So…many…podcasts…like an avalanche of talk radio falling into my brain. From Buddhism to economics, the environment to racism and more, this playlist covered a large swath of topics, mostly because I was on the road so long. One of the things that most makes me want to take on a long drive is the chance to hear a long, uninterrupted chain of my favorite podcasts. The drive to my mom’s house is 8 ½ hours long, perfect with a bonus: time with my mom!

I can hear you now, “Michelle! Dude! Take a plane!”

No. End of line.

Here’s the strange thing: when I’m listening to music, I fall asleep, but when I’m listening to talk, I’m fine. The only downside is that when driving alone I have no one to pause the show and discuss my outrage or agreement with. I mean, I will yell out, “Are you kidding?!” to myself in the car. And you may often see me laugh hysterically or jot down something that I want to bring up here later, but it’s just not the same alone. I do have SOME in person social needs.

The drive there and back totaled about 16 hours of listening. I don’t stop much but for gas and bathroom breaks. I nibble snacks all the way there because it helps me focus. And it is too hot this time of year to stop and stretch my legs.

There were so many good ones this time, that I think I’ll do the one idea from each thing like I did last time. But I’ll add books and other podcasts I gleaned from each episode as well.

On with the list! Enjoy!

Secular Buddhism Episode 10: True Selflessness

Love can be multiplied. Resources, not so much.

EconTalk – Claudia Hauer on War, Education, and Strategic Humanism

In a democracy or a republic, the government is doing things in my name. That’s why I must make my dissent known.

Book: Strategic Humanism: Lessons on Leadership from the Ancient Greeks by Claudia Hauer

Also added Homer’s Illiad and The Odyssey (Fagles translation) to my re-read list

Freakanomics Radio – 470: The Pros and Cons of America’s (Extreme) Individualism

My Thought: Will the slowdown of individuals caused by the shutdown persist and change our economy in the long run? We all spent a year not going on vacations, not buying new things, and not going out to dinner. We experienced working and schooling from home and some of us enjoyed it. Will be keep these new habits or go back to our old ways as soon as possible.

Akimbo – Seth Godin – Fueling the Engines of Division

There are natural constraints in this world. We can’t have it all.

Rationally Speaking – What’s Wrong With Tech Companies Banning People? (Julian Sanchez)

Free speech is a lot like heroin. It should be legal, yes, but we don’t have to promote its use with commercials and incentives. Learn how to use it wisely and safely.

Podcast: Cato Institute

People I (Mostly) Admire – Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around is the Best Use of Your Time

Life is long and it’s not a race. Never stop playing with ideas to learn. And my favorite: life doesn’t give you score, you don’t know how well you’re doing by a rubric, or why you’re doing badly.

Book: Evolutionary Game Theory, Natural Selection, and Darwinian Dynamics by Thomas L. Vincent. This book looks a tad pricey for just exploring the concepts. I’ll be looking for some video about it or maybe a couple good articles.

The Jordan B Peterson Podcast – S4E27 – The Education of a Journalist – Rex Murphy

Admittedly, I skipped this one after about twenty minutes. I was getting sleepy and needed something more upbeat. But I did get this gem before I left: reading the greats raises your standards. I agree.

Conversations with Coleman – S2 Ep. 18 – The Myth of Climate Apocalypse with Michael Shellenberger

Tech fixes are less popular than moral fixes. Why is it that we are far more excited about pointing fingers and making other people live “right,” than just using technology so that we can all live the way we want to?

Book: Apocalypse Never – Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All by Michael Shellenberger

Philosophy Bites – Steven Nadler on Spinoza on Free Speech

A person is freer in a society than alone. Sounds crazy but it’s true. The story of a Desert Island Economy explains. And “homo” in Latin never meant “male.” These are the things I find interesting.

Other notes from the drive up: I saw a hay bale tractor picking up bales from a field and stack them. I wish I could have stopped and watched it go. The trees change dramatically along 395 north of Mammoth.

A thought about social media: I keep showing up for a formal dinner party and finding a drunken costume party. I’m not interested in that kind of party, so I leave. And everyone’s response is, “But it’s so fun! You should be here!”

On to the second half…the road home!

Secular Buddhism – 11 Parable of the Raft

I won’t paraphrase the parable. Go read it. You’ll love it. But something else I loved from this episode, “It may not be wrong, but it may be unwise.”

EconTalk – Michael Easter on the Comfort Crisis

Socializing is a little dangerous and that’s a good thing. Always have a notebook.

Book: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter

Conversations with Coleman – S2 Ep. 10 – Rethinking Identity with Desi-Rae

I don’t “identify” as anything. I may be female, but that’s descriptive, not an identity. Where you’re from is not an accomplishment. There are no absolute claims about the nature of reality.

Podcast: Just Thinking Outloud

The Minimalists Podcast – 297 Minimalism Rules

The words we use make us cling to ideas associated with those words. Be conscious of word use. I want a community of open minded people, not like minded people.

Conversations with Coleman – S2 Ep. 17 – Straight Talk on Racism with Wilfred Reilly

Negative noise in the media vs the reality of the world around us. The reality is complicated, not a 30-second spot or catchy headline.

Book: Taboo – Ten Facts You Can’t Talk About by Wilfred Reilly

Rationally Speaking – Deaths of Despair / Effective Altruism with Angus Deaton

Deaths of Despair = suicides and accidental overdose. I didn’t get much from this conversation. I swear they were using the same words but with different meanings. They never came to an understanding of each other.

Secular Buddhism – 13 The Path of Liberation

A thought is harmless unless you believe it.

Wow. That’s a lot of listening. I was messing around with my Castbox app and found my “stats” page. It says that on the road home, I listened for 412 minutes. It won’t let me go back in time though, only shows the current week. That’s annoying. But it does say something crazy at the top. Since I’ve had the app, I’ve listened to 311 hours and 24 minutes. That’s a lot of drive time, my friends.

Why do I do these podcast posts? In the hopes that maybe you’ll find one you want to listen to. I might gain a fellow listener! And (have to be real, right?) to remind myself what I heard.

Check out Travel Anxiety Ended: Podcast Roundup #3 for more links.