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In this episode, Josh and Ian speak about the Covid-19 disease and the impact on the world at the tail-end of the pandemic.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 12 January 2023

In this episode, Josh and Ian return from their holiday break to revisit their podcast anniversary conversation. They talk about the evolution of their own perspectives, whether or not democracy is the best way to govern society, their descriptions of 'happiness', the pressure of economic stability, stability as a navigational challenge and fairness, the recent $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by the US Congress, the opaqueness of US social welfare programs, the allocation of the US Federal budget, man's effect on nature and artificial selection, what large scale issues mean for individuals, the lack of familiarity in our social lives, the social problems of living in cities, an attempt at political moderation, the woes of the medical industry, redefining class, how anxiety can be petrifying, how the idea of freedom can be distracting in American politics, and various other topics. Five highlights from the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill Congress just passed October 1993: Congress Cancels Funding for the SSC Nuclear fusion researchers have achieved historic energy milestone Half of Americans Don’t Vote. What Are They Thinking? Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 30 December 2022

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about former US President Donald Trump declaring his Presidential run for 2024, the potential campaign of Ron DeSantis and Republican party division, similarities between Biden and Trump, what it means to be a productive citizen in a capitalist society, the value of a college degree, griefing and the competition of debt and punishment, the monopoly of TicketMaster, President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan being held up in the courts, the ineptitude of US Congress and legislation by fiat, economic comparisons between the US and Nordic countries, the possible antisemitism or mental degradation of Kanye West, the power and responsibility of artists and people of great influence, the death of Aaron Carter, the difference between consumer and independant art, the world of Twitch streamers and participating in content creation, the importance of art in culture, NASA's recent and upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon, and various other topics. A federal judge calls student loan relief unlawful, deepening limbo for borrowers Kanye West exclusive: Rapper tells Tucker Carlson story behind White Lives Matter shirt Kanye 'Ye' West Interview | Lex Fridman Podcast #332 Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 19 November 2022

In this episode, Josh and Ian return from an extended break on the podcast to catch up and comment on current events. They talk about time management in adulthood and family life, Ian's various career choices, challenges in parenthood and how alike children are to their parents, will to power and the battle between passion and reason, the art of performance, celebrity podcasters, the podcast as an outlet and the exercise of conversation, the craft of misery making, understanding our own philosophical perspective, the current Russian-Ukranian war, the annexation of the Crimean penninsula and Putin's egoism, America's and the West's investments into Ukranian support, the potential fears of another World War, Elon Musk's $44 billion purchase of Twitter and his intent on making the platform a bastion of free speech, and other subjects. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 5 November 2022

Returning from Apathetic Avenue to BS Boulevard, Josh and Ian return to discuss Doctor Strange speculation and take a (perfectly legitimate and not a trick from Harvard) test to determine whether or not Ian is transphobic. They discuss: Can Tom Cruise be Iron Man? Josh learns about implicit bias from some school named Harvard The difference between white people and black people vs. weapons and "non-harmful objects" Ian takes a test about preferring cisgender or transgender in real time The difference between Hispanic, Latino, and Asian Are all sexually active adults past-child molesters? Can straight men join drag? Proving that you can't prove that 0.9999999........... = 1 A transgender matching game for bigots (or not) Philosophy < Psychology < Sociology Don't Look Up is a bad/good movie Blind spots in the Implicit Bias tests Did Koko the Gorilla speak English? Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 21 January 2022

On this Bullshit Boulevard, Josh and Ian talk about the MCU, the "Great Resignation", and some other bullshit. Some of the topics include: the latest trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home, nostalgic blockbusters and movie hype, Spider-Man's portrayal and future films in the franchise, the DC Extended Universe and its new cinematic direction, spoilers for Marvel's Shang-Chi and Eternals, going to arcades as an adult, nerd collections and the new pop culture, the exciting prospects of FromSoftware's Elden Ring, the pandemic's influence on the supposed "great resignation", and business responses to the market. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 18 November 2021

This week, Josh and Ian get together to talk some bullshit about careers and psychology. Some of the topics include: - Personality traits vs. work environment, - Jungian psychology, - what makes a career, - the value of experience,  - following the money first, - becoming the US President,  - failing creative children, - building up our culture, - content creators and the attention market, - struggling artists, - the rise of YouTube and future creators, - the ubiquity of systems and markets, - production and globalization - happiness and fulfillment, - and other bullshit.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/ Recorded 28 Oct 2021

This week in the world, Josh and Ian get together on a Thursday night to talk bullshit and nerdshit. Some of the points include but are not limited to: - How Christian Chick-Fill-A employees bless every chicken sandwich and customer, - "Homophobic" and/or religious companies, - Service industry loopholes and discrimination, - Culture shock within the state and whether or not blackface is still in style, - Companies catering to the vocal minority and "woke" capitalism, - Celebrity role models, - The new "racist" NASA telescope, - Cultural vs. Legal justice, - How public virtue signalling might effect personal relationships, - Biden's $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, - Playing the nerdy-ass Dark Souls games and challenging our buttholes.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/

In this episode, Josh and Ian continue their ongoing series of candid conversations. They talk about the explosion in Nashville, TN, Coyote Ugly and 'relevant' country singers, Trump's exit from the US Presidency, the electoral college, the government stimulus package for covid relief, Wonder Woman 1984 and the future of the DCEU, Disney's plan for introducing the multiverse into the MCU, the gonorrhea super-strain and high school health classes, covid vaccines finally hitting the market, the mystification of science, the problem of the 'cure' for cancer(s), consistency of information surrounding the pandemic, political conspiracies and conservative fears of Democrats and Kamala Harris, and various other shenanigans. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/ Recorded 27 December 2020

In this episode, Josh and Ian continue their ongoing series of candid conversations. They talk about feedback to their recent episode on revolution, the nature of ideas and bridging the gap between the political spectrum, the value of compassion within a collective society, the class disparity within larger communities, market competition and the success of production, accountability on the powers that be, and various other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 28 November 2020

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the podcast going on hiatus and what the future will bring.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 19 March 2022

In this episode, Josh and Ian return from their holiday break to revisit their podcast anniversary conversation. They talk about cultural heritage and racial pride, birthright and happenstance, a proper place for critique, hyperbolic reactionary politics, the media's impact on cultural conversations and whether or not democracy is in decline, the Democratic Party's push-back against W. Virginian Senator Joe Manchin, the tribal back-and-forth that political parties play as they take office, the problem with the overall federal structure, the American focus on the US Presidency, the divide between local and national politics, the vast difference between US states in their covid responses, the federal government's response to failing industries and spending taxpayer's money, the lack of incentive for political change, the Biden administration's latest OSHA regulations on vaccine mandates and the effectiveness of the actual mandates, the ongoing schism between individualism and collectivism, a possibly "poor" old Honda metaphor and being humbled by nature, how media and entertainment distract us from real issues, cultural attention deficit, and other topics. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Recorded 30 December 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss criticisms of religious faith, the prospects of God and Nature, and the Netflix series Midnight Mass.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: Baruch Spinoza A Confession and Other Religious Writings The Brothers Karamazov Book 5, Ch. 4 Recorded 24 November 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the themes and moral lessons that can be found in fantasy stories and the recent film The Green Knight. They talk about the symbolism found in the aesthetics of The Green Knight film adaptation, the nature of the Green Knight's game, Sir Gawain's growth into adulthood and knighthood, honor and following your principles, how fantasy has been inspired by medieval lore and mythology, accepting your fate, what constitutes and how we define fantasy, the direct link between fantasy and mythology, the popularity of young adult fiction, the importance of language of meaning of words, fantasy races and their allegorical representation, Sauron's Ring of Power, how fantasy literature can affect the same people at different ages, children and honesty, the flames of ambition, how games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring illustrate our own world, superstition and ritual, and other topics. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: What The Green Knight Wants You To Think About The Lord of the Rings Illustrated Edition Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo Game of Thrones Leather Boxed Set Song of Ice and Fire Series Dark Souls Exclusive Review ELDEN RING - Official Gameplay Reveal Recorded 11 November 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the controversy of Dave Chappelle's Netflix special "The Closer", and then later talk about the comedic parallels in Fyodor Dostoevsky's short story "Polzunkov". In the first half, they talk about how comedy is supposed to function and understanding the performance of a comedian, offense and being made uncomfortable, how jokes might cater to safetyism and whether or not "offensive" jokes lead to physical harm, progressive tribalism, differentiating between sex and gender, whether or not a concept can be "real", the trappings of idealism, how Chappelle's special led to controversy at Netflix and the mass company walkout, whether or not criticism can be undergone by not consuming what is being criticized, their own "tasteful" jokes, the emergence of comedy in history, and Chappelle's new soapbox. In the second half, they talk about an April Fool's Day gone wrong in Dostoevsky's short story, the birth of a Russian comedian, the wisdom of people who live on the streets, what it takes to be public speaker, whether or not the story can be viewed as a cautionary tale, and the burden of embarrassment. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: Netflix Boss Doubles Down On Dave Chappelle's Transphobia In Embarrassing Email Dave Chappelle’s Betrayal Dave Chappelle's Trans Comments in The Closer Are Causing Ripple Effects Through Netflix Polzunkov (1848) by Dostoevsky Recorded 14 October 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian discuss the recent Texas abortion "ban" and the confusion of political slogans. They talk about 5-6 week restriction on abortions in Texas and some of the points within the bill, working around the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and soft totalitarianism, the difficulty of detecting pregnancies early on and family planning, some of the main reasons that women have abortions, the philosophical differences between "life", "human beings", and "persons", whether or not a fetus  could be considered a "person", a burning thought experiment, the influence of the present and future on real and possible persons, the quality of life and possibility of suffering, the role of physicians in healthcare ethics, the role of religion in women's healthcare and the prospects of the human soul, a drunken thought experiment and the world's unluckiest violinist, their personal takes on abortion, complications in pregnancies, grasping at straws when defining life, how political slogans can distort moral messaging and emotions, how ideology frameworks our thought processes, the rise of black markets in the wake of government bans, and other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: We annotated Texas’ near-total abortion ban. Here’s what the law says about enforcement. Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision "Pro choice" and "Pro Life" - phrase meaning and origin Pregnancy Week 5 - 5 Weeks Pregnant Abortion ethics The Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice Debate Recorded 16 September 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian talk about the 20 year anniversary of 9/11 and U.S. troops exiting from Afghanistan. They talk about the initial exit strategy of U.S. troops and citizens from Afghanistan,  the Cold War and the formation of the Taliban, the Soviet Union and spread of communism, their original thoughts and feelings of the September 11th attacks and the fall of the Word Trade Center twin towers, war in the middle-east and the prospects of nation building, the critiques against American imperialism and European colonialism, the  underestimation of Islam and the instinct of religious zealotry, the initial invasion of Afghanistan the prolonged wars that followed, leaving room for cultural relativism and understanding Islamic tribal sectarianism, allowing the Taliban to govern themselves and Afghani citizens, understanding Shariah Law and what Islamist's take from the Koran, looking back to tradition to solve modern moral problems, the migrant crisis in the wake of the Syrian civil war, the influence of the West throughout history in the middle-east, and various other topics.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: Inside the Taliban's Takeover of Afghanistan Taliban Is Stronger Than Ever 15 Years After U.S. Invasion We Joined The Marines Trying To Defeat The Strongest Taliban Army Yet Jocko Willink: 'Sickened' to see US weapons left behind for terrorists What We Know About The 13 U.S. Service Members Killed In The Kabul Airport Attack The history of Afghanistan and US ties, from the Cold War to 9/11 Afghanistan War | History, Combatants, Facts, & Timeline ISIS-K, Islamic State, The Taliban and Al-Qaeda: How Are They Different? Afghan War: Do Americans support Biden pulling out? This Is How the US's Afghanistan Exit Plan Unraveled What is Sharia law? What does it mean for women in Afghanistan? Shariah | Definition, History, & Examples Understanding Sharia Law What is sharia law? What to know about the Taliban's move toward religious rule in Afghanistan Recorded 2 September 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian speak about the latest state mask mandates and the perception of tyranny by citizens. They talk about people's initial protests to mask mandates, the rise of the COVID Delta variant and how variants arise, the state of Oregon's latest pandemic restrictions, the psychology of wearing masks and similar legal preventative health measures, the difference between rights and privileges, individual liberties and the cognitive dissonance when private businesses act on those liberties, civil disobedience and adhering to the behavior of unvaccinated people, responsibility to the republic and the harm principle, other countries lock-downs, restrictions beyond the pandemic on our freedoms, literacy in science and media, civic duty and responsibility, using statistics to fit a particular narrative, data from the CDC, the prospects of super-bugs and antibiotic resistance, existential risk stemming from climate change, the lack of wisdom or intelligence in dealing with problems of scale, and various other points.Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: New Oregon Mask Mandate Delta Variant COVID-19 Weekly Cases and Deaths per 100,000 Population by Age, Race/Ethnicity, and Sex Vaccination Demographic Trends Recorded 12 August 2021

In this bonus episode, Josh and Ian discuss the latest Netflix special from comedian Bo Burnham. They talk about Burnham's relevance to the cultural zeitgeist and the background to the special's production, the staging of the special in light of the camera's presence, the evolution of art and content creation, generational divide, smartphones and screen time, the commodification of identity, online vs. in-person performances, the internet and information overload, attentions span and boredom, growing up and millennial adulthood, fame and mediocrity, the simplification of ideas in art and media literacy, the question of race and culture, finding meaning and living online, gazing into the camera lens and fighting the monsters of commodity capitalism, and various other points. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links:  The Meaning of Bo Burnham's Inside – A Philosopher Reacts Breaking Open The Format of Bo Burnham's Inside Recorded 29 July 2021

In this episode, Josh and Ian speak about cancel culture and state laws surrounding critical race theory. They discuss the necessity to talking about cancel culture, the differences between cancelling and accountability, understanding the current language of the culture, the history of "conservative" movements cancelling certain sectors of art and entertainment, the debate between creationism and evolution in public schools, the conservative impulse to defend the liberal ideology, political correctness and being decent/respectable, the recent attempts by conservatives to ban the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools, Chris Rufo's influence on conservatives and war against CRT, Kimberly Crenshaw and the origins of CRT found within critical theory, their own impressions of CRT and race as a social construction, tackling racism structurally vs. individually, race vs. economic inequality, the cost of education and growing student debt, how to educate our children, and various other topics. Follow them on Twitter at:Josh @Simpsonj423Ian @modernovermanand the podcast @necessarybspodWebsite: https://www.necessarybspod.com/Links: What is cancel culture? How the concept has evolved to mean very different things to different people. What is cancel culture? Everything to know about the toxic online trend What Is Cancel Culture? A Lesson on Critical Race Theory - American Bar The GOP's 'Critical Race Theory' Fixation, Explained A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America Visualizing the racial disparities in mass incarceration Parental Advisory: The Story of a Warning Label Creationism and the “conspiracy” of evolution: inside the UK’s evangelical schools How a Conservative Activist Invented the Conflict Over Critical Race Theory We Disagree on a Lot of Things. Except the Danger of Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws. Critical Theory Recorded 21 July 2021