Author Archives: feralpoly

Feral Polymaths Episode 2

Check out the next episode of our podcast in which we discuss language, math, and the mysterious divide between the technical and the creative!

In this episode:

  1. We reintroduce ourselves and the podcast’s goal, which is to explore ideas, engage in debates, and investigate various topics, aiming to understand humanity and our place in the universe.
  2. Marylea shares what she learned about the “Three Sisters” agricultural practice from the book “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This practice involves planting corn, beans, and squash together, creating a symbiotic and efficient growing system used by Native Americans.
  3. We explore language and its relationship with mathematical laws, mentioning Zipf’s law, which describes word usage frequency in large texts.
  4. We discuss the mysterious divide between the technical and the creative fields, emphasizing the importance of bridging these disciplines to explore the potential synergy between math, science, language, and creativity.
  5. We explore how mathematical laws and patterns can also be observed in creative endeavors like language and DNA, challenging the traditional notion of a clear boundary between the technical and the creative realms.
  6. Gayle expresses annoyance with people’s lack of awareness and efficiency in crowded places, using a visit to Costco as an example.
  7. The conversation touches on empathy-building and challenging negative assumptions about others.
  8. We discuss the divide between people who go into STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and those who pursue creative fields, noting that both fields can be connected.
  9. A discussion on the potential impact of AI on creativity, art, and communication, as we speculate on how AI can change art, prompting people to think across domains more.
  10. We touch on the debate between abstract art and representational art and the role of perception in experiencing art.

Feral Polymaths Episode 1

This is the inaugural episode of our new podcast. We apologize in advance for less-than-ideal audio and ask that you bear with us as we optimize. Look for new episodes weekly!

In this episode:

  • We introduce ourselves as long-time friends who met at Smith College during our undergraduate days.
  • We discuss diverse interests, which include math, physics, biology, human behavior, art, writing, creativity, psychology, artificial intelligence, and more.
  • Frustration with societal expectations of middle-aged moms and our desire to break free from the “mom shell” stereotype.
  • Our different social awkwardness and tendencies towards misanthropy and gregariousness.
  • Exploration of the concept of reality and how our perceptions and interpretations may distort it.
  • We share thoughts on intelligence, being labeled as gifted, and the challenges it can present in relating to others.
  • Gayle discusses her experiences in a book group and her tendency to find flaws and critique writing.
  • We talk about the challenge of connecting with people and the feeling of alienation when others don’t share our perspectives.
  • The idea of detachment and attachment in relationships, along with a humorous anecdote about Marylea bringing her cat to a bank meeting.
  • We express hope that the podcast will be entertaining and resonate with other like-minded individuals, offering a sense of connection and reassurance to those who feel their thoughts are piling up without an outlet.