Feral Philosophy Podcast

Mark Walsh
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Weekly

Mark Walsh offers a weekly podcast for young men about mental health, meaning and life purpose. For anyone feeling lost, wanting to break bad habits or to just feel a bit better in a world that seems to hate them. The podcast hosts experts on psychology, philosophy and fitness primarily. Speakers are from academia, sports, business, martial arts, psychology, therapy & neuroscience. The podcast is full of both practical tips and useless banter. https://youtube.com/@markwalsh1?si=ClbxlqkOzS2NtHIC

  1. 17h ago

    You're Being Played: How to Break Free from Media Manipulation - With Paddy Ney

    In this episode, I'm joined by author and parenting coach Patrick Ney for a lively, provocative conversation about media bias, hidden sponsorship and the subtle ways public opinion is influenced. Patrick has been deliberately stepping outside his political bubble, listening to left-wing podcasts and exploring unfamiliar perspectives. Together, we look behind the scenes of modern media to ask what we should trust, what we should question, and how to recognise when we're being played. We explore the less obvious forms of influence: undisclosed financial backers, affiliate relationships, self-promotion, political pressure and the quiet incentives that lead presenters to censor themselves or choose certain guests. From podcast advertising and expensive production studios to alleged foreign influence operations, we discuss how money and access can shape the stories audiences hear. We also examine social media bots, algorithmic outrage, the way political content exploits our emotions, and why even apparently independent voices may have interests worth understanding. Along the way, I share some extraordinary stories from my time in Russia, including a rather alarming encounter with a woman I suspected might be connected to the security services. So how do we become harder to manipulate? Patrick and I discuss the importance of recognising our own cognitive biases, listening to people we disagree with and resisting the urge to dehumanise political opponents. We consider whether stepping away from the algorithm, spending time in nature and reconnecting with the person in front of us can help restore perspective. The conversation also moves into deeper questions about religion, national identity, cultural differences and the danger of turning politics into a substitute for faith. Funny, candid and occasionally outrageous, this is a discussion about media literacy, independent thinking and keeping our humanity in an increasingly polarised world. Reach out to Mark on IG See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Join Mark for in-person workshops

  2. Oct 26

    Which Generation Ruined the World? - With Owen Cox

    Are the Baby Boomers responsible for ruining the world, are Millennials the real villains, or will Gen Z turn out to be the worst generation of all? Mark Walsh is joined by his friend Owen, returning after their popular conversation about The Lord of the Rings, for a funny, irreverent and surprisingly thoughtful exploration of generational psychology. From the post-war optimism of the Boomers to Gen X's cynicism, Millennial sensitivity and Gen Z's digital upbringing, they examine how the historical conditions people grow up in shape their values, personalities and expectations of the world. The conversation explores how technology, mass media, economic decline and social change have transformed the relationship between generations. Mark and Owen debate whether the Boomers enjoyed the benefits of a prosperous society while dismantling the traditions that sustained it, why Gen X developed its characteristic scepticism and independence, and how Millennials became associated with social media narcissism, political idealism and the rise of HR culture. They also consider Gen Z's mental health, political attitudes and relationship with a world that seems to have broken many of the promises made to previous generations. Along the way, expect cultural references, historical detours and plenty of provocative generational stereotyping. But is any generation really the worst, or is each simply a product of its time? Beneath the jokes and mutual accusations, Mark and Owen ask what happens when the world changes faster than parents can prepare their children for it, when prosperity gives way to insecurity, and when one generation inherits the consequences of another's decisions. From ageing Boomers to bewildered Gen Xers and online-native Zoomers, this is a lively debate about cultural decline, historical responsibility and the generation that might finally put the rest of us in our place. Pick your least favourite generation, make your case, and decide who deserves the blame. Find out more about Mark's coaching course See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Join Mark for in-person workshops

  3. Oct 20

    The 3 types of Psychos running the world- With Liam DeBoer

    In a world where young men increasingly feel excluded, economically squeezed and blamed for society's problems, how do they make sense of what's happening without falling into resentment and despair? Mark Walsh sits down with Liam DeBoer, aka Liam Out Loud, for a wide-ranging and often provocative conversation about political power, cultural decline, masculinity and the psychology of victimhood. Drawing on the work of psychologists, philosophers and political thinkers, they explore how ideologies can become tools of power, why people conform to systems they privately distrust, and how resentment can turn into a trap. The conversation moves from Nietzsche's master and slave morality to Christianity's understanding of virtue, asking whether a culture can preserve ideas of good and evil after abandoning the traditions that gave them meaning. Mark and Liam debate the growing divide between young men and women, the weaponisation of victimhood, changing attitudes towards disability and institutional fairness, and the tensions between competing visions of masculinity. They also examine how strength, beauty and sexuality can serve either noble purposes or self-interest, and why a moral code needs more than personal preference or consent to give it lasting authority. But the answer to a troubled culture cannot simply be to blame someone else. Mark and Liam return to the importance of agency: acknowledging difficult conditions without surrendering responsibility for your own life. They discuss the difference between anger and hatred, the value of choosing a better social circle, and the need to orient yourself towards something worthy before virtuous behaviour can follow. For young men struggling to find meaning in a confusing world, the challenge is to build character, pursue noble goals and become the kind of person capable of making things better — rather than waiting for the world to change first.   See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Join Mark for in-person workshops

  4. Oct 13

    The Internet Isn't Real: How We Got Trapped in Political Hyperreality.- With Damien Slash

    In this episode, I speak with Daniel Barker, better known as the comedian Daniel Slash, about political tribalism, cultural absurdity, and why so many people seem to inhabit completely different versions of reality. Through his satirical characters, Daniel exposes the strange logic and moral certainty of contemporary political culture. We explore his concept of "hyperreality": a world in which people become so invested in their ideological beliefs that they struggle to distinguish between what they want to be true and what is actually true. Drawing on his own journey from the political left towards a more sceptical, questioning worldview, Daniel explains how a confrontation over immigration led him to reconsider assumptions he had held for years. We discuss the influence of mainstream media, the appeal of moral superiority, and why people can become more concerned with believing the "right" things than with discovering what is true. We also explore the psychology of political identity, the suppression of uncomfortable thoughts, the difficulty of changing your mind when your friendships and sense of belonging depend on your beliefs, and why genuine critical thinking requires the willingness to question your own side. ------------------------------------------ See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Support the Feral Philosophy mission by donating through Crowdfunder  Want to become a certified embodiment coach? More details about CEC Join Mark for in-person workshops

  5. Oct 6

    The Attention War: How Big Tech Is Hijacking Our Minds - With Jessica Butcher

    In this episode, I speak with tech entrepreneur and digital wellbeing advocate Jess Butcher about technology, attention, entrepreneurship, and the growing struggle to remain sane in an age of infinite content. We explore why young men can so easily become trapped between hustle culture and doomerism, and why developing agency, creating your own opportunities, and building something meaningful may be a better response to a difficult world than either burning yourself out or giving up. Drawing on her experience building technology companies and now campaigning for healthier relationships with technology, Jess explains how the attention economy has transformed the internet into a machine for extracting our time, attention, and emotional energy. We discuss "ultra-processed content," dopamine and rage bait, the parallels between social media and Big Tobacco, and why the business model of keeping people online can have profound consequences for mental health, relationships, creativity, and moral behaviour. We also explore why boredom, silence, walking, reflection, and simply doing nothing may be some of the most radical—and productive—things we can do in a culture obsessed with constant stimulation. The conversation then turns to the enormous concentration of technological power in a handful of companies, the coming impact of AI, and what this means for young people and society. We discuss political polarisation, online tribalism, the loss of multi-generational community, and why young men in particular can become hungry for a "crusade" or a cause to devote themselves to. Rather than retreating from technology altogether, we explore how to use it without allowing it to use us—and how reclaiming our attention might be the first step towards reclaiming our lives.  ------------------------------------------- See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Support the Feral Philosophy mission by donating through Crowdfunder  Want to become a certified embodiment coach? More details about CEC Join Mark for in-person workshops

  6. Sep 29

    Are We Getting Stupider? The Jolly Heretic on IIntelligence and Civilizational Decline - With Edward Dutton

    In this episode, I speak with evolutionary psychologist and writer Edward Dutton, also known as the "Jolly Heretic," about intelligence, genetics, cultural change, and one of the most provocative questions in modern psychology: are we actually becoming less intelligent? We explore the evidence Dutton believes points towards a decline in intelligence since the Industrial Revolution, why fertility patterns and changing selection pressures might matter, and how the modern environment may be shaping not only how we think, but who gets to pass their genes on. We then turn to the controversial relationship between intelligence, personality, political ideology, religion, and social conformity. Dutton explains why he believes certain areas of psychological and genetic research have become taboo, how academic incentives can shape the questions researchers are willing to ask, and why some findings become politically uncomfortable. Along the way, we discuss the Flynn Effect, cognitive stratification, the internet as a new intellectual environment, eugenics, the relationship between intelligence and fertility, and the tension between scientific inquiry and contemporary moral sensibilities. The conversation then becomes increasingly speculative, looking at civilizational decline, the possibility of a new political and cultural realignment, the emergence of countercultures, and what all of this means for young people trying to navigate a rapidly changing society. We discuss masculinity, conservatism, religion, dating, community, and how young men can find like-minded people outside increasingly polarised mainstream institutions. ------------------------------------------- See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Support the Feral Philosophy mission by donating through Crowdfunder  Want to become a certified embodiment coach? More details about CEC Join Mark for in-person workshops

  7. Sep 22

    Beyond Peterson: What Are Young Men Looking For? - With Connor Tomlinson

    In this episode, I speak with political commentator Connor Tomlinson about young men, happiness, responsibility, Christianity, and the growing sense that something has gone badly wrong with modern society. We explore what Tomlinson sees as the left's misunderstanding of human nature, particularly the idea that happiness comes from satisfying our desires and removing constraints, and contrast this with a very different vision of flourishing built around duty, responsibility, self-restraint, and serving something beyond ourselves. Drawing on politics, psychology, religion, culture, and his own experience as a young man, we discuss why so many young men feel alienated from the society they have inherited, from difficulties around dating, marriage, housing, work, and family to the loss of tradition, community, and a sense of belonging. We examine the danger of allowing legitimate anger to turn into bitterness or despair, and why building strong friendships, taking responsibility, forming families, cultivating virtue, and putting your skills into practice may matter more than simply winning arguments online. We also discuss Jordan Peterson, the importance of "cleaning up your room," and the temptation for politically engaged young men to spend their lives trying to fix problems far beyond their control. The conversation then turns to the return of Christianity among young men and why faith can provide a moral framework capable of sustaining people through hardship without reducing life to politics or material success. We explore Christianity as a source of meaning, identity, sacrifice, truth, and hope, as well as its relationship to Western civilization and the traditions that shaped it.  ------------------------------------------- See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Support the Feral Philosophy mission by donating through Crowdfunder  Want to become a certified embodiment coach? More details about CEC Join Mark for in-person workshops

  8. Sep 15

    What Are You Serving? Christianity, Masculinity and the Search for Meaning - With Johannes Hartl

    In this episode, I speak with theologian and author Johannes Hartl about meaning, Christianity, masculinity, relationships, and the search for something deeper in an increasingly distracted and fragmented culture. We explore why young men in particular may be rediscovering Christianity, and whether it offers something that modern life struggles to provide: a coherent vision of what human beings are for, what is worth serving, and how to live a meaningful life. Drawing on theology, psychology, philosophy, and personal experience, we discuss the limits of self-optimization and productivity, the difference between concentration and genuine presence, and why human flourishing ultimately depends on relationship. We explore the Christian understanding of prayer, grace, sacrifice, and the ordering of our loves, including how seemingly healthy things such as family, romantic relationships, work, or nation can become destructive when they take the place of God. We also discuss masculinity, fatherhood, the wounds passed between generations, and why Christ offers such a demanding yet radically forgiving model of what it means to be a man. ------------------------------------------- See the Feral Philosophy YouTube channel HERE  Support the Feral Philosophy mission by donating through Crowdfunder  Want to become a certified embodiment coach? More details about CEC Join Mark for in-person workshops

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About

Mark Walsh offers a weekly podcast for young men about mental health, meaning and life purpose. For anyone feeling lost, wanting to break bad habits or to just feel a bit better in a world that seems to hate them. The podcast hosts experts on psychology, philosophy and fitness primarily. Speakers are from academia, sports, business, martial arts, psychology, therapy & neuroscience. The podcast is full of both practical tips and useless banter. https://youtube.com/@markwalsh1?si=ClbxlqkOzS2NtHIC

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