Robinson's Podcast

287: Daniel Lieberman: Evolution and the Human Diet

Daniel Lieberman is the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, where he studies the evolution of the human body and its relevance to health. In this episode, Robinson and Dan discuss the evolution of the human diet. More particularly, they talk about our last common ancestors with chimpanzees, how changes in the gut shaped human evolution, what Homo sapiens actually ate during the Paleolithic, and the transformative role of cooking. They also discuss whether there is such a thing as a natural human diet, why junk food is so appealing, and what an evolutionary perspective can teach us about weight loss and eating well. Dan’s latest book is Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals About Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well (Knopf, 2026).Fed Up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593537998OUTLINE00:00 Dan’s Interest in Human Evolution04:43 Why Our Heads Don’t Topple Over When We Run07:41 Human Evolution and “Fed Up”10:40 Understanding the Evolution of the Human Diet19:12 Our Last Common Ancestors with Chimpanzees30:05 Evolutionary Changes in the Gut38:51 Homo Sapiens and the Paleolithic Diet48:18 The Transformative Power of Cooking54:30 The Most Important Diets59:19 Why Are Junk Foods So Appealing?01:03:19 Weight LossRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

286: Adam Mockler: Trump, Newsom, and the Dark Future of American Politics

Adam Mockler is a liberal political commentator, YouTube host, and digital media creator who has become one of the most prominent Gen Z voices in American political media. He hosts The Adam Mockler Show and has built an audience of more than two million subscribers on YouTube, where he produces daily political commentary and reporting. In this episode, Robinson and Adam discuss the changing relationship between politics, media, and the internet. More particularly, they talk about Adam’s liberal values, why independent media can outperform legacy media, the battle for attention online, how clipping has become a new form of political canvassing, and what Democrats need to do to win elections in 2026. They also discuss Charlie Kirk, political conspiracy theories and death threats, what Nick Fuentes is doing effectively as a communicator, Gavin Newsom’s media strategy, and whether Generation Alpha speaks a fundamentally different political language.Adam’s Website: https://www.adammockler.comAdam’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adammockler/Adam’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@adammocklerAdam’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adammocklerAdam’s X: https://x.com/adammocklerrOUTLINE00:45 Adam’s Expertise10:53 Adam’s Liberal Values14:30 Why Independent Media Beats Legacy Media18:26 Clipping Is the New Canvassing20:39 The Battle for the Attention Economy26:06 How to Win Elections in 202631:16 What Constraints Are There on Independent Media?38:44 On Charlie Kirk, Conspiracies, and Death Threats41:46 What Is Nick Fuentes Doing Right?47:18 Gavin Newsom’s Media Strategy, Explained52:46 Does Gen Alpha Speak a New Political Language?Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

285 - Richard Wolff & Michael Hudson: The Destruction of Modern Nations

Richard Wolff is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a visiting professor at The New School, where he works on economics in the Marxist tradition. This is Richard’s twelfth appearance on Robinson’s Podcast. Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael’s eighth appearance on the show. In this episode, Robinson, Richard, and Michael discuss colonialism and the death of modern nations. More particularly, they discuss the evolution of capitalism toward socialism, whether colonialism has officially ended, Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Trump, Putin, and the United States. Richard’s latest book is Understanding Capitalism (Democracy at Work, 2024). Michael’s most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). Understanding Capitalism (Book): https://www.democracyatwork.info/understanding_capitalismRichard’s Website: https://www.rdwolff.comEconomic Update: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdateMichael’s Website: https://michael-hudson.comTemples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dmOUTLINE00:00 Is Capitalism Evolving into Socialism?07:20 Is Today the Post-Colonial Period?18:10 How Colonialism Divided the World28:54 China and the Revenge of Feudalism41:06 Productive vs Unproductive Labor49:24 Overcoming the “Discipline” of Academia01:01:17 The Danger of Education01:13:19 Will the United States Break Up?01:21:22 Why the EU and NATO Will Break Up01:29:15 Why Michael Believes the US Will Remain United01:38:37 Trump’s Army and the Militarized Police01:46:49 Is the US Turning into a Police State?01:48:49 The Choice Before a Declining EmpireRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

284 - Steve Keen: The Economics of Global Warfare

Steve Keen is an economist and was most recently Head of the School of Economics, History and Politics at Kingston University in London. He has done research on a wide variety of topics, including Marxist economics, debt, complexity theory, and systems dynamics. In this episode, Steve and Robinson discuss his economic framework in relation to wars around the globe. More particularly, the discuss the importance of oil in the Iran War, the cold war with China, the war in Ukraine, and more.OUTLINE00:00 The Crucial Importance of Oil in the Iran War08:54 Systems Dynamics and Economics14:22 How Much Inflation Will the Iran War Cause?18:17 Will the Iran War Cause Famine?28:56 Conspiracy and the Iran War30:48 Tariffs and Trade Deficits46:03 Will Trump’s Tariffs Bring Manufacturing Back to the United States52:49 Steve’s Motivation59:25 The Crucial Flaw in Marxism01:12:43 Understanding the War in Ukraine’s Impact on Europe01:16:38 On Putin’s Motivations in Ukraine01:26:32 Understanding Trump through Narcissistic Personality Disorder01:32:52 Trump and the Takeover of Venezuela01:38:11 Economists Misunderstand Everything About China01:53:01 Why Will China Survive Global Warming?01:57:18 AI and the Future Economics of the WorldRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

283 - Timothy Snyder: Donald Trump and the End of America

Timothy Snyder holds the inaugural Temerty Chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Snyder’s work has appeared in forty languages and has received a number of prizes, including the Emerson Prize in the Humanities. Snyder was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, has received the Carnegie and Guggenheim fellowships, and holds state orders from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland. He is researching a family history of nationalism and finishing a philosophical book about freedom. In this episode, Robinson and Timothy discuss the future of the United States. More particularly, they delve into AI, rebellion, conspiracy theory, our relationship with Russia and Ukraine, Donald Trump, and more. Timothy’s most recent book is On Freedom (Crown, 2024).Timothy’s Website: https://timothysnyder.orgOn Freedom: https://timothysnyder.org/books/OUTLINE00:00 Will the United States Cease to Exist?13:47 Is Trump Breaking the United States Apart?21:09 Will AI Prevent Armed Rebellion Against the Government?30:20 Trump, Conspiracy Theories, and the Politics of Small Numbers39:46 Putin Does Not Think Ukraine Is Real45:57 What Are Trump’s Soft Spots?50:26 How Tim Organizes His Thought57:59 Donald Trump and the SuperloserRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.