Alexander and I discuss if we as humans are inherently selfish and if so, what are some of the ways that we can start reprogramming ourselves.

Topics:

Selfishness exists within each of us.

Selfish behavior stems from fear and the need to control.

We do have a biological proclivity to protect those closest to us.

Religion stresses the need for humanity to make personal sacrifices.

Incremental altruism.

Vast income and wealth inequality creates greater instability...even for the rich.

Who are the truly deserving?

Fairness and justice should be our highest ideals.

In light of recent events in the stock market, Joe and I explain how current market volatility has more to do with value fabrication more than anything else.

Topics:

Income inequality eventually comes for the rich.

All of capitalism is predicated on sustaining markets which can afford the goods and services being offered...there is no way around this.

The dangers of a stock market that does not reflect real world economic conditions.

The psychological construction of value.

Executive compensation and perverse incentive structures.

The practice of short selling is not a problem...it's when short sellers manipulate value that it becomes a problem.

Capping executive compensation to a certain percentage beyond the lowest paid employee.

Consequences can help correct risky and corrupt behavior.

Once people discover there are no real gold coins in the treasure chest...chaos ensues.

Layoffs and minimum wage jobs should be an indicator of weakness not strength.

We need to bring back good ol' fashioned SHAME.

Kenny and I discuss some of the things and people that we falsely pay just a bit too much attention to.

Topics:

The things we cherish today might easily become tomorrow's plastic toys.

Our temporary obsessions come not just with a cost, but with an opportunity cost as well.

We tend to value what others value without really thinking it through.

Momentary pleasure will only lead to regret later.

We are failing to make the most crucial investment of all...our youth.

Impatience and visibility can be blinding.

The people we surround ourselves with are based on the best of times, not the worst of times.

Compassion versus competence, why not both?

Alexander and I discuss potential alternatives to the highly polarized and ideologically driven political class that now dominates.

Topics:

We are trained to pay attention to those who are the most radicalized and entertaining.

Truth is a giant puzzle in which we all hold a piece.

The significance of the "Middle Way."

The middle is not necessarily the median viewpoint.

Extreme zealots are incapable of holding down a conversation.

Our desire for entertainment is usurping our will to find solutions.

Plato warns us of the dangers of having a ruling class that is too wealthy.

We can't expect our representatives to represent us, until they start living like us.

Joe and I navigate some of the immediate hurdles we will likely encounter as the U.S. emerges from the pandemic as well as some of the more long-term problems that still loom over us.

Topics:

Times of extreme peril require a strong guiding hand.

Stimulus packages serve as good first aid but are not the cure.

Access to easy credit and tax cuts cloak real economic problems.

The invisible elephant in the room is really not enough jobs for everyone.

Capitalism is predicated on the idea of selling to markets which are rich enough to afford the goods being sold.

Some of the problems with UBI.

We need to start building and producing our way out of these problems.

Correcting the inequities of our modern economic system actually PREVENTS revolutions from occurring.

Moving away from ideologically originated solutions to pragmatic solutions.

A thriving middle class actually makes everyone richer in the end.

Nearly a month into 2021, Kenny and I discuss how we can live with the daily uncertainties that challenge us.

Topics:

If it never rained, life would get boring quick.

Absolute certainty can lead to absolute stagnation.

Humans need growth...perhaps more so than their need for stability.

I like it safe...or am I simply afraid?

Conquering today's uncertainties leads to more global stability.

The best remedy for uncertainty is taking action.

Alexander and I discuss why lies have become so dominant in our modern culture and what we as regular citizens can do to combat this.

Topics:

Lies help in the short term but never in the long game.

Our brains are wired to believe lies.

We should all become like lawyers in how we think.

The lost art of fact checking

The best way to terminate a lie is to refute it!

Banning speech is never the answer.

The power of creating a truth ledger on the internet.

Continuing with the events of January 6th, Brett and I take a break from our Roman Empire series to discuss some of the safeguards that protect our republic and how an informed citizenry is requisite to maintaining that democracy.

In light of recent events and the storming of the nation's capitol, I am joined by Kenny who asks me some important questions as to why we as a country are so divided.

I am joined by Jim who discusses the importance of archetypes throughout the ages and the importance of good role models.

Topics:

The Greeks Gods, walking embodiments of the best and worst in us.

Archetypes are still living within our culture.

The importance of superheroes.

Does what we idolize influence our behavior or is it the reverse?

Video games and the rise of the negative archetype simulation.

Negative archetypes have the power to promote a more apathetic society.

The need for media that lionizes what we truly cherish in this world.

The need to enmesh the old cannon within new media.