The Boondock Brains
The Boondock Brains
The Boondock Brains
Damo (The Ex-Believer), Nyk (The Scholar) and Ben (The Skeptic) are three friends from Adelaide, Australia who enjoy discussing every topic under the sun, and beyond. From Politics to Philosophy. From Religion to Mythology. From Science to Science Fiction. We discuss it all!
Episode 010 - Hero Of A Thousand Faces
In today's episode we look at Anthropologist, Joseph Campbell's Hero of a Thousand Faces. An amazing book that looks at the common thread through myths from all around the world and in all eras. At the foundation of every story there is what is known as the Hero's Journey. We also look at the TV Show that Campbell appeared in right before his death in 1987: The Power of Myth with Bill Moyers, as well as how the Hero's Journey even appears in other mediums such as the Taro's Major Acarna.  We then break down the Hero's Journey by using Star Wars as an ex [...]
Oct 25, 2015
57 min
Episode 009 - In Our Neighbourhood
In today's episode we discuss the possibility of life in our own backyard and the likelihood of colonizing & exploring the Solar System. We look at Drake's Equation and the Fermi Paradox, and what life might be out there. We then look at the sign's of life potential that we have found, such as Pluto's Atmosphere, the White Spots of Ceres and what is either a Dyson's Sphe [...]
Oct 19, 2015
1 hr 14 min
Episode 008 - Inclusion Vs Exclusion
This week Nyk and I discuss the difference between inclusion and exclusion when presenting opinions; in particular we look at the current war between Athiests and Creationists, and how the New Athiest movement is quite aggressive, and possibly counterproductive. We also look at the progression of Creationist to Anti-Theist to Athiest that seems to take place as part of a de-conversion and how it is a necessary progression to go through. We also have a great laugh at some Joyce Meyer quotes involving questioning andobedience
Oct 16, 2015
1 hr 3 min
Episode 007 - What Is With All This Shit?
In this episode we discuss Causal Entropy and how it applies to everything we do. We touched on the concept a little when we looked at freedom however we dive deeper into the subject this week. We look at Entropica, a programme that demonstrates that intelligence is an emergent property of entropy. We talk about Sturgeon's Law, which states that ninety percent of everything is made up of crap. We get into the subject of AI and look at the Paperclip Maximizer thought experimen [...]
Oct 15, 2015
1 hr 1 min
Episode 006 - Transhumanist
In today's episode we discuss Transhumanism and how the ideas and dreams of the 80's and 90's haven't really come to pass as predicted. We look at writer/philosophers such as Vernor Vinge and Ray Kurzweil, who predicted immortality and advances in technology resulting in the Singularity. We also take a look at how Science Fiction has on one hand become Science Fact, but also given us far too higher expectations, which have left us in disappointment. One author who possibly had it right, was Iain M Banks in his Culture Series by putting AI in charge of the humans in a post scarcity world. A great [...]
Oct 15, 2015
1 hr 6 min
Episode 005 - What Freedom Isn't
In today's episode we look at how the second law of thermal dynamics can be used to best explain freedom; ie by maximising your own entropy without encroaching in the entropy of those around you. In reality however this is the opposite of what happens in our current society. We discuss Chris Ryan's view on bonobos and how agriculture killed the civilised man. We also look at the Aryan-Dravidian Myth and how it explains the origin of state and organised religion in early agricultural societies, and how the privatisation of public services is continuing this trend into the twenty-first century.
Oct 15, 2015
1 hr 14 min
Episode 004 - Metal Militia
In today's episode we explore the relationship between the book of Revelations and Heavy Metal, and how the symbology that once had you burnt alive is now celebrated. We also discuss the idea of selling one's soul in order to be a musical virtuoso, starting with Niccolò Paganini. We also look at how the religious groups are actually in fact spurring the popularisation of anti-religious music. A great example of this is Dee Snider's PMRC Senate Hearing speech, which ultimately lead to the music parental guidance labels, which sent record sales up and the musicians to push the boundaries even harder.
Oct 15, 2015
58 min
Episode 003 - Christ In Egypt
In today's episode we discuss how Christ is nothing more than the latest incarnation of a long line of mythological sun gods, dating all the way back to Horus in Ancient Egypt some 3000 years before Christ! Our episode takes its name from the fantastic book by Acharya S and D.M. Murdock. If you haven't read it I strongly recommend getting a copy. We also take a look at the astrotheological origins of the myth, by looking at the Zodiac Wheel and the Star of Sirius and how the Old and New Testiments take heavy inspiration.
Oct 15, 2015
56 min
Episode 002 - Police State
In this episode we discuss the struggle of power between people and state and how, thanks to the rise internet, we are entering into an interesting new age within that struggle. We make mention of George Orwell's You and the Atomic Bomb. We also discuss the The Great American Experiment and how this differs to our own here in Australia.
Oct 15, 2015
1 hr
Episode 001 - Conspiracy Theories And Mental Illness
In this, our first ever episode, we discuss the correlation between mental illness and the susceptibility to believe in conspiracy theories. We start off by referencing an article from Stuff.co.nz and open up the topic for discussion. We head over to Prison Planet and have a great laugh at what Alex Jones is up to. We also make mention of Qi Gong Demonstration by Master James Chee and Kiai Master vs MMA Kickboxer. And just for shits and giggles here is Street Fighter (Church Edition).
Oct 15, 2015
55 min