Episode #32: Islam and its Place in the West

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about the US national public debt and other political breaking points. They talk about the age of elected officials and their ability to represent the public, the failure of populism and the cares of the middle-class, the scale of US military spending and public trust, foreign social welfare programs compared to the US, the increasing cost of living, the myth of foreign-held debt, the crises of raising the debt ceiling, the cost of education and the looming problem of student loans, the conflict of working to live vs. living to work, how separated national politics are from the local, and various other topics.

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 03 June 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss recent tragedies of mass-shootings and gun violence in America. They talk about general firearm safety and hunter safety courses for minors, how similar faux guns can be to real firearms, the effectiveness and lethality of firearms as tools of destruction, how America's unique history informs the collective psyche of violence, the culture of firearms, how reason and statistical analysis is often ignored around the conversation of gun control, weapon restrictions that are already in place, the vagueness of mental illness and infringing on individual rights, the context surrounding the Second Amendment in the US Bill of Rights, how law enforcement factors into gun violence and protecting the rights of citizens, how dangerous guns truly are, gun violence statistics and the definitions of a mass-shooting, the differences between inner-city gun violence and mass-shootings, the hard problem of mass-shootings and the instinct to kill others with no seeming justification at a societal level, access to firearms as the point of tension in gun violence, how culture ought to have a higher level of responsibility, the ignorance of the specifics of firearms on the question of gun control, and various other topics.

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 26 April 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian catch up on their own mental health psychological troubles. They talk about childish naivete and adult cynicism, a careful balance between optimism and pessimism, how change affects our mental states, how parents imprint on their children, how children are thrust into an indifferent world, Josh's recent diagnosis, how anxiety affects people differently, the common symptoms of depression, revenge bedtime procrastination, the terror of sleep paralysis and hallucination, Patrick Rothfuss and his literary allusions, cognitive behavioral therapy and its links to stoicism, a romantic's critique of stoicism, the distraction of intrusive thoughts, embracing the real world and emotions, the importance of diet on our minds and "fad" diets, and other topics.

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 30 March 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about the importance of art in human culture and the separation of artists and their art. They talk about linguistic derivations of the word "art" and academic study of its definition, whether or not anything could be called art and something's inherent aesthetic value, the differences between "art" and "craft", the function of and subset of art, how art is used to share narratives about culture, the emotional and physiological connection to aesthetics, Napoleon Bonaparte and other highly influential historical figures, Friedrich Nietzsche's perspective on the necessity of art, ugliness and beauty, the work of contemporary artists and emergence of "modern" art, the influence of Richard Wagner and the increase of antisemitism, how so-called "success" holds back the cancelling of prominent public figures, the public controversy of J.K. Rowling and the backlash to her remarks from voices within the queer and transgender movement, how Rowling's success has given her the power of influence in the culture, whether or not Rowling is or what she has said is "transphobic", the extreme reactions to Rowling's comments from those within the trans-activist movement, the use of moralistic language, the differences between sex and gender and Rowling's concern of the trans-movement's direction, how movements have been successful throughout history, and various other topics.

• What is art?
• The Definition of Art
• Aesthetics
• "The Joyous Science" by Friedrich Nietzsche
• Periods in Western Art History
• How Art Arrived At Jackson Pollock
• A Complete Breakdown of the J.K. Rowling Transgender-Comments Controversy
• J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues
• The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling | The Free Press
• BBC apologizes for ‘unchallenged claims’ about J.K. Rowling for the second time this month
• J.K. Rowling Criticizes Reform Bill That Makes It Easier for Trans People to Legally Change Gender
• J.K. Rowling Funds Sex Abuse Crisis Center That Excludes Trans Women

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 16 March 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the implications and responsibility of online streaming and content creation. They talk about the minimal barriers of becoming a streamer or "content creator" and the attraction of the industry to children and young adult creators, the exposure to technology that children now have, the battle for engagement on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, the lengths people are going to achieve fame and wealth and redefining work, mukbang and the reflection an audience has of the overall culture, Mr. Beast and his supposed altruistic and philanthropic acts of donation and charity in exchange for viewership and engagement, the large audiences that content creators have over legacy media, speech and intent, the recent controversy over defamation at Fox News, vocal minorities and the language of "misinformation", a micro-controversy in the Hunt: Showdown gaming community, certainty and skepticism, audience capture and influence, having measured conversations and knowing when or when not to talk about certain topics, the illusion of freedom and imprisonment of passion, the dangers of solipsism and nihilism from someone like Alex Jones and his followers, how some are held to entirely different standards of accountability, and various other topics.

• Twitch tries clearing up confusion over streamers’ responsibility for community actions
• List of most-followed Twitch channels
• Fox News’ ‘The Five’ topples ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ to become new cable news ratings leader
• How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make
• Inside the daily lives of successful live streamers
• How livestreaming has changed gaming culture
• MrBeast: Why has YouTuber faced criticism for blind surgery video?
• Forget law school, these kids want to be a YouTube star
• Inside the rise of Nikocado Avocado, the extreme-eating YouTuber whose dramatic meltdowns have led to years of controversy and feuds
• Huuge Twitch Channel
• America’s Favorite Flimsy Pretext for Limiting Free Speech

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 03 March 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian speak about the Covid-19 disease and the impact on the world at the tail-end of the pandemic.

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 12 January 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian return from their holiday break to revisit their podcast anniversary conversation. They talk about the evolution of their own perspectives, whether or not democracy is the best way to govern society, their descriptions of 'happiness', the pressure of economic stability, stability as a navigational challenge and fairness, the recent $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by the US Congress, the opaqueness of US social welfare programs, the allocation of the US Federal budget, man's effect on nature and artificial selection, what large scale issues mean for individuals, the lack of familiarity in our social lives, the social problems of living in cities, an attempt at political moderation, the woes of the medical industry, redefining class, how anxiety can be petrifying, how the idea of freedom can be distracting in American politics, and various other topics.

• Five highlights from the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill Congress just passed
• October 1993: Congress Cancels Funding for the SSC
• Nuclear fusion researchers have achieved historic energy milestone
• Half of Americans Don’t Vote. What Are They Thinking?

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 30 December 2022

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about former US President Donald Trump declaring his Presidential run for 2024, the potential campaign of Ron DeSantis and Republican party division, similarities between Biden and Trump, what it means to be a productive citizen in a capitalist society, the value of a college degree, griefing and the competition of debt and punishment, the monopoly of TicketMaster, President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan being held up in the courts, the ineptitude of US Congress and legislation by fiat, economic comparisons between the US and Nordic countries, the possible antisemitism or mental degradation of Kanye West, the power and responsibility of artists and people of great influence, the death of Aaron Carter, the difference between consumer and independant art, the world of Twitch streamers and participating in content creation, the importance of art in culture, NASA's recent and upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon, and various other topics.

• A federal judge calls student loan relief unlawful, deepening limbo for borrowers
• Kanye West exclusive: Rapper tells Tucker Carlson story behind White Lives Matter shirt
• Kanye 'Ye' West Interview | Lex Fridman Podcast #332

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 19 November 2022

In this episode, Josh and Ian return from an extended break on the podcast to catch up and comment on current events. They talk about time management in adulthood and family life, Ian's various career choices, challenges in parenthood and how alike children are to their parents, will to power and the battle between passion and reason, the art of performance, celebrity podcasters, the podcast as an outlet and the exercise of conversation, the craft of misery making, understanding our own philosophical perspective, the current Russian-Ukranian war, the annexation of the Crimean penninsula and Putin's egoism, America's and the West's investments into Ukranian support, the potential fears of another World War, Elon Musk's $44 billion purchase of Twitter and his intent on making the platform a bastion of free speech, and other subjects.

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 5 November 2022

Returning from Apathetic Avenue to BS Boulevard, Josh and Ian return to discuss Doctor Strange speculation and take a (perfectly legitimate and not a trick from Harvard) test to determine whether or not Ian is transphobic. They discuss:

• Can Tom Cruise be Iron Man?
• Josh learns about implicit bias from some school named Harvard
• The difference between white people and black people vs. weapons and "non-harmful objects"
• Ian takes a test about preferring cisgender or transgender in real time
• The difference between Hispanic, Latino, and Asian
• Are all sexually active adults past-child molesters?
• Can straight men join drag?
• Proving that you can't prove that 0.9999999........... = 1
• A transgender matching game for bigots (or not)
• Philosophy < Psychology < Sociology
• Don't Look Up is a bad/good movie
• Blind spots in the Implicit Bias tests
• Did Koko the Gorilla speak English?

Follow them on Twitter at:
Josh @Simpsonj423
Ian @modernoverman
and the podcast @necessarybspod
Website: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

Recorded 21 January 2022