F’ing Up the Ineffable

Brian and Mike discuss various topics from science and technology to the nature of consciousness and laugh a lot while they do it.

Listen on:

  • Apple Podcasts
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  • iHeartRadio
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Episodes

Thursday Mar 26, 2026

In the final part of the series on consciousness, Brian and Mike and talk about free will and why you don't have any (or do you?). They dig deep into where your decisions come from and whether you have any control over them at all.
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Mar 05, 2026

Episode lucky number 13. In the third part of a series on consciousness and free will, Brian and Mike talk about the nature of consciousness (just like the intro says!), thinking about thinking, and about how most of the things we think we know can't be proven beyond our own experience.
 
In this episode we mention the following:
What is it like to be a bat? - Thomas Nagel https://www.amazon.com/What-Like-Bat-Thomas-Nagel-ebook/dp/B0CYGZT4HM/
Natural scene reconstruction from fMRI signals using generative latent diffusion https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42891-8
The Matrix https://www.amazon.com/Matrix-4-Film-Collection-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B09R26TLNY
Mathematical proof debunks the idea that the universe is a computer simulation https://phys.org/news/2025-10-mathematical-proof-debunks-idea-universe.html
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father https://store.steampowered.com/app/495700/Gabriel_Knight_Sins_of_the_Father/
Holy Blood, Holy Grail: The Secret History of Christ. The Shocking Legacy of the Grail - Michael Baigent https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385338457/
Dan Brown - The Secret of Secrets https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Secrets-Novel-Robert-Langdon-ebook/dp/B0DTT5LV77
 
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Feb 12, 2026

In the second part of a series on consciousness and free will, Brian and Mike talk about meditation and mindfulness. They dispel some myths and talk about what meditation truly is. The conversation goes from yoga to mindfulness games to the real benefits to be gained. Brian teases future episodes and Michael realizes he's really good at having an empty mind.
 
In this episode we mention the following:
Episode 11 - Perception F'ing Up the Ineffable - Episode 11 - Perception
Yoga with Adriene 30 Days of Yoga - Start Here
Waking up: https://www.wakingup.com/
Making sense: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts
Playne: https://store.steampowered.com/app/865540/PLAYNE__The_Meditation_Game/
 
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Jan 22, 2026

In the first part of a series on consciousness and free will, Brian and Mike talk about perception, how what we experience isn't the whole truth and how things like the vision of birds and optical illusions can prove it. Our brains are lying to us and we talk about why. Also, we talk about why you don't want to think too hard about why you can sometimes taste a bad smell like a fart.
 
In this episode we mention the following:
Wim Hof Method https://www.wimhofmethod.com
Stan Lee's Superhumans: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1743275/
Blind spot eye test Quick Blind Spot Test
Selective Attention Test (Gorilla Experiment) selective attention test
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Mistook-His-Wife/dp/0684853949
Project Hail Mary https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135229
Thinking Fast and Slow https://a.co/d/7z4YsUc
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Jan 01, 2026

Happy New Year!
It’s the 10th episode, so we ramble on a bit about that and risk putting people to sleep before we talk about today's subject: Sleep. Brian and Mike share some information and tell lots of hilarious and somewhat frightening stories about surgery, narcolepsy, sleepwalking, dreams and locking yourself out of the house in your underwear.
 
In this episode we mention the following:
MiniMinuteman - https://www.youtube.com/@miniminuteman773
Book: The Promise of Sleep - William Dement - https://amzn.to/4jtZS9l
Mike Birbiglia - Sleepwalk with Me
Book: https://amzn.to/3KWJS30
Amazon Prime Video: https://amzn.to/4pmSfD5
Fatal Insomnia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_insomnia
 
Some links above may be part of the Amazon Affiliate Partners Program and we get paid when you use those links to purchase goods. If you choose to do so, thank you for your support!
 
Episode correction: Brian's first book (Cisco: The Complete Reference https://amzn.to/49hcBYe) was published in 2002. He was 25 years old. In the episode he states he was 21.
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Dec 11, 2025

Brian and Mike discuss economics, wealth inequality, why it's getting worse, what it means for the average person, why you are so uncomfortable on airplanes, and why we wish the old Netflix was back.
 
In this episode we mention the following:
Freakonomics https://amzn.to/4q5rcgd
Conan the Barbarian https://amzn.to/4rRGqXY
Veritasium - The lightbulb collusion story - This is why we can't have nice things https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5v8D-alAKE
 
Some links above may be part of the Amazon Affiliate Partners Program and we get paid when you use those links to purchase goods. If you choose to do so, thank you for your support!
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!
 

Thursday Nov 20, 2025

Brian and Mike revisit the topic of Artificial Intelligence, touching on AI replacing jobs, what AI can't do, when the AI bubble will burst and billionaire tech bros' super-secret plans. It’s either our best episode ever, or our worst. You decide. Then let us know!
 
In this episode we mention the following:
Videos / Channels
The State of the AI Industry is Freaking Me Out  The State of the AI Industry is Freaking Me Out
 
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Oct 30, 2025

Brian and Mike talk about games of all sorts and what elements make games fun. They discuss sports, video games, role playing games, card games, board games and they stop playing games with your heart.
 
In this episode we mention the following:
Videos / Channels
Game Theory: Candy Crush, Designed to Addict https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BTGgCEFuQw
Penn & Teller Fool Us Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ncm7wAMRjM&list=PLCXTqAdQ-IqmWPtBmB3iUIb1ze0bVqyFY
Shin Lim https://www.youtube.com/@shinlimmagic
Board/Card Games:
Chutes and Ladders https://amzn.to/49tKHKj
Ticket to Ride https://amzn.to/4oJrQ2i
Stratego https://amzn.to/4oJrQ2i
Battleship https://amzn.to/3WP4UTz
Cards against humanity https://amzn.to/437Qh18
Exploding Kittens https://amzn.to/3LfbeB1
Joking Hazard https://amzn.to/4oivVL4
Video Games
Nuclear War Simulator https://store.steampowered.com/app/1603940/Nuclear_War_Simulator/
Poly Bridge https://store.steampowered.com/app/367450/Poly_Bridge/
Poly bridge 3 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1850160/Poly_Bridge_3/
FTL https://store.steampowered.com/app/212680/FTL_Faster_Than_Light/
Elder Scrolls series https://store.steampowered.com/curator/35501445
Final Fantasy series https://store.steampowered.com/curator/34459938
Portal 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/620/Portal_2/
No Man's Sky https://store.steampowered.com/app/275850/No_Mans_Sky/
Dwarf Fortress https://store.steampowered.com/app/975370/Dwarf_Fortress/
The Oregon Trail https://store.steampowered.com/app/2013360/The_Oregon_Trail/
Candy Crush https://www.king.com/game/candycrush/
Gems of War https://gemsofwar.com/
Master of Orion 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/410980/Master_of_Orion_2/
Civ 7 https://store.steampowered.com/developer/civilization
Age of Empires https://store.steampowered.com/developer/AgeOfEmpires
Stellaris https://store.steampowered.com/app/281990/Stellaris/
Cities Skylines https://store.steampowered.com/app/255710/Cities_Skylines/
Cities Skylines II https://store.steampowered.com/app/949230/Cities_Skylines_II/
Sims 4 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1222670/The_Sims_4/
Crusader Kings https://store.steampowered.com/developer/CrusaderKings
Cyberpunk 2077 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1091500/Cyberpunk_2077/
Satisfactory https://store.steampowered.com/app/526870/Satisfactory/
Everquest 2 https://www.everquest2.com/home
Hearthstone https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us
Role Playing Games
Dungeons & Dragons https://amzn.to/47gBXpB
Call of Cthulhu https://amzn.to/3Lgiv3y
Top Secret https://amzn.to/48Z1J2V
 
Sorry this one is a week late due to travel!
 
Some links above may be part of the Amazon Affiliate Partners Program and we get paid when you use those links to purchase goods. If you choose to do so, thank you for your support!
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Oct 02, 2025

*****************************************************************************************
Brian and Mike talk about their experiences with music from playing live to recording, writing, musical tastes, likes and dislikes, with a side trek to a visual of a 5-year old Mike, sporting a bald head and goatee, swiveling his hips while standing on a coffee table singing Elvis songs into a hairbrush.
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

Thursday Sep 11, 2025

Brian and Mike talk about habits, motivation and discipline, how to stay on track, and how to fall off of the wagon. They talk about intensely personal things like depression, exercise, marriage, smoking, alcoholism and picking up dates at family reunions.
 
In this episode we mention the following books:
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey  https://amzn.to/4giOI5R
The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg  https://amzn.to/4nrrXz0
Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill  https://amzn.to/3JQ9nlF
Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman  https://amzn.to/4n0agqp
 
Some links above may be part of the Amazon Affiliate Partners Program and we get paid when you use those links to purchase goods. If you choose to do so, thank you for your support!
***********************************************
 
Thank you for listening to the F’ing Up the Ineffable podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please share it with your friends. If you didn’t, well, thanks for sticking around this long anyway!
 
We are available on most major podcast platforms including
 
Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fing-up-the-ineffable/id1821664977
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12WL4yv7L8Nm4mG2kVXn0y
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FingUptheIneffable
I Heart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/282001129
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f4a1689-597f-4c0a-a34b-e15ce7646edc
and more: https://finguptheineffable.podbean.com/
 
We are currently releasing new episodes every three weeks on Thursdays, but hope to increase the frequency of releases in the near future. Please subscribe to us on your favorite platform to be informed when new episodes release!
 
We love feedback! Feel free to find and follow us on
X: https://x.com/FIneffable68055
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/finguptheineffable.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@finguptheineffable
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finguptheineffable/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577163372748
and let us know what you think! You can also email us at finguptheineffable@gmail.com.
 
Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!

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