Best Optimistic Nerds Podcasts (2025)

1
Space Karens and Government Corruption 1:02:18

17h ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Send us a text In this entertaining and engaging episode of Positively Pedestrian, our hosts are joined by the witty and insightful Sam Stanton. Together, they discuss a wide range of topics, including the deep-rooted issues of religious hypocrisy and systemic corruption, as well as the surprising fact that koalas can contract chlamydia. No topic i…

1
Bathwater Capitalism and Alluring Memes 1:16:55

1d ago1:16:55

1:16:55

Send us a text This episode explores the absurdities of modern culture, from bathwater buyers to broken earbuds. The hosts delve into topics such as social media fame, how memes have replaced mixtapes, and the curious phenomenon of ASMR. We are joined by the wonderful Megan Tyte, who helps unpack everything from monkeypox symptoms to Reddit culture…

1
The Future of Digital Labor and Recycling Robots 41:41

3d ago41:41

41:41

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of Positively Pedestrian, the hosts explore the complex issues surrounding automation, gig economies, and AI recycling techniques. They discuss the topic of E-waste, micro-jobs, and blockchain-based gig contracts. This discussion goes beyond what technology is capable of; it raises important question…

1
Cloud City: A Cultural Revolution 1:15:22

4d ago1:15:22

1:15:22

Send us a text In this captivating episode the hosts begin with an intriguing question: Would you consider moving to a floating city in the clouds of Venus? They then explore a variety of fascinating topics, including energy production, the cult-like culture in America, and the spread of misinformation. The hosts discuss what it means to build a be…

1
The Race to the Bottom: Doom, Direction, and Responsibility 51:32

5d ago51:32

51:32

Send us a text In this thought evoking episode of Positively Pedestrian, the hosts delve into topics ranging from poor navigation skills to humanity’s biggest flaw’s. This episode discusses the great filter idea, the potential dangers of AI, and the moral shortcomings of business models.By Kris Tyte & Sean Snodgrass

1
Job Tales: Wet Pants, Chaos, and Crawling Coworkers 1:24:11

8d ago1:24:11

1:24:11

Send us a text In this outlandish episode of Positively Pedestrian, the hosts stroll through memory lane, spilling quirky stories about coworkers and being fired, wild customer encounters, and the raw chaos of the working world. From selling leather coats on MDMA to working the food court next to a grown man crawling in the fetal position, this epi…

1
Wired for Life: Nature’s Secret Code 1:36:08

8d ago1:36:08

1:36:08

Send us a text In this wandering-yet-profound episode, the hosts explore the interconnectedness of life, natural and artificial through stories about pollen, memes, IT nerds, elephants, strip mall economies, and gut bacteria. What starts as a walk through muffler-laced streets quickly dives into deep symbiosis: how trees may chemically communicate,…

1
Symbiosis: Humanity, Technology, and the Web of Life 42:34

10d ago42:34

42:34

Send us a text This episode delves into the intricate relationships between humans, nature, and technology. The hosts explore the concept of symbiosis, highlighting how our connections to the natural world and technological advancements shape our existence. Drawing inspiration from Carl Sagan's 'Pale Blue Dot,' they discuss the responsibilities tha…

1
Precarious Lives: Stories, Entropy, and the Performance of Living 37:23

11d ago37:23

37:23

Send us a text This episode reflects on the fragile nature of human life, likening Earth to a delicate oasis in space. The hosts explore how people face mortality with public personas, the role of social media in widening internal-external gaps, and the paradox of modern comfort versus existential anxiety. Through personal stories and philosophical…

1
The Kinesthetic Disconnect: Modern Challenges for Youth 26:53

11M ago26:53

26:53

Send us a text In this episode, Kris Tyte and Sean Snodgrass delve into the intricate relationship between psychological stress, motor skills, and modern childhood experiences. They discuss how high levels of anxiety can disrupt kinesthetic processes, affecting everything from athletic performance to everyday activities. The hosts draw connections …

1
Transhumanism and Technology Scapegoating 39:10

12M ago39:10

39:10

Send us a text In this engaging episode, Kris Tyte and Sean Snodgrass delve into the concept of transhumanism and the ethical implications of technology integration. They explore the idea of using technology as a scapegoat and discuss how advancements in AI and neural networks impact human cognition and well-being. The hosts also touch upon histori…

1
Consciousness: Beyond the Brain 32:23

12M ago32:23

32:23

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode, Kris Tyte and Sean Snodgrass explore the future of consciousness, discussing the potential of brain tissue in different environments, the implications of AI and neurological networks, and the emotional components of intelligence. From historical experiments to futuristic scenarios, they delve into t…

1
Artificial Horizons: Envisioning a Future with AI and Human Knowledge 38:51

1y ago38:51

38:51

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we embark on a fascinating journey through the interplay of AI and human creativity, pondering the possibilities of archiving our collective wisdom before AI reshapes our knowledge landscape. Join us as we explore innovative preservation methods, debate the role of AI in creativity, and discu…

1
Andor 1:00:03

2y ago1:00:03

1:00:03

The SWNU crew discuss Andor. May the 4th be with you.

1
FTX Monkey Business & Eat the Rich 56:44

2+ y ago56:44

56:44

Send us a text From millennial crypto bros to the politically and powerful we discuss the house of cards built up by monkey business schemes of crypto, political power, and fiat debt masquerading as wealth. The wealthy and powerful continue to build empires of narcissism on the back of the good will and nature of the masses. When AI takes over thes…

1
Tiers of Wealth and Justice & Subjective Reality 1:19:30

2+ y ago1:19:30

1:19:30

Send us a text The pope as an apologist for actions of the church, our modern world considers limiting, racist, and criminal. These apologies for acts of a generation or two ago, brought us to technology as an aid to both chronicle and create history. While at the same time technology serves as a deep multiplier, of productivity, scale, and speed. …

1
Cultural & Social Impact of Social Media 1:26:20

2+ y ago1:26:20

1:26:20

Send us a text Screen time is exploding in society and changing our culture, values, and perhaps even what it means to be human. Is humanity becoming a species with consumption as its primary goal function? Is social media collectively shaping a new world order and a common culture structured around consumption? From addiction to misinformation to …

1
Cultural Superiority via Hyper Violence 1:17:57

2+ y ago1:17:57

1:17:57

Send us a text Episode 39 – Cultural Superiority via Hyper Violence From video games to the cinema to made-for-TV dramas to the evening news to world history to the bible, we are saturated in stories of violence, simulated violence, or actual violence. Is there value in such large-scale exposure to violence, or is violence a useful or necessary too…

1
Complexity & Scale of Technology on Humanity 1:07:43

2+ y ago1:07:43

1:07:43

Send us a text Episode 38 – Complexity & Scale of Technology on Humanity We live in an age one might call the Great Technological Expansion. As technology advances so rapidly, tradition, culture, generational knowledge, morality, and many other aspects of society are being pressured to change, and rapidly. This is a gale of creative destruction tha…

1
Versions of Hyper Violence & Feminine Revolt 1:18:21

2+ y ago1:18:21

1:18:21

Send us a text Episode 37 - Versions of Hyper Violence & Feminine Revolt Exploring versions of violence through its various forms, including the perpetual inappropriate allocation of monetary resources. Is misinformation the new virtual land of milk and honey, is the future to be determined by those with the best version of Augmented Reality? Let’s…

1
The Mandalorian S01E07 24:36

3y ago24:36

24:36

We discuss the seventh episode of the first season of the Mandalorian.

1
The Mandalorian S01E06 30:49

3y ago30:49

30:49

We discuss the sixth episode of the first season of The Mandalorian.

1
The Mandalorian S01E05 38:09

3y ago38:09

38:09

We discuss the fifth episode of the first season of The Mandalorian.

1
Misandry Male Privilege & Fronting Sexuality 1:19:56

3y ago1:19:56

1:19:56

Send us a text Episode 36 – Misandry Male Privilege & Fronting Sexuality Portraying men as fat stupid and lazy has become socially normal. Has Misandry (hatred or disdain toward men) taken hold in America, and if so, what effects may this have on society? We also examine the social trend and effects of putting one’s sexual identity as a leading per…

1
Don't Call It a Comeback 1:13:46

3y ago1:13:46

1:13:46

An episode to bring us up to date with reality. Almost.

1
Shadow Economy & Second Class Citizens 1:19:07

3y ago1:19:07

1:19:07

Send us a text Episode 34 – Shadow Economy & Second Class Citizens There is a disconnect between what most people believe society is all about versus the reality of how society truly is. Every major developed country in the world has a shadow economy and a minority group of second-class citizens which are known to exist, but everybody pretends they…

1
Shaping Preference & Inducing Greatness 1:22:29

3y ago1:22:29

1:22:29

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the world covered in plants being terraformed by people under bizarre constrains and what seems like a complete lack of useful planning. Human existence might seem like slime mold to a sophisticated alien species, growing and consuming without reason or guided purpose. Beyond human…

1
Clearing the Great Filter & Dethroning Kleptocrats 56:01

3y ago56:01

56:01

Send us a text Episode 32 - Clearing the Great Filter & Dethroning Kleptocrats Guest contributor Sam Stanton is with us as we discuss how humanity may willfully avoid omnicide and prevent our own extinction as a species. Continued weaponization of technology as technology rapidly expands may be the highway to hell and the Great Filter that perhaps …

1
Rights in a Crisis & The Faithful Pseudoscientists 1:22:36

3y ago1:22:36

1:22:36

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the long-overdue and much-needed shift in American Culture. From Gun & Bible fanatics to Pedophile Priests, to Hands-On Scout Masters, to social media as the dominant source of news, to the faithful hordes of Pseudoscientists, we need a shift to sobriety, healthy skepticism, and em…

1
Declining Mental Health & Naming Pets 1:16:46

3y ago1:16:46

1:16:46

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss pets we had in the past, the names we gave them, and the ups and downs of having pets. Sean talks about being in a mega bass car club and killer sound systems. Then we transition to talking about congress, stocks, and cognitive decline, followed by neurological disorders, depressio…

1
Obi-Wan Kenobi Episodes 5 and 6 2:02:17

3y ago2:02:17

2:02:17

The SWNU crew breaks down the last two episodes of the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series. Then we heard from the listeners. Be sure to send in more letters. We read them. Sorry for the delay, we had a technical issue whereby I thought I'd posted the episode but it hadn't been processed yet. So no file. Anyway, hope ya'll are doing well. Thanks for coming.…

1
Revealing Measuring & Validating Ourselves 1:14:57

3y ago1:14:57

1:14:57

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss possible ways we may be able to validate ourselves, the goodness within us, and the quality of our characters both to ourselves and to others. Measuring our institutions and big-picture objectives of where we are headed, through both guided and misguided pursuits. We drill into a p…

1
Abortion Rights & Shifting American Culture 2:24:46

3y ago2:24:46

2:24:46

Send us a text In a special holiday edition of Positively Pedestrian, Sean Snodgrass, Kris Tyte, and guest Lindsay Page Nelson discuss the Shifting Landscape of American culture spurred by the recent supreme court reversal of Roe v Wade. Social media, political parties, and entrenched industrial complexes leave the rich far richer and the rest of u…

1
Politics, Dog Bites & Human Corpses 40:49

3y ago40:49

40:49

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we get into some discussion on politics which quickly devolves back into a discussion about hypocrisy and the rule of the all-mighty dollar. Next, we talk about pets and the bizarre and seldomly talked about side of pet ownership. Then we get into what could be and should be done with people'…

1
AI Sentience & Layers of Misinformation 1:17:41

3y ago1:17:41

1:17:41

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss AI Sentience, AGI, and a variety of causes and effects of misinformation from the potential effects on the individual mind all the way to state-sponsored information warfare. We discuss the US Government as a Kleptocracy masquerading as a democracy, and patriotism gone wild. The ov…

1
A Veritable Cornucopia of High-Octane Maladies 1:07:57

3y ago1:07:57

1:07:57

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss everything from simulated stupidity to stretching the imagination, and placebos. We are honing in on the toxicity of believing without evidence. And working to explore the interplay between faith, charisma, and science.By Kris Tyte & Sean Snodgrass

1
Free Will vs. Determinism 1:25:31

3y ago1:25:31

1:25:31

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the macro and micro implications of the classic philosophical debate of Free Will vs. Determinism. We look at how one's overall social, cognitive, and physical environment plays a crucial role in shaping one's beliefs and behaviors. Furthermore, we look at Free Will and Determinism…

1
Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 4 48:33

3y ago48:33

48:33

The Nerds Unite crew get together to discuss the latest episode in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+. We snuck some folks in under a cloak, exposed hidden underwater access hatches, and got our Obi-Wan training montage.

1
Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 3 59:18

3y ago59:18

59:18

Darth Vader and Obi-Wan power-walk in this episode and it's super intense. Episode 3 brings Obi-Wan and Leia into danger and Vader is hot on their heels. Join Tim, Jen, and Mason as they discuss the ins and outs of this episode.By Nerds Unite Studios

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Obi-Wan Kenobi Part 1 and 2 1:36:05

3y ago1:36:05

1:36:05

We are back. It's fitting that Obi-Wan decided to come back at the same time that we did...since he's such a fan of ours and all. We discuss the new Star Wars show, Obi-Wan Kenobi's debut episodes. Jenny gives a four-hour synopsis on the first episode and Josh does ten minutes on episode two. After we tear into the Deborah Chow-directed show, we ta…

1
UFOs & Alien Sky Daddies 1:01:27

3y ago1:01:27

1:01:27

Send us a text | In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the prospect aliens are real and are here on Earth already, and have a significant impact on our past, present, and future. We further our discussion with the concept of Earth as a Living Organism and extend this outward into the idea of a Living Universe. Perhaps the inevitable …

1
Modern Corporate Racism & Causesumerism 1:06:59

3y ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Send us a text | In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the intricacies of racism and misappropriated modern versions of perpetuating racist thinking through hypocritical so-called “diversity and inclusion” training and various other inappropriate artifacts of corporate culture regardless of intent. Race is a social construct, not a s…

1
Concerted Cultivation & Positive Change 43:52

3y ago43:52

43:52

Send us a text | In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss consciously positively influencing ourselves and others by having a core disposition of positivity. Augmenting our environments, surroundings, and interactions with the intent to have a consistent positive influence on ourselves and thereby others. Then we transition into a nosta…

1
Humans - What Makes Us Special? 1:02:51

3y ago1:02:51

1:02:51

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss various cultural and social artifacts that may be strong evidence for the idea human beings are “special” and not just another animal species. We discuss how technology enhances our capabilities, pushes the boundaries of what is possible, and how this is perhaps defining. Finally, …

1
IT Moonlighting & Consumer Lives Matter 1:10:32

3y ago1:10:32

1:10:32

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss IT professionals and employees in other related career fields that can be done remotely, double or triple dipping working several jobs simultaneously, and tools that help people pull this off. We talk a bit about the right to death, then transition to the intricacies of capitalism …

1
Algorithms for Humanity & Metaverse Fail 1:01:26

3y ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Send us a text | In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss hardened data centers, algorithms that predict behavior being used for consumerism over humanism, IT experts and adults fidgeting and wasting time unknowingly, the sophistication of computers and hyper progress. We also discuss how the Metaverse is going to be one of the largest …

1
Hoarding & Self-Deprecation 42:41

3y ago42:41

42:41

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the war in Ukraine, how sanctions are used and not used in geopolitics, our experiences with hoarders, stealing from a church, how some people can believe anything such as the idea that birds aren’t real, the preaching of the prosperity doctrine and how to hack raffles to do a bit …

1
Endemics & The New Normal of Pandemics 1:20:56

3y ago1:20:56

1:20:56

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss endemic diseases and how based on livestock agriculture, land use, and globalization, pandemics are going to be the new normal. We explore the idea of natural empathy through understanding, how everyone has deficiencies, and sometimes it’s a good idea to let kids get away with thin…

1
Battered Chef Syndrome & Human Rights 1:05:44

3y ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss universal human rights and the vision of a world where every person can have a large collection of inalienable rights on which they could rely and what implications such a world would have on the quality of life. Right now, from which womb one emerges is the largest predictive fact…

1
Human Industrial Complex 52:35

3y ago52:35

52:35

Send us a text In this episode of Positively Pedestrian, we discuss the idea of building a grassroots movement where people join forces and work toward collectively improving their health and wellness by supporting and caring for one another. The trend here in the United States is socialism for the wealthy and dog eat dog free-market capitalism for…

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