Astrology, Gender, and the Irrationality Problem — with AI Ian & Matilda
Release Date: 02/26/2025
Astrology, Gender, and the Irrationality Problem — with AI Ian & Matilda
The Power of Ideas
In this special episode, I decided to have a little fun with Venus and Mercury retrograde energy by creating a fully AI-generated conversation between myself and a fictional podcast host named Matilda. Using ChatGPT to write the script and ElevenLabs to clone my voice, I explore the findings of my new (and first) academic solo-authore journal article "Reacting to the Irrationality Problem: Civilian Astrology and Certainty Posturing." The episode dives into how astrology—often dismissed as irrational—is actually a rich site for examining how people perform belief, negotiate gender...
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The Astrology of 2025 - Evolution Means Revolutions
The Power of Ideas
What if the biggest discoveries of our future are already hidden in plain sight, just waiting for us to catch up? In this episode of The Power of Ideas, we explore the unseen forces shaping our world—from black holes and germ theory to the invisible college of researchers investigating fringe ideas. What starts as impossible often becomes inevitable, and 2025 could mark the beginning of radical shifts in technology, communication, and perception. I connect these ideas to the big astrology of the year - mainly TWO big transits that have historically signaled revolutions in thought and...
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The Astrology of Holidays - Valentines Day Edition!
The Power of Ideas
Love is in the air—but does it belong in Aquarius season? Most astrologers would argue no, claiming that a sign known for detachment, logic, and grand humanitarian visions isn’t exactly the ideal host for Valentine’s Day. Wouldn’t romance be better suited to the Venusian warmth of Taurus, Libra, or Pisces? In this episode of The Power of Ideas, I challenge that perspective. Drawing from astrology, sociology, and the wisdom of bell hooks, I explore love not just as an emotional experience but as a choice—an Aquarian ideal of love that extends beyond the individual to something far...
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The Astrology of Donald Trump: Insistant Resistance & Attention Retention
The Power of Ideas
In this episode of The Power of Ideas, we explore the enigmatic force of Donald Trump through both sociological and astrological lenses. Love him or loathe him, Trump has been the epicenter of American life for nearly a decade—and his influence shows no signs of waning. Starting with the concept of "attention retention," we examine Trump's uncanny ability to captivate and polarize. From his mastery of the spotlight to his insistently resistance, we delve into how these traits have defined his career, controversies, and unrelenting presence in public life. Along the way, we reflect on...
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The Astrology of 2024: The End of Illusions
The Power of Ideas
In this episode, "2024: The End of Illusions," we explore two concepts that shaped the year: "Endings Are Beginnings" and "The 'Me' Exception." Discover how privilege disguises itself as humility, backed by groundbreaking sociological studies and real-world examples, from Monopoly experiments to geopolitical critiques. Then, journey into the profound moral debate sparked by a shocking event—a lone vigilante’s act of sacrifice that challenges how we think about health, care, and justice. Finally, we tie it all together with a look at storytelling in media. How are narratives of sacrifice...
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The Astrology of Holidays: Christmas Special!
The Power of Ideas
The astrology of holidays: Christmas Edition! The holiday season sparks a feeling of collective cheer, yet it also brings familial tensions, financial stress, and expectations—chief among them, gift-giving. Christmas, more than other winter holidays, has become a celebration rooted in showing love through material exchanges. Even those who do not observe it often feel festive. While religious origins exist, Christmas now thrives on the idea that giving someone a gift demonstrates care and affection. Beyond Christmas, other holidays, like Hanukkah, also revolve around gift-giving...
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2024. Ep 8. Credit Card Points & Financial Health - with Darren Aasen
The Power of Ideas
Growing up, credit cards were always a thing I feared. It was a way to get in trouble with money. And indeed, like many (I am sure), I got into some credit card debt early on in life. Recently, however, I have been introduced to the world of credit card points and financial literacy more generally. Now, its a whole new world! To woo new customers, credit card companies have to offer better and better perks like bonus points, airport lounges, upgrades to first class and business class, etc. The result of this is a system that - If you work it right - means that you can get a lot of free stuff....
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2024. Ep 7. The Astrology of Death...and Bitcoin?
The Power of Ideas
A few years ago, the woman who taught me much of what I would come to know about astrology told me about her theory on the astrology of death. The skepic in me was, well, skeptical. Yet, what she ended up theorizing made more sense than I expected. In short, she said, where past astrologers had failed, they failed to take in the context of others around the person they were trying to predict. I thought it was a very smart idea. Recently, in a bit of random insight and astrological experimentation, I took that idea and applied it to one of my newest favorite curiosities - bitcoin. What I...
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2024. Ep 6. All Saturn in Pisces Everything. With Black Girl from Eugene
The Power of Ideas
We had a plan! Then, in true pisces fashion, we threw the plan out the window. While I had come in thinking we were going to discuss racial consciousness, our pre-recorded talk went down the road of "what the f*** is going on with the astrological weather right now?!" And so we went with it. (Racial consciousness episode coming soon!) As two people who think of themselves as in some ways guided by our intuitions, Ayisha and I discuss the challenges we both have recently felt in being able to find the muse, so to speak. What happens when our intuitions fail us? How do we respond when it...
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2024. Ep. 5. Lying & Serious Religion
The Power of Ideas
Why do we lie? We all lie. So, perhaps a better question is - how do we lie? This question then leads to a different, and even more important one - WHAT IS A LIE? In this episode, I tackle these questions through considering what Saturn, the planet of seriousness, moving through Pisces, the sign of vision, means. In other words, what happens when seriousness meets vision. The possibilities are more vast than you may realize. One of the most obvious ones may be religion. But what is a religion? I delve into film and tv, family and the necessity of lying to those we love, drugs...
info_outlineIn this special episode, I decided to have a little fun with Venus and Mercury retrograde energy by creating a fully AI-generated conversation between myself and a fictional podcast host named Matilda. Using ChatGPT to write the script and ElevenLabs to clone my voice, I explore the findings of my new (and first) academic solo-authore journal article "Reacting to the Irrationality Problem: Civilian Astrology and Certainty Posturing."
The episode dives into how astrology—often dismissed as irrational—is actually a rich site for examining how people perform belief, negotiate gender stereotypes, and claim or reject scientific authority. From "civilian astrologers" to confident skeptics, we unpack it all with nuance and a bit of AI magic.
This is part research breakdown, part sociological theater, and entirely a retrograde experiment in digital scholarship. Enjoy!
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