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PODCAST

Human Meme

The Human Meme podcast examines what separates human consciousness from mere biological existence. Each episode investigates the inherited behaviors, cultural transmissions, and cognitive patterns that replicate across generations, shaping how we think, grieve, speak, and remember. David Boles, a New York City writer, publisher, and teacher, hosts these conversations as mindfulness with teeth: no production music, no easy comfort, only the direct inquiry into what makes us recognizably human. Since

society & culture performing arts

All Episodes

15:22

Suspension of Disbelief: How Theatre, Religion, and...

Human Meme ·

2025/01/22

Suspension of disbelief, as it is often understood today, traces its formal articulation to the English poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who coined the phrase “willing suspension of disbelief” in 1817 in his critical work “Biographia Literaria.” Coleridge proposed that readers and audiences consciously set aside the knowledge that what they are witnessing is artificial in order to be moved, entertained, or enlightened by the piece of art before them.

en

17:28

From 18th-Century Portrait Painters to AI Imagery

Human Meme ·

2025/01/15

In the mid-to-late 18th century, as portrait painters struggled to preserve their art form against the sudden intrusion of photographic technology, one can imagine the rumblings across the parlors, salons, and academies of Europe and America. Painters, who had long been accustomed to controlling the manner, mood, and meaning of a subject’s likeness through the deliberate strokes of their brushes, saw photography as not just a mechanical rival, but a dull and unfeeling intruder onto a sacred terrain

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15:01

Passive Social Murder Explained: Historical Roots,...

Human Meme ·

2025/01/08

Passive social murder is the quiet, systemic practice of allowing people to die through inaction and neglect. This idea traces back to the nineteenth century, to minds like Friedrich Engels, who accused the capitalist systems of his era of knowing full well that certain conditions would lead the poor to early graves. It is the kind of death that does not come from a gunshot, but from the heavy, silent weight of a society that structures itself so that some lives are nurtured, while others are left

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19:01

Over 1,000 Years of Philosophy: Unveiling the Hidden...

Human Meme ·

2024/12/18

A hitherto unacknowledged connection that threads through the entirety of philosophical writing—across centuries, cultures, and varying schools of thought—is humanity’s unending effort to sublimate existential terror into a coherent narrative that makes mortal life intelligible, permissible, and meaningful. From the careful syllogisms of medieval Scholastics to the bold manifestos of twentieth-century existentialists, philosophers have not merely flirted with the interplay of reason, emotion, and

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14:49

Revolutionizing Healthcare: How Medical AI is Shaping...

Human Meme ·

2024/12/11

Medical AI is not just a technological leap; it’s a cultural shift. When machines analyze our health, we enter a world where the expertise of algorithms supplements—and sometimes challenges—the wisdom of clinicians. This isn’t about replacing the human touch but redefining it. The real story of Medical AI is how it pushes us to rethink the relationship between technology, health, and humanity.

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15:37

Unraveling the Amanda Knox Case: Guilt, Innocence,...

Human Meme ·

2024/12/04

The case of Amanda Knox is a modern legal and cultural Rorschach test—sprawling, messy, and deeply personal for anyone who dares to examine it. At its core, it is a story of a young woman, a brutal murder, and an Italian justice system unprepared for the scrutiny and chaos that would follow. Knox's story is not just about guilt or innocence; it’s about how we, as humans, construct narratives in the absence of clear facts, how media amplifies those narratives, and how justice can falter under

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12:23

Lotty and Percy: The Mystery of the Disappearing Sock

Human Meme ·

2024/11/19

In a quaint little home nestled among the cobbled streets of an English village, two British Shorthair kittens, Lotty and Percy, spent their days exploring every nook and cranny. Lotty, a plump and cheerful blue kitten, followed his sister Percy wherever she went, his little paws thumping softly on the floorboards. Percy, a lilac-colored marvel, was the clever one—quick as a flash, with a mind as sharp as her tiny claws.

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21:17

The Fallout of Abolishing the Department of...

Human Meme ·

2024/11/13

Imagine, for a moment, the United States without its Department of Education—a federal entity established in 1979 to oversee and coordinate national education policies. This department, though often a target in political debates, plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of the nation. Its elimination would not merely be a bureaucratic adjustment; it would trigger scary and far-reaching consequences across the educational spectrum.

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17:25

From Disappointment to Resilience: Finding Strength...

Human Meme ·

2024/11/06

Disappointment is the uninvited guest at the table of life. It sits heavy in our hearts, clutches our dreams, and whispers doubts that gnaw at the edges of hope. Yet, disappointment is not a dead end; it’s a waypoint, a necessary stop on the task of human growth. To be disappointed is to be alive, to care deeply about outcomes, to have risked enough to feel the sting of falling short. And while the pangs of disappointment may seem like the final word, they are often just the prelude to

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19:40

Living in the Future Now: Embracing Tomorrow’s Vision...

Human Meme ·

2024/10/30

Living in the future now—it’s a fascinating idea, isn’t it? We’re talking about those people who seem to exist just a step ahead of us, those who already walk roads we haven’t even built yet. While we’re here, comfortably or uncomfortably immersed in today, they’re already finding ways through tomorrow. These people aren’t necessarily the kind of visionaries we always hear about: CEOs, inventors, or creative masterminds, though many of them do fall into those categories. No, these are people who

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17:56

How to Spot and Protect Yourself from Street Psychics...

Human Meme ·

2024/10/22

False prophets. Charlatans. Snake oil salesmen. These are the people who promise you truth, enlightenment, and a future of clarity—if only you'd let them hold your palm for a moment, if only you'd hand over your money to hear the secret of your life laid bare before you.

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14:15

Understanding the Doorknob Confession: Timing,...

Human Meme ·

2024/10/16

The concept of the "Doorknob Confession" in therapy is a fascinating phenomenon, one that captures the delicate dance between time, vulnerability, and truth. It is a moment often recognized by both therapists and clients alike—when the session is coming to an end, when the clock is mercilessly ticking down, and then, just as the client is about to walk out the door, they drop a bombshell. This final revelation, this last-minute unveiling of something deeply important, often takes the form of a

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17:31

Bold Persistent Experimentation: History, Meaning,...

Human Meme ·

2024/10/09

Now, that phrase: "Bold, Persistent Experimentation." It strikes you right in the heart, doesn’t it? There’s something stirring about it. It’s a challenge, a rallying cry, a promise that our greatest work isn’t behind us, but ahead, waiting to be discovered if only we dare enough. If we try enough.

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14:31

From Omens to Godwinks: Tracing 1,000 Years of Divine...

Human Meme ·

2024/10/02

hYou know, the concept of a "Godwink" is really quite fascinating when you delve into it. At its core, a "Godwink" is one of those moments that feels like more than just a coincidence. It's as if the universe — or a higher power — is giving you a little nudge or a wink to let you know you're on the right path or to provide guidance when you need it most.

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20:57

Why 'Don’t Speak Ill of the Dead' is an Outdated...

Human Meme ·

2024/09/25

The idea of "not speaking ill of the dead" is a deeply rooted cultural and historical construct, and its origins and evolution provide significant insight into the ways societies shape their collective memories. This concept, often summarized in the Latin phrase -- De mortuis nihil nisi bonum -- ("Of the dead, nothing but good should be said"), has existed for millennia, emerging from an interplay of morality, religious beliefs, and the need for social cohesion.

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15:48

Prometheus and His Myth: Fire, Knowledge, and the...

Human Meme ·

2024/09/18

The myth of Prometheus, the fire giver, is a rich and layered tale that has traversed cultures, ideas, and interpretations for centuries. At its core, the story is one of defiance, suffering, and enlightenment. Prometheus is a Titan in Greek mythology, whose name means "forethought," and he is best known for his daring theft of fire from the gods to give to humanity—a gift that symbolizes knowledge, technology, and civilization. But beneath this act of rebellion lies a story of suffering and

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18:17

Factitious Disorder: Navigating Complexities of...

Human Meme ·

2024/09/11

Factitious Disorder, often complex and deeply misunderstood, involves individuals deliberately fabricating, exaggerating, or inducing physical or psychological symptoms to assume the role of a sick person. This disorder is distinct from mere malingering, where an individual feigns illness for personal gain such as financial compensation or avoidance of responsibilities. In Factitious Disorder, the primary motivation is to acquire the identity of a patient, receiving attention and care in a medical

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26:34

Jean-Paul Sartre's Insights on Anti-Semitism:...

Human Meme ·

2024/09/04

Sartre's reflections on prejudice reveal not just the mechanics of anti-Semitism but the broader patterns of hate and bad faith argumentation that persist through time. We’ll explore how these dynamics might evolve over the next 50 to 100 years, anticipating new forms of prejudice that could arise as our world changes. From technophobia and xenophobia to potential discrimination against genetically modified humans or off-world colonists, the targets of hate may shift, but the underlying tactics and

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24:30

Confronting Denialism: Debunking Moon Landing Myths...

Human Meme ·

2024/08/28

The roots of the moon landing conspiracy theories trace back to a fundamental distrust in government. This sentiment was particularly inflamed during the 1960s and 70s, amidst the chilling winds of the Cold War and the fiery protests against the Vietnam War. The United States was a nation divided, its citizens wrestling with political disillusionment. In such an environment, the narrative that the moon landing could be a grand deception orchestrated by the U.S. government to assert dominance in the

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14:53

I Sing To Be Lonely, I Share to Be Free

Human Meme ·

2024/08/21

The thick, humid air of Mississippi hung heavy on Alana's shoulders, mirroring the weight of her sorrows. The cicadas' chorus, a constant reminder of the stifling heat, seemed to echo the loneliness that had settled deep within her. In her small, clapboard house, she often sought escape in the worn-out grooves of her grandfather's vinyl records. The raw, soulful voices of Bessie Smith, Mahalia Jackson, and Robert Johnson poured from the old turntable, weaving tales of heartache, resilience, and

en

849 results

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