Keep Talking

Orville Schell is an author, a journalist, a China scholar, and the director of the Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Orville's entering China in the 1970s(07:10) Was was China like in the 1970s?(10:09) The palpable fear in China in the 1970s(14:55) The details of Mao Zedong the Cultural Revolution(20:40) What preceded Communism in China?(25:32) Why was Communism appealing to Chinese revolutionaries? (30:11) China in the 1970s and how it reopened to the world(37:10) Why did China not become free after the 1980s?(41:39) 1989 and Tiananmen Square(45:28) China in the next few years(52:19) How might China become free?(55:26) Why China matters

Joseph Goldstein is an author, the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and is one of the most influential and important figures to bring vipassana meditation practices into the American mainstream.A rebroadcast from 2022.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:45) How Joseph ended up in Asia a young man(04:39) Reason for interest in Buddhism and meditation(08:59) Immersing in the study of the mind(12:41) The Buddha’s teachings(18:52) Joseph's psychological state when first exposed to Buddhism and meditation(21:01) The daily habits, discipline, and rituals to try to achieve Enlightenment(27:14) Deciding to devote his life to meditation(30:11) Communicating to his mother his desire to devote his life to Buddhism(32:59) Metaphysical views pre and post meditation(37:46) Buddhism is non-theistic(40:14) What is the Dharma?(44:48) Integrating Buddhist teachings with practice and The Noble Eightfold Path(53:37) The first step to use mindfulness to ease psychological suffering(01:01:24) Awareness versus the weather pattern of one's mind(01:04:30) Using mindfulness to respond, rather than to react(01:15:37) Dealing with grief(01:24:50) How can we improve our lives by being mindful?

James Hollis is a psychoanalyst, one of the world's most prolific Jungian thinkers, and the author of many books, including "Living An Examined Life."A rebroadcast from 2021.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:02) Jim's transition from academia to psychoanalysis(06:24) The decision to pursue psychoanalysis as a full-time profession(10:59) Gathering the courage to pursue psychoanalysis(18:19) What about Jung’s work resonated with Jim?(30:16) Jim's process of helping people navigate the transitionary phases of their lives(41:31) The most pressing issues Jim sees facing Americans(48:24) The primary blockers to growth and self-healing(51:54) Discerning the difference fears you should avoid and fears you should face(57:01) Exhausted relationships vs. relationships that need endurance(01:09:02) The ratio of men vs. women seeking counsel and therapy and how it’s changed over the years(01:13:21) Why most men tend to suppress their innermost emotions(01:19:49) Jim's explanation of Joseph Campbell’s ‘hero’s journey’(01:25:31) How to live an examined, authentic life

Elizabeth Economy is a political scientist, a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, a China expert, and the author of multiple books, including "The World According to China" and "The Third Revolution: Xi Jinping and the New Chinese State."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Xi Jinping's father's story(07:16) The Cultural Revolution(12:02) "China's Holocaust" between 1950's-1970's(13:10) Why Marxism resonated in China(21:43) Darker aspects of the Cultural Revolution(33:48) The rise of Xi Jinping and the rise of China's economy(38:33) The meme of Xi Jinping as Winnie the Pooh(41:43) Xi Jinping's personality and vision for China(46:27) The near-term future of U.S-China relations(53:00) What America can do to win Cold War 2.0

James Holland is a historian and the author of many books, including Normandy '44: D-Day and the Epic 77-Day Battle for France.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:46) The state of the world in June 1944(14:48) What was D-Day like for an average Allied soldier(21:13) Is D-Day the most important military conflict in history?(27:01) "Steel not flesh"(32:43) The Atlantic Wall(41:08) Cooperation and morale among the Allied troops(45:31) Dick Winters and men like him(51:15) Why James has committed so much of his life to WWII history(54:45) How can we best honor and remember veterans?

Noam Dworman is a businessman, the co-host of the podcast "Live From The Table," and the owner of the world-famous Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village, NYC.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:59) How The Comedy Cellar came to be(02:38) Noam's dad, Manny(07:05) Why did Manny start The Comedy Cellar?(10:42) Notable comics early at The Comedy Cellar(12:00) The way to fame for comics pre-internet(14:32) Identifying comedic talent(18:36) Patrice O'Neal(24:12) How Noam took over The Comedy Cellar(27:37) The scene at The Comedy Cellar in early 2000's(29:52) Why The Comedy Cellar is so popular(32:19) The design of The Comedy Cellar venue(36:58) Quotes from Noam about free speech(38:11) Louis CK, free speech, and woke culture(43:58) How the left has changed regarding free speech(47:22) Comedy as a refuge(50:23) Defining wokeness and a story about Noam's daughter(56:30) The state of wokeness and cancel culture(59:02) Comedians and intellectuals with courage(01:02:58) What's next for Noam and The Comedy Cellar

Sir Richard Evans is a historian, and the author of many books, including The Third Reich Trilogy, The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815–1914, and Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich, which is the primary focus of this conversation.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) The young Hitler(04:11) The Nazis were conservative, middle class Germans(10:20) How Hitler rose, his talents as a speaker(19:52) The Reichstag Fire and The Enabling Act(27:57) The romantic and personal life of Hitler(31:39) Hitler's romantic interest in Joseph Goebbels's wife(35:52) Demythologizing the Nazis: a story of Himmler in the sauna(39:27) "Ordinary Men" by Christopher R. Browning(44:50) The story of Dr. Karl Brandt(49:34) Why history and studying the Nazis matters(52:19) Threats to freedom and democracy in the modern world(54:22) Donald Trump is not a fascist

Glenn Loury‬ is an economist, a professor at Brown University, a podcaster, an essayist, and is the author of "Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative" and the essay "The Case for Black Patriotism."A rebroadcast from 2022.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:01) Get to know Glenn Loury(03:56) South Side of Chicago culture when Glenn was a boy(06:11) Fatherhood at 18, working at RR Donnelley & Sons, and Mr. Andres(15:01) Opportunity launches Glenn to Northwestern and MIT(19:34) The culture and opportunity of MIT(28:48) The first African-American tenured economics professor in Harvard, at 33(37:30) Glenn's interest in politics and his heterodox political philosophy(47:44) A memorable incident with Glenn's uncle Alfred(55:35) How Glenn's conservatism informs his views on the campus(01:01:57) Glenn's defense of Western culture(01:06:43) "The Case for Black Patriotism"(01:23:17) An American Living "The American Dream"

Greg Lukianoff is a journalist, an attorney, the co-author of "The Coddling of the American Mind," and the President of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Greg puts it well when he calls freedom of speech "the eternally radical idea."A rebroadcast from 2022.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:58) Greg's interest in free speech(06:35) Free speech: "the eternally radical idea"(10:55) What happens in societies without free speech(17:14) How free speech creates a more peaceful society(24:17) Key observations from "The Coddling of the American Mind"(34:32) Social media's effect on free speech(43:35) Examples of cancel culture(50:22) Respect for free speech must begin early in one's life(57:42) What is the point of education?(01:03:37) Antifragility and the importance of growth through struggle(01:08:48) How overcoming mental health struggles informs Greg's beliefs

Robert Greene is the author of many best-selling books, including "The 48 Laws of Power," which is the primary subject of our conversation. A rebroadcast from 2022.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) ‘Power’ as explained in "The 48 Laws of Power"(04:33) Robert's depression before writing "The 48 Laws of Power"(09:03) Why are people reluctant to talk about power?(13:44) The link between the desire for fulfillment and power(17:58) From powerless to powerful: Robert’s story(22:30) Human's desire to gain power through autonomy and authenticity(27:19) How to live a life that increases one's power(33:00) The importance of self-mastery(38:03) Lincoln's quote about power(44:22) Is power inherently neutral, neither good nor bad?(47:49) Carl Jung's quote on "the shadow"(52:20) What are examples of America's shadow?(56:07) The importance of integrating one's shadow(01:04:56) How can the American center hold, given our polarization?(01:12:07) Four laws of power for modern times(01:14:44) The relationship between power and love

Merle Bombardieri is a clinical social worker, a psychotherapist and the author of "The Baby Decision: How to Make The Most Important Choice of Your Life."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) How Merle got involved in helping people decide about kids(07:21) How Merle decided whether to have kids(09:44) Maintaining neutrality when going through exercises(13:34) Being childfree should be the default(17:57) Role models for the childfree(21:00) When is not having kids a growth decision?(23:05) Is Merle disappointed that one of her kids is childfree?(26:30) Exercises for straight couples to decide whether to have kids(36:02) Long-term ambivalence should result in being childfree(38:50) How to better understand what it's like to have kids(40:48) What do the childfree not understand about parenthood?(42:30) "As a child-free person, you have a right to be ordinary.”(44:30) Suggestions for someone who wants to be childfree and has no support(49:05) Who should become parents?(56:49) Are we getting better at having this conversation?(58:34) The importance of growth for the child-free

Vejas Liulevicius is a historian, an author, and a professor whose "Great Courses" lectures include "Turning Points in Modern History" and "War, Peace, and Power: Diplomatic History of Europe, 1500–2000."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Rome, Greece, and the Enlightenment(12:57) Contrasting the Enlightenment to other political philosophies of its time(22:07) The American Revolution and the American Experiment(30:47) Alexis de Tocqueville and "Democracy in America"(34:24) The Weimar Republic and the Rise of Nazism(46:41) How Hitler rose and what culturally preceded dictatorship in Germany(54:16) The 2024 U.S. Presidential election and our point in history(58:20) The Great Courses

Mark Galeotti is a historian, an essayist, a podcaster, and the author of many books including "A Short History of Russia: How the World's Largest Country Invented Itself, from the Pagans to Putin."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Czarist Russia at the beginning of the 20th century(03:50) The Russian Revolution(08:00) World War I and The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk(11:52) Lenin and Stalin(17:00) The Great Terror(21:02) Russia during World War II(28:15) How close were the Nazis to taking over the Soviet Union?(29:50) Russia and The Cold War(37:05) Why Soviets no longer believed in Marxism(39:35) The life and rise of Vladimir Putin(45:35) Putin, Yeltsin, and the turn of the century(51:56) How do we misunderstand the modern Russian government?(55:05) Alexei Navalny(59:20) The war with Ukraine

Konstantin Kisin is an author, an essayist, and the co-host of the YouTube channel and podcast Triggernometry. A rebroadcast from 2022.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(1:00) Transition from Soviet Union to wealth in post-collapse Russia(4:00) Impact of the Soviet collapse on ordinary people's lives(6:31) Personal resilience shaped by tumultuous childhood experiences(8:30) Lack of education about the Soviet experience in the West(11:06) The Russian Revolution and its implications for society today(11:20) Overview of the dictatorship of the proletariat concept.(12:55) Impact of property expropriation on wealthy families during the revolution.(14:03) Consequences of collective farming in Soviet society.(16:12) The Soviet Union's attempt at equality led to widespread poverty.(19:02) Insights on the Russian psyche from democratic experiments in the 90s.(23:42) Describing the chaotic aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse.(25:12) Painful experiences shaped Russian society during the 1990s.(27:11) Russia's surrender to terrorists: a psychological shock for citizens.(29:07) Vladimir Putin emerged as a strongman leader in chaos.(30:46) Boris Yeltsin's legacy and Putin's rise to power explained.(36:57) Freedom of expression as the foundation of Western society.(39:09) The importance of free speech and its recent threats discussed.(40:11) The roots of political correctness and free speech erosion.(41:34) Exploring the dangers of hierarchical ideologies in society.(43:15) The natural dynamics between men and women in relationships.(45:23) Martin Luther King’s vision for character over skin color.(46:00) Concerns about societal divisions and their historical implications.(48:14) The universal threat of believing some people are superior to others.(49:00) Thought-provoking quotes(54:00) The West and the importance of individual rights(1:00:41) George Kennan's insights on containment and Western values.(1:01:13) Concerns about identity politics and its impact on society.(1:02:41) The danger of losing a unified national identity.(1:05:41) Internal division as the real threat to powerful nations.(1:08:30) Contextualizing slavery and colonialism in world history.(1:12:31) The role of comedy in challenging mainstream narratives.

Randy Nesse is a psychiatrist, a professor, and the author of "Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:40) Why low mood exists(04:23) Giving up goals can improve your mental health(06:48) When is it appropriate to give up goals?(11:50) "In what situations was this emotion useful across our evolutionary history?"(21:51) How Randy developed an evolutionary framework(28:25) Examples of working with depression from Randy's career(36:40) Freud, Jung, and mental illness(49:23) Exposure therapy(54:11) Quotes from "Good Reasons for Bad Feelings"(59:55) Partner choice and selfish genes

Richard Wrangham is a professor at Harvard, a primatologist, and the author of multiple books including "The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:50) How humans have removed alpha male bullies(09:59) Christopher Boehm's "Hierarchy in the Forest"(16:06) Implications of human's self-domestication through violence(22:03) Bullying male behavior that would lead to execution(28:45) How the threat of violence influenced our moral impulses(34:23) Psychopathy and reactive aggression in adult men(45:25) How can someone spot a psychopath?(50:07) Jane Goodall and how Richard views human nature(01:02:53) Cooking and fire(01:03:13) Richard's views on removing the y chromosome(01:10:39) Removing genes for extreme aggression rather than men altogether

Robert Plomin is a British-American scientist, a psychologist and behavioral geneticist, and the author of the bestselling book, "Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:53) The power of DNA in making us who we are(03:40) Debunking the nurture-focused perspective(10:40) Robert's views on his own genetic predisposition to weight gain(22:59) How personalized, low-cost DNA sequencing will effect people's lives(30:21) Clarity around genetic risk will improve with time(31:49) The probabilistic, nuanced truth of genetic influence (38:20) Clarifying randomness and the nurture aspect of who we are(43:57) Identical twins(49:36) Quotes from "Blueprint"(58:41) A quote about child rearing from Tig Notaro(01:02:00) How genetic truths can make people more compassionate(01:04:52) Merging evolution and psychology(01:15:23) How should society evolve and improve because of these truths?(01:18:23) B.F. Skinner and the power of nature in the extremes

Brian Hare is a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and is the co-author of the book "Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:46) The origin and ideas of "Survival of the Friendliest"(07:38) The story of human survival and dominance(20:20) What is meant by "friendliness"?(26:40) Tribal identity and darker aspects of human cooperation(35:15) Political polarization in America(46:12) The work of Braver Angels and overcoming political division(52:30) Is it ever appropriate to dehumanize?

Stephen Kinzer is a historian, a Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs at Brown University, and the author of various books including, "Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) What was MK-Ultra? Who was Sidney Gottlieb?(08:55) The U.S.'s collaboration with Nazi and Japanese torturers(14:43) The historical context that justified MK-Ultra(24:25) Examples of torture from the MK-Ultra program(30:53) LSD and MK-Ultra(39:14) The eventual conclusion from the MK-Ultra program(43:21) Speculating on the full scope and details of the MK-Ultra program(49:13) Stephen's ethical judgments on Gottlieb(53:25) Has Stephen received pushback for his revelations?(57:04) Is something like MK-Ultra happening now?(59:47) Why do so few Americans know about MK-Ultra?

Helen Fisher was an anthropologist, a professor, an author, and was one of the world's experts on the science of love.This is the final summer rebroadcast of 2024, episode 47 of "Keep Talking," the most-downloaded audio episode from this show. Helen sadly died on Saturday, August 17, 2024. She was charming, brilliant, and a gem of a human being, and I wanted to honor her by reposting her episode as the final summer rebroadcast of this year.During our conversation, Helen talks about her background interest in love, the role that love plays in human existence, the evolutionary purpose of love, how the subconscious influences who we fall in love with, how to know if you aren't in love, and wisdom she would provide to improve one's probability for healthy romance and a compatible mate choice.------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackRate on SpotifyRate on Apple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro (01:05) How Helen got interested in studying love (05:18) Trailblazing the academic study of love (06:22) What is love? (11:01) Love and love decisions are life's most important choices (12:46) Understanding "love maps" and the unconscious as it relates to love (22:15) Millennials and "slow love" (27:56) When are you not in love? When is it time to end a relationship? (37:58) Identifying great compatibility matches (41:53) Mitigating the risks of neuroticism from torpedoing a relationship (48:30) Attachment styles and compatibility (54:46) Identifying the root cause of depression (56:46) Ending a relationship when indifference is present (01:08:00) Designing a lifestyle that makes you a better and authentic partner (01:11:27) The role of marriage in human life (01:15:30) Helen getting married in her mid-70's