Talk Doesn't Cook Rice

John and Danny discuss Spiral Dynamics, a psychological framework that describes how human values and worldviews change over time in response to life conditions and experiences. We outline the main stages of the spiral, from basic survival instincts to complex systems thinking, and consider how they shape our behavior, culture, and society. We also examine the benefits and challenges of each stage, how to communicate and collaborate with people who are at different levels of the spiral, and how to apply them to our personal and professional lives.

John and Danny delve into the fascinating world of personality. We unravel the layers that make us who we are, exploring the influence of genetics, environment, and experience. We also discuss some of the common models you can use to reflect on your personal traits and figure out what makes you tick.

John and Danny delve into the notion of 'the self' and the eternal question of what makes a person the same person over time. We explore the great Scottish philosopher David Hume's perspective, his skepticism about the the concept of a continuous identity, and draw parallels with the concept of personality.

John and Danny embark on a journey into the intricate realm of nostalgia, a complex emotion described as "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past." We deplore the various facets of nostalgia, examining its different types, exploring how it can wield both positive and negative influences, and pondering whether it has become a more prominent and powerful force than ever before.

John and Danny explore the philosophy behind our podcast's new name, "Talk Doesn't Cook Rice." We dive into its pragmatic significance, its connection to embodied perception inspired by French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and why taking that first step is vital in life.

John and Danny delve into the brilliant TV show that is Mr Inbetween. We explore how it relates to themes like morality, phenomenology, authenticity, and absurdism, and ask why it is we love the characters in shows like this and The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad so much.

John and Danny discuss the captivating work of Alfred Adler, the brilliant Austrian psychotherapist and visionary behind individual psychology. We explore Adler's unique journey, from his collaboration with Freud to forging his own path of discovery. We dive deep into the causes and effects of inferiority complex, and contemplate its relevance in today's fast-paced world.

John and Danny unpack the profound ideas of Ernest Becker in his groundbreaking book, "The Denial of Death". We explore the existential anxiety that lurks within us all and how it can affect our everyday lives and relationships. Despite the weighty topic, this episode is surprisingly uplifting and affirming and will help you live more fully in the present moment.

John and Danny delve into the philosophy of pragmatism and its relevance to modern life. We explore the ideas of three classic American pragmatists—Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey—discussing topics such as the nature of truth and the importance of a pragmatic education. Additionally, we examine some of the criticisms that have been leveled at pragmatism and its relationship with more traditional European philosophy.

John and Danny muse on the evolution of status in human life and the ways it distorts and defines our behavior, as individuals and societies. We discuss Will Storr’s excellent book, The Status Game, and delve into why the feeling of being valued is so important to us. We also consider why it's important to diversify your status game and how you might reconcile the need for status in your daily life.

John and Danny muse on bullshit and explore what it is, why we do it, and who is susceptible to it. We also discuss the notions of persuasive and evasive bullshitting, and ask if bullshitting is avoidable or simply an inherent part of what it is to be human.

John and Danny muse on well-being and ask whether "being well" might actually be a better focus if we are to truly flourish. Is well-being just another corporate buzzword and are well-being programmes and practitioners simply disguising companies’ base motivations with the language of care? Might existential philosophers like Martin Heidegger have some better answers to what could in fact be a wicked problem?

John and Danny muse on the “bioenergetic” view of health and how it might impact the way we think, learn, and live. The central point revolves around maximising metabolic function so that we approach life with curiosity, positivity, and vigour while being resistant to the everyday stresses we might face.

John and Danny muse on "the will to power," one of the most fundamental concepts in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. The central point revolves around gaining power over oneself and becoming who you truly are. We discuss its relationship with the "the will to live (Schopenhauer)," "the will to pleasure (Freud)," and "the will to meaning (Frankl)." Then we explore how we can all make embracing our "will to power" a bigger part of our lives, including non-conformity and having the courage to be disliked, being more aware of motivated reasoning in ourselves and others, and appreciating the influence of body over mind. There’s also a guest appearance by Ricky Gervais and Tyson Fury (sort of!). 

John and Danny muse on the notion of a psychologically rich life. Unlike happy or meaningful lives, psychologically rich lives are characterised by complexity, in which people experience a variety of interesting things and feel and appreciate a variety of deep emotions via firsthand or vicarious experiences. We discuss the work of Shigehiro Oishi and colleagues in this area, and explore the ways we can all make psychological richness a bigger part of our day to day existence. There’s also a guest appearance by Micky Flanagan (sort of!).

John and Danny muse on Adam Curtis’ documentary series “The Century of the Self” (2002), which focuses on the work of psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud, and PR consultant Edward Bernays. We explore Curtis’ analysis of how those in power have used Freud's theories to encourage mass consumerism and control people in an age of mass democracy, and we discuss the ways they continue to shape the way we live and think today.

John and Danny muse on Simone de Beauvoir's classic book "The Ethics of Ambiguity" (1948), which explores the existentialist tension between absolute freedom of choice and the constraints of life’s givens. We explore de Beauvoir's powerful analysis of the five types of people who are not free, discuss their relevance and application in everyday life, and consider the responsibility we have to others in the actualization of their freedom too.

John and Danny muse on Friedrich Nietzsche's three metamorphoses story, which appeared in his now iconic work of philosophical fiction, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883). Nietzsche believed that the purpose of human existence is to achieve one's full potential. To achieve that, a spirit had to go through three transformations: a camel, a lion, and a child. We discuss what characterises each of the phases and explore their relevance and application in everyday life.

John and Danny muse on Martin Heidegger's concept of Dasein. In his fundamental text Being and Time (1927), Heidegger introduced Dasein as a term for the type of being that humans possess. We discuss what it is to be a Dasein and look through the lenses of thrownness, fallenness, and existentiality to explore its relevance and application in everyday life.

John and Danny muse on Jean-Paul Sartre's notion of Bad Faith. A critical claim in existentialist philosophy is that humans are free to make choices and guide their lives towards their own chosen goal. For Sartre, Bad faith is whereby individuals act inauthentically by yielding to the external pressures of society to adopt false values and disown their innate freedom as human beings. We discuss some of the practical implications of this in everyday life. 

John and Danny muse on Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search For Meaning (1946). The book itself is an arresting account of his survival in the Nazi concentration camps of World War Two and his exploration of our ability to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity. We also explore the practical implications of Frankl's logotherapy, which states that the primary motivational force of an individual is to find a meaning in life. 

John and Danny muse on schadenfreude. We discuss this perplexing emotion and wonder why it is we derive such distinctive pleasure from others' misfortune, especially when it comes to our friends. If you don't enjoy the episode, at least you might get some pleasure from our misfortune of having made it!

John and Danny muse on Nihilism and Absurdism. We discuss their similarities and differences as life philosophies, why they might appeal, and the practicalities of how they can help us make more sense of our existence. Don't worry, it's more fun than it sounds! 

John and Danny muse on whether it's a good idea to focus too hard on living in the "now". We ask whether it's possible (and desirable) for humans to be more animalistic in our thoughts, and discuss the implications of distinguishing between the past, present, and future, including why it might even be dangerous to too readily dismiss memory and imagination in favour of the present moment.

John and Danny muse on Mimetic Desire and the role it plays in determining why we want what we want. We discuss what we each took from the work of René Girard, the French polymath, historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science whose work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy, as well as the book 'Wanting', by Luke Burgis.

John and Danny muse on authenticity and The Alpinist, a brilliant documentary about the Canadian rock climber and Alpinist, Marc-André Leclerc. We discuss what we each took from the film, how it might apply to our own experiences, and what value can be found in artistic craft documentaries when pondering your own emergent situations and ongoing predicaments. 

Spoiler alert: you don't need to have watched the film, but if you do intend to watch it, we strongly suggest watching before listening!