I don’t usually listen to podcasts because they are long—often an hour or more—but am more willing to be on them, as time goes by very quickly when you’re being interviewed, especially when expatiating about evolution. And, as I recall, that’s what I did on this interview with Chris Williamson from his “Modern Wisdom” series. I read that he has a large audience, not a bad thing, and had an unusual career. From Wikipedia:
Williamson was a contestant on the dating game show Take Me Out in 2012. He appeared on the first series of the reality show Love Island in 2015 as a model and nightclub promoter.Williamson has stated that he did not feel that he belonged on the show, and that his experiences on Love Island caused a period of introspection and personal development, and resulted in a desire to contribute to the world by creating “content that genuinely changes the way that people live their daily lives”.
Well, I don’t know whether my lucubrations about evolution and its infection by ideology will affect anybody’s lives, but I could listen to myself for only 20 minutes or so. Like many folks, I can’t stand to see or hear myself on the video. Maybe readers will fare better.
I did look at a few comments, and was depressed to see a substantial number of people who think evolution is a myth.
This is also on spotify at this link.
I can tell you that is a kick-a$$ thumbnail.
#TwoAllusionsInARow
#NoThree
Bryan, how dare you to steal my thunder (see comment 2, and its time stamp, compared to yours)!?
😆
Photo finish!
Hey, nice thumbnail picture of the younger Jerry Coyne.
I don’t know where they got that, and I don’t even remember having a picture like that. It may have been confected by AI. But why concentrate on the thumbnail?
Because the thumbnails actually matter, boss. When people are in youtube mode they’ll first look at the thumbnails. It is very different to articles in print where your (or my in rare cases) the portrait is an addendum.
In fact.. often by color and style alone people (me, often, a big youtube consumer) will click b/c the host’s branding and font I know it instantly. (I see Williamson or Andrew Gold’s font, AI, coloring, etc. and I’ll read the subject and guest and decide then, but on that path I have rejected dozens I don’t know).
Don’t be vein about your picture though or Carlie Simon will sing about it, boss. 🙂
D.A.
NYC
Definitely don’t burst a blood vessel.
I contemplate what psychological mindset(s) find the thumbnail relevant and compelling. (Were she still with us, I contemplate Helen Keller’s position on the matter.)
Very cool! He is one of the best podcasters nowadays, and he interviews a lot of evolutionary biologists and psychologists.
And if this brings you any solace, I think the people who disagree with a video are more likely to comment on it than those who agree with the video, so the negative comments don’t necessarily mean that most viewers deny evolution.
Now I am wondering whether Jerry still intends to publish Speciation: A very short introduction, with Oxford University Press, in its book series Very Short Introductions.
Somehow I can’t get juiced up to do that; my speciation lemon appears to have been squeezed dry.
I watched the first half of the video yesterday and liked ita lot. Jerry answered thoughtfully and chock full of interesting, educating bits, no surprise there. I thought the ínterviewer did a fairly good job too. I liked that he mentioned Bob Wrights’ The Moral Animal because that got me (and a lot of others) interested in evolution in a new way,back in the 90s. I had been thinking of buying Speciation (used) but I figured it would be out of my league.
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Well done! At one point, Williamson asked you if you thought there was self-censorship in science. You said yes, of course, and then gave examples. I also think that it goes the other way as well, in that many of today’s science writers actually believe in things that are hurting science—such as the denial of the sex binary. In other words, not only is there self-censorship among scientists, there are culture warriors among science writers. I don’t think there are many actual scientists who talk about “chest feeding” babies, but this is not uncommon among science writers. Many scientists are self-censoring, and this is made worse because many science writers are woke. It’s a double whammy.
Oh that is SO COOL! I’ve watched dozens of his episodes. Mainly for the guests, who are usually very high caliber. Williamson himself is overall a good egg. Head on his shoulders etc.
You know ….. after him and this interview you’ll be much more famous.
Andrew Gold, maybe Joe Rogan, etc. will call.
Take their calls – you’ll reach millions of people, particularly younger people who need the kind of ideas you’re known for in… ahem… crustier, older circles like WEIT. 🙂
Huge congrats Boss!
D.A.
NYC
I admit to never having heard of Chris Williamson but he’s a good interviewer! Really enjoyed this conversation and just wanted to chime in to agree with David Anderson when he says “take Rogan’s call.”
Great replies in the podcast, I learned a lot.
A most enjoyable interview
The theory of evolution is hated by ‘everyone’ (not really), The religious right hates it for obvious reasons. The left hates it because it explains why (for example) men and women are different. A good example, of extreme left-wing hostility towards the theory of evolution is the fate of Ted Hill paper. See “Academic Activists Send a Published Paper Down the Memory Hole” (https://quillette.com/2018/09/07/academic-activists-send-a-published-paper-down-the-memory-hole/). This site may have commented on the controversy at the time. Another good example, is the adverse reaction to David Reich’s opinion piece in the NYT.
Thanks, Jerry, that was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative interview. I was also very impressed by your interviewer, Chris. He appears to be well informed and very thoughtful. His general approach to interviewing and the questions that he asked were genuinely insightful, so much so that I’ll be adding him to my list of people to watch and listen to.
It’s a shame you aren’t keen on the idea of ‘Speciation, a Very Short Introduction’ that someone mentioned above, as it would be an excellent little book. I have many books from that series, and one by you would be a worthy and very successful addition to the set.
Anyway, thanks to you and your interviewer for a very interesting and entertaining video.