In this video, I share five of my favorite books that have influenced my thinking and understanding of myself and the world. Among other themes, ideas covered include an emphasis on the importance of intellectual courage, a focus on fundamental sources of meaning in life, and thoughts on the value of storytelling in understanding complex philosophical ideas.

Disclaimer: I won the happiness lottery from day one—I have a loving family, a natural inclination to laugh, and have been to Disney World multiple times. But I also cultivate my cheerfulness. So let’s break down what goes into being merry and well.

Why I am so happy:

1. I am in perpetual awe of the absurd miracle of existence

2. I am an all-time great sleeper

3. I consistently do hard workouts

4. I touch grass without any screens

5. I recognize negative emotions as inevitable and normal

6. I don’t delude myself into thinking I don’t need other people

7. I am obsessed with reading and learning

8. I do things that scare me

9. I do creative stuff

10. I know it could always be worse

11. I avoid the ride-off-into-the-sunset fallacy

12. I don’t know what you mean by “I”

This episode explores the complexities of faith, agnosticism, and the nature of religion through a thought experiment. I discuss the positive aspects of religion while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and the distinction between metaphorical and literal interpretations of religious texts. I also delve into the problem of evil and suffering in the world, questioning the existence of a benevolent deity in light of such suffering. In the end, I leave the door open for the possibility of God, while encouraging a life of wonder and exploration.

Chapters

(00:00) The Thought Experiment on Faith

(04:52) Agnosticism and the Nature of Religion

(10:08) The Problem of Evil and Suffering

(14:01) Leaving the Door Open for God

Learning a language is a not only a skill you can develop, it is a transformative and meaningful pursuit. But it is helpful to understand what it takes to become fluent, to be prepared for the open-ended journey.

Chapters

(00:00) The joys of language learning and why to do it

(13:40) The hard truths of achieving fluency

(27:05) Learning a language is not a process that ends

From ancient sacred texts to cutting dystopian literature, this episode tells you about 33 books that are nourishing to the soul.

Welcome to a new podcast for the intellectually curious. You’re in the right place if you have a deep desire to understand yourself and the world better—especially if you love coffee, weightlifting, and classic books.

I'm Jeff Sullivan, a 24-year-old writer, tech sales professional, basketball lover, weightlifting enthusiast, and fluent Spanish speaker. I create content about culture, language, and philosophy, and am currently working on my debut novel.

I hold a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I double majored in Communication and Spanish. Currently, I work for a software company called athenahealth and live in Austin, Texas.

I'm thrilled to launch this show as a space to think out loud and explore life's big questions—through both solo episodes and deep conversations with guests. Learning is inherently fun when you immerse yourself in stories and ideas that fascinate you. So let's dive in.