Co•nun•drum   n. 1. a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words.  2. anything that puzzles. 3. a segment of the program "Philosophy Talk" in which our hosts, John and Ken, irreverently tackle philosophical riddles raised by everyday life.

If you are bedeviled by a philosophical conundrum, send an e-mail describing your conundrum to:

conundrums@philosophytalk.org

Our crack staff will consider your puzzle. If we think that John and Ken can clear up your confusion, or just have have some fun with you and your quandary, we may use it on the air.   Be sure to provide information about where we can reach you, just in case.

We regret that we cannot guarantee that you will hear from us if we do not use your conundrum.

Some Sample Conundrums:

• Is it alright to lie, if it will help me get my child into the best daycare in my area?
• Should I give to a panhandler, even if I don't approve of what he or she may do with the money?
• I chew my fingernails, does that make me a cannibal?

 Send us your conundrum ideas at conundrums@philosophytalk.org

Conundrums

Learning 19

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/vienna-circle.

Should a vegan not feed meat to her pet?

In this episode, Onya speaks with Mara Stoll (UCL MSc Prosperity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and theologian Dr. David Dark about how hermeneutics, the art of interpretation, can transform social entrepreneurship. Together, they unpack why understanding our own assumptions and a community’s lived reality is key to avoiding well-intentioned missteps. Discover how applying hermeneutic principles can help founders slow down, listen deeply, and co-create ventures that truly fit the people they are meant to serve.

Date of episode recording: 2025-09-01
Duration: 00:41:27
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Dr Onya Idoko
Guests: Mara Stoll and Dr David Dark
Producer: Manolo Fournier
Podcast owner: Victoria Howard


Slow Down and Listen: Hermeneutics for Social Entrepreneurs

With clear explanations, fun illustrations, and expertly-presented information, Consent (for Kids!) is an empowering introduction to consent, bodily autonomy, and respect for yourself and others.

Consent is like being ruler of your own country…population: YOU.

This is a smart, playful guide to consent and bodily autonomy, packed with bright and energetic illustrations. Readers will learn about boundaries and how to set them; ways to respect themselves and others; what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe; and much more. Along the way, they’ll be encouraged to reflect on (and improve!) their own behavior and to practice consent in their daily lives.

Whether you’re looking for a consent primer to share with a friend or searching for a way to talk to your child about what it means to be in control of their own body and respect others’, look no further! This humorous and insightful book from the co-creator of the viral “Tea Consent” video is the perfect teaching tool, conversation starter, and insightful, empowering resource for educators, kids, and families everywhere. 

Consent (For Kids!) by Rachel Brian read by Rachel Brian

A top expert in personal branding shows introverts how to leverage their unique strengths to get ahead    

To build a career, you need a personal brand to showcase your distinct skills, experience, and expertise. Building that brand can feel daunting—particularly for introverts. Conventional wisdom holds that introverts should fake extroversion in order to succeed, advice that can be terrifying for anyone who finds social interaction exhausting. Personal branding expert and introvert Goldie Chan says it doesn’t have to be this way.   

Chan empowers introverts to create memorable and recognizable personal brands without feeling the pressure to become someone else. With examples from everyday introverts to introvert celebrities like Taylor Swift and LeVar Burton, Chan shows how introversion can be a superpower when building a personal brand. She shares strategies for goal setting, navigating in-person networking events, building online and offline communities, partnering effectively with extroverts, and sustaining energy for the long run.   

This book is essential reading for any introvert looking to level up a career or community without sacrificing authenticity.    

Personal Branding for Introverts by Goldie Chan read by Ferdelle Capistrano

This is the wild story of how Donald Trump capitalized on the Democrats’ growing disconnect with male voters — told through the explosive culture war battles playing out in sports.
 
Democrats don’t have a Trump problem. They have a man problem. And Trump was just the guy to exploit it. Young men see the Democratic Party as anti-men, run by weak, low-testosterone beta males. And here’s the truth: Trump won with balls. And he won’t be the last Republican to do it. The 2024 red tsunami was led by men fed up with woke nonsense. Unless Democrats change fast, it’s only going to get worse for them.

This book breaks down how Trump used sports as his secret weapon to rack up votes. From the Lia Thomas controversy to Bud Light’s downfall, ESPN’s woke meltdown to his own assassination attempt—where he proved once again he’s a fighter—Trump seized these opportunities and played the game like a winner. And America’s men took notice.

Clay Travis doesn’t hold back. As the founder of Outkick, the co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, and one of the most influential voices in sports and conservative media, he’s interviewed Trump more than ten times—including on Air Force One. Now, he’s bringing the unfiltered truth about why men turned on the Democrats—and why they’re never coming back.

Balls by Clay Travis read by Clay Travis

A definitive new history of the world’s most watched sporting event—just in time for the 2026 tournament​

Since 1930, the World Cup has become a truly global obsession. It is the most watched sporting event on the planet, and 211 teams competed to make it into the 2022 tournament. From its inception, it has also been a vehicle for far more than soccer. A tool for self-mythologizing and influence-peddling, The World Cup has played a crucial role in nation-building, and continues to, as countries negotiate their positions in a globalized world. 
 
The Power and the Glory is a comprehensive history of the matches and goals, the tales of scandal and triumph, the haggling and skulduggery of the bidding process, and the political and cultural tides behind every tournament. Jonathan Wilson details not merely what happened but why, based on fresh interviews and meticulous research. The book is as much about the legends of the sport, from Pelé to Messi, as it is about the nations that made them, from Mussolini’s Italy to partitioned Germany to controversy-ridden Qatar. 
 
Brimming with politics, heart, and drama, on and off the pitch, The Power and the Glory is the definitive story of the greatest cultural event of our time.

The Power and the Glory by Jonathan Wilson read by Paul Thornley

More at https://philosophytalk.org/shows/making-and-breaking-habits.

To honk or not to honk?

"As a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Congo who has returned several times and plans to return one more time for a book I am writing, I have always worried that my presence did more harm than good, by raising expectations that might not be met. I have always told the people in the village where I served more than 30 years ago that writing about them (as I have over the years as a journalist) is my greatest means of sharing their humanity, their humor, their resilience and their plight. But is that ever enough? Not a day goes by that I don't wrestle with this."

How do I know when I've done enough good?

George from Visala, California wonders whether boycotts do any good. Is boycotting something after the fact a moral responsibility or just sour grapes?

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/democracy-numbers.

What good are boycotts?

More at https://www.philosophytalk.org/shows/what-has-replaced-freud.

Why is nature "red in tooth and claw?"

"The program that questions everything -- except your intelligence."

Philosophy on the radio? You've got to be kidding? Well, sometimes we do (kid, that is). Mostly we look at today's important ideas with an eye to thinking them through.

Philosophy Talk is a weekly, one-hour radio series. The hosts' down-to-earth and no-nonsense approach brings the richness of philosophic thought to everyday subjects. Topics are lofty (Truth, Beauty, Justice), arresting (Terrorism, Intelligent Design, Suicide), and engaging (Baseball, Love, Happiness).

This is not a lecture or a college course; it's philosophy in action!

Philosophy Talk is a fun opportunity to explore issues of importance to your audience in a thoughtful, friendly fashion, where thinking is encouraged.