Brain in a Vat

Dr Jason Werbeloff, Mark Oppenheimer

mark.oppenheimer@gmail.com

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Booking Overview

A philosophy-focused show built around thought experiments and direct engagement with major ethical and existential questions. Guests are established scholars who can translate complex moral and human-condition ideas into accessible, rigorous debate.

Metrics

Episodes: 288

Frequency: Irregular

Rating: 4.3/5.0

Estimated listeners: 1k-10k

Gender skew: Male

Location: USA

YouTube: 8.8k subscribers

Instagram: 56 followers

Contact Information

mark.oppenheimer@gmail.com

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Host

Dr Jason Werbeloff - Host of Brain in a Vat. Leads philosophical framing and question-posing for episodes focused on enduring ethical and human-condition issues.

Mark Oppenheimer - Co-host of Brain in a Vat, engaging philosophers through structured dialogue and probing questions related to moral philosophy and the human condition.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Published philosophers and serious public-facing intellectuals (authors/books, academic research or major thought leadership) who can debate normative questions clearly and handle ethical reasoning with sophistication.
Required Achievements:  
Authored books on ethics or the human condition, Recognized scholarship or substantial public intellectual presence, Ability to engage mainstream audiences on complex moral topics

Recent Guest Discussions

Stephen Kershnar - Ethics Of Torture; Moral Constraints; Human Dignity And Bodily Integrity; State Power And Justification; Rights Forfeiture.

David Benatar - Living With Adversity; Witnessing Hardship; Empathy Limits; Legitimate Vs Illegitimate Suffering; Responses To Hardship.

Steven Kotler - Life Without Scarcity; Abundance And Meaning; Attention And Identity; Human Distinctiveness In An Ai-optimized World.

Recent Topics

Ethics, Philosophy, Moral, Suffering, Justice

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Brain in a Vat
:

The Time-Meaning Conundrum | Rivka Weinberg

June 14, 2026

Rivka Weinberg returns to argue that time is both the source of meaning and its greatest threat, making meaningful lives possible while also guaranteeing loss and impermanence. The conversation explores the relationship between suffering and meaning, whether ultimate meaning is attainable, and why temporary achievements may remain valuable even if nothing lasts forever.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction[04:44] The Time-Meaning Conundrum[06:35] Religion, Suffering, and Meaning[16:13] Immortality an...

Should You Need Permission to Take Medicine? | Jessica Flanigan

June 14, 2026

Do adults have a right to decide what goes into their own bodies, even when experts believe they're making a mistake?Jessica Flanigan returns to defend a radical idea: competent adults should have the freedom to access pharmaceuticals without needing permission from doctors or government regulators. Flanigan argues that the same principles underlying informed consent also support a right to self-medicate.The conversation explores medical paternalism through debates over prescription requi...

Can Torture Be Justified? | Stephen Kershnar

May 17, 2026

We welcome back Stephen Kershnar to discuss the ethics of torture. Kershnar argues that some criminals deserve torture because severe wrongdoing can cause a person to forfeit protections against extreme punishment. He critiques the idea that there are moral constraints the state must never cross.The dialogue also examines objections to torture concerning human dignity, bodily integrity, and the dangers of granting the state such power.Chapters[00:00] Introduction[00:43] Why Punitive Torture?[...

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