Rephonic
Artwork for Old School

Old School with Shilo Brooks

The Free Press
Education
Philosophy
Plato's Republic
The Moviegoer
Vladimir Nabokov
Socrates
Middlemarch
Wolf
Justice
Cornel West
The Adventures Of Pinocchio
Collodi
Walker Percy
Lolita
Pedophilia
Grief
Lindbergh Kidnapping
Kierkegaard
Censorship
Democracy

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes35Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSelf-ImprovementBooksEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Old School

Latest Episodes

A message from our host.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, the fight for gender equality has squarely focused on lifting women up—in the workplace, politics, and beyond.

But according to Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, it’s the men who now need support.

Fr... more

If America has a mission statement, it is this:

 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of ... more

In this special episode, Shilo Brooks is joined by Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Jon Meacham at the Jack Miller Center’s annual summit on civic education.

They took the stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the perfect settin... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Richard Reeves
President of the American Institute for Boys and Men
American Institute for Boys and Men
Episode: What ‘The Future Is Female’ Has Meant for Men
Jon Meacham
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer of presidents
Vanderbilt University
Episode: The WWII Novel That Explains America
Joe Nocera
Journalist; podcaster; author
The Free Press
Episode: Agatha Christie and the Kidnapping That Inspired Her Greatest Mystery
Amy Coney Barrett
Supreme Court Justice
United States Supreme Court
Episode: Inside the Supreme Court with Amy Coney Barrett
Nick Gillespie
Editor-at-large at Reason Magazine; conspiracy aficionado
Reason Magazine
Episode: A New Series From The Free Press | The Lindbergh Conspiracies
Sarah Rose Siskind
Science writer; conspiracy skeptic
Independent writer
Episode: A New Series From The Free Press | The Lindbergh Conspiracies
Candace Fleming
Author of Lindbergh-related works
Author
Episode: A New Series From The Free Press | The Lindbergh Conspiracies
Greg Allgren
Former detective; Lindbergh kidnapping sleuth
Independent investigator
Episode: A New Series From The Free Press | The Lindbergh Conspiracies
Eli Lake
Host of Breaking History, avid reader and guide for the inquiry
Breaking History, The Free Press
Episode: Roald Dahl: Genius and Bigot

Host

Shilo Brooks
Host of Old School; engages in intimate conversations about books that shaped lives; often invites diverse thinkers and writers.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 214 ratings
  • Great to see Shilo got his own podcast!

    As a former student of Shilo’s from over a decade ago, I was very excited to hear about this podcast and have been listening from near the start. I love this podcast. It’s so much fun every week. Some of the books (and guests) are truly surprising, and a lot of the interviews go in directions I never expected. Many of the themes and the books/authors are near to my heart.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ben Connelly
    United States3 months ago
  • Full of Depth

    This is the kind of podcast all can get value from. Full of insight and depth on a variety of issues.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CMac2834
    United States3 months ago
  • 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 States4 months 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 States4 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's depth and respectful probing of guests.
Some episodes spark debate or critique around perceived biases in topics or guests.
Audience appreciates non-polemical, thoughtful discussions that connect books to modern life.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#70
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#202
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#95
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#160
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#36
Israel/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#67
Israel/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What ‘The Future Is Female’ Has Meant for Men
Q: What policy prescriptions would move the needle the most?
He emphasizes flexible school start times, promoting male teachers, and a cultural shift that values men in HEAL professions (healthcare, education, administration, literacy) while recognizing the broader societal benefits of both genders thriving.
What ‘The Future Is Female’ Has Meant for Men
Q: What is your view on the biology chapter and the relationship between biology and culture?
He argues that biology and culture are not zero-sum; acknowledging biological differences helps shape culture in ways that channel behavior toward pro-social outcomes, rather than denying differences or using them as rigid prescriptions.
What ‘The Future Is Female’ Has Meant for Men
Q: When in the course of your thinking did this become a problem you wanted to address?
Reeves explains that rising data on boys and men's struggles—especially in education and mental health—spurred him to focus on the issue, driven by disquiet over why these trends were underreported and how they differ from earlier narratives.
The WWII Novel That Explains America
Q: Besides Lincoln, who is the best president you would point to, and why?
Selecting someone other than Lincoln, I would point to a president whose leadership balanced conviction with pragmatism, showing how restraint and adaptability can advance national purpose without sacrificing core principles.
The WWII Novel That Explains America
Q: If you could be present at any moment in history, what would you like to be present to witness?
I would like to have been in the upper room in Jerusalem over the Passover of 33, witnessing foundational moments of faith and humility that shaped history, while recognizing the fragility and depth of human experience.

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?

Long-form conversations that pair classic books with modern leadership, culture, and technology. Episodes thread literature, philosophy, and history into contemporary issues—ranging from ethics in technology and governance to spirituality and personal transformation—via intimate interviews with authors, thinkers, and practitioners. The format tends to foreground how great works shape beliefs, decisions, and worldviews, with a careful, thoughtful host who invites deep reflection without partisan sensationalism. A notable strength is the seamless mix of literary analysis, personal storytelling, and real-world applications, often featuring guests with diverse intellectual pedigrees and practical expertise. This approach makes it appealing to l... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Old School?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Old School. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Old School and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Old School get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Old School, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Old School?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Old School, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Old School have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Old School has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Old School?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Old School:

1. Conversations with Coleman
2. Breaking History
3. Uncommon Knowledge
4. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
5. What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

How many episodes of Old School are there?

Old School launched 9 months ago and published 35 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Old School?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Old School?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Old School from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Old School?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Old School. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Old School?

Recent guests on Old School include:

1. Richard Reeves
2. Jon Meacham
3. Joe Nocera
4. Amy Coney Barrett
5. Nick Gillespie
6. Sarah Rose Siskind
7. Candace Fleming
8. Greg Allgren

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days