INDUBITABLY: The Debate Podcast

In 2021 the National Football League made over $17 Billion.  As each of us attends games, buys jerseys and supports our teams, what kind of organization are we handing our money over to?  How does the NFL treat its players when it comes to injuries or equity?  Does it turn away from the criminal and oftentimes abusive activities of some of its players?  And what should we, as fans, do about it?

Virtually every system of morality constructed by any society throughout history has been based on the idea that we, as humans, possess free will.  But what if that isn’t the case?  In this episode we examine the theory that every choice we make has been predetermined, whether by prior causes or natural law, and what the ramifications of that could be.

Perhaps the strongest biological urge that any species faces, and quite possibly the meaning of life itself, is procreation.  But with tens of thousands of children around the world orphaned or abandoned, and our population growing exponentially, is it time that we set aside that urge for the betterment of society?  Are parents who seek to pass on their genes acting immorally?

With Psilocybin, Ketamine, Ayahuasca and other Psychedelics and Hallucinogens starting to show potential benefits as therapeutic cures to a variety of conditions, states are considering whether or not to legalize them.  Should they be made available for researchers?  For medical use?  For recreation?  We discuss “The Science” behind these options as well as compare them to current alternatives. 

Several countries around the world have very recently elected corrupt leaders:  Brazil, the Philippines, (the USA?).  Should candidates who have been exiled from their country or spent time in jail be eligible to run for office?  If you had the choice between a competent but corrupt leader or an honest politician (oxymoron?) who would likely do a worse job, who would you vote for?

Police forces everywhere are looking less like the patrolmen of the past and more like a modern military unit.  Weaponry has increased in scale and technical ability, providing greater protection for officers.  But has this come with equivalent protections for society or greater threats?  How should we feel when the law of the land is enforced through bomb wielding robots, tanks, and surveillance...

For our New Year’s special, we step up to one of the most common requests we get on the show: Listeners want to get to know Josh and Kelly a bit better!  They answer questions about themselves, the show, and debate as an activity to give you a look into the minds of our hosts.  Will you feel closer to them?  Or just horrified at what Josh named his cat?  You’ll have to decide for yourself!

Have you ever wondered what a dinner conversation with five debaters would look like?  In the first of our two end of the year specials, we invited back some old guests from previous episodes so you can listen in on our “holiday party.”  We talk Christmas Carols, Disney Adults, Aliens and more.  Hope you enjoy and Happy Holidays to all of you!

Josh and Kelly defend the honor of Indubitably and do battle against Crystal and Robby from the podcast “Mind Changers & Great Debaters."  Has the plastic surgery industry become primarily cosmetic in nature or is it an important medical tool?  Are people able to make rational decisions about this kind of procedure or are the risks of abuse and addiction too high? 

With the World Cup in full swing, the drama on the field is rivaled perhaps only by the scandals that run rampant behind the scenes of football (soccer)’s organizing body.  Is the bid process for the selection of host nations legitimate?  If so, how did Qatar’s bid and subsequent preparation for these games hold up to criticisms over migrant worker abuse and human rights violations?

While the debate in American discourse seems to be centered around questioning established science, Josh and Kelly instead judge the arguments that take place after accepting the reality of climate change.  Who and how should we deal with the human threat to the wellbeing of our planet?  Why have we been unable to galvanize action thus far?

In this episode we tackle one of the most famous thought experiments ever.  Should Utilitarian or Deontological ethics inform our decision on how to act when deciding who deserves to live or die?  We also spend some time discussing a different thought experiment: The Prisoner’s Dilemma.  Josh and Kelly match wits to see who emerges victorious and who loses everything!

What should we call it when one group of people consumes the culture of another?  Is it offensive or harmful to dress as, eat like, or create art in a fashion that originates from different ethnicities or nationalities?  Or, is this the natural manner in which culture and society progresses, and something to be celebrated rather than lamented?

With the 2022 Midterm results in (mostly), we look at the election as a whole and the implications it holds for our government.  What does this mean for Biden’s ability to push his agenda in the next two years?  Does it bode well for Trump 2024?  Were some of the propositions on abortion, drug legalization and slavery (?!) potentially trend setting?

Back in July, Twitter’s future was uncertain at best as Elon Musk was taken to court by the company as it attempted to force him to follow through with his original plans to buy the platform.  Now, that takeover is complete, but the company’s future is just as uncertain as ever.  With Musk and Twitter once again dominating as front page news, we are throwing back a few months for listeners who mig...

The Black Panther movies use Wakanda to present a vision of black prosperity, presenting audiences an optimistic narrative of Africa’s potential.  How realistic is a future Africa that resembles the hopeful promise Marvel’s writers have laid out for us?  How do nations navigate the difficult decisions necessary to realize the path to development that has thus far been so elusive?

On this Halloween we use some classic Halloween monsters and villains to answer the question of whether or not Evil exists.  Do motivations matter, or are actions what define something as good or bad?  Why are clowns so horrifying?  And of course, who is the scariest Halloween villain of all??

On Indubitably’s 1 year anniversary we get introspective (for just a bit) and look back on our first 52 episodes as well as forward to our next 52.  We also break out “The Debater’s Treasury,” a book that was printed over 100 years ago with 200 topics that were debated at the time.  How many of them are still relevant today?  We answer this question as well as thank all of you for sticking with us...

Where does an authentic Indigenous identity come from?  Is bloodline or community a more important foundation for acceptance?  What are the appropriate ways to serve as an ally to various minority communities without overstepping boundaries?  We are reaching into the vault for this episode as Josh bails on Kelly to travel Italy for a couple of weeks.  We'll be back soon!

News reporters often cover subjects who are in distress.  Do they have a moral obligation to help the victims of the various circumstances that they are reporting on?  Do their professional efforts cover their responsibilities to their fellow humans or are they ethically bound to go above and beyond when they are in a position to be of service?

In 2021 the National Football League made over $17 Billion.  As each of us attends games, buys jerseys and supports our teams, what kind of organization are we handing our money over to?  How does the NFL treat its players when it comes to injuries or equity?  Does it turn away from the criminal and oftentimes abusive activities of some of its players?  And what should we, as fans, do about it?

If you worry about your credit score… imagine being assigned a score as a human being.  In China, people are granted or lose points for every day activities like picking up after their dog or playing video games.  Depending on their ratings, they could be denied access to schools, have their internet speeds throttled, or get boosted on a dating site.  Could this, or systems like it be implemented...

In our Labor Day special we examine the plight of underpaid underappreciated workers and ask the question of what they should do about it? Are unions a good or bad option for both workers or society at large?  Is violent revolution our best course of action against oppressive capitalist structures and the uber rich?

Josh and Kelly risk eternal damnation as they adjudicate the debate over the existence of an almighty creator.  From the beginnings of the universe, to consciousness, to the experiential evidence claimed by millions of people around the world, in this episode we evaluate the arguments of both church and science as we try to answer some of  humanity’s greatest questions.

It can be incredibly difficult to decipher the mixed messages that come from international leaders in regards to nuclear weaponry.  To complicate things further, the dangers from weaponizing nuclear power can come in many forms.  In this episode, we attempt to cut through the rhetoric, analyzing current geo-political realities and letting you know which countries are most at risk of a nuclear atta...