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Artwork for Within Reason

Within Reason

Alex J O'Connor
Christianity
Consciousness
Philosophy
Atheism
Jesus
God
Gnosticism
Artificial Intelligence
Neuroscience
Judaism
Panpsychism
Democracy
Free Will
Rene Descartes
Science
Death
Quantum Mechanics
Evolution
Mormonism
Epistemology

For the curious. A philosophy podcast that sometimes flirts with other disciplines, Within Reason has featured guests including Richard Dawkins, Douglas Murray, William Lane Craig, Peter Singer, Konstantin Kisin, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes162Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Within Reason

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Get all sides of every story and be better informed at ⁠https://ground.news/AlexOC⁠ - subscribe for 40% off unlimited access.

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Get all sides of every story and be better informed at ground.news/AlexOC - subscribe for 40% off unlimited access.Come to my North American tour this November: www.alexoconnor.com/p/tour.Jan Westerhoff is a German philosopher and ori... more

Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF with code alexoconnor at huel.com/alexoconnor (Minimum $50 purchase).For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: www.... more

Get all sides of every story and be better informed at ⁠https://ground.news/AlexOC⁠ - subscribe for 40% off unlimited access.

For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: ⁠https://www.alexoconnor.com⁠.

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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.

Recent Guests

Michael Pollan
Author and researcher focused on plant consciousness and biology
Author
Episode: #166 Are Plants Conscious? - Michael Pollan
Jan Westerhoff
Philosopher and author discussed in episode
University/academic philosopher (as referenced in discussion)
Episode: #165 Buddhist Emptiness Explained - Jan Westerhoff
Dallas Jenkins
The Chosen creator
Five and Two Studios / The Chosen
Episode: #164 The Chosen Creator: Putting Words in Jesus' Mouth?
Ross Douthat
Catholic journalist and author
New York Times? (as per public bio; not stated in transcript)
Episode: #163 Religion is an Obligation - Ross Douthat
William Lane Craig
Philosopher and theologian, known for cosmological and moral arguments for theism
Westminster Theological Seminary (and related affiliations)
Episode: #162 Two Million Subscriber QnA
Chris Hadfield
Colonel, space explorer and author
Astronaut for CSA/Canada
Episode: #161 What’s the Point of Going Back to the Moon? Chris Hadfield -
Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Philosophy presenter and creator of the Landscape of Consciousness map
Closer to Truth (hosted by Kuhn)
Episode: #160 Every Theory of Consciousness - Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Keith Frankish
Philosopher, illusionism advocate
Episode: #158 Could Consciousness Be an Illusion?
Tommy Edison
Blind Film Critic; educational video creator and speaker
Tommy Edison Experience
Episode: #157 How a Blind Man Sees the World - Tommy Edison

Host

Alex O'Connor
Host of the show, philosopher and YouTuber

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 8.8k ratings
  • Thank you

    Facts. Honestly, trustworthy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    77 boo 77
    United States21 days ago
  • Ads are out of control

    Used to listen weekly. Can’t stomach it anymore. Ads are out of control.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    BryJWes
    United Statesa month ago
  • Failure to seriously question theist assumptions

    What a disappointment. Over and over again I hear the podcaster fail to notice, much less represent, serious flaws in the arguments, offered by the guests on the show. The meek acceptance of sloppy thinking and outright ignorance from Ross Douthat was particularly frustrating. The lack of critical engagement harms this podcast’s credibility.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Burned By Adobe
    United Statesa month ago
  • Amazing

    This podcast really gets u thinking about stuff! I rly apréciate

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🤔 💭
    United States2 months ago
  • Intrusive ads

    Great podcast ruined by intrusive & jarring midroll ads. Midroll may be more lucrative but I stopped listening to the podcast because of them

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TheSecondCaleb
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's calm, Socratic style and thoughtful challenges to guests.
Guests are consistently high-caliber and the discussions nourish nuanced understanding.
Some listeners critique mid-roll ad placement and pacing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#164 The Chosen Creator: Putting Words in Jesus' Mouth?
Q: What guides your decision on whether to show dialogue or events not explicitly in the Gospels?
The driving principle is plausibility and clarity for the audience, balanced with reverence for the source material; we consult scholars and ensure additions serve the story without distorting core gospel truths.
#162 Two Million Subscriber QnA
Q: What was the core aim of the discussion with William Lane Craig at the Royal Institution?
The core aim was to explore Craig's life's work, especially the Kalam cosmological argument, while remaining open to discussion rather than a strict debate, though the host notes it could have benefited from a broader treatment of topics such as the moral argument and animal suffering.
#148 Blaise Pascal: Philosopher, Mathematician, Genius - Graham Tomlin
Q: How does Pascal view the relationship between reason and faith?
Pascal sees reason as having a meaningful but limited role; it cannot, by itself, bring someone to God. He argues that God is known by the heart, through an affective instinct shaped by grace, while reason excels in geometry and science, and should be used without assuming it can secure faith.
#148 Blaise Pascal: Philosopher, Mathematician, Genius - Graham Tomlin
Q: What is Pascal's Wager at its core, and how should we understand its purpose beyond a simple bet?
Pascal's Wager is less about forcing belief through rational proof and more about shifting the grounds of the decision from abstract argument to practical living. It highlights that belief is often driven by passions and lived commitments, and suggests acting as if one believes can cultivate genuine belief, while also considering the potential eternal consequences.
#157 How a Blind Man Sees the World - Tommy Edison
Q: What is your approach to discussing color and visual concepts with nondisabled people?
I acknowledge the limits of describing color to someone blind from birth and use analogies based on texture and experience, emphasizing that color can be discussed as a conceptual, cultural, and perceptual idea rather than a strictly visual property.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Within Reason

What is Within Reason about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful philosophy-focused show that often bridges ideas from science, religion, and culture through long-form conversations with leading thinkers. Recent episodes center on religion and rationality, consciousness, space exploration, and classic philosophy, all explored with a calm, Socratic style and a willingness to entertain challenging viewpoints. Notable strengths include a diverse roster of guests ranging from theologians and philosophers to scientists and artists, plus a willingness to tackle hard questions with nuance and intellectual curiosity. A few recurring threads include the mind-body problem, the nature of consciousness, and the implications of AI and technology for human understanding, making it a good fit for listeners... more

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How many listeners does Within Reason get?

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How many subscribers and views does Within Reason have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Within Reason 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.

How many episodes of Within Reason are there?

Within Reason launched 8 years ago and published 162 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 Within Reason?

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What guests have appeared on Within Reason?

Recent guests on Within Reason include:

1. Michael Pollan
2. Jan Westerhoff
3. Dallas Jenkins
4. Ross Douthat
5. William Lane Craig
6. Chris Hadfield
7. Robert Lawrence Kuhn
8. Keith Frankish

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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