Nameless Light

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessie Yeung . Jessie teaches an undergraduate course called “Probabilities Everywhere,” which explores how probability shows up in everyday life—from elections and gambling to wartime decision-making and polling. Her work focuses on interdisciplinary research, statistics education, and social statistics, with a passion for making statistical thinking accessible an...

Political scientist Dr. Lucan Ahmad Way —Distinguished Professor of Democracy at the University of Toronto and co-author of “Competitive Authoritarianism” and “Revolution and Dictatorship”—joins me to unpack how democracies erode from the inside. Way’s work on hybrid regimes has shaped the way scholars think about democratic backsliding around the world. Books mentioned: “Competitive Authoritarian...

This week, I sit down with Professor Karen von Kunes from the University of Toronto for a fascinating deep dive into the Czech and Slovak New Wave. We explore the surreal, the satirical, and the socially charged films that emerged during one of the most creatively explosive—and politically turbulent—moments in cinema history. From Closely Watched Trains to Daisies, from Forman’s under-the-table re...

Manjeet Sarkar is an internationally acclaimed comedian and filmmaker featured in The Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Print, and more. The first Indian comedian to perform at the United Nations, he was named the 'Next Big Thing' by Deadant Comedy Awards in 2024. Having completed six national tours in India, he is currently on a world tour. Connect with Manjeet: https://www.instagr...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ivan Kalmar , Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, to explore the rise and spread of illiberal ideas in Europe and beyond. Dr. Kalmar, whose work ranges from the study of Inuit language and computer mythology to the image of Muslims and Jews in Western culture, brings a wealth of insight from his latest book, White But Not Quite: Central Euro...

Changing Geoeconomics in the Age of Trump: The Insider View from Japan. Hideki Makihara served as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives for sixteen years and occupied various senior government, parliamentary, and party roles, including most recently as Minister of Justice. In this episode, Mr. Makihara provides a first-hand perspective on key developments in Japanese policy, from the l...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nathan Wiebe from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Prof. Wiebe specializes in quantum simulation, machine learning, and quantum computing. We talk about the fundamentals of quantum computing, explore Microsoft’s new “Majorana” quantum chip, and discuss what the future holds for quantum machine learning, error correction, and more...