F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 13 - The Nature of Consciousness

F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 14 - Free Will

In the final part of the series on consciousness, Brian and Mike and talk about free will and why you don't have any (or do you?). They dig deep into where your decisions come from and whether you have any control over them at all.   ***********************************************   Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!   We are available on most major podcast platforms including   Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y [https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable [https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable] I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129 [https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc] and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/ [https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/]   We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!   We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055 [https://x.com/FIneffable68055] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable [https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/ [https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748] and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.   Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 13 - The Nature of Consciousness

Episode lucky number 13. In the third part of a series on consciousness and free will, Brian and Mike talk about the nature of consciousness (just like the intro says!), thinking about thinking, and about how most of the things we think we know can't be proven beyond our own experience.   In this episode we mention the following: What is it like to be a bat? - Thomas Nagel https://www.amazon.com/What-Like-Bat-Thomas-Nagel-ebook/dp/B0CYGZT4HM/ [https://www.amazon.com/What-Like-Bat-Thomas-Nagel-ebook/dp/B0CYGZT4HM/] Natural scene reconstruction from fMRI signals using generative latent diffusion https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42891-8 [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42891-8] The Matrix https://www.amazon.com/Matrix-4-Film-Collection-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B09R26TLNY [https://www.amazon.com/Matrix-4-Film-Collection-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B09R26TLNY] Mathematical proof debunks the idea that the universe is a computer simulation https://phys.org/news/2025-10-mathematical-proof-debunks-idea-universe.html [https://phys.org/news/2025-10-mathematical-proof-debunks-idea-universe.html] Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father https://store.steampowered.com/app/495700/Gabriel_Knight_Sins_of_the_Father/ [https://store.steampowered.com/app/495700/Gabriel_Knight_Sins_of_the_Father/] Holy Blood, Holy Grail: The Secret History of Christ. The Shocking Legacy of the Grail - Michael Baigent https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385338457/ [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385338457/] Dan Brown - The Secret of Secrets https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Secrets-Novel-Robert-Langdon-ebook/dp/B0DTT5LV77 [https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Secrets-Novel-Robert-Langdon-ebook/dp/B0DTT5LV77]     ***********************************************   Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!   We are available on most major podcast platforms including   Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y [https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable [https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable] I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129 [https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc] and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/ [https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/]   We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!   We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055 [https://x.com/FIneffable68055] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable [https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/ [https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748] and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.   Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 12 - Meditation and Mindfulness

In the second part of a series on consciousness and free will, Brian and Mike talk about meditation and mindfulness. They dispel some myths and talk about what meditation truly is. The conversation goes from yoga to mindfulness games to the real benefits to be gained. Brian teases future episodes and Michael realizes he's really good at having an empty mind.   In this episode we mention the following: Episode 11 - Perception F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 11 - Perception [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDUp07esMpo&t=5270s] Yoga with Adriene 30 Days of Yoga - Start Here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXU591OYOHA&list=PLui6Eyny-UzwxbWCWDbTzEwsZnnROBTIL] Waking up: https://www.wakingup.com/ [https://www.wakingup.com/] Making sense: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts [https://www.samharris.org/podcasts] Playne: https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE__The_Meditation_Game/ [https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE__The_Meditation_Game/]     ***********************************************   Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!   We are available on most major podcast platforms including   Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y [https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable [https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable] I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129 [https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc] and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/ [https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/]   We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!   We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055 [https://x.com/FIneffable68055] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable [https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/ [https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748] and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.   Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 11 - Perception

In the first part of a series on consciousness and free will, Brian and Mike talk about perception, how what we experience isn't the whole truth and how things like the vision of birds and optical illusions can prove it. Our brains are lying to us and we talk about why. Also, we talk about why you don't want to think too hard about why you can sometimes taste a bad smell like a fart.   In this episode we mention the following: * Wim Hof Method https://www.wimhofmethod.com [https://www.wimhofmethod.com/] * Stan Lee's Superhumans: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1743275/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1743275/] * Blind spot eye test Quick Blind Spot Test [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJPHFTa5Las] * Selective Attention Test (Gorilla Experiment) selective attention test [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo] * The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Mistook-His-Wife/dp/0684853949 [https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Mistook-His-Wife/dp/0684853949] * Project Hail Mary https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135229 [https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135229] * Thinking Fast and Slow https://a.co/d/7z4YsUc [https://a.co/d/7z4YsUc]   ***********************************************   Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!   We are available on most major podcast platforms including   Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y [https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable [https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable] I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129 [https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc] and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/ [https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/]   We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!   We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055 [https://x.com/FIneffable68055] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable [https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/ [https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748] and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.   Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 10 - Sleep

Happy New Year! It’s the 10th episode, so we ramble on a bit about that and risk putting people to sleep before we talk about today's subject: Sleep. Brian and Mike share some information and tell lots of hilarious and somewhat frightening stories about surgery, narcolepsy, sleepwalking, dreams and locking yourself out of the house in your underwear.   In this episode we mention the following: * MiniMinuteman - https://www.youtube.com/@miniminuteman773 [https://www.youtube.com/@miniminuteman773] * Book: The Promise of Sleep - William Dement - https://amzn.to/4jtZS9l [https://amzn.to/4jtZS9l] * Mike Birbiglia - Sleepwalk with Me * Book: https://amzn.to/3KWJS30 [https://amzn.to/3KWJS30] * Amazon Prime Video: https://amzn.to/4pmSfD5 [https://amzn.to/4pmSfD5] * Fatal Insomnia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_insomnia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_insomnia]   Some links above may be part of the Amazon Affiliate Partners Program and we get paid when you use those links to purchase goods. If you choose to do so, thank you for your support!   Episode correction: Brian's first book (Cisco: The Complete Reference https://amzn.to/49hcBYe [https://amzn.to/49hcBYe]) was published in 2002. He was 25 years old. In the episode he states he was 21.   ***********************************************   Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!   We are available on most major podcast platforms including   Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y [https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable [https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable] I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129 [https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc] and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/ [https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/]   We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!   We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055 [https://x.com/FIneffable68055] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable [https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/ [https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748] and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.   Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!