If you have the slightest interest in philosophy this podcast is for you. Stephen West is great at distilling ideas and fun to listen to

This is like learning philosophy from a childhood friend the grew up to be a professor. The only show that have repeatedly start over at ep. 1

Stephen West is an absolute unit. The man is a literal god. Idk how he does it. Every podcast is an utter treasure trove of information. Amazing work and incredible effort every time. Thank you King.

Stephen, I was consistently listening to your show many years ago, when I was going through a difficult and lonely time. Your show had a big impact on me, and rediscovering it today is very meaningful. You are doing great work here. The Camus series is incredible. Thank you very much.

I recently stumbled across this podcast, and I’m so glad I did. I love history, culture, psychology and sociology, so Im familiar with philosophy to some degree. But have yet to dig into. This definitely has me digging into it. I usually listen at work, but steadily take notes when I can. It’s helped me fill in some gaps on beliefs or ideologies I have always leaned towards. “Divine timing” if you will, this is exactly want I needed for a project I’m working on.

I wish I was as clever as Stephen. The way he explains concepts is brilliant. I love this podcast and have been listening since 2019. Sometimes I listen to other podcasts but I always come back to this one because it teaches me so much!

Please do The Rebel. O happen to think it is a very important book.

Please do a show on Judith Butler

Stephen West’s talks make concepts of philosophy which I have always wanted to know more about, accessible. But he is capitalizing on the achievements of great thinkers. With no advanced studies in this field, he can offer no more than book reports.

I love this show, I’ve listened to every episode. I encourage anyone to give it a chance and think deeply.

Please do an episode on The Plague!

Love the new author/philosopher angle we are in. Great job Stephen!

Do the plague next

1. Thanks for making philosophy more accessible, engaging and inspiring! I listen to this podcast basically everyday as complementary to philosophy courses after school. 2. Stephen does balance humor and seriousness gracefully!!! I am always impressed 😭😭😭😭😭

I just started listening to the podcast and am about to complete the Dostoevsky sequence. As the political world seems now to be on fire, I must say that revisiting the great Russian’s masterworks through a philosophical lens has been a great antidote to the headlines. Stephen West is a brilliant, but utterly accessible, guide in this. He’s also quite witty.

Great, insightful, and educational introspective perspectives -- with hints of good humor. Touches bases on a wide variety of mindsets and ideas to broaden anyone's intellectual horizon.

This is my first time reviewing something and I appreciate the podcast so much I am 10 and it makes so much sense

Perhaps it’s a bit unfair to write a review this critical of content from a decade ago, but I’ve been making my way through your back catalogue. I really in general don’t mind the hundreds of attempts at humor that fall flat, you go overboard at times when I would prefer you stay on topic but there’s a charm to it as well, it’s like having a dorky, cheesy professor’s lecture in my ear. Until I landed on the suicide episode…I intend to continue listening and shrug it off but man it just did not sit well with me to hear such a sensitive subject approached with the same cavalier, quip-a-minute tone. If you can’t approach a subject like this one without trying to crack-wise constantly, maybe you shouldn’t cover them. I can handle the reflections on the moral ethical implications of committing suicide, what i can’t handle is the irreverent tone. Overall, I’m still enjoying the show as a broad overview on the most significant and influential philosophical voices throughout history; it serves as a helpful companion piece as I dig into their material on my own. Thank you for putting yourself out there in this way and providing this content for years. I do hope the callous approach to sensitive subjects softens over time.

Love this podcast. So thoughtful, intelligent, amusing and educational. Thank you for this wonderful work,

I recently sought out this podcast because I wanted to do some light learning while washing the dishes. I noticed some topics that I had been interested in before but didn’t have the time or will to commit to. For me, these episodes have served as tasty appetizers that have started a deeper line of inquiry, which often involves reading the highlighted text and then getting turned on to related texts. Thanks so much for synthesizing these ideas down into approachable segments.

The Dostoyevsky episodes are excellent- couldn’t recommend this show more! Thanks for everything Stephen!

Former philosophy major - now attorney here. I love this show. Stephen does a great job of explaining the positions charitably without tearing them down (but still giving some critiques as context). As a non philosophy professional, I am more concerned in learning something new and taking practical value from it than listening for 20 minutes about why something might have a logical flaw. I also don’t have time any more (busy with work kids etc) and he makes it easy to understand and take value from. Listening to a few episodes and already taught me quite a bit.

Thank you for providing a quality podcast in a sea of crapola.

Oh my! I just found this podcast & I’m going to have to scroll back and listen from the very start! Clear and smart! Great podcast!

I found this podcast while searching randomly. Gave it a listen and it’s turned out way more interesting than anticipated. Great work!

Loved the Dostoevsky episode and I hope you do all his works!!!! I love his books and would love to better understand them even more!

I have been listening to this podcast for the past 5 ish years and have grown immensely in my own understanding of philosophy but also how I want to live my life. Really informative and fun episodes I would recommend to anyone.

Listened to them all (217) in under 90 days 😃

I’m a high schooler who really loves learning about philosophy and different types of belief systems and this podcast has really expanded my views on philosophy and on some of the things I’ve already known. Though I’m only just getting into it, I love it so much already

I am on episode #006 and I am already loving this podcast, is the only one that I am always listening. The explanation are amazing and very easy to digest. The only thing I would suggest is to give maybe a 2 minute summary of the episode. But other than that this show is amazing.

I love this podcast. I am learning so much philosophy! I listen to one episode daily, and I feel so smart afterwards, like I just increased my number of neurons or something. Mr. West is so entertaining and he makes the concepts so easy to learn and approachable. I wish I could have a cup of coffee with him and discuss the episode at their conclusion. Thank you so much for this podcast. You are truly doing a wonderful public service. I am truly grateful.

Mr. West has a rare ability to explain the most complex thoughts in history in a way that’s accessible to average listeners.

I have been interested in philosophy for a long, long time. I tried to read various sources, etc., but always ended up with a swimming brain that wandered off. I found and tried this podcast recently, and it is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for all these years. I have been listening in order, and Stephen explains the concepts in ways that even I can understand. THANK YOU, Stephen!

I mix of a philosophy overview and the context why the development of philosophy has been meaningful through time and meaningful today. Stephen does this with humor and aplomb, THANK YOU

Too many ads in the middle of the episodes totally disrupt the flow. Unsubscribing. Lex Fridman is the only podcaster who understands this and does it right.

As a beginner who starts to study more philosophy, the host uses a language that’s easy to understand those big concepts and gets you right into that world. I now listen to it everyday while walking my dogs. Please keep updating!!

Sad to see Steven sell out. His podcast was my introduction to philosophy and I loved it, but now I can clearly see his political standings. No longer impartial, very disappointing.

Fantastic podcast, love his delivery and I’ve learned so much.

The best philosophy podcast bar none. Love it and am having a great time listening to all the episodes, sometimes more than once. Kudos and keep it coming !!

I recently found this pod and after listing to several recent episodes I’m going back to listen to them all from the beginning. The early stuff is a little less polished, but still full of interesting and thought provoking information. If you like thinking about these big concepts, or enjoy learning about the historical context of the great thinkers, you’ll likely find something to enjoy here.

Love the smart, culturally astute and bold delivery. But #207…Isn’t climate change a real fear?

So I recently got into philosophy and listening to this podcast makes it even more interesting to learn about.

Recent episode: What an inaccurate and uneducated take on public libraries in the U.S. West should do some research before speaking with such confidence. Literally, do a quick google search or maybe visit one. Libraries do everything he pontificated about, and they are not empty. “More than 171 million registered users, representing over half of the nearly 311 million Americans who lived within a public library service area, visited public libraries over 1.35 billion times in 2016.” - IMLS

I am new to philosophy and this podcast has truly expanded who I am as a person, in ways I didn’t even knew were possible. Some episodes have quite literally blown my mind by helping me perceive things about the world and myself that were completely invisible to me before. Thank you.

Thank you for making this podcast it gave me so much structure i am 3 shows away from listening to every single episode. It has really helped grow as a person and mature mentally. I really appreciate what you are doing and what you continue to do. Just overall amazing job!!!!!

Thank you for being such a wonderful host, and helping me think more clearly.

No really I can’t!!!

My only criticism is that I want more episodes and longer show times!!!!

I am a consistent student of philosophy. This has to be the best philosophy podcast I have ever heard. Mr. West is absolutely incredible and explains the lesson in such an absorbable way. Very big fan!

...... It's great I'm 11 and my dad always put it on it's amazing