Peter Boghossian: Can We Still Find Common Ground in the Wake of Charlie Kirk?
I sat down with philosopher and author Peter Boghossian to wrestle with America’s deepening fracture. Why are so many people cheering political violence, and what—if anything—can pull us back? Ideological capture throughout the education system has broken our engines of knowledge production, turning them into “indoctrination mills” and teaching young Americans to see opponents as existential threats. Is reform even possible at this point? Peter makes the case for burning it all down—or, more accurately, for making these institutions pay the cost of their vices and watching them collapse under their own weight._____________________________________Follow Peter on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/peterboghossianPeter on Substack: https://boghossian.substack.com/Peter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drpeterboghossian/featured_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Charlie Kirk’s murder revealed a deep divide[5:11] Can we reform away political bias on campus?[15:01] Am I a hypocrite with my own son?[22:13] TikTok, disinformation, and echo chambers[32:09] Should government restrict vices?[39:41] What are do “left” and “right” mean in 2025?[49:24] Destroy the institutions but forgive the individuals[59:11] The left needs to come back to the table[1:06:22] Does the left offer anything to our society?[1:16:38] Can we agree on some neutral principles?[1:32:08] What if we just banned the crazies?[1:37:20] Money printing is the ultimate luxury belief[1:42:01] We will eventually pay the price for our vices_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L-cFuqD_G7cMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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1:53:27
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1:53:27
Bret Weinstein on Genetic Tribalism and the Global Backlash Against Jews - Part 2
I sat down with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein to explore how evolution can help make sense of tribalism, religion, and the ongoing war in Gaza. He shares his experience commenting on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the simultaneous resurgence and weaponization of antisemitism, speaking both as a scientist and as an American Jew who doesn’t see his views reflected by either major camp. Bret warns against embracing our genetic programming for "lineage-against-lineage" displacement, rather than the collaborative spirit that built Western civilization._____________________________________Follow Bret on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/BretWeinsteinWatch the Darkhorse Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorsePod/featuredPurchase a copy of “A Hunter-Gather’s Guide to the 21st Century”: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Gatherers-Guide-21st-Century-Challenges/dp/0593086880_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Evolution of culture and religion[12:32] Antisemitism and conspiracy thinking[20:38] How Israeli policy impacts Jews globally[26:42] Nazi Twitter went mainstream[33:17] John’s take on Israel-Palestine[42:30] Bret’s evolutionary take on the Gaza War[52:26] How genes get into the future[1:01:08] Is Christianity evolutionarily adaptive?[1:10:26] We aren’t fit for the world we’ve built_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3avvi_qwdxkMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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1:17:39
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1:17:39
Bret Weinstein on Epstein, Globalization, and How Our Institutions Went Insane - Part 1
I sat down with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein to unpack how behind-the-scenes power and perverse incentives have hollowed out America’s institutions. Bret argues that issues like the Epstein saga, COVID propaganda, and transgender ideology have exposed a deeper problem: elites wield leverage out of sight while government, media, and universities rely on theatrical, so-called “expertise” to bolster public authority. Our institutions so consistently engage in the exact inverse of good governance and common sense that many Americans are left wondering what remains of our democratic republic—and whether the West can be pulled back from the brink._____________________________________Follow Bret on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/BretWeinsteinWatch the Darkhorse Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorsePod/featuredPurchase a copy of “A Hunter-Gather’s Guide to the 21st Century”: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Gatherers-Guide-21st-Century-Challenges/dp/0593086880_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What’s going on with the Epstein files?[17:30] The internet and dysfunctional governance[22:00] Why modern institutions agree on bad ideas[33:30] Corrupt the incentives, corrupt the elite[42:42] Can the Constitution survive globalization?[50:25] Are we evolving towards virtual community?[1:00:10] When governments turn on their own people[1:07:38] The battle between “us” and “them”_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DmcaH_Gkj9cMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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1:27:51
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1:27:51
Paul Zak on Neuroscience, Trust, and Why Communism Sucks
I sat down with neuroeconomist, author, and entrepreneur Paul Zak to discuss the neuroscience of human behavior and society. Paul explains his work on oxytocin—the "moral molecule"—and how it affects everything from political beliefs and economic systems to our most intimate relationships. We discuss why a lack of "friction" is making Gen Z miserable, why strong relationships are essential for success, and how to build a resilient mind in an anxious world._____________________________________Purchase “The Little Book of Happiness”: https://a.co/d/fnWrfdXLearn more about Paul’s “Six” app: https://your6.com/Follow Paul on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/pauljzak_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] The role of biology in economics[10:35 10:49] Are humans rational?[16:33 16:47] Oxytocin, trust, and cooperation[23:58 24:12] How do screens impact our interactions?[27:56] Homogeneity vs. polarization[34:33] Learning new skills with neuroscience[38:56] You need to encounter friction in life[50:08] Acclimate to fear and uncertainty[54:53] Good relationships allow you to take risks[58:25] The neuroscience of dating, politics, and masculinity[1:11:17] Testosterone turns Democrats into Republicans?[1:18:13] You always have to fight communism[1:26:20] Status-seeking is a zero-sum game[1:32:34] “The Little Book of Happiness”[1:37:06] The morality of free markets[1:43:53] The pros and cons of American dynamism[1:49:13] Is persuasion just manipulation?[2:02:29] Building an app to set emotional goals_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ldhH-yo0_zcMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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2:05:20
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2:05:20
Education Is About Forming Souls, Not Filling Brains – Fr. Daniel O'Mullane
I sat down with Father Daniel O’Mullane, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, to discuss how and why he’s built a Catholic school based on the classical education model. Rather than obsessing over college and career preparation, the typical goals of primary and secondary schooling, he approaches education from the ground up, prioritizing the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of children. Fr. O’Mullane believes that time-tested teaching methods—measured in centuries, not decades—and the great works of Western civilization are among the best tools for cultivating students’ sense of meaning and purpose in a culture adrift._____________________________________Learn more about Our Lady of Mount Carmel School: https://olmc.academy/Follow Fr. O’Mullane on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/fatherdano_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Not your average Catholic school[5:38] Should “college and career” be the goal of school?[23:28] Purpose, narrative, and progress[36:50] Man is both spiritual and material[56:43] What does classical education look like?[1:07:17] Why the great works of Western civilization matter[1:13:38] Orderly behavior vs. true virtue[1:17:45] Building a school that’s better than prison[1:26:28] School should protect a child’s sense of wonder[1:32:09] Schools shouldn’t interfere with parenting[1:37:44] How to find teachers who aren’t ideologically captured[1:41:03] Entrepreneurship within the Church structure[1:55:56] How Fr. O’Mullane’s became a priest[2:15:28] What is the future of faith in our culture?[2:18:00] Rise to meet the demands of love_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xBW7NePlI0UMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our kids, our communities, and our country through the lens of fatherhood. We produce powerful stories, exclusive interviews, mini-documentaries, and deep dives on a weekly basis. Our goal is to build a movement of dads and could-be dads who embrace our heroic calling to raise a new generation ready to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. We’ve had all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla.
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