I first read Man's Search for Meaning by the neurologist, psychologist, and philosopher Viktor Frankl in high school, and I have re-read it several times since. It's one of the books that's had the biggest impact on my life, so it was a real treat to speak with Alexander Vesely, Frankl's grandson, about his grandfather's ideas and legacy.
Today on the show, ... Show More
Jan 20
How Football Took Over America — and Could Collapse
American football is so big — so braided into our weekends, our language, and our culture — that it can be hard to see it clearly as a whole.In his new book, Football, Chuck Klosterman helps us see the game from unexpected angles, and argues that football isn’t just a sport, it’s ... Show More
57m 40s
Jan 13
Money and Meaning — What Faith Traditions Teach Us About Personal Finance
We usually think of money as something very practical, concrete, and secular; we earn it, save it, spend it, and crunch the numbers behind it. But money is never just about money: it reflects our values, our priorities — and even our spiritual life.My guest today, Tom Levinson, k ... Show More
45m 20s
Jan 6
Strong, Conditioned, and Ready for Anything — How to Become a Hybrid Athlete
For decades, fitness culture has tended to break people into two categories: you’re either a strength guy or an endurance guy. You lift heavy or run far — but not both.But my guest today says you don't have to choose; you can excel at both modalities and be ready for anything.Ale ... Show More
59m 16s
Oct 2024
Evolving, Not Revolving (Edith Eva Eger, PhD)
<p>“I think it's good to relive the past and then revise your life,” says Edith Eva Eger. “Go through it, but don't get stuck in it.” The world-renowned psychologist, who survived the Nazi death camps, and went on to be a colleague of Viktor Frankl, just turned 97. And she just r ... Show More
43m 45s
May 2025
The Root of Menticide and Collective Care with Dr. Evan Auguste
Menticide, or the systematic and intentional undermining of a person's conscious mind, effectively "killing" or destroying their independent thought and beliefs, is one of the most effective ways to supress revolutionary change in a society. So how do we protect our communities f ... Show More
1h 25m
Aug 2025
120: Erich Heller, The Disinherited Mind, pt 2 - Burckhardt, Nietzsche & History
The conclusion of our two-parter on Erich Heller, and the conclusion to season five! We discuss Nietzsche's friendship with Jacob Burckhardt, and how Burckhardt's view of history can inform our understanding of Nietzsche's divergence from him. We also consider Goethe's four ages ... Show More
1h 44m
Jun 2024
Languishing and the search for meaning in the modern world
If you’re feeling demotivated and aimless, but you’re not depressed, you might be languishing. But what exactly is languishing, and what can you do about it? Claudia Hammond talks to the sociologist Dr Corey Keyes, who coined the term. He has some solutions that could help you mo ... Show More
27m 40s
Mar 2025
How To Find Meaning In Life - According to Science! (with Dr. Tatjana Schnell)
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tatjana Schnell, a leading researcher in the psychology of meaning, to talk about what it really means to live a meaningful life. We explore how people navigate existential crises, the different ways we construct meaning, and why the experienc ... Show More
57m 46s
Jan 2025
How to live a meaningful life? An existential perspective
How to live a meaningful life? An existential perspective The questions, realities, limitations, and paradoxes of existence—endings, choice, freedom, meaning—are all themes of existential psychology. In this episode, in conversation with Christina Khoury - Psychotherapist, Docto ... Show More
42m 44s