Socrates in the City
Socrates in the City
Socrates in the City is the acclaimed series of conversations on “life, God, and other small topics,” hosted by Eric Metaxas. Starting with the philosopher Socrates’s famous words that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” Metaxas thought it would be valuable to create a forum that might encourage busy New Yorkers in thinking about the bigger questions in life. He founded Socrates in the City in 2000. Metaxas is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of MARTIN LUTHER, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT, BONHOEFFER, AMAZING GRACE, and MIRACLES. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, and Metaxas has appeared as a cultural commentator on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. He is the host of The Eric Metaxas Radio Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard in more than 120 cities around the U.S. and via podcast in over 80 countries.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 25, 2025 • 1h 12min
Melanie Phillips: How Jews and Christians Built the West—and Why Only They Can Save It
What are the Jewish and Christian foundations of Western society—and why do they matter today? In this insightful conversation, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas speaks with journalist and author Melanie Phillips about her newest book, The Builder’s Stone. Phillips explores Jewish identity, the history of Israel, and the spiritual roots that have shaped our culture. She also reflects on her career in journalism, the cost of truth-telling, and the common misconceptions that cloud our understanding of faith, history, and identity.The post Melanie Phillips: How Jews and Christians Built the West—and Why Only They Can Save It first appeared on Socrates in the City.
17 snips
Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 2min
Larry Arnn: The Progressive Assault on the American Idea
Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College and a prominent scholar of American history, discusses the profound relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He argues these documents embody divine principles guiding the American experiment. Arnn critiques contemporary progressive ideologies that challenge constitutional foundations, and he emphasizes the importance of checks and balances in governance. Their conversation also delves into historical legacies and the need for a renewed appreciation of America's founding ideals amidst modern complexities.
Jun 27, 2025 • 55min
William Hurlbut: The Boundaries of Humility
Is there an ethical way to approach the boundaries and limitations of humanity? William Hurlbut is a Senior Research Scholar in the Dept. of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Neurobiology at Stanford University Medical Center as well as an expert on the intersection of theology and science. He joins Socrates in the City host, Eric Metaxas, to discuss the dangers of genetic engineering, embryonic testing, and both the international and ethical complications of it all. Through this insightful conversation, Hurlbut shares the new developments in transhumanism and explores the boundaries of humanity.The post William Hurlbut: The Boundaries of Humility first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Jun 23, 2025 • 53min
Ross Douthat: Why Everyone Should Be Religious
Do all roads lead to Rome? And do all paths lead to faith? Ross Douthat, a New York Times Opinion columnist joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas to discuss his new book, Believe, and share his case for why a renewed religious society aligns better with scientific data, history, and our desires for something beyond ourselves. Through his book, Douthat shares the popular arguments against religion, the relationship between faith and science, and how his own personal experience of faith has shifted and grown over time. The post Ross Douthat: Why Everyone Should Be Religious first appeared on Socrates in the City.
May 30, 2025 • 59min
John West: Stockholm Syndrome Christianity
Has toxic empathy led modern Christians to live in a Stockholm Syndrome-like way towards an opposing world? John West, Vice President of the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, where he also serves as Managing Director of the Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, shares how the overwhelming influence of toxic empathy and desire to appease popular culture can be fatal to our faith. Using the famous Stockholm bank robbery of the 1970, West joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas, to discuss how Christians have subconsciously grown up in cultural captivity, and how we can rebel against it.The post John West: Stockholm Syndrome Christianity first appeared on Socrates in the City.
May 23, 2025 • 1h 6min
Andrew Klavan: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness
What do Woody Allen, Dostoevsky, and Cain and Able have in common? What are the underlying psychological themes and influences in modern horror? Andrew Klavan, an award-winning writer, screenwriter, and media commentator joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas to discuss his new book, The Kingdom of Cain. Klavan explores how artists’ imaginative engagement with the darkness can point the way to living beautifully in the midst of a tragic world. Using the frame of three historic murders, he examines how the transformation that occurs in art grants us a vision for how transformation can take root in our lives.The post Andrew Klavan: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness first appeared on Socrates in the City.
8 snips
Apr 18, 2025 • 58min
James Lindsey: Exposing the Insanity of Modern Academia
James Lindsay, an author and expert on academia, discusses the troubling trends within Western education. He highlights the hypocrisy in academic journals and critiques the influence of critical theory and cultural Marxism. Lindsay delves into the absurdities behind satirical academic submissions, showcasing how they reveal flaws in the publishing process. He warns of academia's decline and its implications for societal truths, drawing parallels to historical atrocities. With a sharp eye on ideology and power, he calls for a reevaluation of the direction of scholarly work.
16 snips
Mar 27, 2025 • 43min
Iain McGilchrist
Iain McGilchrist, a leading scholar in neurology and author of "The Master and His Emissary," joins Eric Metaxas. They explore the myths surrounding our brain's left and right hemispheres, emphasizing the right's role in nurturing holistic understanding. McGilchrist discusses the perils of reductionism in business and healthcare, advocating for a more balanced approach. He also critiques modernist thought and puritanical attitudes, warning that they hinder diverse perspectives and civil discourse, especially among youth.
Mar 20, 2025 • 46min
Katherine Birbalsingh: Is Classical Education the Key to Reviving the West?
Headmaster of Michaela school, Katherine Birbalsingh sits down with host Eric Metaxas to discuss the challenges of speaking about the deficiencies in the UK school system and how it led her to begin her school and initiate a reform of Classical Education against the ‘soft bigotry of low expectations’. The post Katherine Birbalsingh: Is Classical Education the Key to Reviving the West? first appeared on Socrates in the City.
Mar 13, 2025 • 1h 2min
James Orr: Maintaining Orthodoxy in an Evolving West
Dr. James Orr, a Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge, dives into the fascinating interplay between philosophy and religion. He discusses the Twilight of the West and the balance between orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The conversation explores the significant shift from a God-centered to a self-focused worldview, the reliability of human cognition amid evolutionary challenges, and how eternal values can guide us through modern dilemmas like technology and AI, advocating for a harmonious relationship between faith and reason.
