Episode 72: Obedience to Authority and the Banality of Evil, an Interview with Dr. Stanley Milgram

In this thought-provoking episode of Mind Tricks Radio, we conduct a simulated conversation with legendary social psychologist Dr. Stanley Milgram, brought to life through AI. Best known for his groundbreaking—and deeply controversial—obedience experiments at Yale University in the early 1960s, Milgram explored the unsettling ease with which ordinary people comply with authority, even when it leads to harming others. Drawing from his real writings, lectures, and legacy, this imagined interview delves into the origins of his work, the ethical firestorm it ignited, and the disturbing psychological mechanisms that enable systemic cruelty. We also explore the modern-day implications of Milgram’s findings—how obedience plays out in today’s world of social media, algorithmic control, corporate hierarchies, and mass surveillance. With sharp insight and sobering relevance, this episode invites listeners to reflect on the conditions that give rise to blind compliance—and the courage it takes to say "no."

Thanks for tuning in!