Sinopsis
You like beer, and you like conversation, right? Of course you do. Pigweed and Crowhill review a beer (sometimes their own homebrews) and discuss issues of the day. They try to break down serious issues into bite-sized chunks, and add some humor when possible. But it's all in good fun. Just two pals chatting over a beer.
Episodios
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520: Are car kill switches a step too far?
12/06/2025 Duración: 27minThe boys drink and review Vixen Irish Style Red Ale by Old Bust Head, then discuss a provision from the infrastructure bill that was designed to prevent drunk driving. The mandate is that all cars after 2026 would have a system to monitor the driver to ensure he's not drunk, in which case it will shut down the car. This system would monitor the face of the driver and all conversations in the car. Who came up with this, and why isn't there more conversation about it? This law gives the government a back-door switch to decide who can and who can't drive. The justification is to stop drunk driving, but of course it will be expanded beyond that. P&C discuss all the ways this could go wrong and how the government and other bad actors could use this in devious and dangerous ways. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#killswitch #drunkdriving #infrastructurebill
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519: The Future Unveiled: 8 Ubertrends Reshaping Society in 2025
05/06/2025 Duración: 31minP&C drink and review an amber ale from Nepenthe brewing, then discuss the Ubertrends shaping society. Michael Tchong’s groundbreaking 2019 book "Ubertrends: How Trends and Innovation Are Transforming Our Future" revealed eight major societal shifts that are redefining values, behaviors, and our everyday lives in 2025. From the rise of casual living and digital lifestyles to the obsession with anti-aging, wireless connectivity, and the culture of surveillance, these trends illuminate where we’re headed—and what it means for us all.P&C give them a critical look. Discover how Casual Living is changing social norms, how Generation X-tasy prioritizes experiences over possessions, and why Time Compression fuels our demand for instant gratification. We'll delve into the Unwired era of wireless control, the voyeuristic nature of modern media, and the empowering rise of women shaping culture and economy. Plus, we'll examine the nuanced impacts—both positive and problematic—of these societal t
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518: Can government make us all healthy again?
04/06/2025 Duración: 45minThe boys drink and review a light IPA, then delve into the recent assessment by the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. The report highlights a concerning rise in childhood illnesses and chronic conditions. From skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, and neurodevelopmental disorders to mental health crises among teens, the data paints a troubling picture of America’s youngest generation.P&C explore the key factors driving this health decline, including the impact of ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, lack of physical activity, chronic stress, and overmedicalization. The report also sheds light on systemic issues such as corporate influence, conflicts of interest in healthcare, and media advertising that shape health outcomes.Topics Covered: * Increasing childhood chronic diseases and mental health issues * The role of diet, environment, and lifestyle factors * Overmedicalization and pharmaceutical influence * Systemic challenges and policy implications * Next steps
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517: Cheap $h!t from China: is it a good idea?
29/05/2025 Duración: 31minThe boys drink and review Howling Gale IPA from Fair Winds Brewing Company, then discuss the impact of cheap merchandise from China. We get a lot of stuff from China, which isn't necessarily bad. But there are some products -- like human or dog food -- where there are legitimate health concerns. Even some Chinese clothing can have chemicals on them that are not good for you. What are the other implications of buying all this cheap stuff? The boys discuss. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#China #Cheapstuff #Chinatrade
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516: The Intentional Destruction of the West | A War Without Bullets
28/05/2025 Duración: 38minThe boys drink and review Key Brewing's Dark Slide Porter, then discuss the intentional destruction of the west. Something feels wrong, and it’s not in your imagination.In this hard-hitting episode, the boys expose the deliberate unraveling of Western civilization. From the rewriting of history to the weaponization of language, we break down how guilt, division, and ideological capture are being used to dismantle the very foundations of our culture. This isn’t drift—it’s design.Topics covered:* How “truth” became “hate speech”* Why self-censorship is now seen as a virtue* The rise of a two-tier system of justice and compassion* Institutional capture of education, media, law, and religion* The long game: divide, demoralize, replaceThe agenda has some clear components. 1. The reversal 2. Psychological engineering and guilty programming 3. The two-tier system of compassion 4. Institutional capture 5. The long game -- divide, demoralize, replace This show leans heavily on a short video called "The delibe
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515: Are AI companions a good idea?
22/05/2025 Duración: 39minThe boys drink and review a double IPA from Dale's and then discuss AI companions. AI companions are coming whether we like it or not. In fact, they’re already here. Most of us already talk to our computers, even if it’s just to curse them for being clueless. So why not design machines that actually listen, respond, and understand us better?In this episode, we explore the promise and peril of AI companions. On the bright side, they’re always available, judgment-free, and never moody. They offer affordable support for mental health, education, and loneliness. But there’s a darker side too: they can create the illusion of connection, stunt real relationships, and cross dangerous ethical lines.P&C lay out the upsides, the risks, and the red lines society needs to draw — from protecting privacy to banning manipulative or emotionally deceptive behavior. Should AI ever pose as a friend, lover, therapist, or spiritual guide? Should emotionally persuasive algorithms be opt-in only?This conversation isn’t just
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514: Old Popes, New Popes, and Pope Stuff
21/05/2025 Duración: 40minThe boys drink and review Pigweed's homebrew IPA, then discuss the pope news. Why does the Catholic Church have a pope, and how did that role evolve into what it is today?In this episode, we explore the theological roots of the papacy, starting with Jesus’ words: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” We dive into the biblical and historical concept of the pope as the keeper of the keys, which is something like a divine prime minister, and the pope’s role as a visible sign of unity and practical necessity in governing a global church.We also tackle the long and messy history of papal disputes. From the East-West Schism over the filioque to the chaos of the Western Schism—with three men simultaneously claiming to be pope—the road to a stable papacy hasn’t been smooth. Learn how the Church eventually resolved these crises and how the conclave system works today to elect a new pope behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel.Finally, we discuss the election of Pope Leo XIV (formerly Card
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513: The strange history of Maryland
15/05/2025 Duración: 48minIn this episode of Beer and Conversation with Pigweed and Crowhill, we crack open a First State IPA and dive into the quirky and complex history of Maryland—from its colonial beginnings to its odd borders, bold flag, and surprising state symbols.Learn about:* Why Maryland has one of the most distinctive flags in the U.S.* The Catholic roots of the colony and its experiment in religious tolerance* Feuds with Virginia and Delaware that helped shape state lines* Strange land grants, early tobacco economics, and the role of slavery* The story behind counties like Prince George’s and Anne Arundel* Why the state sport is jousting (yes, really)* Forgotten heroes like Arctic explorer Matthew Henson* And the ongoing mystery of why no one’s ever seen a Baltimore Oriole in BaltimoreWe cover centuries of drama, trivia, and local pride—with plenty of laughs and beer-fueled banter along the way.More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#Maryland #
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512: Lady Susan by Jane Austen
09/05/2025 Duración: 32minWith special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review Dad Strength IPA, then discuss a short novel by Jane Auten as part of their "shortcut to the classics" series. After a brief review of Austen's biography, they dive into the first book Austen wrote, but one of the last to be published. Lady Susan is an epistolary novel, meaning that it's composed of a bunch of personal letters, which means you're always getting the story from the perspective of the letter writer. Susan is the most accomplished flirt and manipulator in England. She's also very pretty and looks more 25 than 35. She's a hurricane who leaves destruction in her wake. The novel is a fun romp through 18th century society and is decently portrayed in the movie "Love and Friendship" on Amazon. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#Austen #JaneAusten #classics #LadySusan
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511: Slavery in America, tariffs, political violence and other listener questions
08/05/2025 Duración: 24minThe boys drink and review Capit-Ale from Devil's Backbone, then clear out the mail bag. One reader objected to the fact that our show on slavery didn't focus on slavery in America. Which was the point. JR asked what we thought of tariffs on aluminum and steel that harm the craft beer industry. Miss Maisy asked why our show on left-wing violence didn't address conservative violence like Jan. 6 and militias. Other questions addressed judicial overreach, the sexual morality of futurist dystopias, and an amusing interpretation of snow white. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#slavery #tariffs #politicalviolence
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510: World Economic Forum -- curse or blessing?
07/05/2025 Duración: 39minThe boys drink and review The Crisp from Sixpoint brewery, then discuss the World Economic Forum. The WEF is a non-governmental organization based in Switzerland. It's famous for its annual meeting in Davos. It was founded by Klaus Schwab in 1971 as the European Management Forum, but changed to the WEF in 1987 and expanded its mission globally. It's mission is to “improve the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.” Their major initiatives include ... * The Great Reset * Stakeholder capitalism * The Fourth Industrial Revolution * The Global Risks Report * Net Zero and climate initiatives But who elected them? Why do they have power? Who asked them to do this? To whom are they accountable? More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#WEF #WorldEconomicForum #KlausSchwab #Davos
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509: Do Democrats want to win another election ever again?
30/04/2025 Duración: 33minThe boys drink and review Mas Lima from Oscar Blues, then ask whether the Democrats want to win another election. They're not acting that way. In fact, the Democrats seem intent on losing even more. They've attached themselves to ideas and issues that 80 percent of the public reject, such as ... * Castrating confused children * The border and immigration* Standing up for gang members * Rejecting voter ID Democrats have latched themselves to an extreme ideology the voters reject. If they ever want to win another election, they need to move towards the center. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ
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508: Are we living in a digital panopticon?
29/04/2025 Duración: 41minThe boys drink and review Delicious IPA from Stone, then discuss prisons, and whether we're in a digital version of one. The "panopticon" is a prison design invented by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham. The idea is that if you make prisoners feel as if they're constantly under surveillance, the prisoners will regulate themselves and the guards won't have to bang them about so much. Modern prisons have adopted some of Bentham's ideas, but so have many other institutions. Foucault said this idea was the blueprint for all modern institutions. Schools, hospitals, and other organizations enforce conformity by defining what is "normal" and by constant surveillance. Stephen Cave added the concept of a "freedom quotient" by which we can determine how much freedom a person can exercise in any given situation. The boys tie it all together and ask whether the modern world is a digital prison. We know we're being surveilled. We know we're supposed to follow what the pow
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507: De-extinction and Dire Wolves
24/04/2025 Duración: 32minP&C drink and review a blonde ale from the Brookeville Beer Farm, then discuss the process of de-extinction -- bringing animals back from the graves of history. Using DNA from dire wolf fossils from 13,000 and 72,000 years ago, Colossal Biosciences claims to have brought the dire wolf back from extinction. What they really did was edit the genes of a gray wolf to look a little more like a dire wolf. The pups -- Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi -- are white and a little large, but they're not dire wolves. They're just gray wolves that have had some work done. The project raises larger questions. Is de-extinction a good idea? Should we bring back extinct species? The boys discuss. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#direwolves #deextinction #DNA #Colossalbiosciences
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506: Have judges become tyrants?
22/04/2025 Duración: 35minP&C drink and review an excellent Scottish ale from Bellhaven, then discuss judicial tyranny. Judges have a legitimate role in checking the power of Congress and the president. But can that power be taken too far? Recently we've had a rash of "universal injunctions" against the Trump administration. Is that a proper use of judicial power, or have they taken it too far? It seems that Congress has become irrelevant. The president and the courts legislate while Congress has hearings on things. What are the limits on judicial power?More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#tyranny #judicialtyranny #judges #judiciary #judicialpower
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505: The real Snow White controversy
16/04/2025 Duración: 36minP&C drink and review a special Stout from Guinness then discuss the controversy over Snow White. No, not that one. The boys start off with a comparison of the Disney version of the story with the version from the brothers Grimm. Disney filed off some of the rough edges. They also discuss Tolkien's dislike of Disney, and why. They examine the role of fairy tales, and whether it's right to dial things back for the kids. Late in the show they also discuss "Snow Woke" with Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. Are children better off with our watered down, saccharine stories, or did they grow up better when the heard about the dangers of life. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAjUk6LttQyUk_fV9F46R06OQgH39exQ#Snowwhite #snowwoke #Tolkien #Grimm #fairytales
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504: Why are liberals so okay with violence?
11/04/2025 Duración: 40minIn this provocative episode, Pigweed and Crowhill explore a troubling question: Why does the modern political left seem so comfortable with violence? From vandalism and verbal threats to outright attacks on political opponents, the boys examine real-world examples -- from keyed Teslas and firebombed dealerships to violent rhetoric at rallies and social media.They also take a philosophical turn, asking what might be going on psychologically and morally. Is victimhood being used as a moral loophole to justify aggressive behavior? Why do some on the left excuse or applaud violent actors, from radical activists to international terror groups?Expect sharp commentary, cultural analysis, and a discussion of figures like Slavoj Žižek.
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503: "Wrestling with Jordan Peterson's God," a review
07/04/2025 Duración: 46minThe boys drink and review Bitburger, a German Pilsner, then discuss Crowhill's book about Jordan Peterson's religious views, and what we can piece together of his religious journey. Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist who broke onto the public scene after Canada decided to tell people how they can and can't speak. He wasn't having any part of it. Part of Peterson's mystique is his very public struggle with religious questions. His recent book, "We Who Wrestle With God" is his latest foray into the topic, mixing evolutionary biology, Jungian archetypes, the Bible, and timeless religious and moral questions. It's full of interesting insights, but it's a bit of a jumbled mess. Crowhill makes an attempt to systematize and organize Peterson's thoughts into a coherent system. In today's episode, Pigweed, Crowhill, and special guest Longinus, discuss the book and draw out some of its key points. More at ... https://www.pigweedandcrowhill.com/https://www.y
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502: The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot. What the hell is going on?
04/04/2025 Duración: 47minWith special guest Longinus, the boys drink and review a Mexican lager, then dive into one of the most obscure and incomprehensible poems on the planet. Eliot’s The Waste Land is one of the most important -- and most confusing -- poems of the 20th century. The poem includes fragmented voices, obscure references, and a bleak vision of modern life. What exactly was Eliot trying to say, and why has this chaotic mess of a poem endured for over a hundred years?In this episode, we dig into the madness:Why the poem reads like a literary fever dreamHow World War I, ancient myths, and personal breakdowns all bleed into the textThe role of religion, sex, and disillusionment in shaping the poem’s core messageAnd why lines like “April is the cruellest month” still hit hard todayWhether you're a student drowning in footnotes or a lit lover trying to make sense of Eliot’s masterpiece, this is your no-BS guide to The Waste Land. Bring your sense of curiosity — and maybe a glass of something strong.More at ... https://ww
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501: Should the United States lay claim to the Arctic
03/04/2025 Duración: 29minThe boys drink and review Sun Camp by Dewey Beer Company, then discuss the potential strategic reasoning behind Trump's threatening statements towards Canada and Greenland. The boys react to a LinkedIn post that flips your mental map of the world — literally. What if you looked at the globe from the top down? Suddenly, the Arctic isn’t a frozen afterthought, it’s the new front line.❄️ Is climate change turning ice into opportunity? As the Arctic melts, it opens up shipping lanes and exposes a treasure trove of natural resources: oil, gas, rare earths, and more. Russia’s already militarizing. China’s nosing in. And the U.S.? Scrambling to catch up.What’s at stake for the U.S.?* Security: Russian nukes and Chinese icebreakers are already in the game.* Resources: Greenland’s rare earths could break China’s monopoly.* Influence: Whoever controls the Arctic will shape global trade, energy, and power.Greenland matters more than you think, and so does Canada. The North is becoming a high-stakes geopolitical ches