THE ILLUSION OF "YOU": Why Free Will is a Lie & The Universe is Alive episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 26, 2026 · 35 MIN

THE ILLUSION OF "YOU": Why Free Will is a Lie & The Universe is Alive

from Thrilling Threads - Conspiracy Theories, Strange Phenomena, Unsolved Mysteries, etc! · host Byte & Pieces

Look at your hand. Now, ask yourself: Are you moving it, or is it moving because of a chain reaction of physics that started at the Big Bang? It sounds like a stoners-in-a-basement conversation, but according to modern neuroscience and philosophy, the "You" that you think is in control might just be a hallucination.In this mind-bending episode, we are diving deep into a fascinating BigThink interview with the brilliant Annaka Harris (author of Conscious). We’re stripping away the layers of what we call "reality" to explore the terrifying and beautiful possibility that consciousness isn't just something the brain does—it might be what the universe is.We are challenging everything you think you know about your own mind. From the nightmare of Locked-In Syndrome—where the mind is awake but the body is a tomb—to the silent, secret lives of plants, we are breaking down why intuition is a terrible guide to the truth.Here is what we are unpacking today:The Hard Problem: Why science can explain how a brain works, but not why it feels like something to be you.Panpsychism 101: The controversial theory that consciousness is a fundamental property of nature, just like gravity or mass.The Death of Free Will: Why the sensation of "choosing" might just be a retroactive trick your brain plays on you.Beyond Human: How understanding plant behavior and physics could rewrite the laws of neuroscience.If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling at 3 AM wondering if you’re actually real, or if we are just ghosts in a biological machine, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. We are bridging the gap between physics and feelings to find out what’s really going on behind your eyes.🔊 LISTEN NOW to dissolve the illusion of the self.Does your brain hurt yet? Good. Hit that SUBSCRIBE button and leave a review! Share this episode with that one friend who loves deep philosophical talks—they need to hear this.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thrilling-threads-conspiracy-theories-strange-phenomena-true-crime-unsolved-mysteries-etc--5995429/support.ThrillingThreadsPod.com - Unravel the Unknown.Dive deep into the world's greatest conspiracy theories, strange phenomena, true crimes, and unsolved mysteries. Follow the threads.You May also Like these:SkyNearMe.com – Your all-in-one "Sky Super-App." Track real-time weather,  sunset and air quality, stargazing conditions, 5G signal mapping, drone flight zones, solar potential, track satellites, rocket launches, UFO sightings in your local airspace and even get your Sky Horoscope and more!🤖Nudgrr.com (🗣'nudger") - Your AI Sidekick for Getting Sh*t DoneNudgrr breaks down your biggest goals into tiny, doable steps — then nudges you to actually do them. 

Look at your hand. Now, ask yourself: Are you moving it, or is it moving because of a chain reaction of physics that started at the Big Bang? It sounds like a stoners-in-a-basement conversation, but according to modern neuroscience and philosophy, the "You" that you think is in control might just be a hallucination.In this mind-bending episode, we are diving deep into a fascinating BigThink interview with the brilliant Annaka Harris (author of Conscious). We’re stripping away the layers of what we call "reality" to explore the terrifying and beautiful possibility that consciousness isn't just something the brain does—it might be what the universe is.We are challenging everything you think you know about your own mind. From the nightmare of Locked-In Syndrome—where the mind is awake but the body is a tomb—to the silent, secret lives of plants, we are breaking down why intuition is a terrible guide to the truth.Here is what we are unpacking today:The Hard Problem: Why science can explain how a brain works, but not why it feels like something to be you.Panpsychism 101: The controversial theory that consciousness is a fundamental property of nature, just like gravity or mass.The Death of Free Will: Why the sensation of "choosing" might just be a retroactive trick your brain plays on you.Beyond Human: How understanding plant behavior and physics could rewrite the laws of neuroscience.If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling at 3 AM wondering if you’re actually real, or if we are just ghosts in a biological machine, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. We are bridging the gap between physics and feelings to find out what’s really going on behind your eyes.🔊 LISTEN NOW to dissolve the illusion of the self.Does your brain hurt yet? Good. Hit that SUBSCRIBE button and leave a review! Share this episode with that one friend who loves deep philosophical talks—they need to hear this.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thrilling-threads-conspiracy-theories-strange-phenomena-true-crime-unsolved-mysteries-etc--5995429/support.ThrillingThreadsPod.com - Unravel the Unknown.Dive deep into the world's greatest conspiracy theories, strange phenomena, true crimes, and unsolved mysteries. Follow the threads.You May also Like these:SkyNearMe.com – Your all-in-one "Sky Super-App." Track real-time weather,  sunset and air quality, stargazing conditions, 5G signal mapping, drone flight zones, solar potential, track satellites, rocket launches, UFO sightings in your local airspace and even get your Sky Horoscope and more!🤖Nudgrr.com (🗣'nudger") - Your AI Sidekick for Getting Sh*t DoneNudgrr breaks down your biggest goals into tiny, doable steps — then nudges you to actually do them.

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THE ILLUSION OF "YOU": Why Free Will is a Lie & The Universe is Alive

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How long is this episode of Thrilling Threads - Conspiracy Theories, Strange Phenomena, Unsolved Mysteries, etc!?

This episode is 35 minutes long.

When was this Thrilling Threads - Conspiracy Theories, Strange Phenomena, Unsolved Mysteries, etc! episode published?

This episode was published on January 26, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Look at your hand. Now, ask yourself: Are you moving it, or is it moving because of a chain reaction of physics that started at the Big Bang? It sounds like a stoners-in-a-basement conversation, but according to modern neuroscience and philosophy,...

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