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Old School with Shilo Brooks

The Free Press
Philosophy
Education
Plato's Republic
The Moviegoer
Socrates
Wolf
Justice
Cornel West
The Adventures Of Pinocchio
Collodi
Walker Percy
Kierkegaard
Censorship
Democracy
Fatherhood
Stoicism
Catcher In the Rye
Human Nature
Jim Harrison
Nihilism

Fewer of us than ever are reading books for pleasure. Shilo Brooks is on a mission to change that. Old School is a new podcast from The Free Press about great books and how reading them can make us stronger, better men. The show features intimate conversations with fascinating men—from fitness gurus to philosophers—about the books that shaped their lives. New episodes out every Thursday. Read with... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes25Founded7 months ago
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Self-ImprovementBooksEducationArts

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Artwork for Old School

Latest Episodes

Neal Stephenson, the prophetic author of cyberpunk classics like Snow Crash and The Diamond Age, has shaped how we imagine the future, from the metaverse to crypto to AI. His science fiction has a way of becoming reality.

But Stephenson’s thinking i... more

For tickets to our live recording with Jon Meacham in Philadelphia, CLICK HERE and register. Use code TFP for a 20 percent discount.

Life is short. How do we live it well?

Harvard professor Arthur Brooks has spent years studying happiness. In this ... more

For tickets to our live recording with Jon Meacham in Philadelphia, CLICK HERE and register. Use code TFP for a 20 percent discount.

Richard Connell’s 1924 short story “The Most Dangerous Game” tells of a hyper-sophisticated aristocrat who hunts hum... more

The perfect book to read around the Oscars this weekend? Joan Didion’s Play It as It Lays.

In this episode, Shilo sits down with Peter Savodnik to discuss Didion’s 1970 novel—a book that seemed to anticipate everything ugly about Hollywood, celebrit... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Neal Stephenson
Legendary science fiction writer
Author
Episode: Neal Stephenson on AI, Rome, and How Civilizations Decline
Arthur Brooks
Professor, author, happiness expert
Harvard University
Episode: The Two Types of People Who Never Find Happiness
Jack Carr
Best-selling author, TV producer, former Navy SEAL sniper
Author of The Terminalist, Savage Son, The Most Dangerous Game discussion guest
Episode: Hunting Humans for Sport
Peter Savodnik
Editor at The Free Press, discussed the Didion classic and its cultural implications
The Free Press
Episode: Joan Didion Knew What Hollywood Would Become
Ben Schatz
Public defender; founder of Books Beyond Bars
Center for Appellate Litigation; Books Beyond Bars
Episode: The NYC Public Defender Who Sends Books to Prisoners
Alex Jones
Founder and CEO of Hallow, a prayer app
Hallow
Episode: ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ Helped Inspire the Catholic App Hallow
Joseph Luzzi
Author and professor with a deep passion for literature and Dante
Episode: Dante: The Most Famous, Least Read Poet
Elliot Ackerman
Best-selling author, Marine Corps veteran, and contributor to The Free Press
Episode: America’s Most Righteous War Produced Its Best Anti-War Novel
Father Jonah Teller
Dominican friar and parochial vicar at St. Joseph's Church in New York City
St. Joseph's Church
Episode: Why ‘Middlemarch’ Changed This Catholic Priest’s Life

Host

Shilo Brooks
Shilo Brooks is a professor and CEO with a passion for literature and exploring its impact on personal development. He hosts discussions that highlight how great books shape lives and encourage growth through reading.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 188 ratings
  • Outstanding

    My favorite podcast! Love the equanimity, the gentle pressing of guests on their more outlandish opinions, the mutual exploration of topics that matter to the guests and listeners. It continually affects my own reading list. I particularly enjoy the expression of mind relatively unadorned with political garbage from either pole.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Machiavelli51
    United Statesa month ago
  • You hit the nail on the head

    Regarding the episode about Lolita—you are invoking the concept of Disordered Love when you refer to novel of awful human behavior.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eamon Parker
    United States2 months ago
  • DNC-only Liberal Woke

    Shilo is TX outside, CA inside. Conservatives here are not wanted. Yet another podcast where Liberal politics and pro-Democrat Party worldviews are pushed—in this case through books. BIAS is awful.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    chubby baker
    United States3 months ago
  • Guests?

    I was looking forward to this pod, but In the Middlemarch episode, instead of a discussion, the guest can only manage to interject single syllable responses to Shilo’s manic, repetitive monologue about the book. No thanks.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    EM_918
    United States3 months ago
  • More please

    Im not the target audience but I love this show. Shiloh Brooks leads a great interview and the guests surprise me. Keep making more episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rachel CP4
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the deep, insightful discussions that bring literary classics to life and provide relevance to modern experiences.
Many find the storytelling aspect of the interviews enriching, noting that it inspires them to read more of the classics.
The host is commended for his ability to engage thoughtfully with guests, providing a platform for reflection and personal connection to the literature discussed.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#27
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#86
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#43
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#126
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#116
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#29
Belgium/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Neal Stephenson on AI, Rome, and How Civilizations Decline
Q: Where is AI going and what is it likely to do to us, if anything?
The guest offers a moderate view: AI will perform certain tasks well but is not an end-of-world threat; the real value lies in maintaining personal cognitive skills and virtues that are exercised when we work through problems without over-reliance on AI.
Hunting Humans for Sport
Q: Take me to the sixth grade, Jack Carr, you're reading this. What are you thinking? What are you feeling? How did it affect you then?
The story spoke to me on a primal level, showing how a simple, stripped-down narrative could reveal deep questions about courage, mortality, and the line between civilization and barbarity; it inspired me to write Savage Son and to explore how these themes echo through later works.
Dante: The Most Famous, Least Read Poet
Q: How does Dante inform the journey of healing and redemption after your personal tragedy?
His depiction of hope, exile, and guidance parallels my own journey through grief to rebuilding my life.
Dante: The Most Famous, Least Read Poet
Q: Why is The Divine Comedy considered a great book or a touchstone of Western literature?
It represents a transition to modern literature, showcases linguistic brilliance, and is an epic poem that personalizes the human experience.
Dante: The Most Famous, Least Read Poet
Q: What advice do you have for someone who wants to start reading The Divine Comedy?
Start by surrendering to it, listen to the poetry like music, and focus on the broader themes rather than getting bogged down in every detail.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Old School

What is Old School about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations surrounding literature are at the heart of this podcast, as the host engages with a diverse range of guests to discuss classic texts and their significant impacts on personal development, philosophy, and culture. Episodes explore various themes, including morality, the human condition, historical perspectives, and contemporary societal challenges, all viewed through the lens of literature. The dialogues often emphasize the transformative power of reading, encouraging listeners to reconnect with classic works to gain deeper insights into their own lives and the world around them.

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How many episodes of Old School are there?

Old School launched 7 months ago and published 25 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Old School?

Recent guests on Old School include:

1. Neal Stephenson
2. Arthur Brooks
3. Jack Carr
4. Peter Savodnik
5. Ben Schatz
6. Alex Jones
7. Joseph Luzzi
8. Elliot Ackerman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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