PODCAST

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies Affair"--a conversation with Peter Boghossian, James Lindsay, and Helen Pluckrose

In 1996, Dr. Alan Sokal, a physics professor, wanted to test the intellectual rigor of “postmodern cultural studies.” To do so, he wrote an article titled “Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity.” This article was full of absolute nonsense—but Dr. Sokal believed it would be accepted by an academic journal anyway. And he was right. This hoax—called the “Sokal Affair” or “Sokal Hoax”—caused an uproar in academia because it questioned the validity of

society & culture

All Episodes

53:19

A World of Wonder: Exploring The Science of Awe With...

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2023/03/03

When was the last time something left you in awe? Maybe it was staring at the millions of stars in a vast night sky or marveling at the birth of a child. Dr. Dacher Keltner, the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, has spent years studying the biological and evolutionary origins of human emotion. His latest book, "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life," presents a radical investigation and deeply personal

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Holly Knight: I Am The Warrior

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2023/01/27

Throughout the 1980s, singer/songwriter Holly Knight composed anthems that became the soundtrack for millions of people’s lives. In her new book, "I Am The Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing the Hits and Rocking the MTV Eighties," Knight reveals the stars and the stories behind her mega songs, including Tina Turner’s "The Best,” “Better Be Good To Me;” Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield,” “Invincible;" Aerosmith’s “Ragdoll;” Patty Smyth's “The Warrior;” Animotion’s “Obsession,” and more. She shares

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53:19

A Fortunate Chat With Lemony Snicket

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2023/01/20

Writing as Lemony Snicket, author Daniel Handler has given countless children important life lessons about tragic accidents, conspiracies, reptiles, secret societies, doom, and malevolence. He talks to Dr. Alan Campbell about his work and career, and what to do to alleviate boredom. A charming, truly weird edition of Watching America.

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52:32

Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2023/01/13

Engineering professor Leidy Klotz says human beings are wired to add, not subtract. In fact, he says we're twice as disappointed to lose something as we are happy to gain something of the same value. The human aversion to subtraction can result in inferior design, unmanageable amounts of regulations, and a chaotic personal life. In this conversation with Dr. Alan Campbell, Klotz discusses his research and offers tips on how to wield the power of subtraction for the benefit of yourself and your

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Samuel C. Spitale: How to Win the War on Truth

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2023/01/06

In a culture where we are bombarded with information, and often mis-information, how do you know what’s true? Author Samuel C. Spitale’s new book offers help. "How To Win the War on Truth: An Illustrated Guide to How Mistruths Are Sold, Why They Stick, and How to Reclaim Reality" examines the use of progranda through the years by advertisers, governments, corporations, and others. His book is filled with examples of modern-day propaganda campaigns, and he examines what makes them powerful. In this

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Jason Umidi: Jesus + Seltzer

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2023/01/03

Former actor and model Jason Umidi nearly lost everything after years of heavy drinking and drug addiction. In his book “Jesus + Seltzer: Stories and Meditations on Sobriety and Recovery,” he discusses how he got clean and sober after entering detox and a 12-step program. In this interview with host Dr. Alan Campbell, Jason discusses his journey to sobriety, why he returned to the faith of his childhood, and the struggles he still deals with even after overcoming his addiction. jasonumidi.com

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Hayley Arceneaux: Wild Ride

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/12/16

The youngest American to ever orbit the earth—cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, believes that when we face our fears with hope and faith, extraordinary things can happen. In this week’s episode, she discusses her memoir “Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships.” Arceneaux recounts her odyssey, from her cancer diagnosis at age 10 and the year-long treatment that inspired her goal of working with pediatric cancer patients, to living through her father’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and

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Brian McDonald: Five Floors Up

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/12/09

Brian McDonald is accustomed to telling other people's stories. His books have been prime sources in several television documentaries and the sole inspiration for “My Father's Gun," a full-length documentary that aired on the History Channel. In his latest work, “Five Floors Up,“ he explores the history of four generations of a firefighter family. From the days just after the horse-drawn firetruck, to the devastation of the 1970s when the Bronx was Burning, to the unspeakable tragedy of 9/11, to the

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Mike Rinder: A Billion Years

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/12/01

Mike Rinder, one of the highest-ranking defectors from Scientology, exposes the secret inner workings of this powerful organization in his new memoir A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology. In this interview with host Dr. Alan Campbell, Rinder discusses growing up in Scientology, why he decided to leave at age 52, the backlash he faced and how he now works diligently to expose the abuses that continue to happen within the organization. Visit his website at

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Dr. Randall Bell: Post-Traumatic Thriving

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/11/28

Dr. Randall Bell is an economist and a sociologist who boasts the nickname "Master of Disaster." He's been a consultant for hundreds of catastrophes, include the biggest tragedies of our time: the World Trade Center attack, Sandy Hook, Hurricane Katrina, the Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test sites, the BP Oil spill, the OJ Simpson trial, the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, and "Heaven's Gate," to name a few. Bell has been featured in all major media outlets, and while you may be familiar with his work, you don't

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Joshua Coombes: Do Something For Nothing

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/11/18

It started with one haircut."One evening in the spring of 2015, I was on my way to a friend's house after work. I didn't make it. I walked past a man who was homeless at the time. I would often stop to speak with him ... but this time was different ... I remembered that I had my tools in my backpack and asked if he'd like his hair cut. In the hour that followed, he told me his story. The next time we met, he introduced me to some of his friends. Before long I was heading out whenever I could, giving

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Donna Francart: "I've Seen Dead People"

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/11/11

Several years ago, Donna Francart started volunteering for a community crisis response team. She became aware of her innate compassion in dealing with difficult situations, which ultimately led her to a new line of work as a Deputy Coroner. Francart shares her experiences, documented through years of journaling, in her memoir, "I've Seen Dead People: Diary of a Deputy Coroner." In this episode of Watching America, Dr. Alan Campbell speaks to Francart about the emotional and physical challenges of

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Jeb Corliss: The Human Bird

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/11/08

Jeb Corliss has jumped off the Eiffel Tower, the Seattle Space Needle, the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, and more. If you wonder what makes a daredevil tick, you'll enjoy this conversation between Corliss and host Dr. Alan Campbell about God, death, fear, and the meaning of life.

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Greg Melville: Over My Dead Body

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/10/27

There are approximately 10 times more burial grounds in the U.S. than there are McDonalds, and author Greg Melville believes each one has its own story. In his new book, Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries, he takes readers on a tour of some of the nation’s most intriguing cemeteries, including three in Virginia. Along the way he also explores sustainability, land use, what it really means to memorialize a life, the environmental impact of current burial methods

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Remembering Patsy Cline

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/10/21

Music legend Patsy Cline was born as Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, Virginia. From humble beginnings she rose to become known as one of country music's greatest vocalists. Tragically, her life was cut short at age 30 when she died in a plane crash. In this episode of Watching America, host Dr. Alan Campbell discusses Cline's music and legacy with her cousin Patricia Hensley and Cline's daughter Julie Fudge.

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Dr. Paul Marik: Physicians in the Age of Covid

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/10/14

Healing or harming? That's the question Dr. Paul Marik faced as the COVID-19 pandemic spread through the country. Until last year, Marik was a professor of medicine and Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). He resigned last year amid controversy over his use of ivermectin and other COVID-19 treatments in caring for patients. In this interview, Marik discusses his perspective on the influence of pharmaceutical companies on healthcare and medical

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Nathalia Holt: Wise Gals--The Spies Who Built the CIA...

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/10/07

You might not know about four women who helped develop the Central Intelligence Agency in the Cold War era. That’s a testament to their skill; they were spies. Bestselling author Nathalia Holt reveals their stories in her latest book, “Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage.” In this episode of Watching America, we hear about groundbreaking agents Adelaide Hawkins, Mary Hutchison, Eloise Page, and Elizabeth Sudmeier, and how Holt researched their histories

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Lyell Asher: Why Colleges are Becoming Cults

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/09/30

Professor Lyell Asher is the creator of the popular video series, “Why Colleges Are Becoming Cults,” where he gives an analysis of university academics and culture in the 20th and 21st centuries. One part of Asher’s critique is focused on the effect of the embrace of “whole language” in lieu of phonics in schools of education and its deleterious effect on reading instruction. Asher received his PhD at University of Virginia and is associate professor of English at Lewis & Clark College in

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Americans in London: Benjamin Franklin, Jimi Hendrix,...

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/09/09

This week on Watching America, we take a trip to London, England. Host (and native Brit) Alan Campbell took a trip "across the pond" to visit the home of Benjamin Franklin, Jimi Hendrix's flat, and the reconstructed Globe Theatre where actor and director Sam Wanamaker labored for years. We hear stories from historians and tour guides about why these gentleman fell in love with London and what they accomplished there. This episode is coincidentally being released right after the death of Queen

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Lynne Fenton: Aurora

"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies... ·

2022/08/26

Dr. Lynne Fenton is the psychiatrist who treated the mass shooter who attacked patrons of a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. In this episode of Watching America, Fenton discusses her memoir, “Aurora: The Psychiatrist Who Treated the Movie Theater Killer Tells Her Story,” co-authored by Kerrie Droban. We hear an account of the tragedy from the perspective of psychiatry and why Fenton was unable to prevent it.

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"Sokal Squared" or "Grievance Studies Affair"--a conversation with Peter Boghossian, James Lindsay, and Helen Pluckrose

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