Best Gregmcbrayer Podcasts (2025)

1
Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God 50:48

5d ago50:48

50:48

This week, Alex and Greg dive into Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God, unraveling its haunting exploration of madness, ambition, and the human condition. They trace the film’s philosophical undercurrents—from existential isolation to the limits of power—set against the backdrop of the unforgiving Amazon. Through sharp analysis and reflective…

1
Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments with Rob Wyllie & Matt Dinan 1:09:40

12d ago1:09:40

1:09:40

This week, Greg has locked David and Alex out of the recording room, and replaced them with Kierkegaard scholars Rob Wyllie & Matt Dinan. Together, they dive into Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments to examine what it means to become a self, whether truth can be received as a gift, and why Socrates might need a divine upgrade. It’s a lively explo…

1
Eric Adler on Language Studies & "Decolonizing the Curriculum" 1:08:35

19d ago1:08:35

1:08:35

With the stock market tanking, Alex has fled the country to verify family artifacts are still in a vault in case we go back to bartering. Meanwhile, David and Greg have replaced him this week with The New Thinkery's most prolific guest, Eric Adler, professor of classics and chair of the department at the University of Maryland at College Park. The …

1
Jean Renoir's Rules of the Game 48:29

26d ago48:29

48:29

Jean Renoir’s Rules of the Game isn’t just a classic film—it’s a sharp critique of society, morality, and the masks we wear. In this episode, all three of the guys sit down to break down how the film exposes the illusions of class, love, and human nature, all under the guise of a lighthearted, bordering on flippant comedy that ends with a homicide.…

1
Patrick Callahan on Pindar 1:08:32

1M ago1:08:32

1:08:32

This week, a full complement of hosts is joined by Prof. Patrick Callahan, Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at St. Gregory the Great Seminary to discuss Pindar's The Odes. A Theban poet for hire, Pindar's works present some unique challenges in disentangling their true meaning, and what he was actually like. Fortunately, Prof. Callahan…

1
Brian Chau on the Straussian Generation, Part III 43:58

1M ago43:58

43:58

Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. In this closing episode, Brian and Alex focus on interpretations of Bronze Age Pervert, including critique of the man himsel…

1
Brian Chau on the Straussian Generation, Part II 59:07

2M ago59:07

59:07

Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. This week, the focus shifts to a look at Hobbesian philosophy and Machiavellianism.…

1
Brian Chau on the Straussian Generation, Part I 59:15

2M ago59:15

59:15

This week, Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. Plus, is Gen Z the most esoteric generation to date?By The New Thinkery

1
Spencer Klavan on Epicureanism 1:06:34

2M ago1:06:34

1:06:34

A full complement of the guys are joined by Spencer Klavan, repeat offender on the show, host of Young Heretics, newly minted lecturer in the Classica and Languages programs at New College, associate editor at the Claremont Review of Books, and author most recently of Gateway to the Epicureans: Epicurus, Lecretius, and their Modern Heirs. The group…

1
Zena Hitz on Plato's Charmides 1:00:50

2M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

In this episode, the guys are all here, and joined by Zena Hitz of St. John's College. Together, the group dive into Plato’s Charmides. What does true wisdom look like? Can self-knowledge lead to a well-ordered soul? Listen in as the cast explore the dialogue’s reflections on temperance, philosophy, and the limits of human understanding. Plato’s in…

1
Richard Velkley on Heidegger and Strauss 1:08:37

3M ago1:08:37

1:08:37

In this rerelease of The New Thinkery, the guys are back to help bring in the new year, and are joined by Dr. Richard Velkley, the Celia Scott Weatherhead Professor of Philosophy at Tulane University. They discuss Heidegger, Leo Strauss, and the underlying premises of philosophy. After you've heard the serious stuff, stick around for the lightning …

1
Averroes and al-Ghazali 1:07:03

3M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

In this rerun of the inaugural episode of The New Thinkery, join the guys as they analyze Averroes' Decisive Treatise and al-Ghazali's Decisive Criterion. Their readings of these great works of medieval Islamic philosophy illuminate the relationship between reason and revelation. If you enjoyed the decisive treatise, check out Charles Butterworth's…

1
Devin Stauffer on Leo Strauss' Natural Right & History, Chapter 4 1:03:18

3M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

This week, David has once again died, but Alex and Greg have brought back Dr. Devin Stauffer, Professor and Associate Chair of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Together, the group dive into chapter four of Leo Strauss' Natural Right and History. Stauffer unpacks Strauss' critique of relativism, his reflections on modernity, and his …

1
Christopher Nadon On Classical Education and Why Kids Can't Read Good No More 58:40

3M ago58:40

58:40

This week, Alex and Greg meet up at UATX and are joined by Dr. Christopher Nadon, Associate Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College and teacher of Western Civilization and humanities at Emet Classical Academy in New York. The group touch on Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind before delving into Dr. Nadon's experience with j…

1
Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov on Strauss' Debate with Jacob Klein 1:19:21

3M ago1:19:21

1:19:21

This week, the guys are back and joined once again by Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov to further discuss their latest edited volume, Leo Strauss' Published but Uncollected English Writings, which serves as the backdrop for this episode. This time around, the group primarily analyze Strauss' debate with Jacob Klein before turning to a quick look at…

1
Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov on the Intention of Rousseau 47:18

4M ago47:18

47:18

This week, David has been brought back from the dead, but that didn't stop Greg and Alex from bringing two guests on for the show this week: Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov. The two have a new volume out Leo Strauss' Published but Uncollected English Writings that collects Strauss' essays that had previously been circulated mostly in scattered, on…

1
Panel: Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium, Part II 53:16

4M ago53:16

53:16

Happy New Year from The New Thinkery! This week concludes the Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium panel from two weeks ago. The group jumps right into it with questions on tragedy and comedy, explores the definition of eros, and more, before wrapping up with the tiny little question, "what is philosophy?" If you haven't already, listen to the first pa…

1
Adam Carrington on John Ford's Three Godfathers 46:42

4M ago46:42

46:42

In this special Christmas edition, Greg and Alex delve into John Ford’s poignant Western, Three Godfathers. A tale of redemption, faith, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season, the film offers a unique lens on themes of sacrifice and grace. We’re joined by Professor Adam Carrington, who brings his thoughtful perspective to this timeless stor…

1
Panel: Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium, Part I 1:01:52

4M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

This week, Greg and David take a break and let Alex do the talking, joined by multiple respected academics as the group gather to discuss Strauss' views on Plato's symposium, in part informed by panelist Rasoul Namazi and Svetozar Minkov's latest book, Leo Strauss on Religion: Writings and Interpretations. This episode includes an homage to Christo…

1
Roosevelt Montás on the Virtues of a Liberal Education 1:02:49

5M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

Is the ideal of a liberal education still achievable in the modern era? Roosevelt Montás, celebrated author and scholar at Columbia University, joins Greg and Alex to examine both its enduring virtues and its shortcomings. Together, the group discuss how a liberal education fosters critical thinking and civic engagement, why it faces resistance, an…

1
Thomas Powers on the Civil Rights Movement 55:22

5M ago55:22

55:22

Join the guys, minus David who has inexplicably gone missing, for an empassioned conversation with Carthus College's Professor Thomas Powers of Carthus College, and author of American Multiculturalism and the Anti-Discrimination Regime, as he explores both the successes and challenges of the new civil rights regime. From promoting equality to navig…

1
Samuel Stoner on Kant’s Conjectural Beginnings and the Story of Genesis 1:00:47

5M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

This week, Professor Samuel Stoner steps in for David and helps guide Alex and Greg through Immanuel Kant's thought-provoking short essay Conjectural Beginnings of Human History, where philosophy and religious thought intersect in a speculative retelling of Genesis. The group explore Kant's imaginative account of humanity's emergence from instinct …

1
Giovanni Ferrari on Plato the Writer 1:16:21

5M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

This week all the guys are back in the saddle, and joined by Prof. Giovanni R. F. (John) Ferrari, the Melpomene Distinguished Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a professor of Classics at UC Berkeley. Over the course of the episode, Prof. Ferrari unpacks his unique approach to Plato with the guys, highlighting things you don't see …

1
Damian Jungerman on Hannah Arendt's "Philosophy and Politics" 57:56

6M ago57:56

57:56

David and Greg dive into Hannah Arendt's influential essay "Philosophy and Politics" this week alongside returning guest Damien Jungerman, exploring Arendt's insights on the complex relationship between philosophical thought and political action. Together, the group unpacks Arendt's arguments on how thinkers shape—and are shaped by—the political la…

1
John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright 57:06

6M ago57:06

57:06

While you are either celebrating or lamenting who appears to be the victor of the 2024 election, the guys are showing their election season spirits, taking a look at John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright. With a backdrop of the Old West, old timey Southern ways lead to the formation of a lynch mob, and a candidate for office must step in to save the ma…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Gregmcbrayer Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The New Thinkery

The New Thinkery

1
Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God 50:48

1
Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments with Rob Wyllie & Matt Dinan 1:09:40

1
Eric Adler on Language Studies & "Decolonizing the Curriculum" 1:08:35

1
Jean Renoir's Rules of the Game 48:29

1
Patrick Callahan on Pindar 1:08:32

1
Brian Chau on the Straussian Generation, Part III 43:58

1
Brian Chau on the Straussian Generation, Part II 59:07

1
Brian Chau on the Straussian Generation, Part I 59:15

1
Spencer Klavan on Epicureanism 1:06:34

1
Zena Hitz on Plato's Charmides 1:00:50

1
Richard Velkley on Heidegger and Strauss 1:08:37

1
Averroes and al-Ghazali 1:07:03

1
Devin Stauffer on Leo Strauss' Natural Right & History, Chapter 4 1:03:18

1
Christopher Nadon On Classical Education and Why Kids Can't Read Good No More 58:40

1
Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov on Strauss' Debate with Jacob Klein 1:19:21

1
Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov on the Intention of Rousseau 47:18

1
Panel: Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium, Part II 53:16

1
Adam Carrington on John Ford's Three Godfathers 46:42

1
Panel: Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium, Part I 1:01:52

1
Roosevelt Montás on the Virtues of a Liberal Education 1:02:49

1
Thomas Powers on the Civil Rights Movement 55:22

1
Samuel Stoner on Kant’s Conjectural Beginnings and the Story of Genesis 1:00:47

1
Giovanni Ferrari on Plato the Writer 1:16:21

1
Damian Jungerman on Hannah Arendt's "Philosophy and Politics" 57:56

1
John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright 57:06