INDUBITABLY: The Debate Podcast

Raising a child is hard, and it doesn’t always go as planned.  But when a child’s actions cross the line from harmless mischief into behavior with serious negative consequences to the people around them, how much responsibility should their parents bear? When a parent has been negligent, should they be held ethically or legally culpable?

In this episode, Josh and Kelly tackle a classic political and economic debate.  Does Capitalism or Socialism do a better job at creating wealth?  What about distributing it?  With the world currently being predominantly capitalist, how has that gone for us?  Would it be better off incorporating more socialist policies? Or even switching to it completely?

Donald Trump is almost certainly set to be the Republican nominee for President in November, but that does not mean that he is universally supported within his own party.  In this episode we weigh the good odds he brings to the table of recapturing the White House against some long term concerns he poses for Republicans.  With the party standing at a crossroads, is Trump the right path to follow i...

In part 2 of our series on the conflict between Israel and Hamas we look at how the messaging from both sides has evolved over the past couple of months, and ask exactly how effective it is in garnering support to its side.  Is the world starting to experience compassion fatigue for the people whose lives are defined by this conflict?  Or is our collective attention span simply not long enough to...

The Israeli - Palestinian conflict is a decades old dispute, but these last two months have exploded into a monumental exacerbation of violence.  When battle lines are drawn so clearly and hatred is so deeply rooted, is it possible to have a productive conversation on an issue?  In part 1 of our series on this issue, we try to help you understand the history and arguments for this particular war a...

On this Halloween, we examine fear through a variety of questions:  Is fear useful or harmful?  How afraid should we be of imaginary things?  Should we be scared of death?  Will Kelly survive an hour immersed in a horror filled conversation?  There’s only one way to find out… join us on Josh’s favorite holiday of the year!

Plenty of movies and tv shows have attempted to tap into debate as a source of impassioned and quick witted speeches, but do they get it right? Debates on the screen, in politics, and in academic tournaments take a variety of forms, and have their own distinct strengths and weaknesses.  We examine each of these and point out the lessons that you can learn to improve your own debating skills.

Our society is obsessed with stories about crime, and most of the time the more heinous it is, the better.  That means that there are millions of dollars to be made off of the retelling of the lives and misdeeds of criminals.  Do they have a right to share their stories under free speech protections?  Does that include the profit that follows?  Or should a consideration of their victims prompt us...

The recent fires in Maui and the continuing aftermath have brought attention to the impacts that tourism can have on popular destinations.  Many local, or even national, economies can be completely dependent on the tourism industry, but how do we ensure that same dollars are not having destructive long term effects on the people, cultures and environments of fragile locales?

Hollywood is currently on strike, in large part over the fear actors and writers have of AI generated art.  What implications does this new technology have for the creative content that we consume?  Will human artists be replaced by computers in Movies? Music? Photography?  And if the quality of AI generated art can compete or surpass our own capabilities, is that even a bad thing?

With the clash in Eastern Europe seemingly escalating, Indubitably asks the question:  Can War Ever Be Justified?  If so, what conditions have to be met?  “Just War Theory” attempts to answer those very questions, laying out standards for entering into, engaging in, and obligations after war.  Which conflicts meet or fall short of the burdens that are established?

It’s no secret that many news sources suffer from bias and influence from special interests.  As a result, average citizens are taking it upon themselves to report on the happenings of their communities and the world at large.  How do large media corporations do at holding to their own ethical standards?  And are these citizen journalists a better alternative?

Indubitably tackles the greatest question of them all!  In this episode we do for you what no scholar or philosopher in the history of humanity has managed to yet.  We reveal the secret to the meaning of life!  (Alright, not quite, but we get as close as we can.)  Does life even have meaning at all?  If yes, does that meaning apply to all of us universally?  Is it centered around self?  Or service...

If we had to escape Earth and flee to a new planet, but only half of the human population could go, how would we choose who to save and who we would leave behind?  In an Indubitably plot twist, Josh proposes that we should sacrifice all men, to start over with a female led civilization.  Would this choice save us from the sexism that exists on our planet?  Or is it discriminatory in it of itself?

For the last century, our economies and industries have been defined by the use of fossil fuels.  But, with our supplies fast diminishing and our understanding of their negative impact becoming more and more obvious, it's time we look to alternatives.  What are our best options moving forward?  Realistically, are there any viable replacements? 

Every year, almost 2.5 million women in America, and 10 thousand worldwide compete in beauty pageants.  Are they being judged solely on their physical appearance or do other characteristics have a meaningful affect on the competition’s results?  While adults can choose whether or not to participate, are these pageants healthy for children to engage in?

When heinous crimes go unpunished by authorities, do we just let the perpetrators get away?  Or, as private citizens, do we have the right to serve as judge, jury and sometimes, executioner?  While various justice systems have standardized rules for what constitutes crime and appropriate punishment, what happens if we let people decide these things for themselves?

Discourse around gun control is always contentious, but rarely productive.  Part of the blame lies in the failures of both sides to argue in good faith.  After recent events in Tennessee, we are re-releasing this “Adjudication” episode from our archives, where, rather than present arguments on a topic, we judge the arguments that are already commonly forwarded to either uphold or erode the right t...

Senior Citizens are the largest  and most active voting block in the US.  But is their ability to define election results undermining the future of the country for the rest of us that will still be around to live in it? Is there a justification to remove a constitutional right from a demographic based on their age?

Quiet Quitting refers to doing the minimum requirements of one’s job and putting in no more time, effort, or enthusiasm than absolutely necessary.  Is this a fair response to employers placing ever increasing burdens on their workers?  Or are quiet quitters being unfair to their companies, coworkers, or even themselves?

Look!  Up in the sky!  It’s a bird!  It’s a plane!  It’s… A Chinese Spy Balloon?  Or is it a weather balloon?  In this episode we examine the tense relationship between the United States and China, and some of the more interesting strategies they pursue as they attempt to gain the upper hand over each other.

For years now, Hollywood has come under criticism for its lack of diversity, particularly when it comes to awards shows.  Will this year be any different?  Despite recent efforts to be more inclusive when it comes to the talent and stories brought to the silver screen, is greater representation automatically a good thing?  How do we balance authenticity with tokenism?

Every year, school districts across the United States ban more and more books for an increasing number of reasons.  How can we decide which, if any, are too dangerous for our children to read?  Is protecting students from potentially upsetting ideas a mistake that will lead to sub par education and stunted development?

In this episode, Josh battles on behalf of humanity against a computer counterpart that is giving speeches generated by the AI model ChatGPT.  The topic for the debate is “It is Immoral to be Apolitical.”  Following the debate, Kelly gives her judgment on who she thinks won, and we have a discussion about the AI’s performance, as well as future implications. 

On this holiday of (corporatized?) romance, we examine the question of whether or not it is better to be single or in a relationship?  Do societal expectations surrounding partnership push people into "situationships" that are unhealthy and inauthentic? What about marriage?  Should governments be incentivizing people to enter into these lifelong bonds or should we perhaps end state recognition of...