A Conversation with Paul Bloom (Episode  

In these dark times, it's important to find silver linings. And the silver lining in face of apocalypse is the return of good music!

Sam, you and Christopher Hitchens accompanied me from a Southern Baptist Deacon in South Texas to an atheist humanist in 2015, and have been a benefit to me since. I escaped at the age of 50. Thanks.

Took a global pandemic to get "The music" back. One positive out of this whole mess.

sound advice: "Most people have a fear of acquiring the virus. I think a good way of approaching this is to imagine you do have the virus and change your behaviour so you're not transmitting it. "Don't think about changing your behaviour so you won't get it, think about changing your behaviour so you don't give it to somebody else." 😷

The music is back!!!! Pandemic Shmandemic!

That music gives me the chills now that you are using it again.

I was just getting used to getting up and dancing at the start of every podcast!

Probably many people will say this, but I was on board back in late January. The way this has unfolded and the implications were clear to me back then and have only become clearer as each development unfolds. I stopped talking about it for a while in February because so many people were either in denial or really had no idea what was going on. I still feel there are a lot of people that don't get it yet. But, as you say, time now seems to be in a completely weird state. Things from yesterday seem like weeks ago. There are still people out there that think we're going to come through this in three weeks like it's the common cold, or something. The world will never be the same. I still hope I'm wrong, but at this point, it seems crystal clear. Stay safe Sam.

The 33rd minute of a disaster movie line was hilarious

Old music. Thank Cthulu.

Twenty years in the recovery business, both of sanity & substance, educated me that denial is one of the strongest detrimental factors with which we struggle. Thank you for your calm pragmatism in this tsunami of "fear porn."

Please do more of these the world needs help understanding and dealing with this crisis now more than ever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your great work.

I wish Christopher Hitchens was here today. I would to have his voice

Love that the old music is back, fits the tone of the show so much better

Sam, How about a show on the origin of these vira (covid19, sars, et cetera); wet markets & the ethics of trading/eating animals?

Ah, the good old music. We're back on track.

Peace to all beings.

Take care of yourself and your family Sam. I, and all of us, appreciate the work that you do. I'll be honest. I didn't take this seriously enough until I listened to your PSA. I kept saying it wasn't that bad. After listening to you, I immediately went to my faculty to close everything down and I'm glad that we did, because we've started to have our first cases of community spread here. Had I not petitioned the law student's society to stop, they would have gone ahead with a massive ball on Friday. I and my friends owe you one.

We will get through this. We will come out stronger on the other side. I look forward to that moment. Best wishes to you all.

Not on board with all of Sam's opinions but the virus coverage and diversity of relevant guests has been great so far. Thank you for this content.

Unless bars, restaurants theme parks etc are closed, people will continue to frequent them. People need very clear, concrete messages. The average person thinks, "if they're not closing those places then obviously it's ok to go. If it weren't' ok to go, then they'd close them." In Ireland the health minister was publicly shaming people who continued going to pubs, but the government hadn't closed them yet! What did they expect?

I bet Rogan is one of the people he's talking about in the beginning for not taking it seriously enough

This is the best thing I have heard in the media lately. Thanks so much from South Africa

Really, Sam, 1 million deaths in the USA? Your last host, doctor Amesh, did not seem to think anything like that.

Sam, please consider getting Heather Cox Richardson on your show. She's a terrific source of information and context for historical and current political events, and I have no doubt you'd have a great conversation.

So glad the old, serious, music is back.

Thanks for the music change 👌🏻

Sam has absolutely NOTHING new or interesting to say anymore. I mean really, just look at what he puts out these days & compare it to ppl like Eric Weinstein or even fucking Joe Rogan

✨Yes⚡️ Sam's iconic music has returned💕

Thank you COVID-19 for bringing back the good music.

Sam, are you running for President anytime soon?

This is another great discussion but please... will you ever produce another podcast in which you don't bash Trump? The issues around managing panic vs implementing timely measures is pretty tough for leaders right now. Here in Australia, schools are still open - unbelievably.

So I work for a certain big box store’s computer repair in the US and I’m confident that this will be bad based on how many people came in today and how old/unconcerned they were.

Yeeeees thank you for the music Sam

Pictures of Disneyland's huge crowds during pandemic: Sam - "These people are doomed imbecile trying to get into the magic kingdom" lol

My son has worked at Johns Hopkins physics lab for 8 years. The physics lab works on many things for our nations security. Ive often asked him what is our countries vulnerability and biggest fear expecting to hear nuclear war. 8 years ago he told me, it’s our power grid and virus.

OLD MUSIC MADE MY YEAR!!!!! THX!!!

Don't know about you but I really like this Paul Bloom guy.

The notion of having "enemies," attributions of purposeful malicious intent, resentment over past grievances...the philosopher Peter Strawson was right, even determinists like Sam are stuck using the language of agency and free will.

Love the paul bloom series!

I knew this was serious, but bringing back the good music really drives it home.

Thank you my favourite podcast music is back. Yay.

Lets just say i would NOT want to be in Chicago in April, and CoVid 19 is going to be the last thing on your mind. When people start running out of the medication they can't go 3 days without, either they can't afford it or the people with the money panic buy it all up.

True Debate-In my humble opinion is thought provoking and involves an ability to move oneself from one position to another. I would love to see true debate that involves individuals that don't have their beliefs that they went into the debate as the outcome. True debate can show an ability to move ones position if the other debater can effectively provide cause for that person to change their thinking.I respectfully see the biases in this discussion above and the inability to see the positive things that have been done during the coronavirus crisis maybe because of the pre-biases set out in the beginning. We should all strive to remove our biased mind during discussion for it to be effective...thanks for listening

I wash my hands or things I touch to break the cycle of possibility of pick up and drop off of this disease. It’s coming to or going from me. I think of it that way. Both my maternal great grandmothers were killed for a lack of doc. hand washing. Then their daughter/son- my grandparents, who grew up motherless from infancy were just coming of age when the 1918 flu hit. Polio was the next thing to strike ending around the time my Mom’s eldest children were being born, one of 14 as I am. Needless to say, my Mom’s vigilance on hand washing was palpable. I feel the presence and value of my grand-relatives and their lives lost when I watch people just act so oblivious to their culpability to keeping the disease ball rolling. Sometimes friends of mine will be on board with subjects on which they preach: “Don’t forget your history.” Well bring the same argument to this, too. If you’re not remembering to hand wash don’t beef up on ego and jump in front donning your superhero cape to tell us your socio-political plan to save the world. I realize socio-politics is a large part of this, I can’t say that enough and enjoy infrastructure details, here, of which you speak. So are the details of individual culpability important. To a point which you make here: Also, we - U.S.- are not habituated, our med. system is not habituated to preventative medicine. Our response now is an echo of that. Thank you for this, Sam. How do you exact thanks to a gem?

The full podcast should be made available about such an important public matter. I recommend people check out Dr Peter Attia's excellent podcast on the Corona Virus on his 'Drive' channel.

I have friends that flew to Morroco last Thursday with plans of going on to Spain after that. I was shocked. I love them and I'm so concerned for them. I just can't believe they got on that plane.

In Madrid they held a huge event for women's day. About 20,000 people attended (at this point it was clear that the situation in Italy had spun wildly out of control). Around 24 hours later they announced the closure of schools. About a week later they entered lockdown. It seems implausible that they didn't know on March 6th or 7th that women's day should have been cancelled. What stopped them? Fear of a backlash? I feel like it's exactly the same issue with border control.

For those of us with social anxiety, social distancing is just giving in to our normal impulses.

I’ve been at home with 3 and 5 year old sons for 3.5 weeks ( we live in Korea). My wife’s been working portions of each day. Staying inside all day everyday is not an option. We’d have all gone crazy by now.

I missed this intro!!!! I liked this podcast better when it was "Waking up"! I WAS WRITING THIS BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED HE'D BE CHANGING BACK FROM NOW ON! Glad to know others have complained!!

What a GLORIOUS day! Thank you sam!

retain this music forever!

"A crowd of doomed imbeciles just fighting their way into the magic kingdom". -Sam Harris

I'm honestly concerned that it will come to a point where we would rather get the virus. I live in Iraq and my fear is certainly economic. I hope that this will never happen, but I'm just concerned. My country is already weak and with oil prices going down, I can't help but worry...

I have nothing but respect for Sam and his work, but at this time NOTHING about coronavirus - especially information this useful - should be behind a paywall.

I am so on this intro music train.

We did it, we memed Dr. Harris to change the music!

Thank you dr. Harris

My favorite guest of Sam's.

Lol. Everyone was so butt hurt about the old music.

I really enjoy listening to podcasters like Tim Ferriss, Sam Harris and Joe Rogan. However, I hope that because all these events they will promote solidarity a bit more in the future. When they address a problem, the solution often seems to be up to the individual and only to the individual. We can see now that some issues can only be solves by the governments or the whole nation together. Maybe this crisis will make Americans change their mind on the health system and gun control.

Sam's pressing need to inform and 'save' people with knowledge he feels is imperative draws some interesting parallels to fervent religion.. Is it ironic that my second favourite atheist sounds 'holier than thou'?

I am comforted by the old music 👍

In large part (the specifics of which I'm unaware), being a billionaire is made possible by taking advantage of and underpaying laborers. Billionaires are not bad people, but when a billionaire's wealth is made possible by a sea of laborers who are struggling to procure the base of the hierarchy of needs, there's something immoral there. When taxpayers are backing the risk of bad actors who were responsible for the 2007 recession, then I don't see why workers shouldn't avail themselves of whatever redistribution is possible, much moreso a nonviolent transfer of power to Bernie Sanders who is at least prioritizing basic needs like health care and education.

25:04 "...Anyone who is playing with a bat in one hand and a duck in the other is just a f***ing terrorist at this point."

I totally understand your reason behind making the podcast subscription only, and think the free access for those unable to afford it is truly fantastic. But maybe this subject is not one to cut off early right now? It could be useful to those who won't sign up or even email, a public service if you will. Best wishes.

I thought this would be the full podcast because it is COVID19 related??

Thanks Sam. Love these videos

lol people are really complaining about the intro music that much that he changed it back 😂

What is wrong with people who are ignoring this - they like their own odds and don't care enough about those who have poorer odds.

Sobering. The footage of beaches and social gatherings especially recently in Florida- devastating. My own family comparing this to the flu and an over-reaction...seeming confused and exasperated by their own little inconveniences.

I wish it was just coordination Sam. I work in medical records at a hospital and they still say we have to come to work despite 2 employees testing positive, i have almost 300 hours in leave time but our shift has been understaffed from prior incompetence, and quitting seems just as shortsighted as staying considering the statistical risk for 30 year olds. Im all out of sorts in these streets lol

Hey Sam I've been making music since I was 16 and would love a chance to do your intro music. If you see this reply or something and I'll do it for free I can send you a bunch and you can tell me if you like any!

Fair trade. Someone else is already using your new music as an intro for their podcast anyway.

When that new music would hit I would always picture you walking into a gay club with the blue steel look on your face. You are the best though, glad the old intro is back.

1 week in this context is crazy. I've felt insane for 1 week three times over for the last three weeks. And each time it's easier a week later. But it's been a rough month.

The free market failed us in terms of ventilators? Is Sam under the impression the healthcare system is an unregulated free market? There are regulations and restrictions on every stage and aspect of the Meducal industry. From the number of medical schools, doctors and nurses, to the building of new hospitals, to that restrictions on drug development to the invention and construction of every single piece of meducal equipment from tape to MRIs to yes ventilates, regulations exist to both restrict the supply and raise the price. But the free market has failed? There are people right now trying to use 3D printers to mass produce ventilators. Something they would have been doing years ago had it been legal to sell them. However the regulatory hurtles that exist prevented that from happening and when the FEDs clamp down on them for selling or even giving them away, I’ve no doubt Sam will demonize the producers for profit seeking and defend the restrictions that reduce the supply of meducal goods.

THE MUSIC IS GONE!

Check out Dr. Michael Greger's talk on where pandemics come from.... it's crazy how we're all still alive given how flippantly we treat these things.

And elsewhere I saw comments that Dr. Sanjay Gupta's podcast is "fake news." I'm not even looking for this stuff, it just ends up on my feed.

I would trade 7000 lives to Coronavirus for the old music back any day

Seventh and proud to announce I listen to Sam's making sense for the brain candy, deep thoughts and wise words. Thanks S.H. Was 7th when I started typing.

Talk to Jared Taylor.

*The classic Coke of the old music* Good analogy. This is like the blundering failed marketing of the "white Pepsi", just to come back to the old classic one. Thanks for recognising that, Sam.

Managed infection is the only option. The UK Govt has the right approach to this crisis, flatten the infection cure so the health services can manage the cases and give us all the best chances to survive this virus.

Yes I love the old music

I have zero idea why Sam and Paul are focusing on individual reasons for people being clueless about the virus. The British (and by the sounds of it American) state has been completely useless on this, and has failed to inform the public as to how serious this was. My family and I went to the shop and bought a couple of months worth of spare food about six weeks ago and I saved enough money to last me a few months without a wage (I might be misrenembering, but it was well before anyone was talking about this as an issue) . When I told others to do the same, they all said that it isn't serious and referenced the government. We had the leader of Britain insisting up until a week ago that everything is fine. Then all of a sudden he comes out and says people are going to lose family members. It's completely redundant to ask why people haven't responded correctly The people who run our respective countries are irresponsible morons and their incompetence is at fault

Glad to hear the old music.

It's giving people money to pay their rent, their utilities, insurance and countless other necessary things. It's not about going to a restaurant.

Once issues get politicized, folks don’t take them seriously (climate change, corona virus)

Thanks, Sam.

Keep the old music

"It's funny, a pandemic seems to turn everybody into a socialist" *fade out* "If you'd like to continue listening, you'll need to subscribe."

Thank god you changed the music back

Sam thinks he’s early at the end of February. I sold all my stocks late Jan and bought a P100 respirator mask February 4th.

Most of the in-bound infections we've gotten here in Australia have come from the US. With Italy then China taking out 2nd and 3rd place. Its pretty much purely politics that has meant we've not closed our borders to Seppostan.

Thank you for trying Sam!

8:30 How many old people do you find that are receptive to the argument "don't you appreciate that these people's lives matter" when the topic is making mild changes to their lifestyle/behavior in the face of climate change in order to preserve a livable planet for the younger generations?

I think I saw Randall Flagg on the bus today.