Nov 17

How to survive awkward encounters

We all know what awkwardness feels like. It's that jolt of discomfort when the social script breaks down, and no one knows what to do next. But what if awkwardness isn’t a flaw to fix but a window into how we live together? Sean’s guest today is Alexandra Plakias, associate p ... Show More

56m 52s

Nov 10

Truth in an age of doublethink

We use “Orwellian” to describe everything from campus dust-ups to authoritarian crackdowns. But what did George Orwell actually stand for, what did he get wrong, and what can we learn from him about our age of surveillance capitalism and distraction? Sean’s guest is Laura Beers, ... Show More

52m 16s

Nov 3

The case against free will

We all think of ourselves as authors of our lives. The difference between our happy ending and someone else’s tragic one are the choices we each make. But what if none of that’s true? Sean’s guest today is Robert Sapolsky, a biologist and neuroscientist at Stanford University and ... Show More

58m 50s

Nov 2018

Calm in the chaos: The story of the Stoics

Stoicism is a school of thought over two thousand years old that asked how to live "a good life" in an unpredictable world, and how to make the best of what is in our power, while accepting the rest as it happens naturally. It trumpeted the value of reason as man's most valuable ... Show More

39m 2s

Oct 2020

Ryan Holiday || Lives of the Stoics

Today it is great to have Ryan Holiday on the podcast. Holiday is one of the world’s foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life. He is a sought-after speaker, strategist and the author of many bestselling books including <a href="https:/ ... Show More

55m 53s

Dec 2023

What is Stoicism?

Embark on an intellectual odyssey as we delve into the depths of Stoicism, the profound philosophy that has captivated minds for centuries. In this video, we unravel the intricate principles of Stoicism and examine its relevance in history and today. Expand your understanding ... Show More

48m 1s

Nov 2022

Virtue Ethics and The Quest for Character

Massimo Pigliucci, philosophy professor and author, joins Breht once again, this time to discuss his newest book <a href= "https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/massimo-pigliucci/the-quest-for-character/9781541646957/"> "The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and ... Show More

1h 5m

May 2014

Episode 47: Schooled By Our Listeners

Tamler and David leech off of their listeners and dedicate an episode to their favorite comments, questions, and criticisms from the past few weeks (but not before Tamler goes on a rant about bicycle helmets). Included in this episode: Does doing research on hypothetical moral ... Show More

1h 2m

Jun 2023

How Emerson Can Help You Become a Stoic Nonconformist

When we think about Stoic philosophers, we typically think about the thinkers of ancient Greece and Rome, like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. But my guest, Mark Matousek, says there was an incredibly insightful Stoic philosopher who lived on the American continent in more mode ... Show More

46m 28s

May 2022

Massimo Pigliucci on How to Live a Happy Life

Massimo Pigliucci is a Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and former editor in chief for the online magazine Scientia Salon. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the relationship between ... Show More

1h 2m

Oct 2018

Stoicism: A Beginners Guide- Episode 22

26m 45s

Aug 2021

The Philosophy of Stoicism w/ Massimo Pigliucci

In this episode, Breht is joined by philosopher Massimo Pigliucci to discuss the philosophy of stoicism. In the second half we open up the conversation and discuss politics, the European right, Massimo's application of stoicism to the climate crisis, and more. Discover more of M ... Show More

1h 21m

The Philosophers: Stoic revival