Nikos Sotirakopoulos Discusses His Journey from Marxism to Objectivism In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Dr. Nikos Sotirakopoulos joins Michael Liebowitz to share his intellectual journey from the radical Left to the philosophy of reason and individualism. Once an active Marxist, Nikos reflects on what drew him to collectivist movements in his youth and what ultimately led him to reject them. They discuss the emotional and philosophical appeal of Marxism, the moral void it attempts to fill, and why so many young people are still captivated by its promises today. Nikos explains how his transition to Objectivism reshaped his understanding of freedom, morality, and the role of the individual in society. Now a speaker and writer for the Ayn Rand Institute and an instructor for Ayn Rand University, Dr. Sotirakopoulos teaches about Marx, the communist movement, and the New Left—drawing on both his academic expertise and personal experience to expose the errors of collectivist ideology. Before joining ARI, Nikos spent more than a decade in academia in the UK, teaching at the University of Kent, Loughborough University, and York St John University. He is the author of The Rise of Lifestyle Activism: From New Left to Occupy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) and Identity Politics and Tribalism: The New Culture Wars (Societas, 2021), and is a frequent commentator on UK media. Tune in for an insightful conversation about philosophy, moral conviction, and what it truly means to think for yourself. About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational Egoist Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible. His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity. He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction: Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit-Hole-Corrections-Encourages/dp/197448064X View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xj About Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational Egoist Xenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, overseeing the publishing and promotion of each episode to reflect a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual integrity. As a CEO, property manager, entrepreneur, and lifelong advocate for capitalism and individual rights, Xenia ensures the podcast stays true to its core values of reason, freedom, and personal responsibility. Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, where passionate thinkers gather to discuss Ayn Rand’s ideas and their application to life, politics, and culture. Join us at: https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-ayn-rand-meetup/(Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup) Follow Life on Purpose – Xenia's thought-provoking essays at her Substack:https://substack.com/@xeniaioannou?utm_source=user-menu Because freedom is worth thinking about—and talking about. #TheRationalEgoist #NikosSotirakopoulos #Objectivism #AynRandInstitute #Marxism #Individualism #Reason #Philosophy #MichaelLiebowitz #Liberty #Freedom
