Robinson's Podcast

Odcinki

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  283 - Timothy Snyder: Donald Trump and the End of America 19.07.2026 1godz 5min

  Timothy Snyder holds the inaugural Temerty Chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Snyder’s work has appeared in forty languages and has received a number of prizes, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities. Snyder was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, has received the Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships, and holds state orders from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. He is researching a family history of nationalism and finishing a philosophical book about freedom. In this episode, Robinson and Timothy discuss the future of the United States. More particularly, they delve into AI, rebellion, conspiracy theory, our relationship with Russia and Ukraine, Donald Trump, and more. Timothy’s most recent book is On Freedom (Crown, 2024).Timothy’s Website: https://timothysnyder.orgOn Freedom: https://timothysnyder.org/books/OUTLINE00:00 Will the United States Cease to Exist?13:47 Is Trump Breaking the United States Apart?21:09 Will AI Prevent Armed Rebellion Against the Government?30:20 Trump, Conspiracy Theories, and the Politics of Small Numbers39:46 Putin Does Not Think Ukraine Is Real45:57 What Are Trump’s Soft Spots?50:26 How Tim Organizes His Thought57:59 Donald Trump and the SuperloserRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  282 - Richard Wolff: China, Russia, Iran, and World War III 12.07.2026 2godz 3min

  Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s eleventh appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the ongoing war in Iran, as well as the war in Russia and Ukraine, our cold war with China, and the future possibilities of World War III. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024).Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalismRichard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.comEconomic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdateOUTLINE00:00 China, Iran, and the Implosion of the West13:00 The Irreconcilable Gulf Between Russia and the West16:01 Europe’s Hard World War II Lesson21:20 Europe’s Final Collapse Is Coming28:42 How China Is Methodically Conquering the World35:44 Russia’s Siberian Advantage39:15 Marx, War, and Economic Decline52:39 Why Iran Will Always Control the Strait of Hormuz01:02:02 How the United States Already Failed in Iran01:06:37  What the United States Can Learn from the Collapse of the British Empire01:12:19 Why the War in Iran Will Not Lead to Nuclear War01:14:44 John Mearsheimer’s Escalation Ladder and the Threat of Nuclear War in Russia01:29:53 What Would World War Look Like in the 21st Century?01:36:17 Donald Trump, The Isolator01:41:40 The Sad Legacy of the League of Nations01:51:04 Is World War III Inevitable?
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  281 - Michael Hudson: How Debt Destroys Empires 06.07.2026 1godz 49min

  Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s Seventh appearance on the show. On past episodes, including with Richard Wolff, he and Robinson have neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, the rentier economy, Marxism, and the role of economics in political history. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about debt and the destruction of empires. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.comTemples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dmOUTLINE00:00 Keeping Governments Under Control07:01 Understanding the Church17:27 Why Debts Grow Too Fast to Be Paid22:57 Understanding the BRICS26:50 How Can Countries Get Rich?32:47 Where Is the United States’ Debt Dragging Us?46:26 Why Michael Hudson Is Not a Mainstream Economist48:59 The Historical Approach to Economics01:06:01 Controlling Governments Through Tax Policy01:23:55 How Michael Researches01:33:31 The Myth of Economic Rent01:38:47 The United States’ Hereditary Oligarchy01:41:04 Why the United States Can’t Go Bankrupt01:44:42 Closing ThoughtsRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  280 - David Albert & Jacob Barandes: Debating the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics 29.06.2026 2godz 32min

  David Albert is the Frederick E. Woodbridge Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, director of the Philosophical Foundations of Physics program at Columbia, and a faculty member of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Jacob Barandes is Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, where he works widely across the philosophy of physics, with focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the philosophy of spacetime, and the metaphysics of laws. In this episode, Robinson, Jacob, and David discuss Jacob’s novel Indivisibility Approach to quantum mechanics. After beginning with an introduction from David, the conversation touches on the measurement problem, completeness, scientific realism, the purpose of physics, and more. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.Jacob’s Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.comA Guess at the Riddle: https://a.co/d/6qcsidlThe John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.orgOUTLINE00:00 The Problem with the Wave Function05:30 The Indivisibility Approach17:28 What Is Indivisibility?25:13 The Measurement Problem32:18 The Incompleteness of Jacob’s Theory42:20 Completing the Theory47:12 Realism in Quantum Mechanics01:03:13 The Fundamental Task of Physics01:10:57 The Structure of the Indivisibility Theory01;22:26 Summarizing and Calculating01:40:01 The Game of Fundamental Physics01:46:31 Can Bohmian Mechanics Work?01:56:26 A Version Including David’s Theory02:04:49 What Is the Wave Function?02:15:33 Where We’ve Ended UpRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  279 - Paul Davies: The Second Quantum Mechanics Revolution 14.06.2026 1godz 20min

  Paul Davies is a theoretical physicist and Regents’ Professor at Arizona State University. Paul works on quantum mechanics, astrophysics, and cosmology, with emphasis on the origin and early stages of the universe, the quantum properties of black holes and the nature of time. He is interested in the nature and origin of life – including extraterrestrial life – beyond Earth, and in complex systems. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Paul and Robinson discuss the second revolution in quantum mechanics. Among other things, they dig into the origin of quantum theory, how we should interpret it, various quarks of quantum physics, such as teleportation and entanglement, quantum computing, and more. Paul’s recent book is Quantum 2.0 (Pelican, 2025).Quantum 2.0: https://a.co/d/0ckzsWavOUTLINE00:00 Why Quantum Mechanics?11:59 How Should We Interpret Quantum Mechanics?22:22 Complexity and Quantum Theory30:59 What Will Be the Next Quantum Revolution?39:59 The Next Generation of Quantum Technology?49:47 Can Quantum Teleportation Move Macroscopic Objects?52:47 Supercomputers vs Quantum Computers01:04:16 The Fine-Tuning Problem?01:12:37 Do We Have a Scientific Theory of Life?Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  278 - Priyamvada Natarajan: The Mystery of Dark Matter 31.05.2026 1godz 30min

  Priyamvada Natarajan is the Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics at Yale University, where she is also the Chair of Astronomy. Priya researches broadly across astrophysics and cosmology; some topics she has worked on include gravitational lensing, black hole physics, the philosophy of science, and dark matter. In this conversation, Priya and Robinson largely stick to the latter. They discuss her interest in cosmology writ large, as well as how the scientific community tackles the unknown. Priya’s most recent book is Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos (Yale, 2016).Mapping the Heavens: https://a.co/d/02HPcMB1OUTLINE00:00 A Paradox of Cosmology06:16 Investigating Invisibilia11:25 The Sociology of Astrophysics16:52 Phenomenology in Physics19:47 What Is the Mystery of Dark Matter?29:07 The Problem of Dark Energy36:38 Models and Simulations46:17 Modifying the Standard Model to Explain Dark Matter58:20 The Crisis in Dark Matter01:12:22 Alternative Explanations of Dark Matter01:19:51 Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse01:25:24 Black HolesRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  277 - Tim Maudlin: What Is Philosophy? 17.05.2026 2godz

  Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. In this episode, Robinson and Tim discuss the nature of philosophy. More particularly, they discuss philosophy’s origin, its connections to physics, what characterizes some of its well-known sub disciplines, and some of its biggest problems. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.siteThe John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.orgOUTLINE00:00 The Beginning of Philosophy06:53 Where Physics and Philosophy Diverged14:07 Quantum Gravity18:30 Physicists and Philosophers on Space and Time23:10 Is Metaphysics Different From Physics?34:54 Why Don’t Universities Have Departments of Metaphysics?49:27 Are Numbers Real?01:07:50 What Are Continental and Analytic Philosophy?01:14:58 The Age-Old Puzzle of the Statue and the Clay01:28:05 What Is Epistemology?01:38:57 Is the World Around Us an Illusion?01:49:13 What Are the Biggest Open Problems in Philosophy?01:57:00 A John Bell Institute UpdateRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  276 - Craig Callender: Lab-Grown Meat, De-Extinction, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect 03.05.2026 1godz 31min

  Craig Callender is Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Institute for Practical Ethics at UC San Diego, where he is a leading philosopher of science and physics. Craig also appeared on episode 73, in which he and Robinson discussed pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, and epidote 114, where he, Robinson, and Tim Maudlin discussed the philosophy of time, including the reality of the past, present, and future, the direction of time, its relationship to relativity and quantum mechanics, and time travel. In this episode, Robinson and Craig turn to a different assortment of topics. They talk about disinformation, lab-grown meat, de-extinction, scientific communication, quantum mechanics, and the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect.Craig’s Website: https://www.craigcallender.comOUTLINE00:00 Craig’s Interest in Lab-Grown Meat04:25 Disinformation and the Philosophy of Science18:18 The Root of the Error23:43 The Importance of Science Communication31:12 What Is De-Extinction?47:28 What Is the Tolman-Ehrenfest Effect?1:00:00 Tolman-Ehrenfest, Continued01:15:07 A Philosopher’s Perspective01:23:05 What Is The Problem with Quantum Mechanics?01:24:56 What’s the Best Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics?Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  275 - Nate Soares: AI Will Kill Us All If We Don’t Change Course 19.04.2026 2godz 3min

  Nate Soares is the President of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, and plays a central role in setting MIRI’s vision and strategy. Soares has been working in the field for over a decade, and is the author of a large body of technical and semi-technical writing on AI alignment, including foundational work on value learning, decision theory, and power-seeking incentives in smarter-than-human AIs. Prior to MIRI, Soares worked as an engineer at Google and Microsoft, as a research associate at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and as a contractor for the US Department of Defense. In this episode, Nate and Robinson discuss the problems of AI from the ground up. They touch on how AI is trained, why it will surpass human intelligence, why this is dangerous, how it could wipe out humankind, and more. Nate’s recent book, co-written with Eliezer Yudkowsky, is If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies (Little, Brown and Company, 2025).If Anyone Builds It, Everyone DiesNate’s X: https://x.com/So8resMIRI: https://intelligence.orgOUTLINE00:00 Nate’s Existential Dread07:11 What’s the REAL Problem with Artificial Intelligence?11:39 How Is AI Trained?17:15 The Vital Importance of Interpreting AI20:53 Why AI Will Soon Surpass Human Intelligence32:58 Why Solving the AI Alignment Problem is Crucial to Human Survival38:40 Will AI Render Human Software Engineers Obsolete?48:03 Does It Make Sense to Say AI Has Goals?01:00:02 Why AI Consciousness Is Unimportant01:11:33 How, Realistically, Could AI Wipe Out Humanity?01:35:27 A Sci-Fi (But Realistic) AI Doomsday Scenario01:44:34 Is There Hope that Humans Will Survive AI?
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  274 - Norman Finkelstein: Trump, Netanyahu, Putin, and the War in Iran 29.03.2026 1godz 35min

  Norman's Upcoming Book, Gaza's Gravediggers: https://orbooks.com/catalog/gazas-gravediggers/Norman Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department, and is best known for his research on Israel and Palestine.  Norman also appeared on episodes 192, 218, 228, 244, and 250, where he addressed the facts and fictions generated by the Israel-Hamas War, October 6th, allegations of genocide and apartheid, Hezbollah, the Holocaust, and more. In this episode, Robinson and Norman discuss Trump, Netanyahu, Putin, the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and more. Norman’s new book is Gaza’s Gravediggers: An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places (OR Books, 2026).Norman’s Website: https://www.normanfinkelstein.comOUTLINE00:00 No Investigation, No Right to Speak02:15 Why the War with Iran is Unjustified09:07 Israel Violated Article II of the UN Charter13:44 Will the Iran War the End the World in Nuclear War?21:03 Why Trump Is Underestimating Iran30:55 How Israel and the United States Tried to Deceive the World About Iran38:27 Is Israel’s Mentality “Homicidal”?44:43 What’s Less Justified: Putin’s War on Ukraine or Netanyahu’s on Iran?01:00:00 More on Ukraine01:12:31 What Should We Make of Joe Kent?01:21:00 More on KentRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  273 - Richard Wolff: Iran, Israel, and the End of the American Empire 22.03.2026 2godz 4min

  Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s tenth  appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. In this episode, Richard and Robinson discuss the ongoing war in Iran. More particularly, they discuss whether it was predictable, how it will affect the United States, Israel, and Europe, what really motivated the war, and more. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024).Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalismRichard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.comEconomic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdateOUTLINE00:00 Was the Iran War Predictable?05:43 How History Made Trump’s War with Iran Inevitable15:00 The Historical Perspective24:45 The War in Iran Is a Catastrophic Mistake for Israel32:03 Will Europe Survive the War in Iran?46:32 Is the Iran War the Last Straw for Donald Trump?53:48 Why China Is Obliterating American Companies01:03:17 How Trump and Israel Are Ending the American Empire01:08:35 Is the United States Turning on Donald Trump?01:13:54 Why Mamdani Is Winning Over New Yorkers01:17:20 The Iran War Is Really About Oil01:28:20 What Happens When The People of Iran Say “No More”?01:39:13 Does AI Mean the End of Capitalism?01:50:55 Will the United States Lose the War in Iran?Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  272 - Michael Hudson: Iran, Israel, and World War III 15.03.2026 1godz 56min

  Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s sixth appearance on the show. On past episodes, including with Richard Wolff, he and Robinson have neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, the rentier economy, Marxism, and the role of economics in political history. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about Donald Trump, the war in Iran, Russia and Ukraine, Israel, China, and the possibility of World War III. Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). Michael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.comTemples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dmOUTLINE00:10 How Oil Controls US Foreign Policy10:44 How American Foreign Policy Is Leading to World War III31:03 Trump’s Neocon War Strategy34:56 Why Does the United States Need Israel for its Iran War?41:26 Does the US Finance Terrorism in Ukraine and Israel?44:16 How the West Provoked Russia’s War in Ukraine52:53 Why Does the US Support Ukraine?56:10 How China Became an Economic Superpower59:49 AI and the Economic War for Global Dominance01:10:21 Oil, Renewable Energy, and the Shifting Global Power Structure01:12:25 The US Economy After WWI01:24:21 Why Europe Fell from WWII to the Present01:36:45 How Trump Ignores the First Amendment01:40:20 The Apex of American Power after WWII01:43:12 Who Will Win the Economic World War?01:49:25 Why Iran Is Crucial to the World’s Future01:53:38 The Dismal Future of the American EmpireRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  271 - Sara Imari Walker & Lee Cronin: Quantum Physics, Time, and the Origin of Life 01.03.2026 1godz 58min

  Sara Imari Walker is Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University, where she is Deputy Director of the Beyond Center. Sara is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist, with research interests in the origins of life, artificial life, life and detection on other worlds. Lee Cronin is Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Among his many pursuits are the digitization of chemistry, the discovery of alien life, and the creation of artificial life. In this episode, Robinson, Sara, and Lee discuss the relationship between philosophy and science, quantum physics, time, determinism, AI, and the origin of Life.Life as No One Knows It: https://a.co/d/2fdKa2eLee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/Lee’s Twitter: https://x.com/leecroninOUTLINE00:00 Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Philosophy07:57 Philosophy and Science20:58 Is Time an Object?30:00 More on Time44:38 On Time and Entropy51:13 Is the Universe Deterministic?01:08:54 What’s Wrong with Quantum Physics?01:17:08 Contingency, Selection, and Evolution01:29:05 Scientific Temperament01:44:18 Do We Experience ChatGPT as Human?Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  270 - Tim Maudlin & Jacob Barandes: The Indivisible Approach to Quantum Theory 15.02.2026 3godz 9min

  Tim Maudlin is Professor of Philosophy at NYU and Founder and Director of the John Bell Institute for the Foundations of Physics. Jacob Barandes is Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, where he works widely across the philosophy of physics, with focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the philosophy of spacetime, and the metaphysics of laws. In this episode, Robinson, Tim, and Jacob discuss Jacob’s novel approach to quantum mechanics, which he calls the “Indivisible Approach”. More particularly, they discuss the problems at the core of quantum mechanics, the ontology of the theory, causality and quantum phenomena, probability, and more. If you’re interested in the foundations of physics, then please check out the JBI, which is devoted to providing a home for research and education in this important area. Any donations are immensely helpful at this early stage in the institute’s life.Tim’s Website: www.tim-maudlin.siteThe John Bell Institute: https://www.johnbellinstitute.orgJacob’s Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.comThe Stochastic-Quantum Correspondence: https://philosophyofphysics.lse.ac.uk/articles/10.31389/pop.186Historical Debates over the Physical Reality of the Wave Function: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.09397Pilot-Wave Theories as Hidden Markov Models: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.10569OUTLINE00:21 The Problems at the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics13:00 More on the Problems26:09 Is the Wave Function a Real Thing?32:48 Causation, Correlation, and Quantum Mechanics42:03 Terminological Issues44:34 Causal Models and the Markov Condition01:00:57 Can Time Exist Without Change?01:15:00 On Time and Change01:30:38 Newtonian Mechanics and the Markov Condition1:45:00 More on Newtonian Mechanics2:00:00 More on the Markov Condition02:17:49 Tim’s Response02:28:18 Philosophy and Physics02:32:38 More on Probability02:42:13 Probability and the Double Slit Experiment 02:59:42 Why Tim Remains PuzzledRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  269 - Scott Aaronson: What Is Quantum Computing? 01.02.2026 1godz 25min

  Scott Aaronson is the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin, and director of its Quantum Information Center. He researches the capabilities and limits of quantum computers, and computational complexity theory more generally. For the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, he was on leave to work at OpenAI on the theoretical foundations of AI safety. In this episode of Robinson’s Podcast, Scott answers a host of questions about the basics of quantum computing. He and Robinson discuss the physics- and computer science elements of the field, how it connects to the foundations of quantum mechanics, the biggest myths about quantum computing, and whether quantum computers will every actually be built.Scott’s Blog: https://scottaaronson.blogOUTLINE00:00 Scott’s Interest in Quantum Computing07:10 Distinguishing the Physics from the Computer Science14:43 What Is Quantum Computation?39:41 The Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics53:31 Quantum Information55:54 Prime Factorization01:03:19 The Biggest Myths About Quantum Computing01:14:06 Can Quantum Computers Actually Be Built?Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  268 - Jeffrey Pfeffer: Power, Influence, and the Psychology of Institutions 18.01.2026 1godz

  Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University where he has taught since 1979. He is the author or co-author of 16 books. Dr. Pfeffer received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University and his Ph.D. from Stanford. In this episode, Robinson and Jeffrey discuss the field of organizational behavior. More particularly, they talk about the aims and methods of the field, some of its subjects—such as power and influence—and case studies. Jeffrey’s latest book is the 7 Rules of Power (Holt, 2022). 7 Rules of Power: https://a.co/d/58WWhiCOUTLINEOUTLINE00:00 Introduction05:46 Understanding Vs Implementation11:42 The Seven Principles of Influence19:33 Evolutionary Biology20:49 How Self-Interest Rules Organizations29:37 Power and the Prevalence of Conspiracies33:53 Jeffrey Epstein and the Laws of Power42:55 The Administration of Health Benefits49:16 How Jeffrey’s Research Has Influenced His Behavior59:06 The Price of PowerRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  267 - Lee Cronin: Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, and the Origin of Life 03.01.2026 1godz 22min

  Lee Cronin is Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Among his many pursuits are the digitization of chemistry, the discovery of alien life, and the creation of artificial life. Lee was most recently on the show for episode 264, in which he and Robinson and Lee discussed astrobiology, the chemistry of life as we know it, and the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence. In this follow-up conversation, they focused primarily on artificial intelligence, aliens, and assembly theory.Lee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/Lee’s Twitter: https://x.com/leecroninOUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:01 AI or Aliens?02:46 What Is Intelligence?13:57 Are Autonomous Vehicles Intelligent?21:39 Assembly Theory and the Origin of Life28:23 Is ChatGPT Intelligent?34:12 What Would Genuine Artificial Intelligence Really Look Like?41:13 Are “AI Skills” Just Product Placement?49:45 Are AI Actually Intelligent “Agents”?56:21 Concluding Thoughts59:16 Will Aliens Be Biological?01:00:01 How Common Are Aliens in the Universe?01:05:51 How Will Aliens Search for Life on Earth?01:12:58 The Chemistry of Minds01:17:10 The Biggest Myths About AliensRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  266 - Annaka Harris: The Fundamentality of Consciousness 21.12.2025 1godz 33min

  Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and writer and producer of the audio documentary series, LIGHTS ON. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and IAI Magazine. She is also an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. In this episode, Robinson and Annaka discuss panpsychism and the case that consciousness is fundamental. More particularly, they talk about complexity and emergence, the relationship between consciousness and physics, and artificial intelligence.Lights On: https://a.co/d/cy8YTpdConscious: https://a.co/d/3uFZ2JqAnnaka’s Website: https://annakaharris.comOUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:52 Annaka’s Obsession with Consciousness06:09 How Should We Define Consciousness?13:06 Why the Complexity Might Not Explain Consciousness25:30 Is Consciousness Emergent or Fundamental?29:45 Are Fundamentalia Conscious?45:18 How Can Consciousness Solve Deep Problems of Physics?52:14 Consciousness and Quantum Entanglement01:00:11 Consciousness and the Many Worlds Theory of Quantum Mechanics01:10:50 What Does an Electron Feel?01:13:41 AI and Consciousness01:22:42 Science and the Fundamentality of ConsciousnessRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  265 - Jacob Barandes: A New Foundation for Quantum Mechanics 07.12.2025 3godz 14min

  Jacob Barandes is Senior Preceptor in Physics at Harvard University, where he works widely across the philosophy of physics, with focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, the philosophy of spacetime, and the metaphysics of laws. In this episode, Robinson and Jacob focus on the foundations of quantum mechanics. They discuss the importance of history and philosophy in the same, its connections to mathematics, many of the biggest puzzles in quantum physics, and Jacob’s new approach to the foundations, which he refers to as the “Indivisibility” approach.Jacob's Website: https://www.jacobbarandes.comOUTLINE00:00 Mathematics, Nature, and Physics07:55 The Deep Link Between Math and Physics CLIP15:21 Scrutinizing the History and Philosophy of Physics28:11 A Digression on Achille Varzi36:53 The Etymology of “Matrix”41:17 Learning from the History of Physics52:38 Why Does Quantum Mechanics Need New Foundations?59:04 Does Quantum Gravity Need New Quantum Foundations?01;08:26 What Is a Constructive Physical Theory?01:32:31 Markov Laws and Determinism01:45:30 The Wave Function02:06:53 Inconsistencies in Quantum Mechanics02:12:20 What Is Quantum Decoherence?02:23:10 The Biggest Problems in Quantum Foundations?02:33:49 Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics02:38:57 Quantum Mechanics, Many Worlds, and the Problem of Induction02:50:05 The Indivisibility Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics03:04:42 What Are the Fundamentalia of the Universe?Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.
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  264 - Lee Cronin: The Chemistry of Life 23.11.2025 2godz

  Lee Cronin is Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. Among his many pursuits are the digitization of chemistry, the discovery of alien life, and the creation of artificial life. In this episode, Robinson and Lee focus on astrobiology, the chemistry of life as we know it, and the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence.Lee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/Lee’s Twitter: https://x.com/leecroninOUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:55 Lee’s Interests in the Origin of Life10:29 Is Life Unique to Earth?18:16 What Is the Self?24:05 Is the Selfish Gene Hypothesis Wrong?30:46  How Does Sand Turn into Cells?44:02 What Is Chemputation?45:41 What Is Assembly Theory?01:11:33 Why Won’t We Find a Mine of Coffee Mugs on an Asteroid?01:25:09 Has AI Become a Cult?01:32:16 Will AI Use Biological Weapons to Wipe Out Humanity?01:55:24 Why AI Can’t Be AgentsRobinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.