In this episode of Hostcast, we sit down with James Cussen, an Interintellect host whose work centers on practical, livable philosophy.

James shares how his journey into philosophy began during a difficult period in his teenage years, when reading Albert Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus gave him a sense of being understood for the first time. From there, his curiosity took him through Nietzsche, Jung, and much more.

The conversation also explores how to approach reading philosophy, with James emphasizing humility, patience, and a willingness to temporarily inhabit a worldview different from your own.

The episode then takes a focused look at Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morals, the text at the center of James's current salon series on Interintellect.

You can join his salon here:

https://interintellect.com/salons/what-is-the-meaning-of-ascetic-ideals-friedrich-nietzsche-on-the-genealogy-of-morality

You can also follow James, here:

https://www.thelivingphilosophy.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheLivingPhilosophy/videos

In this episode of the Hostcast, I sit down with political philosopher Adam Gjesdal to explore some of the biggest questions in political philosophy: from how we correct for our own biases, to why diversity of perspectives leads to better outcomes, to what John Stuart Mill's On Liberty can teach us about free speech and individual freedom today.

We also get into Adam's own academic journey, his research on justice pluralism, and, of course, his upcoming salon series on Mill's "On Liberty".

A conversation full of ideas that are as relevant now as they've ever been.

You can sign up for Adam's first episode here:

https://interintellect.com/salons/on-liberty-revisited-mill-harriet-taylor-and-the-case-for-freedom

In this episode of Hostcast, we have Rania Nasis, physician, serial entrepreneur, and generalist operator who has built and advised companies across biotech, digital health, senior tech, and pediatric care.

Rania shares the story of leaving medicine before ever practicing, getting hooked on startups through a business plan competition, and spending the last 12+ years navigating one of the hardest industries to innovate in: healthcare. She breaks down why the space is both deeply rewarding and brutally complicated, from misaligned stakeholder incentives to year-long sales cycles as well as what it takes to persist through all of it. She's also launching Nimble, a high-protein French-style ice cream brand hitting New York grocery stores in early April.

We talked about her Atlas Shrugged book club hosted through Interintellect in New York City. Why she chose Ayn Rand's most ambitious novel, what timeless tensions it surfaces around individualism, excellence, and productive output, and what she hopes participants take away regardless of where they land politically are some of the themes explored.

Want to join or just keep up with what Rania is building? Find her on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or through her Interintellect profile.

Today’s Interintellect host is Neil Thanedar, author of Positive Politics. We spoke about his journey in entrepreneurship, from working with his father to build a testing lab to co-founding Laboor, and why he believes the future belongs to scientist-CEOs. Naturally, we also dug into the core ideas behind Positive Politics.

Neil is currently leading a four-part series on Interintellect where he explores the book and offers a reframing of our relationship with politics.

In our conversation, we discussed his plans for the remaining sessions, the role of writing and activism in getting started in politics, the real barriers to entry for political engagement, and why he believes we are all called to make a difference.

You can sign up for the remaining two sessions of his series here:
https://interintellect.com/salons/session-3-positive-politics-what

In this episode of Hostcast, we sit down with Grant Mulligan, a writer, investor, and conservationist.

Our conversation ranges across fatherhood, progress, abundance, and The Odyssey.

Grant is currently hosting a reading series on Interintellect dedicated to The Odyssey, which we’re exploring together. You can find the series, along with Grant’s writing, here:

https://www.grantmulligan.com/

https://interintellect.com/hosts/grant-mulligan-1128177

In this episode with Brian Gallagher, we dive into the subtle art that separates a writer from an editor, his years shaping stories at Nautilus, the thinkers and writers he admires, and the role of taste in writing a journalistic piece. We also talked about his upcoming book on Mars, what are some of the non-obvious hurdles we might need to deal with and, of course, his previous salons at our community.

You can follow Brian here:

https://www.briangallagher.org

https://twitter.com/bsgallagher

In this episode of Hoscast, we talk with Olga Yakimenko, film-maker, writer and of course, Interintellect Host.

Throughout the conversation we talk about how moving around so often shaped her view of the world, why she really enjoys human perception and what is the power of stories.

We also talk about her most recent project: "The User Illusion", which you'll want to know all about.

You can be on the look out for Olga's next salons here:

https://interintellect.com/hosts/olga-yakimenko

Follow Olga on Twitter:

https://x.com/AnalogWhole

Poet, critic, and Interintellect host Paul Franz joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on poetry, reading, and the enduring spirit of Romanticism.

He’s editor of the journal Literary Imagination and Serpent Club, and in our conversation we trace his path into literature—from his early love of books to his life as a poet published in The New York Review of Books and an essayist for The Atlantic and The Nation.

Paul shares why Romanticism matters today, how Romanticon, where he’s an editor, tackles that issue, and what it means to weave together different forms of writing (poetry, criticism, essays) within one creative life.

We dive into the tension between creative writing and academic writing, and how he navigated that space.

Finally, Paul reflects on his approach to salons and the art of conversation itself: an invitation to think, read, and share more deeply.

You can find Paul’s Host Page and check out his salons here:

https://interintellect.com/hosts/paul-franz

You can also check his Substack here:

https://ashesandsparks.substack.com/

Check our website to become a member of our community or attend one of our salons:

https://interintellect.com/

Philosopher and Interintellect host Bryan Kam joins us to preview his upcoming salon, Buddha, Socrates, and Us: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Uncertainties.

Drawing on Stephen Batchelor’s work, he explores how these two ancient thinkers embraced uncertainty, humility, and ethical living. Not only that but also how their insights can guide us through today’s personal and planetary crises.

In this conversation, Bryan shares his approach to hosting salons that blend intellectual depth with lived experience, inviting participants to treat uncertainty not as a threat, but as a practice.

You can sign up for the salon here:

https://interintellect.com/salons/buddha-socrates-and-us-ancient-wisdom-for-modern-uncertainties

You can check Bryan's work here:

• Bryan's writing at Clerestory
• Bryan's talk at London's Philosophy for All
• Intro to Neither/Nor: Thinking and Sensing
• Liminal Learning

In this episode, host Ravi Joseph speaks with Susan Abbott, a strategist and researcher of democracy and communication. They talk about the relevance of inquiry into democracy today, the possibilities of deliberative democracy, the future of AI in government, and more. 

Susan’s salon series starting July 2: https://interintellect.com/series/democracy-and-its-discontents

Susan’s website: https://crosspollinateconsulting.com/

Find Ravi on X: https://x.com/rjkarmayogi