The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters #1332

Harry, Josh, and Stelios discuss how they cannot control us, the pointlessness of working, and confessions to AI Jesus.

Reading List

• They Cannot Control Us

  • Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness (book by Thaler & Sunstein) – Yale University Press

  • Cass Sunstein confirmed as US regulatory official – Harvard Law School

  • David Cameron launches UK “nudge unit” to influence behaviour – The Guardian

  • Profile of David Halpern, UK behavioural scientist – Wikipedia

  • How nudging can be used to save lives in public policy – Apolitical

  • BBC explainer on behavioural economics and nudging – BBC News

  • Nesta acquires Behavioural Insights Team – Behavioural Insights Team

  • A brief history of Nesta and its policy role – Nesta

  • Behavioural Insights Team global locations – Behavioural Insights Team

  • Obama-era US Social and Behavioral Sciences Team explained – TIME

  • Australian government Behavioural Economics Team of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – Australian Government

  • Behavioural Insights Unit in the German Federal Chancellery – OECD OPSI

  • IEECP overview of global nudge policy projects – IEECP

  • World Bank use of nudging in health and hygiene policy – The Guardian

  • Meta-analysis assessing the real-world impact of nudges – ResearchGate

• Working Is Pointless and Everybody Knows It

  • LeadingReport post on Gen Z workplace trends – LeadingReport – Twitter

  • Fortune article on Gen Z work ethic vs Millennials – Fortune

  • Evening Standard commentary on Gen Z work habits – Evening Standard

  • Gen Z workers ghosting jobs and workplace trends – AOL

  • Bullshit Jobs Wikipedia entry – Wikipedia

  • Strike Mag essay on the concept of bullshit jobs – Strike Mag

  • YouGov UK survey on meaningless jobs – YouGov

  • CNBC article on “quiet quitting” evolving into “quiet cracking” – CNBC

  • Harper’s Bazaar UK on revenge quitting in 2026 – Harper’s Bazaar UK

• AI Jesus Will Listen To Your Confession

  • Swiss Lucerne University research project on AI and spirituality – Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

  • KlonnyPin_Gosch reaction to AI Jesus topic – KlonnyPin_Gosch – Twitter

  • signulll post on AI and religion – signulll – Twitter

  • Switzerland church uses AI “Jesus” for confession – Daily Mail

  • Church installs AI-powered Jesus for confession in Peterskapelle – The Register

  • AI confession bot for anonymous confessions – Character.AI

  • Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus □ Deus in Machina – The Guardian

  • ajah_elube comment on AI spirituality trend – ajah_elube – Twitter

  • AI chatbots become tools for spiritual guidance and confession – Ars Technica

  • Legal guidance on privacy and evidence risks of AI confessions – NewGate Solicitors