PODCAST · news
Unsilent
by Dave Parkhurst and Brian Harding
Chronicling what went wrong for Middle America to future generationsWe are digging deeper into the social / political conversation: Diagnosing and discussing the underlying issues we are facing as a society, the irrational philosophies and ideas we are being subjected to, and their disastrous consequences.
Episodes
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165. Undesirable: Is it Possible For Both Parties to Lose an Election?
We are only a few weeks away from the midterm elections, and it seems that both major political parties have a problem conveying a message or plan to the public worth voting for. At the same time, AI has a similar issue trying to express both risks and rewards. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian...
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164. Unbeaten: Iran Continues to Defy Collapse Expectations
After months of predictions that they will suffer economic or military collapse, Iran continues to inflict tremendous discomfort on the Trump Administration and the global economic system. Plus, the woes for many European countries continue to worsen. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a...
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163. Unending: The Human Nature Cycle Goes Round and Round
After 23 years, the US is ending military involvement in Iraq, as the war in Iran continues. Both Hillary Clinton and the IRGC, via their letter to America, let us know who they think the real problems are, and our collective application of laws continues to wane. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian...
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162. Unsensible: Beclowning Abounds
Unforced errors seems to the be the leadership trend these days, no matter the size, scope, or area the organization. Certainly, we see this is political terms, but it’s also apparent that questionable decision making is no longer limited to politics. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a...
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161. Unprotected: So-called Leaders Seem Powerless to Keep Us Safe
Whether it be with basic domestic adherence to norms and laws, or keeping global conflict at bay, or even keeping AI from becoming an uncontrollable force that can harm us at will, leaders in all three fronts appear to be unable or unwilling to prevent catastrophe. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian...
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160. Unpeaceful: Global Conflicts Continue to Escalate
In addition to the variety of domestic problems, wars and conflicts continue to escalate globally as well. The war with Iran has picked up again, and the Russia – Ukraine war shows no signs of slowing down. Plus, now Europe has even begun building militarily. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian…
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159. Unmoral: How We Try so Hard to Avoid Moral Solutions
AI and other technology advancements are evolving and changing at an every-increasing pace. What does this mean for our future? How can we balance the comfort and efficiency improvements with our fundamental desires for connection and nature? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person...
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158. Unmoral: How We Try so Hard to Avoid Moral Solutions
In a world where people with faith-based or religious beliefs are commonly scoffed at and/or looked down upon, the “Simulation Theory,” is gaining more traction and favor. Why is that? Could it be as simple as wanting to avoid morality? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70...
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157. Unmotivated: Contrasting Government Initiatives
Flock cameras have seen an explosion in volume across the country. At the same time, the California high speed rail system is not much further along than it was several years ago. And, in other news, Cannabis is not longer a schedule 1 drug. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person…
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156. Unconfident: Why Aren’t We Curious Anymore?
Tribalism is in full swing. One of the costs of group membership is going along, and refraining from asking questions or challenging inaccurate group beliefs. Why is this? For starters, the costs associated with curiosity are definitely consequential. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a...
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155. Unconfident: The World Through a Young Person’s Eyes
Democratic Socialism is gaining popularity around the country. For many of us, our first response is quite negative. But one does not have to look too hard, in too many directions, to find a wide variety of recipients of “Socialism,” including massive corporations. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian...
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154. Unserious: The World is Being Led by Toddler Mentality
Every week it seems like the stakes are ratcheted up a little higher. Global wars, a global depression, and internal uprisings are all legitimately on the table now. Simultaneously, it is becoming every more obvious that the people in charge behave like children. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian...
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153. Undefensible: Elites Can’t Defend Their Utopian Positions
The Smithsonian has apparently been promoting a toolkit to fight whiteness and were called to defend some of their positions on Capitol Hill. The questioning became entertaining when asked to explain how objectivity and Mickey Mouse are racist. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person...
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152. Undefeated: We Continue Winning in Iran
As war resumes in Iran, one thing has not changed, and that is that we are winning every step of the way – at least, that is, if you listen to the administration. How this conflict is going to resolve is anyone’s guess, but as of right now, it is anything but a rosy outlook. Tune in to hear Dave...
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151. Unpatriotic: A Tale of Two Societies
Anywhere you look, the world is operating with different sets of rules, norms, and acceptable outcomes. Whether it be between different tribes within the citizenry, the elites vs common people, or country to country, we are using completely different criteria to decide what is “good”. Tune in to...
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150. Uncelebrated: A Somewhat Muted 250th Anniversary For America
As the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth comes around, there is a noticeable lack of enthusiasm and belief in our founding principles, particularly from specific ideological viewpoints. What will get us back to the American pride and confidence that made our country so great to begin with?...
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149. Unworldly: A New Ethos Is Emerging
While the administration continues taking victory laps over the loss in Iran, Dave and Brian divert their attention to other matters like the emergence of new music which reflects the mood in various parts of the world, especially Europe, and breaking news about election integrity. Tune in to…
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148. Unintelligible: Looking Through Windows Of Baffoonery
Over the last several weeks, via the war in Iran and other global and national incidents, US citizens have gotten a rare glimpse into how things really work in government and other power centers. Unfortunately, what we are seeing provides more angst than confidence. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian...
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147. Unconspiratorial: Who’s Really In Charge Here?
A 2014 Princeton study revealed that average American citizens rarely, if ever, get legislation they care about passed. Predictably, this lack of representation leads to a wide variety of conspiracy theories. This week, Dave and Brian jump right into the middle of one of the biggest. Tune in to...
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146. Unencumbered: Is Group Allegiance The Real Villain?
The big problems we are facing appear to often have simple solutions that would have overwhelming support from the populous. So why can’t these simple solutions be implemented? Could it be that the obstruction to progress and improvement is as simple as maintaining group allegiance? Tune in to…
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145. Unenergetic: Energy Is Power
Perhaps the most effective lever of control available is the control of energy. Is it coincidental that among the wide range of conversations being held about AI, none of them seem to be focused on improving energy production or efficiency? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person…
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144. Unfixable: Institutions And Systems Are Now Broken Beyond Repair
If the statement, “The purpose of a system is what it does,” is true, then one does not have to look at too many of our current institutions and systems to see that what they have become are not systems to support everyday Americans, but rather systems that take from those citizens. Tune in to…
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143. Unchanging: An Artificial Pause?
The pace and ferocity of the news cycle has diminished over the last couple of weeks. But the underlying problems that led to those newsworthy situations both abroad and domestically have not changed, so it feels like a pause that is likely artificial and will perhaps be short lived. Tune in to...
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142. Unscrupulous: Ego Continues To Drive All Problems
It seems that, despite our belief in how far we have evolved, many or all of the significant problems we currently face seem to have a common denominator – ego. Examples include, but are not limited to: The war in Iran, insider trading, and Congress’ inability to carry out voters’ wishes. Tune in...
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141. Unaware: How Can We Understand If We Don’t Even Know?
Across the spectrum, from Iran to AI, and from insider trading to attempted assassinations, it seems clear that much of the reason we can’t agree or make progress is simply because we don’t have clarity about what’s really happening or what's driving decision making. Tune in to hear Dave and…
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140. Unknowable: How Can We Get Out Of The Iran Mess?
After several weeks, even with a recently declared ceasefire extension, there are still so many factors and circumstances in Iran that we simply just do not know. Also, the number of scientists and officials disappearing has reached a level that is difficult to ignore. Tune in to hear Dave and...
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139. Uncorrectable. The Darkness Behind Modern Politics
While the Iran War news has cooled over the last week, another story took front and center, highlighting a significant component of how modern politics work. Congressman Eric Swallwell resigns amid serious allegations that likely have been known for some time. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian…
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138. Unhopeful. Are We On The Brink Of The Brink?
We seem to have gotten at least a temporary reprieve from a “civilization ending” event. But where do we go from here? Is the path we are on the right one, or are we being pushed in a dangerous direction for less that honorable reasons? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70...
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137. Unresolved. Where Is The War In Iran Headed?
Now nearly a month into the “excursion” into Iran, we are no closer to knowing what a resolution might look like. Further, as tribalism continues to drive our conversations, having confidence in what is being said about the conflict is nearly impossible. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to…
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136. Uncontrolled. Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened In The Middle East
Identifying a real plan or positive outcome in Iran is getting more complicated and difficult. What is abundantly clear is that the trajectory we are on is full of unknowns and perilous situations with players who have now dug their heels in. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person...
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135. Uncorked. The Persian Genie Is Out Of The Bottle
Now a couple of weeks into the conflict in Iran, it seems as though we are preparing to declare victory soon in the U.S. However, it is not clear what the actual fallout will end up being now that we have poked the Middle East hornet’s nest. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person…
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134. Unseated: Regime Change Is Underway In Iran
The U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran this week. This adds to the already overflowing list of topics for American citizens to debate. At the top of the list of questions about this particular military operation is “Why now?” Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70...
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133. Unexplained: Are Any of These Distractions Real?
There are a myriad of events going on that are seemingly just distractions. Are we being preoccupied with war in Iran, Wall Street numbers, cartel leader assassinations, and aliens to keep our attention away from the Epstein files? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70…
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132. Unreality: How Is Our Current Experience Manufactured?
It appears that Americans have much more in common than one would think just reading headlines, memes, and social media post headlines. If that’s true, why are those common values and principles lost in the chaos? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70 years from now what...
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131. Unholy: How Is Our Era Any Different Than A Religious War?
Internal and external conflicts continue to heat up. Meanwhile, the actions people are taking and the nature of discourse feel no different than religious wars we learned about growing up, even though the tribes are not as easily defined. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living…
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130. Undercurrent: What Is Really Driving All These Wild Moves?
Luckily, it appears that we have avoided war with Denmark in our mission to acquire Greenland. While the immediate tension has subsided, but it remains unclear why it has become so urgent for this, and other actions, to be taken immediately. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person…
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129. Unclear: Are There Really Any Clear Outcomes Being Sought?
Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty both domestically and abroad, it is not at all clear if there are really any clear objectives by any policy maker, pundit, organization, or tribe. Or, alternatively, are all parties just aiming for either “the same" or "different”? Tune in to hear Dave and…
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128. Unvasion: Down goes Maduro
United States forces went into Venezuela to take out Nicholas Maduro. While there were no US casualties, we do have to wonder if this is the beginning of an American empire. As with many of our current issues, there are more questions than answers. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a…
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127. Unethical: Minnesota Shines A Light On Staggering Fraud
A young YouTuber unveiled major fraud in Minnesota, which has led to a whole new online conversation about what is fair as well as showing the staggering amount of money involved in these seemingly common fraud operations. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70 years from…
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126. Unevolved: The More We Change The More We Stay The Same
As 2025 comes to an end and we move into 2026, there are clearly ways we are advancing. On the other hand, there are also quite obvious ways we have not evolved much beyond our ancient ancestors, especially when it comes to gaining and maintaining power. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to…
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125. Unmonitored: Who And What Will Determine The AI Future?
Trump signed an executive order protecting AI Companies from state law violations. This begs the question: Who gets to decide what the AI future looks like, and with seemingly little accountability in place, what criteria will be used to decide how it works? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain...
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124. Unparalleled: What Is Driving The Income Inequality?
The “K-shaped Economy” is clearly a real phenomenon. What was the catalyst for the growing disparity? What are the institutional and behavioral drivers that go us here? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70 years from now what living in this moment is like. Do you want to…
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123. Unreversible: Can The Genie Be Put Back In The Bottle?
A new era of lawfare appears to be upon us, making it appear that whoever loses an election will now be subject to criminal prosecution by the opposing side. This is not a recognizable system of sustained governance. Will we be able to get back to “normal”? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain…
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122. Unpartisan: Are We Now a Four Party System?
There are now significant divides in both the Republican and Democrat parties. Hard lines are being drawn, and those who cross those lines pay a heavy price. This is making it even harder to navigate the era we are in. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70 years from now…
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121. Unrevealed: Entering the Next Stage of the Epstein Saga
Congress is taking steps to ensure that the Epstein files are released to the public. But questions abound. Like why is it taking so long? What is driving Trump's erratic behavior on this topic? And of course, what is really driving the secrecy? Will we ever truly know the truth? Tune in to hear...
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120. Unbound: Diving Into Various Current Disparities
Economic and "fairness" disparities are reaching what feels like an apex. Groups on both sides of the political aisle are feeling more and more like the system is working against them rather than to serve them. While the proposed solutions are certainly different, the underlying feelings of being...
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119. Unsocial: Socialist Mamdani Wins the New York City Mayoral Race
Democratic Socialist Mamdani wins the New York Mayoral race at the same time Texas passed a ballot measure barring non-citizen voting. The gap between ideas to solve the increasing wealth disparity in the U.S. continues to widen, and this turn of events seems to me meaningful. Tune in to hear…
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118. Unnerved: Does Progress Have to Lead to Totalitarianism?
More and more conversations, in a wide range of topics, seem to have a common thread - they all need more compliance. We are making rapid progress on many fronts all the time. Is there any progress that doesn't lead to totalitarianism? Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70...
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117. Unrevolutionary: The fight over "Normalcy"
It's becoming more clear that much of the current social and political fight is over what, "Normal," should be. This week, we look at historical similarities through the eyes of a real-life historian. Tune in to hear Dave and Brian explain to a person living 70 years from now what living in this...
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116. Uncharted: The Middle East Enters a New Era of Peace
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has officially come to an end with the Gaza Peace Plan going into effect. If it sticks, this would be nothing short of historic, and could really change the geo-political trajectory of the region and the world. And... There is an odd silence from some who…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Chronicling what went wrong for Middle America to future generationsWe are digging deeper into the social / political conversation: Diagnosing and discussing the underlying issues we are facing as a society, the irrational philosophies and ideas we are being subjected to, and their disastrous consequences.
HOSTED BY
Dave Parkhurst and Brian Harding
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Unsilent have?
Unsilent currently has 168 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Unsilent about?
Chronicling what went wrong for Middle America to future generationsWe are digging deeper into the social / political conversation: Diagnosing and discussing the underlying issues we are facing as a society, the irrational philosophies and ideas we are being subjected to, and their disastrous...
How often does Unsilent release new episodes?
Unsilent publishes regularly with 168 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Unsilent?
You can listen to Unsilent 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 Unsilent?
Unsilent is created and hosted by Dave Parkhurst and Brian Harding.
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