Shows
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 15B: “Nothing”I’m back with Daniel Hulse, who reflects on life and love with the same depth he brings to guiding students. In this second part of our conversation, we zoom out: are humans truly unique, or just another animal with fancier tools?Episode in a 🌰:We explore the biology and philosophy of what makes us human — from parental instincts and animal mourning rituals to birth control, AI, and whether dolphins might have us beat. Mr. Hulse challenges the assumption that humans are “more evolved,” and together we ask: what really separates us from the rest of the...
2025-09-2327 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 15A: Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mindI’m joined by Daniel Hulse, who until recently was Associate Director of College Counseling at Mercersburg Academy. Beyond guiding students, Mr. Hulse has spent years reflecting on what love, compromise, and authenticity really mean — in marriage, work, and family.Episode in a 🌰:In this first part of our conversation, we put aside the central question and instead dive into love. In all its everyday messiness, love goes from tattoos and Shakespeare to farting in front your partner. Mr. Hulse shares what it means to build a relationship that is equal parts friendship and hard wo...
2025-09-2024 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 14B: "Choice"In part 2 of my conversation with Paul Galey, we shift from imagination to choice. If AI can think, adapt, and maybe even imagine, what’s left that makes us human?Episode in a 🌰:We dive into Viktor Frankl’s idea that our will to choose defines us, and test it against the rise of artificial intelligence. Can a machine ever claim humanity? What happens if technology evolves faster than our philosophies? From Star Trek court cases to nuclear buttons, we wrestle with the ethics of invention and the urgency of asking these questio...
2025-09-1719 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 14A: "Imagination"I meet with Paul Galey -- teacher, former school minister, and creator of Mercersburg Academy’s Nature and Meaning course -- during the summertime, the best time to talk philosophy. Episode in a 🌰:We focus on a magical concept: imagination. Is imagining uniquely human? We explore how it fuels both Einstein’s physics and Buddhist philosophy, and where it touches Descartes and dolphins. We wonder: can animals imagine realms beyond survival, and what happens if a human loses their ability to imagine?In season 2, I highlight one-to-one chats with teachers, professors, and mentors. The primary...
2025-09-1433 min
Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian TianMarket View: Record day on Wall Street after US jobs growth revised down by 911,000 through March; South Korea’s KOSPI at record high, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng at four-year high; DBS shares hit all-time high, pushing STI to new record; China’s consumer prices slid in August; Asian tech firms along Apple’s supply chain benefits from launch of new iPhone lineup; Crude extends gains after strikes in QatarSingapore shares moved higher today amid a winning day in Asia. The Straits Times Index was up 1.08% at 4,344.16 points at 2.00pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.02B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Frasers Property given how its chief executive officer of emerging markets, Asia, Lim Hua Tiong, will assume the additional role of CEO of Frasers Property (Thailand) effective from Oct 1, 2025. Meanwhile, from a record day on Wall Street after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics revised down the number of new j...
2025-09-1012 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 13 [Special Guest Episode]: Judgement animalsI’m joined by Judge Shawn Meyers, President Judge of Pennsylvania’s 39th Judicial District. Beyond the courtroom, Judge Meyers is a thoughtful mentor whose perspective bridges law, philosophy, and lived experience.Episode in a 🌰: We talk about a myriad of answers to the question: foresight, invention, unpredictability, and the quest for objectivity. Along the way, we compare human reasoning to AI’s “hallucinations,” explore the role of law in shaping fairness, and wonder whether any other species has systems of law.In season 2, I highlight one-to-one chats with teachers, pro...
2025-09-0829 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 12 [Special Guest Episode]: Journalism and ReligionI'm with Ari Goldman, professor emeritus of journalism at Columbia University and former New York Times reporter. He has spent decades teaching and writing about the intersection of storytelling, faith, and empathy.Episode in a 🌰: We explore the tension between objectivity and empathy in journalism, the purpose of telling other people’s stories, and how faith traditions can expand our perspective without erasing our own. Along the way, we reflect on obituaries, pluralism, and the “third eye” of wisdom.In season 2, I highlight one-to-one chats with teachers, professors, and mentors. The primary question for this...
2025-09-0520 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 11B: The Irreplaceably-human ProcessPart two of my conversation with Mike Conklin turns to education, art, and community. The common thread is the value of process.Episode in a 🌰: We discuss grades, art, social media, and Saturday Night Live, asking whether shortcuts are erasing the process that makes us most human. From Ship of Theseus to mortality keeping us grounded, we linger on creativity, collaboration, and the joy of being together.In season 2, I highlight one-to-one chats with teachers, professors, and mentors. The primary question for this entire season will remain the same: What makes a human, hum...
2025-09-0124 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 11A: Can AI take what makes us human?In this first half of my conversation with Mike Conklin, we drift into fields related to the central question such as consciousness and AI. Episode in a 🌰:We start by diving into the reason behind asking the question, and then look at reasons vs passions, AI's "consciousness," the loss of human connections, and how these trends are reflected in the college process for students. In season 2, I highlight one-to-one chats with teachers, professors, and mentors. The primary question for this entire season will remain the same: What makes a human, human? (The exceptions are...
2025-08-3041 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 10: "Empathy"Welcome back to SQRL season 2! Today I'm with longtime Mercersburg teacher David Bell to look at the central question of season 2: What makes a human, human?Episode in a 🌰:From empathy and altruism to Kant, Peter Singer, and even Tom Cruise, we trace the gray spaces between selfishness and selflessness. Along the way, we detour into puns, lobsters, and whether dolphins might secretly be more human than us.In season 2, I highlight one-to-one chats with teachers, professors, and mentors. The primary question for this entire season will remain the same: What makes a hum...
2025-08-3029 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Season 1 Recap & Season 2 Launch!Before diving into Season 2 of SQRL, join me for a cinematic recap of the questions that made up Season 1. From debating grades and success to wrestling with pain, privilege, God, authenticity, and music, each highlight brings back the voices of friends and classmates who wondered out loud together.Season 1 ended not with answers, but with questions that we ask and discuss together.Now, Season 2 takes a new direction: one-to-one conversations with teachers, mentors, and storytellers. We circle one guiding question: What makes a human, human?
2025-08-3014 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 9: Is Music Taste Innate?It's a cozy Monday night with Mr. Frank Betkowski and most of the crew: Lilly Killinger, Jessica Dang, Annie Mohr, and Cole Piraino. Let's see if we can make music philosophical.Episode 9 in a 🌰:How can two people who grow up together like different music? Can music be meaningful without being political? We look at milieu and the role of sadness and dopamine in what we listen to. It grows into an interesting talk on screen time, with Mr. B offering new insights as a non-GenZer. TIMESTAMPS...
2025-07-3120 minSome Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 8B: Joys and StrugglesI'm back with Elie Shimaoka to explore mysterious aspects of life. Episode 8B in a 🌰:Human's capacity to be objective, the experience of joy vs. the feeling of joy, and the divine nature of nature: we talk a little more about life's surprises. Along the way, we look at some hypothetical and real situations (like AI).TIMESTAMPS:[00:00:19] Self-awareness through struggle[00:04:12] Fight or flight?[00:08:47] Objectivity, third-person thinking, and sensitivity[00:13:32] The Experience Machine: Would you trade experience for emotional simulation?[00:22:01] The...
2025-07-3030 minSome Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 8A: The Authenticity TrapI talk with my best friend Elie Shimaoka on why it's so hard to be yourself, especially around other people.Episode 8A in a 🌰:First impressions. Self-conscious thoughts. What is it like to be authentic? Elie and I open up about the faces we wear, the overthinking, and our elusive feeling of chemistry that can’t be explained by language, culture, or even shared values.TIMESTAMPS:[00:00:33] First impressions and social overthinking[00:03:18] Defining the “authentic self”[00:07:21] Chemistry, connection, and soulmates[00:11:34] On openness and attracting the right...
2025-07-2915 minSome Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 7: Winning vs. Not LosingWe're back in the Socratic forum with your familiar crew. I'm with Annie Mohr, Lilly Killinger, Yule Kwon, Cole Piraino, Jessica Dang and joined by Ryan Du Plessis and Arnav Rao. We talk burnout and competition, and the difference between winning and not losing.Episode 7 in a 🌰:We look at the fear of being a "try‑hard," genuine versus strategic compliments, and the line between healthy drive and harmful burnout. We swap race‑day stories, academic anxieties, and confessions about what really fuels our motivation. An honest, high‑energy exploration of success and self-worth.
2025-07-2840 minSome Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 6: Is Greed Just Human?In this quiet episode, I ponder with An Yan on whether humans are inherently greedy, transitioning to progress in life. Episode in a 🌰:From genetically modified bananas to monkey economics, from gender inequality to the structure of societies, An and I wade through hard-hitting questions: Are humans naturally selfish? Can society function without leaders? Why strive for perfection if it’s unreachable? We talk morality, mortality, and meaning.TIMESTAMPS[00:00:22] Are humans born greedy? [00:02:39] Monkey economics and loss aversion [00:04:38] Gender roles and historical power shifts ...
2025-07-2725 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 5B: On the Three Letter Word That Starts with GIn part two of this outdoor conversation, me and the same curious crew look at morals, beliefs, and God. Episode in a 🌰:Do we all have the same morals? What’s the difference between a belief and a value? Why do bad things happen to good people? This episode turns personal and philosophical as the group reflects on religion, altruism, and whether doubt might actually make belief stronger. Chirp chirp.TIMESTAMPS[00:00:31] Are we born with the same morals? [00:03:35] Baseline morals vs. beliefs [00:06:35] Do be...
2025-07-2733 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 5A: Bias, Emotion, and a Flying ShoeWe're in the first part of "In the Company of Birds and Doubt," a precious two-part discussion outdoors. I'm joined by the crew Annie Mohr, Cole Piraino, Lilly Killinger, Yule Kwon, plus one new member, Jessica Dang, to debate bias, morality, and how we make hard choices.Episode in a 🌰:Should we live by reason or emotion? Is altruism real, or evolutionary self-preservation in disguise? Is “evil” a choice? From creepy vans to the trolley problem to a flying shoe, we wrestle with the deep stuff. TIMESTAMPS[00:00:33] Bias
2025-07-2631 minSome Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 4: More Than a ResumeI chat with my friend and 1W buddy Janie Miller to ask the question that plagues highschool students: is the straight-A, resume-builder grind really worth it if you’re miserable along the way?Episode in a 🌰:We start with means vs. ends and talk about genuine fulfillment, from skipping physics because it sparks zero joy to choosing low-paying but meaningful work like teaching. We try and find the line between “healthy discomfort” and burnout, whether true altruism exists, and why it’s okay to be selfish sometimes so you can keep helping others.
2025-07-2537 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 3D: What We Owe (If Anything)The deepening conversation closes with new members Katie Lee, Asami Puff, Kyle Hwang, and joining us at the end - Imangali Zhakan and Mr. Kerr (resident philosophy teacher). As before, I'm with the old crew: Annie, Yule, Cole, and Lilly. We take a raw, unfiltered dive into our school Mercersburg, an extended look into privilege, empathy, and whether good intentions are ever enough.Episode in a 🌰:How should we give back? Do we owe anything at all? From trust funds to trickle-down ethics, this episode questions the morality of wealth, the possibility of...
2025-07-2553 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 3C: Wealth Guilt and PrivilegeThe movie room turns into a Socratic forum. I am again with Yule Kwon, Annie Mohr, Lilly Killinger, and Cole Piraino, focused on the central question: Are we morally responsible for the underprivileged? Episode in a 🌰:The group debates what being morally good is like in a world with inequality. From Peter Singer to Elon Musk, they explore whether caring is enough, or if true morality demands real sacrifice. Along the way, they unpack wealth guilt, responsibility, the usefulness of failure, and how empathy might be more learned than innate....
2025-07-2428 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 3B: PainSince the last episode, intrigued students have peeked through the window and joined the ragtag group. I talk with Yule Kwon, Annie Mohr, Lilly Killinger, and Cole Piraino about gas chambers, peppers, and the geometry of pain.Episode in a 🌰:From Ursula K. Le Guin's The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas to Viktor Frankl’s “heart as a gas-chamber” metaphor, we look at how to quantify pain. Highlights include Chinese babies raised on chili-laced milk, fearless meerkats, and late night doubts about true altruism. TIMESTAMPS[00:00:33] Omelas and the “...
2025-07-2323 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 3A: Rolling the stoneI sit down with classmates Yule Kwon and Elie Shimaoka to ask about discipline. What keeps us running when we run out of motivation? Is it possible that pain might actually be a blessing in disguise?Episode in a 🌰:From 6:30 a.m. swim sets to Camus’s Sisyphus, we go from how we personally keep going to the uneasy idea that knowledge itself can hurt, even as it enlightens.A startling takeaway: maybe pain isn’t a curse, but rather a gift.TIMESTAMPS[00:00:26] Motivation vs. discipline [00:0...
2025-06-2018 min
Some Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 2: Do Grades Really Matter?In the second episode, I invite Shelly Shen to a slow, deliberate conversation on means, ends, and the purpose of life.Episode 2 in a 🌰:Is getting good grades the goal—or just a step along the way? From college apps and parental pressure to Pixar's Soul, astrophysics, and creative writing, this episode explores what it means to live with purpose—or without one. Expect an honest, sometimes funny, sometimes deep exchange on what really matters in high school and beyond.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction: Chasing Grades or Meaning?00:32 Underst...
2025-06-0432 min
TalkOBout It 組織不設限Beyond the Paycheck: Inside Our Workplace BonusThis episode was produced by students Jocelyn Bernetta Iskandar and Audrey Priscilla Wijaya from National Tsing Hua University’s Organizational Behavior course, guided by Prof. Tonny Menglun Kuo—bringing real-world insights to life through thoughtful conversation.
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2025-05-1507 minSome Questions Regarding Life (SQRL)Episode 1: College, Can Humanities Pay Your Bills?, and Why We Study PhilosophyIn our very first episode, I sit down with An Yan, a junior at Mercersburg Academy.Episode 1 in a 🌰:1. Means vs EndsAre we doing things in high school because of genuine interest, or just to add to our college resume? Is college just the stepping stone to a job?2. Passion vs PracticalityShould we follow what we love, or choose a major based on what’s “useful”? STEM vs Humanities? Is philosophy impractical, and therefore meaningless?3. Definition of successWhat is society's...
2025-04-2819 min
Two Wise TreesTwo Wise Trees Episode 5In this episode we talk about some of our favorite books. We also branch into topics related to hierarchal and egalitarian societies and hierarchy in nature, the masculine and feminine dynamic seen in the yin-yang symbol, and touch on a few Scorcese movies. Enjoy! Update to add- here is our booklist: Audrey: The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Making the Gods Work for You by Caroline Casey
2025-02-121h 06
L'Aérospatial - arts visuels à QuébecL' Aérospatial 28 janvier 2025 ÉMISSION DU 28 JANVIER 2025 Animé par Kristel TremblayMise en onde par Mathilde Harvey-MorinL'équipe reçoit : notre chroniqueur.e Audrey Carreau, après avoir visité la coop Méduse lors de la rentrée d’hiver, nous parle de deux de ses expositions coups de coeur ; Fata Morgana , une exposition de Jeannette Johns en montre chez Engramme du 10 janvier au 22 février, ainsi que For You I Will Be an Island, présentant le travail de Chun Hua Catherine Dong à la galerie Vu, du 10 janvier au 23 février. Kristel reçoit en entrevue Valérie Potvi...
2025-01-2942 min
Your Undivided AttentionThe AI ‘Race’: China vs. the US with Jeffrey Ding and Karen HaoIn the debate over slowing down AI, we often hear the same argument against regulation. “What about China? We can’t let China get ahead.” To dig into the nuances of this argument, Tristan and Aza speak with academic researcher Jeffrey Ding and journalist Karen Hao, who take us through what’s really happening in Chinese AI development. They address China’s advantages and limitations, what risks are overblown, and what, in this multi-national competition, is at stake as we imagine the best possible future for everyone.CORRECTION: Jeffrey Ding says the export controls on advanced chips that were e...
2023-08-3145 min
Lagrange PointEpisode 453 - The early days of our solar systemStudying the earliest days of our solar system by looking at meteorites. We don't have to travel to asteroids or dwarf planets in order to study their geology. By studying meteorites we can piece together the mystery behind the formation of our solar system. Asteroids seem to be 'missing' mantle like rock, so how can we find it by studying meteorites? Some meteorites can capture like a time capsule pieces from our early solar system. Some of this leftover bits from the early days of our solar system contain raw pieces from other stars. Sometimes in meteorites you can...
2021-10-1816 min
Download New Full Audiobooks in Fiction, LGBTQ+As the Heart Bones Break by Audrey ChinPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/637048to listen full audiobooks.
Title: As the Heart Bones Break
Author: Audrey Chin
Narrator: Claire Marie Minh-Khe Hua
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hours 14 minutes
Release date: December 11, 2019
Genres: LGBTQ+
Publisher's Summary:
In Thong Tran's Vietnam, everyone is at war and no one is who they seem. But even a conflicted heart needs a home. Yearning for a true father and a cause to give himself to, Thong chooses independence, liberty and happiness — his tutor and the Viet Cong. It is a choice with karmic consequences he will spend the next half-century criss-crossing the Pacific to...
2019-12-119h 14Listen to Best Full Audiobooks in Fiction, HistoricalAs the Heart Bones Break by Audrey ChinPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/637048to listen full audiobooks.
Title: As the Heart Bones Break
Author: Audrey Chin
Narrator: Claire Marie Minh-Khe Hua
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hours 14 minutes
Release date: December 11, 2019
Genres: Historical
Publisher's Summary:
In Thong Tran's Vietnam, everyone is at war and no one is who they seem. But even a conflicted heart needs a home. Yearning for a true father and a cause to give himself to, Thong chooses independence, liberty and happiness — his tutor and the Viet Cong. It is a choice with karmic consequences he will spend the next half-century criss-crossing the Pacific to...
2019-12-119h 14