M&Ms' Musings

Episode 44: The (In)Evitability of AI

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:20:20 +0000

Michael and Michele return after their hiatus to discuss AI and whether or not the odds of it reaching super intelligence is inevitable.

Read the Substack article by David Kruger that influenced this topic here.

Episode 43: Education at Home

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:40:40 +0000

Michael and Michele unpack the question of what education entails for parents, and the debate of what is considered "right" teach at schools versus at home.

Episode 42: DEI and Air Traffic

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:39:47 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss the recent uptick of airborne accidents in the wake of the current administration's cracking down on DEI initiatives in the air traffic industry.

Episode 41: Free Speech Revisited

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:38:16 +0000

With the announcement of social media platforms declaring more "open free speech," Michael and Michele discuss what that entails in the current sociopolitical climate.

Episode 40: Farewell 2024

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:37:36 +0000

Michael and Michele give their unscripted thoughts on the eventful and tumultuous year that was 2024, and what to expect or keep an eye on in the coming year.

Episode 39: Your Future AI Self

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:36:53 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss the MIT-developed Future You chatbot that allows you to speak to yourself in thirty years, and whether or not they would want to.

Episode 38: North Carolina and the Election

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:35:44 +0000

As Election Day approaches, Michele weighs in on her state of North Carolina, and it's place as a potential battleground state.

Episode 37: Bonus Parenting (with Dwayne Bullard)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:34:25 +0000

Dwayne Bullard joins Michele and Michael in this episode to discuss the recent concept of "bonus parenting."

Episode 36: Restorative Justice in Education (with Terrence Winston)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:32:57 +0000

Michele and Michael are joined by Terrence Winston, board chair of the Restorative Justice Initiative, to discuss how restorative justice can be provided in an educational context.

Learn more about the Initiative at its website.

Episode 35: Project 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:31:46 +0000

Michele and Michael return to discuss the controversial talking point of this election: the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025.

Episode 34: O.J. Simpson

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:28:00 +0000

In the wake of the passing of O.J. Simpson, Michael and Michele talk about their experiences hearing the 1995 verdict of the Trial of the Century, and how this single case encompassed everything from race to class, celebrity to society.

Episode 33: Dressing Professionally (with Yvette Brown)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:50:42 +0000

Joined by listener and friend of the hosts Yvette Brown, Michael and Michele discuss what it means to dress professionally, and what defines it by generation and occupation.

Episode 32: Who Gets To Speak Up

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:43:47 +0000

When is it okay to speak up about something that affects a group you're not a part of? Michael & Michele go in deep over this question that touches on race and religion, and correcting ignorance as free labor.

Episode 31: Non-Profit (with Eri Noguchi)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:40:58 +0000

For their first episode of 2024, Michele and Michael return--joined by guest Eri Noguchi, CPO of the Association to Benefit Children--to discuss the funding and intentions of non-profit organizations.

Learn more about Dr. Noguchi's organization here:

⁠https://www.a-b-c.org/

Episode 30: Social Media

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:38:59 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss social media, its benefits, and its dangers in the age of misinformation and saturated engagement.

Episode 29: Reasons Not to Have Children

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:38:03 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss the tough subject of children and whether or not it's ethical to be a parent.

Episode 28: Men Revisited

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:37:04 +0000

Michele and Michael revisit the subject of gender, specifically men and the language used to warn of potential violence from them.

Works referenced:

⁠Arguing for a Better World by Arianne Shahvisi⁠

⁠"Wolves" by Jensen McRae

Episode 27: How To Discuss Sensitive Topics

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:35:48 +0000

Michael and Michele give information to navigate discussion of hard subjects and current events with family and friends during the holidays.

Episode 26: What Is Consent?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:30:50 +0000

Continuing from the prior episode, Michael and Michele discuss the definition of consent, and what ethics are protected by it.

Episode 25: A Podcast About Podcasting

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:30:10 +0000

Michele and Michael discuss the fallout of a professor for his comments in a podcast, and what that means for them as academics and podcasters.

Episode 24: Generational Justice

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:28:23 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss Juliana Bidadanure's concept of "intergenerational justice," which allows youth quotas in public office.

Episode 23: Climate Crisis and the Future

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:27:45 +0000

Michele and Michael discuss the ongoing climate crisis, and who bears the responsibility of adjusting or preparing for its effects in the future.

Episode 22: Trump and the Black Male Vote

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:25:21 +0000

Michele and Michael have a multifaceted discussion on race, political involvement, and mass incarceration, prompted by a claim that Donald Trump's mugshot could gain him the black male vote.

Episode 21: Are Professors Safe?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:21:33 +0000

In the wake of the recent shooting of a professor on the University of North Carolina campus, Michael and Michele discuss gun violence and whether they feel safe as professors.

Episode 20: Class and Identity Politics

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:07:36 +0000

Michele and Michael discuss class and identity politics while discussing why the two priorities should coexist instead of be in conflict.

Episode 19: Race in Canada

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:06:44 +0000

Michele has moved to Canada, and tells Michael about the differences in how race is discussed among the United States' neighbors up north.

Episode 18: Black Family Reunions

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:05:47 +0000

Michael & Michele prepare for their upcoming family reunion by discussing the history of the arrangement, what it means for African-Americans, and its possible connections to other cultures.

Episode 17: Socialism Part 2 (with Tom Malleson)

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:04:32 +0000

Michele and Michael are joined by author and professor Tom Malleson to discuss socialism, and what a future under the socialist project should appeal to from all facets including social justice and economics.

To purchase a copy of Malleson's book Part-Time for All: A Care Manifesto, co-authored with Jennifer Nedelsky, click ⁠this link⁠.

Episode 16: Free Speech

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:03:13 +0000

A Memorial Day episode in which Michele and Michael discuss free speech. How do they define it? What are the limits of it? How should it be limited? What should be protected under it in an age of misinformation?

Episode 15: Ethics of A.I.

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:02:02 +0000

With the growth of machine learning programs like ChatGPT, Michael and Michele answer the questions of their ethics. Is AI becoming conscious, or simply rapidly accelerating?

Episode 14: Gender Identity

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:00:49 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss gender identity in three parts: gender identity itself, use of pronouns, and the growing reactionary response.

Episode 13: Preparation for College

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:54:03 +0000

Prompted by a piece about encouraging adolescents, Michele and Michael discuss the developmental and occupational benefits of college as they're seen today.

Episode 12: Socialism & Libertarianism

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:50:01 +0000

What was planned to be a discussion of socialism and capitalism turns into a discussion of the libertarian values in socialism, and how they can also clash. Michael and Michele still have an enlightening conversation.

Episode 11: Another Rap on Religion & Politics

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:41:44 +0000

Michele and Michael turn to discussing religion's place in America, and politicians using it to extend their policies, inspired by a recent statement from NYC Mayor Eric Adams.

Episode 10: Conceptual Engineering

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:13:22 +0000

Michael brings the idea of conceptual engineering to his and Michele's discussions on identity.

originally posted March 4, 2023

Episode 9: Isolation in Men

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:12:33 +0000

Extending the conversation from the previous episode, Michael and Michele discuss the effects from the upbringing of men and their higher rates of isolation.

originally posted February 25, 2023

Episode 8: Culture of (Gun) Violence

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:09:47 +0000

Michele and Michael discuss the culture of violence in the United States in the wake of recent mass shootings and the availability of junior assault rifles.

originally posted February 18, 2023

Episode 7: Consequences

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:07:48 +0000

In the first episode of 2023, Michael and Michele discuss two recent scandals based on an individual's past comments or appearances, and ask what the possible consequences for such beliefs should be.

originally posted January 27, 2023

Episode 6: The Philosophy of Marriage

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:05:26 +0000

Michele and Michael take on a philosophical angle to discuss marriage, from its benefits to whether it should be limited to romance or couples.

originally posted November 28, 2022

Episode 5: The "Common Man": Why I Voted for Obama Twice, Then Trump (with James Summerlin)

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 21:58:01 +0000

Fresh off of the midterm elections, Michael and Michele discuss with their first guest, James Summerlin, how Trump won his vote by saying the things that some voters needed to hear.

originally posted November 21, 2022

Episode 4: Religion & Politics

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 21:55:45 +0000

Michele and Michael discuss the two subjects one should never bring up, and how they've intersected in today's political climate.

originally published November 14, 2022

Episode 3: Social Class Continued

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 21:12:06 +0000

Michele and Michael continue their discussion on social class, covering public opinion on living paycheck to paycheck and understanding of income.

originally posted October 26, 2022

Episode 2: Social Class

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 21:04:45 +0000

Michele and Michael discuss social class, in the first of likely many episodes on the topic.

originally posted October 3, 2022

Episode 1: Teaching About Race (When The Country is Fighting About Race)

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 20:52:59 +0000

Michael and Michele discuss their different methods to teaching race in their courses of social work and black psychology, respectively.

orginally posted September 25, 2023