Bigger Hearts, Deeper Minds: Recent Episodes
Brad Johnson
Are you exhausted from hyper-partisan political yelling? Are you passionate about political and cultural issues but feel like it’s impossible to wade through the establishment media’s thinly-veiled and damaging narratives? Are you craving thoughtful, challenging conversations between educated individuals of different political persuasions? Bigger Hearts, Deeper Minds has your name written all over it.
This podcast was created by Brad Johnson, a best-selling co-author, award-nominated musician, and longtime supporter of individual freedom. After observing the mainstream media’s consistent lack of authenticity on crucial issues, hyper-emotional and partisan diatribes, and the general political landscape’s refusal to engage with anything resembling truth, integrity or practicality, he knew it was time for a change.
Bigger Hearts, Deeper Minds is a space where passionate individuals discuss the political, cultural, and societal problems and solutions of our day—as well as the psychological factors surrounding them. We do all of this without resorting to character attacks or mindless patronizing. Subscribe to the show and download our episodes today for original, thought-provoking, and honest dialogue about crucial political matters.
I had the pleasure of interviewing my friend Cody for the third full length interview on Bigger Hearts Deeper Minds. We covered a lot of ground, including the Kyle Rittenhouse case, being openminded when talking politics, exercising humility in conversations and daily life, and much more.
Be sure to watch the full episode for a couple laughs as well as other interesting political topics. Cody also shares a bit about his musical endeavors, including what he's involved in right now.
This clip from Music, Governors, American Politics, and Personal Education with silencethem has us discussing music and entertainment. We specifically discuss musical artists that influenced us for a time, only to view them differently later. The music and entertainment industries often have a left-leaning political bent and entertainers with different views are frequently ostracized.
Creatives who don't have left-leaning political opinions are viewed as out of touch, calloused, or bigoted. silencethem also shares his experiences in making music and how today's political climate has affected what he decides to put out there.
In this clip, silencethem and I discuss how politics has changed from generation to generation, as well as some things that have stayed the same. Old political problems haven't really disappeared; they have simply changed face. We also discuss how problems that are inherently political can't be solved with pat cultural answers.
This clip from Music, Governors, American Politics, and Personal Education with silencethem is about people who have entered the political sphere unrelated to their previous plans in life. Whether due to personal convictions, an event they needed to set right, or something else, it's fascinating to see how and when plans change due to political interests.
Full-length interview with silencethem, an artist from the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
This is a clip from my recent Thoughts for Today video. In this clip, I discuss the importance of understanding your new consumption, why you shouldn't consume just anything, tips and websites for unbiased coverage, and other useful info.
This is a clip from my recent Thoughts for Today video. In this segment, I share my thoughts on Afghanistan, the fact that we were there too long, and more.
I made a casual episode on both recent events and broader political thoughts. This video has me discussing several, sometimes disparate, topics. My thoughts from this episode include social media algorithms, inflation, US presidential elections, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and more.
This clip from Policing, Presidents, and Politics with Rian Czerwinski has us talking about the political compass test, its wild popularity, and what can be discovered in it. Despite how widely it's been shared across social media, it demonstrates far more than just one's political preference.
Watch this clip to hear Rian and I discuss some of our results, thoughts on how and why people have shared it, and what anyone's results can teach us about human political preferences.
In this clip from Policing, Presidents, and Politics with Rian Czerwinski, Rian and I talk about an oft-ignored topic. That is the differences between broader libertarian principles, and the "capital L" Libertarianism that pervades freedom-lovers' conversations.
We examine some of this political perspective's nuances and why the two can get confused, as well as interesting differences between the two.
Brad and Rian talk about how social media can hyperpolarize one's political views if left unchecked, and what can be done about that. Rian also discusses the importance of monitoring one's habits in the midst of increasingly algorithmic platforms.
I sat down for a robust conversation with Rian Czerwinski about several topics in politics. We discussed policing and police reform, social media, the role of the President, US politics in general, books, and several other matters.
Rian offers a unique perspective not only on libertarianism but the political spectrum itself, or compass, if you will. He shares great thoughts on civil engineering too, and how it -- or the lack of it -- can improve society in subtle, yet powerful ways.
Listen to this full episode to enjoy everything we had to discuss.
Have you ever been surprised at just how far the government reaches into everything? From taxes and licensure to gay marriage and fireworks, it seems the government has its hands in every matter of daily human life.
In this full-length episode, we discuss a couple big examples and recommend solutions for these pervasive issues.
Up until very recently, the government and its archaic laws stood in the way of consenting adults who wanted to get married. Same-sex marriage only became legal in all 50 US states in the last few years.
Even to this day, the government's outdated ideas prevent people who otherwise have every legal right to do something from doing so. Brad discusses the importance of giving people individual freedom and how one's personal beliefs shouldn't overlap with governmental power.
Are you frustrated with just how many rules and regulations the government imposes.... even down to food "recommendations"? We are too. In this clip of The Government Is A Nanny State, Brad talks about the government's overreach into otherwise mundane areas of our daily lives.
This includes healthcare and safety, and why the government making calls in these areas is absurd to begin with. He also discusses the importance of being allowed to make your own decisions and reap the results of them--whether or not your decisions are smart (which is its own freedom).
Have you ever been surprised at just how far the government reaches into everything? From taxes and licensure to gay marriage and fireworks, it seems the government has its hands in every issue.
This clip is segment 2 of 4, talking about taxation and its problems. Taxation, by its very nature, is coercive. We can live in a society without it, if only we choose to implement different solutions.
Have you ever been surprised at just how far the government reaches into everything? From taxes and licensure to gay marriage and fireworks, it seems the government has its hands in every matter of daily human life.
This clip is part 1 of 4, talking about professional licensing. The government requires you to ask their "permission" for just about everything you want to do commercially.
Ever boggled by how many people continue to poke fun at Millennials? Ever wonder how much of what people say is true? We took a look at the data to set the record straight. Hosted by Brad, a Millennial himself.
Do you love and appreciate the work of Frederick Douglass? If not, you owe it to yourself to learn more about his legacy. This is a short tribute to who he was and his work.
Why is it that businesses that offer something people want become successful, whereas government suffers extensive ineptitude? Why do entrepreneurs help the world flourish but it feels like government just takes and takes? We examine these questions and related matters in this episode.
Where are America's politically moderate? What do the beliefs of politically moderate people look like, if it can even be said that moderates share views? This episode is all about those who place themselves somewhere in the political middle, and questions that come up as a result.
Why is politics such a hot-button issue with most people? Why do most people cling to their beliefs so strongly, if they profess to have political beliefs at all? In this episode, we start to look at the dynamics of this question, and what some solutions can be.
Ever wonder why people are so adamant about a minimum wage? Let's talk about it. This episode has me doing a deep dive on the economics of minimum wage, why these proposals usually backfire, and solutions we can use instead.
In this episode Brad details the basic overview of his journey to identifying predominantly as a libertarian. He talks about the personal and cultural upbringings that led him to this ideology and why he identifies with it today.
This episode shares why I started Bigger Hearts, Deeper Minds and what you can expect from regular episodes. Thank you for tuning in! Please share our videos with friends and family who you believe would be interested.