OUR RATING:
Let’s talk about “Modern Wisdom,” the podcast that reminds us all about that one guy. You know the guy.. The one that acts like an overly confident fraternity brother, but sometimes also drops some pearls of wisdom between trying to explain the meaning of life and talking about protein shakes. Nevertheless this is a podcast for those of you who enjoy a healthy heaping of philosophical tangents.
Hosted by Chris Williamson, this show is essentially what would happen if Joe Rogan and a self-help book had a lovechild who actually read more than just workout supplement labels and cryptocurrency whitepapers.
The guest list reads like a who’s who of internet intellectuals, provocateurs, and people your parents definitely wouldn’t want you listening to. We’re talking about episodes featuring pickup artists who claim to understand human psychology, fitness gurus who believe deadlifting is basically a spiritual experience, and disgusting people like Andrew Tate, because nothing says “modern wisdom” quite like inviting people who make dinner table conversations immediately uncomfortable.
But here’s the weird thing about this podcast: despite the eye-roll-inducing guest lineup of questionable characters, the podcast somehow manages to bring in enough credible guests to make it worth listening to. I suppose that’s not a massive surprise considering the podcast is nearing a thousand episodes.
Williamson has an uncanny ability to extract interesting conversations from guests that would normally make you want to slam your head into a wall of self-help books. He navigates discussions about masculinity, personal development, and life strategies with a decent amount of finesse and the depth of a professor who maybe did keg stands in college?
The podcast doesn’t just stick to one lane, oh no, that would be too predictable. One moment you’re listening to a nuanced discussion about male emotional intelligence, and the next you’re getting life advice that sounds like it was workshopped in a gym locker room but actually makes surprising amounts of sense.
Guests range from former special forces operators to dating coaches, from neuroscientists to professional athletes. Want to hear about mental toughness? They’ve got a guy. Curious about relationship dynamics? There’s an episode for that. Interested in understanding why humans do the weird, complicated things we do? Buckle up, because “Modern Wisdom” is basically a rabbit hole of human behaviour that you didn’t know you wanted to dive into.
At its core, “Modern Wisdom” is basically a show for young males who feel lost. I wouldn’t quite put it in the same category as some of the other “brosphere” right leaning podcasts, but it’s certainly within the same orbit. There’s definitely some decent advice on how to be a functioning, semi-competent human in the 21st century, with just enough humor and self-deprecation to keep it from feeling like you’re being lectured, but the show would be better off sticking with guests that aren’t full of shit.
Where to listen to Modern Wisdom
Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Castro
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