When does political correctness go too far? What does it mean to have true equality? Are the ends to our political goals justified if their means are authoritarian? This and more is covered as I go into a critique of far-left ideology. Some call this intersectionality. Some call it Wokeism. Some call it critical social justice. Whatever it is, its becoming a more prevalent problem in our popular culture, and with the left winning a string of victories recently, I think it is well worth talking about.   (This podcast was initially recorded as three episodes. For this reason there are short gaps at the half hour marks. Sorry for the inconvenience.)

Worldly Thoughts Podcast

Waking Up From Wokeism

Why is it that we human beings seek simple answers to complex questions? Why do we search for movements to follow and leaders to obey? Is there any chance we'll break the mold of human nature which makes egalitarian social movements so hard to achieve? This and more I ponder while driving through Idaho. 

Thoughts on the Road (Ideology, Optimism, and Humanism)

How do you deal with someone who’s living in a completely different reality than you? How do you communicate with them? How do you relate? Better yet, how do you deal with these people when they number in the millions, and threaten to overturn your democracy? With the Biden administration showing signs of failure and a third Trump campaign rumored, it is now worth examining what drove the “Make America Great Again” movement. What was it that motivated people to vote for him in record breaking numbers, and what can we learn from it going forward.

The Meaning of MAGA

Where does morality come from? Does it come from God?  Is it a product of our social evolution? Is it an intrinsic fact of our universe? In this podcast I read a sample chapter from my book where I explain in great detail what the foundation of an objective yet secular morality looks like, and how science can be used to guide our actions even when our personal intuitions can’t.

On Morality

Is there a way to talk about our ancestors without romanticizing nor demonizing them? Is there a way to talk about our country without being a hater or a cultural supremacist? With the 4th of July passing and the conversation about patriotism and historical statues heating up again, I try to answer these questions and make the case that we can celebrate our country without sugar coating its most gruesome details.   If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com 

In Defense of History

Ron Meehan is the Regional Vice Chair of the Alaskan Democratic Party and the former President of the Connecticut College Democrats. At 22 he has already contributed much to progressive politics both at home and abroad. In this episode we talk about Alaska Issues, the botched response to Covid, Israel and Palestine, voting rights, and the dangers of authoritarian rhetoric, as well as many other topics.   If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com 

What's New in the World - with Ron Meehan

I wrote the notes for this days after the January 6th insurrection but didn't get to recording it until now. What we saw at the Capitol was the result of political divisions going back 50 years boiling over into open violence. The only way to stop it is to reverse the trend of authoritarianism occurring in both parties presently. Is there a way to think critically about these things? Is there a way to make liberalism and conservatism outdated concepts? And what do we do with those who've peddled the lies that have led to so many deaths in the past? This and more I try to uncover as I discuss a solution.    If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com   

Overcoming Insurrection and Fake Unity

How do we as a society overcome the existential threats that face our planet? How do we escape unjust institutions which claim every corner of the globe? What will it mean for our economic system when scarcity is no longer a reality? In this episode I share with you a dream of what the future could look like if we choose to invest in space traveling technology. I make the case for why we should go, what we might encounter, and how it can enrich our experience in every single aspect of life. Stay tuned till the end for a song performed by my friend Charalambos Asimakopoulos.   If  you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com   

The Necessity of High Quality Space Travel

Why, for some, is wealth and power not enough? Why do old men nearing death continue to try and acquire new resources even when its at the expense of our economy, our ecology, and our democracy? These few, these robber barons, these politicians are destroying our world. And where is their sense? Why can't they recognize what they're doing? Why won't they invest in the world of their children and grandchildren? This and more is explained as I examine the psychology of those running the world, and what it is which keeps them from seeing the obvious truth.   If  you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com  

The Psychology of Our Enemies

When Johnny first attended Emory University in Georgia, he expected to simply get his bachelors degree. What happened instead was a whirlwind of events that involved espionage, blackmail, drug abuse, and psychological manipulation. This is the story of how he got involved with an organization calling itself the "Mystical Seven", and how he tried to discern their masonic roots before realizing he was being fooled.    If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com

Inside a Campus Cult - with Johnny Rodman

Should it be legal to insult the Prophet Muhammad? Should it be legal to draw caricatures of him in magazines? In this episode of the podcast I am joined by Lazim Ahmed to talk about the boycott of French goods being launched by Turkey, Qatar, and other middle eastern nations. We discuss freedom of speech, the nature of Islamophobia, interpretations of Islam, immigration and assimilation, and to my surprise: whether anything good has ever come out of democracy.  If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com 

The Right to Blaspheme - with Lazim Ahmed

In this polarized time, it may seem like there are some people you simply can't get through to. I give a short take on why this is, and what we can do to mend the dialogue and bring everyone closer together. Its a long shot. But every person we persuade as a result of this, I think is worth it. 

Hard Conversations

In this episode I am joined by CJ to discuss his new City Council seat in Bethel, and his take on the 2020 election. We discuss what went wrong and what went right for the Biden campaign. What the progressive movement needs to learn from this moment. And how we can potentially heal the country moving forward.  If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com

Don't Go Back to Sleep - with CJ McCormick

In this episode I am joined by CJ McCormick, a Bethel city council candidate and longtime friend of mine. In the first half hour we discuss issues related to life and politics in rural Alaska, and in the following hour we discuss the survival of American democracy in the aftermath of the 2020 election. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com  

Bethel and Our Broader Democracy - with CJ McCormick

In this episode I reflect on how the innovations of the industrial revolution and liberal democracy have led to both the successes and failures of our modern world. I discuss the climate crisis, income inequality, and the automation revolution, as well as the psychology of fascism and nationalism. This episode should serve to help identify many of the causes of our modern ills, and hopefully their solutions as the global system begins to collapse around us. If you enjoy the podcast, or have any recommendations concerning guests, topics, or audio adjustments, please feel free to email me at Worldlythoughts2015@gmail.com (Correction: the American Nazi Party did not have a million members in the 1930's. It had somewhere between 50k-100k members, making me off by a factor of ten.)

Blueprint for the Revolution

An experimental podcast hosted by Brent Nichols

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Worldly Thoughts Podcast

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