Ep 73: Mike Brooks Ph.D. | One Unity Project: Saving Humanity from the Existential Threat of AI
Unlatched Mind
Dr Mike Brooks and host Vinny Vallarine discuss the urgent need for humanity to prepare for the impending Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. They explore the existential crisis posed by AI, the exponential growth of its intelligence, and the unique nature of this technological revolution that could give birth to a new species. The discussion also touches on the paradox of progress, the implications of AI on human intelligence, and the intersection of AI with free will and autonomy. Ultimately, they emphasize that the future is not predetermined and that humanity has the power to...
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Ep 72: Kenneth Barish, Ph.D. | Bridging the Divide: Politics, Empathy & Real Conversations
Unlatched Mind
In this conversation, Vinny Vallarine and Dr. Ken Barish dive into Dr. Barish's latest book: Bridging Our Political Divide: How Liberals and Conservatives Can Understand Each Other. They explore the complexities of political psychology and the importance of dialogue over debate in bridging political divides. Dr. Barish shares insights from his extensive experience as a psychologist and discusses the principles outlined in his book, emphasizing the need for empathy, understanding personal stories, and fostering respectful communication. The discussion highlights the challenges...
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Ep 71: David W. Wahl Ph.D. | The Dark Truth of Sex Trafficking
Unlatched Mind
In this conversation, host Vinny Vallarine and Dr. David Wahl discuss the dark truth of sex trafficking. Dr. Wahl shares insights from his research on human sexuality and the alarming realities of trafficking, including its prevalence, the profiles of victims and traffickers, and the misconceptions perpetuated by media portrayals. They delve into the statistics surrounding trafficking, the role of the U.S. in the global context, and the importance of education in combating this epidemic. The conversation also critiques the representation of trafficking in films like 'Sound of Freedom' and...
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Ep 70: Richard Dancsi | Strategies and Tactics for Building a Successful Business
Unlatched Mind
The conversation explores the themes of entrepreneurship, psychology, and the importance of seeking counsel and support. Vinny and Richard discuss their backgrounds in computer science and math, and how they became interested in psychology. They also talk about the challenges of being an entrepreneur and the tendency to isolate oneself. The importance of having mentors and a support system is emphasized, as well as the need to break patterns and seek different perspectives. In this conversation, Richard shares his insights and advice for starting a startup. He emphasizes the importance...
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Ep 69: Andrea Rosenhaft | From Suicidal to Hopeful, a Personal Story
Unlatched Mind
After four suicide attempts, Andrea Rosenhaft shares her journey of battling anorexia, depression, and borderline personality disorder. She emphasizes the importance of reaching out for help and highlights the availability of support through hotlines and therapy. Andrea credits dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) for her recovery. She discusses the impact of her parents' relationship and her father's alcoholism on her mental health. Andrea also shares her experiences as a psychotherapist and writer, offering advice to those struggling with...
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Ep 68: Stuart Knechtle | Faith, Skeptics, and Truth Seekers on College Campuses
Unlatched Mind
In this conversation, Vinny Vallarine interviews Stuart Knechtle, an associate Pastor, and Christian Apologist. They discuss the origins of Stuart's ministry and the recent success of their Christian ‘Give Me an Answer’ movement where they engage with skeptics and truth-seekers on college campuses. They also explore the challenges of questioning faith and skepticism, as well as the pushback they sometimes receive on college campuses. The conversation highlights the shift in audience and the themes of questions they encounter, with a particular focus on mental health and its connection to...
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Ep 67: Mike Brooks | AI and the Race to the Bottom
Unlatched Mind
Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big tech driving society towards a race to the bottom? Mike Brooks, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and a licensed specialist in school psychology in Austin, Texas, joins Unlatched Mind to discuss. The conversation includes the rapid pace of technological evolution, particularly focusing on AI's impact on society and individual well-being. They delve into issues like the overwhelming amount of digital content, the concept of 'want saturation', and the ethical considerations surrounding AI development and deployment. They express concerns...
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Ep 66: JW Ross | Kava, Kratom, and Feel Free
Unlatched Mind
In this conversation, Vinny Vallarine and JW Ross discuss the significance of freedom, government control and lobbying, and the challenges of working with the government. They also delve into JW's journey of creating Feel Free, a product designed to address social anxiety. The conversation explores the differences between kratom and kava, the launch of Feel Free, and the impact of society on stress and anxiety levels. The conversation explores the evolution of society and the contrast between different lifestyles. It delves into the origins and controversy surrounding kratom, highlighting the...
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Ep 65: Guy Odishaw | Light Therapy, Cellular Intelligence, and the Future of Healthcare
Unlatched Mind
I had the privilege of delving into the fascinating realm of biophysics and cellular intelligence with Guy Odishaw, the founder of CerebralFit. The conversation unfolded around the revolutionary field of biologic medicine, where the integration of light therapy, or electroceuticals, takes center stage in leveraging the innate intelligence of our cells for optimal health. Our dialogue began by exploring the profound connection between humans and the natural world, drawing parallels between how plants harness light energy for sustenance and oxygen production and how our bodies absorb sunlight to...
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Ep 64: Frank McAndrew, Ph.D. | Personal Likeability, Evolutionary Psychology, and Culture
Unlatched Mind
In this wide-ranging discussion, we dove deep into the fascinating world of evolutionary psychology with Dr. Frank McAndrew, Ph.D., a renowned professor of psychology at Knox College. Our conversation started with an exploration of “Dunbar’s Number”, which delves into the limits of human social connections. We pondered the significance of this limit in our increasingly connected yet isolating world. From there, the discussion evolved to touch upon language, dialects, and accents. Dr. McAndrew and I discussed how even in countries with a common language, various dialects and accents...
info_outlinePhilosopher, emerging public intellectual, and the Director of Great Philosophical Problems, Dr. Timothy Shaw joins the show. Dr. Shaw has undertaken original research into how existential concepts impact and are reflected in the psychological distress models of the “Signature Wound” of contemporary war, Moral Injury.
Moral Injury is the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress one’s own moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct. Moral injury can occur in reaction to a traumatic event in which deeply held morals or values are violated. The resulting distress may lead to PTSD, depression, and other disorders in which feelings such as guilt, shame, betrayal and anger are predominant, although these feelings may occur in the absence of a formal disorder. Although most research that has been conducted has focused on military Veterans, moral injury can occur outside of the military context.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The definitive meaning and utility of Frederik Nietzche’s masterwork, Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None, being used as the framework to define Moral Injury and provide commentary on the current Western psyche.
- The alignment of war and recourse to the Kosovo experience as expressed by Chomsky
- Understanding the origin and use of nuclear weapons and how they can be understood as bones to philosophy, but milk to faith
- The historical development and understandings of the terms of genocide and crimes against humanity, and how these have disseminated throughout our culture and societies since the Nuremberg trials