S2 E3: Michael Shermer on Markets, Morality, and Freedom [42:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2014)

This week, Dr. Michael Shermer of the Skeptic’s Society joins us to talk about his latest book “The Mind of the Market,” in which he looks into the evolutionary history of economies, morality, decision making, and human nature. Covering a number of interesting topics that will be new to most listeners, Dr. Shermer lays out food for thought from the provocative to the near-utopian, but manages not to take off on flights of fancy while doing it.
I met Dr. Shermer at Google after he gave an extensive talk on his new book and the implications of his research for how we understand business, ethics, and public policy. That talk is available through the authors@google series on youtube, and is embedded below.

Hera-Flea again brings us the Reprobates’ Newscast, aided with the smooth musical stylings of George Hrab and Jonathan Colton.

Promos Included:

The Going Linux Podcast

Two Smokin’ Hot Freethinkers

See Michael Shermer’s Google Talk on YouTube

On Tuesday I met up with Michael Shermer down at the Google campus in Mountain View. We sat down and talked for about half an hour about his new book “The Mind of the Market” and various subjects related to it. Skepticism - both the generic and the brand name varieties - keeps getting more sophistocated, and we at the Polyschizmatic Reprobates Hour are attempting to keep you abreast of the developments in our own peculiar, schizmatic, and surrealistic way.

The show is coming soon. This one’s gonna be a keeper.

-Dan the Demented

 

 S2 E7: The Value of Horror with Robert Price [87:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1361)

Dr. Robert M. Price returns to discuss his other, more secret career as an H.P. Lovecraft scholar and his lifelong love affair with horror and fantasy fiction. We talk about the spiritual and aesthetic value of the macabre and the fantastic, and the movies, books, and TV shows that tickle the cockles of our geeky hearts.

Hera Flea is back with a special terror edition of the Reprobates news, not to be missed. Special music for the Reprobates News provided by Jonathan Coulton. His songs “Re: Your Brains” and “Furry Old Lobster” help her tell the story of zombie activists and self-posessed calamari. Not to be missed!

 

 Greydon Squared Interview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1148)

This week Deviant Deb takes the lead as we interrogate Raptivist Greydon Squared.  Mild-mannered physics student by day, badass anti-gansta rapper with a message about education and freethought  by night, this mofo will…ok, fine, I can’t do the slang worth a damn.  But for a rapper, this guy *ROCKS*

Remember to send feedback on this or any of our previous shows to “feedback at reprobateshour.com” where “at” is a @.

Just a quick update on the production of the coming season: Last week we recorded the interview with John McCarthy about the Sustainibility of Human Progress, and we’ll be recording the other parts of the episode and editing it sometime this week.  The interview wasn’t as lively as I was hoping, mostly due to me misplacing my notes when loading the car and being scatterbrained in the unseasonably warm high-90s heat (yes, I know it’s summer.  It’s also California, so I have an excuse for being wimpy in the heat).

Even so, Dr. McCarthy is very professional and gave a great interview in spite of having a largely mentally stumbling interviewer.  Many thanks to him, and we’ll be bringing you the new episodes soon!