Exclusive Episodes of The Uncertainty Principle (private feed for dochealy@gmail.com)

Chris Lakin - The Incentives Behind Your Mind

In this episode, I speak with writer and coach Chris Lakin about a deceptively simple idea that has reshaped my perspective on human behavior: locally optimal psychology. Chris explains why so many of us cling to patterns like anxiety, self-rejection, or certain life narratives: not because they’re good, but because they’re the best solutions we’ve found so far for our current incentive landscape. We dig into why “just understanding” your problems intellectually rarely works, the role of feeling your feelings, and how hidden incentives keep us stuck. We also touch on boundaries, the pitfalls of trauma culture, and the subtle traps of self-improvement trends. It’s a conversation about unlearning, clarity, and seeing your mind’s strategies for what they are.Chris is a coach and writes here on Substack and on Twitter @chrischipmonk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Jordan Call - Traditional Values, Modern Dad

When I first stumbled onto Jordan Call’s Substack, I felt like I was reading my own husband’s internal monologue. Jordan walked away from an accelerating career in the higher echelons of Law, chose diapers over depositions, and started writing candidly about the daily vertigo of being a full‑time, faith‑anchored dad chasing creativity on crumbs of nap‑time energy. We speak about trading anxiety for the slightly adrift day-to-day of parenting, gentle‑ish limits, toddler ferality, masculinity jitters at Sam’s Club, parasocial weirdness, and how to keep ambition alive until the kids finally sleep through the night.Jordan Call is a writer, and his Substack is: Chapters* 00:01 Why Jordan’s writing hit home for Alex.* 02:02 Leaving law: expectations vs. reality; anxiety relief; creative trade-offs.* 04:19 Invisible job costs; status, collaboration, & Substack as replacement community.* 11:18 LDS framing; “trad” motives/role reversal; masculinity moments; “Mr. Mom.”* 16:48 How men & women react to his role, generational differences.* 18:24 Parenting tactics: Manuals vs. Improvisation: Sleep, Solids, Systems.* 22:15 Gentle parenting—useful, overextended?* 27:05 Independence, boredom, “Anxious Generation” vibes.* 32:07 Splitting labor with multiple kids; couple time scarcity.* 37:30 Dearth of “daddy blogs”; mommy status economy.* 50:12 Writing about kids: privacy, consent, future selves.* 58:17 Parasocial relationships; scaling audiences; burnout.* 01:08:52 Building an audience with small kids; long game.* 01:18:08 Jordan’s rec: Tim Rogers (maximalist game critic/storyteller). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Jeremiah Johnson - Paying the Toll of the Infinite Scroll

Ever since Jeremiah Johnson’s Substack Infinite Scroll began dissecting the digital landscape, I’ve wanted to sit him down and share notes on our adventures on the feed. I asked what would happen if Twitter were to disappear tomorrow, would the memes finally loosen their grip on power, or merely migrate elsewhere? Our conversation ranges from Kristi Noem’s “Hype‑House” politics to alligator‑guarded borders, from algorithmic masculinity to the quiet salvation of congestion pricing. Johnson argues that our infinite scroll extracts a significant but finite toll, but he remains unexpectedly hopeful. Jeremiah Johnson is a cofounder of the Center for New Liberalism and the author of the Substack Infinite Scroll. Chapters00:00 The Impact of Twitter on Politics03:04 The Evolution of Online Discourse05:48 Status and Resentment in Society08:52 The Role of Extremism in Politics11:53 The Media's Influence on Political Perception15:01 Populism and Political Promises17:51 The Dynamics of Right-Wing Politics20:51 The Challenge of Expertise in Politics23:34 The Future of Political Communication26:36 The Intersection of Loyalty and Ideology29:35 The Role of Social Media in Modern Politics32:26 The Long-Term Effects of Political Policies35:50 Navigating the Future of Political Engagement42:11 The Evolution of Public Opinion on Policy Changes44:36 Navigating the Complexities of Internet Regulation47:38 The Role of AI in Shaping Online Discourse50:29 Understanding the Dynamics of Masculinity and Society56:16 The Impact of Education and Status on Gender Relations01:01:29 The Search for Truth in a Sea of Misinformation01:16:03 Strategies for Staying Grounded in a Digital World This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Rewriting Work, Status, and Ambition

Welcome to The Uncertainty Principle. I’m, as always, recording from my only slightly soundproofed annex in Transylvania, where we are having the mother of all booming roadworks at the moment, so excuse the potential sound of demolition in the background. Today, we’re cracking open the myth that the safest road is the one everybody else walks. We explore what happens when you trade the bird in your hand for the potential two in the bush, and the well-trodden path of prestige for genuine curiosity. Spoiler: the world (usually) doesn’t end. We also talk about being parents with strange jobs, the creator economy, money, feeling “safe”, and much more. Paul Millerd is a former McKinsey-trained consultant who traded strategy decks for independent writing, podcasting, and (most recently) hands-on fatherhood. His self-published book The Pathless Path has become a cult guide to defying default scripts around career, money, and status.00:00 Why “default” feels broken09:30 Status games & the Moat of Low Status18:45 Ambition, authenticity, and inner fire28:10 Parenting on the pathless path (a.k.a. Baby Jail)37:20 Money, frugality, and owning less stuff46:55 Caregiving scripts vs. creative work54:40 Tiny experiments: learning to just do things01:00:20 Book recs, role models, and closing thoughts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Lane Scott: Building Community in Strange Times

In this conversation, I sit down with Lane, a mother of five, community builder, and thoughtful convert to Catholicism, to explore how personal journeys shape our broader political and social landscapes. Lane’s reflections show the resilience required in modern parenting, the subtle yet profound influence of women in communities, and how tradition intersects with today's complex realities. We dive into the struggles facing American manufacturing post-COVID, the nuanced role tariffs play, and the often-overlooked connections between family life and political power. Lane offers a deeply insightful perspective on balancing timeless values with the practical demands of modern life.Lane Scott is a writer, a mother, a rancher, and the owner/operator of Chapters00:00 From Youth to Motherhood: A Journey of Transformation07:52 Finding Faith: The Role of Catholicism in Personal Growth16:06 Building Resilience: Parenting in Modernity24:07 Creating Community: The Importance of Connection32:01 Navigating Modern Challenges: The Search for Meaning37:10 Navigating Change: Dismantling the Old Order40:09 The Illusion of Political Power43:01 Community and Political Action47:53 The Right's Identity Crisis53:54 Economic Realities and Political Solutions59:56 The Role of Women in Politics and Society01:03:31 The Reality of Parenting and Politics01:06:20 Women as Political Movers and Shakers01:11:06 Hidden Power of Women in Communities01:14:53 The Disconnect in Political Offerings01:18:42 Navigating the Right's Ideological Landscape01:21:59 Building Community and Agency This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe