In the media

A look at recent public appearances by yours truly

From Skeptical Inquirer.

Here is another occasional installment of media appearances featuring, well, myself. Apologies for the presumption, but I imagine that—since you are subscribing to Figs in Winter—you may have at least a passing interest in what else I do and talk about. So here you will find links to recent interviews, podcasts, external articles, and other assorted media appearances featuring yours truly. Enjoy, I hope!

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I won a Telly! Pardon the self-indulgence, but I was not expecting this, and it's a bit of a big deal:

“I have the distinct pleasure of emailing you to let you know that your course Books that Matter: Meditations was recently honored with a prestigious Bronze Telly Award. The annual Telly Awards honor the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 13,000 entries globally from 6 continents and all 50 states, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected production companies, publishers, television stations, and agencies from around the world.” Well, then!

The nature of pseudoscience, how to fight it, and why it matters. Being a skeptic can be hard on one’s soul. That’s always been true, ever since the invention of skepticism as a philosophy of life back in the times of Pyrrho of Elis (365–275 BCE) (Bett 2019). It’s hard not just because it requires rigorous intellectual self-discipline but because—let’s face it—much of the world ain’t skeptical at all. Indeed, skeptics such as Socrates of Athens (470–399 BCE) have historically been deemed dangerous enough to occasionally be condemned to death on charge of “corrupting the youth,” that is, teaching critical thinking. If you, like me, have ever felt a bit dispirited and perhaps even overwhelmed by the burden of skepticism, cheer up. Here comes my pep talk. Of sorts. … (Skeptical Inquirer)

Four roles that shape life. The ancient Romans already knew what Shakespeare would later proclaim: all the world’s a stage. But the Stoics took this metaphor seriously in a way that might surprise us. When the philosopher Panaetius (185-110 BCE) spoke of us having four personae – literally the masks worn by actors in Greek and Roman theater – he wasn’t suggesting we’re all putting on a false face. Instead, he was proposing something more profound: that each of us plays four distinct roles in the drama of life, and that learning to perform them skillfully, without contradiction or confusion, is the key to living well. The catch? Some of these roles we choose freely, while others are thrust upon us by nature, chance, or circumstance. The art lies in knowing which is which. … (Philosophy Now)

Conversations with Modern Stoicism: How to be a (Happy) Skeptic. Here is my chat with Phil Yanov, the host of Conversations with Modern Stoicism, on my new book, an exploration of Marcus Tullius Cicero’s philosophy of life and why it matters to us denizens of the 21st century. Among other things, we talk about Skepticism and epistemology, the fallibility of our senses and reason, the notion of degrees of probability that we can attach to our judgments, what it may mean to develop a skeptical Stoic ethics, the failures and courage of Cicero throughout his life, the notion -- articulated in the book -- of a curriculum for life based on eight fundamental questions, what Cicero’s On Duties can teach us about being good citizens, how we can learn from his On Divination to tackle pseudoscience, and finally how to cultivate friendship and deal with grief and death. … (Conversations with Modern Stoicism).

Mental fitness: your brain needs exercise! Watch my conversation with Daniel Dushy, about what people have been sold about happiness, therapy, self-help, and mental strength. In an age of endless self-improvement books, therapy culture, social media distraction, and quick fixes for mental health, I discuss the modern obsession with feeling better instantly. I explain why happiness is not a hack, why some forms of therapy can make us dependent, why attention is the foundation of mental strength, and why ancient Stoic wisdom may be more relevant than ever in the age of brain rot. … (YouTube, 2 hours and 2 minutes)