Truth Island

Kenny and I discuss why being humble is one of the best ways to combat evil tendencies.

This episode concludes our conversation from last week, on what exactly constitutes evil.

In this episode Kenny and I try and figure out what makes an evil person by accidently stumbling across some of the qualities that make a good person.

Alexander and I discuss if and should everything in this world be scaled up.

Topics:

Taking your work home with you.

The dangers of selling out.

Can something be universally loved and a masterpiece?

Films are really expensive to make and demand a huge ROI.

Democratizing art?

Touching a few people deeply versus gently tapping everybody.

The audience we believe is watching in even our private conversations.

Kenny and I discuss if and when guilt has any use, and if it is ever appropriate to use it, to change someone's behavior.

Topics:

Charity. Arm twisting or public good?

Who exactly is responsible for what goes on in the world?

Appealing to kindness instead of guilt.

Guilt in the realm of life and death situations.

Do we ever feel guilt or is it simply the ego?

Guilt as a means of correcting ignorance.

How hard should we try in getting someone to see the errors of their ways?

Alexander and I walk the thin line of where positivity collides with reality.

Topics:

Finding the boundaries in which positivity can operate.

Positivity cannot be just thoughts, it must translate into meaningful action.

Positivity is not a substitute for natural talent.

Enjoyment and talent go hand-in-hand even if commercial success does not always follow.

Separating the real self-help from the fake.

It's okay to push people to new boundaries but do not lie to them.

Carry the best tools but nothing is guaranteed.

This episode is the fourteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology and discuss the life of a Roman citizen.

This episode is the thirteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology and discuss the life of a Roman slave.

This episode is the twelfth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we discuss the dysfunctional rule of the Emperor Commodus.

Kenny and I discuss whether standards are a needed utility and if so, who exactly gets to determine them?

Topics:

The relative nature of standards.

There is no such things as 'no standards'.

The force needed to enforce standards.

Standards remain highly contingent upon our capacity to uphold them.

Negotiating standards with those in power.

The changing nature of 'force'.

Setting your own set of standards.