Episode 28: What is the future of the human race? Does it even have one? Alex and Muna discuss the threats of nuclear war (past and present), climate change, AIDS, the power of fear and how it's used by media and politicians to give us a sense of impending doom, the almost-inevitable (to Alex) AI takeover, viruses in brain chips, overpopulation, declining sperm counts and a new perspective on Darwin's theory of evolution. Muna counters the gloom with some positive stories from around the world and a large dollop of empathy.

Episode 27: What and where is home? Why do some of us feel the urge to travel and live in other countries, or escape the city for the countryside? Conveniently, the German language has words for these drives but Muna and Alex discuss them in English. Anti-homesickness, travel, the difference between expats and immigrants (if there is one), wanderlust, forced hugging, farming in New Zealand, what expats miss out on, and how hard it is to ever go back. Plus Roger Whittaker and the country in which you have to wear make-up to put out the recycling.

Episode 26: Whistleblowers are people who reveal company or state secrets for the "greater good." However, sometimes the actions of whistleblowers can have unintended consequences, for society and for themselves. Here we discuss Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, the limits of secrecy contracts, the brief attention span of the general public, international spying, the changing behaviour of corporations as a result of whistleblowing, peaceful and violent protest, the magical 3.5 percent and, of course, power and money. Join us and listen to the two poles of discernment.

Episode 25: A deathly special for Hallowe'en! Half an hour of conversation on the topic of death, reincarnation, the meaning of existence (or lack thereof), cosmology, higher beings and a pregnant pope. With a spooky cackle from Muna, Alex's unconventional method of determining how his remains will be processed, and the almost obligatory mention of Muna's cottage-in-the-woods granny.

Episode 24: What is the metaverse? Or should that be: what are the metaverses? Web 3.0, immersive VR, massive online worlds, gamification, augmented reality or all of the above? But how does this affect the way we interact as people, and are such virtual worlds good for us as individuals and society? Muna and Alex don't necessarily think so. Join us for a critical look at metaverses in particular, simulations in general (including, possibly, our own) and much more. Topic suggested by Colin Green from Australia - thanks!

Episode 23: Online dating services and apps have changed romantic and sexual relationships completely - but for better or for worse? Muna and Alex discuss the changes that have occurred in the past decade or so, what the algorithms behind the apps might be doing, how (or if) the path of the human race is changing as a result, and what's likely to happen in the future. With honorable mentions of Incels, harems and the gamification of sexual and romantic attraction.

Episode 22: Do our elected representatives actually represent us, or merely their own self-interest? Politicians increasingly seem to have their own agendas, some of which do not align with the needs or desires of their electorate. There's not so much optimism in this episode, more degrees of cynicism, but is there light at the end of the tunnel? With examples of unrepresentative representatives from Germany, the UK, the Czech Republic and the EU in general. Including a dancing Finn, the Party Party and Nazis.

Episode 21: Exploring the pros and cons of critical thinking versus appeals to authority. This episode includes the false authority of financial experts and central banking (and the priesthood), Muna and Alex swapping metaphorical chairs, the illusion of critical thinking, internet fact-checking fallacies, and how to get smarter. Also included are Muna's challenge to Foucault and Kant, questioning one's own bubble, the willingness to err, brief trips to Wuhan and Myanmar, and suppression of dissent by authority, with a nod to Flat Earth Theory, the Wizard of Oz and Galileo. We debate whether hardship leads to critical thinking and take a fond look back to the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. Off with their heads!

Episode 20: Is human adaptability a good thing or a bad thing? Is our ability to adapt to changing events a vice or a virtue, or does it depend on circumstances? Join us as Muna recounts her experiences of contrasting cities (including an earless man) and we discuss homelessness, classical music as a deterrent, the Ratchet Effect, public toilets, the constant baseline of happiness, the increasing rate of technological change and how we adapt (or not) to it, Muna's declaration of love, the effects of fast change on mental health, Alex's pronouncement of the death of globalisation, cultural equilibrium and global homogeneity... and onion-selling Frenchmen on bicycles. With an introduction to Alex's Pendulum and lazy Mexicans.

Episode 19: It's high summer as we're recording this episode, too hot for a conversation about anything serious, so join us as we discuss adult playgrounds instead. A short episode about what we would incorporate into our imaginary playgrounds for adults, including a bar, bouncy castle, trampoline, sandpit, oversized furniture for pedagogical learning, various outdoors games, a sumo-suit fighting ring and a Calvinball arena (if you don't know what Calvinball is, we forgive you but you're missing out on something truly wonderful). This episode is 15 minutes of lighthearted nonsense as most of you in the northern hemisphere are away on holiday. Normal service will be resumed for episode 20.

Episode 18: In line with our motto that some things are too important to be taken seriously, in this episode we discuss euthanasia, assisted dying and assisted suicide. Who decides who is allowed to legally die, and for what reasons? What happens if those reasons then change? What about doctors who took an oath to save lives? On the way we take in depression, suicide and mental health in general, with insights from Belgium, Switzerland and India. It's not an easy topic but in this episode we try to tackle it with levity and with song.

Episode 17: Muna and Alex discuss the conditions under which they would consider being naked in public, which in Alex's case boils down to "whenever it isn't snowing." Muna is more cautious, concerned about aesthetics, body confidence and hygiene. We talk about attitudes to public nudity in different countries, including a diversion to India to talk about naked sweepers, also Alex's hen night experiences, a surprising podcast-funding idea, the naked rambler and a panacea for the ills of the fashion industry. It's quantum nudity at its best.

Episode 16: This episode marks our six-month anniversary! In it we discuss beauty standards and how they've changed over time, different perceptions of beauty from male and female perspectives, leading us down a wild road of fairy tales and other stories from the opposite perspective, the She's All That movie, American jocks and ugly ducklings. But it all starts with Pandora and her enigmatic Box. She just couldn't keep it shut, could she?

Episode 15: The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial has raised all sorts of questions, but here we focus on the broader topic of justice. Alex and Muna delve into individual understandings of what justice means, different approaches to justice in different countries, trial by jury, why it's fair to kill your father but not to steal a sheep, the Bow Street Runners and the major flaw in any judicial system: people!

Episode 14: Does cynicism increase with age? If Muna and Alex are any guide then the answer is a resounding yes. Join us as we discuss the fallacy of truth, the pain of experience, why you should - or shouldn't - try to change the world, the paralysis of fear, Alex's downward staircase of cynicism, Messiah complexes, a dementia café, social schema, corrupt politicians (as usual), happy hairdressers, a blood test for cynicism, the horrors of life-extension medicine, the optimism of youth and the U-shaped happiness graph. With honourable mentions of John Lennon, Bill Gates and Elon Musk. Strange bedfellows indeed.

Episode 13: If we didn't have to work for money, would any of us bother? Muna would, Alex wouldn't... in fact Alex struggles to work even when he's being paid to do so. Join us as we delve into the motivation for work, discover an almost-utopia in India, learn how education is failing to prepare kids for the working world, explore the purity of payment-free art and learn how to bankrupt someone by giving them more money. Featuring sharks and glaciers, because why not?

Episode 12: Is this the end of the world as we know it? Maybe so, maybe not, but Alex and Muna will keep talking anyway, about the mysterious fifth horseman, what's lurking behind the seven seals (and what happens when drinking men break the first one), the breakdown of international trust and why some things just aren't important (to Alex, at least). Featuring a bible quotation by Muna in her most stern and serious voice, Alex's trust issues and some conflicting views about bus drivers. Step this way for war, pestilence, famine, death and... better music?

Episode 11: A discussion on the apparently narcissistic nature of cats (as opposed to dogs) which quickly veers off into the difference between covert and overt narcissists, the pros and cons of Ferraris and inflatable-asset girlfriends, and a somewhat serious (by our standards) conversation about how we see narcissists and how narcissists see us. Featuring Muna's candid, one-word appraisal of Alex's nature. She's not wrong.

Episode 10: Is convenience bad for us, for other people and for the planet? Muna presents the case for "it" as she and Alex discuss the disposable society, transportation, ebooks, the cost of practical and intellectual convenience, loss of privacy, home spying devices, AirBnB, Uber, smartphones, rocket-powered cars and the internet fridge. During all of this, Alex saves lives through laziness and Muna's head explodes.

Episode 9: Is too much state oversight and protection bad for societies and individuals, reducing individual responsibility and initiative? Or do we need the protective umbrella that an all-powerful government gives us? Alex reads an excerpt from a 1950s science-fiction story, Muna takes us on a trip to Burkina Faso and the Gambia, and we discuss self-reliance, democracy, social cohesion, Swiss referenda and political soap operas. This episode has a slower pace than usual because we recorded it at the end of winter and our brains were not at their most perky. But we doubt that the state as parent could have done anything against that.

Episode 8: An exploration of Maslow's well-known hierarchy of needs and why it's... well, not wrong but not necessarily right, either. Muna proposes her alternative version, which starts with a bang. Oh, and the debatable - and hotly debated - rewards of procreation.

Episode 7: Hedonism as a life philosophy, plus the joys of Scrabble and drunk elephants. Our most confrontational episode yet, so please enjoy the tension. Warning: this episode contains mature content and is intended for an adult audience.

Episode 6: Why do we accept being lied to? Why can't advertisers just be honest? A discussion about trust, advertising lies and exaggeration, dating deception, climate-(un)friendly bottled water, non-compostable coffee capsules, fast cars, peacock feathers and Alex's engagement ring.

Episode 5: What's funny, what isn't and who decides? A conversation about the limits of humour, censorship of comedians and whether laughter is a force for good. With references to Dave Chappelle, Daniel Sloss, vegans and one-armed Dutch lesbians. Note: This episode may not be politically-correct but it is inclusive: we make fun of everyone, including ourselves.

Episode 4: The possibilities for learning throughout life, including Kolb's learning cycle, brain plasticity, kicking cats, Muna's love of learning, how to get an astrophysics degree without really trying, and a smattering of very poor French.

Episode 3: Joy, gluttony, Die Hard, Muna's singing, Hansel & Gretel and a cameo appearance by a sheep's head. If this is not Christmas, what is?

Episode 2: A conversation about what - if any - limits there should be to freedom of speech, plus cancel culture and Muna's desire for a human decency switch.

Episode 1: A discussion about thinkers and non-thinkers, using Flat Earth theory as a starting point. Includes Galileo, critical analysis and the scientific method (or lack thereof). And Popper, don't forget Karl Popper.

A very brief introduction by Alex and Muna, explaining who we are, what we are doing with this podcast and why we believe that you will enjoy listening to us.