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The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Dr. Joe Meyer
77 episodes
1 week ago
The Neutral Ground Podcast is about civil discourse, without the divisive noise. My guests and I grapple with literature, philosophy, comics, difficult social topics, music, and art. Topics we have discussed include incel culture, effective approaches to diversity, video games and violence, psychopathy, Tolkien, Ulysses, Herman Melville, Rene Girard, Nietzsche, the importance of narratives, mythology, Marvel and DC heroes, astrophysics, multiverses, what we read to children, the holocaust, cybersecurity, veteran care, and so much more. Get out of the extremes and join us today.
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Society & Culture
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All content for The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer is the property of Dr. Joe Meyer and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The Neutral Ground Podcast is about civil discourse, without the divisive noise. My guests and I grapple with literature, philosophy, comics, difficult social topics, music, and art. Topics we have discussed include incel culture, effective approaches to diversity, video games and violence, psychopathy, Tolkien, Ulysses, Herman Melville, Rene Girard, Nietzsche, the importance of narratives, mythology, Marvel and DC heroes, astrophysics, multiverses, what we read to children, the holocaust, cybersecurity, veteran care, and so much more. Get out of the extremes and join us today.
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Society & Culture
Episodes (20/77)
The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Marx Brothers, comedy, anti-Semitism, challenging students today with humor | Dr. Robert Weir #68

Groucho, Zeppo, Gummo, Chico, and Harpo--also known as The Marx Brothers--not only changed the way we think of comedy, but they helped shape our modern notions of cinema as well. Does their biting wit and chaotic humor hold up today? I absolutely think so. In fact, I think we need a lot more humor today to help us break the tensions that we feel on a daily basis--and our guest agrees. Dr. Robert Weir is a retired history professor who most recently taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He's a former senior Fulbright scholar to New Zealand, a past president of the Northeast Popular Culture Association, and the author of 11 books and numerous other academic works. We talk about comedy today, do college-age students get the humor of the Marx Bros, the anti Semitism that they faced, and the origins of their rise to stardom. If you have never seen a a Marx Bros. film, drop everything and go check out A Night at the Opera or my personal favorite, Horsefeathers. In fact, you stay here and I'll drop everything and go watch a Marx Bros. film.

If you want to join our growing community and support our efforts to bring civility back to mainstream discourse, hit the subscribe button, the like button, leave a thoughtful comment for me and my guest, and share the show with a friend. As always, your support is greatly appreciated.


// EPISODE LINKS //

Book link: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/th...


// EPISODE OUTLINE //

00:00 Teaser

01:16 Introduction

03:22 Start of conversation

06:25 How did the Marx Bros. become a cultural interest?

10:17 Did the humor catch on with your college students?

16:08 My approach to education with my students

19:15 How did their mother impact the Marx Bros. showbusiness careers?

23:46 Pioneers in "talkies" or early cinema with sound

28:27 Some feedback from the Catholic Telegraph for the Cocoanuts. (It sounds like the setup for a great Groucho zinger.)

33:51 How did anti-Semitism impact their careers?

45:54 Before Jim Halpert was breaking the wall, Groucho was showing how it is done by bringing in popular culture.

49:02 The Marx Bros. did NOT want the music in the film, which sounds absurd.

52:15 Why was Harpo silent?

58:23 Margaret Dumont reminds me of Bea Arthur--owning every scene she is in with nothing more than a look.

1:01:06 Why was Horsefeathers an unpleasant film to make?

1:04:14 Is the speakeasy in Horsefeathers a reflection of reality or a political statement?

1:06:56 What did writing this book teach you about comedy?

1:10:09 I get asked about my favorite form of comedy. Things get chaotic.

1:11:40 Concluding thoughts and I even throw in a few of my own Marx Bros.-inspired jokes.


// WEBSITE //

Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/


// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //

1. ChatGPT, Cheating, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Humanity and AI | Dr. Teo Susnjak #65? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Z6n...

2. What we don't hear about incel culture | Drs. Sarah Daly & Shon Reed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdp...

3. Why not violence? Dr. Duane Armitage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht...

4. Visual Thinking, Rebuilding the Trades, Animal Consciousness, Training AI | Dr. Temple Grandin - https://youtu.be/P8FvlKD6Y9Q

5. Crisis in Men, Anger and Alienation in boys, What is Going on? | Dr. Robert Tyminski - https://youtu.be/cwFMjuXf5xI


Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse. Head over to the website to find out how you can support our mission.

#comedy #grouchomarx #humorous

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2 years ago
1 hour 13 minutes 15 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Cyberattacks, Hacking our Infrastructure, Losing our Civilization | Dr. Daniel Graham #67

We are growing increasingly more nervous about how the digital tools around us are able to gain more access to our information and to our lives. Whether we are thinking about simple things like malware and viruses to more complex applications like deep fake technologies and artificial intelligence. Even with my computer science background, I find these topics to be incredibly complex. That is why I have asked Dr. Daniel Graham on the show. Daniel G. Graham is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. His research interests include secure embedded systems and networks. Before teaching at UVA, Dr. Graham was a Program Manager at Microsoft in Seattle, Washington. He publishes in IEEE journals relating to sensors and networks. In this episode, we talk about ransomware, malware, ethical hacking, multi-layered threats to our infrastructures, and why we should take a beat and think about how much of our culture we want to digitize into the future. If you want to support our mission to bring civility back to discourse, hit the subscribe button, the like button, and leave a kind comment for me and my guest. The support is always appreciated.
// EPISODE LINKS // Guest's website: https://danielggraham.com/ethical-hacking-a-hands-on-guide-to-breaking-in/
// EPISODE OUTLINE // 00:00 Teaser 00:45 Introduction 02:12 Start of conversation 02:32 How did you get into cybersecurity? 07:04 What is ethical hacking? 10:32 Bug bounty hunting 11:44 Is there a strong community who want to help companies find these exploits? 14:39 How does ethical hacking help us defend our infrastructures 24:00 Can you envision a multilayered attack to our infrastructure in the USA? 32:07 How should we look at digital artifacts from a civilization perspective? 37:10 Why should we think of hacking people and not machines? 44:10 Should we be more worried about deep fake technology than we are? 48:46 Why is ransomware so successful? 53:52 Does the celebritization of hackers help or hurt our ability to stay ahead of threats? 59:53 What is one thing that makes you hopeful about the field and one thing that scares you? 1:06:01 Closing thoughts // WEBSITE // Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS // 1. ChatGPT, Cheating, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Humanity and AI | Dr. Teo Susnjak #65? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Z6nUr-1Pg&t=0s 2. What we don't hear about incel culture | Drs. Sarah Daly & Shon Reed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s 3. Why not violence? Dr. Duane Armitage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s 4. Visual Thinking, Rebuilding the Trades, Animal Consciousness, Training AI | Dr. Temple Grandin - https://youtu.be/P8FvlKD6Y9Q 5. Crisis in Men, Anger and Alienation in boys, What is Going on? | Dr. Robert Tyminski - https://youtu.be/cwFMjuXf5xI
Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.
1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications. 2) Then, hit the like button. 3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with. 4) Watch another video on the channel. 5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts 6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/ Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast. 7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

#hacking #hacker #ethicalhacking #deepfake #ai

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2 years ago
1 hour 7 minutes 29 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Dancing with the Joker, Joaquin Phoenix, Mental Illness, Desensitized Violence | Liz Wayson #65

For many people, the emblematic scene from Todd Philipps ' The Joker is Joaquin Phoenix 's iconic dance on the steps. If you've seen the film, however, you know that Arthur Fleck dances throughout the entire movie. What does it mean? Sprinkled throughout the violence, the struggles to figure out how we can better help support mental health struggles, and the overwhelming feelings of detachment and anger, we find an individual in Arthur Fleck who wants to be good, to do good in the world. However, he is trapped in virtually all aspects of his life. It is only in dance that Fleck / The Joker seems to be his most free. But, with that freedom comes choice, and when Fleck becomes the Joker, he makes the choice to bring chaos and destruction upon the world. We cannot turn a blind eye to this. Trying to figure out where the line is between empathy for what Fleck is experiencing and disavowing his move toward destruction is incredibly difficult, which is why we're having a discussion about this film with our guest: Liz Wayson. Liz has written a wonderful article on The Joker entitled, "“Walking and Dancing in Gotham City: The Marginalized Flaneur, Mental Health Activism, and the Spectacle of Violence in Todd Phillips’s Joker." As always, if you enjoy the conversation, consider supporting our movement to bring civility back to discourse. Subscribe, hit the like button, and consider leaving a kind comment for me and my guest. As always, your time is appreciated.

// EPISODE OUTLINE // 00:00 Teaser 00:38 Introduction 02:09 Start of conversation 02:59 What was it about Phillips' The Joker that made you pursue this study? 05:46 What is a Flaneur and how does it connect with the Joker? 08:58 Is the Joker and activist or is he just viewed as an activist? 10:39 Were you able to reconcile the honesty of mental health concerns with the problematic depictions of mental illness and violence in The Joker? 12:11 It's important to differentiate mental health and mental illness to better serve everyone 14:47 We need to have difficult conversations about mental health and diagnosed mental conditions. 17:51 How does Gotham City dictate movement and body composition? 21:49 People are so disconnected in Gotham, even Thomas Wayne. 23:22 How does dancing help Arthur comprehend chaos? 28:45 Arthur understands his role in society 35:54 Has Arthur lost all agency to become his own person? 42:14 How did you read the relationship between Murray ( Robert De Niro ) and Arthur? 47:02 How do we read women and mothers in this film? 52:29 We need better mentors for young people 55:28 Final thoughts

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations?

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications. 2) Then, hit the like button. 3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with. 4) Watch another video on the channel. 5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts 6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast. 7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

#joker #joaquinphoenix #batman #thejokermovie #desensitizing #brucewayne #toddphilips #toddphillips

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2 years ago
56 minutes 36 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
ChatGPT, Cheating, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Humanity and AI | Dr. Teo Susnjak #65

ChatGPT has been discussed on quite the continuum: everywhere from a positive force for human evolution to the beginning of the end of humanity. Where do I stand on this issue? Well, I hope I make that clear by the end of the episode. Whether you stand on the positive side of the opinion spectrum or the negative, ChatGPT is undeniably ushering in something new in terms of technology. I have played around with it quite a few times and I find it to be incredibly fascinating--and so does our guest this week: Dr. Teo Susnjak. Teo Susnjak is a Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Computer Science and IT at Massey University in New Zealand where he teaches courses in Data Science. He has authored a fantastic article on ChatGPT and online exam integrity entitled, "ChatGPT: The End of Online Exam Integrity?" We use this article in this episode as our way into discussing ChatGPT and what it is capable of doing. We also talk about the pros and cons of ChatGPT. Finally, we give our overall opinions on our feelings regarding the trajectory of AI and the human species. As always, if you want to support our mission to bring civility back to mainstream discourse, hit the subscribe button, the like button, and leave a kind comment for me and my guest.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Article: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2212.09292.pdf

Article Information:
Susnjak. (2022). ChatGPT: The End of Online Exam Integrity? https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2212.09292

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
00:38 Introduction
02:35 Start of conversation
03:25 What is ChatGPT?
08:49 Why did you pursue this study of exam integrity and ChatGPT?
11:39 Were you expecting ChatGPT to fail your tests?
12:41 What were your aims for the study?
14:40 Are students really cheating online or not?
24:11 Can ChatGPT help us to write better code?
29:47 Is ChatGPT a critical thinking entity?
32:42 Does plagiarism detection software work on ChatGPT?
39:35 What about educating students on the ethical problems of cheating?
44:09 ChatGPT is asked how it would secure online exams
48:29 There needs to be a change in the culture of education
50:14 What were your conclusions?
53:31 What do you think about the future of humanity and AI?
59:50 Final thoughts

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.

#chatgpt #ai #educationmatters #artificialintelligence #chatgptexamples #chatgptexplained

Show more...
2 years ago
1 hour 1 minute 19 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Visual Thinking, Rebuilding the Trades, Animal Consciousness, Training AI | Dr. Temple Grandin #64

What is visual thinking? Are we devaluing the trades today to our own peril? Do we need to do a better job of getting our children out and playing with tools? My guest this week thinks so, and I largely agree with her. I'm humbled and honored to have Dr. Temple Grandin on my show this week. Dr. Grandin is incredibly well known for her work in the fields of Autism, thinking, and animal welfare. She has just finished a brand new book: Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions. We spend quite a bit of our time discussing aspects of the book and the ways that we can better utilize the various skills that we have as a people. If you want to support our movement to bring civility back to discourse, hit the subscribe/follow button; leave a kind comment or rating where applicable; and share the show with a friend.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Dr. Grandin's Website: https://www.templegrandin.com/
Dr. Grandin's book (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3E1qgnx

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
00:35 Introduction
02:07 Start of conversation
02:45 How do visual thinkers differ from verbal thinkers?
05:02 How did discovering thinking on a continuum change your thoughts on visual thinking?
09:08 We're eliminating futures because of one class.
09:55 Too much testing today, not enough learning
12:57 AI is exciting and horrifying at the the same time.
19:27 We're not valuing the trades well enough
22:44 What role did working with animals play in your understanding of thinking?
26:08 Most difficult part of your job working with animals and machinery?
27:53 "I would have been a video game addict" had I been born 30 years later.
30:09 We need to get back to building things beyond Legos
35:06 Working with large animals and teaching them manners
40:25 AI and privileging language
47:16 Computers will not replace us
50:45 What makes you hopeful about how we look at visual thinking in the future?
52:02 My closing thoughts

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s
Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.

#templegrandin #visualthinking #skills #psychology #chatgpt

Show more...
2 years ago
53 minutes 50 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Amazon, and Selling our Culture and Freedom of Choice for 2-Day Shipping | Dr. Emily West #63

Should we fear how much authority Amazon has over our culture? It's a difficult question. On one hand, you cannot deny what Jeff Bezos has done--bringing a company from nothing, and taking risks that could have easily gone badly, and turning it into a juggernaut. On the other hand, it has become so large that it has almost become a public utility. My guest, Dr. Emily West, and I discuss the ramifications of the rise of Amazon. Although the tone of the conversation might seem negative, in reality, the more important point that I think we're both trying to make is that there is something about the rise of Amazon that should at least warrant our attention. I still use Amazon for books, electronics, and even to look up reviews--as we mention in this discussion. The late, great George Carlin used to talk about the slow reduction of choices in American culture through the consolidation of market powerhouses. I think it's worth having a conversation about. I hope you do as well. If you want to support our continuing efforts to bring civil discourse back into the mainstream, hit the subscribe button, the like button, and share the show with a friend.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Emily's Book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/978026254330...
Twitter: @westemilye
Website: www.emilywestphd.com

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
00:57 Introduction (having a little fun)
02:49 Start of conversation
03:34 What does ubiquitous presence mean in relation to your study?
07:02 How was Sears, in some ways, a kind of Amazon?
12:33 Why is Amazon a more pressing conversation than Walmart or Google?
18:04 How was Amazon so early on understanding the need for consumer interaction?
24:35 Why not let Amazon and companies like it handle distribution?
30:18 George Carlin and the reduction of choices where it matters
37:07 How did Amazon gain enough power to negotiate with the Post Office for Sunday delivery?
43:48 Could we shift the culture of desire to a more manageable one for the sake of workers?
49:48 What was your Amazon fulfillment center tour experience like?
55:41 Amazon is phenomenal at gathering just the right data
59:35 Apparently, I never owned that Christmas special.
1:07:03 Amazon is a distributor of ideas as well--with some pros and cons attached to that model
1:12:50 Final thoughts on the matter

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1...

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdp...

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht...

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLH...

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL1...
Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am ge

Show more...
2 years ago
1 hour 14 minutes 6 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Crisis in Men, Anger and Alienation in boys, What is Going on? | Dr. Robert Tyminski #62

Is there a crisis in men and young boys? If so, what is causing this crisis? This week, our guest is Dr. Robert Tyminski. Robert has written a book that explores this question, and for him, one of the primary causes is the ways in which we approach our digital spaces. We discuss feelings of alienation, omnipotence, masculinity and femininity, breaking through the inner world of men, James Baldwin's hypermasculinity in public, what constitutes reality, and how this phenomenon did not simply appear in the 21st century. As always, if you find the conversation interesting, consider supporting our efforts to bring civil discourse back to the mainstream by clicking the subscribe button, hitting the like button, and leaving a thoughtful comment for me and my guest. As always, we appreciate your taking the time to listen.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Routledge Press: https://www.routledge.com/Male-Alienation-at-the-Crossroads-of-Identity-Culture-and-Cyberspace/Tyminski/p/book/9781138065406
Amazon (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3kisV5c

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser (did this crisis appear out of nowhere?)
00:46 Introduction
02:45 Start of conversation
03:19 Why did you take on this study of male alienation and mental health?
08:35 Did this crisis appear out of nowhere or has it always been with us?
11:41 Does a man's inner world differ from a woman's inner world?
14:48 James Baldwin's hyper masculinity when speaking
17:48 How do you approach reconciling the femininity within the masculine?
23:18 How often do you have to negotiate what "reality" means with young men?
28:09 I relay advice that I heard about burying bad Tweets. (I don't recommend this approach, but I can see how it might work today.)
30:29 Do we have a language problem or communication problem in texting?
34:40 Will we eventually see the anxiety of thoughts getting people canceled?
36:50 Is there even a difference between a digital identity and a "real" one?
39:33 Why is encouragement so important for young people?
41:17 Why is simple information and encouragement important for young men in puberty?
47:07 Young people are having problems vocalizing/verbalizing issues meaningfully
49:28 Why was Brad (from the book) struggling so much, and how did he find some measure of social success through a penpal?
54:50: What does Freud mean by bodily ego and how does this connect with video gaming avatars?
59:26 What would you tell parents/guardians/individuals who want to move toward a more positive footing on this issue?
1:01:30 My closing thoughts

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for

Show more...
2 years ago
1 hour 2 minutes 56 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Existentialism, Nihilism, Sartre, Nietzsche, and Living in bad Faith | Dr. Joel Smith #61

If you love philosophy, this is the episode for you. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Joel Smith. He's a philosophy lecturer at the University of Manchester. He's written a fantastic book: Existentialism: A Philosophical Inquiry. I've read quite a few books on philosophy over the years, but I particularly enjoyed Joel's because of its clarity and stated goals from the outset. Joel wants to reclaim existentialism to a degree--to bring it back from being little more than slogans like, "existence precedes essence." Don't worry; we're going to be talking about that particular statement and what Sartre actually mean. We wrestle with names like Sartre, Nietzsche, Kant, Kierkegaard, Hegel, de Beauvoir, Hume, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few more. As always, if you appreciate the work here, let me know by hitting the subscribe button, the like button, and sharing the show with a friend. Join our growing community of individuals who care about civil discourse.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Routledge Press: https://www.routledge.com/Existentialism-A-Philosophical-Inquiry/Smith/p/book/9780367466367
Amazon (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/3CfqLth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MancPhilosophy

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser on Nietzsche
00:38 Introduction--I miss teaching philosophy
02:35 Start of conversation
03:15 How do you approach existentialism in your book?
09:01 What role did Kant and the Enlightenment play in developing existentialism?
16:20 Kierkegaard and the relationship between truth and value
25:32 How do you approach teaching the value of truth in class?
32:09 Did your students find comfort in philosophy during the height of the pandemic?
35:38 Why was Nietzsche interested in suffering and how it related to gods?
43:30 How does Nihilism emerge in Nietzsche's mind?
55:29 How did existentialists like Sartre and de Beauvoir respond to Nietzsche's worries about Nihilism?
1:01:45 What is de Beauvoir's story of Monique and how does it teach us about living in bad faith?
1:14:09 How do we live in self-deception?
1:23:01 My thank you to Joel
1:24:48 My closing thoughts: I'm brining in Rousseau and the chains--you know what I mean

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.
1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast. 7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.

#exis

Show more...
2 years ago
1 hour 27 minutes 19 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Death of Batman (Kevin Conroy), End of Superman (Henry Cavill), Jetpulse Universe | Led Bradshaw #60

Dear viewers, you're in for a treat today. We've got friend-of-the-show Led Bradshaw on to kick off season 3 of the podcast. Led has been on the show before to discuss his Jake Jetpulse comic series that he writes and illustrates with his son Jake. That was one of the more popular episodes of season 2 of The Neutral Ground Podcast. Well, Led is back and as you can tell from the length of our conversation, we had a lot to catch up on and talk about. We discuss the death of our Batman ( Kevin Conroy ); the end of Henry Cavill as Superman in the Zack Snyder Snyderverse; we talk about whether or not Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns storyline still holds up today; we mildly disagree on Matt Reeves and The Batman; we get into a little bit of the X-Men and the nuance of Magneto as a villain; and we get an update on Jake Jetpulse. If you enjoy the episode, make sure to hit the subscribe/follow button; leave a thoughtful comment for me and my guest; and share the episode with a friend. We're bringing civility back to discourse one conversation at a time, and we need your help.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jakejetpulse/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JakeJetpulseStudios
website: www,jakejetpulse.com
Tik Tok: Jake_Jetpulse

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
01:19 Introduction
02:51 Start of conversation
03:41 What prompted you to start the Jake Jetpulse comic series?
15:42 Your comic is an amazing tool for all parents
22:12 What comic characters or storylines drew you into the world of the hero?
29:09 X-Men taught me how to see villains and evil in a different light
33:31 When you think of Batman, who or what comes to mind?
37:29 Who will be able to step in and become the voice of Batman?
40:29 We disagree a bit on the Matt Reeves The Batman Film.
51:43 Does Frank Miller's Dark Knight Saga still hold up today?
1:01:08 What do you think of Henry Cavill leaving the Superman role behind?
1:10:12 The Snyderverse will be known for wasting acting potential
1:15:36 Is there any other option for the Snyderverse?
1:20:51 I think we need one more Cavil Superman film (Man of Steel 2) and then call it quits.
1:25:50 Just give the fans what they want to love
1:29:28 How can people support your amazing work?
1:30:45 Closing thoughts.

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music.

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.

Show more...
2 years ago
1 hour 32 minutes 13 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Embrace your challenges for the new year; carry them willingly.

Happy New Year, everyone. It's the time of year where people--including myself--set goals to help make them better people. We need to have objectives in life and strive toward them. However, in this message, I talk about two very important concepts when setting your goals for the new year: setting achievable sub-goals and embracing challenge. You'll need both if you want to be successful. We kick off season 3 of The Neutral Ground Podcast on January 10th. Our first guest is a familiar friend of the show. We catch up a little bit and then get down to business. I think this could be our best season yet, so if you have not yet done so, hit that subscribe button and join our community of people who believe in the value of civil discourse. And check out some of my more popular conversations using the links below. As always, thank you for taking the time to listen.

// WEBSITE //

Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //

1. Why we crave narrative?  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse. 

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications. 

2) Then, hit the like button.

3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with. 

4) Watch another video on the channel.

5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts

6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast. 

7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music.

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.


#successmotivation #embracechange #suffering #challenges #goalsetting

Show more...
2 years ago
2 minutes 14 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
2022 Great Literature in Conversation: Dracula, Ahab, Satan, Tolkien, Ulysses, and Dickens

It has been quite a year for us at The Neutral Ground Podcast. In this first part of our year in review, I talk about the growth of our community, my goals for the next year, and I introduce the first of two themes that I want to end the year on: Literature in Conversation. My literature episodes have produced quite a bit of interest in the second season, and so I wanted to highlight some of the interesting conversations and thoughts that came through in our second season. We talk about Bram Stoker's Dracula, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, John Milton's Paradise lost, and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I'll be back with new episodes on January 10th. However, if you have not had the opportunity to check out the full episodes, you can use the links I've provided below. Also, make sure you are subscribed to the podcast. We're building a special community here, and we can always use more people. Thank you for a wonderful year. I could not have done any of this without you.

Sincerely,

-Joe

// EPISODE LINKS //
1. Salvation for the monstrous and the horror of being | Dr. Jon Greenaway #33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlHFk99ad60&t=3s
2. Paradise Lost Book 4 Satan's Soliloquy Analysis | Dr. Joe Meyer #30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfYT4CRl96U
3. Tolkien, Psychoanalysis, and the Importance of Enchantment Today | Dr. John Rosegrant #47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a90edupEJLU&t=6s
4. Moby-Dick's Captain Ahab, and a Warning We Need for Today| Dr. Joe Meyer #34: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a60nYRCpyRE&t=1842s
5. Why James Joyce's Ulysses Matters 100 Years Later | Dr. Sam Slote #43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixXPo6RriYg&t=1683s
6.Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol - Why You Should Read the Actual Text | Dr. Joe Meyer #59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3IIod2BNWo&t=2s

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Introduction
03:19 Bram Stoker's Dracula
08:51 Milton's Satan from Paradise Lost
15:40 Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
27:00 Chapter 135 of Moby-Dick
30:28 James Joyce Ulysses
43:45 Jacob Marley and Dickens' A Christmas Carol

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s
Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music.

#literature #ahab #milton #dracula #greatbooks #joyce #jamesjoyce #charlesdickens

Show more...
2 years ago
51 minutes 52 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol - Why You Should Read the Actual Text | Dr. Joe Meyer #59

It's the season for Dickens' A Christmas Carol. With all of the various adaptations (Alistair Sim, Patrick Stewart, Muppets and Michael Cain) which one should you choose this year? Well, I'm going to make the case that you should be reading A Christmas Carol instead. I'm going to talk about three aspects of Charles Dickens' a Christmas Carol that are often neglected: Jacob Marley's true cause for suffering; Fan meeting Ebenezer Scrooge at the school; and how time functions in the story. We get different accounts of time from Jacob Marley, the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Does this miracle actually happen all in one night, or is Charles Dickens doing something more interesting here with time? We talk about Cain and Abel, Milton's Satan, and I make my plea for people to stop letting politics get in the way of family. If you find the discussion interesting at all, consider subscribing to the channel. We're trying to bring civility back to discourse one conversation at a time. And, we can certainly use your help.
// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

//MUSIC//
From YouTube Audio: DJ Williams

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Introduction
01:37 My favorite adaptation: Alistair Sim 1951 Christmas Carol
02:34 The three sections we need to look at
03:07 Brief summary of A Christmas Carol
03:54 Section 1: Jacob Marley's Visit and why he's really suffering
05:10 Am I My Brother's Keeper? The Cain and Abel Story
08:31 Marley and Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost
14:43 Section 2: Fan visits Ebenezer Scrooge at school
21:20 A New way to view Fred, Scrooge's Nephew
24:02 Section 3: What is going on with the time in A Christmas Carol?
30:36 My quick plea to those of you who are not talking to loved ones because of politics
32:41 My closing thoughts

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day. #christmascarol #scrooge #dickens #christmas #christmasmovies #christmasspecial

Show more...
2 years ago
34 minutes 12 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Metaverse, Zuckerberg, and our Inevitable Move to a Digital Existence | Dr. Tim Gorichanaz #58
Are we holding this conversation in the Metaverse? No? Oh, okay then. This week we're going to be discussing dwelling in the Metaverse, Mark Zuckerberg's notion that it is inevitable, some philosophy by Martin Heidegger and Charles Taylor, and we talk about how we sense a bit of resignation to a tech future in which we have little say or agency. Our guest for this discussion is Dr. Tim Gorichanaz. Tim is a faculty member in the College of Computing & Informatics at Drexel University. He is interested in how technology is changing the human experience. He teaches courses in user experience and tech ethics and writes and conducts research on these topics, often from a philosophical perspective.

// EPISODE LINKS //
Dr. Gorichanaz' Article: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s43681-022-00198-w.pdf
Dr. Gorichanaz' website: https://timgorichanaz.com/

// WEBSITE //
Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
00:44 Introduction
02:36 Start of conversation
02:54 What did you think of social platforms prior to your study?
04:45 Just a couple of guys reminiscing over MySpace. Nothing to see here.
05:29 What is Heidegger's Four-fold concept of dwelling?
9:57 The four-fold and Musk, Bezos, and Branson: the great space race
13:36 Are young people struggling with differentiating reality from digital representations?
16:22 What is social imaginary?
20:30 Can the metaverse provide a stronger sense of identity?
24:11 Why is civil discourse, say on such platforms as The Neutral Ground Podcast, important for building group identity?
27:59 Promoting group discussion in a tech class? That's awesome.
29:48 Is the problem with these platforms the technology, the commercialization, or the human element?
33:42 What kind of research did you do for this section on digital platforms?
34:43 How does Metaverse technology exacerbate misinformation and privacy problems?
38:09 Can you see an entire generation of people pushing back against technology in the future?
42:16 Let's talk about Mark Zuckerberg's 6 themes for the Metaverse
47:06 Which of the 6 is potentially the most detrimental to us, and which has the most potential to be positive for us?
50:34 What should people be thinking about when approaching metaverse technology?
53:28 My final thoughts

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS //
1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s
Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/
Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Joemeyer.substack.com

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of tho
Show more...
2 years ago
54 minutes 54 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sacrificial Fathers, Religion, and Myth | Dr. Michael Nichols #57
What made those first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe connect with people so much? Well, if you're familiar with The Neutral Ground Podcast, you might know my answer, but I have a special guest today in Dr. Michael Nichols, and we are going to geek out over his book: Religion and Myth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We talk about some of the prevalent themes in the first three phases of the MCU: sacrificial fathers, mortality, good vs. evil, and a lot more. You're not going to want to miss this one. Remember, we're on a mission together. We're bringing back civilized discourse, and with each subscriber, we get the word out to more people. So, hit that subscribe button, leave a kind comment or thought for me or my guest, and share the episode with a friend on your social media accounts. As always, I appreciate your taking the time to listen.

// EPISODE LINKS // Dr. Nichols's book: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/religion-and-myth-in-the-marvel-cinematic-universe/

Amazon (Affiliate): https://amzn.to/3VoqDPc

// EPISODE OUTLINE //

00:00 Teaser

00:40 Introduction

01:58 Start of conversation

05:17 How do you define "myth" for your work?

09:09 How do we preserve uniqueness of cultural myths and celebrate what binds us together as a species?

13:30 Myth allows us to see that every human being is born with an inheritance and legacy of suffering and triumph.

16:15 Why is it important for us not to see the Marvel superheroes as gods?

21:47 Captain America stands alone before Thanos, but he does so in place of us.

25:30 Why did the MCU in the first three phases push a theme of sacrificing fathers for the sake of the sons: I'm thinking of T'Chaka, Odin, Yinsen, Yondu, etc.

30:49 Milton's Satan reference! Why create sympathetic villains like Killmonger and Gorr, the god butcher?

35:37 Thanos is a much more complex villain than we give him credit for.

39:59 Captain America: Civil War fought the battle of postmodern skepticism and neomodern narrative assurance: am I way off base here?

44:21 What role does Julia Kristeva play in your understanding of the MCU?

48:10 How do Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier teach us about purity/impurity?

52:16 I made my case for why I think Thor:Ragnarok was terrible. My guest is much better at discussing it.

56:08 How does Gilgamesh's exploration of mortality connect with the MCU?

1:03:04 Are Marvel films and shows becoming too geared toward an older audience and closed off to younger people?

1:04:36 What did you learn from your family when you all re-watched the Marvel films together again?

1:06:50 My closing thoughts: the love and the thunder

// WEBSITE // Head over to the website to learn more about me and to contact me. https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE SUGGESTIONS // 1. Why we crave narrative? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVqv1TIwLU4&t=129s

2. What we don't hear about incel culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynYdpuhqjLw&t=43s

3. Why not violence? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohhht-zwNaU&t=1010s

4. The need for the heroic narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCLHOpM03o&t=202s

5. Why are we fascinated with psychopaths? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgL13gP9ZE&t=50s Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.

1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications. 2) Then, hit the like button. 3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with. 4) Watch another video on the channel. 5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts 6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/ Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an

Show more...
2 years ago
1 hour 8 minutes 16 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Norman Cousins, Humanitarian, Atomic Weapons, JFK Speech on World Peace | Dr. Allen Pietrobon # 56

Norman Cousins might just be the most important man of the Cold war that many have never heard of before. He was a pacifist who understood when war was the only way; he saw how the use of Atomic weapons would eventually lead to a kind of feeling of political paralysis among nations with access to such weapons; he believed in the power of language and used it to bring his readers into his world through The Saturday Review. Cousins' was often ridiculed for his belief that the greatest weapon the United States could use against The Soviet Union was strong relations. I admit at the beginning of this conversation that I was almost completely ignorant of just how important of a figure Norman Cousins really was to the 20th century. However, I learned a great deal from my guest's book: Norman Cousins: Peacemaker in the Atomic Age, by Dr. Allen Pietrobon. If you enjoy the conversation and want to support our building of a community of civil discourse, let everyone know by hitting the subscribe/follow button, leaving a kind comment/rating, and sharing the episode with a friend. As always, thank you for taking the time to join us today. 


// EPISODE LINKS //

Dr. Pietrobon's book:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Norman-Cousins-Peacemaker-Hopkins-Contemporary/dp/1421443708/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=norman+cousins+peacemaker+in+the+atomic+age&qid=1668918008&sprefix=Norman+Cousins%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1


// EPISODE OUTLINE //

00:00 Teaser

00:41 Introduction

02:47 Start of conversation

09:36 Why was pacifist Cousins moved to bring war on Hitler and the Nazis?

19:11 Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project scientists lean on Cousins for support

23:16 Are our discussions on artificial intelligence similar to the conversations surrounding atomic weapons in the 60s?

28:23 Can you talk about Cousins' humanitarian efforts after World War II?

37:22 Why did Cousins' program to help Japanese young women not work as successfully as the children adoption program?

41:30 Was there pushback against Cousins' efforts to create better relations with the Soviet Union?

47:22 What were the goals of Cousins' treaty?

54:52 Cousins' meet Albert Schweitzer and a Declaration of Conscience is formed.

1:02:21 Cousins' drive is tested. 

1:04:21 Cousins' words in the mouth of President John F. Kennedy at the Commencement Address, June 10, 1963

1:15:52 Closing thoughts


// Website //

https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/


Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse. 


1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications. 

2) Then, hit the like button.

3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with. 

4) Watch another video on the channel.

5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts

6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast. 

7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Joemeyer.substack.com


I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.


#jfk #nuclearwar #sovietunion

Show more...
3 years ago
1 hour 17 minutes 5 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Losing the narrative, Homeric Psychology, Addiction and the need for Myth | Dr. Joel Christensen #55

Can Greek mythology teach us about drug addiction? Or, can Homer help young adults today find their narrative direction? Although these are complex issues, I think the answer is yes--and so does my guest. This week on the Neutral Ground Podcast our guest is Dr. Joel Christensen. We talk about generation z, how we've lost our narrative way, why we need stories, and other topics. For those of you who are interested in neomodernism, I think this is a good episode for you. It's all about yearning for narrative stability in the wake of postmodern destabilization. If you enjoy the episode and you want to show some support for our mission of bringing back civil discourse, hit the subscribe button, leave a kind comment, and hit the thumbs up. As I always, I appreciate your having listened to our discussion.   

// EPISODE LINKS //
Places to get Dr. Christensen's book:  

Cornell University Press: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501752346/the-many-minded-man/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Many-Minded-Man-Odyssey-Psychology-Therapy-ebook/dp/B08765DBPM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1668172461&sr=8-1

Check out the podcast website:
https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
00:51 Introduction
02:16 Start of conversation
03:15 What started you on your Homeric book quest?
16:03 When I realized I need to pursue literature
17:20 Confession: I did not always like the Odyssey
27:04 Greek Nostos and no return for Frodo in Lord of the Rings
29:23 Can we draw knowledge from Homer to help with drug addiction today?
37:18 Getting to the source of the pain in addiction
42:11 Here is where I show I am not a classical Greek scholar. How do you pronounce that?
43:54 Why can't young adults see themselves within a narrative framework?
50:26 My age is showing. Remember when you didn't have to answer a phone?
55:55 Telemachus lacks narrative sources and so do young people today
1:03:17 What projects are you currently working on?
1:07:12 Closing thoughts.
1:07:48 Does anyone get the joke? Let me know in the comments.   

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.   
1) Start by hitting the subscribe/follow button and turning on notifications.  
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.  
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5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
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7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music  

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.  #homer #odyssey #greekmythology #neutralgroundpodcast

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3 years ago
1 hour 8 minutes 31 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Incel Culture, Olivia Wilde take, Crisis in Young Male Identity | Drs. Sarah Daly and Shon Reed #54

Incel (#incel) is a word that is thrown around a lot today, and, like many of the words we throw at each other today, what is behind the language is much more complex than we give it credit for. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Daly and Dr. Shon Reed break down what the term incel actually means, where it originated, why does it exist, and we talk about ways that we can help these young men today who believe that this is their best option for social connectivity. We also talk about actress/director Olivia Wilde and an interview she did about her movie Don't Worry Darling where she mentions incels and accuses Dr. Jordan Peterson ( #jordanpeterson ) Peterson of being the king of the incels. Is what she said helpful or harmful? I learn about red pilling, black pilling--all kinds of pilling that we can do. It's a fascinating conversation. If you enjoy it, make sure to hit the subscribe/like button and let me know.  

// EPISODE LINKS //
References:  Main Article: https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s11199-021-01250-5?sharing_token=ca7tb2roItaxc5mX7-0tMfe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY7e50ReLpcZaYvt7Te4sgtbn8i0UMjWgsqOwUjPWbPVEFbawO72IkVriX6cgu2nHmxELq7SFeGtPVJUdjFmUj2XF6V7_-4wnwhik7La1Gc_g10qpQLT5yGZztiuR-swqRo=   

Incel suicide: https://www.qualitativecriminology.com/pub/z1961qto/release/1?fbclid=IwAR2HXCoM5_mImhM-1TexLkbFlM8W8ju8hrzuU9vzj62CLnnljXBKHDCtmF0 Reflexivity and incel interviews: https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/3932?fbclid=IwAR289fZOSX51UuM1nq180UdHvW1ioGGPa2xO90JXUp5GXNiLhyTBAdw3Mv0   

Dr. Sarah Daly:
website: drsarahedaly.com
Twitter: @sarahdalycj  

Dr. Shon Reed:
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shon-Reed-2

// EPISODE OUTLINE // 00:00
Teaser 01:04 Introduction
03:07 Start of conversation
03:50 What is an incel?
06:58 Origins of incel as a culture
09:38 Cultures growing in incel communities
13:49 Red pilling, blue pilling, and black pilling
17:28 It's not just about women; there is male resentment as well through Chads
22:23 Is there a Nietzschean will to power dynamic going on here?
27:13 Conversations about violence
32:15 How did you keep potential biases in check for your study?
38:54 Interviewing self-identified incels and the problem with language
45:08 What is your take on Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling interview where she mentions incels and Jordan Peterson?
52:23 We need to provide meaning for these young men and purpose
58:51 How do we prevent this community from growing?
1:05:59 My final thoughts on the matter  

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.   
1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.  
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.  
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/ and leave me a message.
7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Joemeyer.substack.com  

I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.  #incel #incels #oliviawilde #neutralgroundpodcast

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3 years ago
1 hour 8 minutes 11 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Podcast update, Research, and a Thank You to Two Listeners - Notes from the Neutral Ground

Hello, everyone and welcome back to neutral ground. In this notes from the Neutral Ground, I have some research updates, a thank you for two special listeners of the show, a call for people who want to start building our community, and I talk about some upcoming brand new episodes of the show. I've got conversations about incel communities (we have a great talk about Olivia Wilde's comment from her film Don't Worry Darling), the crisis of masculine identity in young men, Todd Phillips' The Joker, mythology and the human condition, and we discuss atomic energy and the Cold War through the eyes of a fascinating man named Norman Cousins.  I can't wait to bring these conversations to you.   Don't forget to subscribe, hit the like button, and consider leaving a comment to start building up our community of civil discourse.   

// EPISODE LINKS //
https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Hello, everyone!
00:20 Update on my research  
02:39 Thank you to those who reached out to me
03:22 Why it's important to start having conversations
05:36 New podcast episodes coming in less than a week!
06:15 Learning about incel communities
07:15 Todd Phillips' The Joker. Enthralled and terrified.  
07:57 Mythology and the human condition
8:07 The man I never knew I needed to know about: Norman Cousins
9:00 Closing thoughts  

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.   1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.  2) Then, hit the like button. 3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.  4) Watch another video on the channel. 5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts 6) Head over to my website at https://theneutralgroundpodcast.com/Once on the website, you can actually go to the contact section and leave an audio comment for me to use on the podcast.  7) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Joemeyer.substack.com  I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.

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3 years ago
9 minutes 51 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Some Good News and Important Information about the Podcast

I am continuing to receive some good feedback about my research on awe and Neomodern despair. Recently, I heard from someone connected with a good peer-reviewed journal who suggested that I should submit my paper after I have finished editing it. That doesn't mean that it will get accepted--it just means that it has at least likely passed the initial eye test, which is still good news. I have to hustle to try and finish this paper by the end of the summer, so I will be taking a break from the podcast for the month of August. I will start scheduling people again in September. Wish me luck.  

// LINK TREE WITH PODCAST AND SOCIALS//
https://linktr.ee/neutralgroundpodcast

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.   
1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.  
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.  
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts
6) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Joemeyer.substack.com  I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.

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3 years ago
1 minute 39 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
Can We Learn About Our Psychological Health from a Video Game? | Dr. Alex Kriss #53

Do video games cause people to become more violent? This is a question that continues to come up whenever we deal with tragedies involving young people (especially young men) with a history of playing violent video games. Our guest this week, Dr. Alexander Kriss, a clinical psychologist, is skeptical of such claims. In this episode, we discuss how video game choices can help us better understand our own psychological state; we talk about why open-world games like MMORPGs are so popular; and we dissect the stigma of being a "gamer kid." We also talk a little bit about the following games: Myst, Everquest, Silent Hill 2, and even a little Resident Evil 2. So, hit the start button; choose your character; and join us for this episode of the Neutral Ground Podcast with me Dr. Joe Meyer.   

// EPISODE LINKS //
Dr. Kriss' book (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3OvzcnuDr.
Kriss's website: https://alexkriss.com/

// EPISODE OUTLINE //
00:00 Teaser
00:22 Introduction
01:26 Start of conversation
03:34 I talk a bit about a student who felt lost
5:00 Thinking of gaming as skillsets
8:22 Is building a relationship to a character healthy?
11:41 Anyone remember Everquest? Yeah? Well, let's get a party going.
13:30 Uncovering anxieties through gaming
17:44 Are there benefits to playing open world games?
20:50 When was the last time you loaded up Myst?
22:55 What can we learn from a game like Depression Quest?
27:16 Can you talk about the role that D.W. Winnicott plays in your study?
33:10 Is there just as much value in virtual play as there is in environmental play?
37:55 What is the relationship between violence and violent video games?
48:05 What are games telling us about ourselves?
50:05 What advice would you give to parents?
55:44 Closing thoughts. Go on a quest already. What are you waiting for?

// LINK TREE WITH PODCAST AND SOCIALS//
https://linktr.ee/neutralgroundpodcast

Would you like to do your part to help bring civility back to our conversations? We need to get The Neutral Ground message in front of more people, and you can help with just a few keystrokes and some clicks of a mouse.  
1) Start by hitting the subscribe button and turning on notifications.  
2) Then, hit the like button.
3) Leave a thoughtful/uplifting comment for others to engage with.  
4) Watch another video on the channel.
5) Share the channel or a video with someone else on your social media accounts.  
6) You can also subscribe to the podcast on any one of the following platforms as well: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Joemeyer.substack.com  I realize that you do not have to do any of this. Therefore, even f you do just one of those items listed, I am genuinely grateful. Try to keep one foot firmly planted on the Neutral Ground, and have a great day.  #videogames #gamer #psychology #addiction #gaming

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3 years ago
54 minutes 35 seconds

The Neutral Ground Podcast with Dr. Joe Meyer
The Neutral Ground Podcast is about civil discourse, without the divisive noise. My guests and I grapple with literature, philosophy, comics, difficult social topics, music, and art. Topics we have discussed include incel culture, effective approaches to diversity, video games and violence, psychopathy, Tolkien, Ulysses, Herman Melville, Rene Girard, Nietzsche, the importance of narratives, mythology, Marvel and DC heroes, astrophysics, multiverses, what we read to children, the holocaust, cybersecurity, veteran care, and so much more. Get out of the extremes and join us today.