Unpacking the most influential ideas from the past to make them more accessible in the present. To read along with us visit www.unpackingideas.com/podcast
In this episode we unpack The Symposium by the Greek Philosopher Plato.This dialogue explores...* The Nature of Eros*The Human desire for immortality*The Guru Disciple RelationshipFree Pdf of The Symposium*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.comGuest: Kilaya Ciriello Author of: Socrates Guru: Plato's Spiritual Philosophy in Comparison with the Indian TraditionThe Fundamentalist Plato (blog/substack)Music: PolyensoTimestamps0:00:00 Introduction0:02:42 Fundamentalist Platonism0:06:15 The Tradition of The Symposium 0:09:15 Narrative Structure of The Symposium0:10:20 The Question of Plato's Authorship0:15:35 The Speech of Phaedrus0:20:10 Historical Context of Pederastic Relationships Between Men and Boys0:24:31 The Speech of Pausanias0:28:18 The Speech of Eryximachus0:31:49 The Speech of Aristophanes0:38:10 The Speech of Agathon 0:39:46 The Flattery & Humility of Socrates0:43:25 The Significance of Diotima0:46:28 Socrates First Argument on Eros0:50:18 We Only Desire What we Lack0:53:07 Love as an Intermediary between humans and Gods0:57:43 The Pursuit of Immortality1:06:08 Love of “The Good”1:08:24 The Ladder of Love1:13:49 Pure Rationality1:16:24 Criticisms of The Ladder of Love1:18:42 The Entrance of Alcibiades 1:24:15 The Desire to Possess Another Person1:27:42 Resentment towards Those Who Highlight our Shortcomings 1:28:45 The Unlikely Chance one will succeed as a Philosopher1:31:29 Wrapping up
In this episode we unpack Paradiso from The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri. This Poem Explores... -The Limits of Language and The Importance of Experience -Divine Justice & The Problem of Evil -Dante's Vision of God and The Returning of the Boon Links to Books/Articles Mention in the Episode The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Aeneid by Virgil The Great Course Plus-Dante's Divine Comedy Lecture Series *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Philip Kobosov Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack Purgatorio from The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri. This Poem Explores... -The Severity of the Sin of Pride -The Significance of Momentum When Climbing the Mount of Purgatory -The Importance of Humility When Reforming the Soul Links to Books/Articles Mention in the Episode The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Aeneid by Virgil The Great Course Plus-Dante's Divine Comedy Lecture Series *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Philip Kobosov Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack Inferno from The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet, Dante Alighieri from 1321. This Poem Explores... Why One Must Journey Through Hell Before Entering Heaven Why Fraud is the Considered the Most Severe Sin How Earthly Love Can Inspire Divine love Links to Books/Articles Mention in the Episode The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Aeneid by Virgil The Odyssey by Homer *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Philip Kobosov Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack, British Mathematician, G.H. Hardy's classic book, "A Mathematician's Apology" written in 1940. This book explores -The Permanence of Mathematical Discovery -The Metaphysics of Mathematical Reality -The Moral Responsibility of the Mathematician Links to Reading & Articles mentioned A Mathematician's Apology by G.H. Hardy The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker Good Will Hunting (movie) Euclid's Proof of Infinitely Many Primes (explained) Pythagoras's Proof of Irrationality of Square Root of 2 (explained) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Brian Allen Music: Polyenso Time Stamps
In this episode we unpack, Swiss Psychologist, Marie-Louise von Franz's classic book, "The Problem of the Puer Aeternus" from a series of lectures she gave in 1959. This book explores -The Eternal Child Archetype -The Mother Complex (Jungian) -The Loss of Initiation Rituals in the Modern Age Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Problem of the Puer Aeternus by Marie-Louis von Franz The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: David Bloome Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 0:00:00 Introduction
In this episode we unpack the Inferno section of The Divine Comedy by Italian Poet Dante Alighieri. This Books Explores... The Structure of Dante's Hell The Medieval stance on Suicide Why Fraud is considered the worse sin Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (John Ciardi Translation) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Phil Kobasov Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 0:00:00 Introduction
In this episode we unpack "Common Sense" by English-American Political Activist Thomas Paine. This Books Explores... The Functions of Society and Government The Evils of Monarchy The Path Forward for the American Colonies Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Common Sense by Thomas Paine *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Jared Shoup Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 0:00:00 Introduction 0:05:01 Historical Context of Common Sense 0:13:37 Thomas Paine's Background 0:20:48 The Differences Between Society and Government 00:25:00 Government as a Necessary Evil 00:27:28 Anti-Monarchy Sentiments in The Old Testament 0:30:11 Parallels Between The 12 Tribes of Israel and The 13 American Colonies 0:32:01 The Origins of Kings 0:35:35 Paine's Critiques of Hereditary Succession 00:37:35 Paine's Critiques of Constitutional Monarchy 0:42:13 The Disease of Monarchy 0:44:19 Paine's Ad Hominem Attacks 0:45:14 The Present State of American Affairs 0:46:26 Why Separation from England is Necessary 0:47:40 England as “The Mother Country” 0:50:00 Why America Doesn't Need England for Protection 0:51:16 Why America Doesn't Need England for Trade 0:52:20 Logistical Nightmare of Communication with England 0:53:52 Why Now is the Time for Separation 0:54:58 The Paradoxical Correlation between a Nation's Population and Military Size 0:58:00 “Relapse More Wretched Than the First” 0:59:56 Paine's Ideas in What an American Government Should Look Like 1:04:06 America's Naval Potential 1:07:44 Paine's Call to Unite America 1:10:35 The Impact of “Common Sense” 1:13:05 Wrapping Up/Outro
In this episode we unpack several essays from Swiss psychologist Carl Jung's Collected Works on Dreams. These Essays Explore... The Differences between Freudian and Jungian Dream Interpretation Why Common Symbols and Themes Show up in our Dreams The Benefits of Making Dream Material Conscious Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Dreams (excepts from collected works) by Carl Jung Memories, Dreams, and Reflections by Carl Jung Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Aiden Moore *For one-on-one dream interpretation sessions with Aiden visit AidenMoore.com Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:19 Differences Between Freudian & Jungian Dream Interpretation 00:05:09 Beginner's Mind 00:08:14 Assimilation vs. Accommodation 00:12:30 Taking up the Context of the Dream 00:19:45 The Dream as Repressed Wish-Fulfillment 00:24:11 The Language of the Unconscious 00:29:47 Causal vs. Final Explanations of Dreams 00:35:05 Compensatory Dreams 00:37:31 Prospective Dreams 00:41:39 Little Dreams vs. Big Dreams 00:44:07 Archetypes/The Collective Unconscious 00:49:07 The Objective vs. Subjective Interpretation of Dreams 00:55:30 Practical Application to Dream Interpretation 00:56:56 The "Punny" Character of Dream Images 01:00:12 Resisting the "Correct" Interpretation of a Dream 01:03:43 Slowing Integrating Unconscious Material 01:06:03 Repressed Material Will Follow You Until You Face It 01:08:46 The Empathy & Tact needed to Interpret Dreams 01:10:26 Resisting the "Correct" Interpretation of a Dream 01:13:38 The Consequences of Ignoring Recurring Dreams 01:18:10 Wrapping Up/Outro
In this episode we unpack The Bhagavad Gita from The Mahabharata written circa 500-200 BCE. This Book Explores... Karma Yoga & Non-attachment The Link Between Right Understanding and Right Action The Interconnectedness of All Things Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Bhagavad Gita (Translation: Gita Press) The Bhagavad Gita (Translation: Eknath Easwaran) Bhagavad Gita Lecture Series by Gandhar Mandlik *youtube* *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Gandhar Mandlik YogaPoint.com Online/In-Person Yoga Courses and Teacher Training Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Gandhar's Personal Relationship to the Gita 04:36 Background of the Gita Story 08:56 All Problems are Interconnected 12:16 False Identification with the Physical Body 15:56 Cosmic Consciousness 18:22 The Trap of Sensual Desires 25:43 Right Understanding & Right Action 27:36 The Two Paths to Self Realization (Monk & Householder) 29:20 Karma Yoga / Dharma 32:20 Nonattached Action 35:00 Contributing to the Ecology 40:37 Bhakti & Jnana Yoga 48:07 Nondualism /The Cosmic Form 57:05 Characteristics of the Self-Realized Person 59:49 Service to Others as a key for Fighting Depression 1:00:47 Wrapping Up/Outro
In this episode we unpack the Second essay in German Existentialist Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's classic work "The Genealogy of Morals" from 1887. This Essay Explores... The Origins of Punishment The Psychology of Guilt The Link Between Civilization and Bad Conscience Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Samuel Le Coutour Theme Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 03:16 Questions Nietzsche is Trying to Answer 04:12 Origin of Punishment vs. Utility of Punishment 08:25 Punishment Hardens the Individual 10:24 The Etymology of the word “Guilt” 11:01 The Creditor/Debtor Relationship 12:32 Suffering as Compensation 13:48 Suffering as Entertainment Throughout History 14:39 The Link between Sadism and Social Status 17:14 Grace as a Form of Domination 19:31 The Social Contract 22:52 Lack of Free Will in Early Punishment 24:20 Nietzsche's Hypothesis on the Origin of Bad Conscience 24:30 The State of Nature Theory 27:10 Turing The Will to Power Against Oneself 32:30 Masochism 33:34 Punishment as Entertainment for the Gods 34:47 Aristocrats Create Bad Conscience in Slaves 37:46 Ancestor Worship 40:22 Original Sin / The Psychology of Guilt 44:43 Debt Becoming Spiritual and Internal 46:19 Internalizing the Creditor/Debtor Dynamic within One's own Conscience 48:59 Nietzsche's Views on Bad Conscience / The Sovereign Individual 52:40 Wrapping up/ Outro
In this episode we unpack the first essay in German Existentialist Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's classic work "The Genealogy of Morals" from 1887. This Essay Explores... The Etymology of the words 'good', 'bad', and 'evil' Nietzsche's Concepts of Master & Slave Morality Which type of Morality is dominant in the Western world today Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On the Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche The Vocation Lectures by Max Weber Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Samuel Le Coutour Theme Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:35 Challenges in Discussing this piece 00:04:49 Nuances in Nietzsche's terminology 00:07:15 Questions Nietzsche is Trying Answers 00:09:36 “We are Unknown, we Knowers of Ourselves to ourselves” 00:11:11 Moral Prejudices of his time 00:13:54 Etymology of the words ‘Good' and ‘Bad' 00:17:15 Language as an Expression of Power 00:21:20 The Function of The Priest in Society 00:23:54 Using Morality to Justify Domination 00:27:29 The Invention of Free Will 00:32:30 The Slave Revolt in Morality 00:36:14 Ressentiment 00:41:07 Nietzsche's fear of Slave Morality 00:45:30 Nietzsche's Criticism of Master Morality 00:47:43 Nietzsche's Solution 00:49:18 The Battle Between Master & Slave Morality on the psychological level 00:55:49 The Battle Between Master & Slave Morality on the societal level 1:00:15 Secular manifestations of Slave Morality 1:02:09 Wrapping up/Outro
In this episode we unpack Jewish-Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's classic book "Man's Search for Meaning" from 1946. This Book Explores... What happens when our will to meaning has become suppressed How we can derive meaning from our suffering Why 'what is the meaning of life?' is a bad question Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Last Day of a Condemned Man by Victor Hugo The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault The Gay Science by Friedrich Nietzsche *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Barbara Spadaro Theme Music: Polyenso Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction O2:09 Context of book 0:3:36 Egoism & Altruism amongst Prisoners 09:11 Phase 1: Denial 09:58 The Delusion of Reprieve 12:10 Phase 2: Apathy 13:31 Psychology of Guards 16:15 Two Types of Trauma 18:51 Phase 3: Anger 20:05 The desire for Revenge 22:40 Truth and Reconciliation after WW2 Forgive but not Forget 26:15 Finding Meaning Through Suffering 31:00 Finding Meaning Through Love & Work 33:20 Logotherapy in a Nutshell 33:44 The Will to Meaning 36:28 Paradoxical Intention 37:20 The Paradox of Striving for Happiness 40:02 The Meaning of Life 40:57 How The Meaning of Life Changes During the Course of One's Life 44:00 The Is One Correct Answer to Every Situation in Life 46:24 “Live as if you were living already for the second time…” 48:47 Outro
In this episode we unpack French Continental Philosopher Henri Bergson's classic essay "Laughter" from 1900. This Essay Explores... What are the common characteristics in all things funny? What are the differences between Tragedy and Comedy? What function does laughter serve for society? Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Laughter by Henri Bergson Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern & Del Close Brain Droppings by George Carlin How to be Funny by Steve Allen Night at the Roxbury (SNL skit) Anchor Man (movie) Liar Liar (movie) The Invention of Lying (movie) Austin Powers International Man of Mystery (Movie) Crocodile Dundee (Movie) Tropic Thunder (movie) Big Mouth (show) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Patrick McInnis ImprovSanDiego.com Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro
In this episode we unpack Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius's classic book "Meditations" from 170 AD. This book explores... Seeing Things as They Really Are Focusing Only on What is in Your Control Remaining Calm Through Turbulent Times Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin Principles by Ray Dalio Silence of the Lambs (movie) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Steve Chung Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:11 Modern Interpretations of Stoicism 00:04:21 Translation 00:05:13 Why Aurelius Wrote the Book 00:08:30 Doing Good for the Wrong Reasons 00:09:37 Seeking Truth No Matter Who is Speaking it 00:13:10 The Logos 00:15:19 The Importance of Rationality 00:16:39 Doing What is in Our Nature 00:17:40 Focusing on Yourself 00:20:14 Expect People to Do What is in Their Nature 00:22:03 The Interconnected of All People 00:24:30 What is Natural is Good 00:25:58 Death = Change 00:26:49 Death as the Great Equalizer 00:27:43 Momento Mori 00:28:35 The Difference Between Stoicism and Nihilism 00:31:28 Your Legacy Won't Live On After You Die 00:33:22 Seeking Approval From Others 00:36:08 Focusing on What is in Our Control 00:37:29 The Transgressor Harms Themselves When They Transgress 00:38:56 External Things Can't Harm You 00:40:58 All Sin is Due to Ignorance 00:48:30 Equanimity 00:50:04 The Appeal of Stoicism During Times of Great Upheaval 00:53:11 Parallels to Buddhism 00:53:24 Seeing Things Objectively 00:57:35 There is Nothing New Under the Sun 01:00:00 The Present is the Only Time That Exists 01:02:55 Wrapping Up/Outro
In this episode we unpack Swiss Psychiatrist and Author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's classic book "On Death and Dying" from 1969. This book explores... The Fear of Death in the Modern Age The Five Stages of Grief Advice for Navigating the 5 Stages of Grief Links to Reading & Articles mentioned On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross The Trauma of Birth by Otto Rank Uses of the Erotic by Audrey Lorde Illness as Metaphor by Susan Sontag Empathy vs. Sympathy by Brene Brown (video) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Andrea Dispenziere Psychology Today Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:58 Autumn's Association with Death 00:06:15 Reminding Ourselves of our Mortality 00:13:19 Fear of Death in the Modern Age 00:14:40 Decline in Infant Mortality 00:17:25 Impersonal Treatment of Terminal Patients 00:24:29 The Illusion of Control 00:25:39 Summary of Kubler-Ross's Interview Project 00:28:10 Verbal Ventilation 00:28:59 Importance of Meaning/Purpose 00:33:38 Mourning the Loss of Certain Abilities before Death 00:36:42 The Five Stages of Grief 00:38:23 Stage 1: Denial 00:39:18 Euphemism 00:40:51 Emotional Detachment 00:46:00 The Stigma of Denial 00:48:50 The Last Stage of the 5 stages of grief is the First Step of the 12 steps Program 00:50:05 The Link between Denial and Hope 00:52:16 Shock and Numbness 00:53:22 The Connection between Isolation and Denial 00:55:24 Stage 2: Anger 00:55:29 Anger at God 00:57:06 Anger at Oneself 00:59:05 Victim Blaming 01:01:00 Anger at the Living 01:02:16 Stage 3: Bargaining 01:02:54 Ambivalence 01:04:50 Bargaining with God 01:05:43 Reneging on the “Agreement” 01:10:45 Stage 4: Depression 01:10:49 Reactive vs. Preparatory Depression 01:12:47 Telling the Depressed Person to “Cheer Up” 01:14:15 Grieving your Anticipated Future 01:18:49 Sitting with the Person in Whatever Stage They're In 01:21:28 Stage 5: Acceptance 01:21:36 Detaching from Life 01:22:30 Conflating Acceptance as “Quitting” 01:23:30 Difficulty Accepting Death in a Masculine Culture 01:25:57 Need for Solitude at End of Life 01:29:12 Kubler-Ross's View of Death and Dying 01:30:30 Wrapping up/Outro
In this episode we unpack American Naturalist and Environmental Activist John Muir's Spiritual Writings from 1867-1915. These letters explores... The Revitalizing Effects of Wilderness on the Body and Spirit The Interconnectedness of All Things in Nature Finding Gratitude in the Big and Little Things in Life Links to Reading & Articles mentioned Spiritual Writings by John Muir Man and Nature by Alan Watts Chief Seattle full Speech 1854 Cinderella Man (film) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Mark McCann Wordsnvisions.com Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:55 Hiking as a Metaphor for Life 00:05:13 Summary of John Muir's Life 00:08:35 Water over Stones 00:09:14 Finding God in a Thunderstorm 00:12:44 The Fear of the Unknown 00:16:57 The Call of Nature 00:20:52 The Confessional of the Woods/Solitude 00:24:13 Man's Relationship to Nature 00:34:10 Seeking God in Scripture and Nature 00:35:06 The Cathedral Effect 00:40:27 Gratitude for The Big and Little Things 00:43:22 The Revitalizing Effects of Wilderness on the Body and Spirit 00:51:00 Muir's Mission in Life 00:53:34 Wrapping up/Outro
In this episode we unpack British novelist and public intellectual Aldous Huxley's 1954 essay "The Doors of Perception." This essay explores... Huxley's experience on Mescalin The Reducing Valve Theory of Consciousness The human desire to transcend self-conscious self-hood The ethics of the contemplative life Links to Reading & Articles mentioned The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley General Resonance Theory (paper) Entropic Brain Hypothesis (paper) Pivotal Mental States (paper) Nested Observer Windows (paper) The Bhagavad Gita translation by Eknath Easwaran How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Nikki Johnson linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-johnson-free-thinker/ Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 introduction 00:03:05 background about Huxley's trip 00:05:58 the challenge of trying to communicate direct experience 00:11:30 Nikki's multi-sphere model of consciousness 00:14:28 the various terms for “God” 00:16:36 the reducing-valve theory of consciousness 00:27:52 types of people who filter out less primary consciousness 00:28:09 The Artist 00:31:26 The Schizophrenic 00:35:40 The Genius 00:36:33 the terror of witnessing God directly 00:43:06 the morality of the contemplative life 00:46:32 Huxley's conception of enlightenment 00:48:46 the desire for self-transcendence 00:50:45 the war on psychedelics 00:54:27 integrating lessons from past lives 00:56:15 how a psychedelic experience changes a person's character 00:57:23 wrapping up/outro
In this episode we unpack Canadian psychiatrist and analyst Eric Berne's 1964 book "Games People Play." This book explores... The 6 different types of social interactions The most common games people play What intimacy is and why it is so rare Links to Reading Games People Play by Eric Berne *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Sonya @selfhelpsonya on TikTok & Instagram Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:04 The 6 Types of Interactions 00:05:59 Withdrawal 00:08:09 Procedures 00:10:13 Rituals 00:11:39 Emotional Stroking 00:14:28 Calculating how many strokes to give 00:19:21 Pastimes/Small-talk 00:20:06 Types of Small-talk 00:21:08 How a host determines the pastimes people play at a party 00:24:08 The rules for small-talk 00:27:16 Why we engage in small-talk 00:28:38 The 3 Ego States 00:29:25 The Parent Ego State 00:29:45 The Child Ego State 00:30:18 The Adult Ego State 00:31:32 Complementary Transactions 00:33:31 Crossed Transactions 00:36:00 Child-Child Transaction 00:38:04 Adult-Adult Transaction 00:38:39 The 2 Levels of of an interaction (social level & psychological level) 00:39:05 Superficial Transactions 00:39:32 Ulterior Transactions 00:39:46 Flirtatious Games 00:42:32 A Thesaurus of Games 00:42:36 "Look Ma, No Hands!" 00:47:32 "Now I've got You, You Son-of-a-Bitch!" 00:52:55 "Why Don't You, Yes But..." 00:55:25 Intimacy 00:56:00 The Uncorrupted Child 00:57:39 Operations ie. stating a need directly 01:00:36 Why Most people settle for games 01:01:53 Closing Thoughts 01:03:34 Outro
In this episode we unpack Swiss Epistemologist and Developmental Psychologist Jean Piaget's 1969 book "The Psychology of a Child." This book explores... The Stages of Cognitive Development How Morality develops in the child How and Why Children Play Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned The Psychology of the Child by Jean Piaget A Piaget Primer by Dorothy G. Singer & Tracey A. Revenson Conversations with Piaget by Jean-Claude Bringuier Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud Babies (Netflix docuseries) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Jeff Micheal-Johnson Theme Music: Polyenso Timestamps Intro 00:00:00 What Piaget was trying to study 00:05:26 How a Child Learns (Adaptation/Assimilation/Accommodation) 00:09:15 The Stages of Cognitive Development 00:17:04 The Sensory-Motor Stage/Egocentrism 00:24:00 Object Permanence 00:30:42 Language at the Sensory-Motor Stage 00:33:19 Play at the Sensory-Motor stage/Practice Play 00:36:15 The Pre-moral Stage 00:37:32 The Pre-operrational Stage/Superstitious Thinking 00:38:21 Language at the Pre-operational stage/The Monologue 00:43:44 The Collective Monologue 00:46:00 Play at the Pre-operational stage/Parallel Play 00:47:53 Symbolic Play 00:50:57 Animism 00:52:48 Free Play 00:54:20 The Conventional Stage of Morality 00:57:39 Conservation 01:01:18 The Concrete Operations Stage 01:06:36 Language in the Concrete Operations stage 01:07:15 Play at the Concrete Operations stages/Games with Rules 01:10:07 The Autonomous Stage of Morality 01:16:10 The Formal Operations Stage/Abstract Thought 01:18:42 Language at the Formal Operations Stage 01:22:17 Life after the 4 stages of Development 01:22:56 Spiritual Development 01:24:09 Egocentrism vs Egolessness 01:25:30 How the Child Lives on in the Adult 01:27:17
In this episode we unpack Algerian Novelist Albert Camus' 1942 essay "The Myth of Sisyphus." This essay explores... -Why life is an absurdity -Why sitting with inconvenient truths make them easier to bare -How to find meaning in a meaningless world Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus Hamlet by William Shakespeare A Night of Serious Drinking by Rene Daumal Oedipus by Sophocles Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (film) *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Arthur O'Dwyer Theme Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack American Philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt's 1986 essay "On Bullshit." This essay explores... -What bullshit is -How bullshitting differs from lying -Why bullshitting is so prevalent in our culture Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt Of Liars by Michel de Montaigne Glengarry Glen Ross (film) Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes *note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Max Robinson Theme Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack American Social Psychologist Stanley Milgram's 1974 book "Obedience to Authority." This book explores... -Why we lose our sense of moral responsibility when taking orders -Why we are so bad at predicting our capacity to be obedient -Why the desire to be polite can lead us to do evil Links to Reading and Other Books/Movies Mentioned Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram CRT: An Introduction by Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian (short story) Experimenter (movie about Stanley Milgram) A Hidden Life by Terrence Malick (film) **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Claire Bevan ClairehBevan@gmail.com Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack "The Book of Job" from The Old Testament of the Bible This book explores... -Why God allows bad things to happen to innocent people -Why surrender is sometimes the only answer to that which is out of our control -Why pondering the cosmos helps put our personal suffering into perspective Links to Reading and other Books mentioned The King James Bible The Wisdom Books by Robert Alter The Art of Biblical Poetry by Robert Alter Answer to Job by Carl Jung The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick (film) **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Lee Posna LeePosna@gmail.com Theme Music: Polyenso listen here Timestamps (00:01:22) Introducing Job (00:03:59) Author/Date/Translation (00:09:45) Summary of Job Story (00:17:10) Loyalty to God (00:22:55) "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, naked shall I return tither." (00:26:19) Job's wife's skepticism (00:27:55) Victim Blaming (Job's friends) (00:36:39) God's response to Job (00:42:40) Acceptance/Surrender to fate (00:46:20) Carl Jung's "Answer to Job" (00:53:59) Putting personal suffering into perspective (00:58:43) The Problem of Evil (01:23:28) Summing up
In this episode we unpack Austrian Existential Poet Rainer Maria Rilke's masterpiece "Letters to a Young Poet." These letters explore... -Why solitude is vital for creatives -Why the creative process is similar to the gestation period and birthing of a baby -Why advice is often unhelpful Links to Reading and other Books mentioned Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller Blue Zones by David Buettner **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Jasia Ries Instagram @thejasia Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack Scottish Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson's essay "An Apology for Idlers" from 1877. The essay explores… -Why we should spend a good deal of time being idle in our youth -Why we have a moral duty to be happy -Why books aren't all they're cracked up to be Links to Reading and Articles mentioned "An Apology to Idlers" by Robert Louis Stevenson "Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Alex Berner Pocket Bard (Interactive music app for gamers and tabletop RPG's like D&D) Theme Music: Polyenso listen here Timestamps (00:01:46) Introducing Stevenson (00:04:40) The alienation of being idle (00:08:21) Stevenson's definition of Idleness (00:15:06) Relaxation as a skill (00:17:52) Happiness as a moral duty to others (00:28:27) Resentment workers have towards idlers (00:31:30) The Story of Alexander and Diogenes (00:41:45) Bitterness for Doing Unappreciated Work (00:48:50) Experiential vs. Formal Education (00:54:11) Voyeurism vs. First-Person Experience (00:59:36) Chewing on other's ideas vs. Doing Your Own Thinking (01:06:05) The Soul Crushing Reality of All work no Play (01:12:18) Our Work Doesn't Matter in the Grand Scheme of Things (01:17:46) Why Work is not Worth Trading your Life For (01:25:58) Summing up
In this episode we unpack "Letter to Menoeceus" by Ancient Greek Philosopher Epicurus. The Letter explores... -Why death is not something we need to fear -Why those who need luxury least are the ones who enjoy it most -How to make calculations to maximize pleasure and tranquility Links to Reading and articles mentioned "Letter to Menoceus" by Epicurus "Money Buys Happiness Only to a Certain Point" by Andrew T. Jebb of Purdue University "Death" by Thomas Nagel "Better Never to Have Been" by David Benatar" **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura Unpackingideas.com Guest: Daniel Libin Theme Music: Polyenso Listen here
In this episode we unpack Roman Orator and Politician Marcus Tullius Cicero's treatise "On Friendship" from 44BCE. The treatise explores... -Why blind loyalty in friendship should be avoided -How the conception of a "soul mate" has changed throughout the ages -How to choose a friend like a Stoic Links to Reading and Articles Mentioned "On Friendship" by Cicero "Of Freindship" by Michel de Montaigne **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Bernardo Lopez Theme Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack Chinese Military Strategist Sun Tzu's classic treatise "The Art of War" from circa 500BCE. The treatise explores... -Why the supreme general is not the one who fights and wins many battles -Why it is unwise to corner the enemy -How a General should command his soldiers Link to Reading "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Jason Peng The World Philosophy Group (on meetup.com) Theme Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack British Mathematician and Biologist Jacob Bronowski's 1973 essay “The Long Childhood” from his 1973 documentary series “The Ascent of Man.” This essay explores... -Why it is humans who ride horses and not the other way around -Why Traditional civilizations revered the adult and Modern Western civilization reveres the child -Why all Utopias are destined to fail Link to Video "The Long Childhood" from The Ascent of Man by Jacob Bronowski **note** watching video is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Shrikant Rangnekar 52 Living Ideas Youtube Channel and Meetup Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack German Depth Psychologist Erich Neumann's 1949 essay "Depth Psychology and a New Ethic." This essay explores... -The origins and history of consciousness -The stages of ethical development -Why each individual must go on the journey of Individuation Link to Reading "Depth Psychology and a New Ethic" by Erich Neumann **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode Host: Zach Stehura unpackingideas.com Guest: Jorge Cabrales NYC Carl Jung Meetup Group Theme Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack German Depth Psychologist Erich Neumann's 1949 essay "Depth Psychology and a New Ethic." This essay explores... -How the processes of repression, suppression, and projection work -Why the Judeo-Christian Ethic leads to projecting our negative qualities onto others -Why we scapegoat minorities, psychopaths, and people of superior ability Link to Reading "Depth Psychology and a New Ethic" by Erich Neumann **note: reading is not required to enjoy the episode Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Jorge Cabrales NYC Carl Jung Meetup Group Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack American Self-Help Coach Dale Carnegie's 1936 best-selling book "How to Win Friends and Influence People." The book explores... -Whether or not all human behavior is self interested -How to make people feel important -Why remembering people's names is such a big deal Link to Reading "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Shaheed Majid Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack American Novelist and Journalist David Foster Wallace's essay "Consider the Lobster" from 2004. The essay explores... -The strange history of eating lobster in America -How the language we use influences the way we think about animals -How future generations might look at the way we currently treat animals Link to Reading "Consider the Lobster" by David Foster Wallace **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guests: Danny Jimenez & Manny Caride thevegangents.com (Dozens of easy, nutritious, and delicious vegan recipes!) Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack American Transcendentalist Philosopher and Abolitionist Henry David Thoreau's essay "Walking" from 1851. The essay explores... -Why English Literature is lacking the passion and wildness found in Mythology -Why a person's ignorance is sometimes not only useful, but beautiful -How to go on walks in the spirit of undying adventure Link to Reading "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Stephen Aldrich Backpackmap.com (a free online resource for planning your next backpacking adventure) Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack Theodore Kaczynski's 1995 essay "Industrial Society and Its Future" or as it is better know "The Unabomber Manifesto" The essays explores... -Kaczynski's predictions about the future of technology -Why modern day people struggle so much with anxiety and depression -Why technological systems limit our freedom and autonomy Link to Reading "Industrial Society and Its Future" by Theodore Kaczynski **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Chris Corvo The Next Conversation (podcast) Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack the essay "Of Anger" by the Roman Stoic Philosopher Seneca the Younger. The essay explores... -Whether or not anger is useful -Why the sword of justice is ill placed in the hands of an angry man -How we should respond to anger when it arises Link to Reading "Of Anger" by Seneca the Younger **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Chase Harris The Switch Podcast Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
In this episode we unpack American Transcendentalist Philosopher Ralf Waldo Emerson's 1841 essay "Self-Reliance." The essay explores... -Why envy is ignorance and imitation is suicide -Why we hide our true selves -How to discover who we truly are Link to Reading "Self Reliance" by Ralf Waldo Emerson **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Jon Lindinger xenotheory.org (Programs for self-development for young men) Theme Music: Polyenso
In this episode we unpack French Renaissance Philosopher Michel de Montaigne's essay, "On the Art of Conversation" from 1580. The essay explores.. -Why disagreement is a crucial aspect of conversation -How talking about ideas can sharpen our thinking -Why we have more to to learn from fools than sages Link to Reading "On the Art of Conversation" by Michel de Montaigne **note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode! Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com Guest: Luke Priddy The Fractal podcast/youtube channel Theme Music by: Polyenso
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
