Best Aleks Hammos Podcasts (2025)

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102. The psychology of success 23:10

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2y ago23:10

23:10

It's normal to feel overwhelmed when thinking about success. Perhaps success reflects something about our true selves, or it may signal our intelligence or ability to be creative, or perhaps it demonstrates our capacity to conform to social norms. But success is one of those concepts that is so hard to define that it seems to be entirely subjective…

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101. The psychology of antidepressants 22:52

2y ago22:52

22:52

It's normal to take antidepressants. They calm down the inner existentialist, they make depression manageable, they make it easier to get out of bed, and they generally make life feel less overwhelming. But none of us really know how they help, or whether it's worth pushing through some of the side-effects they cause. In this episode, we unpack how…

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#100 Anxiety and Content Creation 23:46

2+ y ago23:46

23:46

My 100th episode. Thanks for being here. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —Personal Site

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#98 New Year Stress and Ambition 19:05

2+ y ago19:05

19:05

Setting goals feels counterintuitive because it inevitably ends up in self-loathig. Maybe, though, there's a way we can set goals AND be happy. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Personal Site LEARN PHILOSOPHY WITH ME: —Beginners Philosophy with Aleks

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#97 BRYN CHAPMAN-PARISH: Heartbreak High, Fame, and Mental Health 1:21:08

3y ago1:21:08

1:21:08

Bryn Chapman-Parish is an Actor and Musician, best known for his role as Spider in Heartbreak High. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Twitter —Personal Site

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#96 Rethinking Progressive Politics 18:33

3y ago18:33

18:33

I analyse and try to resolve 5 key issues within Progressive politics, while also keeping the Conservative alternative in mind. I speak about the difficulty progressives have finding an idol, cancel culture, echo chambers, openness to experience and difference, as well as the psychology behind Progressive and Conservative views. ~ 👉 Support on Patr…

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#95 Coming Off Antidepressants 9:37

3y ago9:37

9:37

After nearly 5 years on antidepressants, I've decided to come off them. This episode explores my reasons why, and what's changed in my life to encourage me to make this decision. ~ 👉 Support on Patreon 👉 Follow me on Instagram @alekshammo 👉 Follow me on TikTok @alekshammo

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#94 ÉMILE P. TORRES — The End of the World 1:16:47

3y ago1:16:47

1:16:47

Émile P. Torres is a Philosopher and Historian whose work focuses on existential threats to civilization and humanity. Émile has published on a wide range of topics, including machine superintelligence, emerging technologies and religious eschatology, as well as the history and ethics of human extinction. Follow Émile on Twitter, or visit their web…

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#93 Lost in Thought 4:43

3y ago4:43

4:43

Our world is made of thoughts, but we are lost in them. Welcome to Lost in Thought, a podcast about our world, our thoughts, and how these things impact our mental health. 👉 Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal 👉 Follow me on Instagram @alekshammo 👉 Follow me on TikTok @alekshammo

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#92 AURELIA ST CLAIR 1:00:14

3y ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Aurelia St Clair is a comedian, model, writer, and podcaster. Aurelia and I spoke about 'idiosyncratic' Naarm/Melbourne meme and suburb cultures, the perils of being a content creator, as well as diversity, otherness, and whiteness. ~Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Tickets for my upcoming public interviews in Naarm/Melbourne—Instagram @…

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#91 ABBIE CHATFIELD 51:49

3y ago51:49

51:49

Abbie Chatfield is a public figure: social critic, political activist, radio/tv presenter, podcaster, and business woman.I ask Abbie about being a celebrity, what it means to have 400k+ followers on Instagram, and how stardom impacts mental health.I also ask Abbie to define the meaning of life.TW: Suicide~Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy CourseSupp…

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#90 CLUB NITE 51:50

3+ y ago51:50

51:50

I sat down and chatted with Anjelica Angwin of CLUB NITE.CLUB NITE is a piercing, tongue-in-cheek analysis of Melbourne’s distinct party scenes; a live-action meme filled with banter, rainbow lighting, dance, certified bangers, and a cathartic commentary on Zoomer self-exploration and current social-woke-politics.Get tickets to CLUB NITEFollow CLUB…

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#89 SENATOR MEHREEN FARUQI 27:54

3+ y ago27:54

27:54

Dr. Mehreen Faruqi is a Senator for NSW who represents The Greens.~Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo—TikTok @alekshammo—Twitter @alekshammoGet tickets to my public interview with Philosopher Justin ClemensBy Aleks Listens

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#88 IN ABSENCE OF OPTIMISM: Depression and 9-5 22:59

3+ y ago22:59

22:59

I talk about the loss of hope that comes with full-time work.~Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Follow @alekshammo on InstagramFollow @alekslistens on TikTokShop my handmade t-shirtsBy Aleks Listens

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#84 PHONE ADDICTION — Existential blessing or curse? 26:12

3+ y ago26:12

26:12

Conversation around phone addiction is stilted and infrequent. What are our reasons for losing ourselves in our phones, and how can we hope to change our relationship to them?Also, I mention and misquote an article about phone addiction. Correct stats are here: "the average smartphone user rarely goes two hours without using her device, unlocks her…

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#83 SIMON CRITCHLEY — Disappointment, New Thinking, and Philosophy 1:11:49

3+ y ago1:11:49

1:11:49

Simon Critchley is a Philosopher at The New School (NYC), an author, and a writer/moderator at The New York Times.Simon and I spoke about the nature of philosophy, life before philosophy (which included punk music and an interesting evening with Lemmy of Motörhead), the current state of world politics, as well as how scenes, communities, and new id…

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#82 Meaning, Purpose, and Cyborgs 15:13

4y ago15:13

15:13

2021 is winding up and I take a moment to reflect on the changes to my "philosophy of life," and I also ask the question of what we become when we are so plugged in (social media, internet, etc.)You can also watch this episode on YouTube.~Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTokCheck out my shop Support Aleks Listens via Patreo…

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#81 FLEX MAMI — Living Online, Being Authentic, and Commodifying the Self 1:46:21

4y ago1:46:21

1:46:21

Flex Mami / Lil Ahenkan is a Ghanaian-Australian Entrepreneur, Author (The Success Experiment), Podcaster, DJ, and TV Presenter.Flex and I explore the marvels and perils of online life, influencing, setting boundaries, communicating with strangers, creating the world in one's image, and selling/commodifying the self. Follow @flex.mami on Instagram.…

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#80 MOKTAR — Arabness, Otherness, and Sound 1:07:47

4y ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Moktar is an Egyptian / Australian producer based in Naarm / Melbourne. Moktar’s recent EP “Silk” is a meditation on Arabness, otherness, and self-discovery.“Silk” represents a shift in Moktar’s sound which echoes his identity as a Middle-Easterner, an Egyptian, and an Arab.Moktar and I discussed our experiences as Arabs in Australia, the changes i…

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#79 Influencers and The Influenced 14:42

4y ago14:42

14:42

Becoming a social media influencer is a very strange phenomenon. You have incredible control over the priorities and beliefs or your audience. But, at what cost?Have you ever thought about what it actually means to represent yourself online? How personally impactful is it when we develop an online personality? Is there a way to ethically influence …

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#78 Is Productivity making us Depressed? 11:02

4y ago11:02

11:02

Why is the West fanatical with productivity? Why are we always pushing to become more, to make more, to produce more? Today I consider a simple question: are we losing our sense of self by over-identifying with the things we make?~Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTokWatch this episode on YouTube Support Aleks Listens via Pa…

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#77 Back on Antidepressants 18:39

4y ago18:39

18:39

After 6 months off Antidepressants, I'm back on them. In this episode, I reflect on what the past 6 months have been like, and what it's been like returning to antidepressants.Love, Aleks x~You are not alone:Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.auKids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.auBeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - w…

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#76 Jess Zanoni — The Emotion of Time & Being Creative 1:15:30

4y ago1:15:30

1:15:30

Jess Zanoni is a musician and writer living in Naarm. Jess is the singer and bassist of alt-rock band Arbes, and is currently working on a solo project called Za Noon.Jess and I spoke about work, time, the infinite quest of establishing a routine, being creative (Jess does loads of creative stuff), escapism, distractions, and music. Thanks for list…

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#75 Life after Antidepressants (Part 3) 25:23

4y ago25:23

25:23

I reflect on the changes to my life since coming off antidepressants. One of the biggest changes has been the blurred lines between my depression before, during, and after antidepressant use.It will be helpful (but not essential) for you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 before listening to this episode. ~Support Aleks Listens via PayPal or Patreon.Follow…

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#74 Gregor — Music, Creativity, and Change 1:05:40

4y ago1:05:40

1:05:40

Gregor is a progressive pop musician based in Naarm (Melbourne). We spoke about the changing nature of Gregor's music, music as a form of therapy, perfectionism and validation, as well as multiculturalism and the creative scene in Naarm.You can listen to Gregor's music on Spotify or Bandcamp.~Support Aleks Listens via PayPal or Patreon.Follow Aleks…

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#73 Beri Marušić — Grief, Love, and Reason 1:11:21

4+ y ago1:11:21

1:11:21

Berislav Marušić is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at The University of Edinburgh.We discussed Beri's work on grief, love, and existentialism. I also asked Beri about the limits of neuroscience, the uniqueness of the human experience, and what it's like being a philosopher. ~To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon.Follow Aleks Listens on…

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#72 Raymond Tallis — Free Will, Identity, and the Limits of Philosophy and Science 1:26:14

4+ y ago1:26:14

1:26:14

Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, clinical neuroscientist, poet, novelist, and retired medical physician. We spoke about free will, identity, the goal of philosophy, the limits of science and philosophy, and how our relationship to our goals/values change over time.~To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon.Follow Aleks Listens on InstagramE…

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#71 Aleks Answers (Part 1) 22:02

4+ y ago22:02

22:02

You asked me a bunch of questions and I answered them through the lens of philosophy.The two questions I responded to in this episode are:1) Is Instagram a tool for meaningful change?2) What is our purpose in life?If you'd like to submit a question for the next episode of Aleks Answers, please send me a message on Instagram or send me an email.You …

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#70 Life after Antidepressants (Part 2) 19:22

4+ y ago19:22

19:22

It's been 6 weeks since I came off antidepressants. In this episode, I explore some of the twists and turns of life without antidepressants. Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPalFollow me on Instagram @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast~~You are not alone:Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.auKids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 …

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#69 Cancel Culture — Social Justice Series 38:39

4+ y ago38:39

38:39

How, if at all, can we conceptualise cancel culture to clearly promote social justice?To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon.Follow Aleks Listens on InstagramBy Aleks Hammo

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#68 Life after Antidepressants (Part 1) 25:19

4+ y ago25:19

25:19

I discuss my experience after, beyond, and without antidepressants.For more 👉 follow @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcastSupport Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal~~You are not alone:Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.auKids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.auBeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org…

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#67 Perfectionism 31:05

4+ y ago31:05

31:05

A discussion of perfectionism, how it manifests, how it feels, and how it can impact one's life. *Content Warning: this episode covers potentially distressing and upsetting topics. Themes include mental illness, depression, and anxiety* For more, visit www.aleks.co/Follow me on instagram @alekslistens…

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#66 Meaning and Depression (Part 1) 25:02

4+ y ago25:02

25:02

I discuss some helpful (and some less helpful) ways of thinking about the questions 'what is meaning?' and 'what is meaningful?' I also talk about how depression stifles experiences of meaningfulness.For more, visit www.aleks.co/ or check out my instagram @alekslistensBy Aleks Listens

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#65 Grief 22:46

4+ y ago22:46

22:46

I explore the nature of grief, why we grieve, whether we can rationalise grief, and if we can reasonably say that grief serves a particular purpose.By Aleks Listens

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#64 Minorities and Philosophy w/ Kelly and Paul 1:19:33

4+ y ago1:19:33

1:19:33

Kelly Herbison is a Philosopher at The University of Melbourne, where she recently received funding to do a Postgrad Research Project.Paul Podosky is a PhD at The University of Melbourne with an especial interest inSocial and Political Philosophy and Conceptual Engineering. Both Kelly and Paul also run the Minorities and Philosophy Chapter at The U…

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#63 Graham Priest — Buddhist Ethics, Meditation, and Politics 1:02:58

4+ y ago1:02:58

1:02:58

Dr. Graham Priest is a Professor of Philosophy at CUNY. We spoke ab out all kinds of things, from the nature of philosophy, to buddhism and its personal and political implications, and to political philosophy itself and the state of the world. For more about Graham, visit his website: http://grahampriest.net/For more about me, visit www.aleks.coTo …

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#62 Effective Altruism and The Life You Can Save w/ Dr. Charlie Bresler 58:16

4+ y ago58:16

58:16

I sat down with Dr. Charlie Bresler, Exec. Director of The Life You Can Save, a charity founded by Peter Singer to advance the ideas of his book under the same title.We chatted about the act of giving, why we do and don't give, and negotiating the space between building a career, financial security, and marginal returns. For more, visit www.aleks.c…

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#61 Wittgenstein 24:06

5y ago24:06

24:06

An introduction to one of the most important philosophers... ever... Wittgenstein talks about language, sense, meaning, and the responsibility of language users to use language properly. For more, visit www.aleks.co/heyBy Aleks Listens

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#60 On Being... Sober 33:55

5y ago33:55

33:55

This episode explores sobriety and alcoholism in anglo society. I talk about my reasons for being sober. I also talk about depression, hangovers, and alcohol as a social lubricant. For more, visit www.aleks.co/By Aleks Listens

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#59 Psychiatry and Philosophy w/ Dr. Paul Cammell 1:08:59

5y ago1:08:59

1:08:59

I saw down with Dr. Paul Cammell and spoke about the relationship between psychiatry and philosophy, the origins of depression, and the nature of therapy. To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute For more, visit www.aleks.co/ and my instagram @alekslistensBy Aleks Listens

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#58 Moral Relativism 28:08

5y ago28:08

28:08

I ask whether it is possible to think of morality as something that is entirely subjective.For more, visit www.aleks.coTo support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contributeBy Aleks Listens

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#57 The Banality of Depression 19:00

5y ago19:00

19:00

I talk about the dull and plain moments of depression that make it very difficult to find reasons to do anything.By Aleks Listens

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#56 On Being... Depressed (Part 2) 24:52

5y ago24:52

24:52

I reflect on my depression and how it impacts my everyday experience of the world. Sending love your way. If you're enjoying Aleks Listens, you can support it by visiting www.aleks.co/supportIf you are struggling, or know someone who is, remember that there are services in place to support you. Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au, Kids…

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#55 Julian Burnside — Seeking Asylum, Reasons for Exclusion, and Finding Purpose 1:02:06

5y ago1:02:06

1:02:06

Back in October 2018, my friend Liam and I sat down with Julian Burnside AO QC. Julian is a barrister, human rights and asylum seeker advocate, and has recently turned to politics as a way of making change.What's most curious about our interview with Julian is that he told us again and again that he wasn't interested in politics, and that he wasn't…

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#54 On Being... Happy 33:32

5y ago33:32

33:32

In this episode, I explore what it means to be happy, what form happiness takes, and whether it's a meaningful thing for us to strive towards.Click here to read my essay on happiness.Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon — or PayPal — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — follow me on instagram @alekslistens or Facebook …

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#53 The Existential Crisis 22:39

5y ago22:39

22:39

I regularly ask myself something along the lines of "F*ck, why do I wake up in the morning? Is it always going to be this cyclical?" At the moment, I feel aimless; directionless; purposeless; confused; displaced; uprooted. I feel very uncertain about my past, present, and future. Is it ok to feel this way? Probably? Will my life be punctuated by th…

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#52 The Ethics of Capitalism w/ Dr. Dan Halliday 1:43:04

5y ago1:43:04

1:43:04

I sat down with political philosopher Dan Halliday, lecturer at the The University of Melbourne, and spoke about Capitalism. We begin by defining Capitalism, then discuss its relationship to feudalism and socialism, and interrogate capitalism through a number of different lenses. We spoke about various policies which have traditionally been underst…

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#51 Existential Risk: AI, Cyber Security, Pandemics, and Education w/ Dr. Shahar Avin 1:56:52

5y ago1:56:52

1:56:52

I sat down with Shahar Avin, a Senior Research Associate at The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (@ The University of Cambridge). We spoke about short-to-near term risks associated with AI, smartphones, algorithms, and pandemics. We simultaneously tried to make connections to the way politics and education can be reconfigured in order to no…

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#50 Searching for Good Relationships, Leaving Problematic ones, and thinking about Depression and Antidepressants w/ Jess 1:06:16

5y ago1:06:16

1:06:16

I had a chat with Jess @drjesseggy about all kinds of cool and colourful things. We spoke about the strange relationships, depression, anxiety, and I told Jess that I really hate cereal. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me o…

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#49 Cancel Culture, Echo Chambers, and Virtue Signalling 31:29

5y ago31:29

31:29

People always talk about cancelled people or cancelling people. People also tend towards other people who agree with the big things they agree with. I talk about these things. I ask whether they're good, whether they're bad, how to engage with others, and that kinda stuff. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.c…