Philosopher, Professor, Writer, Publisher, DJ, The Full Renaissance Bit, Really.
I am a philosopher by trade and temperament. I long had one foot in academia, teaching philosophy for over 20 years at multiple universities in three countries.
I learned a great deal earning my PhD, perhaps the most important was that I didn’t want to get locked inside academia’s Ivory Tower. For 13 years, I taught part-time for a university, my status allowed me to not be trapped in academia’s machine infernale and retained my connection with real life.
However, in 2025, that university pressured me to adopt a textbook that would effectively restrict the subject matter that my students would be allowed to discuss in my courses. Rather than submit to censorship. I quit.
Why I Quit Academia
For me, philosophy has meaning when it helps us to build a better life. I am motivated by an earnest desire to bring philosophy out of its insular ivory tower and into everyday life where it can be put to good uses.
As a philosophy professor, I have introduced thousands of students to the value of philosophy in their lives. From my teaching experience, I have learned what works for students, leading me to write a textbook, How We Are and How We Got Here: A Practical History of Western Philosophy.
As a writer, I have published hundreds of articles to bring clarity to difficult, complex topics with the goal of making our world a better place.
I currently hold a position on the Advisory Council for the Foundation for Philosophical Orientation for which I also organize and lead research seminars.
I earned my PhD in social philosophy at the University of Essex (UK) and I have written extensively on the history and nature of ideas, ideologies, and paradigms. I am the author of How We Are and How We Got Here: A Practical History of Western Philosophy, Left Wing, Right Wing, People, and Power: The Core Dynamics of Political Action, and Why Trump? Why Some People Support Him— How the Rest of Us Can Respond.
I am a seasoned lecturer and video producer, skilled in public speaking, panel discussions, and interviews. I am available to those eager for serious and deep conversations about philosophy and politics.
I greatly value and facilitate discussion that digs deeper into holistic and meaningful ideas that deal with causes not symptoms. Because I value individual people and their free will and agency, I encourage people to seek openness and authenticity in themselves and others.
My scholarly research explores the root causes of bigotry and injustice and their role in beliefs and political action.. Because I apply a phenomenological approach to the lived experiences and actions of individuals, groups, and social and political institutions, my research helps us better understand social injustices and how people respond to them. My work also explores the interactions of philosophy and culture and the construction and maintenance of personal identities and social meanings.
I started writing content for the Internet in 1994 and now produce my own Substack newsletters, podcasts, and video channels. Because I value the individual person, I encourage people to seek openness and authenticity in themselves and others.
Also, I have been a radio disc jockey since 1997 and since 2003 have managed the Internet radio station WorldFusionRadio.com. In 2018, I moved to Prague with my spouse, a professional editor.