The Firestone Files

In episode forty-seven, Dr. Firestone visits Washington, D.C., with a group of his student. They visit the National Mall, view the White House, and tour the Capitol Building with Congressman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas' fourth congressional district. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosoph...

In episode forty-six, Dr. Firestone presents a talk he gave to a large body of potential foreign students. He discusses American exceptionalism, which is a not just a product of our great founding documents and philosophy, but also of our disposition as people imbued with the American spirit. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Fi...

Episode forty-five of The Firestone Files is a special crossover episode with the Nathan Jacobs Podcast! What happens when a profound, perspective-shifting experience forces a young artist to completely re-evaluate everything? In this deep-dive, long-form interview, Dr. Firestone sits down with his long-time friend and student-turned-colleague, Dr. Nathan Jacobs, to unpack his journey from artist...

Episode forty-four of The Firestone Files is a special crossover episode with the Nathan Jacobs Podcast! Is there salvation outside the boundaries of the Eastern Orthodox Church? As the internet remains ablaze with the recent theological clash between Gavin Ortlund and Jonathan Pageau over historic Orthodox exclusivity, the answer remains heavily contested. In this deep-dive dialogue, Drs. Nathan...

Episode forty-three of The Firestone Files is a special crossover episode with the Nathan Jacobs Podcast! In this interview, Dr. Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend, colleague, and frequent co-author, Dr. Chris Firestone. For 27 years, these two have been collaborating, pushing intellectual boundaries, and challenging the status quo in the academic world. In this deep-dive conversation, the...

In episode forty-two, Dr. Firestone introduces the practice of dream interpretation from a philosopher's perspective. He discusses the profound ubiquity of dreams in our lives and the paradoxical lack of attention we give them in modern life. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and wo...

In episode forty-one, Dr. Firestone shares his commencement address for the inaugural year of Turning Point Education's Prep Year program. He discusses the origins of the program, the highs and lows of the year, and what he hopes the students got out of it. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in ph...

In episode forty, Dr. Firestone discusses Philosophy as de-myth. He summarizes his Philosophy as Myth episode and explores how good philosophy can be done by de-mythologizing and interpreting the stories we tell. He closes by briefly discussing the work that Jordan Peterson has done in this area. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr...

In episode thirty-nine, Dr. Firestone discusses what may be the earliest practice of philosophy: myth. He summarizes the What is Philosophy series and dives into the work of Joseph Campbell on the hero's journey. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and worldview to bring answers to pr...

In episode thirty-eight, Dr. Firestone interviews his eldest child, Hannah. They discuss growing up as a oldest child, Hannah's early endeavors (such as starting a babysitting business in high school), her time studying at Amherst, and her academic and career work since graduating. Check out her current endeavors by visiting https://www.globalcapitalallocation.com/ Check out The Firestone File...

In episode thirty-seven, Dr. Firestone concludes his discussion of the question, "What is philosophy?" He describes "The Tree of Philosophy" and makes the argument that logic and ethics are the two pillars of good philosophy. Check out The Firestone Files Facebook page for weekly livestreams discussing that week's topic. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a...

In episode thirty-six, Dr. Firestone continues discussing the question, "What is philosophy?" Using the definition he settled on in last week's episode, he focuses now on how philosophy is done and comes to the culminating question, "Does philosophy require faith?" Check out The Firestone Files Facebook page for weekly livestreams discussing that week's topic. The Fires...

In episode thirty-five, Dr. Firestone discusses the question, "What is philosophy?" He explores many definitions posited throughout the ages (starting with the ancient Greeks: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle), dispels a number of misnomers, and finally settles on a singular, definitive definition from Immanuel Kant, a definition that you cannot unhear once you have heard it. Check out The...

In episode thirty-four, Dr. Firestone interviews his eldest son, Matthew. They discuss growing up in a large family, fostering an intellectual family atmosphere, Matthew's discover of a vocation in the military, and his recent turn to country swing dancing. Check out The Firestone Files Facebook page for weekly livestreams discussing that week's topic. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchild...

In episode thirty-thee, Dr. Firestone shares an interview of himself by Parker Settecase of the show Parker's Pensées. They discuss Immanuel Kant, his importance to recent history of Western though, and why Dr. Firestone believes he is terribly misunderstood by the majority of modern thinkers. Check out The Firestone Files Facebook page for weekly livestreams discussing that week's topic,...

In episode thirty-two, Dr. Firestone interviews his middle child and daughter, Emma Firestone. They discus growing up homeschooled, living with other families, childhood mishaps, and her experience as a teacher. Check out The Firestone Files Facebook page for weekly livestreams discussing that week's topic! The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Fires...

In episode thirty-one, Dr. Firestone shares an impromptu presentation he gave to his extended family of nieces and nephews. In it, he describes what he calls, "The Four Human Superpowers." Drawing on the work of Immanuel Kant, he discusses these operative powers which we all have but that we take for granted. He then applies Aristotle's idea of the development of virtue through habit, showing the...

In episode thirty, Dr. Firestone discusses virtue as understood by Aristotle. He shares some anecdotes from his own life wherein he succeeded and failed it at, and talks about how you can apply it to your own life. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and worldview to bring answers to prof...

In episode twenty-nine, Dr. Firestone interviews Rebekah Firestone, his youngest daughter and second youngest child. They discuss Rebekah's youth, her experience as a Firestone kid, and her plans for the future. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and worldview to bring answers to pro...

In episode twenty-eight, Dr. Firestone takes you along on his trip to the Turning Point Faith Make Heaven Crowded event in Murfreesboro, TN. He meets attendees, gets a feel for the tour, and brings his own memory of the church in American to bear in analyzing the event from a philosopher's perspective. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone....

In episode twenty-seven, Dr. Firestone shares a talk he gave the Turning Point Education Educators Summit several years ago. He discusses teaching kids to think like philosophers, drawing on the likes of Socrates, Descartes, and Kant, and using his practical experience cultivating a culture of deep thought with his own kids. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by D...

In episode twenty-six, Dr. Firestone interviews Andrew Firestone, his youngest child and second son. They discuss family dynamics, formative experiences, and what it means to be a Firestone. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and worldview to bring answers to profound questions to bear o...

In episode twenty-five, Dr. Firestone talks about the importance of bringing young people along with you. He discusses the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle as they pertain to educating young people, and talks about why it is important to bring kids alongside you even when they might not be ready to contribute yet. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris...

In episode twenty-four, Dr. Firestone shares a paper of his entitled "Rational Religious Love" on the topic of love and the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. This presentation was given to the Evangelical Philosophical Society during their annual conference partnered with the Evangelical Theological Society in Boston in November, 2025. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a pod...

In episode twenty-three, Dr. Firestone discusses personal fitness with his daughter Rebekah and his son Matthew. He lays out some personal goals for the new year and documents the beginning of the journey. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and worldview to bring answers to profound ques...