Nameless Light

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessie Yeung. Jessie teaches an undergraduate course called “Probabilities Everywhere,” which explores how probability shows up in everyday life—from elections and gambling to wartime decision-making and polling. Her work focuses on interdisciplinary research, statistics education, and social statistics, with a passion for making statistical thinking accessible and relevant.We talk about what polls actually measure, how to think clearly about uncertainty, and why understanding probability can transform how you see the world—from politics to poker.📖 Video Chapters0:00 – Intro0:28 – What Election Polls Actually Measure4:01 – Bias in Polling & Adjusting for It7:02 – Understanding Margin of Error & Confidence Intervals12:36 – How Sample Size Affects Accuracy14:46 – The “Magic Number” of 1,000 in Polls17:00 – Sample Size Calculations Explained20:03 – Why the House Always Wins: Casinos & the Law of Large Numbers23:00 – Lottery Economics: Expected Loss and Rare Profitable Cases25:30 – The Cash Windfall Lottery Hack by MIT Students30:18 – Sampling’s Hidden Superpower34:52 – Abraham Wald and the Bias in Wartime Data40:04 – Making Probability Relatable in Everyday Life41:39 – Why You Shouldn’t Trust Polls as Predictions42:48 – Rethinking Uncertainty: What Students Take Away43:34 – Lotteries, Casinos & the Myth of Getting Rich44:20 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

Political scientist Dr. Lucan Ahmad Way—Distinguished Professor of Democracy at the University of Toronto and co-author of “Competitive Authoritarianism” and “Revolution and Dictatorship”—joins me to unpack how democracies erode from the inside. Way’s work on hybrid regimes has shaped the way scholars think about democratic backsliding around the world.Books mentioned: “Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War” (2010) “Pluralism by Default: Weak Autocrats and the Rise of Competitive Politics” (2015) “Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism” (2022) 📖 Video Chapters 0:43 – Episode Intro – Introducing Dr. Lucan Way and His Two Landmark Books 1:46 – Intellectual Roots – Lucan Way’s Journey from California to Moscow 3:39 – Birth of “Competitive Authoritarianism” & The Deep-Dive Writing Process 5:53 – Can Political Science Be a Science? 6:24 – Competitive Authoritarianism Explained 7:42 – Democracies Backsliding: Hungary, India, Turkey & More 8:55 – Is the United States Already Competitive Authoritarian? 11:56 – The “Cost of Opposition” in a Tilted Playing Field 13:43 – Chilling Donors & Law-Firm Fears: Real-World Impacts 14:17 – Pushback: Can U.S. Institutions Still Halt Authoritarian Drift? 15:34 – Why a Second Trump Term Would Be Radically Different 17:15 – Second-Term Power: Loyalists & Scope for Abuse 17:42 – Ignoring Court Orders: A Brewing Constitutional Showdown 19:18 – Does Democracy Require More Than Two Parties? 20:50 – “Both Sides” Pushback: Cancel Culture vs State Retribution 22:24 – Lawfare & the Stormy Daniels Hush-Money Case 22:50 – Lawfare & the First “Mainstream” Targeting of Opposition 23:38 – False-Positive? Addressing the “You’re Seeing What You Want” Critique 24:58 – From Nixon to Now: Why Today’s University Crackdown Is Unprecedented 25:44 – The Authoritarian Blueprint: Purging the Civil Service 26:56 – Elon Musk vs. “Big Government”: Bureaucracy’s Role in Democracy 28:25 – Musk’s Loyalists Invade Federal Agencies 29:50 – Constitution Breached: Bureaucracy Under Siege 30:45 – Why Democracy Needs an Independent Civil Service 32:05 – Mass Firings & the “Startup Nation” Fallacy 33:30 – U.S. Wealth, Trump’s Unpopularity & Reasons for Hope 33:46 – Courts Ignored: An Openly Anti-Constitutional Administration 34:46 – Is the Crisis Transient? Optimism vs. “We’re Not Out of the Woods” 35:28 – Competitive Authoritarian Regimes Fluctuate: Historical Patterns 36:02 – What It Means for Canada: Defending Democracy & Fact-Based Media 37:18 – Film Pick: All the President’s Men (1976) Enjoy the conversation, share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more deep dives.

This week, I sit down with Professor Karen von Kunes from the University of Toronto for a fascinating deep dive into the Czech and Slovak New Wave. We explore the surreal, the satirical, and the socially charged films that emerged during one of the most creatively explosive—and politically turbulent—moments in cinema history. From Closely Watched Trains to Daisies, from Forman’s under-the-table realism to Kundera’s polyphonic prose, this conversation uncovers the strange magic that still lingers in these films decades later. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Czech cinema so quietly radical, this episode is for you.Five films to watch from the Czech and Slovak New Wave:The Audition / Competition (Miloš Forman, 1963) – mock talent‑show that launched the Wave Loves of a Blonde (Forman, 1965) – bittersweet factory‑town romance Daisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) – psychedelic prank that still feels avant‑garde Closely Watched Trains (Jiří Menzel, 1966) – Oscar‑winning coming‑of‑age at a sleepy wartime station The Firemen’s Ball (Forman, 1967) – small‑town raffle becomes a parable of socialist dysfunction (Curious listeners can then graduate to The Joke (Jireš, 1969) and the 1996 Oscar‑winner Kolya.)📖 Video Chapters:0:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview 0:35 - 1960s Political Thaw in Czechoslovakia 2:00 - Prague Film Academy Sparks a Generation 4:40 - Slánský Trials & Cultural Opening 7:00 - Italian Neorealism Inspires Czech Filmmakers 12:00 - Defining the Czech New Wave Style 13:50 - “Daisies” vs “Closely Watched Trains” — One Movement? 14:36 - ‘Daisies’: Surrealist Rebellion Against 60s Consumerism17:09 - Three Pillars of the Czech New Wave: Ordinary Lives, Humor & Sex18:59 - Humor as a National Survival Strategy in Czech History21:07 - Language, Subtitles & Why Jokes Get Lost in Translation24:01 - Inside Closely Watched Trains: Sex, Satire & War’s Absurdity ​29:05 - Underground Resistance in Closely Watched Trains32:23 - What Defines a Czech New Wave Film?33:55 - Miloš Forman’s Mock Audition (1963)37:10 - Youth Culture, Motorcycles & Kinetic Camerawork41:00 - Realism Rises After Socialist Fatigue42:55 - Early Features: Black Peter and the Movement’s Peak ​43:22 - Miloš Forman Goes Global: Black Peter & Early Awards44:58 - Hallmarks of the Czech New Wave (Humor, Realism, Non‑Actors)45:56 - The Firemen’s Ball — Subtle Satire & Political Easter Eggs49:40 - “Everything Belongs to You”: Socialism, Theft & Daily Life51:00 - Why Czech Audiences Flocked to These Films55:56 - Beyond Realism: Films as a Wake‑Up Call for Social Change ​57:44 - Cinema Sparks Youth Activism & the Road to Prague Spring58:24 - A Midnight Encounter Inspires Loves of a Blonde59:45 - Factory Girls, Small‑Town Dreams & Social Constraints1:02:10 - Forman’s Signature POV: Under‑the‑Table Realism1:04:55 - Heartbreak, Hope & Owning Your Future1:06:08 - Milan Kundera’s Literary Imprint & The Joke ​1:11:54 - Postcard Prank & Expulsion in Kundera’s The Joke1:13:30 - Mining Flashbacks & the Last New Wave Picture1:15:45 - Did the Movement Really Influence World Cinema?1:17:30 - 1970s “Normalization”: Films Locked Away1:20:25 - Forman’s Shadow and Today’s Czech Filmmakers1:23:45 - Oscar‑Winning Kolya: Love Across Borders ​Like and subscribe for more :)

Manjeet Sarkar is an internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker featured in The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Print, and more. The first Indian comedian to perform at the United Nations, he was named the 'Next Big Thing' by Deadant Comedy Awards in 2024. Having completed six national tours in India, he is currently on a world tour.Connect with Manjeet:https://www.instagram.com/manjeet_not_sarkarhttps://x.com/notsarkar📖 Video Chapters0:00 – Highlight Reel (Key Moments)0:41 – Mike’s Introduction & Guest Overview1:05 – Weather Talk & First Impressions of Canada2:01 – Comparing Vancouver & Toronto3:02 – Beginning the Caste System Discussion5:00 – Historic Oppression of Dalits6:00 – “Can’t You Just Move Away?”: Name & Identity Issues8:04 – Power Structures & Media Representation9:16 – Privilege & Upper-Caste Diaspora10:18 – “Two Indias”: Rich vs. The Other 80%11:50 – Social Media Stereotypes & Indian Street Scenes13:50 – Extreme Contrast: Luxury Hotels Beside Slums15:00 – Manjeet’s Invitation to Perform at the UN18:50 – Earning Respect from Veteran Comedians20:45 – The High Cost of Doing Comedy in India21:35 – Overcoming Inferiority: Comedy as Empowerment23:52 – Embracing Bold Confidence Over Feeling “Less Than”25:45 – First Open Mic: 300km Road Trip & Bombing28:00 – Advice for Aspiring Comics: Practice on Stage30:00 – The 6-Year Journey to Finding Your “Voice”32:40 – Drunken Revelation: Embracing True Stories Onstage34:30 – Owning One’s Upbringing & Identity in Comedy36:00 – Comedic Influences: Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr & Doug Stanhope39:01 – Why Doug Stanhope Kept Manjeet in Comedy41:30 – Toronto’s Diverse Yet Tricky Comedy Scene43:40 – Pushing Through When Comedy Seems Unsustainable45:50 – That Onstage “High” & Dopamine Rush47:00 – Awkward Silences, Uncomfortable Truths48:10 – Making Upper-Caste Audiences Squirm50:18 – “Savarna Guilt” & Copying Western Wokeness53:30 – Intersectionality vs. Real Activism55:00 – Does Cancel Culture Exist in India?58:40 – Twitter Fury Over a “Taboo” Joke1:02:00 – Facing Attacks from Both Left & Right1:04:00 – More Online Hate & “Pseudo-Feminism”1:08:00 – Balancing Identity vs. Comedy Agenda1:10:00 – Imagining a Post-Caste Future1:12:20 – Favorite Indian Films (Satyajit Ray)1:14:00 – Outro & Social Links

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ivan Kalmar, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, to explore the rise and spread of illiberal ideas in Europe and beyond. Dr. Kalmar, whose work ranges from the study of Inuit language and computer mythology to the image of Muslims and Jews in Western culture, brings a wealth of insight from his latest book, White But Not Quite: Central Europe’s Illiberal Revolt. During the conversation, he discusses his personal experiences growing up in 1950s Czechoslovakia, the evolution of language and identity, and the ways in which capitalism, class alliances, and global trends in populism shape the political landscape today. The discussion also touches on topics such as the dynamics of post-communist Europe, the challenges of EU enlargement, and how cultural and economic factors intersect in debates about national identity and sovereignty.📖 Video Chapters:0:00 - Intro0:36 – Growing Up in 1950s Czechoslovakia3:08 – Language, Identity & Bilingual Upbringing7:21 – Book Overview: Eastern European Illiberalism10:10 – Global Illiberalism: West–East Dynamics & America's Shift11:56 – Eastern European "ism": Unpacking Unique Prejudices17:41 – Post–Cold War Divides: Exclusion from the Western Club18:26 – Capitalism & Illiberalism: The Struggle for Capital19:36 – Colonial Capitalism: Extraction of Labor & Resources20:01 – Post‑1989 Capitalist Reconfiguration in Eastern Europe20:29 – Voluntary Embrace & the Colonial Analogy21:59 – EU Enlargement: Integration or New Dependency?23:03 – Western Economic Dominance in Eastern Economies24:29 – Core vs. Periphery: Geography of Capital and Illiberalism26:00 – Domestic Core‑Periphery Dynamics: Urban Centers vs. Rural Backlash28:20 – Perceptions & Projections: Illiberalism and Racial Stereotypes29:01 – Provoking Illiberalism: Consequences of Western Policies29:16 – Global South Comparisons: Extending Illiberal Trends30:14 - Illiberalism in the Global South (Philippines, India, Indonesia)32:23 - The Future of Illiberal Movements33:04 - Lack of New Ideas from the Left34:13 - Bernie Sanders and the Left’s Challenges35:50 - Blind Spots in Western Political Science36:07 - Class Analysis of Illiberalism37:20 - The Alliance of the Very Rich and the Not-So-Poor38:20 - Why Voters Support Illiberalism39:05 - Elon Musk’s Endorsement of AfD in Germany40:02 - Culture Wars: US vs. Central/Eastern Europe40:40 - Comparing Poland to Germany vs. Russia40:47 - Culture Wars in Central Europe41:19 - "Gender Ideology" and Illiberal Rhetoric42:16 - Nationalism: "Make America Great Again" vs. "Hungary First"43:33 - The Ukraine War and Its Impact on Europe44:05 - Ukraine’s Aspiration to Be Central European45:20 - Risks of Exploitative Capitalism in Post-War Ukraine46:27 - Could Ukraine Turn Illiberal After the War?47:36 - EU Defense Autonomy and Illiberalism48:25 - Why Illiberal Movements Support Russia49:20 - Life Advice for Young People

Changing Geoeconomics in the Age of Trump: The Insider View from Japan. Hideki Makihara served as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives for sixteen years and occupied various senior government, parliamentary, and party roles, including most recently as Minister of Justice. In this episode, Mr. Makihara provides a first-hand perspective on key developments in Japanese policy, from the lasting influence of Abenomics to the next steps under the Ishiba administration, with a focus on economic security and emerging technologies. He also addresses how Japan is adapting to the increasing assertiveness of China, sharpening geoeconomic competition, and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.📖 Video Chapters:0:00 – Intro 1:00 – Welcoming the Guest & First Impressions of Canada 1:31 – Tariffs & “America First” Policies 2:45 – Abenomics: Successes & Deflation’s End 4:00 – Evolving Abenomics Under New Administrations 5:00 – Japan’s Return to Inflation 6:40 – The Impact of Rising Energy Costs 8:25 – Wage Growth vs. Price Increases 9:30 – Looking Ahead: Ensuring Real Economic Benefits 10:05 – Government Oversight & Price Pressures on SMEs 11:00 – Shifting from Savings to Investments 12:15 – The Nikkei Boom & Missed Opportunities 13:00 – Managing Relations with China & the US 14:20 – Japan’s Vision as a “Bridge of Peace” 15:05 – AI & Semiconductor Investments 17:00 – Addressing Population Decline & Aging 19:45 – Foreign Labor & Robotics 20:20 – Regional Revitalization Strategies 22:00 – Balancing Stimulus & National Debt 25:00 – Future Economic Priorities 26:30 – Life Advice & Japanese Anime Recommendations 27:30 – Outro

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nathan Wiebe from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Prof. Wiebe specializes in quantum simulation, machine learning, and quantum computing. We talk about the fundamentals of quantum computing, explore Microsoft’s new “Majorana” quantum chip, and discuss what the future holds for quantum machine learning, error correction, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just curious about the world of qubits, this conversation offers insights into the rapidly evolving quantum landscape.Video Chapters:0:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview0:27 - Quantum vs. Classical Computing2:20 - Interference and Negative Probability Amplitudes5:12 - The Microsoft “Majorana” Quantum Chip14:15 - Topological Qubits vs. Google’s Surface Code19:22 - “Transistor of the Quantum Age?”: Reliability and Error Correction26:36 - Qubit Counts, Gate Overheads, and the Error-Correction Challenge30:17 - Quantum Machine Learning: Hype vs. Reality34:53 - AGI, Large Language Models, and Is Quantum Necessary?37:01 - Real-World Applications: Chemistry and Materials Science43:32 - Beyond Classical AI: Where Quantum Might Help45:16 - Life Advice for Aspiring Scientists52:00 - Final Thoughts and OutroThanks for listening, and enjoy the conversation!