For the holiday stretch, we're publishing a few of our favorite episodes from this year. Today, we’re airing Erik's solo interview with Sam Harris over on his Upstream podcast. This discussion covers Sam’s concerns about populism, polarization, and inequality. We also discuss why Sam is hated by the left and the right. Moment of Zen will return with a new episode this weekend.
This episode originally aired on May 29th, 2023

Subscribe to Upstream for more longform interviews: https://link.chtbl.com/Upstream
Upstream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UpstreamwithErikTorenberg

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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(05:07) Discussion on Misinformation and Social Media
(07:34) Sam Harris's Decision to Leave Twitter
(14:43) SPONSORS: SHOPIFY | NETSUITE
(19:30) Exploring the Conflict Between Left and Right
(22:27) Debate on Equality, Disparities, and Discrimination
(28:54) Continuation of the Discussion on Equality and Discrimination
(46:57) The Rise of Contrarianism and its Impact on Politics
(47:25) The Influence of Media on Public Perception and Trust
(51:55) The Dangers of Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation
(52:37) The Shift in Political Affiliations and Ideologies
(53:23) The Importance of Trustworthy Institutions and Expertise
(55:19) The Impact of Online Politics and Misinformation
(01:00:28) The Influence of Wealth and Power on Society
(01:06:03) The Dangers of Polarization
(01:11:30) The Ethical Implications of Wealth and Success
(01:16:07) The Challenges of Global Governance and Decentralization
(01:25:19) The Role of Capitalism and the Need for Reform
(01:28:28) Sober Thinking