We live in the age of information — and misinformation. In this episode of Friendly Neighborhood Philosopher, we explore what philosophers call epistemology: how we know what we know.

We’ll look at how epistemic bubbles filter information by omission, how echo chambers weaponize that filtering for power, and why some people give “runaway credence” to authority figures who don't deserve it.

Drawing on the work of philosopher C. Thi Nguyen, we’ll talk about:

• Why “knowledge” requires more than belief — it needs justification and truth.
• How algorithms and ideology can shape our reality.
• Why some people trust political figures more than doctors.
• How insider language (“TDS,” “woke mind virus,” “lamestream media”) builds community — and traps it.
• And finally, how to build distributed epistemic networks — healthy, truth-seeking communities that can hold disagreement without dissolving into distrust.

This one’s all about freeing your mind — and helping others free theirs.

Charlie Kirk’s sudden death by a sniper’s bullet has left America reeling—and divided. To some, he was a hero of faith, family, and conservative values. To others, he embodied exclusion, cruelty, and dangerous ideology. In this episode, I step back from the shouting to ask: what does Kirk’s life, and the reaction to his death, reveal about us?

We’ll explore his rise with Turning Point USA, his advocacy for free speech, his controversial stances on immigration, empathy, and foreign aid—and the way his ideas shaped policy and lives. We’ll also unpack the rhetoric that followed his death, from Stephen Miller’s fiery memorial speech to Trump’s crackdown on dissent, and contrast it with Lincoln’s call to the “better angels of our nature.”

At the heart of it is a question: if we really want to honor Kirk’s legacy, isn’t it the honest contest of ideas—not the suppression of them—that matters most?

Episode Summary
In this episode, I reflect on the loneliness of living in nuance in a world of scripts. From MAGA truisms to the Sermon on the Mount, I explore how authoritarian movements thrive on simple answers while Jesus called his followers to a radically different way of life—humility, mercy, and love of enemies. Along the way, I share personal updates, how busyness can numb our critical thought, and why deconstruction often feels like wilderness. This is a conversation about resisting the easy scripts, asking better questions, and finding a more merciful, holistic way forward.

As a on again/off again live sound engineer, we are always thinking about signal to noise ratio. Or, why is that speaker humming? It's keeping me from hearing the vocals clearly!

In daily life we are bombarded with influencers and newscasts designed to promote outrage and/or to generally obscure facts and data that don't look good.

Here's how to maximize "signal" (the good) while minimizing "noise" (the extraneous).

The cancer community that I am part of lost a friend last weekend. This podcast is an essay that I wrote about his memory and the loss. The topic is what healthy manhood looks like, and how that is different for different people. In this we contemplate Plato's theory of the forms, and how this theory affects how we see ourselves.

Much love Zach. See you on the other side.

An ability to hyperfocus has long been one of my defining characteristics.

In this episode I explore why we hyperfocus, the neurochemicals involved, when it becomes a special interest, and if this is a Golden Age of hyperfocus.

Has rigid denominationalism left you out in the cold?

Is the God you are being asked to worship a monster?

Is asking questions forbidden where you are?

Then this episode is for you.

A friend accused me of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

From immigration to healthcare, foreign aid to the erosion of empathy, I break down why I speak out against Trumpism—not because I’m obsessed, but because I believe the Gospel compels us to. We’ll talk about the politics of grievance, the cost of silence, and why loving your neighbor might mean challenging the systems that harm them.

This isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about decency, truth, and whether Christianity in America can still look like Jesus.

Topics Covered:

• What is Trump Derangement Syndrome?
• Faith vs. grievance politics
• Immigration and the sin of empathy
• The Big Beautiful Bill and healthcare
• USAID, DEI, and foreign policy fallout
• Can a divisive tone ever be holy?
• Is MAGA a Christian movement—or just claiming to be?

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