Better Questions

n this candid and searching conversation, Kevin sits down with two close friends, Matt McCoy and Dr Carl, for an unfiltered look at antidepressants, mental health, and what it actually means to suffer well in a world that feels increasingly overwhelmed and overstimulated. What begins as a simple question about prescribing medication unfolds into a thoughtful exploration of diagnosis culture, attention disorders, institutional mistrust, and the values that shape how we define wellness.Together, they ask why so many adults suddenly see themselves in labels like ADHD and trauma, and whether we are pathologising the basic human experience of distraction, pain, and growing up. Dr Carl brings a grounded medical perspective to the ethical tension between respecting real suffering and resisting the cultural pull toward over diagnosis. Matt challenges the idea that productivity is our highest value, raising the question of who benefits when society teaches us to optimise rather than understand ourselves.The conversation turns deeply personal as the three wrestle with the realities of grief, crisis, and the moments when a person is simply unable to climb out of darkness on their own. They explore the difference between temporary sadness and soul-crushing despair, the role of community, and the complicated truth that some people need medication to stay alive for the people who depend on them.They close by asking a bigger question beneath all the others. What helps us build the kind of inner resilience that keeps us from reaching the brink in the first place. And what does it mean to live with gratitude, humility, and a clear-eyed understanding that none of us are entitled to a painless life.In this episode• The rise of self diagnosis and why so many people identify with ADHD and trauma• How institutional mistrust shapes decisions around medication• When antidepressants help and when they may not• The tension between productivity culture and true wellbeing• How expectations, values, and worldview influence mental resilience• What it means to suffer honestly without collapsing into despair• The role of purpose, agency, and community in staying emotionally healthy• Why discomfort is not always pathology and why acceptance mattersStay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging episode of Better Questions, Kevin Hohe sits down once again with his longtime friend Matt for an honest exploration of curiosity, intellect, and the cultural divide between academics and everyday thinkers. What begins as a simple question, what does it mean to be an academic?, unfolds into a conversation about how we learn, what we believe, and the role of critical thinking in an age of information overload.Matt reflects on his journey from youthful rebellion to intellectual discipline, examining the difference between true understanding and the illusion of knowledge. Together, he and Kevin unpack how figures like Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Jordan Peterson have shaped public discourse (sometimes for better, often for worse) and what their popularity reveals about modern culture’s hunger for meaning.The dialogue dives deep into the roots of Western civilization, the dangers of radical individualism, and why curiosity without grounding can become as dangerous as conviction without compassion. Kevin brings a practitioner’s lens, how to live freely and build wisely, while Matt challenges listeners to slow down, read deeply, and rediscover beauty, art, and truth beyond algorithms and talking heads.In this episode• What it truly means to be “academic” in today’s culture• The tension between curiosity and conviction• Why critical thinking must be taught before it can be practiced• How social media and mass media shape belief systems• The decline of shared cultural literacy and why it matters• Why reading great literature might be the most radical act left• How to build a richer inner life in a world obsessed with wealthAn episode that invites listeners to rethink what learning really means, and why the pursuit of wisdom may be the last act of rebellion in a distracted world.Stay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

In this powerful and provocative lecture-style episode of Better Questions, Kevin Hohe is joined by his longtime friend and intellectual sparring partner Matt for a conversation that blurs the lines between theology, philosophy, and moral reckoning. What begins as a deep-dive into three literary texts: Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, Camus’ The Plague, and Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, evolves into a sweeping exploration of God, suffering, and the true meaning of sacrifice.The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor DostoevskyRead PDF pages 299-313 (from "'Yes, for the real Russians..." to "murmured Alyosha, looking down."- Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha are brothers in mid-19th century Russia.- Only Ivan and Alyosha are featured in this excerpt.- Ivan is a rational materialist, he believes in reason, and that even God must be rationally explainable- Alyosha is his younger brother, maybe 20 years old, a devout Christian and has decided to devote his life to God as a monk. He has enrolled as the student of the mystic Christian monk Father Zosima. - This scene follows a dinner scene from the previous night during which Ivan seems to profess his atheism. Alyosha is concerned for his older brother, and invites him to explain himself. - Ivan explains to Alyosha that he is NOT an atheist, because he believes in God, or at least, he has no rational reason not to believe in God. However, he REJECTS God on moral grounds. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28054/old/28054-pdf.pdfThe Plague, Albert Camus- In early 1940s, an outbreak of bubonic plague as hit the north-African coastal city of Oran, inhabited mainly by bourgeoise European businessmen and merchants and their families, along with the native Arab population who live in the poor outskirts of the town- After the outbreak sets in, the town is sealed off from the rest of the world in an attempt to quarantine the spread of the disease- The main character is Dr. Rieux, a physician who immediately takes up his duty to tend to the sick as best he can, though this is mainly futile efforts to ease the suffering of those who will inevitably die, as there is no cure for the disease- Other characters are Grand, a shy middle aged divorcee, Father Panaleax, a fervent Jesuit Catholic priest, Rambert, a journalist who is sent to Oran on a story and gets stuck there, and Tarrou, who's background at this point is a mystery; all of these, for various reasons and despite their ideological and cultural differences, eagerly volunteer to assist Rieux in his crusade against the disease- This passage takes place after the city magistrate's, Monsieur Othon's, young son is infected- Rieux and his team decide to try a newly developed drug on the boy, who will surely die unless the new drug worksRead PDF pages 102-106 (from "Toward the close of October..." to "'God Himself can't part us now.'")https://ratical.org/PandemicParallaxView/ThePlague-Camus.pdfThe Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, Ursula Le Guinhttps://shsdavisapes.pbworks.com/f/Omelas.pdfProduced by Pineapple Audio Production.

In this mind-bending episode of Better Questions, host Kevin Hohe sits down with friends Travis and Bryan for a raw, unscripted conversation that starts with the definition of conspiracy and quickly spirals into a deep discussion about free thinking, power, faith, and the search for truth in a world full of noise.What begins as a conversation about how the term “conspiracy theorist” came to be turns into a wider exploration of questioning mainstream narratives, from government influence and global politics to faith, family, and the future of America. The trio wrestles with how to stay curious without getting consumed, how to separate truth from fiction in the age of AI, and what it really means to live a good, grounded life when certainty feels impossible.This episode explores politically and emotionally charged topics, including Israel, the Holocaust, and historical interpretation, which some listeners may find controversial or offensive. The views expressed are those of the guests, and we share them within Better Questions’ commitment to inquiry and understanding.In this episode• The origins of the term “conspiracy theorist” and how it shapes public perception• Why critical thinking is often mistaken for cynicism• How technology and media blur the line between truth and illusion• The tension between curiosity, faith, and fear• What’s worth questioning, and what’s worth letting go• Why human connection and purpose may be the only real antidote to confusionA thought-provoking and unfiltered exploration of how we think, what we believe, and why asking better questions still matters.Stay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

On this episode of Better Questions, Kevin Hohe sits down with Matthew for a candid breakdown of AI hype, viral misinformation, and how convenience can quietly erode human judgment. Using a bogus “forever battery” video as a jumping off point, they trace how slick AI content blurs truth and fiction, why our hope makes us vulnerable to clickbait, and how markets don’t just serve our tastes, they shape them. The conversation pushes past fact checking into philosophy, exploring where to draw the line on tools that save time versus systems that think for us, and what it means to “starve the machine” by refusing engagement.In this episode:• How AI generated videos manufacture credibility and harvest engagement• Markets that don’t just meet demand but mold it toward sameness• The difference between tools that speed us up and tools that supplant our thinking• Why hope is a feature misinformers exploit, not a bug• A practical test for your feed: trust your BS meter first, research second• What starving the machine looks like in daily life without going off the gridStay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

In this rich and thought-provoking conversation, Kevin Hohe sits down with scholar and author Dr Tony Burke to explore the tension between belief, evidence, and the search for truth. What begins as a simple question about apocryphal texts unfolds into a deeper exploration of faith, doubt, and the human need to understand what lies beyond the accepted canon.Dr Burke shares how his early fascination with biblical literature led him to study the Apocrypha, the hidden or “forbidden” books left outside the Bible, and how that journey reshaped his views on faith, history, and the nature of God. Together, Kevin and Tony trace the evolution of Christianity, from the Council of Nicaea to the rise of Gnosticism, uncovering how power, politics, and fear of difference have shaped the modern church.This episode doesn’t seek to convert or convince, instead, it invites listeners to approach faith with fresh eyes, curiosity, and courage.In this episode• What the Apocrypha reveals about early Christian belief• Why some texts were excluded from the Bible• How the Council of Nicaea defined “orthodox” faith• The difference between Gnostic and traditional Christianity• What it means to question belief without abandoning itStay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

Kevin Hohe sits down with Matthew Mascoli to explore the tension between faith, curiosity, and coexistence in a world divided by ideology. What begins as a reflection on church culture and questioning belief expands into a wider dialogue about tolerance, truth, and the limits of understanding across worldviews.Together, Kevin and Matt unpack what it means to stay curious inside communities that resist exploration, how ideology can capture even the well-intentioned, and whether harmony is truly possible between conviction and open inquiry. Their exchange moves between faith and philosophy, touching on the pull to retreat into like-minded circles, the dangers of self-righteousness, and the courage it takes to stay in relationship with those who disagree.In this episode• How to stay curious when others fear your questions• The fine line between conviction and ideological capture• What it means to build safe spaces for honest dialogue• The role of tolerance in faith and human coexistence• Why harmony may depend on learning to love across differenceStay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

Kevin Hohe reconnects with Matthew Mascoli to unpack one of the most complex questions of modern life: whether capitalism liberates us or quietly enslaves us. What begins as a follow-up to an earlier manifesto discussion unfolds into a candid, philosophical debate about meaning, morality, and the systems we’ve built to sustain our lives.Matthew argues that capitalism has evolved beyond a mere economic model into a self-sustaining machine, one that prioritises efficiency over humanity and turns even its top earners into servants of capital. Kevin pushes back, exploring whether the problem lies not in markets themselves but in how we’ve surrendered moral agency to them. Together they dissect the roots of free-market ideology, the myths of meritocracy, and the uneasy tension between freedom, comfort, and conscience.In this episode• The difference between markets and capitalism• Why efficiency isn’t always good for people• How globalisation reshaped power, work, and worth• What it means to “opt out” of the capitalist system• The role of faith and morality in reimagining economicsStay connected:Kevin Hohe | LinkedInAnd let us know what you think with our feedback form.Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.