"The non-standard explanation is not always the right one." Exactly. I can understand why people have lost trust in our institutions, since these institutions have neglected this trust. This, however, does not mean that one should then lend trust to whatever may be the alternative.

Welp... Explains why "Sam Harris is quiet" July 2022

70% of covid victims were obese and had other co-morbidities, and yet there "science-backed" reports that claimed there was no link between diet and covid infections. To this day I have yet to hear recommendations for boosting one's immune system with lifestyle changes in order to fight and withstand infection. The standard explanation is most usually way off the true mark, and is bolstered by biases and tunnel vision.

I listened to it, attentively, till the end. If I were an anti-vaxxer I'd probably feel laughed at in multiple moments throughout this talk, mainly by the guest. Who is going to be convinced of anything when the way of communicating truth is so full of humiliation and condescension? :-( Some people I love dearly are not yet convinced of getting vaccinated, but I can't show them this.

@M C hows that 40% random increase in life insurance costs in 2021 and 40000% incrase in vac adverse evnts dataase treating you?

I don’t think he was condescending at all. He seemed completely comfortable acknowledging the knowns, the unknowns, and unknown unknowns about the virus, as well as explaining the most basic virology and immunology to someone less familiar with those areas.

@Lawrence Wright and just like that, Jamie's point was proven 👍

This guest is so strangely excited about this whole situation, bizzare. He does not know how to win people over, he straight up asked Sam - "Why do you care about those people ?" Lol this is exactly why Sam has these conversations, to convince those who are against or hesitant. I'm double vaccinated, but authoritarian BS that this guy is so happy about goes out the window in my world. You open everyone up to making their choice, advise them at best of your ability to take it, but without sanctimonious preaching or belittling.

@jt , it happens during every pandemic to the ones affected.

@Johnny Cobra , you make some good points, but you may want to reconsider your delivery…it’s just a thought. Have a good day.

@Marty Mcfly 88MPH wow, he was anxious about his wife's cancer years before it occurred. Truly a visionary! People manage to get through their spouses cancer without getting high, everyday. Xannies aren't the way to deal with mental health conditions, it's a way to avoid dealing with them. And you have no idea what I think the remedy for drug addiction is. Sounds like you've taken up the mantle of the right- wing in its entirety, without questioning any of their beliefs. I guess we are different that way.

I like how directly after the conversation about how you can always find a scientist or study to back your claims, they were disagreeing on vaccines vs. natural immunity based on there peticular study and data. Its all very confusing.

At the start of this thing I thought "Alright, this is the thing where we all button down and do things that are for the common good". While I was immediately disappointed with anti-mask anti-lockdown individuals; I've been convinced that sometimes the stubborn few have lessons to teach us. I'm against every mandate and requirement, and you can see why at points of this podcast. Sam asked if vaccine requirements should be required even with those who are naturally immunized and Nicholas didn't directly answer. This is my problem. Real people will be ordered under threat of violence to do these things and no one in government, at least today, answers simple and understandable questions or recognizes reality. He acknowledges that natural immunity exists but tosses it aside claiming that the government couldn't keep track of who is obedient and who is subverting orders. No. I don't care if something is "better anyway" when you are forcibly administering cutting edge therapies on the entire population, if administrators get to dodge natural immunity as a real and superior protection....then I'm going to dodge every requirement on the basis that they're requirements. I will just point to modern history and the sh1tty track records that governments have when precedence is set and new power is normalized. This isn't even clearly outlined and justified 2 years into this event Press secretaries governors and presidents just shame anyone who has honest concerns as "fringe conspiracy theorists" or "antiscience" when they are literally pointing out indisputable facts. I listened to the whole podcast attentively and Nicholas and Sam both suffer from the arrogant assertiveness with the benefit of hindsight. I hope to God this doesn't happen again in our lifetimes because there will be a lot of governments very comfortable destroying livelihoods and lives themselves and being completely unconcerned with pesky human rights like "freedom" and "social connectivity" and "saying whatever you want" or spending time with anyone you want to.....Insane Also starting out with Trump derangement syndrome is stupid because actually think he handled it well, delegating orders to governors was wise, why should Hawaiian people do exactly what New Yorkers do? Oh yeah....Trump.

Thank you

EXACTLY..When he has three people from the Atlantic magazine..you can guess what they would say..I was right..Horribly insensitive and inflammatory interview..

The airbag analogy was almost perfect, but he forgot to mention how Takata airbags were recalled many years later for exploding metal parts killing people.

@Jared Plowman Not necessarily if they are children.

@xxR0nI4xx "extend the lives of dead people"...🤔 What the f*** does that even mean.

Those Takata airbags still, more than likely, saved more lives than if no airbag were installed. The analogy just keeps getting better! 🚗

We all miss Christopher. Thank you for bringing up his memory. It's been 10 years without him.

@Stop the Philosophical Zombies no offense but I asked for examples and I'm well aware of influential ppl and the effects they have on the public.

@michael best Too many to list. That's the irony of being a persuasive and charismatic speaker. There's a lot of entertainment value, but when you inspect the arguments carefully, they don't necessarily hold water.

@Stop the Philosophical Zombies I'm curious on which ones.

I came here to make this very comment, thank you.

I miss him, but in the interim since his death I've realized that he had a lot of flaws in his arguments.

I can’t tell you how happy I am that Alan Watts talks will be available on the app! Not only because I absolutely love Watts, and his talks are of great comfort to me, but because I am discovering that Sam Harris, who is the other person on this earth that is helping illuminate my spiritual journey, also loves Watts… For me this is 2 world colliding that I didn’t know where connected and finding out that they are just gave me great comfort and reassurance that I am looking in the right direction for enlightenment. Thank you Sam Harris! I have been a fan for many years, you are truly helping me in my life’s journey to inner peace and equanimity.

Allan what's just says nonsensical mumbo jumbo most of the time, and to the extend it's true, it's trivial. I don't know why people care about his speeches.

@Roma Knafel 💙

Same!! Two giants merge into one Such bliss

@reficul in the east there is a long tradition of highly educated and philosophically trained orthodox Christian monks and Bishops that have contributed greatly to literature. There's also more than a fist share of horrible men that we have collectively had to repent for as a Church. Sadly I feel many of those men exist today in positions of power. But it's always been that way. The truth always becomes more clear in retrospect.

@Επαμεινωνδας Κοσμας Thank you for sharing other references. I have to always stay open to many things.

Sam should have pushed on the natural immunity topic, as Nicholas is referencing a single study from the CDC against numerous other studies from around the world showing the opposite. Giving people a pass, or worse changing your mind to agree with them, just because they are on "your side" is the massive group think problem we are facing and not helping the vaccine hesitancy at all!

@Calvin Tower The CDC acknowledged that vaccination is a fast-track to immunity. Natural immunity has the unfortunate side effect of millions of unnecessary deaths. We have seen that reality in countries with right leaning leadership. Brazil, USA, Australia etc. Don't misrepresent the CDC

@two bytes The statement of "risk of COVID far exceeds the risk of vaccination" is lacking so much resolution that it becomes false. The question in medicine, as it normally functions, is the risks for who and the benefits for who? Vaccination is not safer than COVID in ALL respects. A major example is myocarditis in men under 40 where vaccination actually has significantly higher rates of this often life-altering condition as compared to COVID infection itself. With the Moderna vaccine, there is something like 6x more risk than with COVID infection if I am not mistaken. This is based on UK vaccination data with 4.5 million people in the study. Higher power than the vaccine trials by far.

@two bytes how does it mean you should be vaccinated if you already have natural immunity which is better than vaccination? Especially when vaccination after having had COVID has a higher risk of severe side effects?

So in hindsight this guy thinks he was perfect and got everything right!🤣

It so happens I have contacts in various countries but France most directly. Wouldn’t it raise questions when doctors are suddenly forbidden to prescribe a drug that could up to then be prescribed freely? And more recently, five more drugs that doctors were using successfully to keep patients out of hospitals? And doctors risking prison in Australia for mentioning Covid treatment possibilities? Whether there is some hysteria going on in the governmental and political arena or what, it raises questions.

@Paul Williams LOL the Zimbabwe president died of Covid though? He said showers would kill covid. Maybe those treatments didn't work.

@En Chemin Generalities ??? Um no, show me where it works??? From my on the ground experience Prayer works better than Ivermectin so why aren't we praying more? I've seen prayer work but not Ivermectin so you should be trusting my expertise.

Thank you gentlemen. Great stimulating discussion.

Because of our technology, information can actually spread much faster than any pathogen ever could, completely regardless of it's boolean value. I'm generally suspicious of any information that someone, and especially some corporation, is trying to push in my direction because it's nearly impossible to be sure what anyone's motives may be. I know this though, there are power and control addicted people in the world and they will go to extraordinary lengths to not only preserve the power they have, but attain even more.

About an hour from the end SH does a fairly good job in steelmanning some of the vaccines/public elite skeptics’ positions, and NC a good job of talking them through. But throughout there’s such a condescending general dismissal, mockery and name calling of those with different perspectives I don’t see how this can be effective in changing many people’s minds.

@Chris Distant There does not appear to be a strong direct correlation between vaccination rates and reduced covid waves.

@Matt Turner the very people so prone to covid, the obese. It does feel that all this has been to protect those who largely are at the end of their lives and those who have no regard for their own health.

@DukeNukem421 wtf....

There are plenty of people like me suffering long term side effects since the vaccine but the side effects are so subtle we haven't even been to the doctor yet. So we're not in the stats. Sore arm since Summer last year, quicker out of breath from working out, odd heart beat at random times, swelling which comes and goes. (And Yes I've finally made arrangements to see a doctor after putting it back for so long.) I'd hoped this podcast would help me feel more positive about it but it just frustrated me how they so casually brushed aside any concerns/hesitancy without going deeply into the reaons why.

@Dee Jaye exactly!! And then they will say oh they must have had covid. Please…

Yes, we know. I cannot believe how arrogant some people are about the real risks. Dozens of young elite athletes dropping after having the shots but we are not allowed to question it. Bill Shit!

@Harry Palmer "necessarily because of the vaccine? There are lots of things we don't know but do you want to decide based on evidence or something else? Opinion? Opinion based on what?" Based on what? Really? Based on the fact that before the vaccine, you were fine, and shortly after the vaccine, you suddely develop certain problem. How on earth is this difficult to comprehend? Sure, it COULD be a pure coincidence, but I think you would be pretty damn stupid to simply dismiss the vaccines causing the negative effects if you experience them shortly after the vaccine, while having none of those negative effects prior to the vaccine. This is basic reasoning.

@Wellness Sarah Take care, hon. Stay safe. 🙂

@xxR0nI4xx oh ok thank you 👍. Yeah the vaccine stuff baffles my mind why it would be recommended for children when they aren’t even at risk for covid, I heard now they are saying they want to prevent long haul (but the vaccine can cause autoimmune related issues in some) but to each their own. Whatever I hate fighting with people lol

I normally agree almost 100% with Sam Harris - but in this case I have to disagree! I am a dane, and if you look into the statistics in our country, which is proberly the country in the world that spends the most on testing at the moment, there are some red flags that I belive that people should be aware of. 1; As for today 3385 people in Denmark have died with covid (“with” means not necessarily “of!”). 2; The average age of the dead persons dying with covid is 82 years old - the average age in Denmark is for men 79, and for women 82,9 years old. 3; In an average flu season up to 3000 danish people will die - the last two years nobody has died from influenza. 4; The goverment has admitted that they wasn’t clear about that the vaccination wouldn’t protect from catching the covid - they did actually say that it would protect people from covid, but you will never get them to admit that! 5; The SSI (Serum Instituttet), has admittet that the numbers of people being hospitalized due to covid could be misleading, since people who are being hospitalized for other reasons, and then get covid will be listed as people hospitalized for covid, eventhough they don’t need medical care for covid. I am not anti vaccination, and have had, as had my children, the regular vaccines. I am a 53 year old man who donesn’t drink, nor smoke, and has been working out 6 days a week for the last 36 years - I had covid for 3 weeks ago, and my experience was that it was like a mild flu. I do feel it to be contraintuitive to go against the experts, and I do admit that I am not the smartest guy in the world, or the one who has the most information regarding this, but I just strongly feel like it is not the right decision for me to get vaccinated - I do understand and totally agree on, that I could be excluded in some areas for making this choice, but only if it makes sense and not only is to try to force me into taking the vaccine. Remember that most people has taken og not taken the vaccine for egoistic reasons - most people I know has taken the vaccine for making their lives easier, or for fear of catching covid. Please think about your own reason before you mock other people!

There is a difference between being pro-vaccine and pro-vaccine mandate. Latter is dangerous 😢

How much we need Christopher Hitchens in these days. His voice of reason is very missed. And, besides being selfish of those things, his intelligence and sense of humor is also something we all loved. Of all people for us to lose.

@wildhias Because like Mohammed Ali, who was probably not the most powerful hitter or the fastest, or the best in a conversation, he, like Hitchens moved the people, and made an impact on the people resulting in changing a whole generation enough to make a social change for the movement. It takes another skill to be quick and sharp in the heat of a conversation. Scientists or philosophers couldn't do what he did clear, articulate, entertaining, and witty. Like Ali.

I never unterstand the big admiration for Hitchens, yes he could talk very well and had a wide area of knowledge, but this went not very deep, neither in science, nor in history, philosophy nor in religion maybe in literatute and he was a big defender of the Iraque war

Great and worthwhile tribute to Hitch. I contend that none of which you speak would have happened as Hitch would have strangled such indulgences at birth. Those journalists who made a living off the crumbs from his table by doing karaoke versions of his work would have served their usual role of amplifying his take and those who attempted to contrive controversy by inadvisability taking him on would have served the same purpose. Certainly some Gish galloping gobshites who have immodestly allowed themselves to be heralded as intellectuals would have been rightfully ridiculed and rendered for the carnival barkers they are and the potty Mr Peterson would not have had any joy with his casual mischaracterisations of socialism. One has to note the fading of his frequent targets in his absence too.

@nameYour analysis still stands. Trevor is still very young…

@Trevor Fisher Well then my apologies sir

@name I'm 57.

@Trevor Fisher No as in young guy trying to write above his experience and ability

@hell bee*Hitch. Oh and I don't have to pretend anything, you disagreed with him about Iraq, so did I and that's just fine because I am not a child.

I've learned that it's amazing that humans have lived this long . . .

Human beings are very resilient

I listened to this podcast expecting a more open minded view. But was disappointed once again. There are a lot of doctors and scientists who disagree on the science and treatment. Why not have them on and have a two sided fact based debate. Don't have ppl you agree with. Rogan suggested Dr McCullough debate someone who is pro vaccine, and the Dr agreed. Now that's courage and honesty. And please forget Trump, he's just a distraction. Why bring him up again.

I don't quite understand the importance of bringing up conversations with those who fundamentally disagree with you, when said people have views that could reduce safety. I understand that a plurality of viewpoints might lead us closer to the truth, but maybe in this case (in the case of the pandemic), truth is largely inaccessible. For instance, we might bring on Dr McCullough to disagree with anyone that is pro vax, but will either one of them necessarily be wrong? The thing is, information about the pandemic has been constantly evolving, BECAUSE the nature of information (i.e. the COVID-19 virus) is evolving as well! Such a virus that is constantly evolving - one with unprecedented effects on the public - is difficult to study. Figuring ways in which we must inhibit the spread, and to what lengths must we go to, is even harder. If we are to platform small minorities who may not say anything untruthful, but who may push people to err on the side of non-caution, this could be extremely dangerous! Every conversation comes with different people with different systems of beliefs, in which both parties may both NOT be wrong, but we must always be hesitant to platform minorities that could expound harmful views.

Both have rabid tds and covid anxiety.

@Doug H. Pfizer owns remdesivir and Merck owns Ivermectin. What's your point? They're both large pharmaceutical companies. The WHO is saying Ivermectin is an essential medicine for it's original anti parasite purpose, not for treating covid.

@Alyssa F I think he just picked a side he could profit off from and then fit the narrative (basically what CNN does). It works, it pays, someone will do it if not him, so he does it and it is his paycheck!

Lots of fun to listen to the JOY these two find in discovering how laughably stupid everyone else is. You have to take your pleasure where you find it. Christakis had a particularly good time -- reminiscent of the good time that Kamala Harris has as vice president. Breaking into uncontrollable guffaws and cackles in an atmosphere thick with the suffering of the "uninformed" should be a new meme.

@__ The problem is that it's a positive feedback loop, Sam's lost all his listeners with dissenting views, anybody not indoctrinated into the mainstream is gone and the orthodoxy is so strong that they demand you not give an ounce of consideration to anything considered taboo so even if Sam has explored any of these issues privatedly as soon as he brings anything up with a high priest of the order he gets rebuked and laughed at. Sam has a major insecurity in that he can't stand being laughed at, I think his whole crusade against religion had nothing to do with the harmful effects of religion but more that he was obviously on the right side and had a supportive base and he could so easily make fun of the people laughing at him. It wasn't so telling then but it's obvious now because he treats people who hold different positions than he does the same way he does with theists with all the certainty of his position he had then despite generally being incredibly ignorant. I didn't explain that very well but maybe you get my gist, Sam's personality and personality flaws have become so apparent, I mean everybody has them but his bad qualities have been revealed now that he's anti-freedom when ostensibly that's what his crusade against religion was about. He's also anti individual and believes that all of us plebians should be governed by our obvious betters (including himself) who should have every say over every aspect of our lives and have more of a right to the raising of our children than we do. On top of that they feel like any cause they champion should be supported and paid for by the average people, whether that's immigration, mandates or anything else that requires sacrifice that's totally felt by one class at the behest of the elites who can't pat themselves on the backs hard enough.

@Ben Cheevers exactly it's so frustrating, I really hope Sam realizes and apologizes

@__ I'm in the exact same camp as you but I stopped listening for the exact same reasons you described. Sam's partisan and TDS is absolutely absurd and has destroyed his credibility, this came up on my recommeneded feed after a Sean Caroll video and I just couldn't believe how awful and uninformed this is. The worst part is the righteous indignation in which they gloat all the while being willfully ignorant. Sam's fall has been meteroic.

@GetMeThere1 it does have the tone of two affluent, uninvolved onlookers, thrilled with their dominance over the ignorant masses.

Long comment aside. I am grateful for the full podcast. Thank you to both Harris and Christakis. Despite holding different assumptions, I did learn some new things, and I appreciate the attempt at reaching out. I also appreciate the fact that you Sam, brought up many of the (legitimate as well as misunderstood) concerns of people you do not agree with. Considering the last podcast I heard from you (a few months back) that was indeed a positive surprise, and it suits you well.

The definition of insanity is, to talk about learning from something, on deletion of everything else we have not learned, expecting the next thing to be the focus of learning , while talking about what we have not learned, expecting to learn from that 'something' , while deleting everything else that we have not learned, expecting the next thing to the focus of learning, while talking about what we have not learned, and to expect that we will learn.

@Rob D I have no idea what you're trying to say. If you could say it more concisely, perhaps I could understand.

@Johnny exactly .. we dont learn, but we expect to keep learning something although we throw away all past histories of not learning , expecting to learn something .. sam has changed since his anti-trump deluge . like many who have become overawed with a glut of 'Im right' allure.. .I can agree with much sam deliberates on, but being open to uncomfortable data sets has become ,imo, increasingly difficult for him.

@M C Zepplin always do, but in a good way

@Johnny it is .. we dont learn, but we expect to keep learning something although we throw away all past histories of not learning , expecting to learn something .. sam has changed since his anti-trump deluge . like many who have become overawed with a glut of 'Im right' allure.. .I can agree with much sam deliberates on, but being open to uncomfortable data sets has become ,imo, increasingly difficult for him.

@Rob D At least you found some bodies

Christakis warns of side effects of having masks in schools, whilst laughing off side effects of vaccines in children

All the laughing is quite disconcerting.

indeed.. forests and tress stuff

@Liberty Prime Taking adverse reactions seriously makes the vaccination program safer. Belittling adverse reactions feeds a culture of complacency and denial.

That's about the most uncharitable way of framing what he actually said.

I’ve learned that most people will do what they’re told.

I've learned that most people want to out-source their thinking.

Not true lol

You're not wrong. And most of the people who don't will simply do the opposite without good reason. On aggregate it seems that about 99% of people will do actions that are not of their own volition but rather are reactions to authority.

Sam, and thank you for being a voice of reason in these unreasonable times. I respect you so much even though I am a Catholic, a bad Catholic perhaps haha, but you made the Trump years more bearable, thank you for standing for reason, we need it more than ever.

Was just thinking about Hitch's take on contemporary events, and then this popped up in my recommended. I have to think Christopher would be dealing with more than his fair share of cancellation efforts. He certainly wouldn't have held his tongue. RIP you brilliant man.

His wife wrote of his late interest in the Proton radiation treatment he'd undergone. I couldn't help but imagine Hitch ideologically captured, slowly sinking, like Sam, a few contingent, errant beliefs from sense-making. I shuddered.

I like the part on the biggest game-changers.. penicillin, cat-scans, aspirin, and insulin! Would love to hear Sam interview ZDoggMD, Dr. Marty Makary & Dr. Vinay Prasad.

They all exhibit better nuance on this topic then he does.

or Robert Malone?

I generally agree with the stance of both speakers but there were some doozies in this. The idea that antelope would never slow without lions in clearly wrong, the selection for greater speed is not without metabolic cost, and the absence of lions would exert pressure towards conservation of that metabolism. The assertion that profit motives aren't applicable because the vaccine is "free to patients" was just shockingly ludicrous. Selective use of statistics were in full force, a 30 percent reduction in a vanishingly small chance in death from many young people regarding COVID is not the no-brainer it's being sold as here. It's always telling when only risk reduction is discussed rather than risk of mortality. Too much congratulatory agreement here, not Sam at his best.

It sure as hell isn't free, those printers cost ink plus the paper and the machines take some electricity to print those bills out!!! Who pays for that!? The damn money trees who do that!!! ...Only way it is free, is if it is coming from Sam's own money tree, because I sure know I'm not sharing my money tree with anyone else.

@Stephen Knox Of course not, no creature is ever "done evolving" but as at least 10,000 years have passed since the Pronghorn's predators were removed from the scene, it is a bit of a puzzle to me that they do not seem to have changed at all, i can only assume that swiftness in its own right is seen as a desirable characteristic by females selecting their mates.

@Analogopithecus Are you under the impression the pronghorn antelope is done evolving?

So you have not heard of the Pronghorn Antelope then?

Sam, thanks for all your work. I would love to see you go on the Joe Rogan Podcast to discuss this.. Many people have trouble clearing our thoughts, including me.. These are confusing times, let's keep talking!

@mike tomlin can you point me in the direction of this data you speak of?

@Chris Heretic None of those 4 are experts in the field of Virology. Malone's ideas were widely or easily debunked months ago. Rogan could have on a McCullough for example but put him on with some experts or even one, then see how he responds to the consensual or current data!

@mike tomlin why do you think that conversations with Dr McCullough, Dr Malone, Dr Gupta, Dr Kory are not credible?

I am deciding to listen to this despite better judgement.

Your appreciation for my two favorite humans Hitch and Watts really touches me. Keep up all you do and I hope that us smooth brained masses can learn and appreciate all you do before we completely destroy ourselves.

Watts, Hitch and Harris - love all three Amazing critical thinkers and yet all three are human, flawed, imperfect … or maybe perfectly human I smell a huge rat with this covid nonsense of the last 2 years and am non plused with Sam on this topic Btw I am flawed too! Anyone not? We, the plebeians, are being played, constantly, if you can’t see it you have not yet overcome the prodigious, constant and overwhelming programming

@Sunny La Yes he did enjoy his drink and tobacco! One my favorite human beings ever, Christopher Hitchens, could also be considered an "alcoholic". When you have a great mind such as those legends, drugs and alcohol are very useful tools.

Wasn’t Watts an alcoholic? Honest question, guess i could google it🙃

Watch out when you use the phrase "smooth-brained", if half of Harris's audience realizes what community popularized that phrase they'll immediately dismiss whatever you have to say.

I pretty much agree with the analysis that went on for the first 30 minutes. A good, valid question is, how did we come to this? It really began before the pandemic.

@Randall Anderson It's a double edged sword. What, who, and when do you censor?

Many of you still haven't come to anything.

@saint patrick What makes what I have said stupid? C'mon, I'm helping you along here.

@Randall Anderson every word you utter.

Got the notification that Waking Up was going to host Watts’ lectures and got all fuzzy. Two of my favourites brains coming together, best way to start the new year!

Man the passage of time is frightening. 10 years since hitchens died is crazy.. I was so confident in what I stood for back then now I feel like everything is crumbling around me

Find God.

That’s actually a good thing man! I was raised Catholic and all that crumbled, nothing is absolute brother, hold on and the truth will save you, eventually. Peace.

Alan Watts, yes sir! I absolutely LOVE the way he thought. He was a very intelligent man, extensively unique as well.

Excellent podcast. Live in Western Australia. Our state has been locked down from the rest of Australia. Why excellent public servant in charge of the state government. We are at high levels of vaccinations and open very soon. You should look at our stats on how the rest of Australia is doing. As NSW did not follow most protocols and have high rates of numbers. This was an amazing pod cast for those lacking on information and believe in the conspiracy theories that make a public health officials cry and laugh. Wishing the USA a safe start to 2022.

Bot comment

I live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Our Prime Minister said Covid vaccinations would not be mandated, then some Australians lost their jobs for not being vaccinated. Personally I am double vaccinated, and would not have lost my job if I weren't. I agree with a government commandeering the population if under direct attack from foreign invasion. Not for a virus. I prefer to decide for myself whether I want to check-in, wear a mask, get vaccinated, leave the house, send my children to school etc. I'm way more concerned with personal liberty than getting Covid. My 84 year old Dutch mother who spent time in a Japanese concentration camp is way more concerned for the liberty of her grandchildren, than about herself catching Covid. You can quit telling me how deadly Covid is because I know what is way more deadly than Covid. And stuff that gets done by government today, can set a future government up for easy tyranny. Citizens in Australia aren't armed like those in the US, so if the government issued jack boots come marching we're screwed. Just take a peek at history and realise how rare and how precious freedom is.

@ACELYA G indeed.

Miraculously safe, miraculously efficient 😂😂😂 Listening to this episode, after Rogan-Mc.Cullough, is like driving a Zastava after driving a Porche.. Christakis claiming that hydroxichloroquine and Ivermectin haven't been prove, WTF, really disappointed.. I'll stick with Dr. Mc.Cullough

@glion69 there must be a way to verify this info.

@Ryan C i heard him say that too which amazed me. i was looking for a quality source that debunks that. have you found one i could see?

I've listened to both the Rogan/Malone podcast and also this. My read is that for the greater majority of us the vaccines are a positive, but by the same token questions remain. I think we need to find means to make peace with this rather than achieve a perfect outcome. I'm not sure we have this in us.

48:45 I guess I know without asking what Sam thinks about Joe Rogan nowadays. It's a shame because an honest conversation between the two of them would be far more productive and revealing than it turns out this one could hope to be.

@Vaya sin dios it’s funny you are so sure about yourself and so quick to accuse of others. How do you know what education level I have? Anyway, no point to debate with people so full of themselves. Have a good life.

Thanks for this discussion. Very good .and agreement with being open to looking on and sharing debate and looking at conflicted datta and not overlooking datta because it doesn't fit.thanks again

I’ve listened to both this interview and Joe Rogans interview with Dr. McCullough in their entirety. They’re as opposite as night and day.

@Angela Powell That’ll be the podcast with Dr Robert Malone then. 👍🏼

Is Mc Cullough a virologist? That's what you need to listen to not McCullough

And who sounds more credible? I would love to see McCullough talk to Sam for two hours and maybe talk some sense into him. I can't listen to anything Sam has to say about the pandemic and its led me to stop listening completely.

Hi I’m in the crazy camp as you described. Would be great to see a debate between this doc and the pier Cory, peter mccullough. And between Sam and Bret. Rogan can mediate but if you think he is biased other neutral options would good too. A conversation like this leaves too many questions still.

The doctor talking here says things like “ no it doesn’t or yes it is , does not quote the studies or data. It is just believe “me” because I know.Totally different Dr Peter McCullough always provides data and sources.

@Analogopithecus u do u boo. Coz i need help sorting this out. Unless you yourself can google it and go debate him?

@TheBillythepoet Yes Dear...

Why don't you do your own research, the data is out there, just takes a bit of googling.

@TheBillythepoet Which thousands of deaths other than the VAERS deaths and related government system reported numbers are you referring to?

'Vaccine' is a magic word - like putting 'student' before 'loan'.

Ivermectin Equitation

Student vaccine loan equity.

"The definition of polio also has changed in the last six or seven years. Several diseases which were often diagnosed as polio are now classified as aseptic meningitis or Illnesses caused by one of the Coxsackie or Echo viruses. The number of polio cases in 1961 cannot accurately be compared with those in, say 1952, because the criteria for diagnosis have changed" Chicago Tribune, March 5th, 1961

@literatious they didn't need to Stage photos. Unless you think everyone who said they had Polio, or were disabled by it, spent their lives acting.

Wow, thnxs for the real PSA 🙏

Wow, has it really been 10 years since Hitchens died? Time sure flies.

@Xsuprio yeah. Not to mention appearances in podcasts. Fuck that would have been great. Debating Peterson too.

So much has happened in the last 10 years I really would have loved to hear his opinion on. Afghanistan, Trump, Brexit, Ukraine, this virus....

2:40:00 anti-vaxers used to be primarily on the left, now more so on the right 2:48:00 booster every year? Eventually a covid booster every 3 to 5 years perhaps This left and right switch is fascinating and glad it was mentioned. One might want to consider why this is so!

Absolutely Love Watts. We could use his powerful perspectives right now.

Admittedly I am adding this comment with regards to the information presented within the first half an hour, but it is very surprising to me on how both of the participants find it so difficult to understand the fundamental principles behind the relatively regular mistrust that is being shown by a portion of the populace with regards to vaccination and all covid associated measures(not venturing in to the ridiculous use of superstitious response from the populace here, which is a pressure alternative of their mistrust of the presented solution). We live in a social environment where materialism is substantially significant, there is low trust, a substantial divide is being strongly developed between social groups with access to vast resources and those living day to day and we are all aware of the encompassing environmental, overpopulation and energy issues looming over the horizon. Add to that the significant conspiracy mentality coming from the cold war era... There is no surprise this is the response. But it is even more basic than that, and it is a concept that I can see being proven again and again in modern society and within the context of time; if there is monetary gain to be made, there can be no trust(I did laugh at the part where there is mention of the vaccination being "free". Companies researching this vaccine do not do it for free and the gains should be quite significant. As for the governments, they need to maintain their populace if they wish for a good economy and long term taxation, so the gain is long term). Obviously this is a very generic thing to say, but it can be seen with the media, think tanks, analyst groups and the like, where the data is presented this way and that, so as to derive the correct results and illicit the acceptable response. "Integrity" is a rare thing these days. It confuses me that there is so little understanding of the above concepts during this part of the conversation; such deep misunderstanding of human nature by such otherwise deep thinkers...

I hope Daniel eventually got the stats that I continuously posted.

@高Daniel My comments are being censured, strange as it's nothing unsaid before. Our Prime Minister announced the high number of deaths meant under medical advice and cost benifit analysis it was unsuitable for people under 60.

@高Daniel My most crucial comment was censured, throughout a large portion of 2021, we had six times more deaths from the government solution than the disaster.

Loved Hitches Mortality book, such a honesty and humility. Miss him so much.

It's really interesting to listen to this after hearing joe rogans podcasts with dr. peter McCullough. There's is such conflicting ideas between both guests

@rawnukles Youre worse than any astrologist

Dr. Joe Rogan is ahead of the curve.

If so many health workers refuse the vaccine - maybe instead of mocking them you should try to understand their concerns.

Unvaxed doctors and nurses have been fired in my country, leaving towns without GP's and hospitals struggling without doctors. In addition, doctors who gave people medical exemptions, have been fired. Doctors who remain are paid, in addition to their normal fee, $90 per jab administered. The government has sweetened that with twelve weekly boosters. Pretty hard to see a doctor about anything else.

@Bill R How many docs actually vax up? Who checks? Another doctor?

@Bill R That's a good point. Which one of those groups do you believe are more on the front lines of fighting this pandemic? Seeing up close and personal exactly the ramifications of this disease?

No

great explanation of how vaccine works

Asking some great questions. Facts about cvid are clearer to me. Was glad to hear you pressing on nefarious aspects of narrative. I am surrounded by believers of dark and manipulative motives of the elite. Something stinks. Be great to hera you press down this path some more to help change my world view to something less bleak. Thanks Sam for sharing.

Harris is great and updated info that is so current and factual. He's the best. Covid has turned us to more introspective pursuits that are getting really boring. Weneed a breath of fresh air. Trps gone and we can seelight at the end of a dark tunnel.

I was out the other night with 5 friends. All double vaccinated and some boosted. I did my second in mid September. Everyonr got covid except the two guys that had covid 8 weeks ago. I mean...

@Tim Jansen how many of "the hospitalized" caught covid in hospital.

How many were hospitalized? It's like the "car airbag" analogy. Some will be injured, some will still die, but there is no question that it works.

I have been thinking the exact same thoughts re Hitch and what his views would have been on covid/trump. This is an amazing convo. Love Sam n his pod.

Long time Sam Harris fan here: I genuinely do value this show Sam. But does anyone agree with me that 15 dollars is steep for an audio subscription? I’m happy to pay for your content, and I would rather pay and support you than get it free all things told, but for such a beacon of reason in this world, that price is one of the most unreasonable things I’ve ever seen from Sam. If you disagree I’m happy to hear why, but personally, I think that is about 100% too steep; I think the sweet spot for an audio subscription is 4-8 dollars a month

@YOSEMITE SAM There is a some truth to that. I am atheist-leaning in some ways but am also a classical liberal who embraces Judaeo-Christian values. Sam Harris does often apply good logic but somewhere along the road he loses the plot. The problem with the progressive Left is that simply do not understand human nature, and Sam is infected with Leftist ideology. I guess I would say that I take some exception to conflating leftist ideology with atheism. yes there is overlap (far more atheists are left rather than right) but they are not the same thing... noting I am proof of that.

@AbleAnderson Well sure, but I highly doubt he even reads any comments past 24 hours if it all, and the chances that he arbitrarily picked that price and will comsider lowering it because someone complained about the price with no argument beyond they dont want to pay it seem so low that it might as well be zero. I also doubt he even chose the price, he probably has a marketing person handlimg such things. At the end of the day I just disagree with the premise that his content isnt worth 15 dollars a month, but of course youre welcome to disagree.

A fool and his money is soon parted.

@Gettin Radd & Fuggin Bustn The logic is if I complain to my English bulldog nothing can be done to change it, whereas if I say something online about it, the chance increases past 0% that it will reach Sam's ears and he might think "yeah maybe that is a little high." I agree it's a small chance for that to happen in Youtube comments, but I think it at least takes it past a 0% chance

The ten-cent analysis of what was going on in Trump's mind -- Nick the mind reader -- I've heard enough.

Evidently, nothing’s ever going on Trump’s mind.

Where at? Post the time stamp

Bless your heart

Can we explain the rare adverse events of the vaccines (like blood clotting)?

@tttttttttttttt He ran away, good job man.

@Hit channel So you accused me of not doing my research. When you provided me with a link. It was something I was already familiar with and so knew that your claims were based on a misunderstanding of the data and what could be extrapolated from it. I wrote a few paragraphs explaining how. You then deleted your comment and stopped replying. Did you change your mind? I'm really interested in knowing this.

Yes: spike protein, "which alone can't harm you," allegedly.

@Shaul Itzhak Levine Yeah, obviously. That's literally what I said.

Strange, no mention of VAERS when talking of vaccine safety.

I notice Maddie de Garay wasn’t mentioned either 🤔

It's almost as if they're not steel-manning the opposing argument...

One day in advance, I'd like to acknowledge the death anniversary of Christopher Hitchens. Your eloquence opened the doors for many to express fearless bravery beyond words and even the actions of what most of us are capable of, have paved the way for untold multitudes of free thinkers, atheists, contrarians and skeptics of the establishment forever. From Baghdad to Rwanda; Britain to Baltimore, you have provided so many of us, including myself, a slightly less fraughtful path to truth, and for that, we thank you.

I appreciate that suspiciously terse memorial.

@Michael Kagan I know. Christopher used his for an inferior purpose.

@Frito Bandito Not remotely the same intellect.

@Frito Bandito yeah, Peter was a real forward-thinker

@MrMojo Meh, I prefer his brother.

Vitally important question not asked: Why does an audience that once greatly respected you and your guests no longer find either credible?

Yup. Intellectual dishonesty and cowardice will take a toll on an audience who formerly respected sincere attempts at philosophical rigor and virtue. Now those attempts have ceded to outright sniveling groupthink.

@Stee it's a real zinker

@Ryan Lynch lmao, gotta remember that one

Because he made his mucho on atheist criticism of religion, low hanging fruit in 2008, and he's tried to move into things he's not equipped to talk about. Shermer is the same way, albeit less arrogantly.

@Ryan Lynch good comment lol. So true.

We have learned that some academics have only snorts of derision as their response to information they don’t want to deal with in real time, preferring to slather snooty platitudes all over it as if that’s enough to fool a balanced mind. Have fun getting it wrong again.

@hokiturmix platitude /ˈplatɪtjuːd/ Learn to pronounce noun a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful. "he masks his disdain for her wit

@Chris Distant Thanks for a new english word. platitudes.

@quininde i saw a lot of platitudes while patiently listened to the whole thing

What’s your argument? I only saw platitudes.

Excellent! Well done!

This has an aire of my Grandparents trying to make sense of their first encounter with the internet.

Dude! Do you think the truth just appears?

@rick fucci So? What's wrong with that?

@joseph deutsch Corona Viruses are not novel. SARS-CoV-2 is related, for example.

“The dark corners of the internet” as the guest calls it, are actually shining much brighter and are way bigger than Sam’s podcast. One reason this is the case is that Sam avoids hard conversation with smart people that disagree with him. He used to brave and original but now he seems afraid and vindictive.

@Amos Craig They insist that side of the story is right because they still believe in public institutions and do not mistake contrarianism for intelligence.

@Jan-Lucas Deinhard of course it feels better for anyone to think they are in on the real truth, that goes without saying. As for one theory being more attractive than another, there’s truth in that, so if you’re familiar with both sides of the argument and you’re more attracted to one side or the other, I can respect that. It’s people that only know one side of the story and insists it’s right because they assume the other side is not worth listening to or having a conversation with that I don’t respect.

What has he learned from the pandemic? Not very much.

A very intelligent yet free wheeling discussion.

1:10:45 My car mechanic never told me that I shouldn't drive with low oil, unless I'm going to a BLM rally in which case it's perfectly safe. My car mechanic never said that auto-parts will be given out in order of the customer's race. My car mechanic never told me that it's ok to drive on flat tires because the air pressure machines were in high demand and he wanted to save them for those with important cars. The credibility of the expert medical associations is in the toilet. And they shit it there.

nice talk keep it up 🤗

Hey Sam. First of all i admire you and value certain things i've learned from you. They have really helped me in my life. I wanted to say i wish that you would do a video feed with your podcast. I love your podcast as audio only, but how you communicate your rhetoric is very effective. I know when i watch you lecture/ debate on video i feel like i understand what you are saying at a deeper level than audio only. Just a thought, and im sure that you have had a shit ton of people say what i'm saying. I just ask if you could maybe consider it a bit more. Thanks!!!

@M C Do it Sam!! LOL

Don’t do it Sam!!

@PDC Design goodness me... what a terrible comment

@Sue TJFL (Sue TJFL) Sam mostly trying to be nicer than he "supposed to".

@Sue TJFL (Sue TJFL) Yeah I don't know exactly how to be polite in english. :D

The commentators here fail to realize that once you've gotten one dose, the marginal benefit against severe covid outcome from an ADDITIONAL DOSE is very low, especially for young people. Furthermore, once you already have two doses, the marginal benefit of yet another dose is smaller still. However, the RISK from those additional doses does not go down with their benefit, which does go down. As such, for young people, these 'extra doses' do not result in an overwhelmingly favourable risk benefit profile for someone who has already recieved the previous doses. In fact, the risk of myocarditis is higher than the ' benefit against covid hospitalization' with those additional doses. Also, Mr watts talks about how, in the trial, the adverse events (strokes, heart attack, etc.) Did not show statistical significance between the cohorts. What he fails to mention, is that the vaccine did not show an all cause mortality BENEFIT either. So he's making a tonne of inferences about the vaccine's mortality benefit. Also these two have to stop talking like the vaccine is a 'thing that prevents infection. It was clear in The summer with Israel data, and it is clear now, that 95 percent efficacy against infection is NOT what these vaccines produce.

Looking forward to Sam's discussion with Dr. Peter McCullough, MD who Joe Rogan spoke with at length.

He's too much of an intellectual coward to bring on a heavy-weight like McCullough.

@Ryan C I can go along with about 30 percent of what he says but he definately gives me the quack vibe at times. I think he went down a rabbit hole and was never the same.

@Corey Ander doesn’t the MD mean that he is a medical doctor and not just a PhD?

Will never happen.

Dissapointeded. Official treatment guidelines never evolved during this disaster. There was so little flexible or even proactive response for two years within health communities and agencies supposedly driving the bus. The pretense was deafening. And the suppression epic.

@ThePaintedHope value very much the input. Have not said enough about the international gentleman's agreement or perhap not so much agreement as systematic suit yourself application of authoritarianism in whichever country and this new test the tolerance here and there ....should work splendidly- Vanguard, BlackRock, Statestreet monolith.

The only government to date that I've seen take a proactive approach and deploy a public health campaign was El Salvador. They advised citizens on baseline pillars such as metabolic health, nutrition, sleep, endogenous Vitamin D, etc, things which nearly every other government in the world failed to do. It's astounding that people still believe there is even an institution being referred as "public health" — that has anything remotely to do with human health.

@Some Dandy point taken. And students of history could venture that the 1870 congress came to terms with it's own version of disfunction at the time and made a little known "Gentlmans agreement" to reestablish antibelum protocol which then allowed the Wilson et al ascendency. Yes it's rot all the way down. But Regan did change the way we managed food among other things and that has made all the difference.

I’m 27, I’ve got the antibody so I’m really cool on the vaccine, but thanks guys

Woop

nice comment

You can still get covid again, especially as time goes on. I just wish they would publish the exact %'s and chances of all this stuff.

Thank you for this! It convinced me and my family to get the vaccine.

Biggest concern was the risk of the vaccines vs risk of COVID long-term . They convinced me that the vaccines are way less risky than COVID

Hope it wasn’t the part that said side effects are 1 in a Million.

Enjoyed the conversation even if didn’t really present any new information to those paying attention. Where I would have liked to see some pushback on Nicholas is earlier in the conversation somewhere around the 1hr mark when he basically says let’s run the numbers and make a decision. This completely oversimplifies the choice after the data is analyzed - it is very likely to come down to a moral choice on mitigation vs pain and suffering which is at the very heart of the public health decisions. It seems a 1% fatality rate is just meh to a significant number of people and as you two did discuss later there is the philosophical reasons for avoiding vax mixed in as well. The squishy nature of these post-analysis decisions is where things are getting divisive. I think this was a massive PR failure by the CDC and federal government to present a convincing simple rally cry for public responsibility.

Well done Sam for nearly being able to complete a sentence. 😂

I really dislike the speed limits analogy and just as a mental exercise I wanted to see how the comparison would look and where it breaks down. Keep in mind there are a lot of assumptions here. 1.) The car is the individual so everyone has a car just because they exist, nobody can opt out of buying a car. Manufacturers are your parents, the government regulates your parents regarding how they create you based on agreed standards, diversity of looks but not in width, safety systems and if the car has serious flaws the state requires they be recalled. 2.) Everyone is tested before they can drive on public roads, getting a drivers license is not optional and is issued by the state, there are no privately issued drivers licenses. Everyone is required by law to take/pass a state issued test before they can interact with society, if you don't and are caught then you are penalized severely. 3.) Every car must be licensed by the state, otherwise you cannot get insurance. 4.) Everyone carries auto insurance in the event that they cause harm to themselves or others, otherwise there are consequences issued by the state if caught. Everyone must have health insurance and if you spread an illness to someone else your insurance covers the costs for you and them up to a limit, you can be sued for damages. 5.) Everyone maintains their own car with their own money. Your personal health is your responsibility so the healthier you are the better your insurance rates will be. 6.) Everyone pays taxes to build/maintain public roads because everyone owns a car and those additional taxes are applied to the maintenance of the public roads. 7.) Private highways and roads are equal to those on your own property, the state only regulates those in public spaces but can sell them when they become unmanageable. Just because speed limits exist, there are always going to be those that don't conform (ie: I drive too slow, my mother drives too fast.) Even regarding this analogy it doesn't hold up as the average driver speeds by more than 5mph while driving so why would anyone ever use this as an argument when trying to convince people to get a vaccine, is the claim that the average citizen will get multiple vaccines? Do you think you can convince possibly the most diverse society of humans to abandon their personal beliefs so you can reach 100% vaccination and if your claim is yes, why can't you do the same for the flu shot each year, obesity, smoking or dogmatic thinking? I don't think you can get above 90% vaccination without either 1.) An authoritarian government or 2.) A homogenous culture and even then you'll be hard pressed considering China seems to possess both and still can't be trusted to report truthfully. It seems to me that you error on the side of caution and leave each person to decide what is best for them, otherwise I would like to see someone take responsibility for convincing someone to inject anything into themselves and pay for the fallout if something goes wrong. If the government (society), pharmaceutical companies and podcasters won't take accountability for adverse effects then it seems it all rests on the individual anyways so maybe a mandate isn't the appropriate action.

Great talk, Dr. C. is always insightful. The 1,000 scientists "OK"ing the BLM protests was dreadful and extremely harmful. Credibility shot right there. D.A., J.D., NYC

I remember when they came out and said that and encouraged protesting when everything else was shut down — it was very disturbing and it was a big thing which led me to losing trust in the system

29:00 - "The central function of the government is to keep the citizenry safe." I would disagree. The central function of government should be to secure the rights and liberties of its citizen and garantuee constitutional processec. If safety was the central function, smoking and alcohol would be banned and bicycle helmets would be mandatory. They would also have to create diet-camps for everybody above a BMI of 30.

@Liberty Prime I agree and knew these findings regarding helmets. But the same is true for many of the covid meassures. They were mostly ineffective as well.

Perhaps not the central function but certainly a function. A fatal disease of pandemic proportions creates havoc for the economy.

@literatious The National Party introduced compulsory cycle helmets in the 1990's. Muldoon from the National Party instigated increasing the tax on cigarettes and brought in other controls on smoking.

@DJ Knox LOL

@Yuru You see, wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle makes me feel like sheep, and although it is surprising to many, I don't want to feel like a sheep thank you.

They harp on about the risk being 1/100 but that's a average. If you are a 18 year old fit healthy male I can understand why you would be pi$$ed if someone was for all intensive purposes forcing you to get vaxxed.

As someone who fits your description, being unable to leave house, and postpone dating for 2 years definitelly wasn't plesant... (to say it in politically correct terms)

Not to mention the catastrophically awful precedent of allowing any government to coerce its citizens in their private medical decisions.

I agree with you, but I have to be "that guy" and correct you. You mean "all intents and purposes"

Ok I just finished listening to the entire podcast and the amount of smug laughter coming from Christakis was really hard to listen to. I had to stop multiple times, because it was just so gross. If you think that's a winning strategy then you're nuts.

There maybe inflation has to be the most understated point on this podcast haha!

Democrat stance

Well done conversation.

I really appreciate the effort here….Please have Dr Peter McCollough on!

The problem with the vaccines is overemphasis. Even good ideas cant be forced onto every single person. It’s an impossible goal.

@高Daniel Motorcycles

Seatbelts

Respect for Sam not falling into the YouTube follower trap (audience capture)

I have lamented at least a dozen times so far that I haven't had Christopher Hitchens to show me what surely only he would see.

Would have preferred a podcast where the guest could bring out each one of the major arguments held by the other side and show why those arguments are false. That would have been valuable. Rather than starting with the premise that the other side are incompetents (or have a medieval level of competency ), stating that the other side believes lies (without proving that assertion) and general straw-manning by taking extremes as a starting point, or telling us things they could not possibly know (e.g. what Trump was thinking at the time?) Overall - very disappointing.

That's not how this new religion works. We have to declare the blasphemy of the peasants.

Agreed.

It's so tedious to hear this kind of thing over and over. It's not a straw man. Nobody started with a premise. People are paying attention to the world and you're playing a game of make-believe.

If masking reduces spread, and vaccines enable the body to fight off the disease quicker, doesn't the combination drastically improve our chances of eliminating the disease quicker regardless of age?

Sadly, it's not as easy. It will stop spread of the current version in your country, but there are other countries, which don't vaccinate (either for political or economical reasons). And especially in the third world, you'll get uncontrolled spread, which usually results in new mutations. And mutations that are resistant to the vaccine will spread again.

@Ray Kosby they didn't go too deeply into it Ray... Kris insinuated that vaccines were sufficient for kids. I was surprised that he said that considering his other views..

@GB I have my booster. Why did you think I didn't? My question suggests that we all get fully vaxed, boosted, and wear masks because combined since they reduce the spread. This question was in response to a part of the podcast where Sam was citing reasons for children not to wear masks.

Apparently not, now go and get your booster citizen

I think we've just faced a mother of a Rorschach Test, and we should give others with a different view of the pandemic a break, and some respectful latitude to be wrong. Sam Harris and Bret Weinstein should have a long conversation, whether in public or no. Peace, everyone, and I hope that you and yours are doing well this winter.

@devalapar The branch Harris "worked on" is

@devalapar there are lots of things I disagree with that sam says. You can be rational and also incorrect. Thus is the nature of the world.

@yamishogun Neurology is pseudo science?

@CallMeStuDo So Sam Harris is clear headed when you agree with him. ^^ This is so funny.

@Angelo Balbi Brett’s brother even expressed concern… and Eric is by far the smarter of the two and that’s saying something

My experience is that unvaxxed are very active and agressive as born out by the comments.. The calm chat by sam and Nick is a welcome antidote to the madness.

That may be, it’s anecdotal evidence obviously, but I am vaccinated and am still quite disappointed by this podcast.

I am a big Sam Harris fan. I appreciate Sam’s critical thinking and authenticity. I am hugely disappointed by this podcast. Sam did say at one point that this had become a PSA (a diatribe). As with other credible podcast hosts it would be fitting now to interview someone who has the counter view to present a balanced position

Listened to the whole thing. Won't get that time back.

@Granny Annie lol

@Granny Annie again, give me the source. Otherwise, you can say what you are saying even if you are saying nonsense. Give me a link.

@Bohan Xu TGA, and applications to the government for compensation for disabilities would be a good start.

@Bohan Xu I replied it disappeared.

Sam, I really respect you, and I enjoy listening to your podcast, but listening to you talk about the pandemic is always frustrating to me, because you never actually engage with the arguments or points that have been made by the "smart people" you keep disparaging on the other side. You just dismiss them completely, as if it's just so obvious that they are wrong that it would be an insult to your own intelligence to mention their counterpoints at all. And this strategy is not going to do *anything* to convince people who disagree with you. Absolutely nothing. It just makes them all the more certain of their position. So if you really do care about changing minds, you need to stop sitting on your little high horse and talk to other people who disagree with you about this. I cannot emphasize enough just how damaging your strategy is to your credibility.

He's right though, conspiracy theories are rife and dangerous.

Agreed.

Well said Sir

@Jimmy Fakename zdogg has a far more balanced take than Sam.

Many good points made in this episode and some sound arguments to use in good faith conversation with someone who might not be vaccinated, but it got very tiring to listen to and I certainly wouldn't suggest anyone who is unvaccinated listen to it as a way of trying to convince them. I'm for the vaccine but it's disappointing how Christakis could barely seem to contain himself the whole way through. Clearly laughing to himself at how obvious all of this should be to everyone and cussing throughout. Sam, I find it hard to believe (maybe I shouldn't) that you said you put the whole podcast out as a public service announcement. This continued sneering elitism is what makes me think the hesitant and full blown av'ers aren't going to take any more notice of this than anything that's already out there and why should they when you show them such contempt? This was two guys with a total lack of self-awareness, preaching to the choir. Even something as basic as the comparison between health experts and car mechanics as people who don't lie/rip people off was embarrassing. I found the conversation is stuck in hard science and numbers but neither can account for just how people feel. Science doesn't seem to be able to determine any sort of line for justifying the means to the end or even what the end is. How far do we go with the laws and restrictions before we just feel that the decreasing number of lives we're able to save simply aren't worth the negative impact on the lives of everyone else? I think we have to be able to say at some point we have protected as many people as we can, those who can get vaccinated have chosen to do so, others take their chosen risk. There comes a point where total sum of unhappiness caused by subsequent deaths must be less than that caused by everyone living every hour of every day, bombarded by meaningless statistics, political wars, ever changing rules and laws, economic problems, job losses and social division? I don't have an answer to that, even for myself right now and I'm worried we don't have the kind of strong, courageous leadership in the west to get us out of this when fearmongering and "benevolent" restrictions are incentivised in the realms of media and politics. We've learned many things from this pandemic but it's clear that you haven't learned a lot about communicating with people.

@Vincent Young answer my question?

@Pedro Johnston Mass formation psychosis. 🐑

@Vincent Young So how exactly do you know which are the people that will need to be vaccinated before they end up in ICUs?

Sam Harris is not Neil Tyson.

I enjoyed the dialog and learned some data points, seemed like a typical overly educated "trust my side" of the science talking points parodied everyday by journalist on TV. I would like to see Peter McCullough and this guy have a scientific conversation.

@Freedom Life 100% of credible data on the matter shows that the COVID vaccines are safe and effective

@Z Z because they are referring to scientific data published in creditable peer review medical journal.

@Joe Craven I agree with you that Peter McCullough has some seemingly radical.points of view....all the more reason to expose him in a debate...right?

Identifying other people's errors can be interesting and fun. However, it is useless if your audience lacks either the ability or the willingness to correct those errors. I suspect Sam Harris has a typical podcast audience, retirees and psychedelic mushroom enthusiasts. In other words, nobody in power.