Backyard Philosophy Podcast

Bambi isn't a kind peace loving animal, in fact deer kill thousands of people every year. Deer whether from stupidity or hate of humans constantly throw their bodies at humans and their cars. So much so it is becoming an epidemic. But what can be done, to protect people and deer without extremely impacting the environment. Join Nick and Mike as they discuss, the army of deer, current solutions in...

Human Experimentation is it a dark spot on humanities morals or is it a hidden necessary evil? Humans have been experimenting on each other and themselves since the beginning of humanity. And interesting dark and positive things have all come from it. From cures to diseases to new medical procedures, to some of the worst humanity has to offer, as in torture, intent to harm and unspeakable horrors....

Forests burn, cities burn.... lives and ecosystem up in flames. But through the ashes life reemerges. But what happens for life to return, what are the details animals and plants have to go through after a forest fire? Join Nick as he discusses with Mike on how life survives and thrives after forest fires.

Good bad, right wrong.... does it all depend on the culture or is there an universal rules for all of humanity? Is a heinous crime allowed if its part of their culture? Join Nick and Mike as they talk about the philosophical discussion of moral relativism.

Everyone has dreams and aspirations, ideas of the impossible, some wish to be astronauts, actors, professional athletes and yes even spies. But what happens when a man who grew up with no intention of becoming a spy, no training becomes one simply out of spite. You get perhaps the best worst spy in history and a man who help turn the tide in world war 2.

Hazing... a phenomenon that happens in schools, businesses and militaries. But what happens when hazing go to far? Is Hazing actually a good thing? What are different ways people haze? Join Nick and Mike as they discuss different forms of hazing and how hazing effects individuals, groups and society.

Julius Caesar... emperor of Rome. Through out his time as ruler and the rise to become ruler, Caesar had some interesting.... side quests. Join Nick and Mike as they talk about some of the interesting and hilarious conundrums that Caesar found himself through out his life time.

Do we judge music by the personality of the composer? Do we judge paintings by the artists? Do we judge movies on the actors? Do we judge works of art not just the art themselves but who artists as well? Join Nick and Mike as they try to find the line when the artists is more important than the art and is it possible to separate the art from the artists.

Symbols, languages, and stories change from culture to culture. Whether it be adaptation to the new times or be another culture trying to understand a way of life, about people in a faraway land. Either way time and distance can create large misunderstandings between the origins and meaning of a people’s way of life. And one prominent in the western world that misunderstands a symbol in the easter...

Many creatures including human are guinea pigs. Mice, dogs, monkeys and yes actual guinea pigs. All are creatures that are used in both to better humanity and in cruelty. But what is the line? Is developing cures for cancer worth tens of thousands of mice? Is using animals to test how poisonous something cruel? Join Nick and Mike as they discuss the ins and outs of animal testing. The industries i...

Madness… some are born in the darkness of insanity, others are forced into it. Some use their insanity to their benefit, of going against the grain, having new ideas and being un-predictable. While others are hindered by it, drag into the depths of their own mind. In the tale of Joanna perhaps better known as the Mad Queen it is a bit of all of the above.

Almost every country in the world has some form of national debt. Whether it be from internal or foreign debt, national debt place an importance on a countries spending, development and how it operates. But how important is the national debt? Does changing the debt ceiling cause economic turmoil? How does governments become in debt to itself? And how does nations get out of debt? Join Nick and Mik...

Borders have solidified, empires, kingdoms, and territories. In the modern era it outlines, countries, districts, and states. And when land is being carved up, humans have always tried to get the biggest piece of the pie. More resources, more space, more money. But what happens when a supposedly simple land survey, turns into the dividing factor that pushes indigenous tribes a certain direction, s...

The internet is used daily in most peoples lives, from phones to desktops. In most aspects of lives from communication to work to travel and based on society the internet isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But a quest arises, how does the internet work? How does something that nearly everyone use work? Where did it come from? When was it invented? And what is the difference between internet and we...

Great scientists, engineers and inventors are always concerned with others stealing their thoughts and ideas. Taking what is inside their skull and claiming it as theirs, but what happens when fanatics and delusional people don’t try to take your ideas but flat out steal your physical brain. In this tale Mike tells Nick the story of when a mad man steals Albert Einstein's Brain.

Boredom, meditation, tranquility all related to nothingness. Is nothing good or is it bad? Is boredom and meditation different sides of the same coin? Join Nick and Mike this episode as they discuss the importance of nothingness. Needing more nothingness and the different attributes of boredom that very from generation. Discussing topic from how boredom increases mental creativity to how meditatio...

People have been telling tall tales for eons and most are myth and fiction but sometimes the unbelievable is in fact the truth. In todays episode I will tell you of an explorer that ventured far and wrote down his journey. We are traveling back to ancient Greece, a time when the world was still so big and unfathomable. A time when a man, a merchant became restless and sailed into the horizon.

February has one of the most romantic days, valentine’s day. Love is in the air, partners bestow chocolate, flowers, and romantic gestures to one another. And nothing says romance like historical sex scandals. And perhaps nothing says sex scandals more than the catholic church. And today’s episode is a composed of scandals of which many have deemed him the worst pope in history, which is just in t...

In this weeks episode Mike and Nick try something a little different, they make a drinking game out of politics. The rules are simple every time Mike or Nick find a Pork (pork being something that does not cordises with the bill) drink. Every time they find something idiotic... drink. Hold on for a funny wild ride as they drink to understand how politics work.

Have you ever heard the expression they don't make it like they used to. Well, there is some merit to that phase and some of the most evident evidence for that is the manufacturing of wood products. From 2x4's to kitchen cabinets the wood that they use is extremely different from the wood our ancestors used. Join Nick and Mike as they discuss the difference between the trees and wood and how socie...

For centuries people have been using banks to invest and save money. But over the years banking has evolved into something very different from its earlier form. There are many different types of banks, for many different type of applications for many different people. Join Nick and Mike as they discuss how banks form, how banks make money, how banks are protected and how banks in the 21st century...

The United States laws has changed over the centuries it has been a country. New laws added, some old laws removed. But some laws... the amendments of the United States are perhaps the most important and hardest to add to. Nick and Mike discuss the amendments purposed that just didn't make it and if it would be a good thing or bad thing to add them.

For centuries traveling the seven seas was done by experienced sailors with not much equipment for navigation. Traversing dangerous waters, long vogues all with not having an accurate idea where they were. Join Nick and Mike as the discuss how a common man help developed navigation gear for the British Navy.

Humans in one form or another have teased, lied or started rumors, but in modern era a new form of teasing... trolling. From memes to comments the internet is filled with trolls. But some questions arise, where did trolling come from? How has trolling changed in society? And is trolling destroying society? Join Nick and Mike as the discuss the history of trolling, the different types of trolling a...

The holidays are stock full of traditions and cultures. Some traditions very old some very new. But one popular in many peoples homes and in cinema is the tradition of a Christmas Tree. Bringing a tree inside in the middle of winter. But where did this nuance come from? How did it originate and how is it still in modern society? Join Nick and Mike as they discuss Nicks favorite topic.... trees.