Lost in Thought
183 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsThinking about life and its mysteries.
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Episodes
102. The psychology of success
September 03, 2023 12:59 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBIt's normal to feel overwhelmed when thinking about success. Perhaps success reflects something about our true selves, or it may signal our intelligence or ability to be creative, or perhaps it demonstrates our capacity to conform to social norms. But success is one of those concepts that is so hard to define that it seems to be entirely subjective. In today's episode, I look at the psychology and philosophy of success, what it means to be successful, what we can do to make sure we are think...
101. The psychology of antidepressants
August 27, 2023 11:51 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBIt's normal to take antidepressants. They calm down the inner existentialist, they make depression manageable, they make it easier to get out of bed, and they generally make life feel less overwhelming. But none of us really know how they help, or whether it's worth pushing through some of the side-effects they cause. In this episode, we unpack how the most common antidepressants (SSRIs) work, what side effects we can sometimes experience, as well as potential reasons we may have for startin...
#100 Anxiety and Content Creation
February 25, 2023 06:58 - 23 minutes - 32.7 MBMy 100th episode. Thanks for being here. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —Personal Site
#99 Understanding Jordan Peterson's relevance in 2023
January 07, 2023 04:05 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBIt's 2023, Andrew Tate has just doxxed himself into a Romanian Prison, and somehow Jordan Peterson still one of the most popular public figures. This episode focuses on 2 of the many issues I have with Jordan: his self-help, and his ambushing of vulnerable and isolated people. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Personal Site LEARN PHILOSOPHY WITH ME: —Beginners Philosophy with Aleks
#98 New Year Stress and Ambition
January 02, 2023 08:08 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBSetting goals feels counterintuitive because it inevitably ends up in self-loathig. Maybe, though, there's a way we can set goals AND be happy. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Personal Site LEARN PHILOSOPHY WITH ME: —Beginners Philosophy with Aleks
#97 BRYN CHAPMAN-PARISH: Heartbreak High, Fame, and Mental Health
December 09, 2022 10:20 - 1 hour - 74.3 MBBryn Chapman-Parish is an Actor and Musician, best known for his role as Spider in Heartbreak High. SUPPORT: —Patreon —PayPal SOCIALS: —Instagram —TikTok —LinkedIn —Twitter —Personal Site
#96 Rethinking Progressive Politics
December 03, 2022 07:28 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MBI analyse and try to resolve 5 key issues within Progressive politics, while also keeping the Conservative alternative in mind. I speak about the difficulty progressives have finding an idol, cancel culture, echo chambers, openness to experience and difference, as well as the psychology behind Progressive and Conservative views. ~ 👉 Support on Patreon 👉 Follow Aleks on Instagram or TikTok
#95 Coming Off Antidepressants
November 28, 2022 11:37 - 9 minutes - 13.2 MBAfter nearly 5 years on antidepressants, I've decided to come off them. This episode explores my reasons why, and what's changed in my life to encourage me to make this decision. ~ 👉 Support on Patreon 👉 Follow me on Instagram @alekshammo 👉 Follow me on TikTok @alekshammo
#94 ÉMILE P. TORRES — The End of the World
November 25, 2022 10:45 - 1 hour - 105 MBÉmile P. Torres is a Philosopher and Historian whose work focuses on existential threats to civilization and humanity. Émile has published on a wide range of topics, including machine superintelligence, emerging technologies and religious eschatology, as well as the history and ethics of human extinction. Follow Émile on Twitter, or visit their website ~ 👉 Support on Patreon 👉 Follow me on Instagram @alekshammo 👉 Follow me on TikTok @alekshammo
#93 Lost in Thought
November 21, 2022 08:52 - 4 minutes - 6.49 MBOur world is made of thoughts, but we are lost in them. Welcome to Lost in Thought, a podcast about our world, our thoughts, and how these things impact our mental health. 👉 Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal 👉 Follow me on Instagram @alekshammo 👉 Follow me on TikTok @alekshammo
#92 AURELIA ST CLAIR
October 18, 2022 06:19 - 1 hour - 82.7 MBAurelia St Clair is a comedian, model, writer, and podcaster. Aurelia and I spoke about 'idiosyncratic' Naarm/Melbourne meme and suburb cultures, the perils of being a content creator, as well as diversity, otherness, and whiteness. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Tickets for my upcoming public interviews in Naarm/Melbourne —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo —About me
#91 ABBIE CHATFIELD
October 05, 2022 07:34 - 51 minutes - 71.2 MBAbbie Chatfield is a public figure: social critic, political activist, radio/tv presenter, podcaster, and business woman. I ask Abbie about being a celebrity, what it means to have 400k+ followers on Instagram, and how stardom impacts mental health. I also ask Abbie to define the meaning of life. TW: Suicide ~ Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo
#90 CLUB NITE
June 21, 2022 02:49 - 51 minutes - 71.2 MBI sat down and chatted with Anjelica Angwin of CLUB NITE. CLUB NITE is a piercing, tongue-in-cheek analysis of Melbourne’s distinct party scenes; a live-action meme filled with banter, rainbow lighting, dance, certified bangers, and a cathartic commentary on Zoomer self-exploration and current social-woke-politics. Get tickets to CLUB NITE Follow CLUB NITE on Instagram ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo
#89 SENATOR MEHREEN FARUQI
May 20, 2022 04:19 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBDr. Mehreen Faruqi is a Senator for NSW who represents The Greens. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo Get tickets to my public interview with Philosopher Justin Clemens
#88 IN ABSENCE OF OPTIMISM: Depression and 9-5
May 14, 2022 06:07 - 22 minutes - 31.6 MBI talk about the loss of hope that comes with full-time work. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Follow @alekshammo on Instagram Follow @alekslistens on TikTok Shop my handmade t-shirts
#87 FREUD — Mourning and Melancholia
March 17, 2022 07:45 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBDepressed people are often described as being melancholic. What does this mean? This episode focusses on Freud's essay "Mourning and Melancholia," where he seeks to define both experiences with reference to each other. I break down some confusing Freudian language and apply Freud's theory to everyday life. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal —Instagram @alekshammo —TikTok @alekshammo —Twitter @alekshammo
#86 THE METAVERSE — A means for liberation or subordination?
February 11, 2022 10:02 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBEveryone is always like "Metaverse this, metaverse that.." But, does anyone actually know what they're talking about?In this episode, I dive deep into some big questions about the metaverse: what is it, is it good or bad, how can it help us, and what is the philosophy that underpins it. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok My website
#85 MERRELLECTUALS2.0 — Memes, Melbourne, Rich Dad Poor Drip, and Politics
February 04, 2022 04:17 - 1 hour - 114 MBI sat down with the anonymous administrator of the notorious meme page @Merrellectuals2.0. Together, Merrell and I dove deep into Melbourne culture, Meme culture, Australian/UK/US politics, progressivism and conservatism, patronage and how to keep the arts afloat. I will not comment on whether this interview reveals any information about who may be behind @Merrellectuals2.0. ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens on Instagra...
#84 PHONE ADDICTION — Existential blessing or curse?
January 20, 2022 08:49 - 26 minutes - 36 MBConversation around phone addiction is stilted and infrequent. What are our reasons for losing ourselves in our phones, and how can we hope to change our relationship to them? Also, I mention and misquote an article about phone addiction. Correct stats are here: "the average smartphone user rarely goes two hours without using her device, unlocks her device 50 or more times a day, and swipes or taps on it as many as 2,617 times in the process." ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslis...
#83 SIMON CRITCHLEY — Disappointment, New Thinking, and Philosophy
January 05, 2022 07:10 - 1 hour - 98.6 MBSimon Critchley is a Philosopher at The New School (NYC), an author, and a writer/moderator at The New York Times. Simon and I spoke about the nature of philosophy, life before philosophy (which included punk music and an interesting evening with Lemmy of Motörhead), the current state of world politics, as well as how scenes, communities, and new ideas develop. ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok See the clothes I make Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal ...
#82 Meaning, Purpose, and Cyborgs
December 23, 2021 03:43 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MB2021 is winding up and I take a moment to reflect on the changes to my "philosophy of life," and I also ask the question of what we become when we are so plugged in (social media, internet, etc.) You can also watch this episode on YouTube. ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Check out my shop Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course More of my work on my website
#81 FLEX MAMI — Living Online, Being Authentic, and Commodifying the Self
December 08, 2021 05:37 - 1 hour - 146 MBFlex Mami / Lil Ahenkan is a Ghanaian-Australian Entrepreneur, Author (The Success Experiment), Podcaster, DJ, and TV Presenter. Flex and I explore the marvels and perils of online life, influencing, setting boundaries, communicating with strangers, creating the world in one's image, and selling/commodifying the self. Follow @flex.mami on Instagram. ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Co...
#80 MOKTAR — Arabness, Otherness, and Sound
November 24, 2021 06:02 - 1 hour - 93.1 MBMoktar is an Egyptian / Australian producer based in Naarm / Melbourne. Moktar’s recent EP “Silk” is a meditation on Arabness, otherness, and self-discovery. “Silk” represents a shift in Moktar’s sound which echoes his identity as a Middle-Easterner, an Egyptian, and an Arab. Moktar and I discussed our experiences as Arabs in Australia, the changes in Moktar's sound, and what it takes to get in touch with one's history. Follow Moktar on Instagram, and listen to his EP "Silk" here ~ Follow ...
#79 Influencers and The Influenced
November 18, 2021 04:49 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBBecoming a social media influencer is a very strange phenomenon. You have incredible control over the priorities and beliefs or your audience. But, at what cost? Have you ever thought about what it actually means to represent yourself online? How personally impactful is it when we develop an online personality? Is there a way to ethically influence people? ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philoso...
#78 Is Productivity making us Depressed?
November 10, 2021 06:08 - 11 minutes - 15.2 MBWhy is the West fanatical with productivity? Why are we always pushing to become more, to make more, to produce more? Today I consider a simple question: are we losing our sense of self by over-identifying with the things we make? ~ Follow @alekslistens on Instagram and @alekslistens on TikTok Watch this episode on YouTube Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website
#77 Back on Antidepressants
November 03, 2021 00:39 - 18 minutes - 25.6 MBAfter 6 months off Antidepressants, I'm back on them. In this episode, I reflect on what the past 6 months have been like, and what it's been like returning to antidepressants. Love, Aleks x ~ You are not alone: Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au ~ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course F...
#76 Jess Zanoni — The Emotion of Time & Being Creative
August 01, 2021 08:07 - 1 hour - 104 MBJess Zanoni is a musician and writer living in Naarm. Jess is the singer and bassist of alt-rock band Arbes, and is currently working on a solo project called Za Noon. Jess and I spoke about work, time, the infinite quest of establishing a routine, being creative (Jess does loads of creative stuff), escapism, distractions, and music. Thanks for listening. Love, Aleks x ~ Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course Follow @alekslistens for updates See ...
#75 Life after Antidepressants (Part 3)
July 24, 2021 06:23 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBI reflect on the changes to my life since coming off antidepressants. One of the biggest changes has been the blurred lines between my depression before, during, and after antidepressant use. It will be helpful (but not essential) for you to listen to Parts 1 and 2 before listening to this episode. ~ Support Aleks Listens via PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website
#74 Gregor — Music, Creativity, and Change
July 18, 2021 00:33 - 1 hour - 90.2 MBGregor is a progressive pop musician based in Naarm (Melbourne). We spoke about the changing nature of Gregor's music, music as a form of therapy, perfectionism and validation, as well as multiculturalism and the creative scene in Naarm. You can listen to Gregor's music on Spotify or Bandcamp. ~ Support Aleks Listens via PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course See more of my work on my website
#73 Beri Marušić — Grief, Love, and Reason
June 20, 2021 06:25 - 1 hour - 98 MBBerislav Marušić is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at The University of Edinburgh. We discussed Beri's work on grief, love, and existentialism. I also asked Beri about the limits of neuroscience, the uniqueness of the human experience, and what it's like being a philosopher. ~ To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course
#72 Raymond Tallis — Free Will, Identity, and the Limits of Philosophy and Science
June 15, 2021 05:46 - 1 hour - 118 MBRaymond Tallis is a philosopher, clinical neuroscientist, poet, novelist, and retired medical physician. We spoke about free will, identity, the goal of philosophy, the limits of science and philosophy, and how our relationship to our goals/values change over time. ~ To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my Beginners Philosophy Course
#71 Aleks Answers (Part 1)
June 09, 2021 07:28 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBYou asked me a bunch of questions and I answered them through the lens of philosophy. The two questions I responded to in this episode are: 1) Is Instagram a tool for meaningful change? 2) What is our purpose in life? If you'd like to submit a question for the next episode of Aleks Answers, please send me a message on Instagram or send me an email. You can also watch this episode on YouTube. ~ To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram Enrol in my B...
#70 Life after Antidepressants (Part 2)
June 06, 2021 03:44 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBIt's been 6 weeks since I came off antidepressants. In this episode, I explore some of the twists and turns of life without antidepressants. Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal Follow me on Instagram @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast ~~ You are not alone: Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au
#69 Cancel Culture — Social Justice Series
May 22, 2021 07:10 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBHow, if at all, can we conceptualise cancel culture to clearly promote social justice?To support Aleks Listens, visit PayPal or Patreon. Follow Aleks Listens on Instagram
#68 Life after Antidepressants (Part 1)
May 17, 2021 08:01 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBI discuss my experience after, beyond, and without antidepressants. For more 👉 follow @alekslistens or visit www.aleks.co/podcast Support Aleks Listens via Patreon or PayPal ~~ You are not alone: Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au
#67 Perfectionism
April 28, 2021 00:27 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBA discussion of perfectionism, how it manifests, how it feels, and how it can impact one's life. *Content Warning: this episode covers potentially distressing and upsetting topics. Themes include mental illness, depression, and anxiety* For more, visit www.aleks.co/ Follow me on instagram @alekslistens
#66 Meaning and Depression (Part 1)
March 17, 2021 23:41 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBI discuss some helpful (and some less helpful) ways of thinking about the questions 'what is meaning?' and 'what is meaningful?' I also talk about how depression stifles experiences of meaningfulness. For more, visit www.aleks.co/ or check out my instagram @alekslistens
#65 Grief
January 13, 2021 08:00 - 22 minutes - 52.1 MBI explore the nature of grief, why we grieve, whether we can rationalise grief, and if we can reasonably say that grief serves a particular purpose.
#64 Minorities and Philosophy w/ Kelly and Paul
January 04, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 182 MBKelly Herbison is a Philosopher at The University of Melbourne, where she recently received funding to do a Postgrad Research Project. Paul Podosky is a PhD at The University of Melbourne with an especial interest inSocial and Political Philosophy and Conceptual Engineering. Both Kelly and Paul also run the Minorities and Philosophy Chapter at The University of Melbourne. The three of us chatted about all kinds of things related to philosophy, from the nature of philosophy, to injustices in ...
#63 Graham Priest — Buddhist Ethics, Political Philosophy, and The Philosophy of Philosophy
December 30, 2020 08:11 - 1 hour - 144 MBDr. Graham Priest is a Professor of Philosophy at CUNY. We spoke ab out all kinds of things, from the nature of philosophy, to buddhism and its personal and political implications, and to political philosophy itself and the state of the world. For more about Graham, visit his website: http://grahampriest.net/ For more about me, visit www.aleks.co To support the podcast, visit www.aleks.co/support
#63 Graham Priest — Buddhist Ethics, Meditation, and Politics
December 30, 2020 08:11 - 1 hour - 144 MBDr. Graham Priest is a Professor of Philosophy at CUNY. We spoke ab out all kinds of things, from the nature of philosophy, to buddhism and its personal and political implications, and to political philosophy itself and the state of the world. For more about Graham, visit his website: http://grahampriest.net/ For more about me, visit www.aleks.co To support the podcast, visit www.aleks.co/support
#62 Effective Altruism and The Life You Can Save w/ Dr. Charlie Bresler
December 27, 2020 05:45 - 58 minutes - 133 MBI sat down with Dr. Charlie Bresler, Exec. Director of The Life You Can Save, a charity founded by Peter Singer to advance the ideas of his book under the same title. We chatted about the act of giving, why we do and don't give, and negotiating the space between building a career, financial security, and marginal returns. For more, visit www.aleks.co/
#61 Wittgenstein
December 06, 2020 05:43 - 24 minutes - 55.2 MBAn introduction to one of the most important philosophers... ever... Wittgenstein talks about language, sense, meaning, and the responsibility of language users to use language properly. For more, visit www.aleks.co/hey
#60 On Being... Sober
October 25, 2020 05:00 - 33 minutes - 77.7 MBThis episode explores sobriety and alcoholism in anglo society. I talk about my reasons for being sober. I also talk about depression, hangovers, and alcohol as a social lubricant. For more, visit www.aleks.co/
#59 Psychiatry and Philosophy w/ Dr. Paul Cammell
October 01, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 158 MBI saw down with Dr. Paul Cammell and spoke about the relationship between psychiatry and philosophy, the origins of depression, and the nature of therapy. To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute For more, visit www.aleks.co/ and my instagram @alekslistens
#58 Moral Relativism
September 09, 2020 08:23 - 28 minutes - 64.4 MBI ask whether it is possible to think of morality as something that is entirely subjective. For more, visit www.aleks.co To support Aleks Listens, visit www.aleks.co/contribute
#57 The Banality of Depression
September 08, 2020 05:18 - 19 minutes - 43.5 MBI talk about the dull and plain moments of depression that make it very difficult to find reasons to do anything.
#56 On Being... Depressed (Part 2)
September 02, 2020 06:47 - 24 minutes - 57 MBI reflect on my depression and how it impacts my everyday experience of the world. Sending love your way. If you're enjoying Aleks Listens, you can support it by visiting www.aleks.co/supportIf you are struggling, or know someone who is, remember that there are services in place to support you. Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au, Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au, BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au
#56 On Being.. Depressed (Part 2)
September 02, 2020 06:47 - 24 minutes - 57 MBI reflect on my depression and how it impacts my everyday experience of the world. Sending love your way. If you're enjoying Aleks Listens, you can support it by visiting www.aleks.co/contribute. If you are struggling, or know someone who is, remember that there are services in place to support you. Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 - www.lifeline.org.au, Kids' Helpline (24hrs): 1800 55 1800 - www.kidshelp.com.au, BeyondBlue (24hrs): 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au
#55 Julian Burnside — Seeking Asylum, Reasons for Exclusion, and Finding Purpose
August 27, 2020 08:51 - 1 hour - 142 MBBack in October 2018, my friend Liam and I sat down with Julian Burnside AO QC. Julian is a barrister, human rights and asylum seeker advocate, and has recently turned to politics as a way of making change. What's most curious about our interview with Julian is that he told us again and again that he wasn't interested in politics, and that he wasn't willing to comment on political topics (outside human rights and asylum seeker related themes). For more, visit www.aleks.co To support Aleks Li...