Messiahs, Abuse and Espionage: Adnan Oktar’s Sex Cult
If you live in the US, you may not have heard of Adnan Oktar. Yet if you live in Turkey or practice Islam, you’re almost certainly familiar with charismatic, controversial figure. Up until recently, he was a well-known media mogul; an author and spiritual leader with his own, distinct take on Islam. In today’s episode, Ben and Noel explore Oktar’s rise and fall, from his origins to his heyday as a cult leader surrounded by scantily-clad followers — to his ultimate arrest on multiple charges, from the sexual abuse of minors to complicity in a coup.
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6/24/2022
45:53
Listener Mail: Real-life Telekinesis (Sort of), Hatchet Drones and Immunology
Jasper writes in with an excellent explanation of how cancer works -- and how cancerous cells can be stopped. Tall Pockets relays an interesting encounter with an inventor, asking for glamour shots of something that is "most definitely not a bomb." Justin and Joe from Facebook ask for more information about a recent groundbreaking innovation: Could humans, one day soon, acquire a bootleg form of telekinesis? All this and more in this week's listener mail.
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6/23/2022
41:28
Cautionary Tales, with Tim Harford
What can history teach us about the present? How can the average person use critical thinking to avoid being taken in by slick infographics and ardent pundits? In today’s interview, Ben, Matt and Noel sit down with legendary economist, author and podcaster Tim Harford to learn more about the importance of critical thinking, economics, and empathy.
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6/22/2022
1:01:15
CLASSIC: Could someone erase the world's debt?
Modern civilization relies on the concept of debt. Wars are fought over it, loves lost and revolutions launched. So what would happen if, one day, it disappeared? Is it even possible? Tune in to learn more.
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6/21/2022
59:15
Strange News: Is LaMDA alive? Cartel Corruption, Predatory Banking in Utah
Google employee Blake Lemoine is on leave after going public with his belief that the company's "Language Models for Dialog Applications," or LaMDA, is alive. A high-ranking member of Mexican law enforcement has been sanctioned for his long-standing, deeply illegal arrangement with a drug cartel. Over in Utah, a bank has been flagged for issuing 189% interest loans through auto repair shops. All this and more in this week's Strange News.
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