Here is a question to ask someone to get to know them:
What thing do you hate that most people like?
Valid answers would include sports, pizza, coffee, and Keanu Reeves. If you were Canadian, answers might include hockey, poutine, Timmies, and Keanu Reeves. The aim is to make most people think you're weird and naturally make them dislike you.
Answering this question should be an act of courage because you risk being actively disliked, as you are applying the strong emotion of hate against something most people unquestionably think is good. The answer cannot be a culture war issue either because A) the culture war is lame, and B) culture war issues are polarizing and do not fall into the “most people” category.
My answer used to be onions, but I realized I was not alone in my hate for these wormy-looking things. Ew. Why do people even like them? I beg Camille not to eat them and declare a kiss moratorium for at least 24 hours when she does. However, this answer needs to be more controversial. I need to be bolder in answering, risking all my readers disliking me.
Okay, I’ll go all in, and there is no turning back from this: I hate podcasts. Wow, how I hate podcasts. My body tenses up with an unexplainable emotion that makes me want to punch the wall when I hear the “podcast voice.” It feels good to confess this, but it also feels vulnerable. Maybe there are other podcast haters as well? Or am I the only one? I feel so alone right now, like that blue guy from Watchmen hanging out on Mars alone.
Of course, I am being hyperbolic with the word “hate,” but I dislike them and do not know why. I’d rather spend my time listening to music, reading, mind-wandering, or actually talking to people, anything other than listening to chattering heads on 2x mode with punchable podcast voices. I imagine there are probably a lot of great podcasts that I am missing out on, and perhaps I should force myself to overcome my dislike.
The following is likely the source of my aversion: I have been a guest on about 15 podcasts, and in 2021, I swore them off after experiencing a slew of conversations that felt inauthentic. The hosts did not meet me or even meet us where the aliveness was. The whole thing felt like it was motivated by what they wanted their audience to validate in them. I felt used, really.
Many people have invited me on their podcasts since, but I keep saying no. Perhaps I should say yes now. Those past experiences may not be indicative of podcasting as a whole. Going on podcasts will also help me get more exposure and allow some [Pyrrhic] winning in the attention economy. There is pressure to say yes, which creates a precedent to say yes more often…
Not yet. I don't trust myself not to get fooled into playing games I am not called to play. I am too foolable at the moment. I’ll keep resisting the podcast pull in the meantime. When I feel completely free of it, I’ll say yes. Authentically saying no will invite an authentic yes. And besides, in today’s enslaving creator economy, true freedom is not going on podcasts.
You know what is not a podcast?
The Stoa.
We are back in full swing with season five, and we have a special event next Wednesday:
Second Renaissance: Framing and Guide to This Moment of Civilizational Crisis and Regeneration w/ Rufus Pollock. June 5th @ 12:00 PM ET.
If you're new to The Stoa, or have been confused by it, this session will help make the wider movement of fellow travellers more legible. In the meantime, check out the projects website and enjoy looking at this map:
We also have an event this Thursday at noon Eastern with wisdom teacher Vivian Dittmar called “Thinking vs. Feeling,” which will provide practical methods for integrating thinking and feeling into a holistic process. You can access both of these events behind the paywall on this Substack, or by becoming a Patreon supporter.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Less Foolish to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.