Undead Sages Podcast

we often take resistance as a right—even a duty. And yet: the moment you claim that right, you awaken something unpredictable. Fighting injustice may restore dignity—but it can also unleash darkness:
terror, betrayal, even ecstasy. In this series, we speak with those who resisted—and those the world tried to silence. Saints and revolutionaries, mystics and militants. Their words are sharp. Their c...

Maximilien Robespierre used violence as a tool to achieve dignity, to heal the body politic of corruptions. Without virtue, the French Revolution would be a failure, and would only produce new systems of oppression. To properly understand him, we’ll need some context.
 France, 1789. A kingdom on the brink. The people are starving—bread prices skyrocket after years of failed harvests. The monarchy...

In this series, we speak with those who resisted—and those the world tried to silence.
Saints and revolutionaries, mystics and militants.
 Their words are sharp. Their choices, costly. You may not agree with them.
 But if you’ve ever clenched your fists in the face of injustice—
then this is your conversation, too. This is “Resist”.
 For our first guest in this arc, we talk to Mahatma Gandhi, whos...

Julius Evola was an Italian philosopher, esotericist, and critic of modernity known for his radical traditionalism and metaphysical worldview. Active in the 20th century, he drew from Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, rejecting liberalism, materialism, and egalitarianism in favor of inner discipline, hierarchy, and transcendent order. Controversial and often misunderstood, Evola called for...

Welcome to the Undead Sages Podcast, where we travel back in time to talk to long-dead wise men and women. Today is the second in a series of discussions about masculinity, in which we discuss what it means to be a man. In this interview, we’ll be talking to the provocative 20th-century French philosopher, Georges Bataille. His work explored transgression, eroticism, and the sacred, often blurring...

Ivan Illich was a radical social thinker, priest, and philosopher who challenged the foundations of modern institutions—schooling, medicine, transportation, and more. His work exposed how systems designed to serve often end up diminishing human agency. In a conversation on masculinity, Illich is essential: he helps us see how modern life has uprooted men from embodied presence, meaningful work, an...

Our guest today is a literary icon whose name is etched into the bones of 20th-century writing. A war correspondent, Nobel Prize winner, adventurer, and deeply human voice — Ernest Hemingway gave the world stories of courage, loss, and grace under pressure. Today, we sit with the man behind the myth, and hear from him not just as a writer, but as a soul who lived it all. Interview facilitated by C...

D.H. Lawrence was a novelist, poet, and fierce explorer of the human soul. Known for works like "Sons and Lovers" and "Lady Chatterley’s Lover", Lawrence challenged the mechanical grip of modernity with a vision rooted in instinct, sensuality, and spiritual wildness. He believed the body holds truths the mind forgets—and that to live fully, we must feel fiercely. This conversat...

Bob Marley, born in Jamaica, was a musical visionary who brought reggae to the global stage. With his soulful voice and powerful lyrics, he became a symbol of peace, love, and resistance. Infusing his music with messages of unity and social justice, Marley’s legacy transcends generations, making him one of the most influential artists in history. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing constructe...

Simone Weil was a French philosopher, mystic, and political activist who lived—and thought—with fierce integrity. Born in 1909 and gone by 1943, her brief life burned with radical compassion, intellectual clarity, and spiritual longing. She worked in factories, refused comfort, and sought truth wherever it hurt. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing constructed with ⁠Elevenlabs⁠⁠⁠ Concept, edit...

Brother Roger of Taizé, born in Switzerland, founded the Taizé community in France during World War II. He established a haven for refugees and later created a monastic community focused on prayer, simplicity, and reconciliation. His vision of Christian unity drew thousands of young people to Taizé, fostering a global movement of spiritual renewal. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing construc...

🎙️ Debate Topic: The Potential and Pitfalls of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
🕊️ Moderator: Lydia Carmichael
🎭 Participants: Diogenes the Cynic, Aldous Huxley, Friedrich Nietzsche Good evening, esteemed guests, thinkers, and truth-seekers. I am Lydia Carmichael, your moderator for tonight’s dialogue, where we examine one of the most pressing—and divisive—developments of our age: Artificial...

Thomas Merton was a celebrated Trappist monk whose contemplative writings continue to inspire seekers of all faiths. Join us as we explore Merton's journey from worldly intellectual to spiritual guide, and discover how his teachings on solitude, compassion, and social justice remain powerfully relevant in our chaotic modern world. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing constructed with ⁠Elev...

Jack Kerouac was a pioneering American novelist and poet central to the Beat Generation. Known for his spontaneous prose style, Kerouac’s seminal work, On the Road captured the restless spirit of post-war America. His writing explored themes of travel, spirituality, and rebellion, influencing counterculture movements of the 1960s. A French-Canadian from Lowell, Massachusetts, Kerouac’s legacy endu...

Born in 1894, Aldous Huxley was a renowned English novelist and philosopher. Best known for his dystopian novel Brave New World, Huxley's works span satire, philosophy, and non-fiction. His life was marked by intellectual pursuits and a fascination with mysticism, leaving a lasting impact on 20th-century literature. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing constructed with ⁠Elevenlabs⁠ Concept...

Sri Ramakrishna, born in 1836 in Bengal, was a revered Hindu mystic. He emphasized the unity of all religions and the divinity within every being. His teachings, marked by simplicity and spiritual depth, inspired countless followers, including Swami Vivekananda, and continue to influence spirituality globally. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing constructed with ⁠Elevenlabs⁠ Soundscapes by ⁠⁠...

Friedrich Nietzsche was renowned for his radical ideas on morality, religion, and individualism. He famously declared "God is dead," critiquing traditional values and advocating for the creation of personal meaning. His influential works include Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Beyond Good and Evil. Despite struggling with health issues, Nietzsche's thoughts on the "will to power&quot...

Lofty ideals… can fall into profound states of disrepair. Especially when confronted with the dynamics of power, lofty ideals can begin to shift and shimmy until little of their original substance remains. Over its 2500 year history, Buddhism has not been immune to this phenomenon. While Buddhism strives to eradicate human suffering, at times it has contributed to the exact opposite. In this episo...

Live Philosopher Friend Arne Willee again joins podcast host Merijn de Haen in an actual graveyard for a free-ranging discussion. Revisiting the last philosophers to have graced our show with their presence, we focus on how their philosophy can be of use to sensitive people in our modern lives, but we also have a nice flow going and just see where the discussion takes us. Concept, editing and prod...

We first encountered Siddhartha Gautama some six weeks ago, and we’ve been quizzing him about the development of his practical philosophy to end suffering. Today, we’ve finally arrived in the present day, and will discuss the reception of Buddhist ideas and practices in the West. Next week, we’ll have one final episode with the Buddha, where the emphasis will lie on several historical examples of...

In this fifth installment of our interview series with the historical Buddha, we take a brief look at the different Mahayana practice schools, like Zen, Pure Land, and Tibetan Buddhism. Interview facilitated by ChatGPT Voicing constructed with ⁠Elevenlabs⁠ Soundscape by ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠rcrath⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Freesound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Concept, editing and production by Merijn de Haen @ 2025 Undead Sages Podcast

Last week, we explored how his once orally transmitted teachings were written down in Sri Lanka. We also saw how the community of monks expanded, and how faultlines appeared along conservative and more modern interpretations of his message. The conservative faction wanted to adhere solely to the teachings as they were written down in Sri Lanka and the commentaries based on them. So last week, we f...

It’s still the rainy season in India, 460 BCE or thereabouts, and the Buddha has been so kind as to grant me another audience. While legend has it that he has total overview of time and space, I think he finds something of value in our conversations, also. I’ve told him I’m a time traveler, and today we’ll start to investigate how his teachings have survived his own death. But first, I want to fle...

Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in the 6th century BCE. Legend has it that he grew weary of palace life and left his wife, son and destiny as a future ruler to find the answer to the age-old question of human suffering. After six years of relentless searching, he reached Awakening and decided to teach his method to anyone who would listen. His 45 year teaching career involved long wanderings...

Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in the 6th century BCE. Legend has it that he grew weary of palace life and left his wife, son and destiny as a future ruler to find the answer to the age-old question of human suffering. After six years of relentless searching, he reached Awakening and decided to teach his method to anyone who would listen. His 45 year teaching career involved long wanderings...