The New Thinkery is a podcast devoted to political philosophy and its history, along with its many guises in literature, film, and human experience generally. Named after Socrates' infamous "Thinkery" in Aristophanes' Clouds, The New Thinkery strikes a balance between the seriousness of academia and the playfulness of casual conversation among friends.
The guys have emerged from an eight-month slumber to sit down with Eric Buzzetti and Devin Stauffer to talk about their teacher Christopher Bruell and the newly edited collection Christopher Bruell: Essays of Five Decades on Philosophy and Philosophers. They recount what it was like to study with Bruell at Boston College, why his writing is equal parts illuminating and elusive, and how his work presses readers back toward tough questions of philosophy. Along the way, they discuss Bruell's relationship to Strauss, his long engagement with Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle, and the moderns, as well as why he resisted easy slogans about nature, happiness, and the philosophical life. If serious reading and soul-forming education are your thing, buckle up for this 99-minute marathon.
2/10/26 • 99:01
Since launching in July 2020, The New Thinkery hasn't taken an extended break—but after nearly five years of weekly episodes, the guys are finally taking a much needed summer pause. The show will return with fresh conversations on political philosophy, literature, film, and more on September 3, 2025, with high-caliber guests on the horizon. In the meantime, revisit your favorite episodes, catch up on ones you may have missed, and spread the word. See you in September, and thank you all for listening in for the past few years!
6/25/25 • 09:51
Josh Parens joins Alex and Greg to discuss his recently released book, Maimonides's Guide on Obstacles to Knowledge, Being, and Action. Parens elaborates on a bold interpretation of Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed that highlights how the philosopher uses "obstacles" to structure his defense of law, prophecy, and providence. This episode delves into Parens' middle-ground reading, reframing skeptical and dogmatic extremes as intentionally vague limits that safeguard both revelation and philosophical reason.
6/18/25 • 77:35
This week, a full complement of the guys are back, and are joined by Professor Richard Polt for a deep dive into Heidegger's The Origin of the Work of Art. Together, they unpack Heidegger's claims about truth, being, and the unique role art plays in revealing the world. The episode offers an accessible entry point into one of Heidegger's most challenging—and strangely beautiful—essays. Plus: the virtues of... typewriters?
6/11/25 • 66:46
Greg welcomes Prof. Rob Wyllie back to the show for a thoughtful conversation on the philosophical legacy of Alasdair MacIntyre. Ranging across MacIntyre's major works—from After Virtue to his reflections on tradition, ethics, and rationality—they consider his influence on contemporary moral philosophy and make an attempt at placing his thoughts intellectually. Recommended reading: Alasdair MacIntyre, R.I.P. Ethics in the Conflicts of Modernity: An Essay on Desire, Practical Reasoning, and Narrative
6/4/25 • 58:46
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness offers more than a critique of empire—it's a meditation on the slipperiness of truth, the fragmentation of self, and the unsettling possibility that meaning is just another European export gone missing. This episode peers into the novella's narrative hall of mirrors, examining its existential fog, moral vertigo, and the peculiar power of a story that both reveals and withholds in the same breath.
5/28/25 • 63:11
Imagine a Jetsons-esque home that attempts to meet all of your needs while also featuring a room that makes your imagination into reality. Add some behaviorally troubled children imagining bloodthirsty lions into the mix, and you have the setup for Ray Bradbury's The Veldt. In a dystopian tale that would make an excellent episode of Black Mirror, Bradbury explores the pitfalls of tech that robs humanity of purpose. The guys discuss and analyze the story's plot, characters, and more in this week's rerelease.
5/21/25 • 46:33
Recorded at the most recent ACTC conference, this episode features Michael McShane—educator, writer, and Shakespearean interlocutor—in a wide-ranging discussion of King Lear with both Greg and Alex. The group examine the play's structural and philosophical dimensions, from the politics of authority and the aesthetics of suffering to questions of justice, recognition, and the limits of language. McShane brings a scholarly yet accessible lens to one of Shakespeare's most harrowing tragedies. Plus: the guys turn it over to the crowd and field a range of questions from the audience!
5/14/25 • 81:58
To celebrate The New Thinkery's 250th episode... David and Alex take the week off. Instead, Greg joins Deacon Harrison Garlick of Ascend - The Great Books Podcast, to take a closer look at the third section of Plato's Gorgias which centers on a dialogue between Socrates and Calicles. The pair follow Socrates as he dismantles the arguments of Callicles, challenging the nature of power, justice, and the good life. As the dialogue intensifies, Socrates draws a stark contrast between the pursuit of pleasure and the pursuit of virtue. Listen in as the guys unpack these timeless questions and consider what it truly means to live well. If you haven't already, subcribe to both The New Thinkery and Ascend - The Great Books Podcast!
5/7/25 • 81:26
Professor B.J. Dobski joins Greg and David this week to examine Mark Twain's Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, a work that stands in stark contrast to Twain's more familiar satirical writings. Through careful analysis, and using his latest book—Mark Twain's Joan of Arc: Political Wisdom, Divine Justice, and the Origins of Modernity—as a backdrop, Dobski illuminates Twain's treatment of virtue, heroism, and historical memory, as well as the novel's philosophical and political dimensions. The conversation situates Twain's Joan within broader questions of leadership, sainthood, and the moral imagination.
4/30/25 • 62:53
This week, Alex and Greg dive into Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God, unraveling its haunting exploration of madness, ambition, and the human condition. They trace the film's philosophical undercurrents—from existential isolation to the limits of power—set against the backdrop of the unforgiving Amazon. Through sharp analysis and reflective banter, they uncover what Herzog's fever dream of conquest reveals about the nature of obsession.
4/23/25 • 50:48
This week, Greg has locked David and Alex out of the recording room, and replaced them with Kierkegaard scholars Rob Wyllie & Matt Dinan. Together, they dive into Kierkegaard's Philosophical Fragments to examine what it means to become a self, whether truth can be received as a gift, and why Socrates might need a divine upgrade. It's a lively exploration of paradox, passion, and the mysteries at the heart of religious existence.
4/16/25 • 69:40
With the stock market tanking, Alex has fled the country to verify family artifacts are still in a vault in case we go back to bartering. Meanwhile, David and Greg have replaced him this week with The New Thinkery's most prolific guest, Eric Adler, professor of classics and chair of the department at the University of Maryland at College Park. The trio discuss Adler's latest article, The Hypocrisy of English-Only 'Decolonization', diving more into the future of language studies and the humanities in higher ed as colleges and universities race to eliminate what are often key, but misunderstood, pieces of higher ed curriculua.
4/9/25 • 68:35
Jean Renoir's Rules of the Game isn't just a classic film—it's a sharp critique of society, morality, and the masks we wear. In this episode, all three of the guys sit down to break down how the film exposes the illusions of class, love, and human nature, all under the guise of a lighthearted, bordering on flippant comedy that ends with a homicide. What does it say about the "rules" we still follow today? Listen in to find out!
4/2/25 • 48:29
This week, a full complement of hosts is joined by Prof. Patrick Callahan, Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at St. Gregory the Great Seminary to discuss Pindar's The Odes. A Theban poet for hire, Pindar's works present some unique challenges in disentangling their true meaning, and what he was actually like. Fortunately, Prof. Callahan has spent years deciphering every line we have of Pindar, and walks the cast through how to best understand his works. Plus: the first Greek reading of a work on the show!
3/26/25 • 68:32
Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. In this closing episode, Brian and Alex focus on interpretations of Bronze Age Pervert, including critique of the man himself, while also crediting him where academics have failed. Plus: Socrates' remarkable feat of remaining relevant for millennia across radically different cultures.
3/19/25 • 43:58
Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. This week, the focus shifts to a look at Hobbesian philosophy and Machiavellianism.
3/12/25 • 59:07
This week, Alex sits down with Brian Chau of From the New World for an extended discussion on a range of topics, from building up UATX, to the Online Right, to Strauss on reactionary thought and esoteric writing. The pair tackle it all. Plus, is Gen Z the most esoteric generation to date?
3/5/25 • 59:15
A full complement of the guys are joined by Spencer Klavan, repeat offender on the show, host of Young Heretics, newly minted lecturer in the Classica and Languages programs at New College, associate editor at the Claremont Review of Books, and author most recently of Gateway to the Epicureans: Epicurus, Lecretius, and their Modern Heirs. The group sit down to unpack the concept of epicureanism, its progenitor, and how it has expanded from a fringe philosophy of the ancient world into a belief system that governs nearly everyone, even if most people don't know it.
2/26/25 • 66:34
In this episode, the guys are all here, and joined by Zena Hitz of St. John's College. Together, the group dive into Plato's Charmides. What does true wisdom look like? Can self-knowledge lead to a well-ordered soul? Listen in as the cast explore the dialogue's reflections on temperance, philosophy, and the limits of human understanding. Plato's insights offer a compelling perspective on the pursuit of wisdom in the modern world.
2/19/25 • 60:50
In this rerelease of The New Thinkery, the guys are back to help bring in the new year, and are joined by Dr. Richard Velkley, the Celia Scott Weatherhead Professor of Philosophy at Tulane University. They discuss Heidegger, Leo Strauss, and the underlying premises of philosophy. After you've heard the serious stuff, stick around for the lightning round Q&A at the end! Editor's note: please forgive the decreased audio quality of this episode. This was recorded before the guys had proper mics!
2/12/25 • 68:37
In this rerun of the inaugural episode of The New Thinkery, join the guys as they analyze Averroes' Decisive Treatise and al-Ghazali's Decisive Criterion. Their readings of these great works of medieval Islamic philosophy illuminate the relationship between reason and revelation. If you enjoyed the decisive treatise, check out Charles Butterworth's excellent translation, which contains a very insightful introductory essay and many helpful notes. Editor's note: please forgive the decreased audio quality of this episode. This was recorded before the guys had proper mics!
2/5/25 • 67:03
This week, David has once again died, but Alex and Greg have brought back Dr. Devin Stauffer, Professor and Associate Chair of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Together, the group dive into chapter four of Leo Strauss' Natural Right and History. Stauffer unpacks Strauss' critique of relativism, his reflections on modernity, and his arguments for the enduring relevance of classical natural right. Whether you're new to Strauss or a seasoned reader, join the guys for a nuanced discussion about truth, morality, and the challenges of living in a postmodern world through thoughtful analysis of one of the 20th century's most influential philosophical texts.
1/29/25 • 63:18
This week, Alex and Greg meet up at UATX and are joined by Dr. Christopher Nadon, Associate Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College and teacher of Western Civilization and humanities at Emet Classical Academy in New York. The group touch on Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind before delving into Dr. Nadon's experience with just how far American students have fallen academically in recent decades. But not all hope is lost, as the group also discuss potential solutions to the rot infesting the American education system. Recommended reading: The Classical Cure for the Ivies
1/22/25 • 58:40
This week, the guys are back and joined once again by Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov to further discuss their latest edited volume, Leo Strauss' Published but Uncollected English Writings, which serves as the backdrop for this episode. This time around, the group primarily analyze Strauss' debate with Jacob Klein before turning to a quick look at what the editors think are the top five essays in their volume, and more!
1/15/25 • 79:21
This week, David has been brought back from the dead, but that didn't stop Greg and Alex from bringing two guests on for the show this week: Steven Lenzner & Svetozar Minkov. The two have a new volume out Leo Strauss' Published but Uncollected English Writings that collects Strauss' essays that had previously been circulated mostly in scattered, one-off PDFs online. The group discuss the process of collecting the works, before turning to Strauss' thoughts on the intentions of Rousseau, and close with a teaser for next week!
1/8/25 • 47:18
Happy New Year from The New Thinkery! This week concludes the Leo Strauss on Plato's Symposium panel from two weeks ago. The group jumps right into it with questions on tragedy and comedy, explores the definition of eros, and more, before wrapping up with the tiny little question, "what is philosophy?" If you haven't already, listen to the first part of this panel to better understand the questions posed in this episode!
1/1/25 • 53:16
In this special Christmas edition, Greg and Alex delve into John Ford's poignant Western, Three Godfathers. A tale of redemption, faith, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season, the film offers a unique lens on themes of sacrifice and grace. We're joined by Professor Adam Carrington, who brings his thoughtful perspective to this timeless story. Together, we reflect on its meaning and why it resonates as a holiday classic, despite westerns not typically being associated with Christmas. You can get more of Prof. Carrington's thoughts by reading his review of Three Godfathers here. Next week we'll be back with part two of our last week's Leo Strauss symposium!
12/25/24 • 46:42
This week, Greg and David take a break and let Alex do the talking, joined by multiple respected academics as the group gather to discuss Strauss' views on Plato's symposium, in part informed by panelist Rasoul Namazi and Svetozar Minkov's latest book, Leo Strauss on Religion: Writings and Interpretations. This episode includes an homage to Christopher Bruell, who passed away just prior to the panel taking place, the opening talks of the panelists, and the beginning of back and forth discussion with moderator Hannes Kerber. Next week's episode will be focused on Christmas, but the following episode will be the second half of this panel discussion.
12/18/24 • 61:52
Is the ideal of a liberal education still achievable in the modern era? Roosevelt Montás, celebrated author and scholar at Columbia University, joins Greg and Alex to examine both its enduring virtues and its shortcomings. Together, the group discuss how a liberal education fosters critical thinking and civic engagement, why it faces resistance, and how it might grow to better serve today's learners. Check out ACTC's upcoming events in 2025! If you want to meet all three of this episode's personalities in person, they'll all be at the upcoming ACTC Conference in April. Greg might buy you a coffee if you find him there!
12/11/24 • 62:49
