Minds Blown

About Minds Blown

Uncovering the mind-blowing hidden history of the 8-decade struggle to save the world from nuclear annihilation with Dr. Olamide Samuel and Dr. Vincent Intondi.

Category

history · news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Feb 2024

Latest episode

1 Oct 2024

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2024

   Oppenheimer...But for Kids!

   Historian and author Eric S. Singer joins Ola and Vin to talk about his forthcoming book: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb, the young readers edition of AMERICAN PROMETHEUS: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Eric explains how the education system reinforces a militaristic, pro-nuclear worldview, and what teachers and everyone can do to change how history is taught.

2. 

   7 Aug 2024

   Five Feet from Peace: Truman and the Bomb

   Vin shares the incredible story of the world that might have been, and how five feet was the difference between a world with no Cold War, nuclear arms race, and an end to WWII without the atomic bomb. Why did Harry Truman decide to drop the bomb and what could have been different? Listen and have your Mind Blown.

3. 

   19 Jun 2024

   Interview: Rep. Anna Eskamani - Action is the Antidote to Despair

   Learn how you can support Anna and get involved in her campaign: https://annaforflorida.com/

4. 

   26 May 2024

   Who Decides What We Remember?

   Show Notes Guevara visits Hiroshima, can’t conceal anger at atrocity (https://www.hiroshimapeacemedia.jp/peacemuseum_d/en/text/message003.html#:~:text=In%20a%20visit%20to%20the,that%20was%20perpetrated%20on%20you%3F%E2%80%9D) Che Guevara Farewell letter and tape from Hiroshima (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S7n_rvHZBo&t=218s) Similarities Between Benin and Japanese Cultures. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqLaly6plI) Books Living with the Bomb: American and Japanese Cultural Conflicts in the Nuclear Age: American and Japanese Cultural Conflicts in the Nuclear Age a book by Mark Selden and Laura E. Hein (https://bookshop.org/p/books/living-with-the-bomb-american-and-japanese-cultural-conflicts-in-the-nuclear-age-american-and-japanese-cultural-conflicts-in-the-nuclear-a-laura-e-hei/11040745?ean=9781563249662) Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb a book by Togzhan Kassenova (https://bookshop.org/p/books/atomic-steppe-how-kazakhstan-gave-up-the-bomb-togzhan-kassenova/17522327?ean=9781503632431)

5. 

   21 May 2024

   The Hidden Power of Student Protests

   Recommendations: Tom Hayden, Rebel: A personal history of the 1960s (https://bookshop.org/p/books/rebel-a-personal-history-of-the-1960s-tom-hayden/10058962?ean=9781888996661) Lawrence Roberts, Mayday 1971: A White House at War, a Revolt in the Streets, and the Untold History of America's Biggest Mass Arrest (https://bookshop.org/p/books/mayday-1971-a-white-house-at-war-a-revolt-in-the-streets-and-the-untold-history-of-america-s-biggest-mass-arrest-lawrence-roberts/14821773?ean=9780358561972) Francis Gavin, Nuclear Statecraft: History and Strategy in America's Atomic Age (https://bookshop.org/p/books/nuclear-statecraft-history-and-strategy-in-america-s-atomic-age-francis-j-gavin/7789118?ean=9780801456756) Michael Koncewicz, They Said No to Nixon: Republicans Who Stood Up to the President's Abuses of Power (https://bookshop.org/p/books/they-said-no-to-nixon-republicans-who-stood-up-to-the-president-s-abuses-of-power-michael-koncewicz/10562992?ean=9780520377486) Leeja Miller, How Student Protesters Will Save Democracy (They've Done It Before) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii-44eJqLH8) - Video Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Minds Blown: Unveiling the Power of Student Protests 01:09 Diving Deep into Nixon's Nuclear Obsession 08:23 Exploring the Impact of Student Activism with Michael Koncewicz 19:45 The Legacy of SDS and the New Left Movement 26:34 Columbia University's Historic Stand Against War 31:35 The 1968 Columbia Protests: A Reflection 32:39 The Evolution of Student Activism and Nonviolence 33:03 The Symbolism of Columbia in the 60s Activism 33:28 Tom Hayden's Journey Through Activism 36:17 The Democratic National Convention of 1968 37:52 Comparing Past and Present Political Unrest 45:11 The Legacy of 60s Activism in Today's Political Climate 46:48 The Role of Leadership in Social Movements 50:29 The Changing Landscape of Protest and Music 54:06 Reflections on the Anti-War Movement's Impact 56:18 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts Sources https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/nixons-nuclear-specter-the-secret-alert-1969-madman-diplomacy-and-the-vietnam-war (https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/nixons-nuclear-specter-the-secret-alert-1969-madman-diplomacy-and-the-vietnam-war) https://outrider.org/nuclear-weapons/articles/nixons-drunken-run-ins-bomb (https://outrider.org/nuclear-weapons/articles/nixons-drunken-run-ins-bomb) https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB195/index.htm (https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB195/index.htm) https://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2013/10/25/nixon-and-the-bomb/ (https://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2013/10/25/nixon-and-the-bomb/)

6. 

   16 May 2024

   MAD About Nuclear Deterrence

   Books Banning the Bomb and Smashing the Patriarchy (https://bookshop.org/p/books/banning-the-bomb-smashing-the-patriarchy-ray-acheson/15059522?ean=9781786614896) by Ray Acheson Nuclear War a Scenario (https://bookshop.org/p/books/nuclear-war-a-scenario-annie-jacobsen/20335598?ean=9780593476093) by Annie Jacobsen Learn about divesting (https://www.dontbankonthebomb.com/how-to-personal-divestment/) from companies and banks supporting nuclear weapons. Does your bank profit from nuclear weapons? Check the list (https://www.dontbankonthebomb.com/investors/). The hosts discuss various current global nuclear threats, including Israel's threat to use nuclear weapons in Gaza, Russia's threats towards Ukraine, North Korea's threats, and Russia's exercises with non-strategic nuclear weapons. They also explore nuclear deterrence, its definition, failures, and the concept of mutually assured destruction (MAD). The discussion encompasses the ineffectiveness of nuclear deterrence in preventing conventional attacks, the potential spread of nuclear armament to ensure global security based on faulty logic and the importance of multilateral disarmament. They also touch on societal and racial prejudices in nuclear armament legitimacy, the parallels between nuclear disarmament and the Black Panther Party's effect on gun legislation, and the need for re-education on nuclear policies beyond deterrence. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Minds Blown: Unpacking Nuclear Deterrence 00:55 Exploring the Complexities of Nuclear Deterrence 05:35 The Realities of Nuclear Deterrence in Modern Conflicts 07:52 The Global Nuclear Arms Race: A Critical Analysis 11:20 Racial and Geopolitical Dynamics in Nuclear Policy 20:23 The Path to Nuclear Disarmament: Challenges and Solutions 26:29 The Importance of Dialogue in Nuclear Disarmament 30:00 The Stark Reality of Nuclear Warfare 32:11 The Urgent Need for Nuclear Disarmament 33:31 Confronting Skepticism: The Case for Disarmament 34:32 Empowering Arguments for Disarmament Advocates 36:08 Political Change and the Power of the People 37:35 The Intersection of Animal Rights and Nuclear Issues 38:54 Youth Activism and University Divestment Movements 39:28 Corporate Influence and Education in the Nuclear Age 40:20 Reeducating Society on Nuclear Deterrence 44:51 Practical Steps Towards Nuclear Disarmament 48:37 Financial Strategies for Nuclear Disarmament 54:26 Book Recommendations for Further Learning

7. 

   8 Mar 2024

   Nuclear Weapons Go to the Movies

   With nuclear weapons on screen and the war on Gaza ongoing, will this year's Oscars be more explosive than ever? Vin and Ola look back at movies and moments that shook the Academy and audiences. Most Politically Outspoken Moments In Oscar History: From Brando To Halle Berry, Sean Penn To Spike Lee (https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/03/09/most-politically-outspoken-moments-in-oscar-history-from-brando-to-halle-berry-sean-penn-to-spike-lee/) The Eerie Story of Low Background Steel (https://edconway.substack.com/p/the-eerie-story-of-low-background) The 'Most Violent Moment' in Oscar History (https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/sacheen-littlefeather-john-wayne-oscars-speech-b2191537.html) Oscars Rewind: The Most Political Ceremony in Academy History](Oscars Rewind: The Most Political Ceremony in Academy History (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/movies/oscars-1978-politics-vanessa-redgrave.html) But it’s unlikely any ceremony will ever inspire more heated division than the Oscars a little over 40 years ago, when the best supporting actress winner, Vanessa Redgrave, was burned in effigy outside the theater, booed by some audience members during her acceptance speech and rebuked by a presenter later in the evening. https://mindsblown.show/ https://twitter.com/minds_blownpod https://instagram.com/minds_blownpod

8. 

   1 Mar 2024

   Make It Plain: Russian Nukes in Space?

   Escalating to de-escalate with nuclear weapons: Research shows it’s a particularly bad idea (https://thebulletin.org/2024/02/escalating-to-de-escalate-with-nuclear-weapons-research-shows-its-a-particularly-bad-idea/) Neil deGrasse Tyson explains why he thinks Russian space weapon 'makes no tactical sense' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5acObLzKml4&t=37s) ‘Everyone needs to calm down’: experts assess Russian nuclear space threat (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/15/experts-russian-nuclear-space-threat) Find us on Twitter @minds_blownpod (https://twitter.com/minds_blownpod) and Instagram minds_blownpod (https://instagram.com/minds_blownpod) https://mindsblown.show/

9. 

   8 Feb 2024

   The Super Bowl of Nuclear Disarmament

   Dave Zirin: https://www.davezirin.com/ (https://www.davezirin.com/) Vin's new book: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12923/saving-world-nuclear-war (https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12923/saving-world-nuclear-war) Kansas Relays and the Soviets: https://www.kansan.com/arts_and_culture/breaking-the-ice-how-lawrence-became-an-olive-branch-between-nations-during-the-cold-war/article_986a6f2c-f9ac-11e6-8893-b723ad654f38.html (https://www.kansan.com/arts_and_culture/breaking-the-ice-how-lawrence-became-an-olive-branch-between-nations-during-the-cold-war/article_986a6f2c-f9ac-11e6-8893-b723ad654f38.html) Athletes United for Peace: http://www.athletesunitedforpeace.org/?q=athletes-united-for-peace-our-story (http://www.athletesunitedforpeace.org/?q=athletes-united-for-peace-our-story) The Nuclear Freeze and Randall Forsberg : https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2010_12/LookingBack (https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2010_12/LookingBack)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.