Deeply Conflicted podcast

Kevin and Steve get their nerd on and ask, “Of all the fantasy/sci-fi novel settings you’ve read about, where would you want to live?” Part I of this episode is a boy’s club (Part II will feature women authors), though they go over some classics, from Tolkien’s Middle Earth, to Lewis’ Narnia, Zelazny’s Amber, Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain, Moorcock’s multiverse, and they venture into more obscure works by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, among others. Scintillating!

New research claims our kids or grandkids could live several hundred or even 1,000 years, and Kevin and Steve debate what it may mean to live for centuries or, if science leads us there, would humanity manage to ruin it all somehow? Meanwhile, they’re surprised to learn various camps have already staked out their turf, from “bio-conservatives” to “anti-aging crusaders” (really!)

No Man’s Sky is out! Kevin’s immersed himself in this bold new game, and his review? “Fantastic.” Steve asks Kevin whether and how it lives up to the hype, what the post-release controversy is about, whether there’s another storyline in there somewhere, and why this game has captured gamers’ and the public’s imaginations.

Kevin & Steve ask whether the the energy & idealism of the music you grew up with is real, or just an illusion that dissipates with adulthood. Weaned on the punk rock & hardcore scenes, they try to stay open-minded about music being made today - but in the end, is music nothing more than entertainment, mere show biz? Hipsters beware, bands like The Clash, Minor Threat, The Jam, Misfits, The Specials get a mention, as do (deservedly) The Darkness; Grosse Pointe Blank with John Cusack is thrown in for good measure. Radiant!

Kevin and Steve argue over whether time is an illusion or a very real part of the universe. Does time have an irreversible flow, or does time exist everywhere all at once? (Or nowhere at all?) And why does comedy legend Rip Taylor get a mention? Listen and share your thoughts at http://thedeeplyconflicted.tumblr.com.

In this latest episode Kevin argues that we may be living in a kind of computer simulation, which Steve finds hard to disagree with. Kevin also ties in how near death experiences may help explain this theory, but things get heated when Steve points out free will is impossible if the universe is just some coder's playground. Fun!

Kevin & Steve talk with Mike Mohr, singer-bassist of indie band The Low Mice, who explains how he finds inspiration for his songwriting even though he feels humanity is doomed. He talks about how the still-unknown workings of the brain influence our perceptions and religious beliefs, including reincarnation, though amidst all this meaninglessness he still enjoys the old TV show “Lost in Space.” Kevin tells of meeting the late actor Jonathan Harris (“Dr. Smith”) and channels Harris’ best quips until the show devolves into chaos. Books mentioned include “The Incarnations” by Susan Barker and “Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell.

Kevin and Steve discuss where gaming is headed with the pending release of No Man's Sky (due out in 2016?), which may change how gamers interact online. They also discuss whether gaming is a complement to or an escape from “real life,” and how wild new developments in virtual reality, as well as augmented reality, may not only transform gaming but the world around us.

Were the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies a mistake? Hosts Kevin and Steve have it out as to whether Peter Jackson's movies were faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic books, and whether some novels are just unadaptable for film. Add your thoughts at http://thedeeplyconflicted.tumblr.com

Kevin and Steve explore the nature of belief and debate whether there’s a sound basis for faith or if it’s a mere byproduct of a human desire for meaning and to live forever. Kevin mocks Steve’s belief in synchronicity, Carl Sagan gets a mention, as does Neil Gaiman and Chris Bachalo’s comic series “Death: The High Cost of Living.” Books that come up include “The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame” by E. Michael Whittington and “Hitch-22: A Memoir” by Christopher Hitchens. Fun!

Kevin and Steve interview Hans Michaud, creator and host of “The Late Night Driving Show,” the most unique and exciting podcast online or on-air! They discuss where inspiration comes from and what goes into making TLNDS, a mix of absurdist humor, compelling storytelling, and stellar production. Hans explains why he once hired a philosopher, and Joe Frank comes up again and again. Books mentioned: “Being and Nothingness” by Jean-Paul Sartre and “On Directing Film” by David Mamet. For more visit http://thedeeplyconflicted.tumblr.com

Kevin and Steve ask the question, is Caitlyn Jenner a hero? They take different views and explain why, and during the discussion Genesis P-Orridge gets a mention or two as does Eyal Press' recent book, "Beautiful Souls". Enjoy, and add your thoughts on http://thedeeplyconflicted.tumblr.com

Kevin and Steve kick around a few of the latest mind-bending (and credible!) theories of the universe, how we got here, and if there's consciousness after death. No wonder they can't sleep at night! They also talk about some relevant novels including Kate Atkinson's Life After Life, Stephen King's The Langoliers, and Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.