The Fundamental Why
The Fundamental Why
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Fundamental Why, a biweekly podcast where we dive deep into the fundamentals of physics and philosophy through engaging 15-minute conversations. What sets us apart? We don’t just talk about complex ideas—we break them down from the ground up, asking the "why" behind the "what" and exploring the connections between science, thought, and the human experience. Each episode features insightful discussions between hosts and special guests—including teachers, fellow students, and industry professionals—bringing diverse perspectives to the table. Whether it’s unraveling the mysteries of quantum mechanics or examining what Einstein’s flexible space-time says about reality, we tackle each topic with curiosity, clarity, and an open mind. Perfect for lifelong learners, students, or anyone who enjoys thinking deeply, The Fundamental Why invites you to slow down, ask questions, and rediscover wonder in the world around you. Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple podcasts, we look forward to seeing you there!Welcome to The Fundamental Why—a biweekly podcast exploring the core ideas of physics and philosophy through engaging 15-minute conversations. We break down complex topics from the ground up, asking the “why” behind the “what.” Join our hosts and guests—from students to professionals—as we explore space, time, consciousness, and more. Thoughtful, curious, and clear, this podcast is perfect for anyone eager to rediscover wonder in the world. Listen on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a range of topics within physics and philosophy, including the nature of time, the origin of the universe, and consciousness. For example, one episode delves into quantum mechanics and simulation hypotheses while another examines time perception and theories like time dilation. The show emphasizes the connections between scientific principles and philosophical inquiries, encouraging listeners to contemplate the foundations of our understanding of reality.
Welcome to The Fundamental Why, a biweekly podcast where we dive deep into the fundamentals of physics and philosophy through engaging 15-minute conversations. What sets us apart? We don’t just talk about complex ideas—we break them down from the ground up, asking the "why" behind the "what" and exploring the connections between science, thought, and the human experience.
Each episode features insightful discussions between hosts and special guests—including teachers, fellow students, and industry professionals—bringing diverse perspectives to the table. Whether it’s unraveling the mysteries of quantum mechanics or examining what Einstein’s flexible space-time says about reality, we tackle each topic with curiosity, clarity, and an open mind. Perfect for lifelong learners, students, or anyone who enjoys thinking deeply, The Fundamental Why invites you to slow down, ask questions, and rediscover wonder in the world around you. Available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple podcasts, we look forward to seeing you there!
Welcome to The Fundamental Why—a biweekly podcast exploring the core ideas of physics and philosophy through engaging 15-minute conversations. We break down complex topics from the ground up, asking the “why” behind the “what.” Join our hosts and guests—from students to professionals—as we explore space, time, consciousness, and more. Thoughtful, curious, and clear, this podcast is perfect for anyone eager to rediscover wonder in the world. Listen on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.
🔮 Welcome to Part 1 of our Quantum Mechanics Mini-Series!
Imagine believing physics was finished — that the universe was a perfect, predictable clockwork machine… until everything broke. Today, we dive into the moment science flipped upside down. This is The Fundamental Why, and in this episode, we unravel how quantum mechanics shattered classical certainty and opened the door to one of the biggest questions ever asked: Do we truly have free will?
🎙️ Guest Speaker: Khanjan
We’re joined by Khanjan, a university student specializing in quantum physics. He shares how he got into this field, his background, and why quantum mechanics continues to challenge our deepest assumptions about reality.
🧠 Episode Breakdown
1. Introduction
We set the stage with the downfall of Newtonian determinism — the idea that the entire universe could be predicted if we just knew the initial conditions. From classical laws to the cracks in the system, we explore how physics went from certainty to strangeness.
2. The Birth of Quantum Mechanics
We walk through:
• Newton’s clockwork universe → Perfect predictability, cause-and-effect, the illusion of free will
• UV Catastrophe → Why classical physics failed dramatically
• Blackbody radiation and why objects emit EM radiation
• Photoelectric Effect → Why dim purple light knocks out electrons but bright red doesn’t
• Planck’s quantum breakthrough → Energy in quanta, not smooth waves
• Einstein’s photons → Wave-particle duality begins
• Definition of Quantum Mechanics → A probabilistic framework describing the microscopic world
3. Philosophical Implications
We explore three major interpretations and what they say about free will:
• Copenhagen Interpretation → Reality isn’t real until observed
• Hidden Variable Theory → “God does not play dice” — Einstein’s determinism
• Many-Worlds Interpretation → Infinite branching universes where all outcomes happen
These theories raise a central question: If the quantum world is probabilistic, are we more free—or just more random?
4. Open Discussion
We debate the strangest, most counterintuitive aspects of quantum physics and challenge each other with the big question:
Does quantum indeterminacy give humans more agency… or simply remove predictability?
📌 Wrap-Up & Next Episode Teaser
We recap the journey:
Newton → cracks in classical physics → quantum leap → free will vs. determinism.
Listener Question:
👉 Do you think quantum mechanics gives us free will—or just changes the kind of uncertainty we have?
A) Yes, it gives us freedom
B) No, it’s just randomness
C) It’s more complicated…
Huge thank you to our guest, Khanjan, for joining us!
Special thanks to our editor, Alman Hashmi, for bringing this episode to life with stunning visuals and seamless audio!
Next time, we dive deeper into the quantum rabbit hole: superposition, entanglement, and wave-function collapse.
👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for Part 2 — coming soon!
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