In this special episode, Matt and Chris revisit the wisdom of the internet’s favourite philosopher-warrior/political theorist, Lex Fridman, as he dives once again into the complex realities of the Ukraine war. Joining Lex is IDW hero and conservative commentator Douglas Murray, who actually offers some sensible insights
Dread it, run from it, Cod still arrives...
That's right. Matt has infected enough of the Patreons that they voted for their own mental destruction.
The winner, by a small margin, for the next Decoding Academia book review is Cod: A biography of the fish that changed the world.
We will post our revi...
2025-04-02 03:54:52 +0000 UTC View Post
That's right. The next Decoding is Conspiracy Theorist/Alternative Media darling, Michael Shellenberger with some Jordan Peterson added in for good measure.
We thought it would be good to document some of the obsequious behaviour towards the Trump administration and this is a perfect example.
See how long you can ...
2025-03-31 02:46:56 +0000 UTC View PostWe embrace our hybridity, stare down Lovecraftian Donkey-Dragon hybrids, and enter into true Dialogos.
Sources
New York Times- Zeynep Tufekci: We Were Badly Misled About the Ev...
2025-03-30 21:54:41 +0000 UTC View PostIn this episode, your favourite neoliberal Decoder shills take a break from managing the decline of late-stage capitalism to examine the insights of famed writer and renegade activist Naomi Klein. The focus is her latest literary offering, Doppelganger, where Klein wrestles with the existential dread of being confuse...
2025-03-15 07:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostIn this episode, your favourite neoliberal Decoder shills take a break from managing the decline of late-stage capitalism to examine the insights of famed writer and renegade activist Naomi Klein. The focus is her latest literary offering, Doppelganger, where Klein wrestles with the existential dread of being confuse...
2025-03-13 02:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostIn this special quasi-crossover episode, we stare deeply into the abyss while enjoying a beverage with renowned psychologist and occasional podcast co-host, Mickey Inzlicht.
Two Psychologists, One Anthropologist, Three Beers
00:27 Introduction
05:57 Mickey's Sabbatical in Japan
12:13 S...
2025-03-08 04:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostChris and Matt confront their inner demons, manifest their personal deities, and dive into the Onto-Logos.
Supplementary Material 24
00:00 Introduction
02:32 Matt's Surprise Shaming
06:39 Jordan Peterson's Inner Monologue Revealed
10:04 Trump on Ukraine
15:22 Sean Carroll e...
2025-02-28 01:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostIn this episode, Matt and Chris take a look at a recent developmental psychology paper on the social evaluation of young babies. Do they display a preference for agents who are nice to others or could they care less at the babbling age? This is a large-scale, multi-lab, preregistered replication effort of a rather influential...
2025-02-20 02:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post
We look critically at Lex Fridman's recent reflections on his interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
We examine Lex’s self-presentation as a Christ-like figure—someone who is willing to suffer, feign naivety and ignorance, and even risk his life in the name of world peace—all while maintaining an e...
2025-02-17 06:52:39 +0000 UTC View Post
Chris and Matt have their models exploded, the maps ripped up, and their minds blown as the Gurusphere expands into exciting new territory.
Supplementary Material 23
02:47 Chris Williamson blows our minds!
08:57 Content Predator psychology and motivational posting
12:28 Balancing the S...
2025-02-15 08:13:54 +0000 UTC View Post
We immerse ourselves in the Dark Side of the Gurusphere and come out forever altered by what we've seen and praying for an escape from this demon-haunted world.
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Reverse Culture Shock in Australia
11:01 Tim Tams and Food Progress
12:14 Russia Today endorses Lex's statements on Z...
2025-02-12 13:23:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Scrying through the portents Matt and Chris sit down to consider the apocalyptic insights of tech and finance titan Peter Thiel. We all know that Thiel is an urbane gentleman of great refinement with a collection of revolutionary ideas but does he make the Gurometer sing? Join us to find out and also learn more than you ever ...
2025-02-11 00:05:33 +0000 UTC View Post
As mentioned in the Galaxy Brain Chat, Matt has a window and we are late with the January hang out! Come one, come all.
Click the link to see the time in local zone but it is 10AM JST Friday 7th Dec.
There will be another livestream later in the month with more warning too!
2025-02-06 22:26:00 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode, Matt and Chris tackle the big ideas—or at least the ones rattling around in Peter Thiel’s mind. Tech billionaire, venture capitalist, and political kingmaker, Thiel has long been a looming figure in Silicon Valley, known for his deep pockets, contrarian takes, and peculiar philosophical musings. But benea...
2025-02-04 02:30:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Lex Fridman received the rare opportunity to speak with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, while Russia continues to invade his country. We look at what Lex did with that opportunity, including discussions of his dreams for peace, what would happen if Russia and Ukraine joined NATO, and the most important topic- j...
2025-01-28 07:24:52 +0000 UTC View Post
In this special episode, we look at a recently released segment by Lex Fridman, where he reflects on his interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
We examine Lex’s self-presentation as a Christ-like figure—someone who is willing to suffer, feign naivety and ignorance, and even risk his life in the name...
2025-01-22 07:04:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Here is the video version of the recent episode prepared by editor Andy.
In the wake of Lex's recent interview with Zelensky, we thought it was the perfect moment to dedicate an episode to a Fieldspotter's Guide for the rhetorical and manipulative techniques that flourish in the Gurusphere. To help us nav...
2025-01-21 07:03:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Just a quick creation from Andy this time on Andrew Gold and his reflections on the demands of catering to the YouTube algorithm.
2025-01-20 05:43:23 +0000 UTC View Post
In the wake of Lex's recent interview with Zelensky, we thought it was the perfect moment to dedicate an episode to a Fieldspotter's Guide for the rhetorical and manipulative techniques that flourish in the Gurusphere. To help us navigate this terrain, we're joined by streamer and online debater Steven Bonnell...
2025-01-18 08:34:41 +0000 UTC View Post
Next Decoding, we are diving into the depressing world of ghoulish billionaire / self-proclaimed intellectual contrarian, Peter Thiel. We are going to look at a two-part interview he did with Peter Robinson at the Hoover Institution’s Uncommon Knowledge, exploring the (supposed) intersection of "Ancient Prophecies ...
2025-01-16 07:23:10 +0000 UTC View Post
Are Dragons Real? Is Fire a Predator? Richard Dawkins and Jordan Peterson get to the bottom of this and other pressing issues in their fiery debate.
Editor Andy's latest work.
2025-01-15 01:33:51 +0000 UTC View Post
It's 2025 and the Gurusphere, sadly, will not stop so we are here to examine some depressing crossovers. Specifically, the bro-optimiser Andrew Huberman met the chaos dragon Jordan Peterson, while the love bomb Lex Fridman finally interviewed Zelensky. Bret meanwhile is worried about PsyOps...
Supplementary Ma...
2025-01-10 03:04:16 +0000 UTC View Post
It's January and we have a lot of upcoming material planned, so we thought we might share it here to keep us on track and let you know about our short erm plans. Some things are subject to change but these will definitely be things that are coming soon.
Decoding Episodes
1. Peter Thiel: This one is l...
Back once again with the dark art of Gurometry, we turn our sights to the bad boy of Silicon Valley—the mulleted maestro, the edgy eejit, Curtis Yarvin. A legend in his own mind, but how does he rank on the Gurosity scale? Join us as we dissect his essence across 11 factors, from his revolutionarily mundane and incoherent i...
2025-01-02 08:37:30 +0000 UTC View Post
In this episode, Matt and Chris do speed data entry and high-level calibrations to get John Vervaeke and Sabine Hossenfelder entered into the Gurometer simultaneously. Can the Gurometer handle the combined power of a disgruntled physicist (Sabine) and an Analogic Dialogic Reasoner (Vervaeke)? Join us to find out.
2025-01-01 23:47:55 +0000 UTC View Post
Joined by the esteemed Helen Lewis, we peer into the ever-shifting Gurusphere, analyzing its swirls and eddies to predict who will ascend the ranks in 2025.
2025-01-01 23:27:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Matt is in New York City for the next week (roughly). He is considering organising a meetup with Patreon folks, but he has no plan yet! (This is Matt's style...)
If you have suggestions or recommendations, post them below and he will check in.
UPDATE: HE HAS A PLAN!
Meetup at THE PETER MCMANUS CAFE, a spacio...
2024-12-29 00:07:22 +0000 UTC View Post
In this end-of-year supplementary material, we unleash the hounds of war, battle through the discourse, and emerge alive but bloody and battered on the other side. Enlist now and join the fight.
Supplementary Material 20
00:00 Introduction and Ethnographic Insights
01:38 Matt's Observations...
2024-12-27 04:25:50 +0000 UTC View Post
In this long-anticipated episode, Matt and Chris dip into the peculiar world of Curtis Yarvin, the reactionary blogger, tech entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed monarchist. Known to his early followers by the pseudonym "Mencius Moldbug," Yarvin is a prominent figure in the "dark enlightenment" and neo-reactionary circles. Some ...
2024-12-25 12:41:50 +0000 UTC View Post
