The Wisdom Of
Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb
In this podcast we explore great works of philosophy and literature and art, and try to pull out of them what’s most interesting and inspiring! Whether they come from the works of Plato, or Dostoevsky or Picasso, here we explore ideas that move mountains and rock the soul! So, come join us, won’t you? Come worship at the alter of ideas, and come celebrate the dancing of thought. Welcome to the Wisdom Of!
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 16, 2025 • 15min
Kafka's A Hunger Artist - The Death of Uncompromising Art!
What would Kafka think about our attention economy today? And what about the state of our art? Find out more!
May 10, 2025 • 17min
Naomi Klein - The Apocalypse, Mars, and the Bunker Nation!
Naomi Klein, the Canadian author and social activist, argues for what she sees as the apocalyptic mindset of the far Right. Along with Klein, I offer up a few of my own concerns!
May 9, 2025 • 14min
Why We Can't Avoid Making JUDGMENTS—And Why That's a Great Thing!
So as we all know, there’s the popular or cliched idea that we should be “nonjudgmental”. But by and large, I don’t think that’s right!
May 7, 2025 • 15min
Adorno on Animals - "The degradation of a creature to the status of a mere thing"
The philosopher Theodor Adorno lays a powerful groundwork for thinking ethically about animals! Find out more!
May 5, 2025 • 16min
Humour as Social Critique - Let's keep LAUGHING at POWER!
Humour can have real revolutionary force! Ask the philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin. Let's keep laughing at the powerful. It will work!
Apr 30, 2025 • 18min
Tolstoy vs. Dostoevsky - Some major DIFFERENCES!
These giants of literature, they're often viewed as similar from afar. But they're not. Especially when it comes to how they see the human soul and the road to salvation!
Apr 30, 2025 • 14min
Miles Davis - Why LESS IS MORE!
In our world of more and faster and louder, we might do well to remember that less is often more! Just ask Miles!
Apr 30, 2025 • 14min
Heidegger - The death of the LOVE LETTER in the time of the digital message!
The love letter has become an extinct species! This is a symptom of a much larger problem - at least according to Heidegger!
Apr 20, 2025 • 16min
Buddhism and NON-ATTACHMENT - Some Objections!
Is human well-being and flourishing really all about detachment? I would argue, no!
Apr 16, 2025 • 14min
What does it mean to be a GOOD FATHER?
Inspired by Gabriel Marcel and Martin Buber, I argue that being a good father requires the invisible labor of presence.
