If you went to high school in America, you probably read Moby-Dick — or, more likely, you skimmed the CliffsNotes and wondered why this dense, whale-obsessed novel was considered a classic.That was me in 10th grade.But earlier this year, I decided to revisit Moby-Dick in midlife, and it hit me completely differently. What once seemed like a tedious story abo ... Show More
Oct 20
The Lost Art of Mingling: How to Talk to Anyone, Anywhere
It's always been intimidating to enter a room where you don't know everyone, or anyone, and to initiate conversation with people at a wedding, holiday party, or work event. But it's never felt more potentially awkward and anxiety-generating than in an age dominated by screen-medi ... Show More
41m 52s
Oct 13
Brandon Flowers, Frontman of the Killers, on Family, Faith, and Becoming a Thrasher
If you’ve been following the Art of Manliness for a while, you know that I typically interview the authors of books on this podcast. But,if you’ve been following the Art of Manliness for a while, you’ll know why I had to make an exception for today’s guest.Brandon Flowers is my v ... Show More
39m 25s
Oct 6
Silence, Solitude, Stillness: The Spiritual Disciplines We Need in a Noisy World
We live in a world of pervasive noise. Even when we're alone and our surroundings are quiet, our devices bombard us with an endless stream of inputs — messages, news, opinions, entertainment — and we feel constantly connected.My guest argues that this lack of both silence and sol ... Show More
53m 4s
Feb 2023
The Origin of Moby Dick, Part One: Mocha Dick
Today, Herman Melville's magnum opus Moby Dick is lauded as a classic of American literature -- but it turns out Melville didn't invent the whole thing on his own. In the first part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the story of a real-life white whale ... Show More
28m 15s
Jul 2023
551. What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life?
<p>In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why "Moby-Dick" is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/everything-you-never-knew-about-whaling/">Everything You Never Knew About Whaling</a>.") ... Show More
47m 45s
Aug 2025
What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life? (Update)
<p>In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why <i>Moby-Dick</i> is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/everything-you-never-knew-about-whaling/">Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.< ... Show More
48m 8s
Feb 2023
The Origin of Moby Dick, Part Two: Horrors At Sea
Captain George Pollard Jr. was just 29 years old when his whaling vessel, the Essex, met with disaster. As the hapless crew struggled (and largely failed) to survive their horrific time at sea, they encountered starvation, madness, exposure and some fates arguably worse than deat ... Show More
45m 3s