Shows
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #122: Echoes of Tyranny: From Tinder to Totalitarianism--The Struggle for Authentic Connection (Part 5)Welcome back, friends, to another deep dive into the wild world of dystopia. This is episode five in our seven-part series on Dystopia Literature and theemergence of it in our world today. In this epissode, we’re leaving behind the constant surveillance of Big Brother (sort of) and diving headfirst into something equally messy: love and relationships. But don’t get too comfortable, because in 1984 and Brave New World, love is anything but roses and rainbows.In this episode, we’ll explore the twisted relationship between Winston and Julia in 1984—a connection born from rebellion but ultimately crushed...2024-10-031h 03
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #121: Echoes of Tyranny: The Silent War Between Conformity and Courage (Part 4)In Part 4 of Echoes of Tyranny, we continue with two of the greatest dystopian novels and ask a pressing question: What happens to us when individuality becomes the enemy? First, we plunge into the world of Orwell's 1984, where Winston Smith's every thought is a potential crime. It's not just what you do—it's what you think that can get you erased from existence. Orwell doesn't shy away from the grim reality that in a society obsessed with control, even the smallest act of rebellion is a declaration of war. Winston's quiet, internal struggle against the suffocating force of Big Bro...2024-09-261h 16
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #120: Echoes of Tyranny: Truth Subject to Change Without Notice (Part 3)In this episode, we dive headfirst into the murky waters of truth and reality, exploring how they can be bent, twisted, and outright manipulated. Drawing from two of the most influential dystopian novels—1984 and Brave New World—we'll break down the tactics used by totalitarian regimes to control not only information but the very perception of reality itself.We start with George Orwell's 1984, where language becomes a weapon of control. Concepts like Newspeak, Doublethink, and the Ministry of Truth aren't just sci-fi nightmares; they're fundamental strategies to manipulate how people think, speak, and live. The scary part? The...2024-09-181h 03
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #119: Echoes of Tyranny: Fear, Pleasure, and the Art of Government Control (Part 2)In the second episode of the 'Echoes of Tyranny' series, we delve into the heart of dystopian societies, where the grip of control reaches every corner of life. This isn't just a discussion of 1984's Big Brother or Brave New World's soma-soaked utopia—it's a comparative literary analysis of how these dystopian visions have eerie parallels in today's Western world. We'll explore the suffocating presence of totalitarianism in Orwell's 1984, where constant surveillance, fear, and repression are tools of dominance. Then, we shift to Huxley's Brave New World, a society controlled through pleasure, distraction, and consumerism, where control fee...2024-09-121h 26
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#95: The Antidote to Pain and Suffering in our Modern WorldIf there ever was a Donald Trump-like figure in Greek philosophy that evoked both love and hate it is probably Epicurus. He had a legion of fervent followers, but probably had equally as many detractors. Often he is over-simplified down to a person interested in little more than pleasure. This would be a mistake. In the success-driven, outcomes-obsessed world we live Epicurus is often painted in a negative light. Yet, his approach to life may be a perfect antidote to much of the anger, frustration, anxiety, and fear that is plaguing the modern world today if only w...2023-02-0542 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#94: How practicing skepticism will make you a powerful thinkerOne key characteristic of an independent mind is not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.” This podcast discusses skepticism and the practical application of this ancient philosophy in our modern lives to make us better thinkers. We go all the way back to Pyrrho, Sextus Empiricus, and other ancient Greek philosophers to look at the emergence of skepticism from around 360 BCE to the 3rd century CE. Skepticism often gets a bad rap. It is much more than some cooky denying anything, and everything exists. There is so much more to analyze. Alb...2023-01-271h 02
Intellectual Freedom Podcast# 93: "But I just want to be happy..."American happiness has reached an all-time low. I doubt too many are surprised when a random google search on 'happiness in America' yields horrifying results. Right now, America is about as angry, anxiety-riddled, stressed-out, and drugged-up as at any time in our history. In this episode, we deep-dive into Aristotle's monumental work: Nichomachean Ethics. Specifically, we will break down happiness. What it is and how to achieve it. You will walk away from this episode with incredible insights into living your best life. The great news is happiness is within the grasp of everyone. I ho...2023-01-2143 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#92: Moral Relativism, Culture Wars and the SophistsSo excited to dive into Sophists in this episode of the Intellectual Freedom Podcast. We will analyze the philosophies and impact the Sophists have had on modern culture. Especially, looking at moral relativism which has reared its head in modern culture with a vengeance. Moral relativism has set in so deeply that the upper crust of society has become incapable of discerning right from wrong. Everything can be explained away. Life is one great moral mush . Along the way analyzing the Sophists we will also look at the rise of the teaching class, as well a...2023-01-1345 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#91: Is the Life You are Living REAL?We do not like the idea that we are not in control of our life. However, what if the choices we make are an illusion created between those with power and those without? It is a hard and difficult question to wrestle with. In this podcast episode, we continue our march through the genre known as wisdom literature by analyzing the great philosopher Plato. Specifically, we will be talking about his seminal work The Republic and the powerful and relevant "Allegory of the Cave." Come along to connect the 4th century BCE with 21st-century post-modernism a...2023-01-0635 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#90: Question Everything! Socrates and the path to becoming your best self.Us humans are fickle creatures. We are prone to error, bias, irrational emotions and are easily duped. We need to question everything. This episode analyzes cornerstone philosophical concepts of Socrates. Socrates, pound for pound, was probably one of the greatest minds ever to walk the planet earth. He challenges us to think deeply and live of life of fulfillment. He lived in the 4th century BC, but his wisdom still strikes at the heart of so many problems in society today. Through his writings, we will analyze how to be the master of our...2022-12-2934 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#89: The Mystical Wisdom in Fables“The smaller the mind, the greater the conceit.” Is just one of the great one-liners from the genius Aesop. This podcast discusses the fables, Aesop, and finding wisdom to navigate an insane world. Go even deeper by joining the Intellectual Freedom course for free!Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidDHopkins-----Keep Intellectual Freedom Free for Everyone! Become a member and DONATE to this project. It's a pay-what-you-want donation. Everything helps. 2022-07-0828 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#88: Finding Peace in a Violent and Unsettled WorldSubscribe for free to my wisdom literature talks! We live in uncertain times. If we understand peace is within us which we can tap into for strength, life changes dramatically.Conversely, if we expect or believe that an external thing, whether a politician, law, job, or material thing from culture will make us happy, we will end up disappointed.Its almost guaranteed.This is just one piece of wisdom we can learn from studying Siddhartha Gautama, more commonly known as the great Buddha. Everyone can benefit from studying the path of Bu...2022-06-2941 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#87: Tapping into the God Within-The Philosophy of MenciusMencius was a Chinese Confucian philosopher who has often been described as the Second Sage after only Confucius himself. He is part of Confucius’ fourth generation of disciples. Mencius inherited Confucius’ ideology and developed it further. A positive, strong undercurrent moves through his writings we can all embrace—all humans have innate but inborn tendencies toward benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and propriety. He teaches us how to foster the goodness and promote it in our lives, a wonderful tool in our divisive world.Check out additional resources: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twi...2022-06-1729 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#86: The Master Sage of China-ConfuciusIn this lesson, you genuinely get a treat! We are studying an intellectual heavyweight considered the pinnacle of Chinese sages. His name is Master Kong, more commonly known as Confucius.Confucius’s teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining influential across China and East Asia to this day.Confucius had was obsessed with the practicality of philosophy in both moral and ethical behavior. This lesson we deep-dive into how we can use his sage wisdom in our every day life.Beyond the podcast, you can join the course for free: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Also, you can reg...2022-06-1037 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#85: Finding ”The Way” in DaoismLaozi was one of the greatest minds to ever live. He wrote the venerable Tao Te Ching meaning "The Classic Way of Virtue." This work is the basis of the long-lost religion of Taoism (also known as 'Daoism' in Chinese), an official religion of China's Tang Dynasty in 500 BCE. The lesson covers the deep philosophical and political influence in humanity that still resonates today.Feel free to join the Intellectual Freedom Course for an even more detailed analysis and dive into Laozi, Daoism, and many great minds in the genre of Wisdom Literature. Also, feel fr...2022-06-0335 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#84: The Wisdom in Indigenous StoriesIt has been a very tough week, with yet another mass shooting in the United States. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted. I won’t even pretend to understand the pain of loss.It is perfect timing to be evaluating wisdom from indigenous cultures. There is so much we can apply to our current situation.A thriving civilization living, interacting, sacrificing, solving problems, celebrating success, and getting through loss and tragedy together is powerful.A dying civilization is characterized by distrust, greed, anger, hostility, and hate. It is pretty safe to say, t...2022-05-2724 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#83: The Warrior EthicNo one is born with the Warrior Ethic. It is taught through training and discipline. The warrior ethic is for everyone, whether winning on the battlefield or beating inner demons. Learn how to tap into it. This podcast dives deep into the warrior ethic from our readings in Moral Wisdom Past and Present. I invite you to listen in to the podcast and join our 100% free Intellectual Freedom Course where we read, study, and discuss some of the greatest wisdom texts to ever be written!https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com...2022-05-2024 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#82: The Wisdom in ProverbsThere is so much sound and fury from preening peacocks in the public sphere it takes wisdom to wade through the swamp of BS.The great thing is moral wisdom has been preserved in so many amazing shapes and forms across history. We just have to explore and use it.Proverbs, across many cultures, give us a bedrock of wisdom we can all use every day to stay grounded, make wise decisions, and be effective in all aspects of life.Follow, read, and interact with the wisdom text and podcast by joining the 100...2022-05-1323 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#81: The Wisdom in Customary LawsJoin our Intellectual Freedom Course. This is lesson 1. We start our study thousands of years ago. The ethics of the tribal traditions, based on custom, found expression in many cultures as customary laws. We are going to study many of the earliest.Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidDHopkins-----Keep Intellectual Freedom Free for Everyone! Become a member and DONATE to this project. It's a pay-what-you-want donation. Everything helps. 2022-05-0627 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#80: Moral Wisdom Past & PresentI'm back after a lengthy respite. Life can be a winding road, and it was. Health problems, work projects, etc., et., I don't need to bore you with my details. However, I am happy to be back! Every podcast I am now releasing is simultaneously being published on Substack as part of an Intellectual Freedom Course. I would love to have you subscribe. https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ You will get the most out of these podcasts following along the book I am reading from called Readings in Ethics: Moral Wisdom Past and Present, but hey, i...2022-05-0521 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#79: Talk with Ben Tanner--The Value of Intermittent FastingIntermittent fasting could be a transformational technique to boost your health. Ben Tanner, a Physician Assistant, has been counseling patients needing to make lifestyle changes for years. He discusses the benefits and challenges of incorporating fasting into your life style. You will be amazed how simple it is to take a couple baby steps that can have a huge impact on your health. Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidDHopkins-----Keep Intellectual Freedom Free for Everyone! Become a member and DONATE to this project. It's...2021-11-1252 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#78: What will your ‘digital legacy‘ be when you die?If you died today, and everything, I mean everything you ever viewed, posted, or commented online, is compiled in a book, how would you be remembered?It is an essential question because, first of all, you will die. And second of all, your digital footprint will be substantial. As a result, many will know more about you from your online impressions than your actions in the real world.No matter what you do or how you do it, you leave a tiny footprint with every action. Those actions will become your legacy. Online, those actions are permanent.This podcast discusses...2021-10-2023 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#77: Talk with Deborah Driggs--from cover girl to broke to graceI had the privilege to speak with Deborah Driggs in this podcast. From her start as a Playboy Centerfold and Covergirl to her life as a Screen Actors’ Guild member. Later, she achieved success by being in the Top 5% in the real estate industry as a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. Deborah Driggs has cleared many hurdles in life. While it may seem like Deborah’s success came easy to her, nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, she has had to overcome a number of serious obstacles and challenges in life to get to where she is today...2021-10-1358 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#76: Luxury Beliefs and the Wealthy: Rich, Privileged, and “Friend of the Oppressed”I recently heard a story about a wealthy student on campus. He got busted parking in a handicap-accessible parking spot. His rationale was, ”It‘s not illegal for me to park in handicap spaces. It only costs $250 if I get caught. I‘d rather pay the money and not deal with the rain today.” My first thought when I head this is how despicable. There has always been a segment of the wealthy and affluent who believe in their superiority over the rest of society. It most often manifests itself in the purchase and display of luxury goods--cars, designer clothes, expensive man...2021-10-0517 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#75: Interview with Erik AllenI had the opportunity to speak with the Top-Rated MMA podcast host, which is the #1 rated podcast in this genre, Erik Allen. Beyond his success in business, his personal story of perseverance is incredible. From a broken home, beaten by mom‘s boyfriend, jailed at 18, bankrupt by 21, and battled addictions, his life was on a downward spiral quickly. Yet, he had the internal drive and discipline to break the chains of abuse and addiction. Eventually he gave his life to Christ, now married for 16+ years, and is now a successful entrepreneur not only as a podcaster but as a consultant helpi...2021-09-2947 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#74: How to Create Your Ideal LifeFun fact of the day, Gallop conducted a poll and uncovered that out of the world‘s one billion full-time workers, an astronomical 85% are unhappy in their jobs. The usual suspects are present in the survey: domineering boss, annoying colleagues, type of work sucks, the commute, or no opportunity for growth. We have heard all of these before. Most of us have experienced them firsthand. In Episode #74 of the podcast, I don‘t discuss shedding one crappy job for another crappy job. Instead, I want you to deep by considering one very Stoic-Esque philosophy question. WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL DAY LOOK LIK...2021-09-2218 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#73: Confessions of an Ethical Drug DealerI can still see the TV public service announcements in my brain. ”This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs,” as the camera sweeps to an egg sizzling in a frying pan. I was an 80s child, and this was the message we were all taught. It has been 50 years and well over a trillion dollars spent since President Nixon declared war on drugs. Yet, drug problems have intensified and proliferated. In 1973, illegal drug use was largely an American sport; now it is global. The current approach by democrat and republican presidents alike has not worked, and if we are h...2021-09-1443 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#72: You are Running Out of Time!Someday is not a day of the week. For the chronic procrastinator, this may come as a surprise.Yes, it is easy to joke about that certain person in your life being ‘time-challenged.‘ Sure, some claim that without the stress of a looming deadline they simply can‘t perform. Some believe they are genetically predisposed to be a procrastinator--its Mom or Dad‘s fault you can‘t hit a deadline or stay focused to get important things done.All of us suffer from procrastination in varying forms. If we are to be brutally honest. Studies of chronic procrastinators are beginning to reveal...2021-09-0822 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#71: Racial Healing-Interview w/ Milagros PhillipsWhen a conversation turns to issues of race or identity politics things can heat up in a hurry. It doesn‘t have to be that way. The conversation is bigger & more nuanced than over-simplified, snide memes on critical race theory. It is possible to have an honest conversation, move past the emotion and negativity to racial healing if only we will put down the emotions and walls and listen to each other.In Episode #71 of the Intellectual Freedom Podcast, I speak with a 20+ year expert on race and racial relations Milagros Phillips. We discuss a wide range of topics from racis...2021-08-311h 04
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#70: The Rise of Psychological ManYou need to 'do you' or 'focus on yourself first,' are common statements heard across society today. I recently read an article in the journal Public Discourse by Carl Trueman titled, "The Rise of Psychological Man."It is a good thing to pursue your goals, dreams, and aspirations; however, modern culture is pushing the self-centered focus to an extreme that can have dangerous repercussions for the nation. The traditional mindset values deferring personal ambitions for the family, friends, community, and even the country. Ask a military veteran of the sacrifices in serving the country, as they can articulate the sa...2021-08-2430 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast# 69: Still Beautiful-Interview w/ Kelly FalardeauOver 75% of Kelly's body was severely burned in a freak accident when she was two years old. Her life was forever changed at that moment. It led to over 40 painful surgeries.Because her scars were so profound and visible, she was often bullied, shunned, and avoided. People were uncomfortable around her. As she grew up, this lead to not feeling wanted, needed, or even loved. The scars ran deep physically and psychologically. Her story is one of overcoming immense obstacles, but ultimately a self-discovery of learning to love herself to become the person she was meant to be. She learned not t...2021-08-1751 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#68: Know ThyselfOn the windswept southern face of the Parnassos Mountain in Greece are the remains of the Temple to Apollo at Delphi. In the 7th century BC, it would have been a glorious sight to see. Once carved into stone at this temple were two simple words, "Know Thyself." It is easy to flippantly dismiss the words as we all think, "of course I know myself, I'm a father, mother, brother, sister, with X occupation, etc, etc." Yet, to truly know yourself beyond the image projected to society is not so easy.In the book, "The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates," by Xen...2021-08-1025 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#67: Political Upheaval in Latin America w/ Ricardo VargasIn May Colombia erupted in protest, in June Peru elected a self-avowed Marxist as president, and in July, Cuba erupted in protests against the communist regime. Much of Latin America is in a state of serious political unrest. Most already know the outcome of Venezuela's socialist revolution. Extreme poverty, destruction of infrastructure, a health care system in complete shambles, unemployment at extreme levels, and crime & violence so shocking it would make the most violent American city look like a peaceful utopia. This podcast discusses the current state of affairs in Colombia specifically, and in general Latin America. I talk with Ric...2021-08-0345 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#66: The Crab Mentality: Haters Gonna HateThe famous philosopher Taylor Swift in her song, "Shake it Off," made the profound statement, "haters gonna hate, hate, hate." She was not wrong. In the hyper-competitive landscape of the 21st century, the phenomenon, known as CRAB MENTALITY, where people react negatively, in terms of their thoughts, statements, or actions, to those who get ahead of them, even though they don’t expect there to be direct benefits to doing so is something everyone has to deal with at some point in their lives.The term crab mentality literally comes from someone observing crabs in a bucket, and all of them...2021-07-2826 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#65: Discussion with Deven RodriguezThe famous Shakespearean character Othello once lamented a disgust with people who are, "mere prattle without practice." We all know that person who is all talk and no action, well, today on the podcast, there will be none of that with my guest, Deven Rodriquez. Deven is an ultra-marathon runner, active duty Army Officer, and motivational speaker among many other endeavors. Deven embodies the discipline, mental toughness, positive attitude, and never-quit mentality we should all aspire to. We discuss his life journey, running a 105-mile ultra-marathon, bullying, racism, overcoming failure and disappointment, and what it takes to achieve your best sel...2021-07-2054 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#64 Politicians Behaving BadlyWords matter. Words may reflect reality, but they also have the power to change reality - the power to uplift and to belittle. In politics, it is important everyone understands the ideological dogma the left and right imbed in their respective tribes. In a world where the attention span of the masses is short, the ability to concentrate small, and personal bias strong, never has the power of propaganda been more evident. We have arrived at a point in history where effective political propaganda is limited to a very few over-simplistic, overly-emotional points. Politicians harp on the slogans incessantly until eve...2021-07-1326 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#63: The Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your BrainThe most important thing you can do to improve your brainpower is not enrolling yourself in a graduate program at the university. Instead, head down to your local Gold’s Gym or Powerhouse Gym, hang out with some of the bodybuilders and powerlifters, then pump out some intense sets. If the local 'bro' gym isn't your thing any Planet Fitness or Curves will work just as well. We all know the physical benefits of exercise, they are numerous. Yet, now the impact on the mind is becoming more and more compelling. The fact is study after study is pointing to the fact...2021-07-0615 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#62: Intellectual Freedom in an Age of ControlOn June 22, 2021, House Bill 233 was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida and takes effect July 1, 2021. The legislation includes requirements to protect the expression of diverse viewpoints in higher education. It goes so far as to prohibit institutions from shielding students, faculty, or staff from protected free speech.Since my podcast, "Intellectual Freedom," has been speaking on this issue since its inception, and I have been teaching in colleges and universities for 20+ I believe this legislation to be a good thing. However, as with most legislation, the devil will be in the details and how institutions implement, enforce, and follow bo...2021-06-2927 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#61: Life Is GoodWhat if I were to tell you from a historical perspective things are better now than they have ever been in the history of the world?My guess is you may think I am either drunk or delusional. I get it. We are bombarded every single day with negative news. Plus, there are always bad things happening we need to improve upon, and to deny that fact would be delusional.Couple the negative news with the natural human instinct to mitigate risk by drifting towards negative bias, and we have a perfect concoction for being over-dramatic and fearful of the futu...2021-06-2237 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#60: Navigating a Decaying Education SystemThe cost of higher education has risen by 1,640% since 1963. This is absurd. Few would argue the quality has improved. Oh but wait, it gets even better, more than half of all American students go into debt to get through college, and the average is $37,500 in 2020. Collectively, students owe nearly $1.6 trillion.There is plenty of blame to go around: ineffective politicians, money-focused and politically motivated school administrators, poor faculty. I know as I a part of this system. In this podcast, I want to talk to students, parents, and concerned citizens about how to navigate the landmines of higher education, as th...2021-06-1538 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#59: Shift Happens-How & Why Cancel Culture Became "A Thing"As a Humanities instructor, I have sadly watched the cancer of cancel culture take root in America. Driven by political rhetoric from the extremes, amplified by mass media propaganda, the cancel culturalists lead a militaristic march, using language mirroring extremist fervor. Without critical thinking or even basic common sense, far too many people are too quick to slap labels on fellow Americans, "ooh they must be a racist, sexist, misogynist, or must be snowflake socialists, or hate America if they don't agree with me" with a simple goal to remove their opinion from the public sphere.Nobody is immune to t...2021-06-0832 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#58: How Complexity Bias Can Derail Your SuccessOne of the greatest sculptors and artists of all time Leonardo da Vinci once said, "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Our post-modern technological age has ushered in massive improvements in technology, efficiency, ability to fight disease, and extend life. Yet, the more complex and technologically advanced society becomes the temptation to be duped by complexity bias gets greater and greater. Complexity bias is a logical fallacy that leads us to give undue credence to complex concepts.Faced with two competing options, we are likely to choose the most complex one. That’s usually the option with the most assumptions and regres...2021-06-0219 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#57: Joe Rogan Podcast & the Theory "Pain is Good"On the Joe Rogan Podcast #1208 with guest Jordan Peterson, they discussed the idea that pain, for all intents and purposes is a GOOD thing. In fact, we need it to grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Pain is worth exploring because all of us experience pain. You may be going through it right now. Modern culture tends to avoid pain, hardship, and challenges. We often blame others. Some sedate through all types of physical and psychological pain. The avoidance of pain will at best lead to continued stagnation, and at worst, degradation into more intense levels of pain. Not all pain is...2021-05-2527 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#56: The Yin and the Yang: Prosperity, Perspective, and Gratitude in AmericaThe 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 appreciate wealth much more when we go through periods of poverty or struggle. We take health for granted until we experience disease or illness. In short, life, to be lived to the fullest with wisd...2021-05-1825 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#55: Blast Through Mental StrongholdsAfter 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, and just simply unhappy since they have been tracking most of these categories. The self-medicating culture that has become more and more powerful over the last twenty-five years is not working to solve core mental and psychological problems.It is valuable to look back in his...2021-05-1126 min
Intellectual Freedom Podcast#54: Political Extremists & the Rhetoric of DivisionI 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 people are pushed into ideological tribes of hate.In this podcast, I discuss the rhetoric of division deployed against the people by political and wealthy elites to manipulate the masses into believing all the p...2021-05-0422 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #53: Political Division & Meme CultureA 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 the media or politicians for creating political division. To trust the media or politicians to end the divisiveness seems absurd. The media is entertainment TV catering to its respective political base, and politicians from both the left and r...2021-03-1923 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #52: Bill Gates, Fake Mate, and Marketing DeceptionI 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 now a nutritionist. In this case, he is dead wrong.These synthetic biology companies making fake food by ripping apart the makeup of real food to turn it into something else is da...2021-03-1128 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #51: Politics & When to DisengageIn 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 later was allowed to return to Rome after Nero’s death and lasted there under Vespasian until 71 AD until he was banished again, only to be brought back a second tim...2021-03-0430 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode 50: A Prisoner No MoreHow 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 contrived by society.The fact is most people get trapped into limiting their potential. Most fail to go beyond the social constructs of conformity. Far too many get duped into believing the dogma of a politi...2021-01-1326 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #49: DC Riots-Consequences of the Political Divide & Conquer StrategyThe 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 the concern. However, this becomes problematic when the 1% becomes 5, 10, or 25%, as by the time there are 25 to 45 million Americans willing to incite violence, then there is a real problem.I find it comical when politicians an...2021-01-1130 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #48: Be SubversiveSociety 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. We see this play out in public discourse every day. The topic is personal as it cuts across many of the subject areas I talk about in my podcast and intersects with my profession of teaching the humanities in the college classroom. The article, “Why Study Hu...2021-01-0616 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode 47: I'm Offended!!!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 hard work or little work required to obtain said degree. Hashtags were flying, name-calling and labeling were thrown around everywhere. I have taught in colleges for years, earned a do...2021-01-0430 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #46: A Message of Strength--"She Tried"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 some important life lessons for everyone. You can read it here .As we move towards closing out this difficult year of 2020, there are a couple of key messages in this essay that are...2020-12-3018 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #45: Future of the American Dream?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 showing over 60% of Americans believe the American Dream is dead or dying. If this ethos dies, what will replace it? Using mythology & philosophy, this podcast looks at human nature, how human-created philosophies and systems, emerge with a vision...2020-12-2833 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #44: The Greatest Gift to Give or Receive: TrustIt 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 relationship is terminated. Trust is no small task, no minor thing, but it is incredibly important.Trust requires us to step out of personal comfort zones and opens all of us to being hurt; yet, for those who nev...2020-12-2323 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #43: Mechanisms of Power & Control in American CultureConformity 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 individuals to push the masses towards fitting in, doing their job, remaining compliant, following the rules, and not questioning the status quo. This podcast will discuss four key areas of life in America that help keep the 'have' and 'have nots' conveniently separated the bulk of...2020-12-2134 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #42: Case Study in Mediation-The Joe Rogan Experience PodcastWe 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 Biden was not mentally sound enough to be President, refused the name-calling of Trump supporters by liberals, wants to legalize drugs, but defends the 2nd amendment. He left the authoritarian state of CA to move to the conservative state of TX...2020-12-1626 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #41: Get Your Mind Right, Get Your Life RightYou 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 is easy. Internally shifting negative thoughts to positive energy and translating the thoughts to positive actions is hard, very hard. No president, government program, or external force can get you to pea...2020-12-1421 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #40: American Civil War 2.0 - Is it possible?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 National Endowment for Democracy (NED), RAND Corp., and the CIA, we find a blueprint. It is called the Color Revolution Model. It has been deployed dozens of times globally...2020-12-0932 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #39: Hit Peak Performance-Why You Do What You DoOne 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. We understand how a person can become addicted to drugs or alcohol, but why? We understand how a seemingly healthy child can get an illness and die way too soon in life, but why?We can understand how a person sensele...2020-12-0733 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #38: Cancel the Cancel Culture MobDemocracy 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 than defending a position, critically evaluating opinions, and demonstrating open-mindedness, that society is killing itself from within.Cancel culture aligns perfectly with a one-opinion communist or socialist mindset, not democracy. It needs to stop. Left and Right need to come...2020-12-0234 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #37: Super Charge Your Mind & BodyAh, 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 have to be this way. There is an effective change you can make to your lifestyle as we move post-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas holiday gatherings to super-charge your mind and body heading into 2021. After an ER...2020-11-3024 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #36: The New Political Class: America's Best & Brightest Need Not ApplyIt 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 candidates.There is a lack of intelligence, critical thinking, communication, leadership, ethics, and morals. Some candidates lack all of these traits and some a combination of any of the above from both...2020-11-2538 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #35: The Real Value of College in the Age of CoronavirusCOVID 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 "value" of college just the degree or technical knowledge? Or are students and parents paying a huge premium in search of the "college experience." The lawsuits are answering the question. Many are attending for the "college experience" as much as for t...2020-11-2342 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #34: When Democracy FailsA 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 failing and it is time to evaluate what has happened before it is too late. It isn't Donald Trump or Joe Biden's fault. One election cycle didn't cause the problems. There...2020-11-1841 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #33: The Greatest Weapon of ControlIf 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 'for the masses.'As we look at our modern world, it could be argued money is the most effective tool ever created by the wealthy and powerful to control the masses. It is the to...2020-11-1629 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #32: Walk Away from the Mainstream MediaAmerica’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 relationships, it is always hard to admit when it is over. Our collective relationship with the mainstream media is over. The news media, as we had known it, is dead. It is time to move on. Th...2020-11-1125 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #31: Freedom of Speech & Section 230For democracy to operate effectively it must have a free, vibrant, unbiased, and ethical press. The media is supposed to be the people's watchdog. Sadly, 4 out of 5 Americans (86%) believe news organizations advocate political viewpoints rather than report the news. This now extends to our social media platforms. The distrust has brought Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 into the crosshairs.Election 2020 brought freedom of expression on social media platforms into focus. At times social media turned a blind eye to questionable content but aggressively banned or suppressed other content. Social media is not operating as an unbiased platform. The select...2020-11-0932 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #30: Post Election-Worry About Tomorrow TomorrowJoseph Stalin, ironically, once said, "the people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." Ouch. That quote stings a bit coming from a communist considering the current state of our 2020 election heading almost certainly to recounts, court challenges, and maybe even the Supreme Court. Who knows? We made it, sort of, past the election. Yet the ride is not over. Hopefully, it ends soon, but we are probably in for a long contentious, and turbulent period of time.How should Americans handle this situation? What if I told you, this moment in time, this c...2020-11-0439 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #29: The Irrelevant Citizen--A story of the DisengagedIt has been said an American will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but will not cross the street to vote in a national election. In 2016 only about 57% of Americans voted, over 80 million people didn't bother. I am not talking about the vaunted "undecided" the pollsters fixate, I mean Americans who choose to not participate, at all. There is a massive block of disengaged citizens who have no desire, no interest, are so overwhelmed with life, or no faith in democracy that they willingly do not participate.It appears many more will vote this election cycle, but it will more...2020-11-0244 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #28: Why you do the things you do.Society conditions us to conform. A complex civilization runs most efficiently when most people conform to a life of complacency, while the few push the boundaries of excellence. Most people willingly give in to this societal pressure. The beginning of living a fulfilled life is to understand the condition of your own mind. Most people, unfortunately, walk around stuck in a meek and timid state, unwilling to push beyond comfort zones, living an 'OK' life. A 'safe' life. I often speak to my students about why people, cultures, and societies 'do the things they do.' All of us have...2020-10-2828 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #27: Positive Election News-Most Voters are not Political JunkiesWhat if I told you the overwhelming majority of Americans never post anything political on social media? What if I told you most voters don't think if you vote for Biden you are a socialist, or if you vote for Trump you lack intelligence? What if I told you 97% of the political tweets come from 10% of the users?What if I told you the daily "my team" versus "their team" political games of "I'm smart" but "they are dumb," completely disgust most voters?What if I told you, most people most of the time think most people are honest, hardworking, and...2020-10-2620 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #26: Why You So Mad Bro?A Buddhist proverb says, "the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves." If this is true, we have a whole lot of people focused on themselves and not seeking truth or understanding. A recent poll found 84% of Americans are angrier today compared with a generation ago.In the polarized and tribalistic world we live in, our society has an anger management issue. The 2020 elections are only fueling the fire of anger. Anger causes negative health outcomes, breaks down civil discourse and prevents us from coming together as a culture and s...2020-10-2138 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #25: Politicians and the Doomsday Rhetoric of ‘What If’If there was a theme song for the election rhetoric of 2020, it would be R.E.M.'s chart-topping song "It's the end of the world as we know it" from 1987. We have been warned incessantly by both candidates that if they are not elected president, the world will come to an end in various creative ways.The truth is we suffer more in our imaginations than we often do in our reality. Politicians understand this phenomenon.One emotion stands out above all others. Fear. One way to overcome fear-mongering is to use an exercise from Stoicism called "The Premeditation of Ev...2020-10-1938 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #24: The Power of SimplicityLife is complicated. We tell ourselves this every day.Yet, the great spiritual leaders, philosophers, and intellectuals since the beginning of time have shown us the way to a deeper and more fulfilling life.This podcast suggests what you need is not more of anything. What you actually need is less. Yet, the human propensity to complicate life continues to be a serious problem in American society. We live longer, opportunities to excel are everywhere, and technology has opened doors for efficiencies and innovations unconceivable to prior generations.Yet, we are one of the most in debt, fearful, angry, anxiety-filled, and...2020-10-1426 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #23: Re-Imagining the Two Party Political SystemOne thing that has become apparent is absolute power vested in our two political parties has proven our democracy to be un-democratic. The rhetoric from the mouths of the RNC and DNC is more Stalin-esque in their angry diatribes targeting the 'the other side' than the voice of an open democracy.Polls consistently show voter trust in politicians is at an all-time low, as well as the belief 'our vote matters.' Yet, the incumbent reelection rate is above 90%. The system is broken. Politicians party-line vote on nearly everything, and we do not believe they represent, 'we the people...2020-10-1438 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #22: Know Your Enemy--Political Propaganda & EmotionA famous French dramatist Jean Racine once said, "life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think." Our emotions are powerful. They can help us reach our highest aspirations, but left unchecked can lead to destruction individually and collectively as a society. Politicians want voters angry, anxious, and fearful. These emotions elicit strong responses, which aids them in getting elected.During election season the goal of politicians is to control and confuse, not inform, logically convince, or bring us together. If they can pull specific emotional levers they succeed in manipulating and dividing the cou...2020-10-1428 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #21: You Are Running Out of TimeLet's be honest. Every day we are closer to death. You and I may have a lot of time or maybe we don't, we just don't know. Going through this hectic and busy modern life we live, our perspective gets clouded and we fail to appreciate the significance of time. It is actually the most precious thing we possess, but we tend to treat it so flippantly all too often. We can always get more money or buy more things. There is only one thing in life we cannot duplicate, replicate, or get more of, and that is time. Once we use...2020-10-0520 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #20: That was a Presidential Debate?!?Before the debate began, I had a feeling of dread about even watching it. My fear ended up being well-founded. I lost 90 minutes of my life I cannot get back. I don't know who the winner of the debate was, but I sure know who lost--the American People. The thought that middle or high school students, college students, and other young adults would see the behavior of 'our leaders' and think that is acceptable, and what they saw on TV was a 'debate' is very sad and a little embarrassing. That thing America witnessed on September 29, 2020, was surely not classical rheto...2020-09-3024 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #19: AI & Human Behavior ModificationTechnology has evolved exponentially. The human brain has not. Psychologically, humans are still prone to think the same way, even with incredible technological and scientific knowledge gains. We need to objectively evaluate technology, not with hyperbole or conspiracy theory, but with clear eyes to understand how it has come to dominate our lives, so we can consider where a life 'fully integrated with machines' may take civilization. The dystopian future portrayed in science fiction and Hollywood films in which machines overtake human strengths and intelligence to exterminate us is less likely than machines manipulating natural human frailties.Humans are prone to a...2020-09-2842 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #18: How to Reach Your Highest Intellectual PotentialThe self-help industry in America was worth over 11 billion dollars in 2019. Seminars, courses, life and business coaches are some of the ways gurus get you to part with your money to 'reach your best self.'Not to disparage the industry, but I would argue there is a cheaper way, free in-fact, if one really wants to improve their intellectual self. It is called reading.When I say read, I don't mean Instagram captions, forum posts, book summaries, or 300-word blog posts. I mean real books.It may sound simple, but it works. In fact, research on your brain and intellectual a...2020-09-2325 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #17: The Dark Web Goes Mainstream"When even one American-who has done nothing wrong-is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth-than all Americans are in peril." A powerful and ominous statement we should pay attention to. The freedom of expression, a cornerstone of a democratic society, is under attack. Could it be the Dark Web becomes the 'land of freedom & free-thought' in the 21st century? I believe it is possible. It has the potential to fill the role. Once home to mainly illicit drug traffickers, money launderers, identity thieves, and child pornography, the Dark Web is traditionally known as the 'red-light district' of the...2020-09-2149 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #16: Being 'Educated' vs Earning a DegreeWhat does it mean to be educated? The institution of higher education in the marketing brochures, pretty college catalogs, and mission statements paints the picture of a degree inextricably tied to being an educated citizen. However, this is not necessarily true.The university is in a strong tug-of-war between an increasingly vocal camp that views the degree as a utility to learn job skills, which equates to a degree, which then opens access to a profession and higher-income against the traditional college and university mission of education as responsible for developing intellectual, cultural, and rhetorical sensibilities to push the individual an...2020-09-171h 11
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #15: Election 2020: Persuasion Principles that WorkIt is election season, and you know 'that one friend' that 'one family member' you want to persuade to change their vote. It is possible. In the world of social media, effective and proper persuasive strategies are almost always abandoned for angry name-calling or posting snide memes meant more to mock or deride than actually have a real discussion. Most online political debates have it all wrong and guarantee failure. However, it is possible to hold meaningful, open discussions with those who disagree with you and even convince them to change perspective. Time-tested rhetorical strategies still apply today; however, we have j...2020-09-1443 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #14: Death of the Main Stream MediaOne great way to increase our fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, and distrust about life in America is to turn on cable news, settle into your comfortable chair for a few hours as the evening prime time political shows kick-off on FOX News, CNN, MSNBC or CNBC. It is almost a guarantee you will leave feeling worse about yourself and life in general. Ironically, Democrats and Republicans found something to agree on, they don't trust the media. In fact, recent polls are showing trust in the media even lower than trust in politicians. To score lower in trust than the politicians is ha...2020-09-1453 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode 13: Deceived: How Politicians Manipulate Voters in the Age of TechnologyTechnology has made life easier; however, there are unintended negative consequences of technology as well. This includes the ability for politicians from both political parties, and the media, to influence and even deceive the electorate. In this podcast, I discuss both cognitive and psychological human traits that we are more susceptible thanks to the ever-increasing role of technology, social media, and digital news production in political messaging and the political news. In the field of politics and media, you can be certain, those in power, or those seeking power and influence, understand our natural human vulnerabilities, and they use them, dai...2020-09-0739 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #12: You are being watched. The American Surveillance StateTechnology applied the wrong way, by the wrong people, over an extended period of time could end life as we know it in the United States of America. In this podcast, I will analyze how technology in the private sector and government institutions have been slowly eroding American personal privacy. It is important to understand how it happened and more importantly why it matters. Also, there are some common sense and simple actions we can all take to help minimize the potential negative outcomes of the surveillance society we now live.Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr...2020-09-0236 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #11: The Real Reason College is so ExpensiveThe cost of higher education has been exploding. We all know it. It is ravaging students with debt and literally, causing students to drop out, and is preventing students, especially from lower socio-economic backgrounds, from even attending college. The reason for the cost increases are many, but one is a completely controllable phenomenon, self-inflicted by colleges that must be addressed--the hiring of armies of higher education administrators and staffers. Administration plays a vital role in higher education, but while faculty salaries are stagnant, administrative salaries are skyrocketing, and while the student-to-faculty ratio has stayed pretty constant, the student-to-administrator ratio is up dra...2020-08-3141 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #10: Open Conversation with High School SeniorsI really have no idea what I want to do after I graduate. This statement is one of the most common I hear from students as a College Instructor. This podcast discusses higher education, the benefits, and pitfalls, the idea of taking a GAP year to discover a future track, analyzing technical or vocational opportunities, as well as the military and options for the 'creative free-spirits.' There are intense pressures applied to high school seniors from parents, peer groups, and even society to conform; however, if we are honest, a perfectly straight line from high school to choosing a majo...2020-08-2650 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #9: Politics and Marketing the Mind to StupidIn this podcast, I am going to reveal some of the most perverse tactics politicians use to manipulate our minds to meet their desired outcomes. Both Democrats and Republicans are equally guilty. Politicians are keenly drawn to behaviorism and specific classical conditioning for one simple reason. It has the capacity to control your behavior. You will learn how this happens. In a democracy, for the politician, one behavior matters above all other behaviors, show up and vote FOR ME, so anything and any way that a politician can influence behavior is of the utmost importance. We must not remain complacent, lazy...2020-08-241h 01
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #8:The Herd Mentality in Society and the American Education SystemSociety functions at its optimal level when nearly all people are conformists. This is a sad fact that those in power understand. Modern civilization needs many sheep but very few shepherds. Too many free-thinkers are dangerous to the status quo. Thus, those that have power tend to manipulate the instruments of influence, the media, public institutions, social media, in a way to keep the majority of people complacent, even blissfully happy following along ‘the narrative’ the rich and powerful want. This podcast discusses who are most susceptible to conformity, how the education system in America breeds conformity, and finally tools on how t...2020-08-1947 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #7: Internet Trolls, Online Language, and Expert CommunicationSocial Media and the Internet have changed, for the worse, the way Americans are communicating. The language of discourse and debate has degraded so severely in the last decade, it is in many ways unrecognizable from even 10 years ago. This podcast will review actual online forum posts from far-left and far-right websites. We then turn to how we can all become effective communicators in any setting. It is possible to dramatically alter our communication with some simple steps, whether communicating online or in-person with friends and family.Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter: https://twi...2020-08-1743 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #6: Political Dysfunction, Sanctuary Cites, and the New AmericaWe are undeniably in a very tumultuous time in American politics. Both political parties seem dysfunctional. The traditional Democratic Party is being ripped apart by a far-left, nearly socialist-leaning faction. The Republicans are also in a state of upheaval, as Donald Trump has taken over the views of the republican party—and the era of the globalist looking Bush Family has been turned into a very nationalist leaning party. As each pushes to a smaller corner of far-left and far-right, the middle is getting stretched, pulled, and disfigured. Could this lead the United States of America and it's government structure to m...2020-08-1240 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #5: American Culture: Obese, In-Debt, Addicted and MedicatedThe richest and most affluent civilization in the history of the world, The United States of America is obese, in-debt, medicated, and addicted at unprecedented levels. Why? This podcast explores the problems but more importantly dives deeply into very specific and very simple solutions that can be enacted today. If you are struggling with anxiety, stress, health problems, or addictions, this podcast is for you.Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidDHopkins-----Keep Intellectual Freedom Free for Everyone! Become a member and DONATE to this project. It's a pa...2020-08-1050 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #4: I just want to be happy.What does it mean to be happy? There are polls, surveys, studies done every year attempting to rate our happiness on a numeric scale. It is almost comical the attempt to turn human happiness into a simplistic model. If we really think about it, the answer to happiness, what it is, how do we achieve it, when we achieve it can we keep are age-old questions as complex as the human brain. We will look back to the ancients and Aristotle in his book Nichomachean Ethics he attempts to explain the types of happiness, and leaves us with a very clear pi...2020-08-0532 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #3: Us Versus ThemSociety needs to recognize the inherent dangers social media poses for culture. Through this recognition, we can reduce stress, anxiety, and anger we experience participating in the various platforms. In this podcast, we analyze ad hominin attacks, which are fallacies in reasoning, used every day on social media. We will use a tweet by Tom Arnold as an example. He is by no means an A-list actor or high-level media influencer, but he is a Hollywood actor and has been around awhile. In looking at one post, we can see how certain ad hominem attacks when multiplied by the thousands dail...2020-08-0336 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #2: Democracy is not WorkingIt is a profound almost sacrilegious statement to even utter the words, “democracy doesn’t work." Yet, if we are honest, the current system is causing an internal decay of the greatest democratic system to ever be created. The easy targets are discussed: corrupt and incompetent politicians on both sides of the aisle, activist mainstream media instead of news reporting and non-partisan investigative journalism, and the proliferation of social media as a news source. However, we often fail to look inside of ourselves, each of us, the 'voter' and evaluate our own lack of thinking. We fail to look at our inte...2020-07-2939 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastEpisode #1: Other Minds, Drew Brees, and the National AnthemOur society has been rocked since George Floyd was murdered. Emotions are running high, and the topic of racial justice has exploded. Caught in the early wave of this was Drew Brees and statements he made about not kneeling for the national anthem. It set off a firestorm. This event highlights a significant philosophical concept--"other minds." In evaluating this philosophy, we can gain insight into understanding and empathizing with others who hold different views. In addition, it explains much about how heated explosions can happen in our modern world. Most importantly, it can actually help us to moderate our own neg...2020-07-2923 min
Intellectual Freedom PodcastIntroduction to Intellectual Freedom PodcastThe freedom to have opinions and ideas without restriction is under attack. Intellectual Freedom is an integral component of a democratic society. Sadly, many restrictions are self-imposed due to a failure to think critically. This podcast was produced with a goal of evaluating current political and cultural life under the microscope of critical thinking. There is no political or personal agenda here. I don't care what you think, just that your opinions are formed from thinking critically. Critical thinking is where true intellectual freedom is taken back from the zombie herds of social media, mainstream media, and political demagoguery.News...2020-07-2920 min