Why I decided to rename the podcast to 'Wise Hypocrite' and what it means for the future. Spoiler: absolutely nothing. || Podcast formerly known as The Great Everything. Bear with me as I iron out the wrinkles || || Join the conversation! Call in and leave me a message on Anchor || || Find me everywhere @WiseHypocrite: Clubhouse Instagram Facebook Twitter (but not really, I’m never on it!) || || Check out YouTube to find The Great Everything’s archived content from the good old...

The third of the 10 Questions of Human Existence is "How Do I Know"? Knowledge is the key connector between our subjective minds and the world beyond our consciousness. Yet we constantly undervalue it, and don't realise how rare and precious it is to actually know something. Too often, we take our certainties for granted, forgetting how easy it is to be wrong ... even when we are deeply convinced that we are right. In this episode we explore the role of knowledge in holding our world...

The second of the 10 Questions of Human Existence is "What is Real"?   From prokaryote to proctologist, something all life forms share is an ability to react to their surroundings. Building a picture of the world and its dangers and opportunities is a necessary precondition to all action. In this episode, drawing on insights from philosophy, biology and cognitive psychology, we explore how questions about external reality underlie our every moment, and how external reality may be very...

The first of the 10 Questions of Human Existence is "Who Am I"? A philosophy of self-authorship drives us to be the ones holding the pen in the story of our lives. But how can we write a great story if we don't know the main character? Drawing upon Heraclitus, Rousseau, Montaigne and Citizen Kane, we explore why self-knowledge is the first step in our path to personal fulfilment and greater understanding. And as we unravel the thread of the self, we run into problems - How can any answer...

The Great Everything 2.0 starts here!  In the story of your life, who is holding the pen?  In this "pilot" episode for the new incarnation of TGE, we introduce TGE's philosophy of self-authorship and social progress, and discuss how consciously engaging with The 10 Question of Human Existence can help us make a real difference in our lives, our communities, and the world. Find out more, including details, resources and research notes on our website (coming...

The wait is over! Recorded on my phone while pacing around over creaky floorboards (apologies for the sound!), a few thoughts on where I've been, where we are and what's coming next. TGE 2.0 returns July 2020.  Follow  on @thegreateverything everywhere. Except Twitter. I hate Twitter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

A short announcement and update regarding the future of TGE.

Culture Bites are ad-libbed bonus episodes of TGE, in which I share bits of research, random musings and mad ravings - raw, uncut and unedited. In this one, I ramble about my first true love: Michael Jackson. Do the thing on: Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com 

Culture Bites are ad-libbed bonus episodes of TGE, in which I share bits of research, random musings and mad ravings - raw, uncut and unedited. In this one, I talk about the patterns hidden within and that govern history. “[...]We are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively”. This quote is from the late Great comedian Bill Hicks. But it might as well have been the German philosopher Hegel. Do the thing...

Culture Bites are ad-libbed bonus episodes of TGE, in which I share bits of research, random musings and mad ravings - raw, uncut and unedited. Did you know that Galileo's father, Vincenzo Galilei, was an instrumental figure in the invention of opera? In this Culture Bite, I ramble about the Ancient Greek origins of opera, Galilei's radical musical theories, and the mysterious, supernatural power of music. Music: Carlo Gesualdo, 'Quando ridente e bella' Jacopo Peri, ' Io, che d'alti...

Where does the world come from? The Bible, Greek myths, to cosmological accounts of the Big Bang, we've been grappling with the question of our origin since the dawn of civilisation. But when did our approach to this question transition from the religious to the scientific? In this episode of The Great Everything, I explore the ideas of Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes, the first to come up with rational theories about the creation and constitution of our world. As such, today these...

In this Culture Bite, I discuss Hitchcock's quote: "There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it". What does this truth tell us about our psyche and how we approach our own suffering? Do the thing on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com 

In this Culture Bite, I discuss the ban from major media platforms of fake news purveyor extraordinaire, Infowars' Alex Jones. Do social media companies have a duty to preserve free speech? Is this a free speech issue? What are the perils of censorship? Do the thing on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com 

In this Culture Bite, I ramble about Ricky Gervais, the philosophical problem of change and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Yes, it's one of those ones. Do the thing on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com 

In this Culture Bite, I ramble about what works and what doesn't in Sacha Baron Cohen's new show - Who Is America? Do the thing on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com 

In this first "Culture Bite" of Season 4, I discuss the genius of chef Joël Robuchon and explore the notion of food as culture. Also, what the hell is a "culture bite"?! Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com 

In this 'Transformation' episode, a listener's question on moral relativism ("when is racism a moral failure?") prompts a philosophical musing on ethics - how do we assess the moral worth of people from different times and cultures? What moral standard should they be measured against? Does morality necessarily involve choice? What's really going on when we express a moral judgment? Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love...

To many, John Coltrane is more than just one of the Greatest musicians who ever lived - he's a religious figure. Worshipped as a Saint, what stands out most about him is the spiritual intensity of his music. In celebration of last week's release of the newly-discovered album "Both Directions At Once", we take a close look at the man, the music and the myth of John Coltrane. Music: * "India - Live at the Village Vanguard 1961", John Coltrane * "Freedom Now Suite", Max Roach *...

In this episode of The Great Everything, I take a look at the evolution of one of pop culture's greatest and most terrifying icons - Count Dracula. From his monstrous, hairy-palmed origins to his current status as dark, romantic heartthrob, Dracula's main power has always been the ability to adapt with the times, and embody the desires and fears of current society. What do the various versions of Dracula through the ages tell us about ourselves? Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured...

Yesterday, a newly published travel diary by Albert Einstein shocked the world, revealing his "racist and xenophobic" thoughts on the Chinese, Levantine and uhhhh... well, mainly just the Chinese. Was Einstein a racist? Is that even the right question? In this episode, I ramble about what's going through our minds when we use, and hear, generalisations. BBC Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44472277 Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes...

On the 100th episode of TGE, I brought in Marc, with whom I founded TheGreatEverything.com long ago during the Peloponnesian War. We talked about career change, pursuing your dreams, and the challenges of marketing a blog and podcast about, well, everything! Thank you all for helping me get TGE to 100! Here's to 100 more... Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love...

Today's Art episode is a culture bite about a musical piece so radical, so erotic, so goddam crazy, it's premiere provoked a riot! Igor Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du printemps", The Rite of Spring. In today's culture, would any piece of art provoke a similar reaction? Might Lars Von Trier's controversial new movie "The House That Jack Built", which provoked mass walkouts at the Cannes Film Festival, become a future classic? Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes...

Kendrick Lamar's recent debacle, when a white girl he had invited onstage sung the 'N word' has highlighted a worrying tribalism surrounding uses of that word. Here are some reflections on what happened, on the 'N word' and the power of language. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIbkUbdpBMs Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love...