Could the Internet feel happy or depressed? That's a distinct possibility, according to Christof Koch. In this EXTENDED interview, he talks about computer consciousness, God, and just what it means that our brains have a hundred billion neurons and trillions of synapses. Koch wonders whether all matter might have consciousness.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Elizabeth George, author of the Inspector Lynley mysteries, talks about her new novel that tells the life story of the mixed race boy who's arrested for the fatal mugging of the Inspector's wife, which occurred in the previous novel in the series.
Bill Streever is an Alaskan biologist and a "cryophile" - someone who loves the cold. He describes what it's like to jump into freezing water as hypothermia starts to set in.
David Michaelis tells Steve Paulson that Charles Schultz put a lot of himself into the Charlie Brown character, was greatly influenced by his mid-Western upbringing.
Doug here. I thought there was good back-and-forth between Chuck and myself in this conversation. I like how the interview went “meta” at the end, with Chuck speculating that if I’m right about his book being hailed as the “Moby Dick" of non-fiction in 300 years time. This interview belongs in a time capsule. At the very least, a “Best of” show. I also really enjoyed the fact that we heard the musical stylings of John Philip Sousa, Chuck Berry, KISS and Veruca Salt. Of course, if Chuck’s book taught me anything (and it actually taught me many things), I could be wrong.
Ethan Gilsdorf is the author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks," a memoir about role players, online gamers and citizens of other imaginary realms
Father Thomas Keating tells Steve Paulson why he believes everyone ought to practice contemplative meditation.
Film-maker Deborah Scranton gave cameras directly to troops on the ground, then spent months editing the footage they sent her.
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