The Observing I Podcast

What if the most important thing you’ll ever do isn’t think, achieve, or succeed - but truly meet another human being? In this episode of The Observing I , we dive into the radical, soul-exposing philosophy of Martin Buber - Jewish mystic, existential rebel, and the man who shattered Western individualism with two words: I and Thou . From mystical Hasidic tales to the sacred silence between two pe...

Every great story follows a pattern. From Star Wars to The Matrix , from The Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter , we see the same arc: an ordinary person is called to something greater, faces trials, descends into darkness, and returns transformed. This isn’t just a formula for storytelling - it’s a blueprint for life itself . In this episode of The Observing I , we break down Joseph Campbell’s Her...

You’ve been lied to. Not just by society, not just by the self-improvement industry, but by the person staring back at you in the mirror. Every belief you hold, every habit you cling to, every excuse you make - brick by brick, you’ve built your own cage. And now, it’s time to tear it down. In this episode of The Observing I , we’re dismantling the architecture of self-sabotage, exposing the invisi...

Are you being watched? Not by a person. Not by some trench-coated agent in a van. But by a system - one that never blinks, never forgets, and knows you better than you know yourself. In this episode of The Observing I, we take a deep dive into The Surveillance Society - not just the cameras on every street corner, but the invisible, all-encompassing digital panopticon that shapes how you think, ac...

Have you ever tried sitting in complete silence with nothing but your own thoughts? No phone. No music. No distractions. Just you. If that idea makes you uncomfortable, you’re not alone, and that’s exactly the problem. In this episode of The Observing I, we dive deep into the lost art of solitude - why being alone has become something we fear, how history’s greatest thinkers and mystics embraced i...

Something feels off, doesn’t it? You wake up. You go through the motions. You scroll endlessly, consuming more information than any human in history, yet nothing sticks. Nothing matters. You chase productivity, optimization, self-improvement, yet the emptiness lingers. The world is noisier than ever, but all you hear is silence where meaning used to be. Welcome to The Meaning Crisis - a slow, cree...

You’ve been sold a lie. Happiness. Perfection. The stories that shape you, control you, keep you running like a hamster on a wheel, chasing a dangling carrot that’s always just out of reach. In this special 100th episode , we rip the blindfold off. We’re talking about the hedonic treadmill , the lie of self-improvement, the cult of perfection, and why everything you’ve been taught about success an...

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the philosophical minefield of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). This isn’t just about robots and algorithms; this is about us- what AGI learns from humanity, what it means for the future, and whether we’re ready for the world we’re creating. We’re tackling the big questions. If AGI learns morality by watching us, does it inherit our flaws? Could i...

Here’s the pitch: What if every religion you’ve ever heard of, every sacred story, every whispered prayer, was just a shard of broken glass? Each one catching the light, but none of them showing you the whole picture. That’s Omnism. The belief that truth isn’t neat or whole - it’s shattered. In this episode of The Observing I, we go scavenging. Through ancient texts and modern questions, through t...

First episode of 2025, and we're not f*****g around. We're going straight into Philip K. Dick's Exegesis. Eight thousand pages of late-night scrawling where one of sci-fi's most unhinged geniuses tried to figure out what the hell happened to him in 1974. Dick had a vision. Or a breakdown. Maybe both. For the rest of his life, he couldn't stop writing about it. Obsessively circling questions about...

In today's episode, we're talking about Immanuel Kant, the philosopher with ideas so big, they’re still shaping how we think centuries later. We take a deep yet approachable dive into Kant’s life, his revolutionary ideas, and his surprisingly modern legacy. Join us as we explore his daily routine of clockwork precision, his ground-breaking “Copernican Revolution” in philosophy, and his ethical fra...

Exploring Becker’s central ideas, we uncover how the awareness of mortality shapes human behaviour, fuels creativity, and drives us to seek meaning in a transient world. Join us as we examine heroic projects, the role of culture and religion in coping with death anxiety, and the dark consequences of avoiding mortality - from tribalism to perfectionism. We also dive into the critiques of Becker’s w...

He's also one of the few living philosophers that we've covered so far (the other being Alain de Botton, go check out that episode as well). Have you ever felt that time is slipping away from you whilst simultaneously piling up like a never ending quagmire? Like reality itself has become a fragmented, chaotic rush of content, to-dos, and things vying for your attention? This is the essence of Rush...

What if a demon could teach you philosophy? In today's episode, we delve into the world of Buer, the Demon of Philosophy, as described in the Ars Goetia . Known for his teachings in moral philosophy, natural sciences, and medicine, Buer is more than just a demon - he’s a symbol of humanity’s complex relationship with knowledge. We'll explore Buer’s historical and symbolic significance, the ethical...

In today’s episode, we’re getting into the voxel world of Minecraft. Far more than just a video game, Minecraft stands as a mirror to the human experience. It challenges us to consider very human ideas of purpose, creativity, and resilience. Through the lens of philosophy and psychology, we’ll look at what this creative sandbox can teach us about existential freedom, the inevitability of loss, and...

What does it mean to craft a set of beliefs and values that truly reflect who you are? Why is it important in today’s fast-paced, often chaotic world? And how can it help you navigate life with more clarity, purpose, and resilience? Join me as we dive deep into the process of developing a personal philosophy, the challenges you might face along the way, and how to bring it to life in your everyday...

While Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus practiced Stoicism as a guide to ethical living, duty, and interconnectedness, today’s interpretations frequently reduce it to a toolkit for personal resilience and self-mastery, often leaving out its core values of community and service. Join me as we go back to the roots of Stoicism to uncover what’s been lost in translation. We’ll examine how ancient...

In today's episode, we delve into the ancient world of Merkabah mysticism. Originally rooted in early Jewish mystical practices, the Merkabah—meaning “chariot”—has captivated spiritual seekers, philosophers, and even modern New Age practitioners for centuries. But what is the Merkabah, really? Is it a symbolic pathway to the divine, a powerful tool for psychic awakening, or even a connection to re...

Today, we're doing a high speed birds-eye view of the major philosophies from the pre-Socratic philosophers like Thales and Pythagoras, through the middle ages, into the renaissance and enlightenment, and all the way up to the contemporary philosophers of the 21st century. We'll look at how philosophy has changed over the years, and how it's both influenced the society of the times and been influe...

In today's episode, we take a deep dive into the darker side of self-help culture. While the self-help industry promises growth, success, and happiness, it can also set unrealistic expectations, create toxic perfectionism, and leave us feeling more isolated than empowered. We’ll explore the false promise of quick fixes, the overwhelming pressure to constantly improve, and the commercialization of...

Today, we'll look at the relationship between thoughts, identity, and self-perception, and the contrasts of Western philosophies, like Descartes' "I think, therefore I am," with Eastern views, such as Buddhism's concept of the self as an illusion. We'll discuss how our minds filter sensory data and shape our realities, often trapping us in limiting narratives, and the influence that our unconsciou...

In today’s episode, we’ll break down the four traits that make up this shadowy quartet: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Sadism. But we’re not just here to talk theory—we’ll explore how these traits show up in real life, from personal relationships to workplace dynamics, and offer practical strategies for protecting yourself when you come across someone who thrives on manipulation, c...

Narcissists can leave us feeling emotionally drained, manipulated, and doubting our own reality - but it doesn’t have to be this way. Join me as we dive deep into understanding narcissistic behaviour, the emotional toll it can take, and most importantly, practical strategies to protect your mental health. We’ll cover setting boundaries, avoiding power struggles, and balancing empathy with self-car...

As you're having to wait until Sunday for the next episode rather than Friday, here's a bonus episode where I tell the Greek myth of Narcissus and Echo (because it seemed quite relevant to our topic of How to deal with a Narcissist that'll be out on September 29th). I hope you enjoy it. Much love, David Get full access to The Observing I at theobservingi.com/subscribe

Discover how this philosophy invites us to let go of the need to control and force outcomes, and instead, flow with life’s natural rhythms. We’ll dive into how wu wei applies to modern challenges like burnout, creativity, and mindfulness, and discuss the powerful psychological benefits of surrender and trust. If you’re looking for more ease, clarity, and peace in your life, this episode offers ins...