podcast – The Methods of Rationality Podcast
Episodes
Kindness To Kin
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kindness to Kin, by Eliezer Yudkowsky Original text here   Continue reading
A Harried Meeting (audio)
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A short story by Ben Pace. Original can be found here. Donate to the fundraiser here! Harry sings karaoke here. Happy New Year. :) Continue reading
Unum 9: Carol’s Got a Nuke!
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about the season one finale of Pluribus. Rest...
House elves are crystalized cosmic power
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A short story by Prerat. Original can be found here. Merry Xmas! Continue reading
Unum 8: Cuddle Puddle
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 8 of Pluribus. You’re wel...
Unum 7: Chekhov’s Spiky Palm Tree
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 7 of Pluribus. Please don’...
Unum 06: John Cena Said We Don’t Have to Eat People
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 6 of Pluribus. You’re wel...
Unum 05: It’s Not You, It’s We
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 5 of Pluribus. We hope you enjo...
Unum 04: Can I Get My Heroin To Go?
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 4 of Pluribus. We hope you enjo...
Unum 03: Would You Like a Cup of Coffee With Your Nuke?
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 3 of Pluribus. We hope you enjo...
Unum 02: A Meeting of the Minds
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Unum! Steven and Brian discuss the second episode, gush about their favorite parts, and have fun speculating wildly about what “...
Unum 01: The Day The World Ended
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Unum! Steven loved Pluribus so much that he needed to talk about it and Brian was on board to join! The format of this show will be full sp...
Blindsided 12: I Prefer a World Where Someone’s Home
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven as we wrap up our journey through the awesome and thought provoking world of Blindsight. Check out the awesome companion website...
Blindsided 11: Consciousness Is a Bug, Not a Feature
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven as the scramblers and the vampire demon challenge the value of the very essence of of what makes us us. Check out the awesome co...
Blindsided 10: Ow! What the Hell??
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian and Steven continue their journey into space madness. Buckle up – this one gets nuts! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditio...
Blindsided 09: Is It Wrong to Torture a Roomba?
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven as we put jumper cables on this roomba to see if it feels pain! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sense, b...
Blindsided 08: We Got A Live One!
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven as we wrangle up some aliens of dubious sentience so we can confine them and do some mad science at them! The book doesn’t...
Blindsided 07: Competitive Ecology
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hold on tight – Brian and Steven throw themselves back into the mysterious alien spacecraft after punching a hole in it with antimatter! The boo...
Blindsided 06: Madness-Inducing Meat-Grinder
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian and Steven continue diving into the madness-inducing meat-grinder over and over. Come on and join the party! The book doesn’t have chapter...
Blindsided 05: Alien Space Ghosts!
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven as they throw caution to the winds, don their Big Daddy costumes, and get ready to rumble with some space ghosts! The book doesn...
Blindsided 04: You Wanna Throw Down, Bro?!
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven, who are maybe trapped inside of a Chinese Room. Or maybe banging on it from the outside. Who knows? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The book does...
Blindsided 03: Theseus, are you there? It’s me, Rorschach
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven as we talk with some maybe-super-smart aliens in our discussion of part 3 of Blindsight! The book doesn’t have chapters in...
Blindsided 02: Smile! You’re on Camera!
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Brian and Steven on their expedition to the edge of the solar system with part 2 of Blindsight! The book doesn’t have chapters in the tradi...
Blindsided 01: Aliens, Vampires, and Children – oh my!
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steven and Brian take their first real dive into the strange world of Blindsight. I hope you are having as much as we are. :) The book doesn’t h...
Blindsided 00: Announcement
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steven and Brian announce their latest reading project – Blindsight by Peter Watts! The book doesn’t have chapters in the traditional sens...
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) perfection
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A movie that somehow did it all. You can find Matt at his regular media-analysis podcast at Doof Media. Continue reading
Cowboy Grak 5 pt2
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Narrative about meta-narrative. Eneasz and Steven talk about the rest of Cowboy Grak 5, a Worth The Candle fanfic. Continue reading
Cowboy Grak 5 full audio available
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the entirety of Cowboy Grak 5 over at https://askwhocastsai.substack.com/p/cowboy-grak-5-yet-another-fistful Continue reading
Cowboy Grak 5 pt1
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not everything is a reference! Eneasz and Steven talk about half of Cowboy Grak 5, a Worth The Candle fanfic. Continue reading
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 06: Pondering Knowable Dreams
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven wrap up their adventures in the mind of Philip K Dick. We’re gonna keep this going with Blindsight! Come b...
HPMOR 10 Year Anniversary Parties
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to run an HPMOR Anniversary Party, or get notified if one’s happening near you? Fill this out! Continue reading
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch: No New Episode
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
No new episode this week, y’all. We’ll be back to wrap up the show as soon as we can. In the mean time, check out some other awesome conte...
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 05: Peculiar Kafkaesque Dimensions
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven chew on the Chew-Z madness. The next episode will be delayed by a week, so come back in two weeks for the final ...
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 04: Phantasmal Knowledge Discussion
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven discuss Barney’s trip down depression lane. Come back next week for chapters 9 and 10! Also, did you happe...
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 03: Parallel Knowledge Dimensions
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue their exploration the layers of madness that is the mind of Philip K. Dick. Come back next week for cha...
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 02: Psychedelic Kindred Dreams
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue their exploration of the real and surreal while enjoying some psychedelic plants. Come back next week f...
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch 01: Pioneering Key Discourse
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven dive deep into the Earth’s surface to survive the first two chapters of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldri...
Man in the High Castle 07: Plunge into Kindred Dimensions
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven wrap up their reading of Man in the High Castle with the last 3 chapters. Things get exciting, then surreal, the...
Man in the High Castle 06: Persistence Knows Defiance
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue their reading of Man in the High Castle, chapters 11 and 12. Stuff is getting real, people are getting ...
Man in the High Castle 05: Postmodern Kafkaesque Drive
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue their reading of Man in the High Castle. Tensions continue to rise, super secrets are hinted at, and Ju...
Man in the High Castle 04: Post-Knowledge Dystopia
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue their reading of Man in the High Castle. Couple of not too exciting chapters, but tension seem to be ri...
Man in the High Castle 03: Power Keeps Distorting
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue our reading of Man in the High Castle. We get the name of the thing in this one and everyone loses thei...
Significant Digits audio is here!
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AskWho is bringing Significant Digits into audio format via AI narration. The first episode is live today, and he’ll be doing one a week until c...
Man in the High Castle: No New Episode
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No new episode this week, sorry folks. Come back next week for chapters 5 and 6! Link to the John Stewart clip Also, did you happen across this lookin...
Man in the High Castle 02: Politics Kill Dreams
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven continue our reading of Man in the High Castle. Lot’s of fun plot lines get started in these chapters. Com...
Man in the High Castle 01: Parallel Kafkaesque Dystopia
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD! Brian and Steven kick off our second book, Man in the High Castle! So far it’s lots of fun, even if the world is a complete...
Ubik 06: Pondering Kafkaesque Dimensions
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD, the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick! In this episode, we wrap up Ubik a...
Ubik 05: Probing Known Dimensions
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD, the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick! In this episode, the weirdness kee...
Ubik 04: Perception Kaleidoscope Dimension
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD, the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick! In this episode, things are gettin...
Ubik 03: Phantasmal Kinetics Discussion
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD, the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick! In this episode, the crew gets to ...
Ubik 02: Big (PK) Dick Energy
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD, the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick! In this episode we assemble the cr...
Ubik 01: Psychic Key Discussions
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PKD, the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick! We started off light with just the...
PKD – Ubik 00
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome the show where Brian and Steven dive into the weird world and weirder mind of Phillip K. Dick. This is an introduction where Brian explains a ...
Fallout 09 – Uranium Fever Aftermath
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buckle up as Eneasz and Steven discuss some of the feedback about this short series and then have an untamed discussion about how capitalism/capitalis...
Fallout 08 – Ad Victoriam
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Steven and Eneasz wrap up their discussion on the Fallout TV show and plan out future content. Continue reading
Fallout 07 – Gettin’ Some Head
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy the 7th episode of Uranium Fever! Everyone’s always trying to get some head. In this case it’s more literal. Continue reading
Fallout 06 – The One-Eyed Monster
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our heroes get trapped by evil mutants! Plus we get some ghoulishly awesome flashbacks from before the end of the world. Don’t forget to check o...
Fallout 05 – Lying Isn’t Nice
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eneasz and Steven chat about the fifth episode of the Fallout tv show. Remember when we thought we’d keep these around 15 minutes each? Ha! Cont...
Fallout 04 – Golden Rule, Motherfucker
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode gets us back into awesome character stuff and we had a blast (bomb pun intended). Continue reading
Fallout 03 – Getting a Head in Life
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This was more of a plot moving episode and less of a deep diving conversation starter, but we still found some stuff to talk about. I hope you enjoy t...
Fallout 02 – Luck of the Draw
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eneasz and Steven continue the discussion about the Fallout tv show and digress hard about the role of luck in our life circumstances. The outro song ...
Fallout 01 – Okie Dokie!
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Eneasz and Steven wanted to chat about the new and awesome Fallout tv series. We were under the delusion we could keep this to like 15 minutes but you...
Oscar Catch-Up 2023 – Not Everything Bad Is A Satire – The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the 2023 winner for animated short a brilliant work of satirical performance art, or just bad, or just good? Eneasz, Matt, and Jen have different o...
We Got Dreams! – Eneasz Brodski
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Steven and Jennifer continue the dream in a discussion with the story’s author, Eneasz Brodski. The book is What Lies Dreaming. Read this book a...
We Got Dreams! – Joah
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Steven and Jennifer continue the dream to talk about Joah, one of the protagonists of Eneasz’s book What Lies Dreaming. Read this book and buy...
We Got Dreams! – Andreas
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Steven and Jennifer continue the dream to talk about Andreas, one of the protagonists of Eneasz’s book What Lies Dreaming. Read this book and ...
The Real Fanfic Is The Friends We Made Along The Way
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Real Fanfic Is The Friends We Made Along The Way, by Eneasz Brodski Original Text at my blog This audio version was produced by AskWho, using awes...
We Got Dreams! – Marcus Verus
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While Eneasz is away, Steven and Wes sit down to talk about Marcus Verus, one of the three protagonists of Eneasz’s book What Lies Dreaming. Ste...
Barbie – It Makes Sense If You Understand Cinemanarrative Dissonance
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sneaking massive feels under the woke radar. Full spoilers for Barbie Links: America Ferrera’s full monologue Written post – Cinemanarrati...
IMSIYUDT 12 – “if he just wants to snuggle, him just snuggling is fine”
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 12 – Eneasz Breaks The Future...
IMSIYUDT 11 – “She doesn’t want to give him time to dwell on it, so she kisses him”
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 11 – Things Start To Happen G...
IMSIYUDT 10 – “he also seems very very very alien and very hard to understand, and might do unexpected things because of that”
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 10 – Hermione Raised By Volde...
IMSIYUDT 09 – “then leaves the library to check on his other person of interest”
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 9 – This Hell place keeps so...
IMSIYUDT 08 – “sure, kill them all”
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 8 – We Get Booped For Next We...
IMSIYUDT 07 – “(Well, his workday, anyways.)”
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 7 – Look for Equilibria For N...
IMSIYUDT 06 – “same city, same planet, or same laws of physics as Golarion.”
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 6 – Dignity! For Next Week, r...
IMSIYUDT 05 – “ten minutes to himself before he talks about anything at all”
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 5 – Content Warning: Math For...
IMSIYUDT 04 – “if you go looking for enough tiny signs like that, you will eventually find some”
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 4 – Return to the Ladder of P...
Turing Test
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Turing Test, by Scott Alexander With thanks to Wes Fenza, who led, coordinated, and produced this audio. Continue reading
IMSIYUDT 03 – “her door is ajar and she’s dressed, bathed, is reading a book.”
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 3 – Golarian’s Thor For...
IMSIYUDT 02 – “There’s plumbing!” he adds proudly, and demonstrates a sink.
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash/Project Lawful Episode 2 – Sufficiently Advanced Int...
IMSIYUDT 01 – “And she trots off to find the priest.”
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash or Project Lawful or Mad Investor Chaos Episode 1 – ...
IMSIYUDT 0.5 – Updated Reading Length
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Read until “she trots off to find the priest” Continue reading
IMSIYUDT 00 – What Is GlowFic?
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It Makes Sense If You Understand Decision Theory – a podcast literary analysis of Planecrash or Project Lawful or Mad Investor Chaos Episode 00 ...
Everything IS Either Love or Thunder – Thor: Love & Thunder
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s done with emotion even though it’s stupid” is kinda Waititi’s whole thing and he does it perfectly. It’s why...
Not Everything Is A Christian Allegory – The Truman Show
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We can take the old gods and myths and make them ours. We can make them better. Full spoilers for The Truman Show. For Next Time – Thor: Love &#...
Not Everything Is A Clue – The DM Speaks Again
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 1-254 – Lifting the DM Screen We’re back again, pummeling the answers out of Alexander Wales. There will be FULL SPOILERS for EVERYTHING....
Not Everything Is A Clue – The DM Speaks
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 1-254 – Every Single Content Warning At Max We’re back, talking directly to Alexander Wales. There will be FULL SPOILERS for EVERYTHI...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 252-254
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 252-254 – Good Bye, and Thank You! Worth the Candle on Amazon (ebook and audio!) Worth the Candle can be read at AO3 or RoyalRoad You ca...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 248-251
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 248-251 – Being God Is A Big Responsibility The power of friendship is sick! The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is sick! The Buffy Remaster ...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 246-247 part 2
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 246-247 – Consenting To Utopia TBC Jugaad Ethics episode For next week — 248-251 248. Princess! 249. There’s No Knowing Where We...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 246-247
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 246-247 – Some Things Were Clues Justified True Belief That Isn’t Knowledge Meme Torture vs. Dust Specks For next week — 248-251 24...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 243-245
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 243-245 – The Feels At The End What We Do In The Shadows For next week — 246-247 246. Reflection at the End 247. The End of the World Wor...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 240-242
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 240-242 – The Nice Episode Toilethand from Zelda Leyden Jars The Death Gate Cycle For next week — 243-245 243. Long Memory 244. Long Pig ...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 237-239
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 237-239 – Uther’s Peen Fits In Multiple Ways Utopia LOL Our Flag Means Death Quirrell’s Corollary to Clarke’s Law: Any su...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 234-236
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 234-236 – Growing Up For next week — 237-239 237. Long Story Short 238. A Certain Kind of Longing 239. Old Sins Cast Long Shadows Worth t...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 231-233
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 231-233 – Noping The Heck Out More Dakka For next week — 234-236 234. Heck if I Know 235. Interval 236. More Dakka Worth the Candle on Am...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 228-230
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 228-230 – The End The Fifth Season and Eneasz’s Spoiler-full discussion of The Fifth Season (yes, again, forgive me) For next week —...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 224-227
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 224-227 – Packing Heat Steve Fever text (+ Eneasz’s post on it) Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Matrix Resurrections Worldbuilding ...
Not Everything Is A Clue – Ch 221-223
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chapters 221-223 – Putting One’s Affairs In Order Roy Kent Chant Dr Strange Pitch Meeting Mother of Learning Unsong Eneasz’s Recommendat...