Philosophize This!
A solo educational podcast making complex philosophical ideas accessible for anyone, presented as a series of clear, chronological lectures.
A solo-hosted educational show that functions as a free, comprehensive audio guide to the history of philosophy. Host Stephen West delivers tightly scripted, self-contained lectures that explain the core ideas of philosophers and their historical context. The podcast is designed to be beginner-friendly, particularly if listened to in chronological order, and aims to equip listeners to better understand their own thinking by exploring alternatives.
“Unlike conversational or interview-based philosophy podcasts, 'Philosophize This!' is a one-man narrative show that resembles a free, serialized audiobook on the history of thought. Its commitment to methodically covering the philosophical canon in an accessible, lecture-style format is its key differentiator.”
Who hosts this show
Stephen West is the creator and host of the long-running podcast 'Philosophize This!'. He began the show in 2013 to make philosophy understandable for a general audience, inspired by his own journey into the subject after dropping out of high school. West is known for his well-researched, scripted episodes that break down the works of major thinkers in a chronological and thematic way, from the pre-Socratics to contemporary philosophers. His work is entirely listener-supported, and he has built a reputation for presenting ideas in good faith without advancing a personal ideology.
Credentials & credits
- Host, Philosophize This! podcast (2013-present)
Other ventures
- Substack newsletter
- YouTube channel
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Episode #249 ... The Trap of Modern Cynicism - Peter SloterdijkJun 27, 2026 · 32 min
- 02Episode #248 ... What philosophers say about lying.Jun 1, 2026 · 36 min
- 03Episode #246 ... The Myth of the Self-Made Person - Alasdair MacintyreApr 30, 2026 · 30 min
- 04Episode #245 ... The Rival Moral Approaches of the Modern World - Alasdair MacintyreApr 12, 2026 · 30 min
- 05
- 06Episode #243 ... Hamlet - William ShakespeareDec 30, 2025 · 28 min
- 07Episode #242 ... Romeo and Juliet - William ShakespeareNov 30, 2025 · 29 min
- 08Episode #241 ... The Tragedy of Julius Caesar - William ShakespeareNov 20, 2025 · 29 min
Notable episodes
- 01Episode #249 ... The Trap of Modern Cynicism - Peter Sloterdijk
A strong example of the show connecting a complex modern philosopher to contemporary societal feelings and institutions.
- 02Episode #246 ... The Myth of the Self-Made Person - Alasdair Macintyre
Demonstrates the podcast's core method of deconstructing a common cultural belief using a specific philosopher's framework.
- 03Episode #248 ... What philosophers say about lying.
Showcases the thematic approach, where views from multiple thinkers (Nietzsche, Kant, Augustine) are synthesized to explore a single topic.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is a solo narrative podcast with no interviews; the format is a scripted lecture. Host Stephen West opens each episode with his signature, "Hello everyone, I'm Stephen West. This is Philosophize This!". His delivery is earnest and educational, using rhetorical questions to guide the listener through dense arguments and applying philosophical concepts to modern life.
Signature segments
- · "Hello everyone, I'm Stephen West. This is Philosophize This!"
- · "Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday."
- · Patreon.com/philosophizethis
- · "Talk to you next time."
- · Rhetorical questions posed to the listener
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show does not feature guest interviews. Philosophers and historical figures are the subjects of discussion, but no live guests appear on the program.
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is primarily funded directly by its audience through Patreon and one-time contributions via PayPal, which the host promotes in each episode. This listener-supported model suggests a focus on content quality and a direct relationship with the audience, rather than reliance on traditional advertisers.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of Philosophize This!?
- The creator and host is Stephen West. He has been producing the show since 2013.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a solo, scripted podcast where the host delivers a 30-40 minute lecture on a philosophical topic or thinker. There are no guests or interviews.
- Is this podcast good for beginners?
- Yes, the podcast is designed to be beginner-friendly and accessible to listeners without a formal background in philosophy. The host recommends listening in chronological order for the best experience.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, new episodes are released on a regular basis, typically weekly or bi-weekly.
- How does the podcast make money?
- The show is listener-supported, primarily through Patreon and direct contributions.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on its official website, philosophizethis.org, and all major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Official Websitephilosophizethis.org
- [02]Tim Ferriss Show: Stephen West — From High School Dropout to Hit Podcasttim.blog
- [03]Interview with Stephen West, host of "Philosophize This!"orangeblossomordinary.com
- [04]Philosophize This! - University College Oxford (Univ)univ.ox.ac.uk
- [05]'Philosophize This!' Is A Podcast That Modernizes Philosophy In More Ways Than Onemedium.com
- [06]Patreon Pagepatreon.com
- [07]Apple Podcasts Pagepodcasts.apple.com
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