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 wealth

An 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 | LinkedIn

And let us know what you think with our feedback form.

Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Matt challenges long-held religious assumptions, asking whether suffering is a necessary part of divine order, or a moral contradiction we’ve mistaken for faith. Together, he and Kevin trace humanity’s obsession with redemption through pain, from Abraham and Isaac to the crucifixion, and ask whether Jesus’ true message was not the sanctity of sacrifice, but its rejection.

In this episode

• Why Ivan Karamazov’s “rebellion” still confronts modern faith

• The moral cost of salvation and the question of innocent suffering

• How Camus and Le Guin echo the problem of necessary pain

• The difference between believing in God and agreeing with His plan

• What Jesus’ death might truly reveal about sacrifice and love

• Why love, not logic, might be the only real answer to despair

An episode that dares to ask whether we’ve misunderstood the message at the heart of Christianity. Thought-provoking, uncomfortable, and deeply human, this conversation invites listeners to wrestle with the hardest question of all: What do we owe the suffering, and what does faith owe to love?

Stay connected:

• Kevin Hohe | LinkedIn

And let us know what you think with our feedback form.

Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 confusion

A thought-provoking and unfiltered exploration of how we think, what we believe, and why asking better questions still matters.

Stay connected:

• Kevin Hohe | LinkedIn

And let us know what you think with our feedback form.

Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.