9. Algorithms and the Loss of Curiosity

12. Dissociation, Numbness, Avoidance

Creating distance between oneself and a difficult experience or feeling is a normal coping mechanism. Many of us think that dissociation and related techniques are maladaptive and harmful, but drawing upon some thinking from Dr. Gabor Mate, I consider an alternative explanation which seeks to capture the benefits of dissociation. * Normal on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/normalpodcast_] * Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/alekshammo] * TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@alekshammo] * Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@aleks.co⁠⁠⁠ [contact@aleks.co]

11. The Philosophy of Self-Esteem

For many of us, it's very hard to imagine what it would be like to live without self-esteem complications. I reflect on the relationship between morality and self-esteem, talking about my mental health during the process. * Normal on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/normalpodcast_] * Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/alekshammo] * TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@alekshammo] * Email: ⁠⁠⁠contact@aleks.co⁠⁠ [contact@aleks.co]

10. Five Years on Antidepressants: Reflections upon Depression and Anxiety

Some reflections on mental illness, psychiatry, depression, and anxiety to celebrate five (5) years on SSRIs. * Normal on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/normalpodcast_] * Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/alekshammo] * TikTok: ⁠⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@alekshammo] * Email: ⁠⁠contact@aleks.co⁠ [contact@aleks.co]

9. Algorithms and the Loss of Curiosity

I deleted all social media off my phone for three months. It helped me remember how I wanted to spend my idle time, and I found that I was able to connect more deeply the things I care about. Obviously, this all sounds normal and is generally what we expect when unplugging. But since returning to social media I have become harrowingly aware of the way my curiosity dwindles during time spent online. Drawing on some classic philosophy thought experiments, I set out to examine some of the things that we might not realise that we lose while plugged in. * Normal on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/normalpodcast_] * Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/alekshammo⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/alekshammo] * TikTok: ⁠tiktok.com/@alekshammo⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@alekshammo] * Email: ⁠contact@aleks.co [contact@aleks.co]

8. Raimond Gaita

Raimond Gaita [https://raimondgaita.com.au/about/] is a Philosopher, Writer, and Public Intellectual. Raimond is Honorary Professorial Fellow at Melbourne Law School and Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College London. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. The University of Antwerp awarded him the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa "for his exceptional contribution to contemporary moral philosophy and for his singular contribution to the role of the intellectual in today’s academic world." His most recent book, Justice and Hope [https://raimondgaita.com.au/justice-and-hope/], was published October 2024. 1. Normal Patreon Community: ⁠⁠patreon.com/normalpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/normalpodcast_] 2. Instagram: instagram.com/alekshammo [https://www.instagram.com/alekshammo] 3. TikTok: tiktok.com/@alekshammo [https://www.tiktok.com/@alekshammo] 4. Email: contact@aleks.co [contact@aleks.co]