Aleks Hammo - Podcast Details

Shows

Normal 12. Dissociation, Numbness, AvoidanceCreating distance between oneself and a difficult experience or feeling is a normal coping mechanism. Many of us think that dissociation and related techniques are maladaptive and harmful, but drawing upon some thinking from Dr. Gabor Mate, I consider an alternative explanation which seeks to capture the benefits of dissociation.Normal on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@aleks.co⁠⁠⁠

2025-06-3020 min

Normal 5. ADHD, Anxiety, and Social MediaIt's normal to struggle to pay attention. But when do our issues paying attention cross to ADHD? And what are the links between ADHD, anxiety, depression, and social media? In this episode, we dive deep into ADHD, its symptoms, its overlap with other mental health conditions, as well as the role that social media plays in interfering with our attention, and possibly even strengthening it.Normal Patreon Community: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠ TikTok: ⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠Email: ⁠contact@aleks.co⁠

2023-09-2421 min

Normal 4. The Psychology of Time and Growing OlderIt's normal to be puzzled by time and growing older. A few days ago it was my 27th birthday and, naturally, I have been reflecting upon my relationship with time and age. Time tends to move quickly when things are good, and slowly when things are hard. Why is time so elusive? Why do we seek to control time? And what can we do to accept the passage of time, manage our expectations, focus on what is meaningful, and make the most of our... time?Normal Patreon Community: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠ TikT...

2023-09-1723 min

Normal 3. Loneliness and ExpectationsIt's normal to feel lonely. In an age where social media provides us with immediate gratification, it can be hard to fill alone time with anything other than scrolling. But it does not seem that social media can consistently meet our needs and comfort our feelings of loneliness and isolation. In today's episode, I dive deep into the rise of loneliness, its relationship to social media, and I explore ways that we can manage our social lives and expectations to navigate feelings of loneliness.Normal Patreon Community: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠ TikTok: ⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠E

2023-09-1024 min

Normal 2. The Psychology of SuccessIt's normal to feel overwhelmed when thinking about success. Perhaps success reflects something about our true selves, or it may signal our intelligence or ability to be creative, or perhaps it demonstrates our capacity to conform to social norms. But success is one of those concepts that is so hard to define that it seems to be entirely subjective. In today's episode, I look at the psychology and philosophy of success, what it means to be successful, what we can do to make sure we are thinking about success in ways that reflect our true selves, and how we...

2023-09-0323 min

Normal 1. The Psychology of AntidepressantsIt's normal to be on Antidepressants. They calm down the inner critic, they make depression manageable, they make it easier to get out of bed, and they generally make life feel less overwhelming. But none of us really know how they help, or whether it's worth pushing through some of the side-effects they cause. In this episode, we unpack how the most common antidepressants (SSRIs) work, what side effects we can sometimes experience, as well as potential reasons we may have for starting treatment. I also speak about my own experience with antidepressants, and how I combine medication with...

2023-09-0122 min

Normal #99 Understanding Jordan Peterson's relevance in 2023It's 2023, Andrew Tate has just doxxed himself into a Romanian Prison, and somehow Jordan Peterson still one of the most popular public figures. This episode focuses on 2 of the many issues I have with Jordan: his self-help, and his ambushing of vulnerable and isolated people. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Personal Site LEARN PHILOSOPHY WITH ME: —Beginners Philosophy with Aleks

2023-01-0708 min

Normal #98 New Year Stress and AmbitionSetting goals feels counterintuitive because it inevitably ends up in self-loathig. Maybe, though, there's a way we can set goals AND be happy. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Personal Site LEARN PHILOSOPHY WITH ME: —Beginners Philosophy with Aleks

2023-01-0219 min

Normal #96 Rethinking Progressive PoliticsI analyse and try to resolve 5 key issues within Progressive politics, while also keeping the Conservative alternative in mind. I speak about the difficulty progressives have finding an idol, cancel culture, echo chambers, openness to experience and difference, as well as the psychology behind Progressive and Conservative views. ~ 👉 Support on Patreon 👉 Follow Aleks on Instagram or TikTok

2022-12-0318 min

Normal #93 Lost in ThoughtOur world is made of thoughts, but we are lost in them. Welcome to Lost in Thought, a podcast about our world, our thoughts, and how these things impact our mental health. 👉 Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal 👉 Follow me on Instagram @alekshammo 👉 Follow me on TikTok @alekshammo

2022-11-2104 min

Normal #92 AURELIA ST CLAIRAurelia St Clair is a comedian, model, writer, and podcaster. Aurelia and I spoke about 'idiosyncratic' Naarm/Melbourne meme and suburb cultures, the perils of being a content creator, as well as diversity, otherness, and whiteness. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Tickets for my upcoming public interviews in Naarm/Melbourne —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo —About me

2022-10-181h 00

Normal #91 ABBIE CHATFIELDAbbie Chatfield is a public figure: social critic, political activist, radio/tv presenter, podcaster, and business woman. I ask Abbie about being a celebrity, what it means to have 400k+ followers on Instagram, and how stardom impacts mental health. I also ask Abbie to define the meaning of life. TW: Suicide ~ Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo

2022-10-0551 min

Normal #90 CLUB NITEI sat down and chatted with Anjelica Angwin of CLUB NITE. CLUB NITE is a piercing, tongue-in-cheek analysis of Melbourne’s distinct party scenes; a live-action meme filled with banter, rainbow lighting, dance, certified bangers, and a cathartic commentary on Zoomer self-exploration and current social-woke-politics. Get tickets to CLUB NITE Follow CLUB NITE on Instagram ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo

2022-06-2151 min

Normal #89 SENATOR MEHREEN FARUQIDr. Mehreen Faruqi is a Senator for NSW who represents The Greens. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo Get tickets to my public interview with Philosopher Justin Clemens

2022-05-2027 min

Normal #88 IN ABSENCE OF OPTIMISM: Depression and 9-5I talk about the loss of hope that comes with full-time work. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Follow @alekshammo on Instagram Follow @alekslistens on TikTok Shop my handmade t-shirts

2022-05-1422 min

Normal #87 FREUD — Mourning and MelancholiaDepressed people are often described as being melancholic. What does this mean? This episode focusses on Freud's essay "Mourning and Melancholia," where he seeks to define both experiences with reference to each other. I break down some confusing Freudian language and apply Freud's theory to everyday life. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo

2022-03-1724 min

Normal #86 THE METAVERSE — A means for liberation or subordination?Everyone is always like "Metaverse this, metaverse that.." But, does anyone actually know what they're talking about?In this episode, I dive deep into some big questions about the metaverse: what is it, is it good or bad, how can it help us, and what is the philosophy that underpins it. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok My website

2022-02-1121 min

Normal #85 MERRELLECTUALS2.0 — Memes, Melbourne, Rich Dad Poor Drip, and PoliticsI sat down with the anonymous administrator of the notorious meme page @Merrellectuals2.0. Together, Merrell and I dove deep into Melbourne culture, Meme culture, Australian/UK/US politics, progressivism and conservatism, patronage and how to keep the arts afloat. I will not comment on whether this interview reveals any information about who may be behind @Merrellectuals2.0. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok My website

2022-02-041h 22

Normal #84 PHONE ADDICTION — Existential blessing or curse?Conversation around phone addiction is stilted and infrequent. What are our reasons for losing ourselves in our phones, and how can we hope to change our relationship to them? Also, I mention and misquote an article about phone addiction. Correct stats are here: "the average smartphone user rarely goes two hours without using her device, unlocks her device 50 or more times a day, and swipes or taps on it as many as 2,617 times in the process." ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course My website

2022-01-2026 min

Normal #83 SIMON CRITCHLEY — Disappointment, New Thinking, and PhilosophySimon Critchley is a Philosopher at The New School (NYC), an author, and a writer/moderator at The New York Times. Simon and I spoke about the nature of philosophy, life before philosophy (which included punk music and an interesting evening with Lemmy of Motörhead), the current state of world politics, as well as how scenes, communities, and new ideas develop. ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok See the clothes I make Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course My website

2022-01-051h 11

Normal #82 Meaning, Purpose, and Cyborgs2021 is winding up and I take a moment to reflect on the changes to my "philosophy of life," and I also ask the question of what we become when we are so plugged in (social media, internet, etc.) You can also watch this episode on YouTube. ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Check out my shop Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course More of my work on my website

2021-12-2315 min

Normal #81 FLEX MAMI — Living Online, Being Authentic, and Commodifying the SelfFlex Mami / Lil Ahenkan is a Ghanaian-Australian Entrepreneur, Author (The Success Experiment), Podcaster, DJ, and TV Presenter. Flex and I explore the marvels and perils of online life, influencing, setting boundaries, communicating with strangers, creating the world in one's image, and selling/commodifying the self. Follow @flex.mami on Instagram. ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course More of my work on my website

2021-12-081h 46

Normal #80 MOKTAR — Arabness, Otherness, and SoundMoktar is an Egyptian / Australian producer based in Naarm / Melbourne. Moktar’s recent EP “Silk” is a meditation on Arabness, otherness, and self-discovery. “Silk” represents a shift in Moktar’s sound which echoes his identity as a Middle-Easterner, an Egyptian, and an Arab. Moktar and I discussed our experiences as Arabs in Australia, the changes in Moktar's sound, and what it takes to get in touch with one's history. Follow Moktar on Instagram, and listen to his EP "Silk" here ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more...

2021-11-241h 07

Normal #79 Influencers and The InfluencedBecoming a social media influencer is a very strange phenomenon. You have incredible control over the priorities and beliefs or your audience. But, at what cost? Have you ever thought about what it actually means to represent yourself online? How personally impactful is it when we develop an online personality? Is there a way to ethically influence people? ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website

2021-11-1814 min

Normal #78 Is Productivity making us Depressed?Why is the West fanatical with productivity? Why are we always pushing to become more, to make more, to produce more? Today I consider a simple question: are we losing our sense of self by over-identifying with the things we make? ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Watch this episode on YouTube Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website

2021-11-1011 min

Normal #77 Back on AntidepressantsAfter 6 months off Antidepressants, I'm back on them. In this episode, I reflect on what the past 6 months have been like, and what it's been like returning to antidepressants. Love, Aleks x ~ You are not alone: Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au ~ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens on Instagram, or @alekslistens on TikTok See more of my work on my website

2021-11-0318 min

Normal #76 Jess Zanoni — The Emotion of Time & Being CreativeJess Zanoni is a musician and writer living in Naarm. Jess is the singer and bassist of alt-rock band Arbes, and is currently working on a solo project called Za Noon. Jess and I spoke about work, time, the infinite quest of establishing a routine, being creative (Jess does loads of creative stuff), escapism, distractions, and music. Thanks for listening. Love, Aleks x ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens for updates See more of my work on my website

2021-08-011h 15

Normal #75 Life after Antidepressants (Part 3)I reflect on the changes to my life since coming off antidepressants. One of the biggest changes has been the blurred lines between my depression before, during, and after antidepressant use. It will be helpful (but not essential) for you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 before listening to this episode. ~ Support Aleks Listens via PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website

2021-07-2425 min

Normal #74 Gregor — Music, Creativity, and ChangeGregor is a progressive pop musician based in Naarm (Melbourne). We spoke about the changing nature of Gregor's music, music as a form of therapy, perfectionism and validation, as well as multiculturalism and the creative scene in Naarm. You can listen to Gregor's music on Spotify or Bandcamp. ~ Support Aleks Listens via PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website

2021-07-181h 05

Normal #73 Beri Marušić — Grief, Love, and ReasonBerislav Marušić is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at The University of Edinburgh. We discussed Beri's work on grief, love, and existentialism. I also asked Beri about the limits of neuroscience, the uniqueness of the human experience, and what it's like being a philosopher. ~ To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course

2021-06-201h 11

Normal #72 Raymond Tallis — Free Will, Identity, and the Limits of Philosophy and ScienceRaymond Tallis is a philosopher, clinical neuroscientist, poet, novelist, and retired medical physician. We spoke about free will, identity, the goal of philosophy, the limits of science and philosophy, and how our relationship to our goals/values change over time. ~ To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course

2021-06-151h 26

Normal #71 Aleks Answers (Part 1)You asked me a bunch of questions and I answered them through the lens of philosophy. The two questions I responded to in this episode are: 1) Is Instagram a tool for meaningful change? 2) What is our purpose in life? If you'd like to submit a question for the next episode of Aleks Answers, please send me a message on Instagram or send me an email. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. ~ To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course

2021-06-0922 min

Normal #70 Life after Antidepressants (Part 2)It's been 6 weeks since I came off antidepressants. In this episode, I explore some of the twists and turns of life without antidepressants. Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Follow me on Instagram @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast ~~ You are not alone: Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au

2021-06-0619 min

Normal #69 Cancel Culture — Social Justice SeriesHow, if at all, can we conceptualise cancel culture to clearly promote social justice?To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram

2021-05-2238 min

Normal #68 Life after Antidepressants (Part 1)I discuss my experience after, beyond, and without antidepressants. For more 👉 follow @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal ~~ You are not alone: Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au

2021-05-1725 min

Normal #67 PerfectionismA discussion of perfectionism, how it manifests, how it feels, and how it can impact one's life. *Content Warning: this episode covers potentially distressing and upsetting topics. Themes include mental illness, depression, and anxiety* For more, visit www.aleks.co/ Follow me on instagram @alekslistens

2021-04-2831 min

Normal #66 Meaning and Depression (Part 1)I discuss some helpful (and some less helpful) ways of thinking about the questions 'what is meaning?' and 'what is meaningful?' I also talk about how depression stifles experiences of meaningfulness. For more, visit www.aleks.co/ or check out my instagram @alekslistens

2021-03-1825 min

Normal #64 Minorities and Philosophy w/ Kelly and PaulKelly Herbison is a Philosopher at The University of Melbourne, where she recently received funding to do a Postgrad Research Project. Paul Podosky is a PhD at The University of Melbourne with an especial interest inSocial and Political Philosophy and Conceptual Engineering. Both Kelly and Paul also run the Minorities and Philosophy Chapter at The University of Melbourne. The three of us chatted about all kinds of things related to philosophy, from the nature of philosophy, to injustices in the academy, to the shortcomings of philosophical writing. For more, visit www.aleks.co/

2021-01-041h 19

Normal #63 Graham Priest — Buddhist Ethics, Meditation, and PoliticsDr. Graham Priest is a Professor of Philosophy at CUNY. We spoke ab out all kinds of things, from the nature of philosophy, to buddhism and its personal and political implications, and to political philosophy itself and the state of the world. For more about Graham, visit his website: http://grahampriest.net/ For more about me, visit www.aleks.co To support the podcast, visit www.aleks.co/support

2020-12-301h 02

Normal #62 Effective Altruism and The Life You Can Save w/ Dr. Charlie BreslerI sat down with Dr. Charlie Bresler, Exec. Director of The Life You Can Save, a charity founded by Peter Singer to advance the ideas of his book under the same title. We chatted about the act of giving, why we do and don't give, and negotiating the space between building a career, financial security, and marginal returns. For more, visit www.aleks.co/

2020-12-2758 min

Normal #61 WittgensteinAn introduction to one of the most important philosophers... ever... Wittgenstein talks about language, sense, meaning, and the responsibility of language users to use language properly. For more, visit www.aleks.co/hey

2020-12-0624 min

Normal #60 On Being... SoberThis episode explores sobriety and alcoholism in anglo society. I talk about my reasons for being sober. I also talk about depression, hangovers, and alcohol as a social lubricant. For more, visit www.aleks.co/

2020-10-2533 min

Normal #59 Psychiatry and Philosophy w/ Dr. Paul CammellI saw down with Dr. Paul Cammell and spoke about the relationship between psychiatry and philosophy, the origins of depression, and the nature of therapy. To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute For more, visit www.aleks.co/ and my instagram @alekslistens

2020-10-011h 08

Normal #58 Moral RelativismI ask whether it is possible to think of morality as something that is entirely subjective. For more, visit www.aleks.co To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute

2020-09-0928 min

Normal #56 On Being... Depressed (Part 2)I reflect on my depression and how it impacts my everyday experience of the world. Sending love your way. If you're enjoying Aleks Listens, you can support it by visiting www.aleks.co/supportIf you are struggling, or know someone who is, remember that there are services in place to support you. Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au, Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au, BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au

2020-09-0224 min

Normal #55 Julian Burnside — Seeking Asylum, Reasons for Exclusion, and Finding PurposeBack in October 2018, my friend Liam and I sat down with Julian Burnside AO QC. Julian is a barrister, human rights and asylum seeker advocate, and has recently turned to politics as a way of making change. What's most curious about our interview with Julian is that he told us again and again that he wasn't interested in politics, and that he wasn't willing to comment on political topics (outside human rights and asylum seeker related themes). For more, visit www.aleks.co To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute

2020-08-271h 02

Normal #54 On Being... HappyIn this episode, I explore what it means to be happy, what form happiness takes, and whether it's a meaningful thing for us to strive towards. Click here to read my essay on happiness. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @alekslistens or Facebook — subscribe on YouTube ~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-08-2333 min

Normal #53 The Existential CrisisI regularly ask myself something along the lines of "F*ck, why do I wake up in the morning? Is it always going to be this cyclical?" At the moment, I feel aimless; directionless; purposeless; confused; displaced; uprooted. I feel very uncertain about my past, present, and future. Is it ok to feel this way? Probably? Will my life be punctuated by these crises? Probably? I reflect on all of these things in this episode. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @aleksli...

2020-08-1522 min

Normal #52 The Ethics of Capitalism w/ Dr. Dan HallidayI sat down with political philosopher Dan Halliday, lecturer at the The University of Melbourne, and spoke about Capitalism. We begin by defining Capitalism, then discuss its relationship to feudalism and socialism, and interrogate capitalism through a number of different lenses. We spoke about various policies which have traditionally been understood as 'capitalist' or 'neoliberal', and how they are in fact more closely aligned with other economic frameworks. For more about Dan, visit: http://www.danhalliday.net. For more about Dan's book, visit: https://www.ethicsofcapitalism.com Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/j...

2020-08-071h 43

Normal #51 Existential Risk: AI, Cyber Security, Pandemics, and Education w/ Dr. Shahar AvinI sat down with Shahar Avin, a Senior Research Associate at The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (@ The University of Cambridge). We spoke about short-to-near term risks associated with AI, smartphones, algorithms, and pandemics. We simultaneously tried to make connections to the way politics and education can be reconfigured in order to normalise and generate true and helpful discussion on these topics. For more about Shahar, visit his website: https://www.shaharavin.com. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.alek...

2020-07-231h 56

Normal #50 Searching for Good Relationships, Leaving Problematic ones, and thinking about Depression and Antidepressants w/ JessI had a chat with Jess @drjesseggy about all kinds of cool and colourful things. We spoke about the strange relationships, depression, anxiety, and I told Jess that I really hate cereal. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-07-111h 06

Normal #49 Cancel Culture, Echo Chambers, and Virtue SignallingPeople always talk about cancelled people or cancelling people. People also tend towards other people who agree with the big things they agree with. I talk about these things. I ask whether they're good, whether they're bad, how to engage with others, and that kinda stuff. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-07-0731 min

Normal #48 The Importance of the Humanities - Conservatives, 1984, and DemocracyIn light of the recent (proposed) price increases for humanities degrees in Australia, I thought I'd make an episode to reflect on what this could actually mean. Can the price increases be justified? Are they a waste of time? (What the f do you think!?) Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-07-0329 min

Normal #47 One year later... Reflecting on Meaning, Relationships, and DepressionAleks Listens turned ONE yesterday. So, I decided to sit down and think about what I've discovered about myself, and about others. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-06-3036 min

Normal #45 The Ethics Of CharityToday I discuss whether or not we can draw a clear line between morality and the act of giving. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-06-2540 min

Normal #44 Overwhelmed, Tired, And Staying Afloat...I reflect on the past three weeks and its cognitive curveballs. This episode isn't very political, and I don't reflect on acknowledge the impact of world politics on my wellbeing (I'm saving that for my next interview). Instead, this episode is a meditation on what can go wrong when you're overwhelmed, and some things that I've been doing to stay afloat. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks x

2020-06-2132 min

Normal #43 Prof Greg Restall - Logic, Society, Belief, And The SelfToday I spoke with Greg Restall, Professor of Philosophy and Logic at The University of Melbourne. The conversation began with me asking Greg to explain what 'Philosophical Logic' even is. Then, we moved onto some stuff about how we ought to think about the relationship between logic and belief, why thought and social progress is at risk of (if it isn't already enduring) a steep decline, where we can turn to inform and configure our morals. For more about Greg, visit his website. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens — or subscribe on YouT...

2020-05-271h 16

Normal #42 Is Existentialism A Waste Of Time? Purpose, Freedom, And Equality In The 21st CenturyExistentialism is one of the most important elements of Being a person. Whether we like it or not, we are constantly grappling with existential questions — What does it mean to be? Who am I? How free am I? What impact does history/culture/society have on me? These are the kinds of things I talk about in this episode. The amazing artwork is by my friend Jericho. You can find him @jericho_marcel or @delicatessen____. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslis...

2020-05-2254 min

Normal #41 Power In Relationships, Freedom, And Meditation W/ StephToday I spoke with Steph. Steph is one of my closest friends. We talk about power dynamics in relationships, what it's like having Dads who want to tell you What and Who to Become, why we think freedom is good, and what value we have drawn from meditation. You can find Steph on instagram @gutgrenade. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

2020-05-131h 15

Normal #40 Free Will And Moral ResponsibilityFollowing up on the conclusion that I reached at the end of my last episode (that free will exists as a strange conscious illusion), I try to answer questions of being morally responsible, having personhood, and making decisions in light of our apparently illusory free will. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

2020-05-0745 min

Normal #39 Free Will And Whether We Have Any...Day 6.02x10^23 of iso and I'm seeing pretty colours and talking about free-will and its philosophical foundations. I try to define free will and determinism (and fatalism (and don't fkn get them confused!)). I also try to talk about bananas and showering in a way that is novel, exciting, fruitful and replenishing. I also ask myself whether I have any freedom to talk in the way that I do. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https...

2020-04-3036 min

Normal #38 Suffering, Affluence, And Morality - Evaluating Peter Singer's Early Work...Today I sat down and reflected on the relationship between preventable human suffering, wealth, and doing the right thing. This episode is based on an essay by Peter Singer called "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" written in 1972. Essentially, Singer claims that it is a moral requirement for us to minimise preventable human suffering if we are in a position where donating to effective charities will not jeopardise a reasonable level of comfort in our lives. I investigate how realistic and applicable this claim is. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my...

2020-04-1934 min

Normal #37 Tom Ballard - Capitalism, Freedom, Echo Chambers, And AtheismToday I sat down (over Zoom haha!) with comedian/presenter/podcaster/coolguy Tom Ballard. We spoke about the way the West has responded to profound changes in its structure (9/11, the Global Financial Crisis/Great Recession, Covid-19), the ways in which various lefty/socialist policies can promote freedom and idleness, and the ways that we can think engaging with people who have different beliefs to us. For more about Tom, visit http://tomballard.com.au — For more about ME (coz I'm a narcissist so I couldn't forget MYSELF ha!), visit MY website https://www.aleks.co — Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support i...

2020-04-1756 min

Normal #36 In Praise Of Idleness... Part II - Class, Privilege, And IdlenessToday I sit down and think about the ethical ambiguity of being or not being born into wealth and privilege. What does it even mean to have had a super elite education (mommy and daddy paying $20k a year for the first 18 years of your life (+a VW Golf for your 17th birthday!...)? What does it mean to know that you have a permanent financial safety net? And finally, what does it mean to have none of these things? Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit htt...

2020-04-1530 min

Normal #35 In Praise Of Idleness... Part I - Unpacking Idleness And CapitalismToday I analyse one of the most important essays of the 20th century - Bertrand Russell's "In Praise of Idleness". Russell's essay speaks volumes about the way we privileged people (with time, freedom, money (relative) and choice) ought to reflect on the way we use our money, the way we consume, the way we use our idle/free time, and the way we think about labour. I analysed the essay through various lenses. I explored the ethics of consumption and automation, the role of education, Nietzsche's master/slave dichotomy and the necessity of idleness as a mode of connecting with ou...

2020-04-0958 min

Normal #34 Insights Into The Psychological And Ethical Nature Of Being (in Times Of Crisis...)Hey. Today I ruminated on the way we are when things get weird. What the hell does that mean? Ok. Well. It means that I have realised that we act in a particular way until things are on our doorstep. It also means that I have realised that we have a particular relationship with to our bodies/other bodies and this has been radically changed in recent times. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.ins...

2020-04-0736 min

Normal #33 Dating, Being Indoors, And The Future Of WorkHello. Have you thought about your dating life recently? Do you have a dating life? Does coronavirus mean that we (single people) have to enter into a weird kind of celibacy? Today I sat down and thought about this kinda stuff. I also spoke about how we ought to think about Being indoors and what this will mean for the future of work. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on...

2020-04-0442 min

Normal #32 Non-whiteness In Melbourne, Living In A Simulation, And The Economics Of Coronavirus W/ JeffHey. Today I had a long conversation with my friend Jeff. We spoke about what it's like coming from a family who from 'elsewhere' and the personal, social and economic implications this has. We spoke about our difficulty aligning ourselves with the 'Australian' national identity. We then moved onto some kinda philosophical/existential stuff - are we living in a simulation... can consciousness be uploaded to the cloud... classic softboi stuff. Finally, we discussed the economics of COVID-19 and whether or not it's going to bankrupt in every way conceivable. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www...

2020-04-021h 46

Normal #31 Depression And Antidepressants*Trigger Warning - this ep contains heavy mental-health themes* Hey. I was very hesitant to release an episode like this (coz I'm also paranoid about my privacy??????) but here it is anyway. Today I talk about my experiences with depression, antidepressants, isolation, psychiatry, and establishing a strong support network. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks ///// If you are struggling, remember that there are servi...

2020-03-3154 min

Normal #30 An Introduction To Consciousness...Hey. So, I sat down and tried to clarify some of the most fundamental questions about consciousness: What is consciousness? What are the requirements for something to be said to be conscious? Is our knowledge restricted to what we know of our own experience? How can we communicate our subjective experiences of consciousness to others? Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

2020-03-3038 min

Normal #29 Cults, Sects, And Minority Religions W/ Prof. Eileen Barker OBE FBAIn this episode, I had the honour of speaking with the world's foremost authority on cults, sects, and minority religions - Prof. Eileen Barker OBE FBA of LSE (London School of Economics). Eileen has been studying cults etc for 50 years (wow!!!!!!!!). We spoke about why people join 'cults' (and other related groups), what function they serve in society, whether there will always be cult-ish groups, and how they change over time. Eileen also debunked various conspiracy theories regarding brainwashing, indoctrination, and that kinda stuff. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more o...

2020-03-2954 min

Normal #28 Tom Ballard - Trying To Be Funny When Your Conscience Is For SaleThis is a rerun of a conversation my dear friend Liam and I had with Australian comedian, TV host, and activist Tom Ballard (March 2019). We spoke about the weird mix of trying to be conscious of your participation in a neoliberal model but also relying on it for support. We also spoke about the importance of taking risks and being transparent with your politics on the platforms you have access to (podcasts, writing, TV ect.) Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follo...

2020-03-2759 min

Normal #27 Checking In...Hey. Today I sat in front of the microphone with no guidance or plan. What materialised was an exploration of the purpose of this podcast, a criticism of Linkedin and all those slippery corporate-climbing characters, and then a rumination on the shortcomings of various nut milks. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

2020-03-2634 min

Normal #26 The Existentialism Of Productivity And Social MediaHey. In this episode, I explore the relationship between productivity, capitalism, social media, and purpose. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

2020-03-2532 min

Normal #25 How To Pursue Pleasure... Hedonism, Choice, And FreedomHey. This podcast is also on YouTube with my face and all. Today I spoke about hedonism. I discussed what it means for something to constitute wellbeing, I explored the phenomenology of pleasure, and I made a conclusion about freedom being a core component of all hedonistic theories. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

2020-03-2446 min

Normal #24 The Personal Implications Of Coronavirus: Individual, Social And InternationalHey. This was originally recorded as a video, watch it on Youtube if you like. Anyway, Day 4 of self-isolation for me. I've been doing a lot of thinking about what the impact of Coronavirus has been so far. I asked and explored a few questions in this episode: What has Coronavirus meant for us as individuals? What has it meant for our sense of belonging? Why do we struggle so much to be apart from groups? Why is self-isolation so challenging? Do we need to change the way we engage with news? Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patr...

2020-03-2343 min

Normal #23 Love In The Time Of Coronavirus - Society, Joy, Isolation And Recalibrating W/ OliverI sat down with my dear friend and housemate Oliver and had a conversation on the eve of my departure from London. We reflected on fond memories as housemates and friends in London. We spoke about the importance of being playful and telling stories. We spoke about what this time of radical change means for our world. Also, Oliver is a professional storyteller, so naturally, I made him tell a story (or two). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on insta...

2020-03-201h 51

Normal #22 Why Foucault Is Still Relevant: Power, Knowledge, And Surveillance...In this episode, which is actually ripped from a video I made for YouTube, I talk about French Philosopher Michel Foucault. Foucault is the Daddy of all things to do with power. I examine the relationship between power and knowledge (discourses). Then, I talk about 'expert discourses' - why do we trust medicine? Why do we (or don't we) have faith in legal/punitive systems? Finally, I look at Foucault's claims about 'surveillance' and I provide some frightening examples of how his claims were remarkably accurate and insightful. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.co...

2020-03-1341 min

Normal #21 Mum - Migration, Nationalism, Depression, And Growing Up In MelbourneToday I interviewed the most important person in my life - my Mum. She's in London at the moment so we took a break from the lonely and chilly clouds and had a chat. We spoke about her experience of migrating from Macedonia. We spoke about the experiences of racism and exclusion that she faced as a Macedonian in Melbourne. We also spoke about both our experiences with mental health, namely, anxiety and depression - two forces which appear to have heavy presences in both of our lives. Also, I just wanted to thank everyone for all their support thus fa...

2020-03-071h 06

Normal #20 Dr. Maria Alvarez - How We Shape The World And How It Shapes Us (the Politics Of Agency)Today I spoke with Dr. Maria Alvarez, Head of the Philosophy Department of King's College London. Maria's philosophy interrogates the question of agency: what are we, how are we shaped by the world, what does it mean to be shaped by the world etc. We spoke about what it means to be a thing that has decisions to make and has those decisions are influenced by the world around us. We also spoke about why people are racist, and why big tech companies need to be careful with our psychology. Anyway, thanks for listening. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it...

2020-02-291h 18

Normal #19 Ed Fornieles + Omsk Social Club - Role Play And Knowing YourselfHi it's me. Today I spoke with Ed Fornieles and Omsk Social Club, two artists whose work principally focuses on Role Play (LARP) and embodied experiences. We spoke about the importance of experiencing things as a mechanism to understand oneself and the world around us. We also spoke about what it means to 'be', and how we can explore this question through role play and through the roles we play in everyday life. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on i...

2020-02-221h 28

Normal #18 Peter Singer - Ethics, Ethics And Ethics (and How To Love Someone For 50 Years)Here is a re-run of an interview myself and my friend Liam did with Peter Singer, probably the most influential philosopher of the 21st century. We did the interview in late 2018. Topics include ethics, uh, ethics, and then how to make good fried potatoes. I'm not joking. Seriously, though, we spoke about AI, climate change, whether cars should be programmed to be utilitarians, and how to stay in a relationship for 50 years. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instag...

2020-02-0750 min

Normal #17 Does Anyone Else Exist?I'm back for the second time in under a week. Can you believe it? I can't. So, to turn to the more important question, are you even real? Am I even real? Can I know that you experience things the way I do? Can I imagine what it's like for you to have a mind? These are the kinds of questions I speak about in this episode. It's really cool. It's a real challenge for philosophers (including myself (is it gross to refer to myself as a philosopher? probably...)). Also, I wrote an essay on it. Read it here. Enjoying Aleks...

2020-02-0252 min

Normal #16 Ethics Of AI And Privacy W/ Dr. Sanjay ModgilToday I had an incredible conversation with Sanjay, a Reader in Artificial Intelligence at King's College London. We spoke about privacy, Surveillance Capitalism, I went on a rant about how I think Google (yeah! f*** you google!) are taking away my personhood, and Sanjay explained what kinds of things we will have to think about when making AI more and more sophisticated. For example, should we make AI look exactly like us? Should we treat AI the same way we treat other 'people'? Conversations like these are so important. They're not important because I'm in them, but they're important because ou...

2020-01-281h 34

Normal #15 How To Talk About The Environment To People Who Don't CareAustralia is burning and so should the consciences of so many. Today I had a conversation (with myself) about how to talk to people who want to eat meat because it tastes good, people who don't care about future generations, people who don't believe they can make a difference etc. I also talk about hedonism. I ask how we should engage with people who don't believe in things which (at this stage) should be irrefutable (e.g. climate change, animals being sentient). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my w...

2020-01-1549 min

Normal #14 On Being... Realistic2019 is nearly gone. Nearly. Good riddance, no? All drama aside, in this episode I talk about how I think about the past, present, and future. How are we to think about 2020 in a way that doesn't crush us? Is that even possible? I don't really know. I talk about what it's like being a self-destructive-over-ambitious-self-sabotaging perfectionist who regularly feels crushed by the past, disengaged (dégagé) in the present, and fearful of the future. Despite my cynicism and sarcasm and pessimism, thanks for your displays of energy and support. 2019 has been challenging for me but this podcast has helped very much...

2019-12-281h 12

Normal #13 Exoticism, Whiteness And Being Mixed Race W/ MinaToday I had a conversation with my friend Mina. Mina was raised in the Yorkshire and now lives in London. Like me, Mina is mixed race - she is half Thai // half English. Unlike me, Mina works for an advertising company and thus no longer possess a soul. We spoke about what it's like selling your soul to an advertising company. We also spoke about what it's like growing up mixed race in a world that clings to desperately to whiteness and gets confused when things aren't white. Mina and I have both had many experiences of being racially profiled...

2019-12-231h 17

Normal #12 On Being... Depressed (Part One)This episode explores upsetting themes include mental health, trauma and suicide. One hour and fifteen minutes of me talking about my experience as someone who was diagnosed and has struggled with a Depressive Disorder a while ago. I am someone who has been challenged and crippled by serious episodes of depression for most of my adult-post-pubescent life. I don't want to feel ashamed for feeling the way I do. I don't want to have to hide it from people (but hey, I don't want to throw it at people either). I want to feel comfortable talking about it when I need...

2019-12-141h 18

Normal #11 Spontaneity W/ Dr. Jonathan GingerichIf you have ever felt like you aren't able to make a big lifestyle change because it isn't within your power, this podcast will do wonderful things for you. Today I spoke with a really cool guy. His name is Dr. Jonathan Gingerich. He has studied at pretty much every elite University ever (Harvard, UCLA, Georgetown etc). Now, you might be thinking: sure, those are some good Universities, but why should I listen to this podcast? Well, Jonathan wrote his PhD on spontaneity. Jonathan and I spoke about the reasons why spontaneity is so important. One claim that Jonathan makes is...

2019-12-071h 03

Normal #10 How (NOT) To Talk About Colonialism And RaceThis is the most challenging and important episode that I've done so far. What is unique about this episode is the way it deals with conflict. Sometimes, among my friends, there is a tendency to 'cancel' people for crossing boundaries. The person who I interviewed, Ralph, crossed a very sensitive boundary in the interview; I was made to feel silenced on the topics of Colonialism and Race. However, instead of this becoming a point of tension between us, we explored its nuances with the help of a close friend of ours called Oliver (who was present for the interview). Together, in...

2019-11-301h 33

Normal #9 On Being... PhilosophyHere it is. Finally. Here is the long awaited, critically acclaimed, profoundly esteemed, highly regarded and tastefully requested first episode of the On Being mini-series. The On Being series aims to distil and investigate questions of what it means 'to be'. How cool is the art for the episode? Thanks @fkncoco! In this episode, I talk about the Philosophy of Being (duh...). I set out the parameters for a philosophical understanding of Being by looking at three central figures of Existentialist Philosophy (Sartre, Heidegger and Nietzsche). I elucidate the challenges posed by matters related to being - free-will, consciousness, artificial i...

2019-11-2356 min

Normal #8 @PiaCattapan - Modelling, Instagram Fame, And Whether They Can Make Us HappyToday I spoke with Pia (@piacattapan), an influencer and model from Melbourne who now lives in London. Pia shared her experience as someone who has significant influence over a large online audience, as someone who has a curated online identity, as someone whose appearance has been commodified to advance the interests of companies and as someone who has to regularly consider the "fine line" between financial stability and saying "no" to work that is unethical or immoral (such as modelling for Marlboro or Amazon or something like that). Pia also spoke about her relationship with insecurity and self-consciousness in light o...

2019-11-161h 18

Normal #7 Short Story (1)This is a pretty funny episode. I made some important announcements and I also read out a funny short story that I wrote. The story is based on something that happened to me earlier this week. I suppose it's up to you to decide how much is fact and how much is fiction. Back to those announcements:I made a website. Go and explore it - www.aleks.coYou can now support the podcast. I rambled on about how and why you should support me in the episode. You can do so in two ways:Via PayPalVia PatreonYou can find m...

2019-11-0939 min

Normal #6 Romantic And Platonic Relationships (wow), Emotions And Morality W/ GrantToday I had a chat with my dear friend Grant. Also, sorry it's been so long since I released an episode. I've been distracted for nearly three months now.Anyway, Grant and I met under maybe the most miraculous circumstances ever (someone thought I was Grant for half a year). In the interview we spoke about really cool things. One of the coolest things we spoke about was love. But, we also spoke about things that weren't love. We spoke about what it's like growing up in a world where people (including us) struggle to translate thoughts about morality into...

2019-10-251h 13

Normal #5 Good Morning - The Good And Bad Of MusicThe boys from Good Morning came and spoke with me today. Stefan and Liam talk to me about their friendship, what works and what doesn't in terms of creating music, and their experience with performance anxiety and touring. We speak about what if feels like to present an honest and raw part of ourselves to the public. We speak about the internal confusion that follows when experiences with depression and anxiety are channeled through creative forms, or even just channeled through our personality, and are received by others as communicating something light and positive.Stefan and Liam spoke very openly...

2019-08-0451 min

Normal #4 Freedom Of Speech W/ Dr Adrienne StoneWhere should we draw the line in terms of what we can say in public? Where should we draw the line in terms of what academics can research and teach? What can students and young people to do protect Freedom of Speech when it is challenged? In my fourth interview, I explore these questions with Professor Adrienne Stone of the Melbourne Law school. Adrienne is an expert on topics of Freedom of Speech, Academic Freedom and the relationship these topics have with the law and with the constitution (Adrienne is the editor of the Oxford Handbook on Freedom of Speech...

2019-07-281h 05

Normal #3 Socialising, Otherness, And Family W/ StephSteph is my housemate. I wanted to interview someone who I had shared experiences and spaces with, who could empathise with my experience as the child of an Arab father, and who knew how to navigate the interview format so as to elicit insights from me that I may not have felt comfortable exploring with someone else. For a bit of background on Steph, she studied psychology and anthropology, currently works in a bookshop, makes really good soup, and draws things that put Alex Grey to shame.We speak about all kinds of things from the experience of growing up...

2019-07-221h 18

Normal #2 L. A. Paul - The Philosophy Of KnowledgeL. A. Paul is a Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science from Yale University. Laurie (or, 'L') and I talk about her recent work on the 'Transformative Experience'. The Transformative Experience interrogates the question of whether we can make 'informed decisions' about things that we have not yet experienced. (For example, can I know that I want to visit city A if I have not yet visited city A? Can I know that I want to eat food B if I have never eaten food B?).We then examine the roles of meditation and of her studies of philosophy in...

2019-07-1448 min

Normal #1 Identity, Politics And Purpose W/ Madison GriffithsMadison is an activist, poet, producer and writer from Melbourne. She has been published in places like VICE, The Guardian and SBS. Madison and I spoke about our experiences in Melbourne as people of colour, as people raised by migrant parents, as people who sometimes felt as though they existed on the outside. We spoke about cancel culture and social media and their shortcomings. We also spoke about how mental health fits into all of this. Naturally, we ended by having a laugh about online dating. You can find Madison's work here: VICE, The Guardian, SBS, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram. This is a r...

2019-07-081h 15

Normal IntroductionSo, what even is 'Aleks Listens'? Aleks Listens will be an interview-based and semi-autobiographical podcast through which I hope to be able to answer questions that have bugged me for a long time. After having spent much time trying to answer these questions myself, I turn to experts and friends to help me find clarity. I will also see what's going on inside me every now and then.The questions that I will ask are mostly about purpose, race, ethics and being, but I'm sure there will be other questions too. I hope you enjoy the show. Thanks for listening.

2019-06-2802 min