logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
48m 56s

The Quest for a Moral Life

THE ART OF MANLINESS
About this episode
Note: This is a rebroadcast. This episode originally aired June 2019. Do you ever feel like you’re spinning your existential wheels in life? That outwardly, you seem to be doing ok, but inwardly, you feel kind of empty?  My guest today would say that you’ve got to move on from trekking up life’s first mountain, to begin a journey up its second. His name is ... Show More
Up next
Nov 18
How the World Wars Shaped J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis
<p>When people think of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, they often picture tweedy Oxford professors and beloved fantasy authors. But their writing wasn't drawn only from their bucolic days teaching at Oxford and walking in the English countryside; it had a darker, deeper backdrop: ... Show More
56m 13s
Nov 11
Family Culture and the Sibling Effect — What Really Shapes Who You Become
<p>When we think about what shaped our life trajectory, we often focus on the way our parents raised us. But what about our siblings? What role do they play in who we become?</p><p>My guest today makes the case that siblings may be just as influential as parents in impacting how ... Show More
41m 33s
Nov 4
Hercules at the Crossroads — Choosing the Hard Path That Leads to a Good Life
<p>In a story from ancient Greek philosophy, Hercules faces a choice between two paths: one promising pleasure and ease; the other, hardship and struggle — but also growth and greatness. According to today’s guest, this ancient parable is more relevant than ever.</p><p>Dr. Paul T ... Show More
58m 27s
Recommended Episodes
May 2019
David Brooks: The Quest for a Moral Life
<p>New York Times best-selling author, columnist and political commentator David Brooks discusses his new book, <em>The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life</em>. David explains there are two metaphorical mountains we must climb to live a moral life. He describes the “firs ... Show More
1h 11m
Jul 2022
Super Soul Special: David Brooks: The Quest for a Moral Life
<p>Original Air Date: May 20, 2019</p><p>New York Times best-selling author, columnist and political commentator David Brooks discusses his book, <i>The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life</i>. David explains there are two metaphorical mountains we must climb to live a mo ... Show More
1h 11m
Jun 2024
#372 — Life & Work
<p>Sam Harris speaks with George Saunders about his creative process. They discuss George's involvement with Buddhism, the importance of kindness, psychedelics, writing as a practice, the work of Raymond Carver, the problem of social media, our current political moment, the role ... Show More
41m 32s
Jan 2021
How to Stop Chasing Happiness and Make a Meaningful Life Instead
Welcome to The Academic Life. You are smart and capable, but you aren’t an island, and neither are we. So we reached across our mentor network to bring you podcasts on everything from how to finish that project, to how to take care of your beautiful mind. Wish we’d bring in an ex ... Show More
49m 19s
Dec 2021
Timeless Wisdom for Leading a Life of Love, Friendship and Learning
<p>“Today, we are supercompetent when it comes to efficiency, utility, speed, convenience, and getting ahead in the world; but we are at a loss concerning what it’s all for,” Leon Kass writes in his 2017 book “<a href="https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/leading-worthy-life/" ta ... Show More
1h 5m
May 2022
[Unedited] David Whyte with Krista Tippett
It has ever and always been true, David Whyte reminds us, that so much of human experience is a conversation between loss and celebration. This conversational nature of reality — indeed, this drama of vitality — is something we have all been shown, willing or unwilling, in these ... Show More
1h 26m
May 2021
Ben Fogle - Overcoming My Lifelong Battle With Self-doubt
Ben Fogle, a TV presenter broadcaster and author who has reached the peak of Everest, trekked over Antarctica and rowed across the vast Atlantic ocean. A man that has faced adventure and put himself in the most high risk situations doesn’t usually pair with low confidence issues ... Show More
1h 42m
Mar 2023
The Good Enough Life
Today’s book is: The Good-Enough Life (Princeton UP, 2022) by Avram Alpert. We live in a world oriented toward greatness, one in which we feel compelled to be among the wealthiest, most powerful, and most famous. This book explains why no one truly benefits from this competitive ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2018
Hilaree Nelson On The Virtues Of Living An Adventurous Life
“It's truly a necessity to have a passion as a compass in life.”Hilaree Nelson It’s so easy to get comfortable. To accept life as it is. To kick back — and just settle.Luxury and ease are what we are taught to seek. But it's actually at odds with the vitality and fulfillment most ... Show More
1h 46m