The Filter Podcast with Matt Asher

This is my admittedly half-baked theory about evolution and entropy. I don't think I'm wrong though, and maybe by the end of this episode you'll agree with me. Among other things, you will find talk of: • Tuning parameters • Iterated evolution • Missing entropy • Turning into crabs • Hairless cats • Chocolate cake • Flat earth theory • Panspermia • Monarch butterflies • The Drake equation • Simulation theory • and Tardigrades (because of course) Music is CC licensed tack from BlackBox Red playing at Vondelbunker. Related links: • Scott Aaronson on the Hunt for Real Randomness • Last episode

Bridge episode for The Filter and brief note about The Mattasher Show season Two. Among the topics discussed are: * The Ikea monkey in the shearling coat * The Dress * Measuring the length of the Mississippi * The simulation hypothesis * Dog poop * Degeneracy * Pompeii * Italian restaurants * Unfiltered conversations * Dutch farmers * Mental illness * Red Ford Explorers Music is CC licensed tack from BlackBox Red playing at Vondelbunker.

This is an audio version of an article recently posted to my substack. It features an analysis of our cultural moment unlike anything you see from the left, the right, or even from libertarians. This won’t be headed where expect it to. I don’t what to give too much away, but there will be talk of talented tubs of lard, Siamese twins, men on leashes, soaking, sabo the street artist, and how the mullet symbolizes a properly functioning society. Related links: Original post at substack The Pandrogyne episode on Love and Radio

I'm joined in studio by Pete Quinones and Bird to discuss the manifesto by Ted Kaczynski, aka The Unibomber. Published in The Washington Post on the insistence of Kaczynski, it ultimately led to his arrest. We talk about the Manifesto's attacks on technology, American culture, and in particular Kaczynski's critiques of liberalism. At the end we shift focus to discuss the moral necessity of moving to where you are more free. Related links: Unibomber Manifesto The Pete Quinones Show Timeline Earth podcast with Bird

I talk with doctor and whistleblower Richard Semelka about his work to uncover the damage done by gadolinium, a heavy metal often added to a patient's bloodstream to make MRI's easier to read. In some patients this leads to Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD). We talk more broadly about the ways in which modern medicine is failing, and Semelka's legal battles after calling out another doctor for operating while drunk. Related links: • Richard Semelka homepage • Docpanel radiologist profile • GADTTRAC nonprofit

I speak with Clay Gulick, Chief Technology Officer at Telos Health Solutions, about the state of health care records, the promise and reality of blockchain tech in the field, and why everything needs a code, even shark bites. Related links: Clay Gulick on LinkedIn Telos Health Solutions Seeing like a State by James C. Scott

In this double episode, I talk with Curtis Yarvin, author, public intellectual, and the most prominent proponent of monarchy as the ideal form of government. Yarvin argues that every effective organization is effectively ruled by one person or one family. Along the way we discuss China, Argentina, American presidents, and the disastrous Justin Trudeau. Related links: • Gray Mirror Substack by Curtis Yarvin • Curtis's Writings as Mencius Moldbug

In this solo episode I do a deep dive on the social and political implications of indefinite life span extension. This is a followup to my interview with Aubrey de Grey where we spoke about achieving "escape velocity" and people become effectively immortal. I suggested that eternal life this might have negative consequences at a broader level, Aubrey dismissed these concerns. I go through probable scenarios and the game theory implications if we begin to see a realistic chance of this happening. Related links: • My discussion with Aubrey de Grey

I talk with writer and fellow Florida radio host David Gornoski about Rene Girard and Mimetic Theory. We talk about the nature of human desire, myths as cover stories for violence, and the role of the scapegoat. I explain how I almost purchased a boat with an extraordinary history. Related links: A Neighbor's Choice radio show and podcast David Gornoski's work at the Mises Institute

In this solo episode I discuss the "Truman Show" conspiracy and the extent to which it is our reality. Along the way, I talk about conditions for a healthy society, Scooby Doo, log odds, Simulacra and Simulation, kayfabe, Potemkin Villages, and your lying parents. Related links: • Episode with Jesse Walker, author of The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Reader

Happy New Year! In this brief episode I do some housekeeping and reflect on the year gone by and some big announcements. Related links: • Tim Zimmermann episode

In this solo show I discuss the death of the middle class for services, and the ways in which complexity and social forces are splitting us into elites who get the white glove treatment, peasants who get the AI-driven voice-mail hell. Along the way I talk about Hobarts, house calls, and happy endings. Related links: • Nobody works for you

I talk with Coindesk reporter and entrepreneur Andrew Thurman about Non-Fungible-Tokens, what gives them value, and the history of absurd art. We also discuss the implication of Barbados opening a virtual embassy in the Metaverse. Related links: • Andrew Thurman on Coindesk • Follow Andrew on Twitter • Article by Matt Asher about the Metaverse as dystopia

I talk with economist and philosopher Walter Block. We discuss his series of books, Defending the Undefendable. The third and latest in that trilogy was recently released. Block defends the legality, and sometimes the morality, of a variety of generally maligned practices and people. We talk about these, as well as libertarian punishment theory, how to handle hostage takers, and the infamous flagpole problem. Related links: • Walter Block page at Loyola University • Defending the Undefendable III • Walter Block author page at alibris

I talk with John Picco about his military life, including an exercise that drowns you in dark waters, Colombian airstrips, dogfight training, landing planes with no margin for error, and the aftermath of reducing your enemies to rubble. Related links: John Picco at his current job with Edward Jones

I talk with Martha Bueno about life in Cuban, the true nature of our embargo, Miami politics, the perils of foreign aid, and two-tiered systems. Related links: • Bueno for Miami • Martha Bueno on Twitter

I talk with Adam B. Levine, managing editor at Coindesk, about decentralized finance startup Compound's very costly error and their CEO's ham-fisted attempt to fix it. We discuss ethereum, immutability, fungibility, and what constitutes a hack in the context of code as law. Related links: • Adam B. Levine Homepage • Compound sends out extra COMP • Adam's author page at Coindesk

In this episode I speak with Reed Coverdale, trucker, gun hacker, meme lord, podcast host, noted 9/11 conspiracy theory denier, and man with a moustache. We talk status among truckers, supply chains, lolberts, border walls, John McAfee, Dom/Sub twitter, and why Reed’s Garand goes BRRRRRRRR. Related links: • Reed on Twitter • Natural Capitalist Podcast

This episode features many of the voices that made microcasting great in 2019 and early 2020. Topics include: Fattening rooms Famous lumberjacks Blood bread Disease and stigma Chinese Zodiac signs Hanging midgets Indoor gardening Epic coffee runs Related links: ykyz microcasts

In this solo show I give my take on how to think about our world of tail risks, from asteroids to global warming to global pandemics to the existence of the afterlife. Also, I make the case for the earth disaster genre, hot pockets optional.