Converging Dialogues

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Russon about the major thinkers in phenomenology and how their ideas can be applied in everyday life. They begin the conversation with an overview of Hegel's philosophy and discuss sexual intimacy as an example of Hegel's ideas on recognition. They also discuss the impact of Hegel's philosophy on Marxism and some of the lessons from the French revolution. They question whether it is individuals or institutions that can be oppressive and malevolent. They discuss Heidegger's main concepts of Dasein and worldhood. They talk about the authenticity and inauthenticity of Dasein and the four different types of world. They also dialogue about the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty and his major concepts on perception and embodiment and the phenomenology of space. John Russon is a philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. He is the author of three books on G.W.F. Hegel and has written four books of his own that deal with personal identity and the structures of everyday life. He has many recorded talks on philosophy at his youtube page. He also can be found at his website. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Manon Van Scheppingen about the most current research on marriage, divorce, and parenthood. They start with an overview of life transitions in young adulthood and what those transitions look like in a shared vs. a non-shared environment. They define personality and how various life transitions could possibly change personality. They provide an overview of Manon's self-esteem/motherhood paper and some of the data within this paper. They give an overview of Manon's divorce paper and some of the specifics of the results from that paper. They also talk about what life satisfaction looks like post-divorce and what the practical implications are of these studies. Manon Van Scheppingen holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Tilburg University in Tilburg, Netherlands. She is an Associate Professor at Tilburg University where she conducts research on personality. Specifically, she examines life transitions and major life events such as marriage, divorce, and parenthood. You can find the articles discussed in this episode here. Find her on Twitter: @mavscheppingen Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jessica Koehler about education, school choice, and school psychology. Jessica discusses her background and how she became involved with school psychology and how it led to her current work. They discuss the 5 different sub-domains of psychology and how school psychology fits within psychology. They talk about the heavy emphasis on diagnosing within a reactionary way for much of school psychology. They discuss the elements of school psychology and pressures to care for children. They also lay out the need and focus for preventive measures within schools as opposed to reactionary measures. They talk about the element of school choice and various alternative forms of learning. They also discuss homeschooling and some of the criticism it has received in previous years along with explaining psychology to the general public.Jessica Koehler holds a PhD in school psychology from the University of Maryland. She has research experience with school-based prevention, school teams, and teacher efficacy. She has been a school psychologist at various public school in various states. Currently, she has a variety of projects aimed at training and educating a wide-range of students of various ages. She is the founder of Koehler Academy and has a very active youtube channel that promotes continuing education. She also is a writer for Psychology Today. Twitter: @drjessica17 Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Alex Schnell about cognition, intelligence, and consciousness in cephalopods. They briefly discuss comparative psychology and its use alongside other fields. They discuss the evolutionary basics of cephalopods and some of the similarities and differences between the various species. They talk about the mating strategies of cuttlefish such as male fighting and female receptivity and the implications of the behaviors of cuttlefish on intelligence and cognition. They discuss her recent paper on cuttlefish passing a version of the marshmallow test and the importance of understanding self-gratification and self-control in cuttlefish. They also talk about consciousness in animal minds (specifically cephalopods) and implications of studying intelligence and cognition in other animals and many other topics. Alex Schnell holds a PhD in Behavioral Ecology and currently conducts research for the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. She has research experience in comparative psychology, marine biology, and evolutionary biology. Most of her research on various cephalopods can be found here and here. Twitter: @dr_alexschnell Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Rick Perlstein about conservatism, politics in the United States, and past and present social-cultural issues. They discuss his motivations for writing his four books on modern Conservatism in the United States. They discuss the rise of Barry Goldwater and the splintering of the New Deal coalition. They also discuss the shifting cultural voting bloc from the middle class to elites and how Nixon’s rise worked with these shifting social and cultural changes. They talked about how suburbanization influenced a push towards Goldwater and Nixon and the new brand of Conservatism. They discuss the ever-present role of Reagan always in the background and some of the biographical aspects of the image he created for himself. They talk about the conservative shift from economic to social-cultural elements, the Reagan Democrats, and building of the modern Conservative coalition. They also talk about the Conservative party over the past 40 years leading up to the current platform and the potential future directions. Rick Perlstein is a writer, journalist, and historian who has written four books on the social and political Conservative waves during the 1960s and 1970s. He is the author of Before The Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus, Nixonland: The Rise of A President and the Fracturing of America, The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and The Rise of Reagan, and Reaganland: America’s Right Turn 1976-1980. You can find all of the links to his books, essays, and other publications at his website. Twitter: @rickperlstein Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Spencer Case about extremism and morality. They discuss his background, how he got into philosophy, and leaving Mormonism. They define moral extremism and discuss it as a vice and detriment of character. They discuss the role of moral emotions with extremism and the differences between absolute and relative morals. They engage on character and intention as important to moral extremism and provide examples from the prohibition era and from past historical figures. They also stress the need for compassion in correcting moral extremism and many other topics. Spencer Case holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Currently, he is an international research fellow at Wuhan University in Wuhan, China. His main research interesting are in meta ethics, normative theory, and moral realism. You can find links to his published papers and popular articles at his website. Twitter: @spencerjaycase Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Monica Guzman about journalism, culture, and Latinos in the United States. They discuss how she became involved in journalism and how the current state of journalism is at both the national and local levels. They discussed how she co-founded the Seattle digital newsletter, The Evergrey, and how people within cities create culture. They also discussed her work with Braver Angels and some of the dynamics of race and multiculturalism. They discussed her upcoming book and some of the main concepts such as curiosity. They also talked about Latinos in the United States and some of the political, social, and cultural themes along with many other topics. Monica Guzman is a Seattle-based journalist and writer who co-founded the digital newsletter, The Evergrey and is currently the senior media advisor for the Braver Angels organization. She is on track to release her book, I Never Thought of it That Way, in 2022. Join her newsletter here. Twitter: @moniguzman Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Thomas Chatterton Williams about race and our current social challenges. They talk about Thomas' reasoning for writing his memoirs and the major theme of race. They talk about the one drop rule for Black Americans and what Thomas means by leaving race. They also discuss his perspective living outside the United States and the lens of seeing race from a biracial viewpoint. They also talk about some of the major themes in culture today and developing a better compass for discussing race relations. Thomas Chatterton Williams is a cultural critic and writer. He is the author of two memoirs, Losing My Cool and Self-Portrait in Black and White. He is also a writer for the New York Times Magazine and Harper's. He has had pieces published in the New Yorker, London Review of Books, and many other publications. You can find links to these articles and his books here. Find him on Twitter: @thomaschattwill Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Christakis about the COVID-19 global pandemic. They discuss how he wrote his latest book, Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live, while the pandemic was happening in real time. They discuss the basic facts about the COVID-19 virus along with the lethality and infectious rates. They briefly consider if there is any validity that the virus is the result of a lab leak. They also present an overview of vaccine history and how the current mRNA vaccines work. They stress the importance of everyone getting a vaccine sooner than later and how the current vaccines appear to defend well against the virus variants. They also discuss herd immunity and what the timeline towards a return to normal looks like. Nicholas Christakis is a physician and sociologist who conducts research at his Human Nature Lab at Yale University on social networks. Currently, he is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science, Internal Medicine, & Biomedical Engineering at Yale University. He has his MPH and MD from Harvard University along with his PhD in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, he was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He is the author of Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of A Good Society, and Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. You can find his lab here. You can find the app mentioned in this episode here. Twitter: @nachristakis Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lee Jussim about stereotypes, bias, and the current state of the social sciences. They talk about the scientific data on stereotypes, good and bad stereotypes, and how one understands stereotypes. They discuss some of the history of studies in social psychology and how that has changed currently. They discuss social perception and bias and give a detail description on how there is no general or universal definition of implicit bias. They talk about the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and some of the implications of this test. They also discuss some of the research on self-fulfilling prophecies along with Lee's current work in advocating for healthy viewpoint diversity within academia. Lee Jussim is a social psychologist and the Chair of Psychology at Rutgers University. He continues to run the Social Perception lab at Rutgers and is extremely well published over the past 30 years on social perception, stereotypes, and bias. You can find many of his scholarly papers here. You can also find his popular writing here. Twitter: @psychrabble Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Mark Solms about consciousness, emotions, and how we understand the human psyche. They begin by discussing how Mark become involved in neuropsychology and psychoanalysis and how he combines these two worlds. They also discuss how he became involved with the late great Jaak Panksepp and their work on brainstem arousal and affect. They discuss Panksepp's seven affective states and make a distinction between drives, instincts, affect, emotions, and feelings. They talked about Mark's own work in understanding emotions in humans and locating some of the origins of consciousness in the reticular activating system and the periaqueductal gray (PAG). They discuss how consciousness could be in other animals and give some discussion on free will. They talk about the importance of bodily homeostasis and how it's a key feature for consciousness. They also provide some analysis and critique of the work done on emotions by Lisa Feldman-Barrett and also talk about some of the overemphasis on cognitive science. Mark Solms is a neuropsychologist and psychoanalyst. He holds the chair of neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and is also the research chair for the International Psychoanalytic Association. He has written eight books with his most recent, The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness, which can be found here. You can find a list of his scholarly publications here. Twitter: @mark_solms Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Christopher Ferguson about violence in mass media such as video games, madness with historical and political figures, and the implications for our society. They discuss the standard view of violent mass media and the idea that they influence behaviors in society. They talk about how reward-based video games are less common and do not translate to behavior within society. They discuss the current literature on violence in mass media and social behavior. They also mention some practical elements of kids playing video games.The second half of the conversation centered around Chris' new book and some of the motivations for writing the book. They talk about the importance of understanding the psychological profiles of historical and political leaders and why that matters. They parse out the differences between insanity, madness, and mental illness. They dialogue about some of the history of institutionalization and de-institutionalization. They also discuss challenges with diagnostic criteria, delineations between psychopathy and sociopathy, and the progressive changes within society. Christopher Ferguson is a clinical psychologist, professor, and writer. He teaches psychology at Stetson University and continues to conduct research on mass media violence. He is the author of two non-fiction books. His first book, Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong and his most recent book, How Madness Shaped History: An Eccentric Array of Maniacal Rulers, Raving Narcissists, and psychotic Visionaries are both available here. You can find many links to his various publications and articles at his website. Twitter: @cjferguson1111 Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Razib Khan about genetics, how to understand populations and racial categories through genetics, and some of the social implications. They start by discussing the basics of genetics, the differences between DNA and genes, and how genes work over time. They talk about the different groups of humans as a species and understanding humans as a type of "super species." They discuss modern-day humans and how they spread around the world. They dialogue about the origins of Western Hemisphere Indigenous tribes and some of the genetic significance of Genghis Khan. They also mention some of the population structures of India. They also discuss how to understand genetics with race and some of the differences between race and ethnicity.Razib Khan is a geneticist, writer, and podcaster. He has written for many scholarly journals on genetics. He has also written many pieces for mainstream outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and National Review. You can find all of his work, including his substack page here. Twitter: @razibkhan Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Wood Jr. about race, ethnicity, and conservatism. They discuss John's background both publicly and personally and the Braver Angels Organization. They dialogue about how biracial/multiracial people view race differently from people that are not biracial. They talk about the individual as a starting line for understanding people and then moving outward towards their group identity. They also talked about conservatism and how he identifies with black conservatism. They also talk about how he reconciles Burkean conservatism with modern-day conservatism and many other topics. John Wood Jr. is a writer, speaker, and National leader for Braver Angels. He is a former nominee for congress, former Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. He is also a musical artist. You can find his page with his articles here. Twitter: @johnrwoodjr Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Hoinski about the personal implications of philosophy and some of the major works of Nietzsche and Heidegger. They discuss how philosophical ideas are connected with each philosopher's life and give a broad overview of both continental and analytic philosophy. They talk about how philosophy works through time and seeing philosophy as a type of hyperlinking ideas. They provide a background of Nietzsche and discuss his main concepts of will to power, eternal recurrence of the same, Zarathustra, and religion. They also discuss the personal life and philosophical ideas of Heidegger. They question whether philosophers should be morally good along with some of the pragmatic elements of philosophy in society. David Hoinski is a philosopher and writer. He is an Assistant Professor of philosophy at West Virginia University where he emphasizes ancient philosophy, modern German philosophy, and ethical/political philosophy. David is an esteemed bibliophile and speaks German and Ancient Greek. Twitter: @davidfahoinski Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bret Alderman concerning postmodernism, phenomenology, and lived experiences. They provide an overview of postmodernism and deconstructionism along with explaining why language is central for this perspective. They talk about Saussure's structuralism of language as juxtaposed with a postmodern view of language. They discuss the problems with postmodernism/deconstructionism and talk about the concepts of the other, power, and oppression. They provide a detailed analysis of lived experiences and the original intent of Husserl's thinking behind coining this term. They also discuss some of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology and many other topics. Bret Alderman has a PhD in depth psychology and is also a life coach. Outside of his clinical work and life coach capacity, he has taught courses in human behavior, neuroscience, biopsychology, and intercultural communication. He is the author of Symptom, Symbol, and the Other of Language: A Jungian Interpretation of the Linguistic Turn. You can find his work at his website. Twitter: @drbretalderman Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Gregg Caruso about free will, moral responsibility, and retributive justice. They begin with discussing the motivation and process for writing his new book with Daniel Dennett. They provide a definition of free will and the term, desert. They talk about the interaction of free will with retributive justice and punishment. They also discuss the notion of luck and the three layers associated with this concept. They talk about the role of moral and social emotions with free will and the various ways of doing preventive and rehabilitative justice. They also discuss the social determinants involved with criminal behavior and many other topics. Gregg Caruso is a philosopher, professor, author, and speaker. He is currently a professor of philosophy at SUNY Corning and Honorary Professor of philosophy at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Just Deserts: Debating Free Will (Co-authored with Daniel Dennett) and Rejecting Retributivism: Free Will, Punishment, and Criminal justice are his two most recent books published this year. You can find his work at his website. Twitter: @greggdcaruso Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Lindsay M. Chervinsky about George Washington's creation of the cabinet. They discuss how Washington created the cabinet and constructed the framework for future presidents. They talk about the initial makeup of the cabinet and some of the individuals within the cabinet. They discuss the four major principles that Washington used as general and then transferred to his creation of the cabinet. They explore the use of "homework" that Washington gave for his cabinet members. They describe how Washington set the tone for future administrations and how his administrative genius was similar to Grant and Eisenhower presidencies. They also mention some of the other presidential cabinets such as FDR and Lincoln and their own imprint on the institution. They also talk about the current Biden cabinet and many other topics. Lindsay M. Chervinsky is a historian, author, and speaker. She obtained her PhD in history from the University of California, Davis and is a scholar at the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies. She is also a professor at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. You can find her work at her website. Twitter: @lmchervinsky Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Allie Choate about the statistical aspects of measuring personality. They start the conversation by giving a general definition of psychopathology and p-factor. They discuss some internalizing and externalizing factors of p-factor and how it operates laterally with the g-factor of intelligence. They talk about which disorders the p-factor correlates most and how it is implicated. They provide a larger discussion around personality disorders along with the co-morbidity of personality disorders with other clinical disorders. Allie shares findings from her research with borderline personality disorder and psychopathy and the surrounding literature on these topics. They discuss the bifactor model/factor analyses that are used to understanding psychopathology research and many other topics. Allie Choate is a PhD candidate in clinical psychology with her research focused on personality pathology and quantitative methods to understand psychological phenomena. Twitter: @alliemchoate Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Camilo Ortiz about evidence-based treatments and elimination disorders within clinical psychology. They discuss the differences in degrees and programs between PhD's and PsyD's in clinical psychology. They talk about the three waves of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) along with the efficacy and effectiveness of CBT for many disorders. They mention the importance of theoretical case conceptualization over just techniques alone. They discuss disruptive behaviors and the importance of training parents with good behavioral parenting skills. They also discuss elimination disorders and the importance of encouraging children to have independence and many other topics.Camilo Ortiz is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor of clinical psychology. He is trained in CBT and focuses his research and work with children and their parents. He specializes in treating elimination disorders. You can find his work here. Twitter: @drcamiloOrtiz Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Talia Welsh about the phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty. Talia provides her background in philosophy and with Merleau-Ponty specifically. She also discusses her work in gender and feminine studies. They discuss the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty and how one understands the experience of their own being. They provide an overview of phenomenology and Merleau-Ponty's contribution to this branch of philosophy. They also talk about how his philosophy can be applied and the juxtaposition that it has with psychology. They also talk about feminism and gender studies generally along with other topics.Talia Welsh has a PhD in philosophy and is currently a UC Foundation professor of Philosophy and Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She spends most of her research with Merleau-Ponty and has translated his lectures given at Sorbonne in the volume, Child Psychology & Pedagogy: The Sorbonne Lectures 1949-1952. You can find her work here. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicole Barbaro about evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, and challenges with higher education. They give an overview of evolutionary psychology and some of the changes over the years. They also talk about how evolutionary psychology has become more integrated and multidisciplinary. They discuss sexual selection and, specifically, about mate selection and pair bonding. An overview of attachment theory and the 3 sub-categories are presented. They discuss the problems with attachment theory and how forging a new model with some behavioral genetics shows promise. A discussion of higher education and the innumerable challenges are presented. They engage about the challenges of college degrees being less valued in the workforce due to the degree arms race. They also touch on the impact that these challenges have for certain groups and how improved qualitative teaching is one major factor to ameliorate this problem. They also discuss asynchronous vs. synchronous teaching and many other topics. Nicole Barbaro holds a PhD in psychology with an emphasis on evolution and human development. She is currently a research scientist at WGU labs and continues to publish in academia on attachment. You can find all of her publications at her website. Subscribe to her substack to have weekly content on current trends within higher education. Twitter: @Nicolebarbaro Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Wilfred Reilly about the complex data around race in the United States. Wilfred provides some of the current statistics on racial groups and how this can be received in a mixed way in the media. They discuss some of the differences between equality and equity and the importance of both quantitative and qualitative data. They also talk about the current state of politics and many other topics. Wilfred Reilly is a political scientist and Associate professor at Kentucky State University. He is the author of Hate Crime Hoax and Taboo both of which can be found here. Twitter: @wil_da_beast630 Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Iona Italia about her personal memoirs, mixed-race identity, and current social issues. Iona discusses her various experiences around the world and how they have shaped her identity. Specifically, she mentions her time in Argentina, India, and Great Britain. She also discusses her background in English literature and the impact that had on her development. They talk about race and ethnicity and some of the distinctions for individuals who are mixed races. They also discuss the differences between individualism and group identity and many other topics. Iona Italia is a writer, editor, translator, and podcaster. She has a PhD in English from Cambridge University and currently serves as the copy editor at Areo Magazine. She is fluent in four languages and also enjoys Tango dancing. You can find her at her website. Twitter: @ionaitalia Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this special episode, Xavier Bonilla moderates a dialogue between Bo Winegard and Nicholas Wolfinger about the similarities and differences between conservatism and liberalism. They discuss immigration and the varying narratives on mass migrations along with conservative nationalism's perspective on immigration. They discuss the current conservative party and whether they can or cannot distance themselves from insurrection and sedition. They talk about the focus on criticizing some groups and not others. They also engage on the importance of studying differences in human variation. They discuss where to draw lines and distinctions on some political issues and how each party can combat extremism from within each party. Both Bo and Nick discuss the current state of academia and how certain topics are taboo within academia. They engage about the need for viewpoint diversity within academia and how to resist double standards. Finally, they end the conversation giving some different perspectives on major court decisions. Bo Winegard is a former Assistant Professor of Psychology. He holds a Ph.D. in social psychology with an emphasis on Evolutionary psychology. Currently, he writes on conservatism, human nature, group behavior, and socially conservative thought in society. His articles can be found here and here. Twitter: @epoe187 Nicholas Wolfinger has a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA and is professor of family and consumer studies as well as sociology at the University of Utah. He is the author of four books on marriage, family, and divorce. Currently, he is writing a new book on single motherhood. He is widely published and cited within academia and has written for The Atlantic, National Review, Huffington Post, and other outlets. You can find all links to his articles and books at his website. Twitter: @nickwolfinger Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Wolfinger about marriage, divorce, and single motherhood. They start the conversation with an overview of sociology today and some of the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods. They discuss the history of marriage in American Society in the 20th century and some of the societal norms and changes in the 1960's. Nicholas provides an overview of the current data on marriage and the family unit along with data on divorce, both historically and currently. They discuss the positive impact of religion on marriage and some of the reasons for divorce. They also dialogue about the legal aspects of divorce and the data on remarriage. Nicholas also discusses the data on single motherhood and many other topics. Nicholas Wolfinger has a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA and is professor of family and consumer studies as well as sociology at the University of Utah. He is the author of four books on marriage, family, and divorce. Currently, he is writing a new book on single motherhood. He is widely published and cited within academia and has written for The Atlantic, National Review, Huffington Post, and other outlets. You can find all links to his articles and books at his website. Twitter: @nickwolfinger Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a in-depth dialogue with Tyler VanOstrand on his recently finished thesis discussing the divergence between the ideas of Nietzsche and Freud. At the start of this dialogue, Tyler provides a summary of the juxtaposition of Nietzsche and Freud's ideas. There is a discussion about Nietzsche's main concept of will to power and how this is an active idea along with the dimensions and extensions of this concept. They also talk about will to power as sitting within a super structure/hierarchy and some of the directionality that it encompasses. There is also a discussion about will to power as observational and descriptive but also some of its prescriptive elements. Freud's formulation of life and death through tension reduction is also discussed. There is a discussion on the death instinct as a primary way of returning to the inanimate primordial origins. There is also a discussion about the role of sex as tension reduction and how this corresponds with the expenditure of power. Throughout this dialogue there is a discussion about how Nietzsche's ideas and Freud's ideas intersect and then diverge. There is a discussion about the misreading of Nietzsche by Deleuze and Derrida, specifically on difference. There is also a discussion about pleasure and pain within the instincts for both Nietzsche and Freud. Finally, there is a discussion about Nietzsche's complex concept of the eternal recurrence of the same and some of the nuances within this concept. Tyler VanOstrand is a former seminarian and has a Master of Arts in New Testament. He also has a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and a Master of Arts in Philosophy, with a minor in psychoanalysis. He is currently pursuing studies towards a Ph.D. in Philosophy analyzing Nietzsche's thought. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Sanjana Rajagopal about her experience in philosophy, the ideas of Martin Heidegger and Hannah Arendt, and philosophy in general. Sanjana talks about what led her into studying philosophy as a woman and as a Hindu and the roles they play in her life and studying philosophy. They discuss the general differences between continental and analytic philosophy. There is a discussion around the major tenets of Heidegger's concepts, namely: death and idle talk, Dasein and being, thrownness and worldhood, spatiality- de-severance and directionality.They also discuss Hannah Arendt and her ideas on labor, work, and action, the vita activa and vita contemplative, along with her work on Kant's judgment and her political theory. They also discuss Arendt's idea of the banality of evil and her complicated relationship with Heidegger. Sanjana Rajagopal is a PhD student in philosophy and has been primarily studying the work of Hannah Arendt along with Martin Heidegger. She also writes poetry. You can find her work here. Twitter: @sanjanawrites Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Simona Efanov about the neurophysiology of stress, clinical psychology, and the dangers of self-help psychology. They discuss the various definitions of stress and talk about the aspects of positive stressors. They provide a review of neuroanatomy and discuss the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the cycle of stress. They define emotions in general and then explain the impact of chronic stress. There is also a discussion on the differences between chronic stress and trauma and how trauma can impact development and attachment. In the second half of this dialogue, there is a broad discussion of what clinical psychology is and some of its functions and efficacy. Specifically, there is a description of the development and creation of statistical methods and psychological assessment. They discuss the differences between PhD's and PsyD's along with talking about some of the current challenges in the field of Psychology. They talk about the importance of explaining psychological science and research concretely to the general public. They offer a critique of self-help and pop psychology with a specific case example and critique of Brene Brown along with other topics. Simona Efanov is a licensed clinical psychologist who has done research on stress and currently does clinical work in a private practice. She also is involved with clinical training and is a professor of neuropsychology and other clinical courses. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Stephen Clouse about political theory, philosophy, and Aristotelian concepts in general and for current day application. They talk about the differences between political philosophy and political science and also the ways in which they intersect. They have a discussion about political theory using various examples. They talk about the importance of etymology and also about primordial concepts underlying the American political system. They also give a brief history of 20th century philosophy and discuss some of the challenges with postmodern/deconstructionist philosophy.They provide a background and history of Greek philosophy and talk about the importance of Aristotelian philosophy for modern times. More specifically, they talk about Aristotle's concept of purpose and how this interacts with leisure. They also talk about his concept of tragedy and pity and many other topics. Stephen Clouse is a political science PhD candidate with his primary focus on ancient Greek philosophy, specifically Aristotelian philosophy, along with early American political thought. You can find his writing here and here. You can also follow him on Twitter: @sclouse2 Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Angel Eduardo about the need to focus on ideas and also about viewpoint diversity with the Latino community. They discuss the distinctions between words and ideas and the value of intentions along with context. They also talk about revisionist history with society and how individuals should be patient and more sanguine in their reactions.They also discuss Latino diversity by starting with some background from their own Latin roots. They parse out the differences between the terms Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish. They discuss the complex nuances within the Caribbean and the regional differences within the United States for Latinos. They discuss the underlying and encompassing themes of Latin culture and how these themes disperse with acculturation among Latinos in the United States. Angel Eduardo is a writer, musician, photographer, and designer based in New York City. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from CUNY and is a staff writer at Idealist. You can find his piece on ideas here and his more recent piece on selfishness here. Find him at his website and on twitter: @strangeledweird Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ashley King about the various components of psychotherapy and some of its challenges currently. They provide an overview of the major therapies and talk about the practice of "circling." The practice of circling is discussed in terms of its application for individual and group therapies. There is a discussion about the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of existential-humanistic therapy/treatment along with depth/insight-oriented therapy. They both talk about the various aspects of manualized/directive treatments and why theoretical conceptualizations are important. They discuss the differences between therapy and being a life coach. They also talk about Ashley's work as a somatic therapist and what that means. Finally, they discuss the limits and boundaries of personal ideology in therapy and current trends with self-help, "thought leaders," and motivational speakers.Ashley King has two Masters of Education and is a Licensed Professional Counselor where she works in her private practice in the Philadelphia area. She has numerous trainings with various methods that incorporate a wholistic lens on psychotherapy. You can find her work at her website. Twitter: @AKpsychoalchemy Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Cory Clark about bias within the social sciences, the replication crisis, and the concepts of free will and determinism. They start by defining the social sciences and discussing the challenges and problems with the social sciences. There is a discussion about publication and research bias. An example of unconscious/ implicit bias and the controversy surrounding the Implicit Association Test (IAT)is used. They discuss the replication crisis and, more specifically, the challenges with some quantitative and qualitative studies replicating. They also talk about the value of meta-analyses for replication studies and discuss pragmatic solutions for improving research within the social sciences to truncate the replication crisis. Finally, they discuss free will and its correlation with moral retribution/punishment. They talk about the differences between free will and determinism and how one can maintain personal responsibility. Cory Clark is a social psychologist and current visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania where she continues to do research on morals, political polarization, and bias. You can find her scholarly and popular publications on her website. Twitter: @Iamhardcory Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Colin Wright on topics of evolution, biological sex, and gender identity. They provide an overview of evolution and understanding it as fact and theoretical mechanism. They explore how Darwin outlined evolution and published his findings. They discuss the function and process of natural selection as well as the controversy and polarization within academia between individual kin selection vs. group selection. They also talk about the various aspects of sexual selection, evidence for evolution, and some of the critiques of creationism. They also discuss the definition and distinctions of biological sex and gender. They talk about the legal and biological ways of identification. They also discuss the nuanced and specific aspects of intersex, the practical implications around discussions of biological sex and gender, and many other topics. Colin Wright is an evolutionary biologist with an emphasis on behavioral ecology. He is widely published in the scientific journals with his research on paper wasps, spiders, and ant colonies. He is currently the managing editor at quillette. He has written a variety of pieces on evolution, sex, and gender differences. You can follow his substack and on twitter: @swipewright Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Rod Graham about sex work, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the social sciences in general. They discuss Rod's research on cyber security and criminology. They talk about his research in sex work, particularly online sex work. They discuss the stigma and pushback received about sex work.The definition, origins, and criticisms of Critical Race Theory are also discussed in this episode. Some of the differences between scholarly and popularized elements of CRT along with the goals and underlying assumptions of CRT. There is some discussion about the popularity of the anti-racist model espoused by Ibram X. Kendi. Lastly, there is a discussion about Rod's idea of scientific fascism, along with a discussion on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of statistical research methods and the applied benefit. They also talk about the state of the social sciences and many other topics. Rod Graham is a Sociologist and Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Old Dominion University. He runs the University's Undergraduate Cyber criminology program and conducts his research on sex work. You can find his aforementioned piece here. He has a channel on youtube and is on Twitter @roderickgraham Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jonah Paquette about the emotion of awe. They talk about the positive and negative aspects of awe. They discuss the taxonomy of awe and subsequent emotions. They talk about moving awe from a state to a trait. They also discuss the current state of positive psychology, the role of political involvement for psychologists and clinicians, and many other topics.Jonah Paquette is a clinical psychologist, clinical trainer, and author of three books. His first book, Real Happiness, is a self-help book detailing seven ways to have improved well-being. His second book, The Happiness Toolbox, is a more interactive book for tangible solutions towards building better well-being. His third and most recent book, Awestruck, describes the science and pragmatic applications of awe. You can follow Jonah and his work at his website. Twitter: @doctorpaquette Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Brittany Talissa King about race and the wide diversity within this topic. We discuss Brittany's background within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and her evolution with various thinkers. We discuss her collegial experience with Ta-Nehisi Coates and her journey into exploring other black writers. We talk about why some black writers are embraced by progressive culture and others are not. We discuss the savior complex of white "allyship" and the differences between the civil rights movement and today's movement. We also talk about the use of institutions to create change and many other topics.Brittany Talissa King is a freelance writer, journalist, and critic. She holds a Master's in Journalism from New York University. She has had her pieces published in The Daily Beast, Tablet, and The Republic. You can find the piece mentioned in this episode here. Twitter: @KingTalissa Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Ben Winegard about centrism, pragmatic institutionalism, and how these impact society. They discuss experts and their use and limits. They talk about epistemic humility, the working class, and transforming liberalism. They also engage on moderate centrism being more vocal within their own parties and many other topics. Ben Winegard is an assistant professor of Psychology at Hillsdale College. He holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology with an emphasis on evolution. His current interests are on human progress, polarization, and political issues. His work can be found here. Twitter: @benwinegard Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Bo Winegard about Conservatism and some of its implications for today's society. They talk about Bo's past academic history, academic integrity, and intellectual honesty. They discuss Trump, the 2020 US Presidential election, and wokeism. They also touch on immigration and some of the implications immigration has on national identity. Bo Winegard is a former Assistant Professor of Psychology. He holds a Ph.D. in social psychology with an emphasis on Evolutionary psychology. Currently, he writes on conservatism, human nature, group behavior, and socially conservative thought in society. His articles can be found here and here. Twitter: @epoe187 Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Tyler VanOstrand about various philosophical and psychological theories and themes. They talk about Freud and the power of his theory, Freud's model derived from Plato's model of the psyche, differences in psychodynamic framework with more mainstream models, and the lasting power of the Freudian model for modern-day therapy. Also, discussed is the philosophy of Heraclitus and its connection with Nietzsche's philosophy along with Nietzsche's concepts of eternal recurrence and will to power. Tyler VanOstrand is a former seminarian and has a Master of Arts in New Testament. He also has a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and a Master of Arts in Philosophy, with a minor in psychoanalysis. He is currently pursuing studies towards a Ph.D. in Philosophy analyzing Nietzsche's thought. Get full access to Converging Dialogues at convergingdialogues.substack.com/subscribe