Today, childhood and adolescence are not about a process of discovery that eventually leads to the embrace of ideas and beliefs that are chosen by you. Instead, childhood and adolescence are all about a process of training that eventually leads to the acceptance of ideas and beliefs that are inflicted upon you.

043: Kids Are Not Defective (Introduction)

The introduction to a new series of shows about some other messages forced into the minds of children and young adults. These shows will include topics like medication, parenting, spanking, behavioral "disorders," bullying, "reward" systems and zero tolerance policies.

Today, and hopefully someday this will not be the case, childhood and adolescence are not about a process of discovery that eventually leads to the embrace of ideas and beliefs that are chosen by you. Instead, childhood and adolescence are all about a process of training that eventually leads to the acceptance of ideas and beliefs that are inflicted upon you.

Also, a discussion of how the state is "fed" by the schools and the family.

044: The True Self vs. The Fantasy Family

After reflecting on the last show, I wanted to explore my family comments a bit more thoroughly. Why do adults jump so quickly to the defense of the authority figures in their lives? Why are so many people resistant to the idea that their childhoods were not exactly great? When and how will the effects of childhood mistreatment reveal themselves? Because they always do.

To answer these questions, I briefly channel a "composite character" assembled from many of my past discussions about raising children.

045: Curiosity Killed Christianity (And Vice-Versa)

Ahhh, religion. Another great way to learn about all the things that are wrong with you.

I receive an email from a Conservative Christian organization that sends me into an explosive rant and an examination of the amazing contradictions and inconsistencies in American Culture. Could culture even exist if people applied principles consistently?

I also look back at my own Roman Catholic upbringing, specifically at an interaction with a nun resulting from my curiosity over the chronology of the life of Jesus. Then I imagine the same interaction with a more precocious and enlightened child.

046: The Mutually Destructive Exchange

My thoughts on bullying. It's not a problem that always begins at school, but that's often where it ends. Tragically.

We all understand that bullies seek out victims.
But do victims often seek out bullies?
Do victims wish to be bullies?
Almost all bullies are the victim of someone else.

This is a quick look at root causes, but there is more to come on this topic.

047: The Incubator

in·cu·ba·tor (noun)

1.An apparatus in which environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, can be controlled, providing suitable conditions for a chemical or biological reaction.
2. A place or situation that permits or encourages the formation and development of new ideas

Forced Associations
Adolescence is plagued by an artificial, society-created extension of childhood dependence. This is time where people can certainly begin to achieve greater self-knowledge and emotionally maturity, unless they're trapped in place that prevents it. There is no escape from the negativity; school is compulsory

The Hypocrisy of Adults
What's even worse: in this place, some pretty abhorrent behavior is modeled for kids on a daily basis. This behavior violates all three of the kindergarten rules: don't hurt others, don't steal, tell the truth

The same people benefiting from this behavior are the ones tasked with making children "good"

052: Holes

There is a phrase, "hole in the soul," that describes how a person may feel incomplete, unworthy, or dependent on external things. While much of this is probably rooted in family, I believe that school can contribute to one's sense of personal emptiness.

This is a long and winding show that covers a valedictorian's brave and moving graduation speech, leading into a discussion of the problems created for all students by the carrots and sticks of school. As Alfie Kohn points out in his book (linked below), even the rewards are a kind of punishment, robbing us of our own purpose and intrinsic motivation.

Whether we are the "overachiever" who gets the carrots or the "underachiever" who gets the sticks, these metaphors for the management of our lives tend to leave some holes, or even emptiness, in who we are.

I also discuss my own troubled adolescence, and how I tried to fill these holes. Nothing easy ever worked.

053: Drapetomania

Dr. Bruce Levine joins me to discuss his article,
How Teenage Rebellion Has Become a Mental Illness.

It turns out that pathologizing or "diseasing" rebellious behavior is not a new trick for those who hold tenuous power over others.

055: A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away...and Today

Stefan Molyneux of
Freedomain Radio joins me to discuss the seemingly elusive nature of heroism.

Our discussion surveys a variety of historical topics as we examine how heroes are manufactured by our government education, while our own capacity for "heroism" is gradually diminished. We also explore the conjecture that government school's theft of our sense of personal power contributes to a desire to experience heroism only through fantasy.

Then, "heroism" gets a long overdue redefining.

057: Relationships - Conformity and Convenience

I meet up with Stephanie Murphy and Mike Barskey, the hosts of Porc Therapy Podcast, to discuss common types of dysfunction in adult relationships.

We examine the question:
Are there embedded lessons or messages from school and childhood that most people can't seem to escape in their adolescent and adult romantic relationships?

The Lessons From School:
1. People can be easily changed
2. It's dangerous/abnormal/inconsiderate to express your emotions
3. Pay attention to words, ignore deeds

We cover the all-too-common phenomenon of 'settling,' due to a lack of self-knowledge and low self-esteem.

I also discuss my experience with the "Skinner Box" of relationships.
If I do this, I will get this.

075: Gender Roles and Pigeon Holes

Today, a further exploration of acquiescence and aggression, from a different angle.

Stephanie Murphy, Wes Bertrand and I discuss the perpetuation of gender roles and stereotypes throughout childhood, referencing the work of Cordelia Fine.

We also question the disparity between the numbers of men and women in the liberty movement and the Free State Project.

079: Young Bashing - A Generation Ago and Beyond

Back when I was a teenager, in the mid-1990s, a myriad of politicians, reporters, experts and officials all shared a serious concern over a growing problem: me

“Today’s media portrayals of teens employ the same stereotypes once openly applied to unpopular racial and ethnic groups: violent, reckless, hypersexed, welfare-draining, obnoxious, ignorant. And like traditional stereotypes, the modern media teenager is a distorted image, derived from the dire fictions promoted by official agencies and interest groups.” -Mike Males, Bashing Youth (1994)