Twitter: @xavierbonilla87
Site: convergingdialogues.podbean.com
232 episodes
2020 to present
Average episode: 108 minutes
Open in Apple Podcasts • RSS
Categories: Interview-Style
Podcaster's summary: Honest engagements with diversity of thought and topics.
| Episodes |
| 2023-Jun-05 • 132 minutes #232 - Radical and Revolutionary: Alfred Russel Wallace: A Dialogue with James Costa In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with James Costa about the life of Alfred Russel Wallace. They discuss the radical and revolutionary nature of Wallace, his inquisitiveness about nature since an early age, apprenticeship, trip to the Amazon, and scientific publications. They also talk about his trip to Asia, the interactions with Darwin, spiritualism, social justice, his legacy, and many more topics.James Costa is an entomologist and evolutionary biologist who is professor of biology and execu... |
| 2023-Jun-01 • 77 minutes #231 - The Neuroscience of Music: A Dialogue with Lawrence Sherman & Dennis Plies In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lawrence Sherman and Dennis Plies about the neuroscience of music. They discuss how they wrote the book together, define music, discuss the different parts of the brain involved in music, and the different elements of music. They also discuss musical preferences, differences between composing and improvising, curiosity, memory, truth in art, and many more topics. Lawrence Sherman is a neuroscientist and professor of neuroscience at the Oregon Health and Sc... |
| 2023-May-28 • 75 minutes #230 - Unmasking Libertarianism: A Dialogue with Andrew Koppelman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Andrew Koppelman about Libertarianism. They discuss why Libertarianism is so popular, how it is a mutated form of liberalism, Hayek and his views, and on rights. They also talk about taxation, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, role of regulation, Liberalism today, Obamacare, and many more topics. Andrew Koppelman is the John Paul Stevens Professor of Law, Professor (by courtesy) of Political Science, and Philosophy Department Affiliated Faculty at Northwestern U... |
| 2023-May-25 • 101 minutes #229 - Defying the British Empire: A Dialogue with David Veevers In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Veevers about the various perspectives around the British Empire. They talk about why people ignore some parts of history but emphasize others, Irish resistance, how the British colonized North America, and their interactions with various Native peoples. They discuss the British empire and the hegemony in Asia, meeting resistance in Africa, and having a full and complete picture of the history of the British Empire.David Veevers is an award-winning h... |
| 2023-May-22 • 96 minutes #228 - The Possibility of Life: A Dialogue with Jaime Green In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jaime Green about the origins of life, other planets, and meaning. They discuss the origins of life on earth, why humans ask the big questions of life, and life on other planets. They talk about AI, machine learning, utility of sci-fi films, UFOs and many more topics.Jaime Green is a writer, editor, and essayist. She is the series editor for The Best American Science and Nature Writing. She is also a lecturer at Smith College. She is the author of the late... |
| 2023-May-18 • 120 minutes #227 - Without Children: A Dialogue with Peggy O'Donnell Heffington In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peggy O’Donnell Heffington about women’s rights, choice, and children. They talk about some of the reasons why women don’t have children, Millennials having children later, and structural aspects of choice. They discuss the history of abortion, contraception laws, Roe V. Wade, Dobbs ruling, the history and origins of the nuclear family, grandmother hypothesis, public perceptions of people without children, and many more topics. Peggy O’Donnell Heffington i... |
| 2023-May-15 • 143 minutes #226 - The Pandemic Paradox: A Dialogue with Scott Fulford In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Scott Fulford about the economical paradox during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss what is the pandemic paradox ( spending less and saving more), income vs. wealth, state of the economy pre-pandemic, and the economy during the beginning of the pandemic. They talk about the CARES act, subsequent acts after the CARES act, the American Rescue Plan, childhood poverty, childcare and women’s labor, the work revolution, inflation, and many more topics. Scott F... |
| 2023-May-11 • 80 minutes #225 - Making the Rational Decisions: A Dialogue with Lionel Page In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lionel Page about rational decision-making and behavioral economics. They discuss the history and contours of behavioral economics, work of Kahneman and Tversky, and why an evolutionary framework is important for behavioral economics. They also talk about heuristics, cognitive biases, gains and loses, game theory, Nash equilibrium, cooperation, belief systems, and many more topics. Lionel Page is an economist and Professor of economics at The University of... |
| 2023-May-08 • 123 minutes #224 - Brains As Prediction Machines: A Dialogue with Andy Clark In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Andy Clark about prediction processing, embodiment, and reality. They discuss the predictive processing model, Bayesian brain, and the role of human growth and development for the brain. They question what is reality, Friston’s Free Energy Principle, controlled hallucinations, and computational psychiatry. They also talk about reward vs. salience, prediction error, body budget, consciousness, the extended mind, and many other topics.Andy Clark is a Philoso... |
| 2023-May-04 • 59 minutes #223 - The Legacy of Sultan Süleyman: A Dialogue with Kaya Sahin In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kaya Sahin about Sultan Süleyman and the Ottoman Empire. They provide an overview of the Ottoman Empire and how Süleyman was a critical leader, his upbringing, succession, and spreading the boundaries of the Empire. They also talk about the importance of the Grand Vizier, conflicts with the Hungarians and Hapsburgs, his legacy, and many more topics. Kaya Sahin is a Historian and Associate Professor of History at Indiana University, Bloomington. His major r... |
| 2023-May-01 • 108 minutes #222 - Cats: An Evolutionary Story: A Dialogue with Jonathan Losos In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jonathan Losos about the evolutionary story of cats. They discuss how cats are semi-domesticated and similar around the world. They talk about how cats meow and purr to humans and less so with other cats. They discuss the sociality of cats, feral cats, and the evolutionary history of cats. They talk about the five different groups of cats, where cats originate from, different breeds of cats, genetics, where they roam, the future of cats and many other topi... |
| 2023-Apr-27 • 47 minutes #221 - The Earth Transformed: A Dialogue with Peter Frankopan In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peter Frankopan about a natural history of climate change on the earth. They discuss how the climate was different on earth for billions of years and the impact the past climate has on earth today. They discuss the evolution of Hominids in the Holocene, formation of early cities, trading, domestication of horses in the Steppe, industrial age and fossil fuels, Rachel Carson and the rise of environmentalists, and many more topics. Peter Frankopan is a Histor... |
| 2023-Apr-24 • 92 minutes #220 - Generations: A Dialogue with Jean Twenge In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jean Twenge about the current generations in our society. They discuss how we define generations and why its important, technological changes being central to generational changes, and the ranges of generations. They talk about upcoming trends for Polars/alphas, Gen Z and the connection between increased mental health with increased social media use, and the changing social, economic, and educational dynamics with Millennials. They discuss Gen X as the mid... |
| 2023-Apr-20 • 109 minutes #219 - Women Who Kill: A Dialogue with Marissa Harrison In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Marissa Harrison about female serial killers. They discuss media sensationalizing serial killers, morbid curiosity, and defining serial killers. They talk about the average profile of a female serial killer, motives for female serial killers, and mental illness. They discuss psychopathy, PCL-R, and the need for improved mental health services. They also talk about neurobiology of serial killers, future research, and many other topics. Marissa Harrison is a... |
| 2023-Apr-17 • 89 minutes #218 - Neuroscience and Embodiment: A Dialogue with Inês Hipólito In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Inês Hipólito about neuroscience and embodiment. They talk about the different models of the brain, the embodied mind, and Free Energy Principle. They discuss Artificial Intelligence as a living system, Merleau-Ponty’s work on the phenomenology of embodiment, the role of perception, the self, and many more topics. Inês Hipólito is a philosopher, researcher, and lecturer at Berlin School of Mind and Brain. Her research focuses on topics in cognitive neurosc... |
| 2023-Apr-13 • 100 minutes #217 - Longtermism and Our Future: A Dialogue with Richard Fisher In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Fisher about the long view and our future. They talk about how society started thinking more short-term and not long-term. They discuss the historical aspects of longtermism, positive outlooks for different futures, longtermism and capitalism, and how our politics has become more short-term. They talk about the evolutionary framework for foresight and longtermism, deep time both past and future, climate change, and many more topics.Richard Fisher i... |
| 2023-Apr-09 • 113 minutes #216 - Social Constructions of The Self: A Dialogue with Brian Lowery In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Brian Lowery about the social construction of the self. They provide a definition of the “self,” how the self is only understood in the context of others, self as autonomous, and why the self is an illusion. They discuss the idea of a core self, different identities with different communities, switching identities, freedom and free will, and many other topics. Brian Lowery is the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Un... |
| 2023-Apr-06 • 94 minutes #215 - The Triumphant Spread of Christianity: A Dialogue with Peter Heather In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peter Heather about the spread of Christianity. They discuss how the spread of Christianity is a story of conversion, the religious landscape at the end of the Roman empire, and the four phases of Constantine’s conversion. They talk about the essential aspects of the Council of Nicea, Augustine’s legacy, and Homoean Christianity. They also discuss the arrival of Islam in the 5th Century, the spread of Christianity to the Anglo-Saxon world, Charlemagne and ... |
| 2023-Apr-03 • 140 minutes #214 - Assyria: The World's First Empire: A Dialogue with Eckart Frahm In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Eckart Frahm about the Assyrian Empire. They give an overview of the various Assyrian periods, discuss the importance of the “fertile crescent,” and talk about the impact of language in Assyria. They talk about the importance of Ashur as a god and as a city, the initial rulers in the old Assyrian period, the middle Assyrian period, and the distinctions between Assyrian and Babylon. They also discuss the fall of Nineveh, Biblical accounts of the Assyrian em... |
| 2023-Mar-30 • 118 minutes #213 - The Reopening of The Western Mind: A Dialogue with Charles Freeman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Charles Freeman about the history of intellectualism in the West. They discuss the preservation of texts after the fall of the Roman Empire, Charlemagne and his interactions with the Papacy, the importance of Augustine on Western thought, and the Great Schism of 1054. They also talk about rationality in the Middle Ages, impact of Islam, importance of Thomas Aquinas incorporating Greek philosophy into Christian theology, and the rise of Humanism. They also ... |
| 2023-Mar-27 • 117 minutes #212 - The World Through Our Senses: A Dialogue with Ashley Ward In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ashley Ward about the senses and understanding our world. They define what a “sense” is and why we focus on the five senses. They question whether we can know reality outside of our senses and discuss the complexity of the human eye and how they human eye is different from other eyes. They talk about the role of beauty and aesthetics, impact of sound and music, taste and how it evolves over time, smell, the importance of touch, and many other topics. Ashle... |
| 2023-Mar-19 • 72 minutes #211 - Armageddon: A Dialogue with Bart Ehrman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bart Ehrman about armageddon and the apocalypse as detailed in the Bible. They discuss why many people have a fascination with the end times and many of the things detailed in the book of Revelation. They talk about the role of interpretation, various views of the tribulation, and where the idea of the rapture originated. They discuss the importance of genre in the Bible, the historical view of Revelation, negative messaging of Revelation, and many more to... |
| 2023-Mar-13 • 91 minutes #210 - Trauma and Justice: A Dialogue with Judith Herman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a discussion with Judith Herman about trauma and justice. They discuss how her new book on trauma is connected to her previous book on trauma. They define trauma and its potential overuse, role of dominance and submission before violence in intimate partner violence (IPV), and the role of patriarchy in our society. They talk about modern feminism working for trauma work, acknowledgement, apology, and forgiveness in trauma work, and restorative justice. They also talk abou... |
| 2023-Mar-06 • 53 minutes #209 - Autism: Difference and Disability: A Dialogue with Simon Baron-Cohen In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Simon Baron-Cohen about various components of autism. They define autism, discuss the systematizing mechanism and the if-and-then logic, and talk about the empathy circuit. They discuss how the systematizing quotient (SQ) and the empathy quotient (EQ) correspond with research on Big-5 personality and intelligence research. They mention some of the sex differences between between the SQ and EQ, evolutionary elements of invention, autism in present times, an... |
| 2023-Feb-27 • 76 minutes #208 - Introduction to Psychology: A Dialogue with Paul Bloom In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Paul Bloom about major themes in psychology. They discuss how he wrote his latest book, Psych, and some of the origins of the book. They talk about dualism and understanding the brain, consciousness, and why we should still study Freud. They also discuss Piaget’s contributions to psychology, how serious is the replication crisis, core personality, the future of psychology and many more topics. Paul Bloom is a Professor of Psychology at the University of To... |
| 2023-Feb-23 • 65 minutes #207 - Science Communication and Free Speech in Academia: A Dialogue with Nicholas Dirks In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Dirks about science communication and various issues in academia. They discuss his background as chancellor and dean of various academic institutions, problems and solutions for higher education, and why liberal arts are still needed. They also cover free speech and culture wars issues, COVID-19, science communication, and many other topics. Nicholas Dirks is President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences. He was the 10th Chancellor of the ... |
| 2023-Feb-20 • 75 minutes #206 - Mourning the Presidents: A Dialogue with Lindsay Chervinsky In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lindsay Chervinsky about death and mourning of U.S. Presidents. They discuss how the book came about and how certain essays were chosen for the volume. They talk about the themes of race, political party, and family. They discuss the ideas of legacy, and how U.S. presidential funerals compare with other global heads of state. They talk about Washington and his private funeral, Jefferson and his descendants, Taylor and his mixed legacy, and the global impac... |
| 2023-Feb-16 • 98 minutes #205 - A Philosophy of Protest: A Dialogue with Clayton Bohnet In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Clayton Bohnet about protest through a philosophical lens. They discuss what a montage is and why he used it for his book, defining protest, and the functionality of protest. They talk about protest as spectacle, differences between protests and mobs/riots, Kant’s contribution to understanding critique, and many more topics. Clayton Bohnet is a philosopher, writer, and professor. He has Master’s in Psychology from the University of West Virginia and a PhD ... |
| 2023-Feb-12 • 89 minutes #204 - The Problem of Democracy: A Dialogue with Shadi Hamid In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Shadi Hamid about democracy, liberalism, and foreign policy. They discuss democracy and how it is usually defined, what constitutes a “real” democracy, and the differences between liberalism and democracy. They discuss Islam and its various strands, challenges with democracy during the Arab spring, and why the United States chooses to get involved in some countries and not others. They also talk about positive examples of democracy abroad, the future of de... |
| 2023-Feb-09 • 86 minutes #203 - A History of Transplant Surgery: A Dialogue with Paul Craddock In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Paul Craddock about the history of transplant surgery. They discuss the overarching movement of transplant surgery, skin grafting, and blood transfusions. They also talk about the long history of teeth and their various surgeries through time. They talk about vascular surgery, first organ transplants, advances in medical technology and future transplants, and many more topics.Paul Craddock is a cultural historian and award-winning author. He is a Science M... |
| 2023-Feb-06 • 93 minutes #202 - The Culture of Incels: A Dialogue with William Costello In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a discussion with William Costello about incels. They define sexuality more broadly and define incels and some of the features of incels. They discuss the importance of sexual selection and how incels are part of online culture and also outside of online culture. They talk about the “manosphere,” modern masculinity, and the different messages that men receive from society. They discuss the cultural perceptions of incels, violence, clinical treatment for incels, and many m... |
| 2023-Feb-02 • 120 minutes #201 - The Invention of Tomorrow: A Dialogue with Adam Bulley In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Adam Bulley about foresight and its evolutionary history. They define what foresight is and how it is different from prospective memory. They discuss how much executive functioning is involved, episodic foresight, abstraction, and theory of mind. They talk about the evolutionary history of foresight, cultural evolution, human development, and predictive models and perception. They also talk about brain systems involved with foresight, new technology, socia... |
| 2023-Jan-30 • 120 minutes #200 - Marketing in the 21st Century: A Dialogue with Pinar Yildirim In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Pinar Yildirim about marketing in our current society. They begin by defining marketing, how marketing influences consumers, and the importance of design and branding in marketing. They also discuss consumer loyalty within marketing and global marketing. They talk about content moderation within social media, public vs. private organizations, Tik Tok and data privacy, and many other topics. Pinar Yildirim is Associate Professor of Marketing at the Wharton ... |
| 2023-Jan-26 • 70 minutes #199 - Breaking Barriers in Biology: A Dialogue with Joseph Graves Jr. In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Joseph Graves Jr. about his life experiences and research in evolutionary biology. They talk about why he wrote his most recent book as half memoir/half popular science book, his early beginnings in the Jim Crow South, and how he became interested in the biological sciences. They talk about his work on Drosophila and broader research areas in evolutionary biology, his work on race and IQ, and many other topics.Joseph Graves Jr. is an evolutionary biologist... |
| 2023-Jan-23 • 76 minutes #198 - Racial Equity and Selfhood: A Dialogue with Brian Lowery In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Brian Lowery about racial equality and equity, privilege, and selfhood. They discuss the major data points and reasons for continued racial inequities, systemic racism, and different types of privilege. They also talk about the differences between equity, equality, and equality of opportunity. They also discuss the efficacy of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) departments in academia and in the workforce. They also discuss the self and how one defines... |
| 2023-Jan-19 • 83 minutes #197 - Freely Determined: A Dialogue with Ken Sheldon In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ken Sheldon about free will, determinism, the self, and positive psychology. They talk about why studying free will is important, the three horsemen of determinism, grand hierarchy of human interaction, and the illusion of free will. They also talk about the self, self-determination theory, the symbolic self, and many more topics. Ken Sheldon is the Curator’s Distinguished Professor at the University of Missouri. He is well-established in the Positive Psyc... |
| 2023-Jan-16 • 108 minutes #196 - Wagnerism: A Dialogue with Alex Ross In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Alex Ross about Richard Wagner and his legacy. They discuss why he wrote a book on Wagner and what is Wagnerism, Wagner’s relationship with Nietzsche, and the many interpretations of Wagner. They talk about Wagner’s antisemitism, alternative Wagnerisms, Wagner’s impact on literature, Nazi Germany, and cinema. Alex Ross is a writer and music critic who has been writing for The New Yorker for over 25 years. He writes on classical music from opera to avant-ga... |
| 2023-Jan-12 • 57 minutes #195 - Healthcare and Public Health: A Dialogue with Michael Stein In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Michael Stein about healthcare vs. public health. They talk about the narratives around healthcare and public health, biopsychosocial model, and progress of health in the USA. They talk about how to get people to care about the health of their fellow citizens, global health vs. USA public health. They talk about preventative vs. reactionary care, pandemic issues, public health as process and practice, and many more topics. Michael Stein is a physician and ... |
| 2023-Jan-09 • 70 minutes #194 - Stories & Culture: A Dialogue with Kat Rosenfield In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kat Rosenfield about stories and culture. They discuss her process for writing novels and essays, writing a gothic mystery novel, and how she writes strong female protagonists. They also talk about the stories we tell in our society, outrage culture, and many more topics. Kat Rosenfield is a freelance pop culture writer. She is a former reporter for MTV News and has written articles for Entertainment Weekly, Unherd, Vulture, Wired, and many other places. S... |
| 2023-Jan-05 • 89 minutes #193 - Digital Sovereignty's Elusiveness: A Dialogue with Aynne Kokas In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Aynne Kokas about digital sovereignty and our data in the digital world. They discuss the US-China relationship with the tech industry. They define digital sovereignty and data trafficking, discuss ownership and management of personal data, and what are the three risks of data trafficking and three limitations of the US system for data. They also talk about China’s cyber sovereignty and China’s use of military for data surveillance. They discuss digital so... |
| 2023-Jan-02 • 57 minutes #192 - Transfer of Power: A Dialogue with David Marchick In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Marchick about the presidential transfer of power. They discuss the podcast he hosted on the transfer of power and how the book was developed. They talk about presidential transitions, the importance of the Office of Presidential Personnel, and importance of the General Services Administration. They discuss four key features of leading in crisis and discuss the presidential transitions of Presidents Carter, Reagan, and other presidents. They talk abo... |
| 2022-Dec-30 • 189 minutes #191 - Masculinity, Homelessness, and Mental Health: A Dialogue with Christopher Ferguson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Christopher Ferguson about masculinity, homelessness, and mental health. They discuss his APA resignation letter and APA’s guidelines for boys and men. They also discuss the challenges and potential solutions for homelessness and institutionalization. They also review some of the political progress over the past two years and many other topics. Christopher Ferguson is a clinical psychologist, professor, and writer. He teaches psychology at Stetson Universi... |
| 2022-Dec-26 • 113 minutes #190 - Deconstructing Derrida: A Dialogue with Peter Salmon In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peter Salmon about the life and philosophy of Jacques Derrida. They discuss Derrida’s place in philosophy and within deconstructionism, the culture and identity in Derrida’s upbringing, and the impact of Husserl, Heidegger, and Levinas on Derrida’s philosophical thought. They talk about Derrida’s emphasis on language, his interactions with Nietzsche’s thought, how he was received in society, his social circle and his enduring legacy.Peter Salmon is a write... |
| 2022-Dec-22 • 166 minutes #189 - The Death of God and The Importance of Appreciation: A Dialogue with David Hoinski In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Hoinski about different philosophical ideas and the importance of appreciation. They discuss the philosophy of the pre-socratics, logos, and the nature and role of philosophy. They also talk about immanence vs. transcendence, reality and the metaphysical, and the emotions of guilt and shame. They discuss Nietzsche’s idea about the death of god, universal and political implications of Nietzsche’s philosophy, capitalism, why appreciation is important a... |
| 2022-Dec-19 • 85 minutes #188 - The Supreme Value of Literary Criticism: A Dialogue with Merve Emre In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Merve Emre about literary criticism and how to engage with literature. They discuss what literary criticism is and why it is important. They talk about different ways of reading, author’s intent, and the contours of literary genre. They also discuss various forms of interpretation, themes of “becoming” in the philosophy of Nietzsche and writing of Mieko Kawakami, and many more topics. Merve Emre is a professor of literature at Oxford University, Critic at ... |
| 2022-Dec-15 • 141 minutes #187 - If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal: A Dialogue with Justin Gregg In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Justin Gregg about animal intelligence. They discuss how one defines intelligence, g, and what intelligence means for humans and animals. They talk about animal minds, communication in animals, and concepts of deception. They discuss theory of mind, minimal concept of death, morality and norms in animals, torture and pain in animals, and many other topics. Justin Gregg is a science writer and communicator. He is Adjunct Professor at Saint Francis Xavier Un... |
| 2022-Dec-12 • 96 minutes #186 - Inside the Mind of A Bee: A Dialogue with Lars Chittka In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lars Chittka about the cognitive abilities of bees. They discuss the individuality and evolutionary history of bees. They talk about the various aspects of vision in bees such as polarization, sun compass, and phylogenetic analysis. They discuss the antennae of bees and how they use this sense. They talk about the sociality of bees, the brains of bees, intelligence, and their personality. They also discuss robot bees, bee conservation, and many more topics... |
| 2022-Dec-08 • 62 minutes #185 - Blood & Iron: A History of The German Empire: A Dialogue with Katja Hoyer In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Katja Hoyer about the history of the German Empire. They discuss what it means to be German, Prussia and its boundaries, and the importance of the German revolution in 1848. They talk about the character and rule of Otto Von Bismarck, the unification of Germany in 1871, and how the industrial revolution was economically important. They also talk about the changing of the Kaisers, Germany’s involvement in WWI and the aftermath, and many other topics. Katja ... |
| 2022-Dec-05 • 110 minutes #184 - The Cult of Smart: A Dialogue with Freddie deBoer In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Freddie deBoer about marxism, education and society. They define marxism, how marxism works today and how it is connected with communism and socialism. They discuss the evolution of the cult of smart, manufacturing and technical jobs, and how educational systems globally are compared to the United States. They talk about capacity and achievement, genetics and the “hereditarian left,” equality and equity, and lack of quality of education. They also discuss... |
| 2022-Dec-01 • 144 minutes #183 - Science Fictions Within The Social Sciences: A Dialogue with Stuart Ritchie In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Stuart Ritchie about fraud, bias, and hype within the social sciences. They talk about “trust the science” and some of the challenges of science during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discuss how the scientific method work and some of the dynamics within the scientific publishing world. They talk about how certain campaigns can promote what does and does not get accepted into scholarly journals, the replication crisis, and various fads within psychology. They a... |
| 2022-Nov-28 • 61 minutes #182 - The Moral History of Genetic Engineering: A Dialogue with Matthew Cobb In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Matthew Cobb about the moral history of genetic engineering. They discuss his reasons for writing the book and why one should be worried about genetic engineering. They define genetic engineering and some of the precursor tools before the advent of recombinant DNA. They discuss recombinant DNA, Paul Berg, and Asilomar. They also talk about the genetic history of GMOs, gene editing/CRISPR, the future of genetic engineering, and many more topics. Matthew Cob... |
| 2022-Nov-24 • 198 minutes #181 - Schelling's Idealism: A Dialogue with Ben Norris In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue about the philosophy of Schelling, Spinoza, idealism, and realism. They talk about how he came to write his book on Schelling and Spinoza and how one can define idealism and realism. They talk about the three claims of idealism, Spinoza’s ethics, and the importance of Jacobi’s critiques on German idealism. They also talk about Spinoza’s god, the infinite and finite, modes and attributes of substance, principle of sufficient reason, and Kant’s synthetic judgemen... |
| 2022-Nov-21 • 127 minutes #180 - Sexual Selection, Polyamory, and AI: A Dialogue with Geoffrey Miller In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Geoffrey Miller about evolution, polyamory, and artificial intelligence (AI). They give an overview of natural selection and sexual selection and explain why sexual selection was lost to history for many years. They discuss mate choice, pair-bonding, cold and hot choosers, sexual ornamentation, the ornamental mind, and mate retention. They also discuss polyamorous relationships, the moral and ethical implications of polyamorous relationships, and the role ... |
| 2022-Nov-18 • 140 minutes #179 - Red Wave?: Thoughts on the 2022 US Midterm Elections: A Dialogue with Ben Winegard In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ben Winegard about the 2022 US midterm elections. They discuss the main takeaways and why there was no “red wave” for the republicans. They talk about the Desantis juggernaut and whether abortion was as big of an issue for people to get to the voting polls. They also discuss the importance of the midwest states such as Michigan and Wisconsin. They also talk about the ballot measures, the Senate, House, and Governorships, looking ahead to 2024, and many oth... |
| 2022-Nov-17 • 108 minutes #178 - The Good, The Bad, and The Pathological Nature of Narcissism: A Dialogue with W. Keith Campbell In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with W. Keith Campbell about the research on narcissism. They define narcissism and explain the three types: grandiose, vulnerable, and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). They talk about state vs. ... |
| 2022-Nov-14 • 70 minutes #177 - Masculinity In The 21st Century: A Dialogue with Richard Reeves In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Reeves about the current issues for boys and men. They discuss how to talk about men's issues next to women's issues. They talk about the structural issues against men such as in education a... |
| 2022-Nov-10 • 110 minutes #176 - A Minimal Concept of Death: A Dialogue with Susana Monsó In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Susana Monsó about animal minds. They talk about how animal minds are defined and why there is an emphasis on cognition. They also talk about a minimal concept of death and why this is important to ... |
| 2022-Nov-07 • 132 minutes #175 - A Natural History of The Future: A Dialogue with Rob Dunn In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Rob Dunn about the natural history of the future of earth. They discuss the two laws of ecological diversity and how increased ecological diversity is helpful for growth. They also talk about the an... |
| 2022-Nov-03 • 102 minutes #174 - The Art of Living and Dying: A Dialogue with Kevin Aho In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kevin Aho about existentialism, life, and death. They discuss his background and heart attack which was the motivation for him writing his most recent book. They discuss the inevitability of death, ... |
| 2022-Oct-30 • 68 minutes #173 - The Scientific Race to Defeat COVID-19: A Dialogue with David Quammen In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Quammen about the origins and treatments for SARS-CoV-2. They discuss the lack of preparedness and missed warnings of SARS 2003. They talk about the two main schools of though on the origins o... |
| 2022-Oct-27 • 63 minutes #172 - Virtues and Character: A Dialogue with Massimo Pigliucci In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Massimo Pigliucci about the nature of virtues and character. They define virtue and why people seek virtue. They describe the differences between virtues and morals and discuss moral relativism. The... |
| 2022-Oct-24 • 54 minutes #171 - A Cellular Symphony: A Dialogue with Siddhartha Mukherjee In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Siddhartha Mukherjee about cellular biology. They define what a cell is and talk about the importance of Leeuwenhoek and Hooke in observing and discovering the cell. They talk about the five basic p... |
| 2022-Oct-20 • 172 minutes #170 - Navigating Friendship: A Dialogue with Hannah Bradshaw In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Hannah Bradshaw about same-sex friendships, opposite-sex friendships, and relationships in society. They discuss some of her background and research, dynamics of male friendships, and dynamics of fe... |
| 2022-Oct-17 • 124 minutes #169 - Hidden Motives, Norms, and The Sacred: A Dialogue with Robin Hanson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Robin Hanson about hidden motives, norms, and the sacred. They discuss how one understands motives and why they are hidden. They also talk about bias and not violating norms, free will, status and s... |
| 2022-Oct-13 • 74 minutes #168 - An Economy of Promises: A Dialogue with Bruce Carruthers In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bruce Carruthers about credit, trust, and the American economic system. They discuss the point of emphasis on promise and trust when discussing credit and finances in the United States. They talk ab... |
| 2022-Oct-10 • 154 minutes #167 - Being and Worldhood: The Philosophy of Martin Heidegger: A.Dialogue with Richard Polt In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Polt about the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. They define and discuss Dasein, 3 forms of Dasein, and how it is different from other types of being. They talk about authenticity and inauthen... |
| 2022-Oct-07 • 101 minutes #166 - Infant Cognition and Plants: A Dialogue with Annie Wertz In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Annie Wertz about her research on infant cognition and the interactions with plants. They discuss her background and how she came to study infant cognition and plants. They discuss infant developmen... |
| 2022-Oct-02 • 113 minutes #165 - Platypus, Echidna, and The Magnificent Mammals of Australia: A Dialogue with Jack Ashby In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jack Ashby about the wonderful mammals of Australia. They talk about the distinctions between monotremes, marsupials, and placentals and where they are located around the world. They mention the way... |
| 2022-Sep-29 • 101 minutes #164 - A Natural History of The Red Planet: A Dialogue with Simon Morden In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Simon Morden about the natural history of Mars. They talk about the current data concerning Mars, origins of the universe and how Mars formed. They talk about the importance of the great dichotomy, ... |
| 2022-Sep-25 • 45 minutes #163 - The Power of Our Influence: A Dialogue with Vanessa Bohns In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Vanessa Bohns about her research on influence. They define influence and how it has a reciprocal nature. They discuss who we are influenced by and what are the social norms for influence. They talk ... |
| 2022-Sep-21 • 77 minutes #162 - Expansionism and Tariffs: The Presidency of William McKinley: A Dialogue with Robert Merry In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Robert W. Merry about the life and presidency of William McKinley. They discuss the character and temperament of McKinley, his Ohio upbringing, impact of the Civil War, and why tariffs were a huge p... |
| 2022-Sep-19 • 88 minutes #161- The State of Our Culture: A Dialogue with William Deresiewicz In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with William Deresiewicz about wokeness, academia, generational shifts, and the state of our culture. They talk about where one should place their energy and attention to events in society. They talk abo... |
| 2022-Sep-15 • 113 minutes #160 - Iron Will: The Presidency of Grover Cleveland: A Dialogue with Troy Senik In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Troy Senik about the life and presidency of Grover Cleveland. They discuss how one defines a successful president and why this is important to consider when evaluating a presidential legacy. They ta... |
| 2022-Sep-12 • 93 minutes #159 - Our Need to Belong: A Dialogue with Geoffrey Cohen In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Geoffrey Cohen about the science around the concept of belonging. They discuss Kurt Lewin's work on social psychology, specifically on his idea of situation building and the importance of the enviro... |
| 2022-Sep-08 • 125 minutes #158 - Ancient Brains, Modern Times: A Dialogue with Douglas Kenrick & David Lundberg-Kenrick In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Douglas Kenrick and David Lundberg-Kenrick about the evolutionary adaptations of the human body and brain. They discuss their pyramid of needs being rooted in evolution and juxtaposing it with Maslo... |
| 2022-Sep-05 • 150 minutes #157 - An Evolutionary Framework for Depression: A Dialogue with Ed Hagen In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ed Hagen about evolution, mental disorders such as depression, and suicidality. They begin talking about the power of evolution, providing a defense of evolutionary psychology and the evolutionary ... |
| 2022-Sep-01 • 83 minutes #156 - The Embodied Mind: A Dialogue with Thomas R. Verny In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Thomas R. Verny about his work on the embodied mind. They discuss Thomas' background and motivation for writing his most recent book and how the embodied mind is an extended mind. They discuss the i... |
| 2022-Aug-28 • 82 minutes #155 - The Human Blueprint For A Good Society: A Dialogue with Nicholas Christakis In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Christakis about cooperation, social networks, and tribalism. They discuss how humans are more cooperative and have a propensity for good than many people emphasize. They talk about the soc... |
| 2022-Aug-14 • 53 minutes #154 - Eating Someone: Animal Ethics and Consciousness: A Dialogue with Lori Marino In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lori Marino about the ethics of eating animals and whether they have conscious states. They define intelligence in non-human animals and discuss the brains of whales and how they communicate. They d... |
| 2022-Aug-07 • 104 minutes #153 - Authenticity and Feminism with Simone de Beauvoir: A Dialogue with Skye Cleary In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Skye Cleary on authenticity and the feminism of Simone de Beauvoir. They define authenticity, discuss existence before essence, and dialogue on the "other" and subjectivity. They talk about de Beauv... |
| 2022-Jul-31 • 141 minutes #152 - The Complexities of Gender and Gender Dysphoria: A Dialogue Between Patrick Lockwood and Colin Wright In this episode, Xavier Bonilla moderates a dialogue between Patrick Lockwood and Colin Wright on gender and sexuality. They begin by defining biological sex and defining gender. They spend some time discussing the various complexities around gender ... |
| 2022-Jul-25 • 71 minutes #151- A Hidden Human Species?: A Dialogue with Gregory Forth In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Gregory Forth about the search for a hidden human species. They discuss his background working in Indonesia, an overview of different species of humans, and where the "ape-men" fit into the broader ... |
| 2022-Jul-17 • 100 minutes #150 - The Multiple Configurations of Gender: A Dialogue with Will Beischel In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Will Beischel about the most recent research on gender. They discuss their background for studying sex and gender and then provide an exhaustive analysis of the sex configuration theory. This theory... |
| 2022-Jul-10 • 242 minutes #149 -Female Intrasexual Competition, Attractiveness Privilege, and Free Speech: A Dialogue with Tania Reynolds In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a wide-ranging dialogue with Tania Reynolds about her research on female intrasexual competition, attractiveness privilege, and free speech. They provide a sexual selection overview such as preferences for mate cho... |
| 2022-Jul-03 • 112 minutes #148 - Method Acting: The Most Misunderstood System of Acting: A Dialogue with Isaac Butler In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Isaac Butler about the history of method acting in the 20th century. They discuss who was Stanislavski and how he started his theater studio and system. They discuss the impact of Tolstoy and Chekho... |
| 2022-Jun-26 • 94 minutes #147 - Game Theory and Human Behavior: A Dialogue with Moshe Hoffman and Erez Yoeli In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Moshe Hoffman and Erez Yoeli on game theory and how this can be used to understand human behavior. They define game theory, discuss how primary and secondary rewards can be used, and explain Nash eq... |
| 2022-Jun-19 • 140 minutes #146 - The Good Enough Life: A Dialogue with Avram Alpert In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Avram Alpert about the good enough life. They define what is the good enough life, pluralism and relativism, and spend time on what greatness is and maybe why it should not be emphasized. They discu... |
| 2022-Jun-13 • 89 minutes #145 - Encounters with Extreme Hate: A Dialogue with Daryl Davis In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Daryl Davis about his career as a musician and his encounters with extreme hate groups. They discuss his background in music and how he came to be a professional musician. They talk about writing an... |
| 2022-Jun-09 • 83 minutes #144 - Parrots: A Mirror Reflection?: A Dialogue with Antone Martinho-Truswell In this dialogue, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Antone Martinho-Truswell about parrots and some of their striking similarities with humans. They discuss the importance of the phylogenetic tree, ways in which birds are connected with humans, and ... |
| 2022-Jun-06 • 67 minutes #143 - Intersectional Fortunes of Dinosaurs and Mammals: A Dialogue with Steve Brusatte In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Steve Brusatte about the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the rise and reign of mammals. They discuss how his two books are connected and overlap, first dinosaurs, and how dinosaurs survived the great... |
| 2022-Jun-01 • 125 minutes #142 - The Science of Friendship: A Dialogue with Jaimie Arona Krems In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jaimie Arona Krems about her research on friendship. They discuss the basic features and sex differences between how males and females have relationships. They talk about the different levels and di... |
| 2022-May-30 • 64 minutes #141 - The Life and Presidency of Woodrow Wilson: A Dialogue with John Milton Cooper In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Milton Cooper about the life and presidency of Woodrow Wilson. They discuss the impact of the South, racism, and living in the North for Wilson. They talk about why the practice of law was not ... |
| 2022-May-26 • 108 minutes #140 - The Phenomenology of Dreams in Animals: A Dialogue with David Peña-Guzmán In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Peña-Guzmán on dreams in animals. They discuss how we know animals dream, history of studying dreams, and how the sleep cycle works in animals. They talk about how animal dreaming is phenomeno... |
| 2022-May-22 • 64 minutes #139 - Accuracy in Climate Science: A Dialogue with Steven Koonin In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Steven Koonin about climate change and how to best engage with climate science. They discuss how people can trust the science on climate from institutions and published data. They mention the differ... |
| 2022-May-19 • 120 minutes #138 - Complacency and Efficiency of the Economic Style: A Dialogue with Elizabeth Popp Berman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla had a dialogue with Elizabeth Popp Berman about the economic style and how it has permeated American economics over the 20th Century. They start the conversation by giving an example of the economic style limiting the ... |
| 2022-May-16 • 83 minutes #137 - Yellowstone and History of the Western United States: A Dialogue with Megan Kate Nelson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Megan Kate Nelson on the western theater of the Civil War and the history of Yellowstone National Park. They discuss the reasoning for fighting in the western theater of the Civil War, location spec... |
| 2022-May-12 • 51 minutes #136 - Know Your Influence: A Dialogue with Zoe Chance In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Zoe Chance about the power of influence. They discuss what influence is and why it is important for humans. They discuss some of the misconceptions of influence, her reframing of Daniel Kahneman's s... |
| 2022-May-09 • 68 minutes #135 - Human Rights and The Syrian Conflict: A Dialogue with Jomana Qaddour and Gissou Nia In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jomana Qaddour and Gissou Nia about many of the human rights atrocities in the Syrian conflict. They discuss the origins and data on the Syrian conflict, a chronology of events in the conflict, and ... |
| 2022-May-05 • 98 minutes #134 - Origins of The Human Brain: A Dialogue with William A. Harris In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with William Harris about the origins of the human brain. They discuss the evolutionary history of the brain, rise of the neuron, and genesis of the neural tube and neuroepithelium. They talk about the p... |
| 2022-May-02 • 63 minutes #133 - The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter: A Dialogue with Kai Bird In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kai Bird about Jimmy Carter. They discuss the context and environment of rural Georgia in the 1920s in which Carter was born. They talk about the impact of racism in his upbringing, importance of hi... |
| 2022-Apr-29 • 108 minutes #132 - The Evolution of Birds: A Dialogue with Douglas Futuyma In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Douglas Futuyma about the evolution of birds. They discuss how evolutionary biology can be a very helpful lens to understand birds. They talk about the importance of the phylogenetic tree for birds,... |
| 2022-Apr-25 • 97 minutes #131- Citizens: A Better Future: A Dialogue with Jon Alexander In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jon Alexander about a citizens story for humanity. They begin by talking about the consumer's story, how reciprocity and interdependence work in a citizens story, and how one sees the subject, consu... |
| 2022-Apr-21 • 108 minutes #130 - Undoing Bias: A Dialogue with Christia Spears Brown In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Christia Spears Brown about the various aspects of bias. They give a definition and overview of bias in our current society. They question whether bias can be positive and some of the human differen... |
| 2022-Apr-18 • 110 minutes #129 - The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: A Dialogue with Riley Black In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Riley Black about the last days of the dinosaurs. They discuss what life on earth was like with dinosaurs being very prominent and so successful in diversifying. They mention the importance of fossi... |
| 2022-Apr-14 • 71 minutes #128 - Immigration In The 21st Century: A Dialogue with Nancy Foner In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nancy Foner about immigration and some of the current data on immigration in the 21st century. They provide and overview of current immigration data, discuss the more recent waves of immigration and... |
| 2022-Apr-11 • 61 minutes #127 - The Philosophy of Baruch Spinoza: A Dialogue with Steven Nadler In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Steven Nadler about the philosophy of Spinoza. They discuss Spinoza's definition of god and the connection with nature. They talk about how humans are included within nature and the role of free wil... |
| 2022-Apr-07 • 64 minutes #126 - Dogs Without Humans: A Dialogue with Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff about a canine future without humans. They talk about how dogs could potentially survive and evolve in a post-human world. They mention the difference between breeds v... |
| 2022-Apr-04 • 106 minutes #125 - A Geological History of The Earth: A Dialogue with Andrew Knoll In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Andrew Knoll about the geological history of the earth. They discuss how light, gravity, dark energy, and dark matter explain the early origins of the universe and earth. They also talk about the va... |
| 2022-Mar-31 • 90 minutes #124 - Living In the Grey with Neurodiversity: A Dialogue with Jenara Nerenberg In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jenara Nerenberg about the complexities of neurodiversity. They begin by defining neurodiversity and highly sensitive people. They also talk about Jenara's critiques of psychiatry and psychology, sp... |
| 2022-Mar-28 • 99 minutes #123 - The Process of Animal Domestication: A Dialogue with Marcelo Sanchez-Villagra In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Marcelo Sanchez-Villagra about animal domestication. They define domestication and how it is a process. They talk about niche construction and the three pathways of domestication. They mention the i... |
| 2022-Mar-24 • 126 minutes #122 - Virtues and Limits: A Dialogue with David McPherson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David McPherson about the virtues of limits. They discuss the six limiting virtues and 4 limits. They discuss the origins of virtues and the two stances of these virtues. They talk about the differe... |
| 2022-Mar-21 • 188 minutes #121 - Unifying the Bayesian Brain Model and Free Energy Principle: A Dialogue with Karl Friston In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a discussion with Karl Friston about the Free Energy Principle, Bayesian Brain, and many neurobiological principles. They give an overview of the history of the models of the brain and discuss the evolutionary comp... |
| 2022-Mar-19 • 245 minutes #120 - Is Psychology A Failing Science?: A Dialogue with Patrick Lockwood In this special episode, Xavier Bonilla has an extended and wide ranging discussion about emotions, current state of psychology, and sexuality. They discuss emotions and their function, expression of emotions, fear as a spectrum and instinctual vs. l... |
| 2022-Mar-17 • 103 minutes #119 - The Communication of Whales: A Dialogue with Mel Cosentino In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Mel Cosentino about whales, their behavior and their communication. They give an overview of the taxonomy of whales, interactions between porpoises and orcas, and how whales communicate. They talk a... |
| 2022-Mar-14 • 78 minutes #118 - The Origins of The East India Company (1/4): A Dialogue with William Dalrymple In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with William Dalrymple about the origins of the East India Company (EIC). They start by discussing his quartet of books on the EIC and his motivations for writing this history. They talk about the origin... |
| 2022-Mar-10 • 150 minutes #117 - Cooperation and The Social Lives of Animals: A Dialogue with Ashley Ward In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ashley Ward about cooperation and the social lives of various animals. They talk about the importance of krill and how they cooperate, locusts and their exchange of serotonin, and the social lives o... |
| 2022-Mar-07 • 84 minutes #116 - John F. Kennedy: The Formation of An American Dream: A Dialogue with Fredrik Logevall In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Fredrik Logevall about the early life of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. They discuss why JFK's story is important for telling America's story. They mention the Irish immig... |
| 2022-Mar-03 • 84 minutes #115 - Should We Care About the Culture Wars?: A Dialogue with Meghan Daum In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Meghan Daum about various aspects of culture and society. They discuss how the focus in society is about many cultural challenges. They talk about generational and technological shifts and the impac... |
| 2022-Feb-28 • 106 minutes #114 - Bridging Divides Through Curiosity: A Dialogue with Monica Guzman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Monica Guzman on the power of curiosity. They discuss the main theses of her book on seeing the humanity of others by using curiosity. They talk about the three challenges of human nature (sorting, ... |
| 2022-Feb-21 • 53 minutes #113 - Building Life Over Billions of Years: A Dialogue with Neil Shubin In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Neil Shubin about the building blocks of life over billions of years. They discuss why the fossil record is so essential for understanding the history of the earth and for understanding the history ... |
| 2022-Feb-17 • 120 minutes #112 - Recalibrating Our Views on Anger and Shame: A Dialogue with Daniel Sznycer In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Daniel Sznycer about the theoretical and empirical data on anger and shame. They discuss the recalibration theory of anger and the place of social valuation of anger. They also mention some of the r... |
| 2022-Feb-14 • 75 minutes #111 - Are We Evolved to Exercise?: A Dialogue With Daniel Lieberman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Daniel Lieberman about the evolutionary history of exercise. They discuss why evolution and adaptation are important to understand the human body, use of energy, myths of sitting, and how much sleep... |
| 2022-Feb-10 • 89 minutes #110 - The Power of Convergent Evolution: A Dialogue with Jonathan Losos In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jonathan Losos about convergent evolution. They begin by defining convergent evolution and what the role of the environment is for convergent evolution. They discuss the importance of phenotypes and... |
| 2022-Feb-07 • 117 minutes #109 - Genetic History of the Americas: A Dialogue with Jennifer Raff In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jennifer Raff about the genetic history of the Americas. They discuss why respect and care for the histories and cultures of indigenous groups should be respected when doing research. They talk abou... |
| 2022-Feb-03 • 217 minutes #108 - Structural Figures of Continental Philosophy: A Dialogue with John Macready In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a discussion with John Macready about many figures and concepts in continental philosophy. They begin the conversation by talking about the two camps of analytic and continental philosophy. They talk about Plato an... |
| 2022-Jan-31 • 118 minutes #107 - Biophysics of the Living World: A Dialogue with Raghuveer Parthasarathy In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Raghuveer Parthasarathy about four basic principles of the living world. They define what is the hybrid discipline of biophysics and why he chose the four physical laws he lays out in his book. They... |
| 2022-Jan-23 • 125 minutes #106 - The Interconnectedness of Scale: A Dialogue with Geoffrey West In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Geoffrey West about scale and sustainability. They begin by discussing scale and how it is typically defined. They give an overview of the major relevant scaling laws including the logarithmic scale... |
| 2022-Jan-17 • 112 minutes #105 - Are Humans Evolved for Cooperation and Kindness?: A Dialogue with Michael McCullough In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Michael McCullough on cooperation and kindness with humans. They discuss his professional background and why he wrote his most recent book along with how one can understand kindness and cooperation.... |
| 2022-Jan-13 • 66 minutes #104 - Four Women Who Revolutionized Ethics: A Dialogue with Benjamin Lipscomb In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Benjamin Lipscomb about four women philosophers in the early 20th century who revolutionized ethical studies. They discuss how he came to write this book and how these four women came to know each o... |
| 2022-Jan-10 • 62 minutes #103 - The Horde: Genius of the Mongols: A Dialogue with Marie Favereau In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Marie Favereau about the Horde and the Mongol empire. They discuss the Horde and the distinction between the Mongol empire and Mongol exchange. They talk about common misconceptions of the Mongols a... |
| 2022-Jan-06 • 104 minutes #102 - Genes, Moods, and the Self: A Dialogue with Bill Sullivan In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bill Sullivan about genes and how they impact various aspects of humanity. They define genes and DNA and the roles of genes within the environment. They also discuss the complicated dynamics of epi... |
| 2022-Jan-03 • 102 minutes #101 - From Darwin to Derrida: A Dialogue with David Haig In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Haig about evolution, causes, and the meaning of life. They discuss how bits of matter can help us understand purpose and value. They talk about the four causes of Aristotle, adaptation, group... |
| 2021-Dec-30 • 115 minutes #100 - In the Shadow of Vietnam: A Dialogue with Mark Atwood Lawrence In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Mark Atwood Lawrence about the foreign policy of the United States in the 1960s. They discuss why his book focuses on other foreign policy elements outside of Vietnam during the 1960s. They mention ... |
| 2021-Dec-28 • 66 minutes #99 - Time of the Magicians: A Dialogue with Wolfram Eilenberger In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Wolfram Eilenberger about four German philosophers at the turn of the 20th century. They focus on the central theme of whether one can separate the ideas from the biography of a person. They talk ab... |
| 2021-Dec-23 • 89 minutes #98 - Puzzling Wonders of Evolution: A Dialogue with Kenneth Catania In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kenneth Catania about various animals that are outliers for evolution. They discuss how evolution helps understand these animals that are outliers. They talk about the anatomy and features of the st... |
| 2021-Dec-20 • 112 minutes #97 - The Neuroscience of Psychotherapeutic Change: A Dialogue with Richard Lane In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Lane about the neuroscience of psychotherapy and enduring change. They give an overview of how the neuroscience of psychotherapy can impact enduring change. They provide an overview of memor... |
| 2021-Dec-16 • 132 minutes #96 - The Complicated Utility of Anger and Shame: A Dialogue with Owen Flanagan In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Owen Flanagan about emotions, specifically the emotions of anger and shame. They discuss a definition of emotion and the distinction between feelings and affect. They discuss how emotions are active... |
| 2021-Dec-13 • 116 minutes #95 - The History of Human Emotions: A Dialogue with Richard Firth-Godbehere In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Firth-Godbehere about the history of human emotions. They provide a definition of emotion and how it is different from affect and feelings. They explain emotional regimes, communities, and s... |
| 2021-Dec-09 • 157 minutes #94 - The Neuroscientific and Philosophical Landscape of Self-Regulation: A Dialogue with Stuart Shanker In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Stuart Shanker about the neuroscience and philosophical underpinnings of self-regulation. They discuss his clinical and research background in working with children and why he emphasizes a just soci... |
| 2021-Dec-06 • 87 minutes #93 - 500 Million Years of Cephalopods: A Dialogue with Danna Staaf In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Danna Staaf about the history of cephalopods. They discuss the taxonomy of cephalopods and some of their anatomical features. They talk about how scientists understand cephalopods from the fossil re... |
| 2021-Dec-02 • 62 minutes #92 - Is There A Way Out of Toxic Polarization?: A Dialogue with Peter Coleman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peter Coleman regarding toxic polarization in society. They define toxic polarization and what makes the current moment unique from other moments in social history. They talk about in-group/out-grou... |
| 2021-Nov-29 • 204 minutes #91 - German Idealism: The Philosophies of Kant and Fichte: A Dialogue with Gabriel Gottlieb In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Gabriel Gottlieb about German idealism and the philosophies of Immanuel Kant and Johann Gottlieb Fichte. They define German idealism and where this period sits within the history of philosophy. They... |
| 2021-Nov-25 • 67 minutes #90 - Sovereignty: A Most Presumptuous Claim: A Dialogue with Peter Russell In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Peter Russell about Sovereignty. They discuss a definition of sovereignty and the historical arc on the claim of sovereignty. They discuss the idea of a deity giving sovereignty and the importance o... |
| 2021-Nov-22 • 118 minutes #89 - The Macabre Pleasures of Morbid Curiosity: A Dialogue with Coltan Scrivner In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Coltan Scrivner about morbid curiosity. They define curiosity and morbid curiosity along with the origins of morbid curiosity with critiques on terror management theory and negative trait bias. They... |
| 2021-Nov-18 • 74 minutes #88 - Life in the Arctic Tundra: A Dialogue with Laura Galloway In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Laura Galloway about her memoir where she details her experience of living in the Arctic Tundra. They discuss her professional background and reasoning for writing a memoir. They talk about the psyc... |
| 2021-Nov-15 • 105 minutes #87 - The End of Trauma: A Dialogue with George Bonanno In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with George Bonanno on the many aspects of trauma. They discuss the many pitfalls of trauma and a working definition of trauma. They explain what potentially traumatic events (PTE) and acute stress react... |
| 2021-Nov-11 • 88 minutes #86 - A History of Maternal-Fetal Effects: A Dialogue with Sarah Richardson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Sarah Richardson about the history of maternal-fetal effects. They discuss why human developmental plasticity is important for intrauterine growth and how this impacts the evolution of post-natal gr... |
| 2021-Nov-08 • 187 minutes #85 - Earth: The Annals of Our Home: A Dialogue with Henry Gee In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Henry Gee about the history of the earth. They start by discussing Henry's background and reasons for writing the book. They discuss the big bang and origins of the earth along with how the sun and ... |
| 2021-Nov-04 • 117 minutes #84 - The Phenomenological Materialism of Hannah Arendt: A Dialogue with Samantha Rose Hill In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Samantha Rose Hill about the life and philosophy of Hannah Arendt. They begin by mapping out some of Arendt's early childhood and life experiences, specifically the death of her father. They discuss... |
| 2021-Nov-01 • 88 minutes #83 - The Pleasures of Suffering: A Dialogue with Paul Bloom In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Paul Bloom concerning suffering, pleasure, and meaning. They discuss the reasoning for Paul writing his new book on the darker side of pleasure and make the distinction between chosen and unchosen s... |
| 2021-Oct-28 • 162 minutes #82 - The Gene‘s-Eye View of Evolution: A Dialogue with Arvid Ågren In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Arvid Ågren about the genetic implications of evolution. The discuss his background and reasons for writing his book. They explain the gene's-eye view of natural selection and how one can still unde... |
| 2021-Oct-25 • 102 minutes #81 - Media‘s Gentrification of the Working Class: A Dialogue with Batya Ungar-Sargon In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Batya Ungar-Sargon about journalism and the working class. They begin by discussing the history of journalism and the past emphasis of the working class being the main audience. They discuss why mas... |
| 2021-Oct-18 • 96 minutes #80 - Wrestling With Our Social Taboos: A Dialogue with Charles Murray In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Charles Murray about statistics, cognitive abilities, and social-political issues. They begin by providing a statistical overview of the bell curve, standard deviations, and the overlap of group mea... |
| 2021-Oct-14 • 119 minutes #79 - Plagues Upon The Earth: A Dialogue with Kyle Harper In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kyle Harper about the history of plague and disease on the planet. They begin by talking about his reasons for writing his latest book and the two main theses of the book. They talk about the five t... |
| 2021-Oct-11 • 107 minutes #78 - Nuanced Feminism in Modern Times: A Dialogue with Kat Rosenfield In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kat Rosenfield about women, men, feminism, metoo, cancel culture, and free speech issues. They begin the conversation by discussing why Kat writes about cultural issues and the current state of femi... |
| 2021-Oct-07 • 92 minutes #77 - Balanced and Healthy Group Identities: A Dialogue with Dominic Packer In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Dominic Packer about group identities. They start the conversation by discussing his partnership with Jay Van Bavel and their reasons for writing the book. The define identity and why it is an impor... |
| 2021-Oct-04 • 175 minutes #76 - The Evolving Complexities of Higher Education: A Dialogue with Nicole Barbaro In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicole Barbaro about higher education. They discuss Nicole's work in higher education and the importance of mentorship for professional development. They provide a definition of education and its bo... |
| 2021-Sep-27 • 119 minutes #75 - Social Implications of Our Genetic Lottery: A Dialogue with Kathryn Paige Harden In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kathryn Paige Harden about genetics and their interactions with the environment. She explains her background and reasoning for writing her book. They lay the groundwork for the conversation by consi... |
| 2021-Sep-23 • 75 minutes #74 - Whales: The Mysterious Giants of the Ocean: A Dialogue with Nick Pyenson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nick Pyenson about whales and their environment. They begin the conversation by talking about the importance of science communication and Nick's role in science communication with his research and b... |
| 2021-Sep-20 • 114 minutes #73 - The Evolution of Beauty: A Dialogue with Richard Prum In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Richard Prum about aesthetics, birds, and the evolution of beauty. They provide an overview of sexual selection and the aspects of sexual ornamentation and mate choice. They discuss Fisher’s two-fac... |
| 2021-Sep-16 • 152 minutes #72 - Let‘s Talk About Sex(ual Arousal, Desire, & Disgust): A Dialogue with Courtney Crosby In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Courtney Crosby about sexual arousal, desire, and disgust. Courtney provides some of her background and how she became interested in evolutionary psychology and studying sexual disgust. They define ... |
| 2021-Sep-12 • 54 minutes #71 - The Fiscal Legacy of Calvin Coolidge: A Dialogue with Amity Shlaes In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Amity Shlaes about the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. They discuss Coolidge’s background and environment raised to be frugal and fiscally conservative. They talk about his pat... |
| 2021-Sep-09 • 70 minutes #70 - A Conservative Case for Liberal Education: A Dialogue with Jonathan Marks In this episode, Xavier Bonilla had a dialogue with Jonathan Marks about liberal education and how educational institutions need reform. They discuss his main thesis of the book and why he decided to write the book. They define and discuss the origin... |
| 2021-Sep-06 • 126 minutes #69 - Jungles: Our Fading Home: A Dialogue with Patrick Roberts In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Patrick Roberts about tropical forests and their impact on the planet and for humans. They begin with a historical overview of the earth’s periods and how tropical forests are seen in each period. T... |
| 2021-Sep-02 • 122 minutes #68 - Uncovering the Inner Experience of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Dialogue with Shioma-Lei Craythorne In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Shioma-Lei Craythorne about Body Dysmorphic Disorder and some of the research on this disorder. They provide a definition of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) along with the Diagnostic and Statistical ... |
| 2021-Aug-30 • 130 minutes #67 - Zealous Search for Truth in Documentary Filmmaking: A Dialogue with Nadia Gill In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nadia Gill concerning truth, persuasion, and culture in documentary filmmaking. They talk about her background and shift from law to documentary filmmaking. They discuss the importance of telling th... |
| 2021-Aug-23 • 76 minutes #66 - Testosterone: Understanding Without Judgment: A Dialogue with Carole Hooven In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Carole Hooven about the hormone Testosterone and its impact on men and within society. They discuss her new book and reasons for writing the book. They talk about sex hormones and the sexual reprodu... |
| 2021-Aug-19 • 115 minutes #65 - A Balanced Black History in Education: A Dialogue with Charles Love In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Charles Love about education, Black history, and current political challenges. The talk about his background and work in education. They talk about the challenges with the current Critical Race Theo... |
| 2021-Aug-16 • 74 minutes #64 - Lifting the Veil of Islam: A Dialogue with Yasmine Mohammed In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Yasmine Mohammed about the complexities of Islam around the world. They begin with a synopsis of Yasmine’s story with Islam and how she responds to her story not being representative of Islam. They ... |
| 2021-Aug-12 • 90 minutes #63 - The Philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas: A Dialogue with Simon Critchley In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Simon Critchley on continental and analytic philosophy, the philosophy of Levinas, and applied philosophy. They discuss what continental and analytical philosophy are and their similarities and diff... |
| 2021-Aug-09 • 66 minutes #62 - De-Stigmatizing Mental Illness: A Dialogue with Lucy Foulkes In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lucy Foulkes around mental illness and some of the facts and messaging regarding this topic. They define mental illness and discuss the differences between acute and chronic symptoms. They talk abou... |
| 2021-Aug-05 • 118 minutes #61 - Can Evolution Explain Morality?: A Dialogue with Allen Buchanan In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Allen Buchanan about the origins of tribalism and morality. They discuss his reasons for writing about tribalism and ideology along with providing a definition of tribalism and how it manifests in s... |
| 2021-Aug-02 • 114 minutes #60 - The Self-Conscious Emotion of Shame: A Dialogue with June Tangney In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with June Tangney about shame and the various components of this emotion. They provide a definition of shame and how it is a distinct emotion from guilt. They discuss how the same event can be implicated... |
| 2021-Jul-26 • 120 minutes #59 - Genetic Balancing of Nature and Nurture: A Dialogue with Kevin Mitchell In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kevin Mitchell on genetics, neuroscience, and variation in development. They discuss why developmental variation is important to understanding genes and environment through the trajectory of the lif... |
| 2021-Jul-22 • 127 minutes #58 - Suicide: The Most Known Unknown: A Dialogue with Kathryn Gordon In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kathryn Gordon about the challenging topic of suicide. They discuss the current data and statistics on suicide in the United States. They talk about the connection between suicide and mental illness... |
| 2021-Jul-19 • 62 minutes #57 - The Emotional Lives of Black Women: A Dialogue with Inger Burnett-Zeigler In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Inger Burnett-Ziegler about the emotional lives of Black women and how Black women can have authenticity and empowerment. They discuss Inger's background and her reasoning for writing her book. They... |
| 2021-Jul-12 • 77 minutes #56 - A Defense Against Illiberalism: A Dialogue with Jonathan Rauch In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jonathan Rauch about the constitution of knowledge and how to defend against illiberalism. They discuss Jonathan’s background and how we have arrived to many of the societal themes today. They discu... |
| 2021-Jul-08 • 101 minutes #55 - Evolve & Restart: A Dialogue with Luis Lopez-Portillo In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Luis Lopez-Portillo about behavioral and cultural change for self-improvement. They begin the dialogue with an overview of Luis' personal and professional background. They talk about his background ... |
| 2021-Jul-05 • 100 minutes #54 - Can We Have An Ethical Artificial Intelligence?: A Dialogue with Alentina Vardanyan In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Alentina Vardanyan about the organizational behavior and ethics of artificial intelligence (AI). They discuss her transition from psychology to behavioral approaches within AI. They define intellige... |
| 2021-Jul-01 • 291 minutes #53 - Starmanning and Superman: A Dialogue with Angel Eduardo + Guests In this special episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Angel Eduardo about many of his recent essays on starmanning, race, and Superman. They are joined by cameos from Christopher Ferguson, Wilfred Reilly, and Stephen Clouse about these topics. ... |
| 2021-Jun-28 • 95 minutes #52 - Menopause: A Cultural Syndrome? - A Dialogue with Susan Mattern In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Susan Mattern about menopause. They start by discussing her reasons and motivations for writing her most recent book, The Slow Moon Climbs: The science, history, and meaning of menopause. They expla... |
| 2021-Jun-21 • 62 minutes #51 - The WEIRDest People in the World: A Dialogue with Joseph Henrich In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Joseph Henrich about WEIRD people and cultural evolution. They start the conversation by defining what WEIRD means and some of the essential features of WEIRD people. They talk about cumulative cult... |
| 2021-Jun-14 • 81 minutes #50 - The Phenomenology of Soren Kierkegaard: A Dialogue with Amber Bowen In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Amber Bowen about Soren Kierkegaard's philosophy. They discuss Amber's background and involvement in studying Kierkegaard and her dissertation on the phenomenological self in Kierkegaard's philosoph... |
| 2021-Jun-07 • 94 minutes #49 - The Self-Conscious Emotion of Pride: A Dialogue with Jessica Tracy In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jessica Tracy about the self-conscious emotion of pride. They begin the discussion by defining emotions and describing their evolutionary function. They talk about the basic emotions and the self-co... |
| 2021-Jun-03 • 105 minutes #48 - Our Social Instinct for Cooperation: A Dialogue with Nichola Raihani In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nichola Raihani about our social instinct for cooperation. They begin by discussing the first part of her book which details the genetic aspects of making one's body function and how cooperation is ... |
| 2021-May-24 • 157 minutes #47 - Evolution Misconceptions and the Myers Briggs: A Dialogue with Laith Al-Shawaf In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Laith Al-Shawaf about common misconceptions surrounding evolution and the faulty statistical science for the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Evolution is the first topic. They discuss the common... |
| 2021-May-17 • 135 minutes #46 - The Humanism of Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy: A Dialogue with Paul Grant & Ellen Inverso In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Paul Grant and Ellen Inverso about Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) . They provide an overview of Aaron Beck’s cognitive model both theoretically and in clinical practice. They discuss the... |
| 2021-May-10 • 133 minutes #45 - Walking Upright: The Importance of Bipedalism: A Dialogue with Jeremy DeSilva In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jeremy DeSilva about the importance of bipedalism. They discuss the evolutionary history of hominoids, hominins, and hominids. They talk about the earliest evolution of bipedalism in other species. ... |
| 2021-May-03 • 79 minutes #44 - The Mathematical Power of Neuroscience: A Dialogue with Grace Lindsay In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Grace Lindsay about the computational approach that can be used to understand the brain. They discuss what computational neuroscience is and provide a brief overview and review of neuroanatomy. They... |
| 2021-Apr-29 • 177 minutes #43 - Feminist Existentialism: A Dialogue with Talia Welsh In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Talia Welsh about feminism, existentialism, and the nature of work. They discuss feminist theory and ask if feminism adds a chapter to philosophy or should revolutionize the field? They talk about w... |
| 2021-Apr-26 • 63 minutes #42 - The Dark Side of Sexual Evolution: A Dialogue with David Buss In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Buss about evolutionary psychology and his new book on sexual deception, harassment, and assault. They discuss his background and how he founded and developed the field of evolutionary psychol... |
| 2021-Apr-22 • 125 minutes #41 - Source Bias, Trustworthiness, and Persuasion: A Dialogue with Laura Wallace In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Laura Wallace about source bias, trustworthiness, attitudes, and persuasion. They discuss what sources are and how bias is defined. They talk about perceived bias and its importance along with the s... |
| 2021-Apr-19 • 183 minutes #40 - Applied Phenomenology: Hegel, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty: A Dialogue with John Russon In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Russon about the major thinkers in phenomenology and how their ideas can be applied in everyday life. They begin the conversation with an overview of Hegel's philosophy and discuss sexual intim... |
| 2021-Apr-15 • 143 minutes #39 - The Impact of Parenthood and Divorce: A Dialogue with Manon Van Scheppingen In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Manon Van Scheppingen about the most current research on marriage, divorce, and parenthood. They start with an overview of life transitions in young adulthood and what those transitions look like in... |
| 2021-Apr-12 • 119 minutes #38 - Education: A School Psychology Perspective: A Dialogue with Jessica Koehler In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jessica Koehler about education, school choice, and school psychology. Jessica discusses her background and how she became involved with school psychology and how it led to her current work. They di... |
| 2021-Apr-07 • 66 minutes #37 - Cognition, Consciousness, and Cephalopods: A Dialogue with Alex Schnell In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Alex Schnell about cognition, intelligence, and consciousness in cephalopods. They briefly discuss comparative psychology and its use alongside other fields. They discuss the evolutionary basics of ... |
| 2021-Apr-04 • 57 minutes #36 - The Evolution of Modern-Day Conservatism: A Dialogue with Rick Perlstein In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Rick Perlstein about conservatism, politics in the United States, and past and present social-cultural issues. They discuss his motivations for writing his four books on modern Conservatism in the U... |
| 2021-Apr-01 • 83 minutes #35 - Understanding Moral Extremism: A Dialogue With Spencer Case In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Spencer Case about extremism and morality. They discuss his background, how he got into philosophy, and leaving Mormonism. They define moral extremism and discuss it as a vice and detriment of chara... |
| 2021-Mar-29 • 138 minutes #34 - A More Person-Centered Journalism: A Dialogue With Monica Guzman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Monica Guzman about journalism, culture, and Latinos in the United States. They discuss how she became involved in journalism and how the current state of journalism is at both the national and loca... |
| 2021-Mar-25 • 56 minutes #33 - Leaving Race Behind: A Dialogue with Thomas Chatterton Williams In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Thomas Chatterton Williams about race and our current social challenges. They talk about Thomas' reasoning for writing his memoirs and the major theme of race. They talk about the one drop rule for ... |
| 2021-Mar-22 • 54 minutes #32 - COVID-19: The Malady of Our Time: A Dialogue with Nicholas Christakis In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Christakis about the COVID-19 global pandemic. They discuss how he wrote his latest book, Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live, while the pande... |
| 2021-Mar-18 • 146 minutes #31- Crisis! The Current State of the Social Sciences: A Dialogue with Lee Jussim In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lee Jussim about stereotypes, bias, and the current state of the social sciences. They talk about the scientific data on stereotypes, good and bad stereotypes, and how one understands stereotypes. T... |
| 2021-Mar-15 • 124 minutes #30 - The Hidden Source of Consciousness: A Dialogue with Mark Solms In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Mark Solms about consciousness, emotions, and how we understand the human psyche. They begin by discussing how Mark become involved in neuropsychology and psychoanalysis and how he combines these tw... |
| 2021-Mar-11 • 124 minutes #29 - Video Games, Madness, and Our Society: A Dialogue with Christopher Ferguson In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Christopher Ferguson about violence in mass media such as video games, madness with historical and political figures, and the implications for our society. They discuss the standard view of violent ... |
| 2021-Mar-08 • 66 minutes #28 - Genetics, Race, and Populations: A Dialogue with Razib Khan In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Razib Khan about genetics, how to understand populations and racial categories through genetics, and some of the social implications. They start by discussing the basics of genetics, the differences... |
| 2021-Mar-04 • 86 minutes #27 - Mixed Race Identity and Pragmatic Conservatism: A Dialogue with John Wood Jr. In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Wood Jr. about race, ethnicity, and conservatism. They discuss John's background both publicly and personally and the Braver Angels Organization. They dialogue about how biracial/multiracial pe... |
| 2021-Mar-01 • 128 minutes #26 - Getting Personal with Nietzsche and Heidegger: A Dialogue with David Hoinski In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Hoinski about the personal implications of philosophy and some of the major works of Nietzsche and Heidegger. They discuss how philosophical ideas are connected with each philosopher's life an... |
| 2021-Feb-25 • 146 minutes #25 - Postmodernism, Phenomenology, and Lived Experiences: A Dialogue with Bret Alderman In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bret Alderman concerning postmodernism, phenomenology, and lived experiences. They provide an overview of postmodernism and deconstructionism along with explaining why language is central for this p... |
| 2021-Feb-22 • 104 minutes #24 - Deserts: Free Will and Moral Responsibility: A Dialogue with Gregg Caruso In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Gregg Caruso about free will, moral responsibility, and retributive justice. They begin with discussing the motivation and process for writing his new book with Daniel Dennett. They provide a defini... |
| 2021-Feb-18 • 89 minutes #23 - The Underrated Magnum Opus of George Washington: A Dialogue with Lindsay Chervinsky In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lindsay M. Chervinsky about George Washington's creation of the cabinet. They discuss how Washington created the cabinet and constructed the framework for future presidents. They talk about the init... |
| 2021-Feb-15 • 121 minutes #22 - Statistical Value of Personality: A Dialogue with Allie Choate In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Allie Choate about the statistical aspects of measuring personality. They start the conversation by giving a general definition of psychopathology and p-factor. They discuss some internalizing and e... |
| 2021-Feb-11 • 126 minutes #21 - Evidence-Based Treatments and Elimination Disorders: A Dialogue with Camilo Ortiz In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Camilo Ortiz about evidence-based treatments and elimination disorders within clinical psychology. They discuss the differences in degrees and programs between PhD's and PsyD's in clinical psycholog... |
| 2021-Feb-08 • 65 minutes #20 - The Phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty: A Dialogue with Talia Welsh In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Talia Welsh about the phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty. Talia provides her background in philosophy and with Merleau-Ponty specifically. She also discusses her work in gender and feminine studies. The... |
| 2021-Feb-04 • 196 minutes #19 - The Labyrinth of Attachment Theory: A Dialogue with Nicole Barbaro In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicole Barbaro about evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, and challenges with higher education. They give an overview of evolutionary psychology and some of the changes over the years. They a... |
| 2021-Feb-01 • 91 minutes #18 - The Audacity of Race Data: A Dialogue with Wilfred Reilly In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Wilfred Reilly about the complex data around race in the United States. Wilfred provides some of the current statistics on racial groups and how this can be received in a mixed way in the media. The... |
| 2021-Jan-28 • 165 minutes #17 - Fire and Vultures: A Dialogue with Iona Italia In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Iona Italia about her personal memoirs, mixed-race identity, and current social issues. Iona discusses her various experiences around the world and how they have shaped her identity. Specifically, s... |
| 2021-Jan-25 • 132 minutes #16 - Pragmatic Conservatism or Classical Liberalism: A Dialogue Between Bo Winegard and Nicholas Wolfinger In this special episode, Xavier Bonilla moderates a dialogue between Bo Winegard and Nicholas Wolfinger about the similarities and differences between conservatism and liberalism. They discuss immigration and the varying narratives on mass migrations... |
| 2021-Jan-21 • 141 minutes #15 - Marriage, Divorce, and Single Motherhood: A Dialogue with Nicholas Wolfinger In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Wolfinger about marriage, divorce, and single motherhood. They start the conversation with an overview of sociology today and some of the differences between quantitative and qualitative me... |
| 2021-Jan-18 • 228 minutes #14 - Nietzsche Contra Freud: Towards A Nietzschean Psychology: A Dialogue with Tyler VanOstrand In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a in-depth dialogue with Tyler VanOstrand on his recently finished thesis discussing the divergence between the ideas of Nietzsche and Freud. At the start of this dialogue, Tyler provides a summary of the juxtaposi... |
| 2021-Jan-15 • 156 minutes #13 - Philosophy As An Attitude: A Dialogue with Sanjana Rajagopal In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Sanjana Rajagopal about her experience in philosophy, the ideas of Martin Heidegger and Hannah Arendt, and philosophy in general. Sanjana talks about what led her into studying philosophy as a woman... |
| 2021-Jan-08 • 186 minutes #12 - Stress, Psychology, and Self-Help: A Dialogue with Simona Efanov In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Simona Efanov about the neurophysiology of stress, clinical psychology, and the dangers of self-help psychology. They discuss the various definitions of stress and talk about the aspects of positive... |
| 2021-Jan-02 • 164 minutes #11 - Important Enough To Refute: A Dialogue with Stephen Clouse In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Stephen Clouse about political theory, philosophy, and Aristotelian concepts in general and for current day application. They talk about the differences between political philosophy and political sc... |
| 2020-Dec-27 • 153 minutes #10 - Cold Takes: The Battleground of Ideas and Latino Diversity: A Dialogue with Angel Eduardo In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Angel Eduardo about the need to focus on ideas and also about viewpoint diversity with the Latino community. They discuss the distinctions between words and ideas and the value of intentions along ... |
| 2020-Dec-23 • 162 minutes #9 - Make Psychotherapy Great Again: A Dialogue with Ashley King In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ashley King about the various components of psychotherapy and some of its challenges currently. They provide an overview of the major therapies and talk about the practice of "circling." The practic... |
| 2020-Dec-18 • 134 minutes #8 - Bias, Replication, and Free Will: A Dialogue with Cory Clark In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Cory Clark about bias within the social sciences, the replication crisis, and the concepts of free will and determinism. They start by defining the social sciences and discussing the challenges and ... |
| 2020-Dec-12 • 175 minutes #7 - Truth and Compassion: Evolution, Biological Sex, and Gender Identity: A Dialogue with Colin Wright In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Colin Wright on topics of evolution, biological sex, and gender identity. They provide an overview of evolution and understanding it as fact and theoretical mechanism. They explore how Darwin outlin... |
| 2020-Dec-07 • 138 minutes #6 - Sex, Critical Race Theory, and The Social Sciences: A Dialogue with Rod Graham In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Rod Graham about sex work, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the social sciences in general. They discuss Rod's research on cyber security and criminology. They talk about his research in sex work, pa... |
| 2020-Dec-03 • 123 minutes #5 - The Necessity of Awe: A Dialogue with Jonah Paquette In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jonah Paquette about the emotion of awe. They talk about the positive and negative aspects of awe. They discuss the taxonomy of awe and subsequent emotions. They talk about moving awe from a state t... |
| 2020-Nov-25 • 111 minutes #4 - Can We Have Diversity of Thought on Race?: A Dialogue with Brittany Talissa King In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Brittany Talissa King about race and the wide diversity within this topic. We discuss Brittany's background within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and her evolution with various thinkers. We d... |
| 2020-Nov-15 • 125 minutes #3 - Is Pragmatism the Real Progressivism?: A Dialogue with Ben Winegard In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ben Winegard about centrism, pragmatic institutionalism, and how these impact society. They discuss experts and their use and limits. They talk about epistemic humility, the working class, and trans... |
| 2020-Nov-09 • 103 minutes #2 - Conservatism, Trumpism, and Immigration: A Dialogue with Bo Winegard In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bo Winegard about Conservatism and some of its implications for today's society. They talk about Bo's past academic history, academic integrity, and intellectual honesty. They discuss Trump, the 202... |
| 2020-Nov-02 • 149 minutes #1 - Freud, War, and the Will to Power: A Dialogue with Tyler VanOstrand In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Tyler VanOstrand about various philosophical and psychological theories and themes. They talk about Freud and the power of his theory, Freud's model derived from Plato's model of the psyche, differe... |