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The Sisyphus 55 Podcast

Sisyphus 55

Youtuber tries to sound smart for one hour and is sometimes joined by smarter people

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 58 min
  • English

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Episodes 20

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  • September 5 · 51 min

    Embracing Uncertainty Through Philosophy with Pursuit of Wonder

    We explore the purpose of uncertainty, why some people are more comfortable with deep questions than others, and the process of writing. Please check out Robert's work here: https://www.youtube.com/@PursuitofWonder Support the show

  • May 26 · 52 min

    The Psychology of Gaslighting (feat. Willis Klein)

    Klein, W., Li, S., & Wood, S. (2023). A qualitative analysis of gaslighting in romantic relationships. Personal Relationships, 30(4), 1316-1340. Specifically talk about it around 25 minutes and 42 minutes Klein, W., Wood, S., Forget, A. A., & Bartz, J. A. (2026). A historical review of gaslighting: Tracing changing conceptualizations within psychiatry and psychology. Clinical Psychology Review, 102742. Was under review when we filmed - accepted and early access now Klein, W., Wood, S., & Bartz, J. A. (2026). A theoretical framework for studying the phenomenon of gaslighting. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 30(2), 195-215. I call it the 2025 paper, cause it was accepted and early access online in 2025, but I guess now it gets 2026 in the citation info, because the issue its technical in is the January issue. Which is annoying, because it's cited as 2025 in some places lol. Info on other stuff I brought up https://www.amazon.ca/This-Your-Brain-Music-Obsession/dp/0452288525 Barton, R., & Whitehead, J. A. (1969). THE GAS-LIGHT PHENOMENON. The Lancet, 293(7608), 1258–1260. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(69)92133-3 First psychiatric gaslighting paper, don't think its open access though Stark, C. A. (2019). Gaslighting, misogyny, and psychological oppression. The monist, 102(2), 221-235. 11 minute mark - reasonable disagreement - I thin it's open access Clark, A. (2013). Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36(3), 181–204. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X12000477 Around the 19 minute mark de Bruin, L., & Michael, J. (2021). Prediction error minimization as a framework for social cognition research. Erkenntnis, 86(1), 1-20. Also around the 19 minute mark Friston, K. (2010). The free-energy principle: a unified brain theory?. Nature reviews neuroscience, 11(2), 127-138. Around the 22 min mark Ogunfowora, B., & Bourdage, J. S. (2026). Is My Boss Gaslighting Me? Uncovering the Nomological Network of Gaslighting In Leader-Employee Relationships. Journal of Management, 01492063261426014. Workplace gaslighting 29 minute mark Bashford, J., & Leschziner, G. (2015). Bed partner “gas-lighting” as a cause of fictitious sleep-talking. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11(10), 1237-1238. Contemporary case study discussed around 30 minute mark Bellomare, M., Giuseppe Genova, V., & Miano, P. (2024). Gaslighting exposure during emerging adulthood: Personality traits and vulnerability paths. International journal of psychological research, 17(1), 29-39. Miano, P., Bellomare, M., & Genova, V. G. (2021). Personality correlates of gaslighting behaviours in young adults. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 27(3), 285-298. 2 papers on personality and gaslighting - 35 minute mark Graves, C. G., & Samp, J. A. (2021). The power to gaslight. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(11), 3378-3386. Gaslighting and power 35 minute mark https://www.amazon.com/Gaslighting-Interrogation-Methods-Psychotherapy-Analysis/dp/1568218281 Covert control - 37 minute mark - cults 46 minute mark Support the show

  • March 6 · 1 hr

    Incels, FOMO, and the Crisis of Isolation - Meadhbh Park

    Maeve's Work: She has been in the field of countering violent extremism (CVE), focusing on prevention and practitioner research, for the last five years. She wrote a book titled Black Pilled Masculinity Media and Incels, which breaks down the ideology and includes interviews with 32 young self-identified incels. She sees the incel community as an "extremist misogyny, manosphere" space and focuses on understanding the people involved in these spaces. The conversation covers: The "Black Pill" (the incel idea of seeing the "harsh reality of the world") and the sense of intellectual superiority it gives some members. The "Fear of Missing Out" (FOMO), which Maeve describes as a core tenet of incel ideology, where they believe everyone else is "at the party" and they are not. The concept of incels as a "canary in the coal mine" for increasing societal isolation and poor social skills in younger generations. The self-defeating nature of the ideology, which often leads to incels developing unrealistically strict criteria for a partner and becoming "worse position now" than before. The role of social media and passive consumption/lurking in increasing feelings of depression and anxiety, especially when comparing one's own life to the curated, often fake, "influencer" lifestyle. The importance of learning and practicing social skills to combat isolation. Support the show

  • Mar 27, 2025 · 57 min

    How To Find Meaning In Life - According to Science! (with Dr. Tatjana Schnell)

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tatjana Schnell, a leading researcher in the psychology of meaning, to talk about what it really means to live a meaningful life. We explore how people navigate existential crises, the different ways we construct meaning, and why the experience of belonging is so central to our well-being. This conversation is both intellectually rich and deeply human — a reflection on what keeps us going when things feel uncertain, empty, or directionless. Support the show

  • Jan 22, 2024 · 33 min

    Defeating Political Doomerism (with Marianne Williamson)

    Marianne Williamson is a candidate running for the Democratic nomination for President of The United States in 2024. She’s a successful entrepreneur, bestselling author, political activist, and globally influential spiritual thought leader. For over three decades, she has been a leader in spiritual and progressive circles. She is the author of 15 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. If interested, here are ways you can support her campaign: Marianne2024.com Social Media Twitter @MarWilliamson Instagram: @MarianneWilliamson TikTok: @MarWilliamsonOfficial Support the show

  • Sep 19, 2023 · 1 hr 9 min

    Pick-Up Artists, Seduction & Masculine Intimacy (with Dr. Rachel O'Neill)

    We discuss mediated intimacy, masculinity and the perils of the seduction industry, You can check out Dr. O'Neill's work here: https://www.amazon.ca/Seduction-Men-Masculinity-Mediated-Intimacy-ebook/dp/B07F52917Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=486Q75CCLGV2&keywords=seduction+rachel+o%27neill&qid=1695125646&sprefix=seduction+rachel+o%27neill%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1 Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3261155 Support the show

  • Mar 1, 2023 · 54 min

    Marxism (with Dr. Richard Wolff)

    See more from Prof Wolff by subscribing to Democracy at Work on Youtube: https://youtube.com/democracyatwrk Support the show

  • Dec 2, 2022 · 1 hr 2 min

    The Crisis of Meaning (feat. Dr. John Vervaeke)

    A great discussion with Dr. John Vervaeke, a Psychology Professor at University of Toronto. We discuss the cognition of meaning, what is 'real', the importance of cultivating ecologies of practice and so much else. Support the show

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes