Hey Everybody Philosophy!

S1E3: Interview with Descartes

What if you decided to doubt everything—your senses, your memories, even math itself—just to see what, if anything, survives? What if that experiment made you famous… and deeply unpopular… and eventually summoned you to a frozen royal court where philosophy is scheduled before sunrise? In Episode 3 of Hey Everybody, Philosophy!, Jeff D. sits down with René Descartes at the very end of his life—inside the court of Queen Christina of Sweden—while he’s cold, exhausted, brilliant, and still absolutely convinced he’s right. They talk about: * Why Descartes tried to reboot philosophy from scratch * The radical idea that comes at the beginning of knowledge, not the end * Whether he really hid in a stove to think * Why he avoided people… then became famous anyway * What happens when reason collides with religion, politics, and freezing Scandinavian mornings * And how “I think, therefore I am” became one of the most dangerous sentences ever written This episode isn’t just about Descartes’ ideas—it’s about the mindset that changed how we think about thinking itself. You’ll hear him dismantle reality piece by piece, argue with Jeff about God, free will, and error, and explain why certainty is rare, precious, and worth suffering for. By the end, you may not trust your senses. You may question your assumptions. You may start doubting things you’ve never doubted before. Which, frankly, Descartes would consider a huge success.

S1E2: Interview with Socrates

Episode 2: Socrates — The Original Question Machine What if your podcast guest is waiting to die, calmly sipping wisdom in an Athenian prison… and still asking you the questions? In Episode 2 of Hey Everybody, Philosophy!, host Jeff D. sits down with Socrates — the man, the myth, the professional irritant — after his death sentence but before the hemlock kicks in. This is not a lecture. It’s an interrogation. (Mostly of us.) Together, Jeff and Socrates explore: * Why Socrates never wrote anything down (and why that somehow worked out great for him) * The Socratic Method — what it really is, why it still matters, and how it accidentally paved the way for the scientific method * Why questioning authority got him executed (and why he’d do it again) * What it means to live a good life without deleting Netflix or moving to a cave * Whether TikTok makes us wiser or worse, if AI can be virtuous, and which is more corrupt: Wall Street or the Athenian Agora * How to practice philosophy at home — no toga required There are laughs. There are genuine insights. There may even be a philosophical debate about hot dogs. Socrates believed the unexamined life is not worth living — but does that mean we’re all doing it wrong? Or just not asking the right questions? 🎙️ Episode 2. One philosopher. Zero answers. Infinite questions. Press play… if you dare to be questioned.

S1E1: Interview with Confucius

Confucius: The Original Life Coach (500 BCE Edition) What if you could sit down with Confucius — yes, that Confucius — and actually ask him what he meant? In this episode of Hey Everybody, Philosophy!, host Jeff D interviews the legendary thinker who became the backbone of Chinese culture, moral philosophy, government exams, polite behavior, and — let’s be honest — at least half the inspirational wall art in coffee shops. But who was Confucius really? We talk: * Why he started teaching in the first place * What it means to “govern by virtue” instead of force * Why manners (yes, manners!) are the secret engine of civilization * The real meaning of ren, li, and The Way * And how The Analects became the most influential “accidental group chat transcript” in history And then — oh yes — we make him do a Speed Round, where he weighs in on: * The Super Bowl * The stock market * AI * Marriage * The general fate of humanity (light stuff!) Confucius is thoughtful. Calm. Unshakably wise. Jeff is… trying his best. If you’ve ever wondered: * Why Confucius still matters * What his ideas look like in the real world * Or whether ancient philosophy can survive modern nonsense — this is your episode. Come hear the wisdom. Stay for the laughter. Leave with way too many questions.