Every two weeks we surprise Chana with a new guest from the EA/rationalist-sphere and sometimes even the buttoned-up AI Safet– ahem– AI Security field.
Chana tells us how to live and think; Matt does all the work; occasionally a joke gets cracked; complaining is unceasing.
Matt wants to find out why people like him and it turns out that Chana is even more interested in that question. On the way, we coin some new terminology and learn about triangles. We then talk around Amanda Askell’s Paladin, Pacifist, Soldier, Scout post like we haven’t read it, because we didn’t.
LINKS
The 30-60-90 Triangle: https://mathworld.wolfram.com/30-60-90Triangle.html
Secular academy in Rome where you must speak Latin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_Vivarium_Novum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accademia_Vivarium_Novum)
Regis High School in New York: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regis_High_School_(New_York_City) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regis_High_School_(New_York_City))
Amanda’s blog we talked around: https://askellio.substack.com/p/paladin-pacifist-soldier-scout (https://askellio.substack.com/p/paladin-pacifist-soldier-scout)
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
1 Mar 2026
The Singularity Is Far Mode w/ Peter Barnett
Matt has a lousy AI & economics theory that goes nowhere, but we elegantly pivot to talking about human zoos, early internet scholarship, babies taking their first baths, and how important it is that we “take all the galaxies and do all the stuff.” Also, should we trade with ants?
Apologies for the audio (again) – Matt will do his pre-checks in the future to make sure the individual mics are working.
LINKS
OWID productivity charts (turns out I have a professional editor now): https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/labor-productivity-per-hour-pennworldtable?tab=lineIf anyone builds it, everyone dies: https://www.amazon.com/Anyone-Builds-Everyone-Dies-Superhuman/dp/0316595640We don’t trade with ants: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wB7hdo4LDdhZ7kwJw/we-don-t-trade-with-antsAgainst Neutrality about Creating Happy Lives: https://joecarlsmith.com/2021/03/14/against-neutrality-about-creating-happy-livesOn Future People, Looking Back on 21st Century Longtermism: https://joecarlsmith.com/2021/03/22/on-future-people-looking-back-at-21st-century-longtermism
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
17 Feb 2026
Internal Family Schisms
Chana interrogates Matt (because Matt hadn't prepared anything), so of course she still does most of the talking. Nevertheless, we learn about Matt's childhood, romantic strategies, and the ten characters he plays in real life, plus we hear from Chana's secret admirer. LINKSWhen “Yang” Goes Wrong: https://joecarlsmith.com/2024/01/08/when-yang-goes-wrongAella on seduction: https://aella.substack.com/p/good-at-sex-sex-as-a-status-gameBrangus on seduction: https://ratorthodox.substack.com/p/branguss-10-rules-for-sleeping-withNorm Macdonald's humor: https://youtu.be/tm-uISr3OWw?si=S8na0ypgkcEir0W5On Sincerity: https://joecarlsmith.com/2022/12/23/on-sincerityAs always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
1 Feb 2026
Deciding to Woman w/ Frances Lorenz
We welcome Frances, some Inkhaven residents, and local crows to tell sappy EA origin stories, and aggressive political stories before quizzing ourselves on Taylor Swift and the NFL with the best rapport and worst audio of the show so far. I'll pay an editor next time...LINKSFrances’s Blog: https://whatweare.substack.com/Matt has a blog too you know: https://frommatter.substack.com/…So [did] Chana: https://themerelyreal.wordpress.com/The Finale of Matt’s old show where he complains about compliments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJssGodnCQgDeciding to Win: https://decidingtowin.org/As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
11 Jan 2026
Does EA church need its trinity? w/ Arden Koehler
We bring on our first set crasher as we debate whether AI safety uber alles has hollowed out EA and whether we should retvrn to that old time religion of the classic EA trinity. Matt also now knows the 12 virtues of rationality and they hang along the stairs of his house. Other updates since recording are that Matt is probably, actually starting an EA church and Arden is engaged, like to a person, not a cause area!
LINKS
Tyranny of structureless: https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm (https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm)
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
25 Dec 2025
EV CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA w/ Bentham's Bulldog
We’re making a list and pledging it twice, gonna find out who’s stingy and nice. This Christmas, Matt and Chana are feeling the cringe as they reflect on their turpitude of failing to get on board with the thing everyone they respect has done. We hope Bentham’s Bulldog can whip us into shape before Santa leaves coal in our too-wealthy stockings.
LINKS
If you’re feeling so inspired, take the GWWC pledge! https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/pledge
TWITTER POLL on which of Chana’s incredibly obscure video games you know: https://x.com/Mjreard/status/2004092617165070833
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
21 Dec 2025
EV Chan(a)kuh Speical w/ Sarah Winthrope
Matt ponders his upcoming unemployment (circa September), lack of a system 1, and EA Holy Book concept, for which we bring in the best possible guest to discuss. Unfortunately, Taylor Swift ended up hijacking the conversation.
LINKS
On Caring: https://mindingourway.com/on-caring/
Unsong: https://unsongbook.com/
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
7 Dec 2025
Attention Surplus Syndrome w/ Nathan Young
Chana vexes about whether her newfound twitter hate is her fault which unfolds into a discussion of internet main characters and how shamelessness and forecasting are connected. Also, stick around until the end for the BEST JOKE YOU HAVE EVER HEARD
LINKS
Vpredator1000 (black or asian guy): https://x.com/VLONEPREDATOR
SBF tucker interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN1CR2dyfo8
Nathan’s twitter: https://x.com/NathanpmYoung
Nathan's Substack: https://nathanpmyoung.substack.com/
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
23 Nov 2025
Pathological Truth-Telling
Matt asks for book recommendations and we end up restructuring the modern workplace, figuring out how money works, and asking whether the rationalists are happy.P.S. Chana has probably found an assistant, but I think she wants more nowLINKSPacific (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25816988-pacificUnreasonable Hospitality: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60018618-unreasonable-hospitality?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_12Aspiration (Agnes Callard): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37702276-aspiration?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_11As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
9 Nov 2025
Intellectual cheating w/ Bella Forristal
In the first episode we actually *recorded* with a girl, Chana’s boss comes on to defy gender stereotypes by focusing on topics like fashion, dating, weddings, crying, but also moths!
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
LINKS
r/weddingattireapproval: https://www.reddit.com/r/Weddingattireapproval/
Reciprocity pro link: https://buck-reciprocity.herokuapp.com/
Matt’s blog about hemming and hawing about the EA label: https://frommatter.substack.com/p/ea-adjacency-as-ftx-trauma
Killing the moths: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Ax5PwjqtrunQJgjsA/killing-the-moths
Killing the ants: https://joecarlsmith.com/2021/02/07/killing-the-ants
We don’t trade with ants: https://worldspiritsockpuppet.substack.com/p/we-dont-trade-with-ants
26 Oct 2025
Unpacking the AI Omni-Cause (AIC review #2)
We resume our popular AI in Context video review series by talking about AIC’s second video on the MechaHitler débâcle. Matt actually thought it was good! It made an argument! But we do need to sort out our relationship to the AI omnicause and figure out what the channel is for. All before we go to the Ren Faire.
LINKS:
AI in Context MechaHitler Video: https://youtu.be/r_9wkavYt4Y?si=VHjo8zFfouwPDrHS
We Don't Even Have to Try short: https://youtube.com/shorts/Om8KXQt6mDo?si=em3aGLayB08bQdzj
Scott Dwarkesh clip (in the middle of this long, worth-listening to interview): https://youtu.be/htOvH12T7mU?si=Lb8Mw2ovnuWFX_WB
Scott list of things he could worry about: https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/book-review-if-anyone-builds-it-everyone
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
5 Oct 2025
What Makes an EA? w/ Julia Wise
Matt worries he’s disqualified for being insufficiently util-simped and being too preoccupied with the ideas themselves. Julia comes on and tells cute but harrowing tales of her bright children learning about the world. Everyone tried to avoid osteoporosis.
LINKS:
Julia’s excellent (and excellently named) blog: https://juliawise.net/
I regret that I could not find Chana’s LessWrong Declaration of Independence
As always, you can email in questions and comments at mattandchana@gmail.com
21 Sept 2025
Politics, Coalitions, and Fire Drills w/ Trevor Levin
Chana discovers anti-elitism is a current theme in US politics in this already extremely dated episode from our brief foray into conflict with Iran, a conflict which, like all others so far, we can now put in the win column of Peter Wildeford’s forecasting record. Oh, and the fire alarm goes off. As always, you can email us with questions and comments at: mattandchana@gmail.com
10 Aug 2025
Teachercast w/ Alex Lawsen
Matt is sad and grasping at topics and thereby inevitably gets squeezed out of the conversation when two teachers come on to do what they do best: gripe about teaching... and parents and protests and workouts and forecasting. Alex's Reflection on his joke paper going viral: https://lawsen.substack.com/p/when-yo... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDdiMGZMWWRvUGszLXIxbE5sWmplSV9DcGRyQXxBQ3Jtc0tsSmM1YjdaRVgyY1YyQThzNTlTWm82eloyZXdIb3dlSG5SX182U2w4MnZMYlZRcm0tVkJCSFItaGp0NUJqaEhFUUNhYmdYYlhUNmdCNldjOElmby10TEZmam4tSFJ3WG5aNUdOYjlKX212a2g4dHZUTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flawsen.substack.com%2Fp%2Fwhen-your-joke-paper-goes-viral&v=C1RfpbKJUHU)You can email us with questions and comments at: mattandchana@gmail.com
24 Jul 2025
80k's AI 2027 Video Director's Commentary
Chana triumphs at work with the release of her AI 2027 video, but even after two million views and 85,000 subscribers, she still has to win over her biggest critic. But to get there, she’ll have to understand what the hell he’s saying first.
Watch 80k’s AI 2027 video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KVDDfAkRgc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KVDDfAkRgc)
Read Matt’s lamentations here: https://frommatter.substack.com/p/sadly-80k (https://frommatter.substack.com/p/sadly-80k)
29 Jun 2025
Mixed Motivations w/ Daniel Filan
Daniel Filan discusses the motivations behind altruism and the potential influence of prestige, while also exploring ideas for podcast merchandise in an interview on Expected Volume.
15 Jun 2025
The Church of Shrimp Welfare w/ Conor Barnes
Conor Barnes discusses the intersection of politics, religion, and Disney movies with Matt, revealing unexpected connections and insights in this interview.
1 Jun 2025
Econo-clast w/ Phil Trammell
Phil Trammell discusses deadlines, Kanye West, and market economics, offering insights into risk tolerance, in this interview episode.
18 May 2025
Eschatological Territoriality w/ Andy Masley
Andy Masley discusses eschatological territoriality, veganism, and AI with Chana, exploring philosophical and technological concepts in this interview.
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