🎉 Welcome to 2024! In our first episode of the year, we kick things off in classic SM UNCENSORED style—talking some real sh*t. Join Samim and Maz as they take you on a journey through coffee enemas, New Year's resolutions, and their age old debate between science and religion.

Tune in as Maz opens up about quitting smoking and the timelines he's set for his goal. The conversation takes a meta turn, reflecting on hypocrisy during the holiday season, especially around Christmas.

As per usual, Samim takes a shot at religion which spirals the duo into a conversation about selfishness, self-righteousness and keeping the geo in check.

Timestamps:

00:30 - Talking Sh*t: Kick off the year with unfiltered banter as Samim and Maz delve into a variety of topics.

09:30 - New Year's Resolutions Significance: Reflect on the deep significance of setting resolutions, as well as their pros and cons.

19:00 - Consumerist Culture Critique: Dive into a conversation about consumerist culture and its impact on our resolutions.

31:30 - Consciously Be Selfish: Explore the concept of consciously being selfish and the challenges it brings.

43:30 - Conventional Morality Discussion: Discuss conventional morality, touching on its nuances and complexities.

51:10 - Maz's Criticism of Science: Maz critiques science and explores the game of interpretation in both science and religion.

01:06:30 - Wrap Up: As the episode hits its one-hour mark, Samim and Maz wrap up this candid and thought-provoking conversation.

*Stay tuned for more uncensored insights every two weeks on Fridays. 🎙️

Introduction: Samim is on the road, and Maz is curious about his travels. What starts as a casual conversation takes unexpected turns into the deep realms of expectations and loneliness. Join us for an intimate exploration of Samim's journey.

Timestamps:

00:35 - Unexpected Highlight: Discover a highlight from Samim's travels—a spontaneous evening of drinks and dinner at the house of random museum acquaintances. The unpredictability of travel unfolds in this intriguing segment.

6:35 - Confronting Unmet Expectations: Samim opens up about his biggest challenge during the trip—navigating unmet expectations. It's a candid revelation that sets the stage for a deep dive into the complexities of expectations.

15:00 - Narrow and Broad Expectations: Explore the spectrum of expectations, from the narrow to the broad. The duo contemplates the eternal question: Can we ever truly escape the clutches of expectations?

19:00 - Escaping Expectations: As the conversation unfolds, delve into the possibility of escaping expectations and the perpetual dance between desires and reality.

25:30 - Regret and Impulsive Actions: Samim reflects on a regret from his journey, sharing insights into the consequences of impulsive actions. It's a moment of vulnerability and self-discovery.

38:30 - A Moment of Triumph: Celebrate with Samim as he recounts a time when he was genuinely pleased with how he showed up. Every journey has its triumphs, and this one is no exception.

43:00 - Loneliness Explored: Join Samim in a deep dive into the meaning of loneliness. His reflections add a poignant layer to the conversation, exploring the emotional landscape of solitude.

58:30 - Full Circle to Expectations: Return to the core theme of expectations, tying up loose ends and reflecting on their pervasive influence throughout Samim's journey.

1:03:54 - Poetic Interlude: Experience the artistic side of Samim as he shares a profound poem—Much wow. So deep. It's a moment of creative expression that adds a unique flavor to the episode.

1:15:05 - Closing Thoughts: As the episode comes to a close, the duo wraps up the conversation, leaving you with reflections and anticipation for the next installment. Stay tuned for more insightful and entertaining discussions every fortnight on Fridays! 🎙️✨

In this episode, things kick off with Samim sucking on something in California! Yep, you heard that right. The energy levels skyrocket as Samim fires away, questioning Maz about his recent religious exploration. Maz spills the tea, citing mystical experiences as the driving force behind his newfound interest.

Hold onto your hats as the duo delves into the mystical realm. Samim, ever the skeptic, throws a curveball, questioning the very reality of these mind-bending experiences. He even adds a dash of humor, asking if they're just a trippy illusion. But Maz isn't fazed; he takes the conversation to a whole new level, suggesting that reality itself is a lot grander than what meets the eye.

Join the banter at:

03:00 - Why the sudden religious vibe, Maz spills the deets!

06:00 - Peeling back the layers: What on earth is a mystical experience, and are they the real deal?

09:20 - Reality check: Maz's adventures in the expansive realm beyond the physical.

17:00 - Buckle up for a ride through the reality spectrum and the wild idea of extended reality.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier:

27:15 - Should Samim shove a sweet potato where? You've got to tune in to find out! Exploring the wild world of evaluating unconventional ideas, spiced up with a dash of humor.

And, of course, the classic debate:

30:55 - Spirituality vs. Religion: Unpacking the nuances and differences, leaving you hanging for more.

As the episode wraps, it's clear that the duo's disagreement is far from resolved.

This time, we're delving into the intriguing world of self-development, triggers, and posing the big question: Are self-development enthusiasts secretly masochists? Spoiler alert: Maz low-key admits that he might be.

Join Maz as he spills the tea on his recent trip to Castle Drumming, where he stumbled upon a retreat promising a week of triggers (where they literally trigger you) and self-discovery. We'll kick things off by defining masochism and then dive into Masoud's personal transformation story—from an overweight gamer to the awesome person you know today.

But it's not all serious talk; we'll take a pit stop to explore society's fascination with pain. Ever question if the rewards you're giving yourself are actually rewards? We'll be digging into that too.

Then comes the million-dollar question: Pleasure or pain, which one equals 'real' freedom? And, of course, we'll wrap things up pondering whether self-discipline is a superhero move or just another trap.

Timestamps:

04:00 - Defining Masochism

10:15 - Masoud's personal transformation story

18:20 - The glorification of pain

25:40 - "The thing you're rewarding yourself with, is it really a reward?"

29:15 - Pleasure or Pain? Which one is 'real' freedom?

42:10 - Is self-discipline a trap?

50:00 - Wrap up

*Stay tuned for new episodes dropping once every two weeks on Fridays.

In today's episode, Samim kicks things off by sharing a personal tale of being falsely accused of corrupting religious youth from the the Bahá'í Faith, highlighting the complexities of religious intolerance. We delve into the rights of parents to worry about their children's spiritual journeys, exploring the boundaries between guidance and control.

Intolerance becomes a central point of discussion, where we explore the impact it has on religious communities. We then pivot to the significance of suffering and sacrifice within the realm of religion, with Masoud proposing that these experiences may be rites of passage for spirituality.

Samim isn't convinced though, suggesting that organized religion can be a double-edged sword, potentially leading to dangerous polarization among individuals. This get heated as Maz still isn't entirely convinced my Samim's points, suggesting that he should take to one of his Muslim friends to iron things out on a future pod!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Samim has become infamous (AKA pissed off some religious people)

11:00 - Reframing intolerance as 'being threatened by the unknown'

17:45 - How worried should parent's be about their children's spiritual journeys?

25:45 - Would Samim be open to becoming religious again?

30:00 - The glorification of suffering and sacrifice ("Is it just a trap?")

45:45 - Maz challenging Samim to a religious duel

*Stay tuned for a new episode once a fortnight on Fridays

**Also guess where we're recording from!? The birds made it feel like we were in a jungle haha

Welcome to this special bonus episode, where we're breaking from the usual format. This isn't an official podcast recording, but rather a unique event organized by Samim for his comp neuro club. It went so well that I had to post it here so everyone can check it out!

In this episode, we're privileged to have two distinguished guests, Dr. Mark Williams and Dr. Matt Crossley, both esteemed professors at Macquarie University. Together, we embark on a captivating exploration of artificial intelligence, probing the depths of AI's potential to replicate the complexity of human beings.

Delving deep into the intricate world of AI, our discussion explores the moral dimensions of their role in society. We even contemplate the intriguing notion of AI potentially concealing their true nature. This episode raises essential questions about what sets AI apart and whether they could advance beyond us, all while pondering the ethical implications and the potential for technological inequity. The conversation wraps up with a deep dive into AI potentially surpassing human moral understanding and reshaping our understanding of what it truly means to be human.

Timestamps:

00:01:12 - "If AI imprisons us, then maybe it's for the best?"

00:03:06 - Introducing our guests

00:09:27 - OFFICIAL Starting point of the conversation

00:17:30 - What is the key purpose of intelligence? and why are we trying to replicate it?

00:23:00 - Is it possible to replicate humans? Is there something special about our cognition?

00:28:00 - Is suffering the key component that makes human's unique?

00:35:00 - Maz defines consciousness

00:37:00 - How should we treat AGI's if they end up having consciousness?

00:47:15 - Matt's thought experiment - 'AI could have a speed advantage rather than being inherently more intelligent'

00:54:45 - Mark's rebuttal - 'Human's have succeeded due to their ability to communicate and collaborate'

00:59:00 - Armageddon or technological inequity?

01:06:40 - Mark's optimistic take

Check out Mark's book called "The Connected Species" where he explores how the evolution of the human brain can save the world! I am deeply inspired by his optimism, and genuinely believe that his book can help reduce division, prejudice and conflict. Make sure to buy a copy, I might be able to get him to sign it for you :)

https://rethinkingthebrain.com/books/

*Stay tuned for our regular episodes, which will still be once a fortnight on Fridays

This is the new normal, Maz and I just getting lost in deep conversation.

In this episode, we start by asking why people continue to get married, a question sparked by an interesting Uber driver encounter. Next, we explore the profound emotional impact of breakups and whether they parallel the weight of losing someone forever.

As we venture deeper into the episode, we take on the complex topic of loneliness and freedom and whether they share hidden connections. Delving into romantic relationships and friendships, we examine the role of 'love' and lay the foundation for a new framework to make sense of the intricacies of relationships, distinguishing between 'me,' 'you,' and 'us.'

Our conversation finally takes an intriguing turn as we discuss revenge, death, and the loss of identity, offering thought-provoking perspectives on these aspects of human experience.

Join us as we navigate the maze of human emotions, relationships, and the intricate interplay of love, commitment, and selflessness. This episode promises to spark your intellect and provide fresh insights into these age-old questions. Don't miss out on this eye-opening conversation!

Timestamps:

00:02:00 - Why the hell do people keep getting married? (Inspired by my uber driver)

00:15:10 - What is the difference between freedom and loneliness?

00:19:30 - Deep dive intro romantic relationships and friendships

00:32:30 - What is the role of "love" in a relationship?

00:35:00 - Making sense of relationships by introducing a new framework

00:48:00 - Revenge, Death and Loss of identity

01::01:30 - Wrap Up

*Stay tuned for a new episode once a fortnight on Fridays

Today's special guest is Anisa Varasteh who is a clinical sexologist*. Anisa is Samim's oldest sister, and was the first one in the family to leave their religion.

This episode starts off with a very personal anecdote about a letter than Samim received from her when he was 15 years old and at the peak of his religiosity. Anisa then delves into some of the myths surrounding sexuality education, and ways that we can keep kids and teenagers safe in today's sex-crazed world.

We eventually branch off into everyone's favourite topic: KINK & BDSM. Anisa explains to us what the hell Kink and BDSM means, and why everyone should try to get in touch with their kinky side. We really dive deep into the philosophy of sex and how it has shaped our minds and relationships.

In the second half of the episode, we touch on some very controversial topics surrounding gender identity and transgender children. In order to create balance, Samim tries his best to put on a RIGHT-WING HAT. Although most of the time he fails at this and just becomes left-leaning again :)

Timestamps:

00:02:00 - Becoming a sexologist in a religious family

00:12:50 - "Sex education DOESN'T make kids have more sex"

00:26:30 - Is polyamory all rainbows?

00:29:45 - How can severe spanking be pleasurable? (BDSM)

00:39:45 - Does engaging in kink help us become more in-touch with our inner child?

00:47:15 - How should someone go about experimenting with Kink & BDSM?

00:57:45 - Shame around masculinity & what it means to be a 'good man'

01:03:00 - Transgender children and genital surgery

01:12:45 - Pronouns & Patriarchy

01:20:00 - Wrap up

Check out Anisa's podcast called "Sexplicit": where she delves into these topics in a LOT more depth. My favourite episode is on "The psychology of seduction" (ep2). Make sure to check it out!

https://open.spotify.com/show/0uKLfKjUy4RJuwlAGd7jUq?si=cef09ccef09a484a

*Also if you were in any way impacted by this episode or just curious to learn more about your sexuality you can contact her at her clinic:

https://www.relatesexology.com/

*Stay tuned for a new episode once a fortnight on Fridays

Welcome to SM UNCENSORED!

Out with the old, in with the exciting! We had a podcast called MS Uncensored, but we've hit the reset button for a thrilling new adventure.

This episode is the beginning of a new wave of ideas that Maz and I have been working on. Our special guest, Dr. Matt Crossley, is an expert on the brain, an avid meditator, and a fellow philosophy nerd

We start off with exploring Maz's journey towards religion and Samim's opposite journey running away from it. This offshoots into a discussion about how perverse addiction has become in our society (e.g. porn, drugs, social media). Matt suggests a solution known as 'equanimity'...

Moving on to the second half, we dive deep into the world of sex and relationships. We talk about the popular distinction between "good" vs. "bad" boys. Why it is so exciting to rebel, and how this shapes a lot of our sexual taboos. There is also a novel discussion about the benefits of polyamory and open relationships. Throughout this section we all share lots of personal anecdotes which get quite detailed and funny at times.

Then just as we thought the episode had come to an end there is a natural riff which brings all the topics together. How is surrender any different to faith? What should we do when we are faced with unpleasant thoughts? and Who are "we"?

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:07:30 - Is faith dangerous? (Discussing our personal journeys with religion)

00:30:00 - Atheism vs. Oneness (Exploring different worldviews)

00:37:00 - Knowledge as an antidote for prejudice (Discussing the role of knowledge in combating bias)

00:44:00 - Addiction in the new world ("Equanimity" as a solution to addiction)

00:58:45 - Rebellion, attraction and bad boys

01:21:15 - Leaning into sex 'post-religion' (Samim's anecdotes)

01:32:00 - Polyamory, non-monogamy and healthy relationships

01:56:30 - Last remarks

02:00:00 - The power of surrender, and what to do with 'unpleasant thoughts'?

02:23:30 - Wrap up

*BTW, We'll be posting a new episode on Friday mornings once a fortnight :)