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August 1, 2024 115 mins

Nick Gillespie — editor at large at the libertarian institution that is Reason Magazine (and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie) — comes on the pod for an IRL conversation about 'The Agony of Abundance,' the paradoxical state in which we’re more prosperous, yet more dissatisfied, than ever. We discuss the negative narratives peddled by the media — a misdirection that’s untethering us from reality — and debate the limitations libertarianism and liberal thinking in an ever-more tribal world. And, before we go, we dive into psychedelics and whether they’re really worth all the fuss.

Uncertain Things is a reader-supported publication. To support this rag-tag podcast crew of two, consider becoming a paid member.

On the agenda:

-00:00 Housing Preamble

-04:12 Welcome to Uncertain Things

-06:01 Our Negative Perceptions vs. Reality

-23:39 Mass Misdirection

-33:28 Trust and the U.S. and Israeli Governments

-41:05 Liberalism vs. Tribalism

-01:08:57 On Generating a Liberal Revival

-01:24:08 Debating Psychedelics

Mentioned in this episode:

-The Economic Theory That Explains Why Americans Are So Mad - Ezra Klein Show

-The Freaks Came Out to Write: The Definitive History of the Village Voice, the Radical Paper That Changed American Culture - Amazon

-Big Tech Panic (w/ Shoshana Weissmann) - Uncertain Things

-What to Expect When No One's Expecting: America's Coming Demographic Disaster - Amazon

-‘They Aren’t Who You Think They Are’: The inside story of how Kanakuk—one of America’s largest Christian camps—enabled horrific abuse. - The Dispatch

-In Praise of Privilege - Uncertain

-Psychedelic Libertarianism with Nick Gillespie - Coleman’s Corner

-The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less - Amazon

Uncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday rumination, subscribe to: uncertain.substack.com.



Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe
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