#808: Stephen West — From High School Dropout to Hit Podcast (Plus: Life Lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson, Friedrich Nietzsche, Simone Weil, and More)

Overview

This episode features Stephen West, host of the popular podcast Philosophize This, as he shares his journey from a challenging upbringing to creating one of the most accessible philosophy podcasts. The conversation explores philosophy's practical applications, its intersection with religion, and how it can help reframe our understanding of life and personal growth. Stephen also discusses his creative process, the evolution of his podcast, and his aspirations for the future.

Notable Quotes

- Philosophy is the gym for rethinking, retracing reality in a new way that opens up new possibilities to you. — Stephen West, on the transformative power of philosophy.

- If you do amazing content that people don't want to live without, you can't keep it a secret. — Stephen West, on the importance of authenticity in creative work.

- To write and to say something worth saying is not to be a genius. It's to be brave. — Stephen West, reflecting on Ralph Waldo Emerson's influence.

🌱 From Hardship to Philosophy

- Stephen West recounts his difficult childhood, including time in foster care and working multiple jobs to survive after dropping out of high school at 16.

- His warehouse job became a turning point, allowing him to listen to audiobooks and philosophy texts for hours, sparking his passion for philosophy.

- A Google search for wisest person in history led him to Plato and Socrates, igniting his self-directed exploration of philosophical ideas.

📚 Philosophy as a Tool for Reframing Reality

- Philosophy is described as conceptual engineering, a way to challenge assumptions and reshape worldviews.

- Stephen emphasizes the importance of questioning static definitions of concepts like love, justice, and freedom to uncover deeper truths.

- He highlights Nietzsche’s amor fati (love of fate) as a powerful tool for reframing challenges and embracing life’s hardships.

🛠️ Building a Podcast and a Philosophy Ecosystem

- Stephen shares how he transitioned from working weekends at a warehouse to launching Philosophize This. He meticulously researched podcasting strategies and leveraged the new and noteworthy section on iTunes for visibility.

- He credits his success to focusing on authenticity and creating content that resonates deeply with listeners.

- The podcast has evolved into a sustainable business with Patreon support, ads, and an upcoming book project.

🌀 Philosophy Meets Religion and Mysticism

- Stephen explores the intersection of philosophy and religion, moving beyond militant atheism to a nuanced understanding of theological ideas.

- He discusses mystics like Simone Weil and Dogen, whose writings emphasize self-emptying and direct experiences of the divine.

- He reflects on Albert Camus’ struggle to reconcile existential absurdity with a meaningful daily practice, highlighting philosophy’s limitations in addressing spiritual experiences.

🎨 Future Aspirations: Fiction and Philosophy

- Stephen expresses interest in writing philosophical fiction, blending storytelling with deep ideas to reach new audiences.

- He sees his podcast as an iterative process, shaped by listener feedback and his own evolving interests.

- Inspired by Dostoevsky’s serialized novels, he considers how podcasting might serve as a modern platform for serialized philosophical storytelling.