Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish theologian and philosopher who said humans have existential anxiety because of our myriad choices.
T.J. discusses.
#23 Death is Insane
TJ contemplates existence.
#22 FBOY Island
TJ breaks down the HBO Max reality dating show FBOY Island, why he likes it, and its place in our culture
#21 Two Impressions
Here’s my Fred Armisen impression from SNL’s “The Californians” and Matthew Goode as producer Bob Evans from Paramount Plus’s “The Offer.”
#20 The Slap Heard Round the World
Was Will Smith right to slap Chris Rock on national television? Why did he do it?
#19 - Hunter Biden
Have the legacy media and Big Tech conspired to lie to us and protect Hunter Biden?
#18 - Where the real power is
Who has the power in the world? Is it governments? What happens when private wealth and power invades government?
#17 - The Less We Will Communicate
Famed philosopher and spiritual orator Alan Watts said that the more technologically advanced we became with communication, the less we would actually “communicate.”
Was he right?
#16 - We Have to Hear the Other Side
We’re on the brink of cultural, political, and environmental disaster. The only way out is through — and it’s by learning to hear one another again, learning to see the point of view of those who disagree with you.
This isn’t “bothsideism” or false equivalence. We have to transcend the my-side-versus-your-side that continues to grow and metastasize in American life and politics. It’s profit-driven infotainment and it’s tearing us to pieces.
#15 - Alcoholics Anonymous versus a non-AA recovery
Which is better? Is it the same for everyone? Why do some people claim it’s AA or nothing? Can you get sober without going to meetings? I have fourteen years of sobriety. Let’s chat.
#14 - We All Believe in Determinism Whether We Know It or Not (Free Will is a Myth Pt 2)
Pick any religion. The god or concept at its center either possesses a will greater than your own or is a force greater than you. This is determinism. Cause and effect cascading down through the eons, your own physiology (including your thoughts) not under your control. What even are “you” anyway…?
#13 - You Are Not The Initiator of Anything (Free Will is a Myth Part 1)
I’ve been thinking / talking / writing about free will for a few years now. It’s become a bit of an obsession. Here I discuss how the capriciousness of memory retrieval is another indication that free will doesn’t exist. The episode starts with me referencing wanting to finally write my book on this topic, and that my daughter got me thinking about it that morning when she forgot where she’d left her boots.
#12 - Lao Tzu
A clip from a movie — Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot — when a dying alcoholic, played by Jonah Hill, quotes Lao Tzu.
#11 - Thanksgiving
Humans have made an impact on the planet. No question. Some of us are trying to do something about it. But it’s not about virtue, it’s not about comparing contributions.
Here’s why I’m thankful:
#10 - Arnold does Big Bang
After some heavy stuff, I’m going to have a little fun with the #10 episode of the Micro…
#9 - God is Comfort
I debated including this one. Well, okay, I debate most of these. Maybe all of them. And then something gives me a little push and I say, okay. Let’s do it.
I feel like this idea is fully expressed, insofar as its a simple idea, but, I think, profound in its implications. I shall say no more. I hope you enjoy:
#8 - We Can't Fix Any of Our Problems Until We Fix This
#7 - How Unprocessed Trauma Becomes the Devil
trau·ma
/ˈtroumə,ˈtrômə/
noun
1.
a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.
#6 - I'm British, innit?
At some point, my 16 year-old son started saying “I’m British, innit?” with a British accent. For fun. Naturally, I started doing it, too. And then we came up with a story for a superhero teenager who’s big power is that he’s secretly British.
But look out… he has a nemesis…
#5 - Creativity and Commerce
I recorded this and called it “I don’t know.” Which makes sense, because there’s so much I don’t know. But as it took shape I seemed to be saying something about creativity and commerce. What it’s like to be an artist in a capitalist society.