Truth and Democracy Podcast

The Conservative Underpinnings of Wokeness: Is the Left Woke, Part 2

In this episode, Susan Neiman and I talk about the conservative philosophers and ideas upon which "woke" scholars rely.  

Is the Left Woke? With Susan Neiman, Part 1

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, we welcomed Harvard-educated, American moral philosopher, cultural commentator, and essayist Susan Neiman. Dr. Neiman has written extensively on the juncture between Enlightenment moral philosophy, metaphysics, and politics, both for scholarly audiences and the general public. She is a lifelong leftist and socialist, and an unlikely critic of "woke-ism." She argues the tenets of the woke have become antithetical to the traditional values of the left. She currently lives in Germany, where she is the Director of the Einstein Forum in Potsdam. Neiman writes in her new book, Left Is Not Woke: "I am unwilling to cede the word 'left' or accept the binary suggestion that those who aren't woke must be reactionary. A left-wing critique of those who seem to share the same values might seem to be an instance of narcissism. But it's not small differences that separate me from those who are woke." She adds that the discourse around "woke-ism" is confusing. It evokes emotions that all progressive people share, such as empathy for those who are marginalized and indignation for the oppressed, but those emotions are "derailed by a range of theoretical assumptions that ultimately undermine them."

Jesus Liberates the Nations (Matthew 15: 29-39)

Bert Newton interprets the Feeding of the 4000. 

The Revolutionary Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28)

The story of Jesus' defeat at the hands of a Canaanite woman. 

Public Schools and the Transgender Agenda

We have a discussion of the promotion of transgender understanding in our public schools and whether it's right to teach young people things their parents disagree with. 

Are Religion and Politics Separate? Part 2

Things get a little heated when leftists insist that religion has no place in politics.
Upcoming Events: Is the Left Really Woke? https://Tinyurl.com/LeftNotWoke
What's Wrong with Men? And What to Do About it: https://Tinyurl.com/WrongWithMen
Red Pill Men's Group: https://Tinyurl.com/RedPillMen
 

Are Religion and Politics Separate? Part 1

When our guest cancels, Rich Procida poses his questions to the audience. 

Character Disturbance and Politics with Dr. George Simon

This is part 3 of our discussion of "Recognizing Character Disturbance in Politicians and Leaders with Dr. George Simon, the author of "Character Disturbance: The Phenomenon of our Age." 

Our Narcissistic Society with Dr. George Simon

Dr. George Simon and I discuss character disturbance in our culture and what we can do about it.

Character Disturbance: The Phenomenon of Our Age

Politicians are notorious for telling lies and weaving together half-true and divisive narratives in order to gain notoriety, raise money, and win elections. There are two main reasons people get into politics and activism. The first is to make a positive difference in the world whatever that person believes that to be. The second is to benefit themselves. Most politicians have some combination of both, but some are primarily in it for themselves. Whether it’s aggrandizement, power, or money, how do we distinguish between those who are ill-motivated and those with more altruistic characteristics? Dr. George Simon is an internationally-recognized expert on manipulators and other problem characters and the author of 3 bestselling books. He’s made appearances on several major television and radio programs and is also the host of the Character Matters Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@georgeksimon Dr. Simon will tell us about what he describes as “the problem of our time:” character disturbance. We have an epidemic of narcissism in America. Character-disturbed people abound in our world and can be treacherous. They are especially dangerous when they hold positions of authority. Dr. Simon has worked with character-disturbed individuals throughout his career He will help us better understand and recognize the signs of character disturbance in our leaders and politicians so that we don’t elect them or put them into positions of authority.