Just Thinking with John Hoelzer

John Hoelzer
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This podcast will be the vocalized rendition of a series of essays I am writing. This is to be a personal project which will discuss the concepts of information, beliefs, goodness, and ideas as-such.

  1. Mar 5

    15. The Problem With 'Your Fault' Political Rhetoric

    In Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine wrote the frantic song “Your Fault,” where characters spiral into blame as their world collapses around them. That moment feels strangely familiar today. From reactions to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, to debates surrounding the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza Strip, and the political rise of Zohran Mamdani, public discourse often follows the same pattern: each side insists the other must “learn their lesson.” But what if that mindset is exactly what keeps the cycle going? This video explores the dangers of blame-driven politics, the logic of punitive rhetoric, and whether a healthier political culture—one that separates critique from condemnation—is still possible. #Philosophy #Politics #PoliticalPolarization #IntoTheWoods #StephenSondheim

    15 min
  2. 14. Eternal Recurrence, and Theories of Time

    11/23/2025

    14. Eternal Recurrence, and Theories of Time

    In The Gay Science Friedrich Nietzsche introduces a thought experiment of Eternal Recurrence. Here, for fun, I discuss how, if taken seriously, the reality of time under Eternal Recurrence would compare against contemporary theories of time; in particular, J.M.E. McTaggart’s A, B, and C theories of time.This is a hybrid philosophical and creative essay designed for viewers who enjoy analytic philosophy, Nietzsche studies, metaphysics of time, and conceptual thought experiments.

    10 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    13. The Jack Lawrence Interview

    Jack Lawrence is a content creator and a philosopher of science. In this conversation we discuss university education, epistemology and thought experiments, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.Though I am early in my own content-creation journey I can safely say this was one of the most fun I’ve had in an interview / conversation so far. Thank you Jack for your time and perspective, and openness to ideas.Socials:https://johnhoelzer.substack.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552940388004https://x.com/JohnHoelzer1Outro Sound Credit - SC: Password Infinity - music by EvgenyBardyuzha

    1h 32m

  4. 09/16/2025

    12. Why You Vote Matters

    I’ve started seeing electoral YouTube ads again, so I’ve decided to write an essay on the topic of voting. I believe the act of voting should be an intentional considered event and try to make this case to you here.  A vote isn’t just a filled in circle on a ballot. It’s a reflection of the values and reasoning of the voter behind it. Let’s talk about why that matters. The music in the intro and outro are from a recital I gave earlier this year, summer 2025.  Minute Waltz,, Chopin Warmest regards - John -  Socials: https://johnhoelzer.substack.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552940388004 https://twitter.com/JohnHoelzer1

    16 min

  5. 09/15/2025

    11. The BenTbeyondrepair Interview

    Recently I had the opportunity to sit and chat with Challenger League of Legends player BenTbeyondrepair. We discuss Riot Games implementing WASD controls, True Skill 2 vs. the ELO rating system, toxicity in gaming, and YouTube content creation.Thank you Ben for sharing your time and insights.Ben’s Socials:YT: http://www.youtube.com/@bentbeyondrepairTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/bentbeyondrepairMy Socials:https://johnhoelzer.substack.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552940388004https://twitter.com/JohnHoelzer1https://open.spotify.com/show/6uoa4v10W5YX4SVN5n9JPXThank you.SC: Password Infinity - music by EvgenyBardyuzha

    1h 47m

  6. 08/31/2025

    10. On Spirituality, and Materialism

    Over the course of my life, I have at times been more of a spiritualist or more of a materialist. Here I aim to articulate my journey, for I wonder how many others have had experiences like I’ve had. The music in the intro and outro are from a recital I gave earlier this year, summer 2025. Prelude in C Major, ChopinPrelude in C Major, ScriabinWarmest regards - John

    19 min

  7. 08/31/2025

    6. On Life and Love, The Julia B. Hoelzer Interview

    Recently I sat down with my sister Julia Hoelzer to talk about education, work, and more broadly the paths of our lives. Thank you Julia, for a pleasant conversation, and for your time and advice.

    1h 10m
  8. 9. On The Possibility of Time Travel

    06/30/2025

    9. On The Possibility of Time Travel

    A Hopeful Exercise in Accepting a Premise and Then Considering It Far Longer Than Necessary What if time travelers from the future really could visit us—but simply choose not to? This essay explores the physical, ethical, and philosophical conditions required to receive visitors from the future. From vacuum chambers in orbit to international “time ports,” we consider how we’d need to prepare—and why anyone from the future might want to come at all. Featuring the story of Stephen Hawking’s time traveler party, this video invites a serious look at time travel not as fantasy, but as a thought experiment in human potential.

    12 min
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This podcast will be the vocalized rendition of a series of essays I am writing. This is to be a personal project which will discuss the concepts of information, beliefs, goodness, and ideas as-such.

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