Conspirituality

Bonus Sample: An Ode to Curiosity

February 2, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The act of browsing physical bookstores, where discovery is prioritized over targeted searching, fosters a valuable sense of curiosity that contrasts sharply with the uncurious reactions often seen on social media. 
  • The host, Derek, uses his personal experience of discovering new books at Boredom Books to illustrate the importance of intellectual curiosity and the willingness to learn about unfamiliar topics. 
  • A central theme of this segment of *Conspirituality*'s "Bonus Sample: An Ode to Curiosity" is the necessity of pausing to learn about unfamiliar information before immediately judging or reacting, a skill often lost in online discourse. 

Segments

Boredom Books Discovery
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(00:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Boredom Books, formerly Word Virus Books in Portland’s Foster Powell neighborhood, is characterized by its curated, serendipitous discovery model, contrasting with online shopping.
  • Summary: Boredom Books is a small Portland bookstore that evolved from Word Virus Books. The host prefers this type of store where discovery is the primary goal, similar to a curated record shop. This experience highlights the value of finding unexpected literature, such as Kalima Khan’s A Paragon and Susan Hack’s Defending Science Within Reason.
Literary Discoveries and Curiosity
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(00:01:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The host purchased three books during his visit: A Paragon by Kalima Khan, Defending Science Within Reason by Susan Hack, and The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty, each sparking new intellectual curiosity.
  • Summary: The host acquired A Paragon by Kalima Khan, a book he had not yet read, for $9. He also discovered Defending Science Within Reason by philosopher Susan Hack, which addresses the scientific method’s value and limitations. Furthermore, he found The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty, connecting it to the Netflix series High in the Hog and anticipating learning about African-American culinary history.
Curiosity vs. Online Reaction
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(00:03:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The lack of curiosity when encountering unfamiliar topics online, exemplified by reactions to the Alex Pretti video, contrasts with the rewarding pursuit of knowledge found through physical books.
  • Summary: The host contrasts his love for bookstore discovery with the uncurious nature people exhibit when confronted with unknown subjects on social media. He notes that many people were recently fooled by content regarding the Minneapolis murders that was claimed to be AI-generated when it was not. This situation underscores the need to step back and learn before immediately judging or reacting to new information.
Podcast Sign-off and Support
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(00:04:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The segment concludes by identifying the episode as a Conspirituality Bonus episode, directing listeners to Patreon or Apple Subscriptions for full access and bonus content.
  • Summary: The host, Derek Barris, identifies the content as a Conspirituality Bonus episode titled “an ode to curiosity.” Listeners are encouraged to support independent media by heading to patreon.com/slash conspirituality or subscribing via Apple Subscriptions for ad-free main feed episodes and four years of bonus content.