Joining me is icon carver and Symbolic World founder Jonathan Pageau for one of the most wide-ranging and provocative conversations on the podcast. From the meaning crisis to the collapse of the post-World War II consensus, from transhumanism to embodiment, from nationalism to online culture - this is a deep dive into what is happening to the West.

We explore: why modernity delivered everything it promised - and still left people depressed, the Jordan Peterson "meaning crisis" moment - and what comes next, why boundaries, hierarchy and identity are being demonised, the rise of trans ideology and the push toward disembodiment, why symbolism isn't just psychological - it's real, the post-WWII story that shaped our politics (and why it's collapsing), Israel, nationalism and the victim narrative in modern politics, why young men feel lost - and what to do about it and why church, ritual and real community matter more than ever.

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Cheerful one today… we're talking about death - and why avoiding it quietly destroys meaning.

Modern culture is weirdly death-phobic: we hide the elderly, sanitise grief, and obsess over staying youthful. But every major tradition (Stoicism, Buddhism, existential philosophy) keeps coming back to one message: remember death - and you'll live better. I explores why contemplating mortality gives you perspective, clarifies your values, and pushes you towards what actually matters: relationships, contribution, and living with integrity. I also share a range of death meditations, from gentle (graveyard walks, simple reflections) to more intense practices - with clear warnings on when not to do them. Disclaimer: ⚠️ If you're currently depressed, recently bereaved, or feeling emotionally fragile, this isn't the one for today. And after watching: don't make big decisions - go do something life-affirming.

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Is philosophy still relevant - or is it just abstract talk for academics? I sit down with Stelios Panagiotou to explore why philosophy might be more urgent now than ever - especially for young men navigating the modern meaning crisis. We discuss: why philosophy is a double-edged sword, the collapse of beauty; truth and goodness; virtue ethics in a post-Christian age; the dangers of shallow belonging and virtue signalling; why aesthetics may be winning the culture war; how to practise virtue rather than merely talk about it; and what it means to be a "good migrant" in modern Britain.

From Nietzsche and Burke to Scruton and ancient Greek virtue ethics, this episode goes beyond surface-level culture war debates and asks a deeper question: How do we live well in a world that has lost its moral centre?

More on Stelio's course on Greek virtue ethics: https://courses.lotuseaters.com/products/courses/Ancient_Greek_Virtue_Ethics

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Stelios Panagiotou is a former academic who conducted a PhD research on free will and moral responsibility. After some years in academia, he decided that the cultural dangers confronting contemporary Western societies require a more vocal approach to be dealt with. Apart from a general fascination with Philosophy, he is currently interested in the corruption of language in public discussion. More specifically, he is interested in finding ways of reclaiming key notions and values that many tend to associate with the left, such as the notions of freedom, autonomy, reason, democracy, and nationhood. His political views are a mix of classical liberalism and conservatism.

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I'm joined by Shirzad Chamine, creator of Positive Intelligence, to explore what it really means to learn in difficult times. We talk about fear-based "saboteur" patterns, why toxic positivity makes things worse, and how negative emotions can be useful signals rather than flaws to suppress.

We look at trauma as something all humans experience on a spectrum, how post-traumatic growth actually works, and why compassion must come before reframing. We also explore religion, secular belief systems, technology, political polarisation, and why both faith and rationality get hijacked by fear when we're not paying attention.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about learning to lead ourselves and others from love rather than fear, especially in a fractured world.

Read more about Shirzad's work here: positiveintelligence.com

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Shirzad Chamine is a New York Times bestselling author of Positive Intelligence, translated into 20 languages. He has been CEO of the largest coach training organization in the world, has trained more than 100,000 coaches, and trained faculty at Stanford and Yale business schools. Shirzad lectures on Positive Intelligence at Stanford University. His Saboteur Assessment has been used by more than 2 million people and a majority of Fortune 100 companies. A preeminent C-suite advisor, Shirzad has coached hundreds of CEOs and their executive teams. He holds a BA in psychology, an MS in electrical engineering, and an MBA from Stanford.

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I'm joined again by philosopher and writer Benedict Beckeld for a wide-ranging conversation on oikophobia, Western self-loathing, and what it means for culture, psychology, and masculinity today.

We explore how post–World War II guilt has shaped Western identity, why healthy nationalism has become taboo, and how boundaries matter at every level, from nations to individuals. We talk about masculinity, self-care, and why strength, discipline, and responsibility are increasingly framed as dangerous or oppressive. We also look at mass migration, DEI ideology, cultural memory versus race, and why the West struggles to assert itself despite its intellectual strengths.

Finally, we discuss young men, meaning, courage, and why speaking openly still matters, even when it comes at a cost. A thoughtful, provocative conversation on culture, confidence, and the future of the West.

Read more about Benedict's work here: benedictbeckeld.com

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Benedict Beckeld was born in Uppsala, Sweden, and raised in Sweden and later New York City, where he studied classical and modern languages and literatures. He completed advanced degrees in Ancient Greek, Latin, and Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg, with research periods at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and the University of Bologna. He has taught in Germany, Namibia, and France, and was Professor of Philosophy, Greek, and Latin at the American University of Paris. Since returning to the United States in 2014, he has focused on writing. His work spans philosophy, aesthetics, contemporary culture, political thought, the philosophy of history, and ancient Greece, alongside memoir and poetry.

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Most people fail to beat addiction because they're solving the wrong problem. After 19 years sober and decades working with men stuck in compulsive behaviours, I've seen why willpower, mindset hacks, and "just stop" advice rarely work. Addiction isn't a personal weakness - it's a response to a disconnected, hyper-stimulating world. In this podcast, I explain why modern culture creates addiction by design, why treating it as a purely psychological issue fails, and what actually leads to lasting recovery. This includes the role of environment, embodiment, discipline, community, and meaning - not just motivation or dopamine tricks. If you're stuck in alcohol, porn, gaming, food, phone addiction, or any behaviour you can't control, this will help you understand what's really happening and how to step out of the loop.

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For this week's podcast, I break down what discipline actually is in a world built to addict you - ultra-processed food, endless scrolling, gaming, porn, and constant distraction. You'll learn why discipline is really about self-respect, attention control, stress regulation, and identity, plus why environment and social pressure matter more than "trying harder". We also cover the spiritual layer: temptation, values, and why willpower alone eventually collapses. If you keep doing the thing you promised you'd stop doing, this will give you a framework that actually works - from micro "just for today" thinking, to zooming out and remembering what you love.

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Dr Helen Machen-Pearce and I explore what real confidence actually is and why so much of what we call confidence collapses the moment it meets reality. We talk about the difference between confidence and competence, and why untested confidence often looks loud, brittle, or performative.

We look at how confidence lives in the nervous system, not just the mind, and how embodiment practices like centering, grounding, strength, movement, and relaxation shape how we show up. We explore gender, class, culture, and age, and how confidence looks different across life stages. We also touch on masculinity, physical agency, ethics, self-compassion, community, and what happens to confidence when you are visible in the public sphere.

See more of Helen's work here: yogarogue.co.uk

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With countless young men feeling lost because their past, present, and future have been stolen. I break down the four spiritual disconnections - body, community, spirit, and land - that are destroying modern masculinity. Here are some actionable steps to reconnect, find hope, and win the spiritual war for your soul. It's time to wake up.

In the second half of the podcast I explain how I spent ten years completely lost - drifting, numbing myself, sabotaging my own potential - all because I couldn't figure out my life purpose. I break down the biggest mistakes that keep men lost - and the exact things I finally did right that helped me build a meaningful, financially viable, purpose-aligned life.

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In this episode I chat with Ranko Cerić in Zagreb to explore how economics, trauma and identity shape the Balkans and the rest of Europe today. We look at how Yugoslavia fell apart, why ordinary people can be pushed into fear and extremism, and how current migration and cost-of-living pressures are creating similar tensions in the West. We also get into land, belonging and the dysregulation that comes with cultural dislocation. A grounded, honest conversation about what really drives division - and what might help us move beyond it.

Find out more about Ranko's work here: zdravo-odrastanje.eu/naslovna/o-nama/

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Ranko Ceric is Aikido teacher, certified embodiment and trauma coach. He is using his martial arts experience and embodiment knowledge to help his clients overcome stress, trauma and realise their life purpose.

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