Seize the Moment Podcast

On episode 201, we welcome J. Aaron Simmons to discuss why we're so unhappy, the limitations of pursuing external success, faith as risk with direction, Kierkegaard and the aesthetic life, status obsession as a form of avoidance, why cultivating good relationships may be more challenging than becoming rich, the archetypal seducer, becoming trapped in the goal-oriented mindset, and the meaning of authentic friendship. J. Aaron Simmons is a Professor of Philosophy, a widely published author, a popular speaker, and also a trout fisherman and mountain biker. Specializing in philosophy of religion and political philosophy, Aaron is the former President of the Søren Kierkegaard Society (USA). Simmons is an active public philosopher and hosts the YouTube channel, "Philosophy for Where We Find Ourselves" and a frequent writer on Substack, "Philosophy in the Wild." His newest book, available now, is called Camping with Kierkegaard: Faithfulness as a Way of Life. | J. Aaron Simmons | ► Website | https://jaaronsimmons.com ► Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtktPVW5IrLx0772vl8znWQ ► Substack | https://jaaronsimmons.substack.com ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/jaaronsimmons ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090093484022 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/simmonsphilosopher ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-simmons-ph-d-98109b36 ► Camping with Kierkegaard Book | https://amzn.to/3TZBSA4 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 200, we welcome Tom Morris and Gregory Bassham to discuss stoic philosophy, radical acceptance and its relationship with the divine, what the stoics believed about god and the afterlife, the four cardinal virtues and why one needs to cultivate all of them, whether the stoics actually sought to eliminate negative emotions, how they addressed death and grief, explore what we can and can't control, the stoic conception of good and bad, why being good was their purpose for being, Marcus Aurelius and his ability to balance nobility and humility, how the stoics dealt with perfectionism and overly harsh self-criticisms, and how Epictetus continues to inspire us by being an exemplar of stoic philosophy. Tom Morris is author of Philosophy For Dummies and 30 other books. He was a philosophy professor at The University of Notre Dame. He now heads The Morris Institute for Human Values and is an active business speaker. Gregory Bassham is author of The Philosophy Book, an illustrated history of philosophy, and 10 other books. Gregory was a professor of philosophy at King's College. Tom and Gregory have collaborated together to create a new book called Stoicism For Dummies, available next week on January 11th. | Tom Morris & Gregory Bassham | ► Website | https://www.tomvmorris.com, https://staff.kings.edu/sites/ghbassha ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/TomVMorris ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/tom.morris.562329, https://www.facebook.com/gregory.bassham ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/tomvmorris ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-morris-0955474 ► Stoicism for Dummies Book | https://amzn.to/48tJdfN Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 199, we welcome Jeffrey Fuhrer to discuss the fallacy of trickle down economics and the self-made myth, what companies actually do with tax breaks, the distinct perspectives of the flaws of human nature in communism and capitalism, the wealth gap and racial income disparities, what happens when governments intervene with subsidies for poor people, the hubris of corporations in zero-sum thinking, Leon's exit from libertarianism and the usual mental gymnastics of libertarians, cultivating a system of minimal wage in accordance with profits, reparations, and the importance of meeting people instead of forming preconceived notions of their struggles. Jeff Fuhrer is a nonresident fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a Foundation Fellow for the Eastern Bank Foundation. He was previously Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where he was also responsible for the bank's diversity and inclusion functions. His new book, available now, is called The Myth That Made Us: How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It). | Jeff Fuhrer | ►Website | https://jefffuhrer.com ► The Myth That Made Us Book: https://jefffuhrer.com/book Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 198, we welcome Mark White to discuss the philosophy of Daredevil, applying utilitarianism and deontology to his vigilantism, his apparent OCD-like tendencies and inability to make firm decisions, Kant's understanding that ethical decisions are ultimately our own, why Daredevil didn't often include others while making choices, his apparent inability to work within the legal system and going beyond it, his ruminations about not being a good person, the concept of satisficing in behavioral economics and how it helps us out of analysis paralysis, and how self-doubt can help us become better people. Mark D. White is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY, where he teaches courses in philosophy, economics, and law, and is also a member of the economics faculty at the Graduate Center of CUNY. He is the author of A Philosopher Reads Marvel Comics' Thor, A Philosopher Reads Marvel Comics' Civil War, The Virtues of Captain America, and Batman and Ethics. His newest book, available now, is called A Philosopher Reads...Marvel Comics' Daredevil: From the Beginning to Born Again. | Mark D. White | ►Website | https://www.profmdwhite.com ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/profmdwhite ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/profmdwhite ► A Philosopher Reads...Marvel Comics' Daredevil: From the Beginning to Born Again | https://amzn.to/47cbmqb Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 197, we welcome Roberto Olivardia to discuss the Adonis Complex and muscle dysmorphia, how men become obsessed with becoming more muscular, whether the obsession is about attracting a potential mate or something else, Leon's personal history of muscle dysmorphia and Alen's past preoccupations with his body image, the importance of focusing on underlying values and highlighting better strategies in treatment, the distorted thinking and perceptual errors involved in body dysmorphia, why the therapeutic relationship is just as significant as the actual CBT work, creating a more nuanced self-concept for self-esteem, and healthy ways of maintaining a positive body image. Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. He maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he specializes in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), executive functioning issues, and issues that face students with learning differences. He also specializes in the treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and in the treatment of eating disorders in boys and men. He is co-author of Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys. | Roberto Olivardia | ► Website | https://bit.ly/474j31N ► Adonis Complex Book | https://amzn.to/3v4Os6X Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 196, we welcome Richard Deming to discuss chronic loneliness, being lonely around people, Richard's past tendency to avoid it with excessive alcohol use, loneliness as an existential fact of life as opposed to an illness to be remedied, how it fosters creativity, how writing bridges the gap between people, the different layers of intimacy, writing as inspiration for others, Rod Serling and the expressions of his chronic loneliness on The Twilight Zone, and why all of us appreciate podcasting. Richard Deming is an award-winning poet and critic, whose work explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, and visual culture. He is the author of five books, including Day for Night and Art of the Ordinary. He teaches at Yale University, where he is the director of Creative Writing. His newest book, available now, is called This Exquisite Loneliness: What Loners, Outcasts, and the Misunderstood Can Teach Us About Creativity. | Richard Deming | ► Website | https://bit.ly/47VvjCT ► This Exquisite Loneliness Book | https://amzn.to/3uQDq54 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 195, we welcome Eric G. Wilson to discuss the cult classic 'Point Blank', toxic masculinity and its deleterious mental health effects, what made the protagonist so appealing, Lee Marvin's real-life war trauma, the obsession with revenge and if it ever resolves pain, the unpredictability of the universe and our never-ending quest for control, if one can ever offset trauma, the nature and purpose of flashbacks in PTSD, the comedy in the film and the inherent lunacy of payback, decision-making when healing and asking what would actually help, the parallels between 'Point Blank and Michael Mann's 'Thief', and leaving the wheel of Samsara when giving up one's aggressive impulses. Eric G. Wilson is the Thomas H. Pritchard Professor of English at Wake Forest University. He is the author of books Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy, an LA Times bestseller; Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck: Why We Can't Look Away; and Keep it Fake: Inventing an Authentic Life, How to Be Weird: An Off-Kilter Guide to Living a One-of-a-Kind Life as well as many other books exploring connections among literature, film, and psychology. His writing has been featured in Psychology Today, L.A. Times, The New York Times and Huffington Post. His newest book, available now, is called Point Blank. | Eric G. Wilson | ► Website | http://www.ericgwilson.net ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/keepitfake ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ericgwilson777 ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/ericgwilson ► Youtube | https://bit.ly/3FBhGwr ► Point Blank Book | https://amzn.to/414l50g Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

On episode 194, we welcome Tom Morris to discuss his 7 C's of Success, developing confidence in the face of difficulties, the importance of consistency and finding meaning outside of the hoped for results, Alen and Leon's podcast journey and the hyper-competitiveness of podcasting, the importance of mentorship amid struggles, Tom's initial foray into public philosophy and doing speaking engagements for free in the late 80s, passion and enjoyment as necessary contributors to success, why major companies sought out Tom's philosophical expertise, and the role of ethical philosophy in helping us create and strive for the right goals. Tom Morris has become one of the most active business speakers in America with clients that include General Motors, Merrill Lynch, IBM, the U.S. Air Force, MBNA Bank, and International Paper. He has published 12 books, including If Aristotle Ran General Motors, True Success, and Philosophy for Dummies. A former professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, he is now Chairman of the Morris Institute for Human Values in Wilmington, N.C. His newest work is the updated Silver Anniversary Edition of one of his most popular books, Art of Achievement: Mastering the 7 C's of Success in Business and Life. | Tom Morris | ► Website | https://www.tomvmorris.com ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/TomVMorris ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/tom.morris.562329 ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/tomvmorris ► LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-morris-0955474 ► Art of Achievement Book | https://amzn.to/49QHNgt Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 193, we welcome Al Snow to discuss the Netflix documentary series 'Wrestlers', what makes Ohio Valley Wrestling special, the trajectory of Al Snow's wrestling career, why his earlier WWF characters weren't appealing, the creation of Al Snow and Head and how a severely mentally ill character became popular, the current trend of wrestlers focusing more on their in-ring skills rather than emotionally connecting with the crowd, his struggles with younger wrestlers on his roster, why the WWE and AEW aren't as idealistic as they appear to be, and the importance of long-term and emotionally-driven storytelling for success. Al Snow is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is best known as one of the co-owners of Ohio Valley Wrestling, and as a former wrestler for Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. Al has also held various backstage positions for professional wrestling promotions. He worked as a road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, later Impact Wrestling) from 2010 to 2017 and has owned and then co-owned Ohio Valley Wrestling since 2018. His experiences as an owner and the story of Ohio Valley Wrestling are featured in the hit netflix documentary series, Wrestlers. | Al Snow | ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/TheRealAlSnow ► Instagram | https://twitter.com/TheRealAlSnow ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RealAlSnow ► OVW Live | https://ovwrestling.com ► OVW Academy | https://ovwacademy.com ► Wrestlers on Netflix | https://www.netflix.com/title/81592264 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast

On episode 192, we welcome Eric Gosselin to discuss the Netflix show 'Wrestlers', the history of Ohio Valley Wrestling, the documentary series as a human interest story and microcosm of capitalism, succeeding in wrestling and why being great is often not enough, Al Snow's journey in the WWE and pivoting after being released, the documentary exhibiting the complexities of its characters, why the best wrestling shows and rivalries have some elements of truth, HollyHood Haley J and her rivalry with her mom, why the crowds boo her despite her being a sympathetic character, and what season 2 could potentially look like. Eric Gosselin is a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry, known for his diverse roles as a producer, actor, writer, director, and cinematographer. He's also the co-host of the Kill Streak podcast. Notably, he has contributed significantly to the world of documentary filmmaking. Eric has been involved in the production of 'Last Chance U,' a Netflix documentary series acclaimed for its deep and empathetic portrayal of junior college football players and his most recent work includes production on the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary series 'Wrestlers.' This series, delving into the raw and intricate world of professional wrestling, highlights his ability to capture and present compelling narratives. | Eric Gosselin | ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/EricTheGosselin ► Kill Streak Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-streak/id1515038799 ► Wrestlers on Netflix | https://www.netflix.com/title/81592264 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast