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

Antonio Salazar-Hobson: Antonio, We Know You

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

2022/08/19

Antonio Salazar-Hobson was kidnapped from his home in Mexico at the age of four. He was trafficked for several years at a famous ranch in California, and he attempted suicide at the age of nine. On this episode of Watching America, we hear from Salazar-Hobson about his new memoir, “Antonio, We Know You.” He shares how Cesar Chavez saved his life and purpose, leading him to law school and an eventual reunion with his family. antoniosalazarhobson.com

en-us

Nolan Gasser's "Why You Like It: The Science...

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

2022/08/12

When you hear the striking of a chord, there is far more going on than just moving air particles. Music incites emotional and often physical sensations. Critically acclaimed composer, author, and musicologist Nolan Gasser explores the human relationship with music in his book, “Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste.” In this episode of Watching America, Gasser and host Alan Campbell discuss several pieces of music in light of the psychology and science behind their popularity. If

en-us

Ellen Vora: The Anatomy of Anxiety

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

2022/07/29

On this episode of Watching America, host Alan Campbell discusses the increasingly common issue of anxiety with psychiatrist and author Ellen Vora. In Vora’s new book, “The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body’s Fear Response,” she considers how imbalances in the body affect emotional states. Vora offers new insight based on her own clinical work. ellenvora.com

en-us

John Gleeson: The Gotti Wars

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

2022/07/22

John Gotti was the first celebrity crime boss. His ability to beat criminal charges inspired one of his nicknames: “The Teflon Don.” John Gleeson was an Assistant US Attorney in Brooklyn who failed to successfully prosecute Gotti in 1987 on federal racketeering prosecutions. But Gleeson successfully led the investigation and prosecution of Gotti five years later. On this episode of Watching America, Gleeson talks about his new book detailing his years fighting the Gambino crime family, “The Gotti

en-us

Kellyanne Conway: Here's the Deal

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

2022/07/15

Lawyer and pollster Kellyanne Conway was thrust into the spotlight when she became presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign manager, and after a successful campaign, Senior Counselor to the President. In this episode of Watching America, Conway discusses new memoir, “Here’s the Deal.” In the book, she says working for Trump was “the wildest adventure of my life.”

en-us

Jacob Mchangama: Free Speech (from Socrates to Social...

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

2022/06/24

Jacob Mchangama is a Danish lawyer and human-rights advocate who has worked with Columbia’s Global Freedom of Expression Center in New York and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in Washington, D.C. He is the founder and director of Justitia, a Copenhagen-based think tank focused on human rights, freedom of speech, and the rule of law. Mchangama’s new book, “Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media,” was praised by P.J. O’Rourke as “the best history of free speech ever

en-us

Grant Golliher: Think Like a Horse

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

2022/06/17

Horseman and horse whisperer Grant Golliher’s experience training animals began in childhood, but he rejected the aggressive tactics used in mule and horse training he witnessed. Instead, Golliher employs a philosophy centered on empathy, trust, and discipline. In this episode of Watching America, Golliher talks to Dr. Alan Campbell about the psychology behind connecting with animals—including humans. Golliher’s book about his methods is called “Think Like a Horse: Lessons in Life, Leadership, and

en-us

Steve Wilson: Why Do We Laugh?

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

2022/06/10

Humans are born with the ability to laugh and smile. It is built into our nervous system. In this episode of Watching America, we hear from psychologist and Gelotologist (laughter expert) Steve Wilson. He’s the director of National Humor Month and president of The World Laughter Tour. Wilson also provides training in therapeutic laughter and developed “Good Hearted Living” practices. Host Alan Campbell talks to Wilson about the benefits of laughter, what it means to have a “sense of humor,” and what

en-us

Ethan Kross: "Chatter"

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

2022/06/03

Do you hear voices ... inside your head? Well, we all do. The secret, according to Dr. Ethan Kross, is to manage the way we talk to ourselves. In this episode of Watching America, Kross discusses the research behind his bestselling book, "Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It." Kross is an experimental psychologist, neuroscientist, and founder of the Emotion & Self Control Laboratory. After listening to this enlightening conversation, your inner voice might learn to

en-us

Reuben Miller: "Halfway Home--Race, Punishment,...

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

2022/05/27

Dr. Reuben Miller says the American justice system does not aim to rehabilitate people who commit crime. Instead, he says programs like parole create instability and lifelong poverty. In this episode of Watching America, Miller talks about his latest book: “Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration.” Dr. Miller is Associate Professor at University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice.

en-us

Dave Rubin: "Don't Burn This Country"

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

2022/05/20

“Don’t Burn This Book” by social commenter and comedian Dave Rubin is a New York Times Bestseller. He just released a follow-up: “Don’t Burn This Country: Surviving and Thriving in Our Woke Dystopia.” On this episode of Watching America, Dr. Alan Campbell talks to Rubin about issues addressed in the new publication, from hot-button topics like transgender athletics to mental health advice regarding the benefits of regular media fasts. Dave Rubin is the host of “The Rubin Report” and recently moved

en-us

Sarah Fay: "Pathological-The True Story of Six...

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

2022/05/13

The “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM) is referred to as the Bible of Psychiatry. Like any scripture, it has nonbelievers. Award-winning author Sarah Fay is one of them. Fay combines investigative journalism and personal experience in her new book, “Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnosis.” Fay speaks candidly with Dr. Alan Campbell about the unintended impact mental illness labels had on her and what she learned through research into the field of psychiatry

en-us

L. A. Rivera Colon: “Living Between Cultures: From...

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

2022/05/06

In this episode of Watching America, we hear from civil rights activist, Hollywood newscaster, educator, and public speaker Luis Alberto Rivera Colon. His father was a Puerto Rican migrant worker; his mother, an entrepreneur. He’s also an old friend of our host, Dr. Alan Campbell. In this conversation, Colon tells stories from his new book, “Living Between Cultures: From Borinquen to Hollywood,” including how the death Freddie Prinze impacted his life.

en-us

Ken Coleman: From Paycheck to Purpose

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

2022/04/29

Bestselling author Ken Coleman is called “America’s Career Coach.” He hosts a nationally syndicated radio program about meaningful work, but he’s in the guest seat on this episode of Watching America. Dr. Alan Campbell interviews Coleman about concepts from his latest book, “From Paycheck to Purpose: The Clear Path to Doing Work You Love.” Find more at ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman

en-us

Peter Alagona: The Accidental Ecosystem

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

2022/04/15

Wildlife is declining across the globe. But environmental historian Dr. Peter Alagona says a whole new ecosystem is developing as wild animals move into urban areas. In this episode of Watching America, Algona shares research from his new book, “The Accidental Ecosystem: People and Wildlife in American Cities.” Is interspecies coexistence possible in the concrete jungle? Listen to hear a surprising and insightful perspective. Peter Alagona is an environmental historian, conservation scientist,

en-us

Lt. Governor Winsome Sears

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

2022/04/08

Winsome Earle Sears has served in Virginia as a Delegate and on the state’s Board of Education. In January, 2022, she became the state’s Lieutenant Governor. Sears, a Republican, is the first woman to hold that office in Virginia, and the first Black woman and Jamaican-born American elected to a statewide position in the state. In this episode of Watching America, host Dr. Alan Campbell focuses more on Sears’ personality and values than her political outlook. We also hear a segment of Dr

en-us

Sex Addiction

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

2022/03/25

This is a surprising and sometimes difficult conversation about sex addiction with psychologist Nicole Prause; Erica Garza, author of "Getting Off: One Woman's Journey Through Sex and Porn Addiction"; and Charles (a pseudonym), who is heavily involved in Sex Addicts Anonymous. This episode first aired in 2019, almost exactly 3 years ago. We bring this back to our listeners after the recent episode with Anna Lembke about her book, “Dopamine Nation.”

en-us

8 Seconds: Professional Bull Rider Bryan Titman

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

2022/03/18

Bryan Titman has been a sportsman since he was a child. He received a football scholarship to college, but he ended up pursuing his hearts dream: bull riding. Dr. Alan Campbell spoke with Titman about being a professional bull rider a few days before the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour competition in Virginia. Campbell (a secret cowboy fanatic) visited the event and spoke with other bull riders, a competition judge, a barrel man (or “distractor”), and audience members to get a real feel for the

en-us

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of...

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

2022/03/11

Dr. Anna Lembke is the Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at Stanford University Medical School. In this episode of Watching America, she talks about her book, “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence,” an instant bestseller. Listen to this riveting conversation about how the relentless pursuit of pleasure in the modern age paradoxically leads to increased pain and suffering.

en-us

Jason D. Hill: What Do White Americans Owe Black People?

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

2022/02/27

Philosopher Jason D. Hill explores the concept of “inherited guilt” through moral and practical lenses in his latest book, “What Do White Americans Owe Black People? Racial Justice in the Age of Post-Oppression.” In this episode of Watching America, Hill speaks with Dr. Alan Campbell about the history of slavery and the three “foundings” of the United States: The Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

en-us

213 results

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

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger