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Made You Think

By: Neil Soni Nat Eliason and Adil Majid
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  • Summary

  • Made You Think is a podcast by Nat Eliason, Neil Soni, and Adil Majid where the hosts and their guests examine ideas that, as the name suggests, make you think. Episodes will explore books, essays, podcasts, and anything else that warrants further discussion, teaches something useful, or at the very least, exercises our brain muscles.
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Episodes
  • 113: Too Much of a Good Thing: Bad Therapy

    113: Too Much of a Good Thing: Bad Therapy
    Apr 11 2024
    "We’ve never had a generation more focused on its feelings and, frankly, not one more tyrannized by their feelings.” Welcome back to another episode of Made You Think! Today, we're delving into Abigail Shrier's Bad Therapy, a thought-provoking book which highlights the impact of therapy on individuals, especially younger generations. Join us as we explore the nuances of therapy, its incentives, and its effects. We cover a wide range of topics including: Challenges of parenting in a therapy-centric cultureUnintended consequences of therapeutic incentivesThe fine line between taking thoughts too seriously vs. dismissing themWhy boundary-setting is crucial as a parentImplications of having an external locus of control And much more. Please enjoy, and make sure to follow Nat, Neil, and Adil on Twitter and share your thoughts on the episode. Links from the Episode: Mentioned in the Show: Arnold (15:37)Spiritual bypassing (23:21) Washington Post on birth control (46:55)How We Feel (54:01) Coach Carter (57:47) How to Understand the Well-Being Gap between Liberals and Conservatives (1:25:31) Books Mentioned: Bad Therapy The Body Keeps the Score (07:09) (Book Episode) Irreversible Damage (40:44) The Fourth Turning (1:08:32) (Book Episode) People Mentioned: Abigail Shrier Show Topics: (0:00) In today’s episode, we’re covering Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier, who discusses the impact of therapy on individuals, particularly younger generations, and questions the efficacy and motives behind widespread therapeutic practices. (1:57) We provide an overview of the book, examining the sense of loneliness and sadness prevalent in today's youth. It poses the question of whether therapy-related interventions are actually a part of the problem rather than the solution. (5:32) How incentives in therapy can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Shrier highlights that therapists often prefer patients with milder mental health issues, as these sessions can be more relaxed. This raises questions about the subjective nature of screening and diagnostic tools in mental health care. (10:15) The distinction between chronic and acute treatment, noting how the medical industry often favors chronic cases for their profitability. We touch on various types of therapy, noting that the results of physical therapy, for example, are much more tangible than talk therapy. (12:42) Nat, Neil, and Adil talk a bit about their personal experiences with therapy. (15:55) Why going to the gym and being physically active can improve well-being, and how it offers a sense of control and measurable progress in various aspects of life. (21:12) Shrier emphasizes the lack of agency children have in deciding to continue or end therapy. We also discuss how dwelling on problems, or forced rumination, can exacerbate issues, especially in the context of depression and anxiety. (25:19) We discuss how therapy can often lead us to give undue weight to passing thoughts, turning them into more significant concerns than they should have been. (29:33) It can be a challenge for parents to know when to seek therapy for children or teens. The author suggests exploring all alternatives before turning to therapy. We also dive into the theme of internal vs. external locus of control, where the fear of making mistakes can lead to seeking external validation. (34:25) Are doctors too quick to prescribe medications in non-serious cases? (39:51) Where is the balance between taking every thought and emotion seriously vs. dismissing them? We discuss generational differences, stoic parenting, the importance of discussing feelings with a trusted friend or partner, and the impact on children who feel unheard. (45:30) Similar to therapy and mental health, public sentiments on various topics can evolve over time. Nat, Neil, and Adil draw parallels with the changing views on vaccines, from widespread acceptance to increased skepticism post-Covid. We also touch on the topic of birth control, highlighting the lack of female perspectives in these discussions often dominated by male doctors. (53:26) Happiness, when constantly pursued, can often evade us. Instead, we explore the concept of finding contentment and balance in life, recognizing that happiness is not always the ultimate objective. (56:50) When we attribute our life circumstances solely to external factors, it can lead us to feel powerless. (1:02:37) We explore the notion of discipline and touch upon various parenting styles, including gentle parenting. (1:06:05) Differences in the cultural dynamics of Zen X and Millennial parents. Each generation has its parenting narrative. It's about finding the balance between micromanaging and giving your child space, allowing kids to explore within set boundaries. (1:09:14) We discuss the dynamics of the nuclear family and how it affects the level of involvement from extended family members. (1:14:11) Differences in parenting style based on immigration status, and ...
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • 112: Thou Mayest: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

    112: Thou Mayest: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
    Apr 2 2024
    “I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one. . . . Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil. . . . There is no other story. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well—or ill?” Welcome back to another episode of Made You Think! In this episode, Nat, Neil and Adil dive into John Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden. Following the lives of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, this novel ultimately reflects on the timeless struggle between darkness and light within the human soul. We cover a wide range of topics including: The timeless battle between good and evilWhy having a fixed worldview can lead to hurtParallels between East of Eden and the story of Cain and AbelA glimpse into what life was like at the start of the Great WarHow parents' actions impact their children's lives And much more. Please enjoy, and make sure to follow Nat, Neil, and Adil on Twitter and share your thoughts on the episode. Links from the Episode: Mentioned in the Show: East of Eden movie (1:02:47)East of Eden Netflix series (1:03:21)Three-Body Problem series (1:03:46)Shantaram (TV series) (1:07:21) Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (1:10:41) Books Mentioned: East of Eden (Nat's Book Notes) Flowers for Algernon (0:02) (Book Episode)Grapes of Wrath (0:59) Infinite Jest (4:23) (Book Episode 1) (Book Episode 2) (Nat’s Book Notes) The Three-Body Problem (6:32) (Book Episode) (Nat’s Book Notes)Atlas Shrugged (7:52) (Book Episode) (Nat’s Book Notes) Shantaram (1:06:46) Einstein’s Dreams (1:32:12) The Moon is Down (1:33:20)Lying (1:47:43)The Fountainhead (1:57:59) Bad Therapy (2:00:04) People Mentioned: John SteinbeckJohn Gray (1:29:34)Ayn Rand (1:58:30) Show Topics: (0:00) Today, we're diving into John Steinbeck's East of Eden, a novel that stood as a pinnacle in Steinbeck's illustrious career. We kick off the episode by exploring Steinbeck's candidness as shown in his accompanying journal. (2:57) Nat, Neil, and Adil share their experience reading the book for the second time, each finding deeper connections to its major themes and characters this time around. (6:27) We draw parallels between East of Eden and The Three-Body Problem contrasting their narrative styles. While East of Eden is emotionally impactful with rich characters, The Three-Body Problem unfolds in a flatter, more plot-driven world. Check out our episode on The Three-Body Problem if you haven't already! (9:31) Discussing Steinbeck's immersive writing style, we explore how he vividly paints the environments and characters of the book, making us feel as though they are living within its pages. (13:43) We delve into the characters of the novel, particularly Cathy, and how she shaped the narrative. Cathy doesn't always see the good, and often fails to take reponsibility for the things that happen to her. (16:04) The book follows two main families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. There is a major parallel of "two sons" as Adam has two sons, Steinbeck has two sons, and Cain and Abel are two sons. (21:06) It wasn't the plot that drew us into the book, but rather the characters, and how they demonstrate the lessons taught in the novel. One of those lessons is the power of choice, and how you must take responsibility for your choices. (26:31) Listen in as we read an excerpt from Chapter 34 on the topic of good vs. evil, and how humans are caught in their lives, thoughts, ambitions. “Have I done well or ill?” (34:07) Adam has two sons, Aron and Caleb. Though theoretically, could Caleb be Charles’ son? We talk about the similarities between Charles and Caleb, and Adam and Aron. (37:38) Examining the allegory of Cain and Abel within the novel, we discuss how Steinbeck portrays the struggle between good and evil. Steinbeck presents a compelling argument for the power of choice, demonstrating that no matter how many times you choose evil, you always have the power to choose good. It's your reponsibility to make that choice. (41:08) Nat, Neil, and Adil reflect on pivotal moments in the story, such as Cathy's final act of redemption and Caleb's sacrificial gesture for his father. (49:51) Lee's character, and how relatable he is. It's often the ones that are selflessly giving of themselves that are living the richest lives. (53:31) There are many little instances of heartbreak throughout the book. East of Eden shows the clear impact that parents have on their kids, demonstrating that their actions have consequnces. (55:47) We talk about Adam and Charles' father, Cyrus, his interesting character, and more about the parallels in the book between the families and generations. (1:02:46) The movie based off of East of Eden that came out in the 1950s and our ...
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    2 hrs and 3 mins
  • 111: Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth

    111: Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
    Mar 20 2024
    "All the facts of science aren't enough to understand the world's meaning. For this, you must step outside the world." Welcome back to another episode of Made You Think! In this episode, we're adventuring into the world of Logicomix, a graphic novel that takes us on a journey through the intricate life of mathematician Bertrand Russell. From the quest for precision that borders on madness to the historical events Russell was embroiled in, we'll explore the complexities of logic, philosophy, and mathematics. We cover a wide range of topics including: Why seeking precision in understanding the world can drive one madBertrand Russell's historical involvements and achievementsThe rapid progress of aviation and technologyHow mathematics, logic, and philosophy remain connectedDiscovering the lives and contributions of various mathematicians And much more. Please enjoy, and make sure to follow Nat, Neil, and Adil on Twitter and share your thoughts on the episode. Links from the Episode: Mentioned in the Show: Prolific (1:06)Agrippan Trilemma (12:33)Münchhausen Trilemma (13:04) Kate Middleton photo (30:48)House of Lords (32:06)The Flaw in Gödel’s proof (57:59)Arnold (1:03:50) Political ETFs (1:13:49) Books Mentioned: Logicomix East of Eden (0:03) (Nat's Book Notes)Of Mice and Men (0:21)The Grapes of Wrath (0:22)Watchmen (6:10)V for Vendetta (6:11) In Praise of Idleness (7:12) (Book Episode) (Nat's Book Notes) Gödel, Escher, Bach (12:01) (Book Episode) (Nat’s Book Notes) The First World War (36:16) The Second World War (36:16) Banana King (1:00:45) Chip War (1:01:01) The Prize (1:01:23) Bad Therapy (1:02:46)Kon-Tiki (1:08:17) Endurance (1:09:40) People Mentioned: Apostolos Doxiadis Christos PapadimitriouJohn Steinbeck (0:01)Bertrand Russell (6:51)Kurt Gödel (14:46)Ludwig Wittgenstein (20:49)Jordan Peterson (53:03) Show Topics: (0:00) We kick off the episode by sharing John Steinbeck's journal writing process for East of Eden, his collaborative relationship with his publisher, and how he landed on the title. (5:25) Though we are not talking about East of Eden today (but...stay tuned for that episode up next!), we're covering Logicomix, a graphic novel by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou. (8:16) We give an overview of the book and how it shares different intricacies and stories from Bertrand Russell's life. From his parents being in a throuple to schizophrenia running in his family, we try to decipher which parts were real vs. fabricated. (10:36) Why you shouldn't necessarily look for precision and formal rules about how the world works. We tie this idea into Taoism which we’ve seen commonly in a few of our other recent reads. In short, no system can fully explain itself. You need to step outside of it. (13:42) Is it possible to build a perfect map of everything that mathematics entails? We talk about the connection between logic, philosophy, and mathematics. (20:25) There were several mathematicians in the book. How many of them are you familiar with? (23:36) Russell's involvement in a variety of historical events from the Cuban Missile Crisis to JFK's assassination, as he was not convinced that Oswald was guilty of the crime. (28:34) If you've been up-to-date with the news lately, you may be just as interested in the Kate Middleton conspiracies as we are. Tangent time! (31:38) Russell was sat in the House of Lords, a chamber of UK Parliament which is generally not up for election. Plus, we brainstorm some ideas of who would be considered Bertrand Russell’s equivalent in the US. (36:48) We dive in to some different historical events and wars. The Ottoman Empire, World War 1 and 2, the Persian Gulf War, and how warfare and aircraft carriers changed during these ages. (41:26) Aviation and its rapid improvements in technology in such a short span of time. (45:07) "Shouldn't we get back to the book?" Nat, Neil, and Adil discuss some of the main concepts from the book, including the pursuit of truth in the world of mathematics. You're never going to fully understand reality, but for some, that's a hard truth that they don't want to accept. (49:44) What does it mean to know, and how can you be justified in knowing something? Remember, a belief can be true while at the same time not satisfying the conditions of logic. (56:05) Unlike the other mathematicians discussed in the book, Gödel constructed a proof to his theorem that hasn’t yet been disproven. Regardless of whether their desires for absolute truth was achieved or not, a lot of the findings are fundamentally useful in many other ways. (1:00:34) We talk about some of the books that we have coming up on the podcast, and throw around some ideas. Which book would you like to see us do an episode on? Let us know here! (1:05:04) Is it true that the more you think about how you’re feeling, the worse you feel? (1:10:07) Nat, Neil, and Adil share some more of their upcoming reads they're excited about, and different war ...
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    1 hr and 21 mins
Economics Social Sciences
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