Unpacking Ideas
Zach Stehura
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Top 10 Unpacking Ideas Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Unpacking Ideas episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Unpacking Ideas for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Unpacking Ideas episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
19. Albert Camus on The Absurdity of Life
Unpacking Ideas
07/25/22 • 70 min
In this episode we unpack Algerian Novelist Albert Camus' 1942 essay "The Myth of Sisyphus."
This essay explores...
-Why life is an absurdity
-Why sitting with inconvenient truths make them easier to bare
-How to find meaning in a meaningless world
Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
A Night of Serious Drinking by Rene Daumal
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (film)
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Arthur O'Dwyer
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:52 Writing from a place of confusion and curiosity
00:08:15 The only Serious Philosophical Problem
00:08:55 The Nietzschian Criterion
00:11:32 Can we live with the awareness of the absurd without turning away?
00:13:00 Suicide as a social cause vs. existential cause
00:14:56 Is living worth the suffering?
00:14:44 The uncertainty of the afterlife
00:16:47 Camus two certainties
00:18:08 Nostalgia for Unity
00:20:40 Camus’s Critique of Science
00:23:11 Waking up to the Absurd
00:27:35 Definition of Absurdity
00:30:04 Philosophical Suicide
00:30:55 Critique of Kierkegaard
00:36:25 Critique of the Phenomenologists
00:43:21 Truths worth Dying For
00:47:05 The Greek Myth of Sisyphus
00:52:50 What Makes Sisyphus a Tragedy
00:54:44 Abandoning Hope
00:57:29 Consciousness as the cause of and cure to suffering
00:58:16 Finding Meaning in the struggle
01:03:42 We can only control how we respond
01:05:27 Crushing Truths Perish from Being Acknowledged
01:09:00 wrapping up/outro
1 Listener
16. The Book of Job on The Problem of Evil
Unpacking Ideas
05/23/22 • 87 min
In this episode we unpack "The Book of Job" from The Old Testament of the Bible
This book explores...
-Why God allows bad things to happen to innocent people
-Why surrender is sometimes the only answer to that which is out of our control
-Why pondering the cosmos helps put our personal suffering into perspective
Links to Reading and other Books mentioned
The Wisdom Books by Robert Alter
The Art of Biblical Poetry by Robert Alter
The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick (film)
**note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Lee Posna [email protected]
Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
Timestamps
(00:01:22) Introducing Job
(00:03:59) Author/Date/Translation
(00:09:45) Summary of Job Story
(00:17:10) Loyalty to God
(00:22:55) "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, naked shall I return tither."
(00:26:19) Job's wife's skepticism
(00:27:55) Victim Blaming (Job's friends)
(00:36:39) God's response to Job
(00:42:40) Acceptance/Surrender to fate
(00:46:20) Carl Jung's "Answer to Job"
(00:53:59) Putting personal suffering into perspective
(00:58:43) The Problem of Evil
(01:23:28) Summing up
22. Aldous Huxley on Altered States of Consciousness
Unpacking Ideas
09/19/22 • 58 min
In this episode we unpack British novelist and public intellectual Aldous Huxley's 1954 essay "The Doors of Perception."
This essay explores...
- Huxley's experience on Mescalin
- The Reducing Valve Theory of Consciousness
- The human desire to transcend self-conscious self-hood
- The ethics of the contemplative life
Links to Reading & Articles mentioned
The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley
General Resonance Theory (paper)
Entropic Brain Hypothesis (paper)
Nested Observer Windows (paper)
The Bhagavad Gita translation by Eknath Easwaran
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Nikki Johnson linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-johnson-free-thinker/
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 introduction
00:03:05 background about Huxley’s trip
00:05:58 the challenge of trying to communicate direct experience
00:11:30 Nikki's multi-sphere model of consciousness
00:14:28 the various terms for “God”
00:16:36 the reducing-valve theory of consciousness
00:27:52 types of people who filter out less primary consciousness
00:28:09 The Artist
00:31:26 The Schizophrenic
00:35:40 The Genius
00:36:33 the terror of witnessing God directly
00:43:06 the morality of the contemplative life
00:46:32 Huxley’s conception of enlightenment
00:48:46 the desire for self-transcendence
00:50:45 the war on psychedelics
00:54:27 integrating lessons from past lives
00:56:15 how a psychedelic experience changes a person’s character
00:57:23 wrapping up/outro
14. Robert Louis Stevenson on Idleness
Unpacking Ideas
02/21/22 • 89 min
In this episode we unpack Scottish Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson's essay "An Apology for Idlers" from 1877.
The essay explores...
-Why we should spend a good deal of time being idle in our youth
-Why we have a moral duty to be happy
-Why books aren't all they're cracked up to be
Links to Reading and Articles mentioned
"An Apology to Idlers" by Robert Louis Stevenson
**note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Alex Berner Pocket Bard (Interactive music app for gamers and tabletop RPG's like D&D)
Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:42 Does idleness make us grow weary?
00:08:21 Stevenson’s definition of Idleness
00:12:58 how different generations view idleness
00:17:57 how one’s happiness effects other people
00:22:24 better to be happy and poor than miserable and industrious
00:28:04 the resentment workers feel towards idlers
00:31:01 rethinking priorities
00:31:31 the story of Alexander the Great and Diogenes
00:41:57 the resentment unrecognized workers feel
00:45:58 equating one’s self worth with one’s economic value
00:48:51 spending time being idle in youth
00:50:28 Experiential learning vs. book learning
00:54:12 books are a bloodless substitute for life
00:59:11 leaving yourself space for having your own ideas
01:06:26 all work and no play is soul crushing
01:08:52 assessing how much time we spend on certain tasks
01:12:17 your work doesn’t matter as much as you think it does
01:13:12 the “great man” theory of history
01:17:45 why sacrificing your youth for work is a bad idea
01:21:25 fame and money doesn’t make you happy
01:24:17 sensitivity to talking about work
01:26:59 wrapping up/outro
13. Epicurus on Death Anxiety
Unpacking Ideas
02/04/22 • 95 min
In this episode we unpack "Letter to Menoeceus" by Ancient Greek Philosopher Epicurus.
The Letter explores...
-Why death is not something we need to fear
-Why those who need luxury least are the ones who enjoy it most
-How to make calculations to maximize pleasure and tranquility
Links to Reading and articles mentioned
"Letter to Menoceus" by Epicurus
"Money Buys Happiness Only to a Certain Point" by Andrew T. Jebb of Purdue University
"Better Never to Have Been" by David Benatar"
**note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode!
Host: Zach Stehura Unpackingideas.com
Guest: Daniel Libin
Theme Music: Polyenso Listen here
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:04 Section 1
00:03:00 Philosophy is for The Old and Young
00:06:28 Happiness is Not Everything, but Unhappiness is
00:09:38 Happiness vs. Ataraxia vs. Eudaemonia
00:15:34 Section 2
00:17:32 Gods Aren’t Concerned with Human Affairs
00:20:00 Section 3
00:21:29 Epicurean Death Argument
00:22:55 Alief vs. Belief
00:25:45 Aristotle’s 3 types of Arguments
00:26:47 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
00:29:25 Near Death Experiences
00:30:04 Fear of Death vs. Fear of Dying
00:31:17 Death Anxiety
00:32:41 Thomas Nagel’s Counter Argument to Epicurus
00:42:58 Section 4
00:45:00 Better to Have Never Been?
00:52:30 Section 5
00:53:47 Ataroxia
00:54:44 Buddhism vs. Epicureanism
01:01:14 Section 6
01:02:32 Epicureanism vs. Hedonism
01:07:35 All Pain is Bad, but Sometimes We Should Choose the Painful Option
01:09:00 Hedonic Calculation
01:10:30 Section 7
01:12:18 Misinterpretations of Epicureanism
01:13:54 Those Who Least Need Extravagances, Enjoy Them the Most
01:16:47 “Everything Natural is Easy to Obtain, Whatever is Groundless is Hard to Obtain”
01:24:23 Section 8
01:25:14 Prudence & Justice
01:28:40 Section 9
01:30:37 Better to Be Virtuous than Lucky
01:33:08 Wrapping up/Outro
23. John Muir on Finding God in Nature
Unpacking Ideas
10/17/22 • 55 min
In this episode we unpack American Naturalist and Environmental Activist John Muir's Spiritual Writings from 1867-1915.
These letters explores...
- The Revitalizing Effects of Wilderness on the Body and Spirit
- The Interconnectedness of All Things in Nature
- Finding Gratitude in the Big and Little Things in Life
Links to Reading & Articles mentioned
Spiritual Writings by John Muir
Chief Seattle full Speech 1854
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Mark McCann Wordsnvisions.com
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:55 Hiking as a Metaphor for Life
00:05:13 Summary of John Muir’s Life
00:08:35 Water over Stones
00:09:14 Finding God in a Thunderstorm
00:12:44 The Fear of the Unknown
00:16:57 The Call of Nature
00:20:52 The Confessional of the Woods/Solitude
00:24:13 Man’s Relationship to Nature
00:34:10 Seeking God in Scripture and Nature
00:35:06 The Cathedral Effect
00:40:27 Gratitude for The Big and Little Things
00:43:22 The Revitalizing Effects of Wilderness on the Body and Spirit
00:51:00 Muir’s Mission in Life
00:53:34 Wrapping up/Outro
15. Rainer Maria Rilke on The Creative Process
Unpacking Ideas
03/21/22 • 84 min
In this episode we unpack Austrian Existential Poet Rainer Maria Rilke's masterpiece "Letters to a Young Poet."
These letters explore...
-Why solitude is vital for creatives
-Why the creative process is similar to the gestation period and birthing of a baby
-Why advice is often unhelpful
Links to Reading and other Books mentioned
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
**note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Jasia Ries Instagram @thejasia
Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:17 Translation
00:03:55 Background to the letters
00:05:48 Advice to others is often advice to ourselves
00:09:21 Turning inward to answer your biggest questions
00:17:15 A great work of art springs from necessity
00:22:19 There is nothing boring. Only boring people
00:23:26 Solitude
00:30:36 The gestation of an idea
00:35:15 Rilke’s conception of God
00:41:48 Living the questions
00:48:15 Things that are difficult are worth doing
00:49:30 Entering a relationship from a place of already being whole
00:56:20 What the sexes can learn from each other
01:04:04 Codependency vs. Interdependency
01:09:50 Sadness and Change as two sides of the same coin
01:19:42 wrapping up/outro
21. Eric Berne on Games People Play
Unpacking Ideas
09/02/22 • 64 min
In this episode we unpack Canadian psychiatrist and analyst Eric Berne's 1964 book "Games People Play."
This book explores...
- The 6 different types of social interactions
- The most common games people play
- What intimacy is and why it is so rare
Links to Reading
Games People Play by Eric Berne
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Sonya @selfhelpsonya on TikTok & Instagram
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:04 The 6 Types of Interactions
00:05:59 Withdrawal
00:08:09 Procedures
00:10:13 Rituals
00:11:39 Emotional Stroking
00:14:28 Calculating how many strokes to give
00:19:21 Pastimes/Small-talk
00:20:06 Types of Small-talk
00:21:08 How a host determines the pastimes people play at a party
00:24:08 The rules for small-talk
00:27:16 Why we engage in small-talk
00:28:38 The 3 Ego States
00:29:25 The Parent Ego State
00:29:45 The Child Ego State
00:30:18 The Adult Ego State
00:31:32 Complementary Transactions
00:33:31 Crossed Transactions
00:36:00 Child-Child Transaction
00:38:04 Adult-Adult Transaction
00:38:39 The 2 Levels of of an interaction (social level & psychological level)
00:39:05 Superficial Transactions
00:39:32 Ulterior Transactions
00:39:46 Flirtatious Games
00:42:32 A Thesaurus of Games
00:42:36 "Look Ma, No Hands!"
00:47:32 "Now I've got You, You Son-of-a-Bitch!"
00:52:55 "Why Don't You, Yes But..."
00:55:25 Intimacy
00:56:00 The Uncorrupted Child
00:57:39 Operations ie. stating a need directly
01:00:36 Why most people settle for games
01:01:53 Closing Thoughts
01:03:34 Outro
20. Jean Piaget on The Psychology of Children
Unpacking Ideas
08/08/22 • 90 min
In this episode we unpack Swiss Epistemologist and Developmental Psychologist Jean Piaget's 1969 book "The Psychology of a Child."
This book explores...
- The Stages of Cognitive Development
- How Morality develops in the child
- How and Why Children Play
Links to Reading and Other Sources Mentioned
The Psychology of the Child by Jean Piaget
A Piaget Primer by Dorothy G. Singer & Tracey A. Revenson
Conversations with Piaget by Jean-Claude Bringuier
Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Jeff Micheal-Johnson
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:26 What Piaget was trying to study
00:09:15 How a Child Learns (Adaptation/Assimilation/Accommodation)
00:17:04 The Stages of Cognitive Development
00:24:00 The Sensory-Motor Stage/Egocentrism
00:30:42 Object Permanence
00:33:19 Language at the Sensory-Motor Stage
00:36:15 Play at the Sensory-Motor stage/Practice Play
00:37:32 The Pre-moral Stage
00:38:21 The Pre-operrational Stage/Superstitious Thinking
00:43:44 Language at the Pre-operational stage/The Monologue
00:46:00 The Collective Monologue
00:47:53 Play at the Pre-operational stage/Parallel Play
00:50:57 Symbolic Play
00:52:48 Animism
00:54:20 Free Play
00:57:39 The Conventional Stage of Morality
01:01:18 Conservation
01:06:36 The Concrete Operations Stage
01:07:15 Language in the Concrete Operations stage
01:10:07 Play at the Concrete Operations stages/Games with Rules
01:16:10 The Autonomous Stage of Morality
01:18:42 The Formal Operations Stage/Abstract Thought
01:22:17 Language at the Formal Operations Stage
01:22:56 Life after the 4 stages of Development
01:24:09 Spiritual Development
01:25:30 Egocentrism vs Egolessness
01:27:17 How the Child Lives on in the Adult
17. Stanley Milgram on Obedience to Authority
Unpacking Ideas
06/06/22 • 93 min
In this episode we unpack American Social Psychologist Stanley Milgram's 1974 book "Obedience to Authority."
This book explores...
-Why we lose our sense of moral responsibility when taking orders
-Why we are so bad at predicting our capacity to be obedient
-Why the desire to be polite can lead us to do evil
Links to Reading and Other Books/Movies Mentioned
Obedience to Authority by Stanley Milgram
CRT: An Introduction by Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic
Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian (short story)
Experimenter (movie about Stanley Milgram)
A Hidden Life by Terrence Malick (film)
**note** reading is not required to enjoy the episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Claire Bevan [email protected]
Theme Music: Polyenso listen here
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:52 Historical context of the Milgram Experiment
00:05:00 Asch’s Conformity Experiment
00:06:57 Milgram’s Existential Questions for the Experiment
00:09:25 Milgram’s Personal Motivation for the Experiments
00:09:53 Summary of the Experiment
00:15:012 Milgram’s Hypothesis for the Experiment
00:17:25 Results of the Experiment
00:18:39 the Disconnect between our predictions and reality
00:19:50 The Attribution Error
00:21:07 The Agentic State/Loss of Moral Responsibility
00:25:47 The Horrific Consequences of the Division of Labor in Society
00:28:12 Doing What We’re Told as a Way of Preserving Cognitive Energy
00:32:35 Victim Blaming
00:33:10 Dehumanization feedback loop
00:38:26 Variations of the Experiment
00:39:20 Proximity of Experimenter to Subject
00:43:35 Proximity of Subject to Victim
00:47:47 Power in Numbers in Dissent
00:51:30 Not Seeing Disobedience as an Option
00:54:08 Counteranthropromorphism
00:56:36 More Variations
00:58:52 Motivations for Dissent
01:01:30 The Sequential Nature of Action
01:03:43 The Unknown of Dissent
01:04:22 The Moment of Bravery to Say No
01:05:08 Obeying out of a sense of Politeness
01:09:49 Feeling Bad After Doing the Right Thing
01:12:28 Profiles of Subjects
01:13:22 Obedience to God as an Antidote to Obedience to Corruption
01:18:14 Feeling Bad vs. Doing Good
01:20:18 The Effects of the Experiment on the Subjects
01:23:08 The Ethics of the Experiment
01:24:40 Lessons Learned for the Experiment
01:29:16 Variations we would have liked to see
01:32:22 Wrapping Up/Outro
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FAQ
How many episodes does Unpacking Ideas have?
Unpacking Ideas currently has 35 episodes available.
What topics does Unpacking Ideas cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Podcasts and Philosophy.
What is the most popular episode on Unpacking Ideas?
The episode title '19. Albert Camus on The Absurdity of Life' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Unpacking Ideas?
The average episode length on Unpacking Ideas is 74 minutes.
How often are episodes of Unpacking Ideas released?
Episodes of Unpacking Ideas are typically released every 27 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Unpacking Ideas?
The first episode of Unpacking Ideas was released on May 17, 2021.
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