Up Call for Social Change ​

57:44 - Cinema Sparks Youth Activism & the Road to Prague Spring

58:24 - A Midnight Encounter Inspires Loves of a Blonde

59:45 - Factory Girls, Small‑Town Dreams & Social Constraints

1:02:10 - Forman’s Signature POV: Under‑the‑Table Realism

1:04:55 - Heartbreak, Hope & Owning Your Future

1:06:08 - Milan Kundera’s Literary Imprint & The Joke ​

1:11:54 - Postcard Prank & Expulsion in Kundera’s The Joke

1:13:30 - Mining Flashbacks & the Last New Wave Picture

1:15:45 - Did the Movement Really Influence World Cinema?

1:17:30 - 1970s “Normalization”: Films Locked Away

1:20:25 - Forman’s Shadow and Today’s Czech Filmmakers

1:23:45 - Oscar‑Winning Kolya: Love Across Borders ​

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Manjeet Sarkar is an internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker featured in The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Print, and more. The first Indian comedian to perform at the United Nations, he was named the 'Next Big Thing' by Deadant Comedy Awards in 2024. Having completed six national tours in India, he is currently on a world tour.

Connect with Manjeet:

https://www.instagram.com/manjeet_not_sarkar

https://x.com/notsarkar

📖 Video Chapters

0:00 – Highlight Reel (Key Moments)
0:41 – Mike’s Introduction & Guest Overview
1:05 – Weather Talk & First Impressions of Canada
2:01 – Comparing Vancouver & Toronto
3:02 – Beginning the Caste System Discussion
5:00 – Historic Oppression of Dalits
6:00 – “Can’t You Just Move Away?”: Name & Identity Issues
8:04 – Power Structures & Media Representation
9:16 – Privilege & Upper-Caste Diaspora
10:18 – “Two Indias”: Rich vs. The Other 80%
11:50 – Social Media Stereotypes & Indian Street Scenes
13:50 – Extreme Contrast: Luxury Hotels Beside Slums
15:00 – Manjeet’s Invitation to Perform at the UN
18:50 – Earning Respect from Veteran Comedians
20:45 – The High Cost of Doing Comedy in India
21:35 – Overcoming Inferiority: Comedy as Empowerment

23:52 – Embracing Bold Confidence Over Feeling “Less Than”
25:45 – First Open Mic: 300km Road Trip & Bombing
28:00 – Advice for Aspiring Comics: Practice on Stage
30:00 – The 6-Year Journey to Finding Your “Voice”
32:40 – Drunken Revelation: Embracing True Stories Onstage
34:30 – Owning One’s Upbringing & Identity in Comedy
36:00 – Comedic Influences: Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr & Doug Stanhope
39:01 – Why Doug Stanhope Kept Manjeet in Comedy
41:30 – Toronto’s Diverse Yet Tricky Comedy Scene
43:40 – Pushing Through When Comedy Seems Unsustainable
45:50 – That Onstage “High” & Dopamine Rush
47:00 – Awkward Silences, Uncomfortable Truths
48:10 – Making Upper-Caste Audiences Squirm

50:18 – “Savarna Guilt” & Copying Western Wokeness
53:30 – Intersectionality vs. Real Activism
55:00 – Does Cancel Culture Exist in India?
58:40 – Twitter Fury Over a “Taboo” Joke
1:02:00 – Facing Attacks from Both Left & Right
1:04:00 – More Online Hate & “Pseudo-Feminism”
1:08:00 – Balancing Identity vs. Comedy Agenda
1:10:00 – Imagining a Post-Caste Future
1:12:20 – Favorite Indian Films (Satyajit Ray)
1:14:00 – Outro & Social Links

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ivan Kalmar, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, to explore the rise and spread of illiberal ideas in Europe and beyond.

Dr. Kalmar, whose work ranges from the study of Inuit language and computer mythology to the image of Muslims and Jews in Western culture, brings a wealth of insight from his latest book, White But Not Quite: Central Europe’s Illiberal Revolt. During the conversation, he discusses his personal experiences growing up in 1950s Czechoslovakia, the evolution of language and identity, and the ways in which capitalism, class alliances, and global trends in populism shape the political landscape today. The discussion also touches on topics such as the dynamics of post-communist Europe, the challenges of EU enlargement, and how cultural and economic factors intersect in debates about national identity and sovereignty.

📖 Video Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

0:36 – Growing Up in 1950s Czechoslovakia

3:08 – Language, Identity & Bilingual Upbringing

7:21 – Book Overview: Eastern European Illiberalism

10:10 – Global Illiberalism: West–East Dynamics & America's Shift

11:56 – Eastern European "ism": Unpacking Unique Prejudices

17:41 – Post–Cold War Divides: Exclusion from the Western Club

18:26 – Capitalism & Illiberalism: The Struggle for Capital

19:36 – Colonial Capitalism: Extraction of Labor & Resources

20:01 – Post‑1989 Capitalist Reconfiguration in Eastern Europe

20:29 – Voluntary Embrace & the Colonial Analogy

21:59 – EU Enlargement: Integration or New Dependency?

23:03 – Western Economic Dominance in Eastern Economies

24:29 – Core vs. Periphery: Geography of Capital and Illiberalism

26:00 – Domestic Core‑Periphery Dynamics: Urban Centers vs. Rural Backlash

28:20 – Perceptions & Projections: Illiberalism and Racial Stereotypes

29:01 – Provoking Illiberalism: Consequences of Western Policies

29:16 – Global South Comparisons: Extending Illiberal Trends

30:14 - Illiberalism in the Global South (Philippines, India, Indonesia)

32:23 - The Future of Illiberal Movements

33:04 - Lack of New Ideas from the Left

34:13 - Bernie Sanders and the Left’s Challenges

35:50 - Blind Spots in Western Political Science

36:07 - Class Analysis of Illiberalism

37:20 - The Alliance of the Very Rich and the Not-So-Poor

38:20 - Why Voters Support Illiberalism

39:05 - Elon Musk’s Endorsement of AfD in Germany

40:02 - Culture Wars: US vs. Central/Eastern Europe

40:40 - Comparing Poland to Germany vs. Russia

40:47 - Culture Wars in Central Europe

41:19 - "Gender Ideology" and Illiberal Rhetoric

42:16 - Nationalism: "Make America Great Again" vs. "Hungary First"

43:33 - The Ukraine War and Its Impact on Europe

44:05 - Ukraine’s Aspiration to Be Central European

45:20 - Risks of Exploitative Capitalism in Post-War Ukraine

46:27 - Could Ukraine Turn Illiberal After the War?

47:36 - EU Defense Autonomy and Illiberalism

48:25 - Why Illiberal Movements Support Russia

49:20 - Life Advice for Young People

Changing Geoeconomics in the Age of Trump: The Insider View from Japan. Hideki Makihara served as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives for sixteen years and occupied various senior government, parliamentary, and party roles, including most recently as Minister of Justice. In this episode, Mr. Makihara provides a first-hand perspective on key developments in Japanese policy, from the lasting influence of Abenomics to the next steps under the Ishiba administration, with a focus on economic security and emerging technologies. He also addresses how Japan is adapting to the increasing assertiveness of China, sharpening geoeconomic competition, and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.📖 Video Chapters:0:00 – Intro 1:00 – Welcoming the Guest & First Impressions of Canada 1:31 – Tariffs & “America First” Policies 2:45 – Abenomics: Successes & Deflation’s End 4:00 – Evolving Abenomics Under New Administrations 5:00 – Japan’s Return to Inflation 6:40 – The Impact of Rising Energy Costs 8:25 – Wage Growth vs. Price Increases 9:30 – Looking Ahead: Ensuring Real Economic Benefits 10:05 – Government Oversight & Price Pressures on SMEs 11:00 – Shifting from Savings to Investments 12:15 – The Nikkei Boom & Missed Opportunities 13:00 – Managing Relations with China & the US 14:20 – Japan’s Vision as a “Bridge of Peace” 15:05 – AI & Semiconductor Investments 17:00 – Addressing Population Decline & Aging 19:45 – Foreign Labor & Robotics 20:20 – Regional Revitalization Strategies 22:00 – Balancing Stimulus & National Debt 25:00 – Future Economic Priorities 26:30 – Life Advice & Japanese Anime Recommendations 27:30 – Outro

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nathan Wiebe from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Prof. Wiebe specializes in quantum simulation, machine learning, and quantum computing. We talk about the fundamentals of quantum computing, explore Microsoft’s new “Majorana” quantum chip, and discuss what the future holds for quantum machine learning, error correction, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just curious about the world of qubits, this conversation offers insights into the rapidly evolving quantum landscape.

Video Chapters:0:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview0:27 - Quantum vs. Classical Computing2:20 - Interference and Negative Probability Amplitudes5:12 - The Microsoft “Majorana” Quantum Chip14:15 - Topological Qubits vs. Google’s Surface Code19:22 - “Transistor of the Quantum Age?”: Reliability and Error Correction26:36 - Qubit Counts, Gate Overheads, and the Error-Correction Challenge30:17 - Quantum Machine Learning: Hype vs. Reality34:53 - AGI, Large Language Models, and Is Quantum Necessary?37:01 - Real-World Applications: Chemistry and Materials Science43:32 - Beyond Classical AI: Where Quantum Might Help45:16 - Life Advice for Aspiring Scientists52:00 - Final Thoughts and Outro

Thanks for listening, and enjoy the conversation!