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Truth Island

by Aaron Azerad

In a world that has become increasingly polarized and ideologically deadlocked, Truth Island attempts to negotiate the dangerous middle ground between the 'left' and 'right' in a search to find truth and meaning. It is the belief of this podcast that no one person or theory has the monopoly on truth but through intense discussion we can aim towards a level of human understanding that will satisfy the complexity that surrounds our decision making.

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Episodes

  1. Episode 172: What causes us to be fearful?

    Kenny and I speculate as to some of the root causes of fear.

  2. Episode 171: The rewards of not receiving a reward.

    Kenny and I discuss some of the positive feelings that are associated with altruistic behavior.

  3. Episode 170: The many disguises of phoniness.

    Kenny and I unmask the various forms in which phony behavior disguises itself.

  4. Episode 169: How impressionable should we be?

    Kenny and I try to unravel whether being impressionable is something that one should outgrow or if keeping an open mind is a sign of wisdom.

  5. Episode 168: What makes someone popular?

    Kenny and I try and understand the enigma that is popularity.

  6. Episode 167: Fighting back against cognitive dissonance.

    Kenny and I try and understand why some of our most powerful members of society speak with good intentions but carry out actions which suggest otherwise.

  7. Episode 166: Are we entitled to anything?

    Kenny and I try and figure out if we are entitled to anything in this world or if there are no guarantees in life.

  8. Episode 165: Free will versus genetic predispositions.

    Kenny and I sort which human characteristics remain under the domain of 'free will' and which are entirely determined by our biology.

  9. Episode 164: What motivates people?

    Kenny and I try and figure out what guides and motivates human behavior.

  10. Episode 163: Accountability versus Justice.

    Kenny and I try and decide when it is appropriate to hold people responsible for their actions and when one should exercise forgiveness.

  11. Episode 162: Why are we so apathetic?

    Kenny and I explore some of the root causes of apathy and if our apathetic inclinations can be overcome.

  12. Episode 161: The art of nuance.

    Kenny and I discuss how the absence of nuance has lead to a deterioration in conversation and how we make sense of the world around us.

  13. Episode 160: The art of handling emotional baggage.

    Kenny and I discuss how emotional baggage both informs our decisions in helping us detect danger but at the same time creates giant blind spots in our thinking.

  14. Episode 159: The importance of bravery.

    Kenny and I discuss the importance of being brave, in a world where cowardice and complacency have become the new normal.

  15. Episode 158: Is it better to be feared or loved?

    Kenny and I debate what is the correct balance between being feared and loved.

  16. Episode 157: Do humans secretly harbor self-destructive tendencies?

    Using the crisis of climate change, Brett and I discuss whether people are simply misinformed or if we secretly harbor feelings of ambivalence towards extinction.

  17. Episode 156: How can we see past deception?

    Kenny and I uncover some of the ways that we are constantly being deceived.

  18. Episode 155: A deep dive into the Trolley Problem.

    Brett and I contemplate different solutions to one of philosophies oldest problems, and it's implications regarding AI and self-driving cars.

  19. Episode 154: Why can't most of us handle the truth?

    Kenny and I explore why so many of us are truth averse.

  20. Episode 153: Are humans meant to live together?

    Kenny and I consider whether or not humans can peacefully coexist with one another or are destined to remained divided.

  21. Episode 152: Does the United States suffer from a legitimacy crisis?

    Brett and I discuss the role legitimacy plays in building consent and governing a nation.

  22. Episode 151: Why are we here?

    Kenny and I tackle the big question of why exactly we are all here.

  23. Episode 150: How can we cope with change?

    Kenny and I distinguish between good and bad change, and how our fear of death influences all other changes we may encounter.

  24. Episode 149: How does one prove the existence of others?

    Kenny and I delve into the strange philosophy known as solipsism, in an attempt to prove each other real.

  25. Episode 148: How much should we trust our insticts?

    In the battle between science and instinct, Kenny and I attempt to resolve when we should trust our gut and when we should yield to science.

  26. Episode 147: Are people born good or evil?

    Kenny and I attempt to answer the age old question of whether people are born evil and must learn to be good or if people are born good but are corrupted by society.

  27. Episode 146: What are appropriate boundaries?

    Kenny and I attempt to draw boundary lines between the individual and the people closest to them.

  28. Episode 145: How much should we be living in the present moment?

    Kenny and I try and breakdown how much of our lives should be spent living in the present versus planning for the future.

  29. Episode 144: Rome the decline of democracy (Part XVII)

    This episode is the seventieth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we resume our timeline and discuss how…

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  30. Episode 143: How to handle resentment.

    Kenny and I discuss the nature of resentment and the destructive element that it can play in our lives.

  31. Episode 142: Rome the decline of democracy (Part XVI)

    This episode is the sixteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we resume our timeline and discuss the...

  32. Episode 141: Rome the decline of democracy (Part XV)

    This episode is the fifteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology...

  33. Episode 140: Is ignorance bliss?

    Kenny and I tackle the age old question of whether knowledge makes us more fearful or gives us the wisdom to live much more fulfilling lives.

  34. Episode 139: Why are we curious about different things? (Part II)

    Alexander and I conclude our discussion on why different people have different curiosities.

  35. Episode 138: Are silent people more wise?

    Kenny and I tackle the age old myth of the silent wise types.

  36. Episode 137: Why are we curious about different things? (Part I)

    In this first part, Alexander and I discuss how education both succeeds and fails at cultivating curiosity.

  37. Episode 136: The benefits of detachment.

    Kenny and I discuss why it may be a good idea to be a bit more detached from what happens to you in life.

  38. Episode 135: The importance of the family unit.

    Alexander and I attempt to define what ingredients are needed when constructing a family suitable for raising children.

  39. Episode 134: The dangers of passion.

    Kenny and I discuss the dangers of passion and how it can both positively and negatively effect a person's choices.

  40. Episode 133: Simple versus complicated decision making.

    Alexander helps me figure out which types of problems can be solved without giving them a second thought, from those requiring extensive analysis.

  41. Episode 132: The virtues of humility.

    Kenny and I discuss why being humble is one of the best ways to combat evil tendencies.

  42. Episode 131: What is evil? (Part II)

    This episode concludes our conversation from last week, on what exactly constitutes evil.

  43. Episode 130: What is evil? (Part I)

    In this episode Kenny and I try and figure out what makes an evil person by accidently stumbling across some of the qualities that make a good person.

  44. Episode 129: Scalability.

    Alexander and I discuss if and should everything in this world be scaled up. Topics: Taking your work home with you. The dangers of selling out. Can something be universally loved and a masterpiece? Films are really expensive to make and demand a huge ROI. Democratizing art? Touching a few people...

  45. Episode 128: Is guilt a good thing?

    Kenny and I discuss if and when guilt has any use, and if it is ever appropriate to use it, to change someone's behavior. Topics: Charity. Arm twisting or public good? Who exactly is responsible for what goes on in the world? Appealing to kindness instead of guilt. Guilt in the realm of life and...

  46. Episode 127: Reality versus Positivity.

    Alexander and I walk the thin line of where positivity collides with reality. Topics: Finding the boundaries in which positivity can operate. Positivity cannot be just thoughts, it must translate into meaningful action. Positivity is not a substitute for natural talent. Enjoyment and talent go...

  47. Episode 126: Rome the Decline of Democracy (Part XIV)

    This episode is the fourteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology...

  48. Episode 125: Rome the Decline of Democracy (Part XIII)

    This episode is the thirteenth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we take a break from our Roman chronology...

  49. Episode 124: Rome the Decline of Democracy (Part XII)

    This episode is the twelfth part of a larger series in which I am joined by Roman Empire expert Brett Davidoff, as we discuss some of the parallels of ancient Rome to the United States and other historical instances of democratic decay. In this episode we discuss the dysfunctional rule of the...

  50. Episode 123: Where have all the standards gone?

    Kenny and I discuss whether standards are a needed utility and if so, who exactly gets to determine them? Topics: The relative nature of standards. There is no such things as 'no standards'. The force needed to enforce standards. Standards remain highly contingent upon our capacity to uphold…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

In a world that has become increasingly polarized and ideologically deadlocked, Truth Island attempts to negotiate the dangerous middle ground between the 'left' and 'right' in a search to find truth and meaning. It is the belief of this podcast that no one person or theory has the monopoly on truth but through intense discussion we can aim towards a level of human understanding that will satisfy the complexity that surrounds our decision making.

HOSTED BY

Aaron Azerad

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Truth Island have?

Truth Island currently has 175 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Truth Island about?

In a world that has become increasingly polarized and ideologically deadlocked, Truth Island attempts to negotiate the dangerous middle ground between the 'left' and 'right' in a search to find truth and meaning. It is the belief of this podcast that no one person or theory has the monopoly on...

How often does Truth Island release new episodes?

Truth Island publishes regularly with 175 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Truth Island?

You can listen to Truth Island on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Truth Island?

Truth Island is created and hosted by Aaron Azerad.
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