Intellectual Freedom Podcast

The Yin and Yang is an ancient Chinese philosophy dating back to the 3rd century BC. This philosophy describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces actually complement each other, states of physical and mental health are interconnected, and meaning in life is really interdependent. The Yin and Yang teach us we will have a much deeper appreciation of life when someone close to us dies. We appr...

After delivering a talk this week in class comparing Epicurean and Stoic philosophy, I ran across a disturbing article in the American Psychological Association, "Stress in America 2020 A National Mental Health Crisis." It paints a bleak picture of life in America today. I'll summarize it quickly--America today is the most sedated, medicated, obese, stressed-out, anxiety-riddled, an...

I recently re-read George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. I am always amazed at how some writers, philosophers, or artists have the foresight to see society and predict the future. A key theme is the effective use of language by those in power to control people. Political power brokers and wealthy elites use the rhetoric of division to keep power, control the minds of the masses, and ensure pe...

A recent Gallop poll found 84% of respondents believe the media is responsible for the political division in America. Polls consistently show Americans are very concerned about the division. Yet, I can go on to any social media platform and find individuals posting divisive political memes with countless “likes,” and angry name-calling in the comment section by many of the same people who blame th...

I am not a vegan fanatic. Although about 80% of my diet is now whole foods, plant-based.  Nor am I a carnivore Keto Diet bro. However, when I heard Bill Gates recently make the statement, “I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef.” It really fired me up on a number of fronts. Somehow the sweater-vested software engineer has become an expert on COVID, the environment, and no...

In my first podcast after an extended break, I want to set out for consideration that it is time to stop wasting time, energy, frustration, and sanity engaging in meaningless political debate online or in-person. As a model, I use Musonius Rufus was a Roman Philosopher from the 1st century AD. He taught philosophy during the reign of Nero, a horrific ruler. Rufus was sent into exile in 65 AD but l...

How we perceive things in life often limit and constrict our potential. Plato’s 'Allegory of the Cave' in Book VII of "The Republic" is one of the most well-known philosophical fables in history. The basic premise is as old as humanity-- can and how do humans perceive reality, how is reality shaped, and whether there is an existence greater than the average, work-a-day world co...

The events of January 6, 2021, and the storming of the capital building, were coming, I think we all knew this divisiveness was ultimately going to boil over. I have no doubt that 99% of the protestors in DC would never incite violence, they were there to exercise a constitutional right. Likewise, 99% of the social justice protestors this summer would never incite violence. It is that 1% that is t...

Society needs more subversiveness and skepticism. I don't mean physical insurrection. I mean intellectual courage to challenge and question the power structures. The education system is failing in its role of creating an intellectually curious, critically thinking society. The meat-grinder approach with standardized exams and regurgitating textbooks or technical facts is hurting our country....

People take offense way too often and easily. The outrage generating machines of social media are designed to keep people offended 24-7, and it is working. Joseph Epstein published an Op-Ed in the WSJ, on whether or not incoming first lady Jill Biden should, or should not, call herself “Dr.” A heated debate ensued about MD, Ph. D., EdD, JD and the merit or lack of merit of each credential and the...

Every once in a while, I run across a blog post or article that truly captures my attention. A student essay titled, "She Tried," published by John H. Clark III on his blog has stuck with me this holiday season. Educators can surely relate to this student essay, but also any parent, grandparent, business leader, or manager, can appreciate this too. It's real short but packed with so...

A prevailing ethos in the United States for 100+ years is the idea of the "American Dream."The truly American aspirational belief that individuals have the opportunity for success and upward social mobility through hard work and discipline. Just as important is the belief of Americans that the next generation will be better off than the prior generation. Yet, now in 2020, surveys are sho...

It could be argued that when we trust people more, and we are trusted more there is the potential for unprecedented progress in our life, relationships, work environment, or any aspect of life. Trusting relationships are powerful relationships, they are vibrant and healthy---when there is no trust or low trust, the relationship, is hampered, dampened, muted, or in the worst-case scenarios, the rel...

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.  Yet, in modern American culture, the tendency is towards conformity, not individuality, and freedom for most people.  Americans, from birth, have been conditioned not towards self-actualization and independence, but rather conformity.  There are numerous mechanisms used by politicians, institutions, as well as powerful and wealthy indiv...

We are told incessantly by the media the country is irredeemably divided. Yet, there is this cultural phenomenon called the "Joe Rogan Experience Podcast" that unites millions every single week. Rogan's podcast is pulling over 200 million downloads a month. Talk about reach! Here is why this is fascinating. Rogan is a self-proclaimed liberal who endorsed Bernie Sanders, later said B...

You are 100% responsible for where you are at in life. The position of self-responsibility has fallen out of vogue of late; yet, if we look at the greatest spiritual leaders, visionaries, intellectuals, and high-achievers, there is a common theme: you must get your mind right, to get your life right. We are limited only by our minds.  Assigning blame for failures for not being where we want to be...

We live in unsettled times. Is a revolution possible in the United States of America? It would seem an impossibility even a few years ago. But the question is worthy of analysis. What would it actually take to spark a war? The best answer is found in government developed programs to destabilize other regimes. If we look back to the late 90s to early 2000, the US State Department, aided by its Nati...

One of the most profound statements I ever read comes from George Orwell’s prophetic book "1984," the quote was “I understand how, I do not understand why.”  With all the technological and scientific advances, medical innovations, even space travel, humans are amazing at figuring out the “how” of things but the “why” is so much more challenging and important to human peak performance.   ...

Democracy is a fragile thing. A cornerstone of a vibrant democratic society includes freedom of expression. Cancel culture is the antithesis of freedom of expression. The emergence of cancel culture is a symptom of how sick American democracy has become in our modern world. When a society is more passionate about name-calling, de-platforming, shouting down, ignoring, or canceling opposing views th...

Ah, the aftermath of the Thanksgiving weekend. The ooh-so American holiday where, beyond giving thanks, the main purpose is to consume vast amounts of food beyond sanity, then spend the remainder of the day in a catatonic state of food hangover. Many feel guilty for gluttonous consumption. Guilt is the gift that will keep on giving long beyond the last piece of pumpkin pie, but it doesn't hav...

It was back in January 2020 during the presidential primary season, pre-COVID, and in a discussion in one of my classes, a student, asked, “why are the candidates we get to choose for president so dumb, old, and pathetic?”Yes, the question was blunt, a bit over-simplistic, and rude. Yet, the tone of this young man's voice was one of real frustration many of us feel about our choice of candida...

COVID has altered how classroom content is delivered. Also, it is bringing to the surface how students, parents, and even high school students value college and the 'college experience.'  Colleges are facing hundreds of lawsuits by students arguing they are not getting the same value online. They want a refund because online education doesn't match the tuition paid. Is the "val...

A deer hunter shoots a deer with a clean shot.  It bolts and runs full-tilt. The deer is dying, it just doesn't realize it. The deer may run hundreds of yards for hours before dying, sometimes less. Yet, death is certain. American democracy is in trouble. It is like the deer that has been shot, severely wounded, and running, yet most don't stop to consider the severity.  Our democracy is...

If you feel like nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of mortgage or car payments. Money since inception around 1200-800 BCE has dominated culture. The historical view of money mainly is concerned with social and economic systems using money as a means of trading wealth indirectly. Money was a wonderful evolution for human society, so we are told. It allowed ease and efficiency &apos...

America’s relationship with MSM has become toxic. It is time to end the relationship. There is no amicable resolution. Trust has been broken, frustration and anger dominate, and compromise is not possible. Everyone at some point has lived through a toxic relationship. It usually starts with excitement, happiness, and trust. Over time, you realize that person isn't at all what you thought. In...