Unprompted

Luke and Jarod start by talking about the ways that companies selling DNA data could impact society and quickly veer off. They discuss how quickly technology has advanced, how it has affected our societies and where things might go from here. Jarod also quotes Shakespeare.

Luke and Jarod welcome their second ever guest: their good friend Connor Jolley. The boyz talk about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). What even is ESG, how is it effecting investing right now, and is it even the right way to look at business opportunities.

Luke and Jarod are back at it in the second year of Unprompted. They talk about the biology of the human microbiome. Is the microbiome an integral part of the human body and where do we draw the line at what is part of our microbiome and what isn't. They also discuss possible ways that we could use our microbiomes to improve our lives.

From buying a house to moving cross country, Luke and Jarod take a look back on the past year of Unprompted episodes to reflect on the many hot takes (and some changed opinions) through the past 16 episodes on technology, society, history, life and more.

Luke and Jarod discuss the future of warfare and how its form and definitions may change. They also briefly discuss the current tensions between Ukraine and Russia and Jarod makes some predictions that might come back to bite him in the next couple weeks.

Note from Jarod after a week of reflection: When I made comments about how I didn’t think that Russia would invade Ukraine I was only taking into account the economic/social benefits and costs but not the emotional drivers for Russia’s possible invasion. As discussed in the Johnny Harris video above, Russia and Ukraine have a deeply intertwined history and the two are seen as inseparable by many Russians, and especially those who grew up during the Soviet period. Many of the early Soviet cosmonauts as well as other Soviet heroes were ethnically Ukrainian. Part of the calculus working into Putin’s ultimate decision is the hope to reunite what he likely sees as one cultural people. In many an American can try to understand a Russian (Former Soviet) perspective by doing the following thought experiment. If in 30 years the United States fell apart with most of the country remaining intact as the USA, but the Northeast breaking off as an independent country, would you feel that we were still culturally one American people? Would you feel any drive to reintegrate the Northeast into the greater USA to restore it to its “true” form? Most of the early US history centers around the Northeast US just like much very early Russian history centers around Ukraine and the Kevian Rus. While this scenario does not take into account the larger cultural differences between Ukrainians and Russians and many hundreds of years more of history, it does help us try to understand what is going through Putin’s head. I think with this information I see a Russian invasion more likely, but still don’t see it as a certainty.

Luke surprises Jarod with his new purchase. Then, the boys discuss whether Space is going to be the next frontier of human exploration and economic activity.

First, Jarod tells Luke about his new laptop. Then, Luke and Jarod spend a long time ranting and arguing about the meaning and impact “Web3” will have on the world.

Luke and Jarod start by talking about historical forms of justice but quickly veer off into talking about AI and its implications for our lives, free will, and societies.

After a long delay, Jarod and Luke talk about how they are settling into their new homes, jobs, and routines. They discuss systems they have built up during their transition to "real life" and ones they have lost.

As Luke and Jarod settle down into their new cities they discuss moving away (permanently), what it means to find a home and become part of a community, and when they feel that will be the right move for them.