Serious Inquiries Only

January 13, 2021January 14, 2021

SIO273: Sam Harris is Wrong Again

Harris recently released another both sidesy “I’m the only rational one” podcast episode about the recent insurrection at the Capitol. While he condemns Trump and the right, he also makes a series of terrible arguments in the name of anti-wokeness. Lindsey and I are here to set him straight!
*note I said 2 Capitol officers were arrested. They were only suspended.*

Check us out at twitch.tv/seriouspod!

Lindsey’s Links: Reporting on police response to January 6th vs. BLM –WaPo, ProPublica, nbc news, Business Insider, Uprising: A Guide From Portland

Articles contextualizing the “bending the knee” moment during the BLM protests: Metro Times, WaPo

Reporting/video of police instigating and escalating violence in BLM protests: Drone Video of the BLM protest in Richmond, Guardian, CNN

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January 6, 2021January 7, 2021

SIO272: Sedition Special with Andrew Torrez and Allison Gill

I had a whole good news episode planned about Georgia. I have so much to say, and so many things to be positive about. And then some fascist f*cks stormed the Capitol building. Andrew and I just felt that we needed to get on the stream with our audience and talk it out. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of time for the good news later!

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December 30, 2020December 31, 2020

SIO271: Listener Qs!

Topics include Democratic messaging, the working class, tips for cutting out meat, and more!

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December 28, 2020December 29, 2020

SIO270: NYT’s Kristof Duped by Christian Anti-Porn Group

Today’s show features fan-favorite Eli Bosnick explaining how much is completely wrong about an op-ed by Nicholas Kristof. The article claims that PornHub is “…infested with rape videos. It monetizes child rapes, revenge pornography, spy cam videos of women showering, racist and misogynist content, and footage of women being asphyxiated in plastic bags.” These are very serious claims, and reading the article might make you feel ill. However, there is a serious problem with it. Listen in and hear the breakdown!

Eli’s Links: http://Trafickinghub.com, Daily Beast article about them, Exodus Cry page, Open Democracy on Exodus Cry, Exodus Cry’s documentary on Netflix about how tinder leads to young teens getting kidnapped, Exodus Cry faq page, their Intervention manual, trafficking hub’s petition to shut the site down, Elevate Academy, their courses, their staff page, PornHub human screening, trusted flaggers, content removal form, digital systems for blocking content, PornHub best in class policies, Visa and other card companies pulled plug on PornHub.

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December 23, 2020December 23, 2020

SIO269: Evolutionary Psychology and Sex Differences

It’s part 2 of the Defending Evo-Psych series! This one was so much fun. Lindsey talks about sex differences in different species and how they are also present in human behavior. We talk about ridiculous birds, mating dollars, casual sex, and all kinds of fun stuff!

Studies referenced: Singh (2002) – REVIEW, WHR, attractiveness, and fecundity, Li et al. (2002) – necessities and luxuries of mate preferences

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December 17, 2020December 17, 2020

SIO268: Defending Evolutionary Psychology with Lindsey Osterman

Since Lindsey has started to appear on the show more often, we’ve heard from a few people who were under the impression that her field (evolutionary psychology) is “bunk” or is all unprovable just-so stories. As an expert, Lindsey takes us through where these objections come from and why they aren’t accurate. Plus she takes us through some fascinating research!

Studies mentioned: Wertz & Wynn 2014 Infant avoidance of plants, Wertz 2019 Ho plants shape the mind

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December 11, 2020December 11, 2020

SIO267: We Should Eat Less Meat

… and other monologues and listener questions! I have not eaten meat for 2 months, and I want to explain why and why I think you should do your best to reduce meat eating as well. Don’t worry, no excessive shaming. I just want to share my reasoning and hope it influences people. Also, more listener questions!

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December 9, 2020December 10, 2020

Bonus: Yelling at Sam Harris

I asked the patrons over at patreon.com/seriouspod and they overwhelmingly said I should publish this on the main feed. Keep in mind, it’s raw and explicit, but I think some great points were made and it’s useful listening.
If you’d like to hear episode 267 sign up as a patron!

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November 25, 2020November 26, 2020

SIO266: Why Sam Harris Is Wrong about Police Killings

It’s been something like 70 years since the George Floyd protests, and the news cycle has had no choice but to move onto so many other huge and terrible things. But Lindsey Osterman and I still haven’t forgotten the terrible arguments used by people like Sam Harris, and many in the right-wing information ecosystem, to push back against Black Lives Matter and to try to undermine the massive protests we saw. Lindsey takes us through two papers that have heavily influence this view, and why they’re completely wrong. (spoiler: one was even RETRACTED!)

This episode was far more focused on the academic papers than on Sam Harris, but if you’d like to hear us absolutely destroy his “Can We Pull Back From the Brink” episode, make to become a Patron!

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November 18, 2020November 19, 2020

SIO265: Did The System Work?

I’m finally answering my listener email! It’s been a tense… year, and I haven’t gone to the inbox for a while. Today that changes! Before that, I can’t help but unload a bit about whether or not “the system worked.” When I hear people say that, it just does not seem right. But also… it did… kinda? Then I get to your questions and comments, about Constitutional Conventions and lizard people and revolution and progressive policies and more!

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