The Cruel Philosophr

Timestamps 2:25 - I'm suspended from X 3:53 - You don't own any of your social media relationships 6:20 - You need to have offline community 9:24 - The post that might have gotten me suspended 11:29 - Can I build an offline town square? 17:20 - I propose a political truce   23:33 - My theory on why black people are obsessed with relationship topics Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcas...

I hate this war. This war is stupid. Why are we at war with Iran. Also...there is no resistance. We're cooked. Want to contact the host? Send an e-mail to cruelphilosophr@gmail.com Follow me on X @cruelphilosophr

Some episodes are about the state of the world. This one is about the state of the back office. Today I get honest about what a work crush actually does for you, where the line is between harmless and not, and what the post-MeToo moment quietly took from office culture. Plus: eighth grade reinvention and a closing song. Timestamps 1:17 — The difficulty of the solo show 2:22 — The work crush and wh...

Trump is running the tables — Venezuela, Iran, now Cuba. In this episode, I get honest about an uncomfortable question: as an American, do I actually want us to win this war?  TIMESTAMPS 1:09 — Welcome back + why timestamps matter now 3:59 — The Iran-America-Israel war — and why everyone is lying 4:59 — Do I want America to win? An honest answer 16:49 — Cuba: "I think I can do anything I want with...

America is bombing Iran — and less than 30% of the country wanted it. So who does this war actually serve? In this episode, I break down the real forces behind the conflict: Netanyahu's decades-long push for regime change, the Greater Israel project, and the Christian Zionist apocalyptic theology embedded inside Trump's cabinet. Add a Congress that just voted to surrender its own war powers, and y...

Worst Boyfriend Ever — one of Substack's most controversial and compelling writers — did a live reading in NYC, and I was there. I took the 2 train down to 14th Street on a Saturday night, something I haven't done solo in maybe a decade, and walked into a packed bar that was definitely not built for 120 people. WBE read offensive material while people walked out mid-reading in protest. He threw bo...

Episode #184 Only about a third of colonists supported the American Revolution—another third stayed loyal to Britain, and the rest remained neutral. If a motivated minority could overthrow an empire and reshape history, what does that mean for today? This episode challenges the assumption that because most Americans aren't extremists, we're safe from extremism taking hold. Majority comfort might b...

To all of you who are engaging in illegal activity, asking someone "are you a cop" is not how you avoid getting arrested.  Have you ever been arrested after a cop told you he wasn't a cop? cruelphilosophr@gmail.com

A second fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis has intensified anti-ICE protests and put immigration enforcement back at the center of a public backlash. In this episode, I argue that the right is losing the fight not because of policy, but because of messaging — and that shock-and-awe enforcement without public trust is a losing strategy in a democracy. I break down why PR matters in political confli...

The civil rights movement aimed for a society where race mattered less — not more — and where shared citizenship could outweigh skin color. Today's racial justice movement often pursues a very different goal: a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society shaped around group identity. In this episode, I compare these two visions of equality, question whether either is fully achievable, and argue that even...

Anti-AI sentiment is growing, but the direction of the technology isn't up for a vote. In this episode, I argue that the push to slow or stop AI misunderstands how technological change actually works — and why resistance often comes from fear rather than strategy. This is a conversation about inevitability, adaptation, and what happens when people mistake moral discomfort for control. E-mail: crue...

In this episode, I examine the fatal ICE shooting through the lens of protest culture and federal power. As activists increasingly attempt to obstruct immigration enforcement, I argue that moral certainty — especially among those insulated from the consequences — can turn dangerous. This isn't a defense of policy or personality, but a critique of how ideology, privilege, and symbolism collide with...

International law is treated like a global rulebook — but what happens when the most powerful country on Earth decides it doesn't apply? In this episode, I'm sitting in the dark with the mic in my hand, giving you the hard dose most won't. Using recent U.S. actions in Venezuela as a case study, I break down why "international law" only exists when power allows it — and vanishes when it doesn't. Th...

Topics and timestamps Diana Ross' New Year Eve performance (1:47) Audio only podcasts (3:11) That "get in shape" resolution is a trap (9:43) Lily Phillips just got Baptized (21:00) I'm conflicted when it comes to Mamdani (26:37) The "worst boyfriend ever" is an internet treasure (35:38) Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes. It really helps the sho...

In this episode, I open up about what it feels like to create in a world where algorithms decide what gets seen, heard, or buried. From censoring words to forcing myself into niches I don't care about, I talk about the quiet ways creators lose their voice in order to survive online—and why I'm pushing back. Follow me on X and Instagram @cruelphilosophr Have feedback or want to contact me? Send an...

Topics and timestamps I don't like the people I ride the bus with (2:03) Barack and Michelle Obama should divorce (5:20) In a relationship, who is responsible for happiness? (20:04) Our Initial thoughts on Sinners (29:34) Some parts of Sinners were unrealistic (38:30) Was Annie driven by intuition or knowledge? (47:14) There were two disgusting sex scenes (56:30) Enjoy the podcast? Please remember...

Jason Whitlock recently did a show on fearless where he made some interesting comments regarding slavery. According to him, Black Americans should be grateful that our ancestors suffered through slavery since it lead to us being born Americans. Does he have a point? (7:38) Later in the show, I discuss the show Adolescence and why I disagree with everyone who believes this show provides any good an...

Elon Musk has a new baby mama and it started a mini civil war on X when some christian conservatives sent congratulations to the mother. Should Elon Musk be receiving the same criticism as Nick Cannon? Are conservatives hypocrites for talking about black baby mamas while congratulating white ones? I have answers. Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTun...

Happy Friday! I wish I was able to end the week with a better topic of discussion but I had to talk about the tragic air collision that killed at least 60 Americans. Yikes! Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes. It really helps the show reach new listeners.  Want to get in contact with the show? Email us at cruelphilosophr@gmail.com Follow the host...

I haven't been following current events or social media gossip close enough to do a show on anything because I've been reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X. If you are a Black man, you need to read this book. Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes. It really helps the show reach new listeners.  Want to get in contact with the show? Email us at cru...

What was Akademiks thinking??? Is there any defense for what we heard in those audio clips? Hear me break down why I blame the streaming culture more than I blame Akademiks for that disturbing audio clip we heard of him and the 15 year old streamer. Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes. It really helps the show reach new listeners.  Want to get in...

special episode I decided to do this one solo. It's a short one but I felt the need to to speak on the current deportation operation Trump has began targeting illegal immigrants. I support it and other Black people should be supporting it as well.  Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes. It really helps the show reach new listeners.  Want to get in...

Topics and timestamps Trump's Inauguration (3:22) TikTok's super short ban (14:12) I got in trouble for a pedophile tweet (29:47) Would pedophiles want to be cured (38:37) What should we do with pedophiles?(44:45) Pedophiles will always be dangerous (54:27) Enjoy the podcast? Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes. It really helps the show reach new listeners.  Want t...

Topics and timestamps Small talk (1:13) I want to be the most honest man in America (8:41) "Open minded" vs "opinionated" (Trans debate) (11:04) What Monica's New Year resolution SHOULD be (32:08) Are our standards to high? (39:14) Men shouldn't comment on women's bodies (41:09) Who would we pay $1.5 to sleep with? (55:41) My past experiences as a John (1:00:55) Enjoy the podcast? Please remember...

Topics and timestamps Recapping our election night experience (3:33) Was Kamala's identity the problem for voters? (9:51) Kamala wasn't an exceptional candidate (20:48) Debating Trump's presidential agenda (30:57) Should we get rid of Department of education? (35:05) This is why married white women supported Trump  (54:10) Monica's experience with interracial dating (1:05:46) Black men need to win...