Religion and therefore philosophy, are the backbone of our worldview. I’m a Christian and enjoy understanding the philosophical underpinnings of peoples ideas. You learn that sometimes people don’t even realize that there’s a history of philosophical debates that inform a sentence they say. I’m really only listening to this to understand the philosophical underpinnings of secular liberal mindset. I think the host does a good job expositing the ideas that have came to be in the philosophical realm. He’s good at showing the ideas of the philosophers, but it’s clear by his choice of ideas and philosophers where he stands.

Secular liberals say conservatives are narrow minded, backwards, and aren’t willing to listen to the otherwise.... well here I am, listening to hours of your ideology. And as a former secular liberal, I can tell you that conservatives and Christians listen to a lot more secular liberal ideology than vise versa. Return the favor and go listen to Ronald Nash’s course on “The History of Philosophy and Christian Thought” to understand why all those “backwards” conservatives think the way they think.

Hi Stephan- what you are doing here is beyond amazing. I recently started listening to you and have totally spell-bounded by these! You are spreading knowledge and educating us. We all know that there is no alternate to “knowledge”. Love it. Keep up the good work sir

My wife introduced me to this podcast and I haven’t been able to stop listening to it. Stephen does a fantastic job taking what is a a challenging subject and making it digestible but also deep an interesting. I can’t describe how grateful I am to Stephen for all of his work in creating this fantastic podcast.

I started listening to the show when it first began and was with it for quite some time. It was great. I did like seeing how the sound quality and his discussions progressed. I enjoyed the wide range of topics the show presented. I stopped listening to the show about two years ago when it became bland and focused primarily on one subject, namely political philosophy. It is the easiest and rather repetitive topic to discuss and that’s why he does it. I check back every once in a while to see if there’s any refreshing material but that’s not the case. I gave some innocent criticism about this show on twitter once, about how the show seems to be steering in the same direction and lacks variety to give some constructive feedback and the very next episode Mr. West recorded a line directly related saying that people with this kind of criticism are simply shallow or have a lack of knowledge, which is a very narrow outlook on his part. The host makes comments like this throughout the episodes with other comments he has received in emails, etc. The host is quite pathetic. The point of the show is to give information in an easy, quick, and accessible way for people in a hurry looking for intellectual stimulation. This is like his gossip on a media platform. He has difficulty handling criticisms. He’s also a beggar of donations. Mentioning how someone can donate here and there is permissible and understandable, as someone may just not know. But there are several times Mr. West explicitly asks for donations, pleading to not have to go back to the warehouse work he once endured. If people truly enjoy the show, they will seek out a way to help if they know that the show is run by donations. They will look for the official website that has all of the information and links provided to help donate and keep the show going.

The review I read before listening to this show said something like “promise to at least listen through the first five episodes before giving up on it.” So I pushed through the heavy metal transitions that last only a few episodes and ended up somewhere beautiful.

Stephen West does a fantastic job of taking you through a narrative of significant moments in human history to share some of the greatest ideas of past thinkers that, in a way, have led us to this very moment.

It’s really helping me understand life as a young person in my 20s struggling with existential thoughts. From the show, I’ve learned new ways to take on the day and deal with the problems life throws my way.

Very glad I discovered this in 2021 and have so many more episodes yet to indulge in.

As the title implies, just great. I was a philosophy major in undergrad, got into the beer brewing industry in an odd spin of life choices, but I like to keep up with philosophy. I often am too busy to dedicate to reading front to back a book on philosophy and I rely on podcasts like this and others to keep my head in the realm and loop. The presenter does a fabulous job of making the material relatable, easy to understand, and also joking a bit and adding some light heartedness to the mix. Thoroughly enjoy this podcast and the presenters work.

This is, hands down, my favorite podcast. The way he manages to make complicated things easy to understand is awesome. I fancy myself well read and fairly intelligent, but philosophy, for me, is sometimes hard to get my mind around. This podcast has changed all that. I try very hard to not marathon several episodes a day. Why? Because I want to listen to one and then think on it. But it’s so hard to not immediately go on to the next and the next. Listening to this podcast has made me look deeper into several philosophic practices and to try to incorporate many of these ideas into my daily life. As much as I enjoy the entertainment factor, I LOVE how it makes you think about things and how it can change your perspective on the world around you.

Despite insulting the listeners in the fifth episode… I love this podcast. Im not a podcast guy in fact I am a teenager so I should not be this into this podcast. I’ve been listening to this obsessively for days. He’s captivating, sarcastic, and self aware.

Helps me see life differently and understand philosophy in terms more simple than what a normal philosophy textbook or professor would say

Im only about 9 episodes in but im absolutely obsessed. He really lays out the information in such an easy way to consume. Keep it up, im hooked!

Fantastic scripts, excellent speaking voice, thought-out content. I haven’t felt disappointed with a single episode. Mr. West takes a relatively inaccessible subject and brings it to the listener in a digestible and relevant fashion. Truly one of the great Podcasts, right up there with The History of Rome by Mike Duncan.

This man has changed my life and not because you sways you with his opinion in every episode but because he would show you a philosophical idea and then, after you have falling in love with that idea, he shows you the opposing argument. He will touch on everything: politics, religion, free will and so much more. I will recommend that even if you hate his first episode just as I did, at least listen to his first five to come up with your own opinion about this show. Good luck and happy learning!!!

Great podcast! Can you do an episode on Mill’s On Liberty and On the Subjection of Women?

Stephen has an amazing way of breaking down complex philosophical concepts into bite size chunks which a person like me with limited time and capability can understand without losing on complex subtleties of subject.

I am very grateful to Stephen for all the efforts he puts to make philosophy accessible to layman like me.

Totally glad I found this podcast- I started studying philosophy in high school and followed through in college as well. I had no idea this podcast existed until about a month ago- it’s very informative and accurate! Definitely recommend!!

I’ve never studied philosophy before. I stumbled on the podcast and am so very happy I did. I would suggest to others- novices like myself- start as the very beginning of this podcast and build a solid foundation. The teaching is thorough, accessible, and digestible. That way the knowledge easily unfurls and you’ll naturally be lead to great reading and deeper understanding.

My only suggestion would be if you could suggest which interpretation is the best for those looking to learn more without it being too heady.

Thanks very much for this wonderful podcast.

I’ve never studied philosophy. Not one class. I wasn’t even clear on what it was and yet this guy makes it so easy to understand that philosophy is in everything. It’s in every academic discipline. I feel like this understanding helps complete my education. If you’ve never studied philosophy, I would definitely recommend this show. He makes the listener very comfortable by providing a great historical foundation from the very beginning and breaks down concepts in easy to understand terms.

Understandable, entertaining and insightful. The creator is incredibly knowledgeable and breaks down complex topics in a fun and down-to-earth manner.

Thank you so much for making these philosophical concepts so easy to understand and fun to learn about, I absolutely love the show and can’t wait to listen more!

I didn’t even know what Philosophy was because I didn’t care. This guy just opened up my closed mind to a new subject that I’m not super excited to dive into. His charm and humor are a plus for new philosophy listeners.

I listen to many different philosophy podcasts, and this is by far my favorite. Steven west is a great presenter. He blends concise elucidations of different thinkers with humor in a way that makes the episodes entertaining for both philosophers and non-philosophers alike. I find myself listening to episodes that I’ve already heard when I need something to listen to, and gaining new insights the second time through. “Philosophize this!” has depth without being overly dense, which is a great achievement.

This podcast is great. It’s like I’m back in undergrad studying philosophy for the first time again. Thank you for the easily understandable and story-like explanations of these philosophical ideas.

i met this awesome dude while driving for uber in newark, nj!

i had a short, great conversation, started listening his podcasts and loved them. will continue listening to be enlightened!

This is a great podcast. You learn a lot about the world and ways to think about how we all fit together. Stephen West is very knowledgeable and really does a lot of work to create these episodes. Highly recommend them.

seriously the best. so interesting & educational. you say everything perfectly. i really appreciate this podcast. i listen to it all day at work & it makes the work day just fly by!!!

If you have even an inkling of interest in philosophy, listen to this. You’ll love it. Good job and please keep going.

Amazing and informative show full of enlightenment and applicable information beyond the historical facts.

As an educator, I return each summer to episodes, seeking to utilize philosophy in my pedagogy. I’ve been a proud Patreon member for a number of years now, and Mr. West’s storytelling has provided my life with great value.

West's approach to this collosal task is consistently refreshing and informative. I truly hope that he somehow reaps a substantial portion of what he sows. Thank you. You enrich my life.

Thanks for the great content. I enjoy your voice style , jokes, and many more I think.

One of my favorite is episode #131 Gramsci - Cultural Hegemogy

I’m not a big leaver of reviews, this is my second ever (not counting Airbnb) but with such quality content Steven West deserves at least a review. I can see a donation in the future...

Ive also become a heavy podcast listener in the last 15 months. Within the last 2 months however Ive narrowed my viewports to a select few that I deem provide me with the most beneficial knowledge/perspectives (IMO of course) which don’t hmm and haw the same ideas in different ways.

I skipped a few centuries after Markus Aurelius to get to some the the enlightenment period and I’m glad I did (although I’m confident I’ll go back)! there are items in almost each episode that has my jaw on the floor with how well the philosophers have articulated and framed the evolution of society.

Listening to this as well as my recent exposure to Ken Wilber has awakened and inspired my “intellect” in new ways

The way that you look at complicated philosophical concepts and distill them down in clear, fun, slightly irreverent ways that capture their essence and makes us think is not just great philosophy, it’s great teaching! Thanks for sharing this knowledge with us!

By far the most amusing, educational, and relatable podcast out there.

Awesome and cracking me up from the very first podcast. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I have been completely hooked to this podcast. It is informative, humorous and a joy to listen to. I recommend it for everyone who loves to learn and think!

Best podcast ever listened to.

Glad I stumbled upon this podcast . Very well researched and really informational, also entertaining. Already on episode 23 in 4 days !

This man's doing a rare service for our culture. He's made philosophy bingeworthy. Thank you for this podcast.

Much appreciated!

Such a great show. Most episodes I listen to more than once because they are so concise and enjoyable and well delivered. Lucky you if you’ve never listened. You get to marathon them all. Highly recommended!

This is so well done and it really all comes down to Stephen West’s talent for explaining the interesting parts an idea in clear terms and also in under 30 minutes. Not everyone with a podcast is good at this – there’s a whole sea of shows where every episode is over an hour, with guest hosts and sound effects layered in to keep listeners engaged. Stephen is literally just 1 guy speaking into a microphone without bells & whistles of the audio variety. His average listener rating speaks purely to the quality of the content.

#152 & #153

Has he done it all? GREAT podcast, especially in the beginning. Now that he has exhausted the philosophers, what is left? The time between recordings go months or weeks. What next? Why not just quit and do something new listeners can rely on?

This guy doesn’t amazing job breaking down things for you to understand and has you wanting more can’t wait to the next episode and Joe Rogan has constantly mentioned his name on his podcast definitely worth a listen

So glad I found this podcast. I’ve always kind of liked philosophy but mostly at a surface level. Stephen West is the Stephen Hawking of philosophy. He takes complex ideas and explains them so anybody can understand. Keep up the great work!

Great podcast, very thoughtful discussion.

I’m relistening to every episode in order because I cannot get enough of Steven West (Stephen West?) philosophizing me. And because I can’t remember the names of the philosophers and I’m tired of discrediting myself in conversation. I’ve listened to a bunch of philosophy podcasts but no one is as comprehensive and interesting as West.

Super accessible, my version of Sunday school. So many perspectives and all of them given fair and enlightening defense.

Love the podcast.

Love listening to this podcast always retaining and insightful. Am I missing something why the long periods of time between episodes. I like the material so much but mayor bummer having to wait months in between episodes.