193! Preponderance of Ponderances: A Special!

This week, another special episode! 

System of a Down Evangelist Joey and Queen of the Bagelry Jess, in (kind of) lightning round fashion, ponder a (kind of) preponderance of ... er ... "ponderances" about bagels, English adjective order, Trevor Noah, performance mode, pickleball, and chess cheating. They don’t talk about the possibility of ice cream being healthier than bagels. 

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192! Consciousness and Killer Whales

What is consciousness and are we alone in our consciousness on Earth? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about orca fashion, climate change, forest network interconnectivity, divergence, AI consciousness, and Trevor's beard. They don’t talk about blueberry bagels. 

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191! AI Art and Hamsterstanistan

Is AI Art art, and should we be scared of it? 

This week, Joey, Jess, and Alex talk about AI art generators, DALL·E 2, Midjourney, creativity and craft, the proliferation of beautiful things, and homogeneity. They don’t talk about Allen Iverson ... or practice. (Not a game! Practice!). 

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189! Cutie Corner! Hobbies, Part 1

Why did hobbies become hobbies again? 

This week, Cutie Corner returns with special guests Nora Mestrich and Ash Casper joining Jess to talk about reading, BookTok, Colleen Hoover, productive leisure, the affects of the pandemic, and quiet quitting. They don’t talk about Henry Bemis. 

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188! Network States

Would you join a country that started online first? 

This week, special guest Eric Ferrer-Vaughn joins Joey and Jess to talk about Web3, blockchain, Balaji Srinivasa, network states, Neom, and zero-knowledge proofs. They don’t talk about *NSYNC. 

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187! Saying Things Wrong

Why does it feel so right to say something so wrong? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about category mistakes, synesthesia, projective questioning, names, berries, and, apperantly, not-berries. They don’t talk about De La Soul. 

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186! Everyday and Existential Comfort Zones

What's so wrong with using pictures in menus? And how do you feel about exploring new ideas that break your concept of reality? [22:48] 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about the fabric of the universe, cookbooks and menus, painting a sensory picture, quantum consciousness, Spacetime, and butt donuts. They don’t talk about A$AP Rocky. 

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185! Methods of Explaining Things

What is a better way to explain methods of writing your point of view? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about Mrs. Henry's Ping Pong Method vs. Mrs. Henry's Oreo Cookie Method, the Shit Sandwich Method of delivering feedback, music theory, the Straw Man Argument vs. the Steel Man Argument, Schrödinger's cat, and memetics (again). They don’t talk about Diddy Riese Ice Cream Sandwiches. 

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184! Nihilism

Should we be using language like "optimism" or "pessimism," or is there a different way we could look at these challenges that allows for better outcomes? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about nihilism, venting, the time horizons of change, young converts, kidnapping, and genetic influences on optimism and pessimism. They don’t talk about Meursault, but he doesn't care at all. 

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182! Grabby Aliens and Leftovers

Do you prefer living in a universe where humanity is a one-snowflake civilization—life exists here on a mote of dust in the outer reaches of the Milky Way—or do you prefer living in a universe that is loud and noisy and populated? And how do you handle leftovers? [34:31] 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about loud and quiet aliens, LaMDA, Santa, unfortunate dinners, waste aversion, and dumplings. They don’t talk about Isaac, Tayler, or Zac. 

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181! Falconry and Lost Arts

What else can happen when we find new uses for lost arts? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about falconry, Top Gun, sword fighting, peatlands, owls, and mushrooms. They don’t talk about the Black Falcon School of Arms. 

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180! Media Twins

What do we make of the existence of song twins and movie twins today? 

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about the zeitgeist, movie marketing, Timbaland, Beyoncé vs. Azealia Banks, Western musical notes, and Baroque Pop (again). They don’t talk about Laurent and Larry Bourgeois. 

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179! Childhood Media

178! Bagels vs. Donuts and Birthdays

Why it gotta be bagels vs. donuts? And how should we celebrate our birthdays? [25:17] 

This week, Aaron and Jess talk about Sega vs. Nintendo, the L.A. donut scene, the coastal bagel war, birthday themes, the responsibility phases, and cake-flavored foods. Thankfully, they don’t talk about birthday cake bagels. 

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177! Legos and Dumplings

What do you do about the missing Lego piece? And how does this become dumpling? [25:32] 

This week, Aaron and Jess talk about customer service, bike sharing overages, significance imbalance, invisible wisdom, dumpling teamwork, and apprenticeship. They don’t talk about My Squishy Little Dumplings. 

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175! Assembly Theory and Marshmallows

How can we take advantage of Assembly Theory in our lives? And where are the six elemental marshmallows best applied in life? [31:46] 

This week, Joey, Jess, and Aaron talk about corn dogs, Kafka, Homer, brown sugar, extrusion, and Peeps. They don’t talk about that famous DJ fella. 

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