Mike and Job discuss conspiracy theories and the complicated and public nature of the modern digital world. They then discuss how people underestimate the progress of democracy around the world and how some ideas in evolution and economics rela

WWOTS 025: You’re Batting A Big Old Zero

Jul 3rd, 2018 1h 31m

There is a pervasive and growing mood of pessimism in many parts of society. Our hosts struggle to understand and deal with it. They then tell some of their worst stories from work. The show closes with a discussion of potential university refo

WWOTS 024: Optimistic About Burning It All Down

Jun 19th, 2018 1h 27m

Mike and Jon follow up on their discussion on repeated processes before debating what makes some revolutions successful. They then argue over the merits of the Irish abortion referendum and direct democracy more broadly. They close with a discu

WWOTS 023: Mobs Have Been Mobbing Since Humans Have Been Walking

Jun 5th, 2018 1h 24m

The hosts argue about the usage democratize, capitalism, democracy, and communism and then explore the downsides of capitalism. They debate the merits of single issue voting and contrast the events of the Latin American independence revolutions

WWOTS 022: Just Turn Spongebob Off

May 31st, 2018 1h 31m

Mike and Jon start out complaining about people with terrible grammar but quickly move on to an attempt to make boring things interesting and a far ranging conversation about the possibilities of terraforming Mars and Venus. They finish it all

WWOTS 021: Talking To Oldies

May 27th, 2018 1h 30m

Mike and Jon complain about walking etiquette before exploring how society treats the elderly and experience. They then discuss creating new things and what goes into it. They close with a conversation on giant tech firms, and why there are non

WWOTS 020: Klosterman’s Curious Questions

May 15th, 2018 1h 13m

To celebrate their twentieth episode Mike and Jon decided to try something a little different. Avoiding even the whiff of anything serious they discuss a series of peculiar questions written by the Author Chuck Klosterman. They discuss question

WWOTS 019: National Kick A Kid While They’re Down Day

May 1st, 2018 1h 21m

Mike and Jon talk about the potential use of DNA for data storage and the progression of science through the centuries. They then discuss their second quarter plans and the growing complexity of and conflicts between intellectual and tangible p

WWOTS 018: I Feel Like I Always Get Put In The Dumb Group

Apr 24th, 2018 1h 8m

Mike and Jon discuss how words for specific places or things generalize before exploring some simple strategies for improving memory retention when studying or reading books. They then break down the relationships between population decline, ec

WWOTS 017: Back When Mao Was Maoing

Apr 11th, 2018 1h 24m

Mike and Jon clarify the importance simplicity when learning science. Then they discuss playing pool and the difference between knowing about and knowing how to do something. They follow that with an exploration of potential impacts of Autonomo

WWOTS 016: Genetic Engineering Is Here Today

Apr 3rd, 2018 54m 52s

Mike and Jon start with a conversation about jobs their not suited for and the dull life of house painters before some follow up on the wilder side of genetic engineering. They then explain why they always rank things in their mind and go into

WWOTS 015: This Is Why I’m Glad We Don’t Talk

Mar 26th, 2018 1h 1m

Mike and Jon discuss the differences between people who nitpick endlessly or make sweeping generalizations as well as how people wrap their identities up in their ideas. They also go over Jon’s condemnation of contemporary scientific units and

WWOTS 014: That One Friend You Don’t Actually Like

Mar 20th, 2018 1h 2m

Mike and Jon start with a conversation on the mentality of immigrants and the difference between risk and the unknown followed by a meandering walk through marginal cost how to evaluate friendships and the dangerous virality of long dead ideas.

WWOTS 013: I Personally Want Genetically Superior Overlords

Mar 8th, 2018 1h 18m

Our hosts examine the difficulties of migration and demographic decline in Eastern Europe and how this is exacerbating populism in Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary. They go over what mike wants in a place he lives and talk about the history of nu

WWOTS 012: Maybe Branding And Advertising Get Too Much Flack

Mar 2nd, 2018 1h 16m

Mike and Jon recap their conversation on time tracking and rank the three most underrated U.S. Presidents and the three worst periods of history. They then discuss why branding and advertising are so despised and the often ignored intrinsic va

WWOTS 011: Wow This Is Becoming Semi Motivational

Feb 22nd, 2018 1h 17m

Mike ruminates on the origins of stairs, housing and doors before challenging Jon to find something interesting in the mundane topic of rope. They continue with a discussion of commuting, getting gas in LA, and how traits like optimism, cautio

WWOTS 010: That Argument Is Incoherent Gobbledegook And Completely Useless

Jan 30th, 2018 59m

Mike and Jon begin by discussing how our expectations around marriage, schooling, and work are influenced by our families, the media, and society at large. They examine how desires interact with expectations and some of theirs growing up. Aft

WWOTS 009: What's Interesting Today, Will Be Interesting Tomorrow, And Was Interesting 10 Years Ago?

Jan 23rd, 2018 1h 2m

Our hosts broaden their conversation of grammar by complaining about people not using the plural possessive, schools not teaching grammar, and an exploration of German cases and the echoes of these that remain in English. They continue with a

WWOTS 008: Justin Time

Jan 16th, 2018 58m

Our hosts start off contrasting the snow in Korea to the fires all over California. Jon then complains about speed bumps and somehow generalizes them as a symptom of greater evil in society. They suggest a way to think about implementing long

WWOTS 007: If You’re Spain, It’s Gonna Hurt A Lot

Jan 9th, 2018 54m 38s

Mike and Jon follow up on the cost of cabs and Ryanair flights, and make corrections about car ownership and New York hurricanes. They also talk about the Economist Newspaper’s odd practice of collective authorship, and why we trust certain me

WWOTS 006: Italians, Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Start World War III And Make Them Throw In The Towel

Jan 4th, 2018 44m 44s

Jon and Mike talk about recent trips to liverpool and Milan, hate listening to podcasts like “the Joe Rogan Experience”, Mike’s new job in the property management industry, and how it feels to listen to recordings of yourself. They then examin

WWOTS 005: The Spooky Edition

Dec 27th, 2017 58m 50s

Mike has been having a lot of great days lately. Jon and Mike discuss what makes for a good day and how to keep your momentum and good energy. They argue about commuting, and car ownership, then explore what makes a city nice to live in. Aft

WWOTS 004: Learning How To Learn

Dec 21st, 2017 59m 58s

After a summer break Mike and Jon return to discuss their travels in Peru, California, and Ireland, new jobs, settling into a new city and country, the American educational system, how we learn, the distinctions between skills and knowledge, ho

WWOTS 003: Smuggling Money Out Of China

Dec 18th, 2017 1h 9m

Mike and Jon discuss some new gadgets they’ve bought, how to get money out of China $500 at a time, Jon’s long path toward personal development and organization, the value of tracking how we spend time, how to assess goals and measure success,

WWOTS 002: Dead Things, Old Stuff, And Islamaland

Dec 14th, 2017 1h 5m

Mike and Jon touch on: fitness and stretching, traveling from China to Peru, and some of their pet peeves. They then go in depth on an archeological breakthrough regarding the origins of humans in the Americas and discuss the types of informat