Best Kristian Urstad Podcasts (2025)

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The Fissure of Being, or Why You’re Never Whole: Sartre’s Existential Bombshell! 14:18

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8d ago14:18

14:18

Why are we not like rocks or cabbage? Because there's a hole or fissure at the heart of our being! Or so says the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Carl Jung, Heidegger, and the California Gold Rush! 13:40

15d ago13:40

13:40

The value of gold used to be largely symbolic. The Gold Rush marks a complete philosophical turning point when it comes to the perceived value of gold! And I think Jung and Heidegger would agree!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Star Wars vs. Star Trek - Why Star Trek is better! 12:00

21d ago12:00

12:00

Star Wars and Star Trek: Which of these is more philosophically interesting? And which of these two universes would you want to live in? I got my answer!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Byung-Chul Han - Why so many of us feel so empty today! 11:16

25d ago11:16

11:16

Han thinks there's a deep existential hollowness lurking beneath the shiny veneer and the noise of modern life. He attributes this to many things about our contemporary society. Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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ASMR - A sensory rebellion against our disembodied age! 11:50

28d ago11:50

11:50

Is ASMR just some superficial Youtube phenomenon? Or is there something important and deep behind its popularity? Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Susan Wolf and Dostoevsky - The Problem with being a Moral Saint! 14:42

1M ago14:42

14:42

On the surface, being a moral saint sounds like a great thing. But, not so fast! The contemporary philosopher Susan Wolf doesn't think so. And both Dostoevsky and Camus have their own concerns about thinking of yourself as morally pure! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Wisdom as Content, Grifters, and why Socrates wouldn’t have used Patreon! 10:43

1M ago10:43

10:43

In our attention-economy wisdom has now become content - ready-made for monetization! Socrates warned against this trend long ago!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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The Cynics - Ya gotta be TOUGH to be happy! 13:26

1M ago13:26

13:26

These ancient philosophers argued that physical toughness was a discipline essential to happiness. Relevant for us today? I think so! If interested, check out my new book series! The second book is available now! www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Learning to Love: Nietzsche, Beauty and the Beast and Don Quixote! 12:12

1M ago12:12

12:12

Nietzsche tells us that one must LEARN to love. That might sound a bit odd to us. What does he mean and why is it important? Find out more! If interested, check out my new book series! Here's the first one: A Manifest on Beauty: Reclaim Real Beauty in a Digital Age www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/…

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Astrology - What's up with that? 14:44

2M ago14:44

14:44

Does astrology make any sense? And if not, why do we still believe in it? If interested, check out my new book series! Here's the first one: A Manifest on Beauty: Reclaim Real Beauty in a Digital Age www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Jesus and Rousseau on Hypocrisy! 14:56

2M ago14:56

14:56

What's wrong with hypocrisy? Well, Jesus and Jean-Jacques Rousseau agree on at least one thing that's wrong with it! f interested, check out my new book series! Here's the first one: A Manifest on Beauty: Reclaim Real Beauty in a Digital Age www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/…

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Will Durant - The top ten greatest thinkers of all time! 21:07

2M ago21:07

21:07

The distinguished historian Will Durant published a book where he ranked the greatest thinkers ever! See who made the list! If interested, check out my new book series! Here's the first one: A Manifest on Beauty: Reclaim Real Beauty in a Digital Age www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/…

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Henri Bergson - Overcoming the tyranny of mechanical time! 17:18

2M ago17:18

17:18

The French philosopher Bergson criticized the scientific notion of time, instead turning to what he called lived time. Find out more! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If interested, check out my new book series! Here's the first one: A Manifest on Beauty: Reclaim Real Beauty in a Digital Age …

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Greek tragedy, Pollution and AI! + announcement! 14:48

2M ago14:48

14:48

If interested, check out my new book series! Here's the first one: www.amazon.com/Manifesto-Beauty-Reclaim-Digital-World/dp/1069510815/ The full title is: A Manifest on Beauty: Reclaim Real Beauty in a Digital AgeBy Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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If I could time travel....Cafe, Paris, 1940's! 17:29

2M ago17:29

17:29

If I could time travel anywhere, I’d skip the big battles and royal balls. Drop me in a smoky café in 1940s Paris—existentialism, espresso, and all! If you're not convinced, take a listen!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Kafka's A Hunger Artist - The Death of Uncompromising Art! 14:56

3M ago14:56

14:56

What would Kafka think about our attention economy today? And what about the state of our art? Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night - Don't surrender the flame! 15:55

3M ago15:55

15:55

How should we meet death? With rage! Or so says the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas! And he's not the only one! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Naomi Klein - The Apocalypse, Mars, and the Bunker Nation! 16:59

3M ago16:59

16:59

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!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Why We Can't Avoid Making JUDGMENTS—And Why That's a Great Thing! 14:14

3M ago14:14

14:14

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!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Adorno on Animals - "The degradation of a creature to the status of a mere thing" 15:15

3M ago15:15

15:15

The philosopher Theodor Adorno lays a powerful groundwork for thinking ethically about animals! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Humour as Social Critique - Let's keep LAUGHING at POWER! 15:48

3M ago15:48

15:48

Humour can have real revolutionary force! Ask the philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin. Let's keep laughing at the powerful. It will work!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Heidegger - The death of the LOVE LETTER in the time of the digital message! 14:08

3M ago14:08

14:08

The love letter has become an extinct species! This is a symptom of a much larger problem - at least according to Heidegger!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Miles Davis - Why LESS IS MORE! 14:21

3M ago14:21

14:21

In our world of more and faster and louder, we might do well to remember that less is often more! Just ask Miles!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Tolstoy vs. Dostoevsky - Some major DIFFERENCES! 17:51

3M ago17:51

17:51

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!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Buddhism and NON-ATTACHMENT - Some Objections! 16:20

3M ago16:20

16:20

Is human well-being and flourishing really all about detachment? I would argue, no!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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What does it mean to be a GOOD FATHER? 14:15

4M ago14:15

14:15

Inspired by Gabriel Marcel and Martin Buber, I argue that being a good father requires the invisible labor of presence.By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Byung-Chul Han and Plato on the POWER of BEAUTY! 11:20

4M ago11:20

11:20

Modern beauty has become tepid and smooth. It lacks the depth and friction and power of genuine beauty! Or so say Han and Plato!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Foucault and Kierkegaard - Where the heck has YOUTHFUL REBELLION gone? 19:22

4M ago19:22

19:22

When I was growing up teenage rebellion seemed to be everywhere! Where is it now? At the heart of this decline: social media and technology!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Socrates - Power and Stupidity: A Destructive Combination! 13:50

4M ago13:50

13:50

Socrates argues that ignorance is the worst of all evils! Especially in the service of power! Ring any bells today?By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Simone De Beauvoir and Hannah Arendt - A Happiness of ENGAGEMENT! 13:15

4M ago13:15

13:15

De Beauvoir and Arendt both argue against passive forms of happiness! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Pascal and Kierkegaard on the SUPERFICIAL LIFE - Owning up to one's SELF! 14:42

4M ago14:42

14:42

One could argue that we live more superficially than ever before. Pascal and Kierkegaard are particularly relevant here!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Why Plato wrote dialogues - Let's bring back the power of real conversation! 13:35

4M ago13:35

13:35

Plato chose not to write essays. He wrote dialogues instead. Why? And how is this relevant for us today? Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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The Myth of Icarus and Daedalus - Melting the wings of our children! 19:26

4M ago19:26

19:26

I think this ancient myth is more relevant today than ever before! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Nietzsche - DECADENT Culture! 12:23

4M ago12:23

12:23

According to Nietzsche, cultures can be healthy or decadent. How do we see the culture today?By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Erich Fromm - Submission to Authoritarianism! 19:20

5M ago19:20

19:20

The psychologist Erich Fromm argues that we tend to willingly submit to authoritarianism! Relevant today?By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Carl Jung - UFOs and their PSYCHIC SIGNIFICANCE! 13:32

5M ago13:32

13:32

Carl Jung believed that UFOs have their basis in a vital psychic need! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Camus's The Rebel - Helping us to find MEASURE in a time of EXTREMES! 14:47

5M ago14:47

14:47

What Camus has to say in The Rebel is very relevant to our current trend towards absolutist and binary thinking!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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The Cult of Personality and CEO worship! 15:08

5M ago15:08

15:08

Scary times...By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Kierkegaard - We've forgotten how to exist! Passion in the age of apathy! 13:09

5M ago13:09

13:09

Kierkegaard spends a lot of time talking about the connection between existence and passion! We'd do well to listen to him!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Dostoevsky - Kiss the earth! Why the soil matters! 15:09

6M ago15:09

15:09

The archetype of the earth is crucial for understanding Dostoevsky's view! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Byung-Chul Han and Aristotle - Why real friends shouldn't be afraid of conflict! 15:12

6M ago15:12

15:12

As friends we gratify and pamper too much, or so these philosophers say! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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The Beat Writers - If it ain't got that swing, it don't mean a thing! 20:52

6M ago20:52

20:52

The Beats were a group of poets and writers who emerged after WWII. What was their philosophy all about? Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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What time is it? - Chronos vs. Kairos! 14:29

6M ago14:29

14:29

The Ancient Greeks had two words for time - chronos and kairos. What is this distinction and how might it be important for us today? Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Why the death of Socrates matters! 21:49

6M ago21:49

21:49

Apart from the death of Jesus, no death has been discussed more than that of Socrates. And for very good reasons! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Selflessness as the antidote to death! 15:36

7M ago15:36

15:36

How do we take the sting off of death? How about a little less ego, a little more selflessness! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Kant's "What is Enlightenment?" - Emancipate your thinking! 13:13

7M ago13:13

13:13

Dare to know and think! This was Kant's calling in his famous 1784 essay "What is Enlightenment?" Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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The Delphic Injunction - KNOW THYSELF! 16:34

7M ago16:34

16:34

The words “know thyself” were carved into stone at the entrance to the revered temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece. What does it mean? Well, the Greek playwright Sophocles and the philosopher Socrates interpret it in their own way!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Bertrand Russell - Why I am not a Christian 22:27

7M ago22:27

22:27

In 1927 the philosopher Bertrand Russell gave a lecture called Why I am not a Christian. Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Dostoevsky and Heidegger - How to escape the algorithm! 17:39

8M ago17:39

17:39

Both Dostoevsky and Heidegger, in their own way, look for ways to salvage some deeper meaning and experience in the midst of our increasingly technological and rational-scientific world! Find out more!By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb

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Cormac McCarthy's The Road - Each the other's world entire! 33:48

8M ago33:48

33:48

One of the most emotionally powerful novels ever written! A father and son try to make their way across a post-apocalyptic America trying to get to a better place.By Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb