Best David D. Hopkins Podcasts (2025)

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#124: Echoes of Tyranny: The Seduction of Safety and the Price of Freedom (Part 7) 31:40

7M ago31:40

31:40

In this final episode of the Echoes of Tyranny series, we delve deep into the chilling conclusions of George Orwell's '1984' and Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World', exploring their haunting relevance in today’s world. We break down the different forms of control portrayed in these dystopian classics—Orwell's brutal force through fear and Huxley's se…

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Episode #123: Echoes of Tyranny: Why Rebellion Matters (Part 6) 52:39

7M ago52:39

52:39

Feeling stuck in a world that seems designed to keep you quiet, comfortable, and controlled? You’re not alone—and neither were the rebels of Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s Brave New World. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the heart of these dystopian classics, revealing what their failed rebellions teach us about resistance in our own world toda…

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Episode #122: Echoes of Tyranny: From Tinder to Totalitarianism--The Struggle for Authentic Connection (Part 5) 1:03:59

8M ago1:03:59

1:03:59

Welcome back, friends, to another deep dive into the wild world of dystopia. This is episode five in our seven-part series on Dystopia Literature and theemergence of it in our world today. In this epissode, we’re leaving behind the constant surveillance of Big Brother (sort of) and diving headfirst into something equally messy: love and relationshi…

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Episode #121: Echoes of Tyranny: The Silent War Between Conformity and Courage (Part 4) 1:16:57

8M ago1:16:57

1:16:57

In Part 4 of Echoes of Tyranny, we continue with two of the greatest dystopian novels and ask a pressing question: What happens to us when individuality becomes the enemy? First, we plunge into the world of Orwell's 1984, where Winston Smith's every thought is a potential crime. It's not just what you do—it's what you think that can get you erased …

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Episode #120: Echoes of Tyranny: Truth Subject to Change Without Notice (Part 3) 1:03:21

8M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the murky waters of truth and reality, exploring how they can be bent, twisted, and outright manipulated. Drawing from two of the most influential dystopian novels—1984 and Brave New World—we'll break down the tactics used by totalitarian regimes to control not only information but the very perception of real…

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Episode #119: Echoes of Tyranny: Fear, Pleasure, and the Art of Government Control (Part 2) 1:26:16

8M ago1:26:16

1:26:16

In the second episode of the 'Echoes of Tyranny' series, we delve into the heart of dystopian societies, where the grip of control reaches every corner of life. This isn't just a discussion of 1984's Big Brother or Brave New World's soma-soaked utopia—it's a comparative literary analysis of how these dystopian visions have eerie parallels in today'…

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#118: Echoes of Tyranny: How Fiction Became Our Reality (Part 1) 55:52

8M ago55:52

55:52

The worlds of 1984 and Brave New World are no longer just fiction—they're disturbingly close to our reality. In this first episode of Echoes of Tyranny: How Fiction Became Our Reality, we dive into the unsettling parallels between these dystopian classics and the present day. Get ready to explore the chilling foresight of Orwell and Huxley and how …

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Episode #117: The Uniparty's Dirty Game: Create a Problem to Solve a Problem 33:08

1+ y ago33:08

33:08

Have you ever wondered why a government, a system of institutions specifically designed to solve problems, often preserves and worsens the problems they are supposed to solve? Buckle up as we dive into a lively discussion unraveling the Shirky Principle, which suggests governments are more prone to protect problems than solve them. We will break do…

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#116: Democracy is Dead While the Plutocracy and Uniparty are Thriving 36:06

1+ y ago36:06

36:06

In this episode, we delve deep into the heart of American democracy and confront a stark reality: Democracy is Dead. Join us as we explore the undeniable influence of economic elites, intellectual elites, and unelected officials in steering the course of our nation through the uniparty of Democrats and Republicans. We analyze eye-opening statistics…

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#115: Degrees of Freedom: Navigating the College Maze 32:51

1+ y ago32:51

32:51

It is past time to challenge the age-old belief in the college dream. Join us in a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of higher education. As a seasoned educator, I take a holistic approach to this important decision for high school students, college students, or adults considering returning to college. I am neither anti-college…

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#114: Are You a Monothinker? The Democrats and Republicans Hope So. 26:34

1+ y ago26:34

26:34

Explore the world of "Mono-Thinking." Have you ever noticed how political affiliations often dictate people's stances on various issues? You can identify a mono thinker by the number of things or problems they explain with the same answer. Mono-thinking individuals rigidly adhere to a single perspective, leading to oversimplification and tribalism.…

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#113: Conditioned for Mediocrity: Reclaiming Your Life in a Sedated and Superficial World 26:30

1+ y ago26:30

26:30

"People are happy; they get what they want, and they never want what they can't get... they're so conditioned that they practically can't help behaving as they ought to behave." ~Aldous Huxley This quote from the dystopian novel Brave New World is playing itself out in the psyche of far too many in the United States of America and worldwide. Join u…

1
# 112: The Doctor of Philosophy Committed Suicide. Nobody Noticed. 28:06

1+ y ago28:06

28:06

It's not a secret that higher education and the academic elites far too often do not serve the nation effectively. The PhD is especially failing society in countless ways. More specifically, this podcast focuses on our philosophers and great thinkers. I'm not interested in exploring fields such as educational leadership/administration or any other …

1
#111: Next Level Your Life: Be Process Oriented Not Goal Oriented 29:41

1+ y ago29:41

29:41

Welcome to a transformative episode where we unveil a life-changing perspective shift: Challenge Yourself to Be Process-Oriented, Not Goal-Oriented. Whether you're a student, professional, or retiree, this mindset can revolutionize your journey. Using real-life examples, we will discuss how a process-oriented mindset will bring physical and mental …

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#110: The Horror Show of a Trump vs. Biden Rematch in 2024 30:26

1+ y ago30:26

30:26

Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we tackle the looming specter of a Trump vs. Biden rematch in the 2024 election. Three fundamental characteristics of both candidates make this rematch a horror show nobody should want to watch. Plus, regardless of who wins, the aftermath of potential violence and an even greater divide make this rematch…

1
#109: The Power of Your Social Circle: Where Your Mind Goes, You Go 16:18

1+ y ago16:18

16:18

This thought-provoking podcast episode delves into the timeless wisdom of an ancient proverb attributed to King Solomon: "Walk with the wise and become wise. Associate with fools and become foolish." Join me on a journey of self-reflection as we explore the profound impact your social connections have on your life. Whether your friends, family, or …

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#108: The AI Revolution: Will Machines Outthink Humanity? 30:24

1+ y ago30:24

30:24

In this episode, we venture into the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence and its potential to reshape human thinking. We explore the intriguing question: Can machines learn to think and understand like humans, or even better? We delve into the Theory of Mind, a once exclusively human trait, and witness how AI, particularly very advanc…

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#107: Embracing Unpleasant Truths: Why Erasing History Isn’t the Answer 21:29

1+ y ago21:29

21:29

In this thought-provoking episode, we passionately explore history, culture, and the controversial topic of renaming military installations, sanitizing history, or downright removing history when it is uncomfortable. Buckle up for an engaging journey as we navigate the complexities of erasing or preserving history. We address the recent renaming of…

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#106: Whispers from the Grave: Life's Most Profound Lessons, Shared Simply 24:22

1+ y ago24:22

24:22

In this poignant episode we delve into the timeless concept that life's most profound wisdom can often be found in the simplest of moments. Join us as we explore the extraordinary story of a life cut short, but through death emerges new life, hope, and knowledge. We'll share the remarkable story of Holly Butcher, who, just 24 hours before her untim…

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#105: Shared Values: Exploring the Common Ground of Abrahamic Religions 51:10

2y ago51:10

51:10

The news headlines are admittedly ugly. War, hate, anger, and division, unfortunately, represent the interactions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. But, if we deeply read the texts of these three great religions, there is deep wisdom to be uncovered. For many, it may be shocking to see that the shared values and common ground of Judaism, Christiani…

1
#104: The Tragic Loss of the Foundation for Justice and Morality 59:37

2y ago59:37

59:37

The world is in a state of chaos, and one of the main reasons is the loss of a unifying system of justice and morality. It can be argued that long before the flowering of democracy and the idea of freedom sprung to life in the West, Thomas Aquinas' Natural Law Theory laid the foundation. However, this foundation is eroding in our post-modern era. A…

1
#103: Banning Tik Tok: National Security Risk or Another Big Government Power Grab? 50:02

2y ago50:02

50:02

TikTok, a seductive digital vortex, has been a source of amusement for many and terror for others. The app's algorithmic power to draw in users, particularly the impressionable young, has been a cause for deep concern as it exposes them to harmful and inappropriate content. From sexually explicit dances to harmful challenges, TikTok has created a b…

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#102: The Decline of Religion: Why Faith Is So Hard in the Postmodern World 47:40

2y ago47:40

47:40

For an atheist, faith seems to be an impossibility. For a practitioner of Christianity or any religion for that matter, it is hard to maintain faith. But why? We live in a superficial world. In many ways, the religious institutions of the west mirror this superficiality. It has created lukewarm Christians—the Christmas and Easter-type practitioners…

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#101: What the Bleep was I Thinking!?! Using Medieval Wisdom to Revolutionize Your Decision-Making in Three Simple Steps 52:56

2y ago52:56

52:56

We have all been there—bad decisions. Making bad decisions triggers negative consequences, such as financial loss, relationship damage, or missed opportunities. As we go through life and accumulate lousy decision after lousy decision, the baggage we carry around gets heavy—embarrassment, regret, anxiety, loss of self-confidence, and even fear that …

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#100: The American Dream Isn't Just Dead--It Was the Wrong Dream to Begin With 55:34

2y ago55:34

55:34

A recent YouGov survey found that only 30% of Americans overall believe in the American dream and see it as very or somewhat attainable for themselves. It is cliche now to say the American Dream is dead. You can read innumerable articles on the topic. The surface reasons for the death of the American Dream are obvious, too—rocketing inflation, stud…

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#99: Ignorance is NOT Bliss! Why Civilizations Degrade Towards Evil & Division. 50:23

2y ago50:23

50:23

Subscribe for Free: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Examples are everywhere—social media, political soundbites, and cable TV demonstrate that ignorance is trending globally. We have all seen it. It is scary to watch. Politicians boast, “I’m not a scientist,” or that people are “sick of the so-called experts.” Rather than expertise, lack o…

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#98: How Protestant Prosperity Gospel Pastors are Killing Christianity 49:15

2y ago49:15

49:15

Just twenty-two percent of the youngest adults describe themselves as Protestant – a more than fifty percent decline from the 1950s and 60s. A cataclysmic decline if things do not change. Gen Z is the most likely generation yet to say they don’t believe in God. They are also the least religiously affiliated and the least likely to attend church. Me…

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#97: Beyond Christianity: How the teachings of Jesus Christ apply to everyone. 51:37

2y ago51:37

51:37

There is no easy way to slice it; religion is a challenging topic. This week we take on one of the most influential spiritual leaders to ever walk the planet earth and, arguably, one of the most influential people in the history of the world. That person is Jesus Christ. In this episode, we discuss the person, the history, and most importantly, the…

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#96: Stoicism in the Age of Woke Culture 50:28

2+ y ago50:28

50:28

How long will you wait before you demand the best of yourself? It is a fair question. It is a tough question. The 21st century has been labeled as “The Age of Anxiety,” “The United States of Stress,” “The World of Worry,” to name just a few of the unflattering descriptors. The implication is that what we are experiencing—political extremism, deep c…

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#95: The Antidote to Pain and Suffering in our Modern World 42:03

2+ y ago42:03

42:03

If there ever was a Donald Trump-like figure in Greek philosophy that evoked both love and hate it is probably Epicurus. He had a legion of fervent followers, but probably had equally as many detractors. Often he is over-simplified down to a person interested in little more than pleasure. This would be a mistake. In the success-driven, outcomes-obs…

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#94: How practicing skepticism will make you a powerful thinker 1:02:17

2+ y ago1:02:17

1:02:17

One key characteristic of an independent mind is not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.” This podcast discusses skepticism and the practical application of this ancient philosophy in our modern lives to make us better thinkers. We go all the way back to Pyrrho, Sextus Empiricus, and other ancient Greek philosophers to look at the emergence of…

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# 93: "But I just want to be happy..." 43:17

2+ y ago43:17

43:17

American happiness has reached an all-time low. I doubt too many are surprised when a random google search on 'happiness in America' yields horrifying results. Right now, America is about as angry, anxiety-riddled, stressed-out, and drugged-up as at any time in our history. In this episode, we deep-dive into Aristotle's monumental work: Nichomachea…

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#92: Moral Relativism, Culture Wars and the Sophists 45:51

2+ y ago45:51

45:51

So excited to dive into Sophists in this episode of the Intellectual Freedom Podcast. We will analyze the philosophies and impact the Sophists have had on modern culture. Especially, looking at moral relativism which has reared its head in modern culture with a vengeance. Moral relativism has set in so deeply that the upper crust of society has bec…

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#91: Is the Life You are Living REAL? 35:28

2+ y ago35:28

35:28

We do not like the idea that we are not in control of our life. However, what if the choices we make are an illusion created between those with power and those without? It is a hard and difficult question to wrestle with. In this podcast episode, we continue our march through the genre known as wisdom literature by analyzing the great philosopher P…

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#90: Question Everything! Socrates and the path to becoming your best self. 34:48

2+ y ago34:48

34:48

Us humans are fickle creatures. We are prone to error, bias, irrational emotions and are easily duped. We need to question everything. This episode analyzes cornerstone philosophical concepts of Socrates. Socrates, pound for pound, was probably one of the greatest minds ever to walk the planet earth. He challenges us to think deeply and live of lif…

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#89: The Mystical Wisdom in Fables 28:56

3y ago28:56

28:56

“The smaller the mind, the greater the conceit.” Is just one of the great one-liners from the genius Aesop. This podcast discusses the fables, Aesop, and finding wisdom to navigate an insane world. Go even deeper by joining the Intellectual Freedom course for free! Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter:…

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#88: Finding Peace in a Violent and Unsettled World 41:46

3y ago41:46

41:46

Subscribe for free to my wisdom literature talks! We live in uncertain times. If we understand peace is within us which we can tap into for strength, life changes dramatically. Conversely, if we expect or believe that an external thing, whether a politician, law, job, or material thing from culture will make us happy, we will end up disappointed. I…

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#87: Tapping into the God Within-The Philosophy of Mencius 29:47

3y ago29:47

29:47

Mencius was a Chinese Confucian philosopher who has often been described as the Second Sage after only Confucius himself. He is part of Confucius’ fourth generation of disciples. Mencius inherited Confucius’ ideology and developed it further. A positive, strong undercurrent moves through his writings we can all embrace—all humans have innate but in…

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#86: The Master Sage of China-Confucius 37:29

3y ago37:29

37:29

In this lesson, you genuinely get a treat! We are studying an intellectual heavyweight considered the pinnacle of Chinese sages. His name is Master Kong, more commonly known as Confucius.Confucius’s teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining influential across China and East Asia to this day.Confucius had was obsess…

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#85: Finding ”The Way” in Daoism 35:07

3y ago35:07

35:07

Laozi was one of the greatest minds to ever live. He wrote the venerable Tao Te Ching meaning "The Classic Way of Virtue." This work is the basis of the long-lost religion of Taoism (also known as 'Daoism' in Chinese), an official religion of China's Tang Dynasty in 500 BCE. The lesson covers the deep philosophical and political influence in humani…

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#84: The Wisdom in Indigenous Stories 24:01

3y ago24:01

24:01

It has been a very tough week, with yet another mass shooting in the United States. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted. I won’t even pretend to understand the pain of loss. It is perfect timing to be evaluating wisdom from indigenous cultures. There is so much we can apply to our current situation. A thriving civilization living, inte…

1
#83: The Warrior Ethic 24:19

3y ago24:19

24:19

No one is born with the Warrior Ethic. It is taught through training and discipline. The warrior ethic is for everyone, whether winning on the battlefield or beating inner demons. Learn how to tap into it. This podcast dives deep into the warrior ethic from our readings in Moral Wisdom Past and Present. I invite you to listen in to the podcast and …

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#82: The Wisdom in Proverbs 23:56

3y ago23:56

23:56

There is so much sound and fury from preening peacocks in the public sphere it takes wisdom to wade through the swamp of BS. The great thing is moral wisdom has been preserved in so many amazing shapes and forms across history. We just have to explore and use it. Proverbs, across many cultures, give us a bedrock of wisdom we can all use every day t…

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#81: The Wisdom in Customary Laws 27:38

3y ago27:38

27:38

Join our Intellectual Freedom Course. This is lesson 1. We start our study thousands of years ago. The ethics of the tribal traditions, based on custom, found expression in many cultures as customary laws. We are going to study many of the earliest. Newsletter: https://intellectualfreedom.substack.com/ Follow Dr. Hopkins on Twitter: https://twitter…

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#80: Moral Wisdom Past & Present 21:43

3y ago21:43

21:43

I'm back after a lengthy respite. Life can be a winding road, and it was. Health problems, work projects, etc., et., I don't need to bore you with my details. However, I am happy to be back! Every podcast I am now releasing is simultaneously being published on Substack as part of an Intellectual Freedom Course. I would love to have you subscribe. h…

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#79: Talk with Ben Tanner--The Value of Intermittent Fasting 52:46

3+ y ago52:46

52:46

Intermittent fasting could be a transformational technique to boost your health. Ben Tanner, a Physician Assistant, has been counseling patients needing to make lifestyle changes for years. He discusses the benefits and challenges of incorporating fasting into your life style. You will be amazed how simple it is to take a couple baby steps that can…

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#78: What will your ‘digital legacy‘ be when you die? 23:17

3+ y ago23:17

23:17

If you died today, and everything, I mean everything you ever viewed, posted, or commented online, is compiled in a book, how would you be remembered?It is an essential question because, first of all, you will die. And second of all, your digital footprint will be substantial. As a result, many will know more about you from your online impressions …

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#77: Talk with Deborah Driggs--from cover girl to broke to grace 58:10

3+ y ago58:10

58:10

I had the privilege to speak with Deborah Driggs in this podcast. From her start as a Playboy Centerfold and Covergirl to her life as a Screen Actors’ Guild member. Later, she achieved success by being in the Top 5% in the real estate industry as a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. Deborah Driggs has cleared many hurdles in life. While it ma…

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#76: Luxury Beliefs and the Wealthy: Rich, Privileged, and “Friend of the Oppressed” 17:15

3+ y ago17:15

17:15

I recently heard a story about a wealthy student on campus. He got busted parking in a handicap-accessible parking spot. His rationale was, ”It‘s not illegal for me to park in handicap spaces. It only costs $250 if I get caught. I‘d rather pay the money and not deal with the rain today.” My first thought when I head this is how despicable. There ha…

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#75: Interview with Erik Allen 47:28

3+ y ago47:28

47:28

I had the opportunity to speak with the Top-Rated MMA podcast host, which is the #1 rated podcast in this genre, Erik Allen. Beyond his success in business, his personal story of perseverance is incredible. From a broken home, beaten by mom‘s boyfriend, jailed at 18, bankrupt by 21, and battled addictions, his life was on a downward spiral quickly.…

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David D. Hopkins Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen