Wise Hypocrite

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 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. 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 sospir vaga e di pianti' (from 'Euridice') 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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

TGE is back with season 4! Introducing "Culture Bites", ad-libbed, unresearched bonus episodes, in which I share bits of research, random musings and mad ravings - raw, uncut and unedited. In this one, I discuss the genius of chef Joël Robuchon and explore the notion of food as culture. 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

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 and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com

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 on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEcast  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

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 on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

A few months ago, my mother was diagnoses with an inoperable glioblastoma, one of the deadliest brain tumours known to us. On Mothers' Day, I reflect on the bond between mothers and their children, my decision to give up my goals to become her carer, and the canyon between our expectations for our lives, and what our lives actually are. Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

Thinking through the recent controversy that arose when Keziah Daum decided to wear a traditional Chinese dress to her prom. Is this racism? Is it cultural appropriation? Is cultural appropriation even a thing? The most sensitive issues are precisely the ones where we should avoid relying on our outrage to make our minds up. We must instead apply rigour in our thinking, so that we make a positive, thoughtful contribution instead of just adding to the pointless noise. As ever, the moral of the story is "don't be an asshole". Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com

May the Fourth Be With You, nerds! It's Star Wars day, so in this Donuts episode, I take a little tour through all three seasons of this baffling series, trying and failing to understand what all the fuss is about. What's going on? Wasn't there supposed to be a pointy-eared fellow called Spock here? I like that Jar-Jar Binks guy though. Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

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 impact, 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 soon) ................................................................................. Join the conversation! Call in and leave us a message on Anchor Follow TGE at: Instagram Facebook  YouTube ................................................................................. If you like this nonsense, please consider becoming a Patron! ................................................................................. Listen and subscribe everywhere podcasts contemplate their finitude Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podbean And everywhere else! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

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

It's the birthday of British philosopher, biologist, sociologist and all-round thinky person Herbert Spencer (1820 – 1903), who took Darwin's theories and applied them across almost *every* other discipline, formulating a fascinating worldview based on the notions of evolution and dissolution. Oh, and coining the phrase "survival of the fittest". Here's a few words about the guy. Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

In this diary edition of TGE, I discuss the importance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, and a couple of Aeon articles on how the notion of trust plays into our post-truth landscape. Also, please be a legend and leave a review on iTunes! It really helps. TGE #51 - Holocaust Remembrance Day: https://anchor.fm/tge/episodes/051---Holocaust-Remembrace-Day-e121tj TGE #59 - Fake News, Descartes and the Power of Narrative: https://anchor.fm/tge/episodes/059---Fake-News--Descartes-and-the-Power-of-Narrative-e1a51c Aeon Articles: Diana Popescu - https://aeon.co/ideas/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-post-truth C Thi Nguyen - https://aeon.co/essays/why-its-as-hard-to-escape-an-echo-chamber-as-it-is-to-flee-a-cult Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Leave a review on iTunes and show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com

Some reflections on the Holocaust, Hannah Arendt and the banality of evil. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tge/message

A call from Michael Conway on free speech "triggers" me into a reflection on what our attitudes should be towards those who believe that others' right not to be offended should take precedence over our right to freely express. Also, it's the birthday of two pop culture Greats - director Quentin Tarantino, and Duke Ellington's legendary saxophonist Ben "The Brute" Webster. For this episode I edited music I don't own - some for purposes of parody (Safed Musli by MF Doom), some for education (the Ben Webster stuff) and I hate to say it, some just because (Rumble, by Link Wray). I have no money, please don't sue me :( Ben Webster at work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH1Fru-RttA Be the glue in the cracks of my fractured ego. Show love on: Twitter: twitter.com/TGEblog  Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_great_everything/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreateverything/ TheGreatEverything.com