

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

Oct 24, 2025 • 1h
Massimo Pigliucci: What is Stoicism?
What is the history of Stoicism and how does one practice it today?
Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with professor and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci, author of the popular How to be a Stoic and Beyond Stoicism, to discuss the history and development of Stoicism, and the line between emotion, reason, and virtue. They discuss the influence of stoicism in pop culture, from ancient Greek icons to modern-day Star Trek. Throughout Pigliucci’s work, he highlights the balance of skepticism and trust as a road to wisdom, as exemplified by Socrates himself.The post Massimo Pigliucci: What is Stoicism? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 5min
Paul Kingsnorth: Against the Machine
Is there an unnamed force ― which we all feel ― reshaping what it means to be human? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas is joined by the furiously gifted writer, Paul Kingsnorth, to discuss his newest book, Against The Machine: On the Unmaking of Humanity. Throughout the compelling ― and at times chilling ― discussion, Kingsnorth asks if society is unmaking humanity by replacing a Christian worldview with technical progress, creating a type of technological tower of Babel. The two discuss advances in AI, humanity’s bent to create God from the Garden of Eden, Frankenstein, transhumanism, and Kingsnorth’s hope for the future of our modern world. This episode of Socrates in the City is brought to you by Cornerstone University. Cornerstone University students are not only tomorrow’s Christian influencers; they are today’s Christian leaders. Prepare for your God-given calling with 65+ accredited market-ready degree programs from associate to doctorate offered online and on campus in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join us in boldly influencing the world for Jesus Christ at cornerstone.edu.The post Paul Kingsnorth: Against the Machine first appeared on Socrates in the City.

13 snips
Oct 3, 2025 • 56min
Joe Loconte: The War for Middle – Earth
Joe Loconte, a historian and author specializing in C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, delves into the profound wartime influences behind their masterpieces. He explores how World War II shaped their friendship and literary output, discussing themes of good versus evil. Loconte emphasizes the importance of their Christian worldview and the enduring relevance of their works. The conversation highlights the moral imagination they cultivated as a response to totalitarianism and the scars of their past, ultimately celebrating the beauty found in their struggles and triumphs.

Sep 19, 2025 • 1h 1min
Arthur Brooks: What is Happiness?
What is happiness? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with Dr. Arthur Brooks to discuss one of the most prevalent questions in our society: What is happiness? The question behind his newest book, The Happiness Files. Based on his long career and his lived experience as a Professor and scholar, Dr. Brooks shares not only what happiness is, but the deeper questions of love, loss, and meaning. Throughout this conversation, they explore the scientific theories of happiness, what challenges we face in modern society to achieving it, and Dr. Brook’s signature game for his students, “What is my idol?”The post Arthur Brooks: What is Happiness? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Sep 5, 2025 • 1h 3min
William Lane Craig: Is the Existence of God Provable?
Can we prove the existence of God? In this Socrates in the City conversation, host Eric Metaxas speaks with William Lane Craig—Emeritus Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, renowned Christian apologist, and one of today’s most influential philosophers. Drawing from his new book, Systematic Philosophical Theology, and more than four decades of experience and research, Craig examines some of the most pressing questions at the crossroads of Christian doctrine and contemporary analytic philosophy. Together, they explore Dr. Craig’s long history of leading apologetic studies, the historical roots of Adam and Eve, the role of Neanderthals in the human story, humanity’s earliest traces of civilization, and how science and faith meet in many surprising ways.The post William Lane Craig: Is the Existence of God Provable? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 9min
Robert P. George: We Need Free Speech the Way the Body Needs Oxygen to Survive
Is there an innate human knowledge of Truth? Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas sits down with Robert P. George, Princeton University Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program, to discuss his new book, Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth. Their conversation delves into the nature of humanity, examining how our understanding of it influences our perception of truth, and the interplay between biblical perspectives, classical traditions, and modern philosophies. From moral contrasts to reflections on great philosophers, they examine belief, feeling, and the shared foundations of truth.The post Robert P. George: We Need Free Speech the Way the Body Needs Oxygen to Survive first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Aug 8, 2025 • 41min
Olivia Reingold: What Political Polarization Means for America
How did Socialism become mainstream in New York City? In this timely and insightful conversation, Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas speaks with NYC-based journalist Olivia Reingold about her coverage of the 2026 NYC Mayoral race’s front runner, Zohran Mamdani. Reingold unpacks the shifting tide in the political and economic thought of Gen Z, how Mamdani’s campaign—run almost entirely online—may become a blueprint for future digital-first political movements, and what a socialist mayor could signal for America’s political future.The post Olivia Reingold: What Political Polarization Means for America first appeared on Socrates in the City.

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 Humanity
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 Humanity first appeared on Socrates in the City.


