Unsolicited advice
Unsolicited advice
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Unsolicited Advice is a podcast that offers philosophical perspectives intended to be helpful in everyday life. The host shares ideas and frameworks that listeners can apply as they see fit. Its approach is practical rather than academic, encouraging people to take what works for them and leave the rest. The show is produced in English for a general audience.
Episod
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Why We're Obsessed with Identity (and why we should stop) | Dr. Alexander Douglas 27.09.2026 1j 34minIn the modern world we are obsessed with identity - including the idea of "being yourself". I have expressed some scepticism of this idea in the past, but haven't quite been able to put my finger on why. So today we are talking to the wonderful Dr. Alexander Douglas all about his latest book - Against Identity - a critique of the very concept of a fixed identity. I hope you enjoy!You can find Alex's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DT1K9W2N/?bestFormat=true&k=against%20identity&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k0_1_16_de&crid=2I1NZ64U6309U&sprefix=against%20identityAnd his Substack here: https://substack.com/@alexxdouglasSupport me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 What's wrong with being yourself08:45 How does Daoism question identity?22:33 Should our identities be more fluid?31:20 Identity as social technology?36:45 Spinoza and identity50:00 The pressure of a fixed identity55:04 What is Girard's theory of mimetic desire1:17:20 Girard's Christianity1:24:55 What was the most interesting idea you came across in the past year and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How to Win Any Debate (Without Being an A**hole) 27.09.2026 33minStart speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel 🎉. Take this quiz for up to 60% off your subscription ➡️. Here: https://bit.ly/unsolicitedadviceaugPhilosophers have always been pretty sceptical about debate, and for pretty good reason. Underhanded tactics can be used to manipulate, sway, and mislead. But Aristotle wanted to know how we could rehabilitate debate for someone who did not just want to do these things, but wanted to strive for an honest persuasive approach. So here is how to win a debate, without being a nefarious so-and-so.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more (occasional) philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 The Art of Persuasion02:10 Why Learn Rhetoric06:50 Reasons and Persons13:01 I've got a feeling (woo-hoo)18:28 Knowing me knowing you (aha)22:49 A Touch of Style Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
So, what is actually in the Book of Mormon? | Heliocentric 27.09.2026 2j 5minI have a soft spot for the weirdest and most wonderful aspects of religious life, and someone who shared my adoring attitude here is @HeliocentricOfficial. I was lucky enough to have Jared stay at my house recently, and I knew I had to have him on the podcast.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Who is Sweet Daddy?07:10 How did you come to Atheism?11:45 What is actually in the Book of Mormon?33:51 What was it like being in a Jehova's Witness Church?54:42 What is Christian Science?01:12:50 Why are you a nihilist?1:27:35 Why are conversations about God and morality so difficult?01:56:46 What is the most interesting idea you've come across in the past year and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Self-improvement has sold us a lie 27.09.2026 57minSelf-improvement is a noble aim, but can it go too far? I think it can, but I also think that in our rush to condemn self-improvement and self-optimisation, we often forget that obsession is sometimes a wonderful thing, and we ought not to condemn it wholesale.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 The cult of self-optimisation07:54 Keeping Score22:41 The existential temptation of optimisation38:14 In defence of obsession Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Philosopher the Modern World Needs | Simone Weil 27.09.2026 58minSimone Weil is one of the most interesting thinkers of the twentieth century. Yet she remains tragically underrated and underread. This is a shame, because she is a truly fascinating and original thinker, with a lot specifically to add to our understanding of the modern world.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 The Needs of The Soul14:32 Suffering and The Poem of Force29:11 Social Prestige and the Power of Words41:49 Friendship, Necessity, and Hatred Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Why you NEED to read Franz Kafka 27.09.2026 34minThere are few authors who speak as clearly to the problems of modernity as Franz Kafka. But in him, we also find reassurance that our problems are not unique, or pathetic, but have been felt and understood by those who came before us. And, above all, are dignified enough to fashion great art out of them. So here let's look at Franz Kafka, and how he is the perfect philosopher for the modern age.Support me on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN7Loneliness sources:https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/facts-and-statistics/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/24/health/lonely-adults-gallup-poll-wellness/index.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/nov/16/who-declares-loneliness-a-global-public-health-concernhttps://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/unlock-loneliness/loneliness-young-people-research-briefing#:~:text=BBC.,new%20BBC%20Radio%204%20survey.Video on Kafka and TikTok: https://youtu.be/JuaWj0GVU9o?si=ErfYiLqGWy7-gyYF00:00 Kafka Populi01:13 A Question of Identity08:11 Isolation in Public14:45 Mundane Helplessness21:24 A Portrait of Fear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Thought Experiment Tier List 27.09.2026 1j 22minI love a philosophical thought experiment, and I love a tier list. So today we are going to rank some of the most famous thought experiments in history. Thank you so much to the friend who was kind enough to send me his list to react to.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Mary's Room10:27 Ship of Theseus16:01 The Teleporter Problem25:55 Utility Monster33:10 Euthyphro Dilemma38:06 Russell's Teapot43:22 Fake Barn Country51:45 Are you a Brain in a Vat?58:46 Wittgenstein's Beetle in a Box1:07:17 Chinese Room Argument Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Hidden Problem with Religious Arguments 27.09.2026 33minHead to https://squarespace.com/unsolicitedadvice to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code unsolicitedadviceDebates about God are almost always pitched as between atheists and theists. But we do not give very much thought to the middle position. What about the skeptic's position on the issue? What are the strong arguments in favour of agnosticism?Support me on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN7Image: Square made of Two Triangles. Credit to Michael Angelkovich. Licenced under CC 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en00:00 Agnosticism and Scepticism02:02 The Limits of Analogy07:32 The Problem of Understanding God14:12 Possibilities, Plausibility, and You20:05 Knowledge, Belief, and Doubt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Christian Case Against Cultural Christianity | Matt Whiteley 27.09.2026 1j 49minAn argument that has become increasingly popular in apologetic or cultural apologetic circles is arguing for the cultural influence of Christianity through the "Tom Holland Argument". I talked to a prominent Christian critic of that argument to see why he thinks Christians should not take this route.Also check out Matt’s Substack here! It is really good!: https://substack.com/@thisisleisfullofnoises?r=2ohjsz&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=imageSupport me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 What is the "Tom Holland Argument"06:20 Why shouldn't Christians use it?16:46 The trouble with defining Christianity29:15 The difficulty of writing history through ideas41:15 Your morals aren't self-evident50:30 History, Epistemology, and Storytelling55:35 What are some good arguments for cultural Christianity?1:03:15 When are historical arguments persuasive?1:12:46 Secular Ethics and Self-Help Bros1:22:30 What I envy about religious people1:27:40 Can everyone go to Heaven?1:39:07 What was the greatest idea you came across in the past year and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How To Think Like a Philosopher 27.09.2026 32minThroughout history, philosophers have tackled a number of questions, but on the side they have provided something almost as valuable - an implicit guide on how to think like some of the brightest minds in history. And that is what we shall be exploring today. So here is how to think like a philosopher.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 The Philosophers' Guidebook01:07 Let's Get Specific06:29 Originality and Creativity12:08 Courage and Inquiry18:03 Doubt and Dubitability22:39 Theory, Practice, and Habituation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Biggest Problem with Social Media Nobody Talks About 27.09.2026 34minSocial Media. It is something everyone seems to agree has some pretty negative consequences, along with some positives. But we rarely stop and ask what it is about this simple collection of words and images that seems to cause so much distress. And in The Transparency Society, Byung-Chul Han aims to answer this very thing. So, let's learn how we killed privacy, and why you hate social media.Support me on Patreon here (you absolutely wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 The Transparency Society01:39 The Society of Exhibition07:47 Forced Intimacy and No Intimacy14:15 The Uninformative Deluge20:14 Transparency and Control Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Secret Behind Dostoevsky’s Genius 27.09.2026 57minHead to https://squarespace.com/unsolicitedadvice to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code UNSOLICITEDADVICEFyodor Dostoevsky is one of my favourite authors, and almost universally recognised as one of the greatest writers of all time. He left behind not only his novels and published works, but a plethora of journals and notes that some very interesting scholars have used to investigate his writing process. We are going to look at just some of their work now.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 A Timely Timeless Man16:54 Breaking News25:25 A Prisoner and a Prophet37:01 The Process of Creation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Why Crushes are So Painful 27.09.2026 34minCrushes are a fascinating aspect of human life. They have a tendency to reduce even the most rational person to a neurotic mess. But what exactly is it that makes a crush so powerful and so painful, and why do we get them? Well, this question is explored in detail in Stendhal's magnificent book On Love. And we will explore this very topic in this video.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 A Touch of Irrationalism01:43 Crystallisation and Fantasy08:24 Love's Labour's Lost (and Won)15:09 Identity, Vanity, and Ego21:26 Dignifying the Crush Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Why Everything Today Is Bulls*** 27.09.2026 34minThe first 500 people to use my link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare https://skl.sh/unsolicitedadvice07241Why does it seem like BS is around every corner in the modern age? Wherever we go there is usually someone trying to fool us, hoodwink us, or manipulate the truth to serve their own ends. But what exactly is Bulls****, and why should we care about it? Well, today we will look at Harry Frankfurt's essay on that very topic, and dive into the surprising philosophy of Bulls****Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 A Philosopher's Guide to BS02:32 A Theory of BS08:43 Honest and Dishonest15:17 The Tenacity of BS20:48 The Smell of BS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Analyzing Unhinged Am I The A**hole posts with Philosophy 27.09.2026 48minPeople from all over the internet flock to ask a very important question: Am I The A**hole? Today we are going to look at some of the most interesting finds from that subreddit, and see where philosophy is eminently applicable.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Honouring Dead Brother's Wishes12:25 Fake Memories of a Tragedy21:23 Telling a Friend She is Awful30:57 Not Caring About a Baby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Dostoevsky's Warning to the Self-Destructive 27.09.2026 35minFyodor Dostoevsky is one of the most brilliant and eclectic writers in history. And here we will examine one of his most personal books - The Gambler. It is a masterclass in how to ruin your own life through self-destructive acts, and we will look at it in detail today. Get ready to learn how noble intentions can set us on the path to misery, and how we keep ourselves there. Let's dive into Dostoevsky's Guide to Self-Destruction.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 How to self-destruct01:29 Money, Self-ignorance, and self-sabotage08:52 The Hedonic Roulette Wheel13:51 The Existential Threat of Compulsion22:55 The Eternal Hope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The 7 Levels of Logical Thinking 27.09.2026 54minTry Brilliant's tutor for free: https://brilliant.org/Unsolicitedadvice/ . You’ll also get 20% off an annual Premium subscription.Logic and Logical thinking is one of my favourite topics, and also one of the most interesting and important fields of study out there. But it is quite difficult to give a broad view of what the field is or what it is all about. So today we are going to look at the seven levels of logic, taking us all the way from little-to-no logic at all, all the way to more advanced logical areas.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 Pre-logic01:32 Fallacy-Mongering08:16 Basic Formal Logic14:50 First-Order Logic and Friends20:49 Specialized Logical Systems29:00 Using Maths to Study Maths41:54 Modern Logic ResearchSponsored by Brilliant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Why Kafka Hated People 27.09.2026 35minFranz Kafka is one of the most brilliant yet anxious writers of the 20th century. And in his "Letter to my father" he outlines exactly where his fear of other people comes from. Here he outlines both his troubling relationship with his father Hermann, and gives a masterclass on the origins of his social anxiety, and social anxiety in general. So here is why Kafka hated people.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 A Letter to His Father01:39 Judge, Jury, and Executioner09:27 A Crumpled Map16:18 Permanent Scars22:31 Gratitude, Fear, and Guilt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Internet is All Ragebait Now. Here's Why 27.09.2026 58minIt has become almost cliche to observe that the internet often seems to bring out the worst in us. Yet the question of why remains elusive. So today we are going to check out a number of philosophers who, in my view, can help us understand our current internet predicament, and hopefully try to solve it.Support me on Patreon here (you lovely person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSubscribe to my Substack here for more of my writings: https://josephfolley.substack.com/00:00 The Dehumanizing Human15:04 Echo Chambers and Rationality29:06 Anonymity and Manners40:18 The Task of Love and the Future of The Internet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How Nihilism Destroys You | Tolstoy's Confession 27.09.2026 33minAn Existential Crisis is a uniquely painful experience. It robs all the joy out of life and leaves us a heaping mess on the floor. But luckily, we can turn to some of the greatest minds in history to guide us through. And foremost among these is Tolstoy's Confession, where he outlines how he fell into existential despair, and how he eventually started to dig himself out of it.Support me on Patreon here (you wonderful person): https://patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSign up to my email list for more (occasional) philosophy to improve your life: https://forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN700:00 Tolstoy's Existential Crisis01:34 The Brutality of Nihilism08:13 Four Futile Paths14:27 Faith, Reason, and Conflict20:57 Finding Normativity: An Open Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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