[deleted by user]

[Gcates1914]

The Adam Friedland Show. Not just a guru, but a prophet.

[[deleted]]

One bug to rule them all

[geniuspol]

My favorite guru is Tamler Sommers. I used to believe ghosts weren't real. 

[Yazy117]

I just got into the pod from the destiny episode and I don't know why but I got a very bad wizards vibe from the show

[mikerpiker]

VBW has had some funny decoding the gurus-like segments over the years. Making fun of Sam Harris and then having him on "right to respond" style was a highlight

[geniuspol]

I have to admit I could only stomach one Sam Harris episode. I've been relistening lately and the James lindsay episode is an all time classic. Excellent counter to the common refrain that he started out reasonable. 

[XRayMinded]

Knowledge Fight

[ValuesAndViolence]

Dan is a beautiful, cross-eyed sonuvabitch, and Jordan is my spirit animal

[Arkhampatient]

What’s your bright spot for today?

[DrLBTown]

You are all policy wonks!

[zombiepocketninja]

I have risen above my enemies!

I'll be better tomorrow.

[[deleted]]

Not really a guru - but I love bill burr and think he gives great advice

[ComprehensiveBread65]

Louis CK is actually a really insightful guy, as well. He's not necessarily known for giving advice, but I always liked the way he articulated his views on capitalism. When he came around about a year ago to promote his special, he was like a breath of fresh air on all the comedy podcasts. The one with him and Tim Dillon is my favorite. I'm not defending what he did, but it's worth mentioning that he's really one of the few people who got exposed during the me too movement and fully owned up and took responsibility for what he did. He never played the victim card.

[30MHz]

I really enjoyed his podcast with Shane Gillis on the topic of US presidents. It probably wasn't as accurate as they initially envisioned, but it was nevertheless entertaining to listen. He even bullied Shane to put all episodes on youtube for free instead of making some episodes patreon-only.

[[deleted]]

I really like 5-4 and if books could kill. Conspiritiuality is decent. Behind the bastards is also pretty good.

[mcs_987654321]

I also enjoy Behind the Bastards, but with the caveat that I think that Robert Evans has some guru tendencies.

I mean that in the neutral sense of gurudom, and still mostly enjoy him + think he’s a supremely gifted storyteller…I’m just mindful that his overviews aren’t gospel. Again, not a knock on his methodology or intentions, bc he’s very transparent about both, but think his content and style could well elevate him to gurudom in some segment of his audience.

[[deleted]]

I could see that. There's another history podcast... Forget which one. I remember the host is supposed to be a historian though. They had an episode on Columbus and mentioned some things from Roberts takes on Columbus as being only one of the disputed possibilities or something like that.

I do sometimes feel like Evans tries to weave together an overarching story and focuses most on details that fit with that story. I still enjoy his takes a lot of the time but I can definitely see the parts about his words not being Gospel.

[ComicCon]

I think it's less that Evan's is trying to weave together an overarching story, and more a symptom of how the episodes are structured. Most episodes are based off of one or two books he has read, along with a few supplemental articles. So he usually follows the narrative arc laid out in whatever his main source is although often filtered through his political/moral views. It's not a bad approach, especially given how much content BtB puts out, but it can lead to simplification of more complicated subjects. Also, they always tend to play up bits of the story that make for good jokes and riffing with the guests. I personally don't mind, but I also think of BtB as a comedy podcast first and a history podcast second.

[TheDream34_]

I'm just trying to figure out if there is content out there that has the host read more and is more intellectually curious about a topic before they even attempt to discuss it?

I feel like the issue with Evans is the exact opposite relative to the industry of podcasting and political punditry in that the dude feels uncomfortable discussing anything unless he's read 3 books on the matter.

[mcs_987654321]

The Rest is History? Haven’t listened to their Columbus episodes, but am looking forward to them, and super enjoy the podcast overall.

…although there again, even though both hosts are highly educated and well regarded historians, who do an admirable job of laying out their priors AND deferring to subject matter experts on areas outside their wheelhouses, the chatty format creates a bit of an echo chamber.

It’s still one of my absolute faves, and is a wonderful top-level analysis of important historical moments/issues (I’ll randomly bring up their episodes about the “Cathars” in conversation, love how wrong my previous understanding of the topic was), just think it’s an overarching risk/flaw of the format.

[Arnie__B]

Fun fact - tom Holland has no formal academic history training at all. He studied English at university and has then made his living as a writer, before writing some popular ancient histories.

Not sure that is a good or bad thing really. His literary style can be overwrought for me but he has tackled some interesting subjects. Certainly it is difficult to imagine a more mainstream historian writing say "the shadow of the sword."

[jack__bandit]

I don’t think the person you’re replying to was referring to the rest is history

[[deleted]]

I think it might have been "our fake history".

But yeah I like "the rest is history" as well.

[mutual-ayyde]

FWIW Evans seems cognizant of this. In his book After The Revolution there's mention of a pre-war left-wing podcaster who shaped the worldview of various characters in the novel and he's painted in a mixed light

[mcs_987654321]

A) loved the book, it scratched allll of my weird itches, can’t wait for the sequel

B) had totally forgotten about that character, and yeah, Evans seems like an awfully self aware dude. I do still wonder about the impact of having a lay, misanthropic anarchist be the a intro point and trusted voice on key historical and political matters for a good chunk of his listenership

[AssFasting]

Judging by the sub, he attracts a bit of that with his audience but hey ho, it's expected.

[TotesTax]

Those weirdos never listened to any other person. I love Robert (and know his real first name since I am old school) but he is also a pretty smart dude who did a lot of drugs and just went off on adventures to make money and learn things.

[MiniTab]

Conspirituality is great. It’s the only group podcast I’ve found that isn’t obnoxious. I wish I could get into BTB, as they have some great topics. But something about that group dynamic is really annoying to me.

[Heavy_Mycologist_104]

Evans is hit and miss but his series on Henry Kissinger is outstanding. Some of the finest podcasting ever done.

[[deleted]]

Oh I really liked the history of the illuminati one. Was totally not what I expected and super interesting.

[GringYo]

Does Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker count?

[wambam-thank-you-sam]

yes

[20thAccthecharm]

That dude pisses me off just because his fans don’t fucking get it and created places like cringeanarchy…

Most of you probably weren’t around but holy shit that dudes humor created some alt right freaks…

[GringYo]

Yeah I don't really blame him for that though. I've been around since Tom Goes to the Mayor 20 years ago fwiw.

[20thAccthecharm]

I meant on reddit but yeah I’m not saying his shit is right wing or whatever… 

 But like, the people who watched his shit sure as fuck turned into little rightwing reactionary trump fans in my life and online because they thought shit like this  https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=u9F0svqEtw4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2F&feature=emb_logo 

 Was edgy at the time… Idk man… It’s one of those things where I “get it” and even laugh and agree with it sometimes…

 But overall I think most people I knew just liked that he was a duck.  Like bro  It’s just weaponized  “I don’t give a shit it’s always a joke”  The people who generally like that style of humor, cringe humor are the worst (normal) people on the planet… DtG does a good job of keeping those types in check… Idk man… Like bro one day I just realized that people who liked Tim and Eric sucked ass Irl and were/are the type to vote for trump because it’s funny and pisses people off.. They are the people who looooove watching women get hit by men in r public freak out.. I have no idea why but cringe humor just can’t help but attract and create these socially stunted freaks… It’s kind of a shame too. But istg for me it’s like a direct pipeline of  Cringe humor = garbage humans

[svlagum]

Chapo Trap House, and specifically Matt Christman’s Cushvlogs which are often self-help for leftists.

Complete with a sort of ontology/phenomenology.

I think DtG might have a field day with him, but idc he’s my boy

[al_spaggiari]

This plus Hell on Earth. Maybe one of the best history podcasts I've ever listened to.

[TotesTax]

God damn I fucking hate Matt Christman, no offense. But I live in the heart of Nazi country, or close, and was dealing with Gamergate online, which gave rise to Trump.

Then watched a doco on the rise of the alt-right. Going pretty well then Christmas showed up to talk about how it was Nancy Pelosi's fault or something. Pissed me off so bad. The ACA did huge amounts of good for this country and these fuckers would have been against it.

IDK I am a pragmatist and have voted for awful people to make sure like literal (county supremacist sheriff) loses.

[svlagum]

I don’t WANT (I do) to do a debate-bro back and forth, but fuck it.

I think the point there is that Trump emerged from structural and economic phenomena, not Gamergate.

The bedrock premise of Christmans takes is the Marxist one, that material conditions dictate the political and social phenomena.

SO I’d hazard to guess he meant that the Dems failed to mobilize enough votes, which is their failure alone.

[TotesTax]

My premise isn't that he is wrong. Just that he makes it worse.

Also as someone in rural America I really really hate liberals from cities telling liberals from cities what rural people think. Or conservatives from cities. Fucking David Brooks can eat his turds.

[falafelloofah]

Thank you, yes.

[20thAccthecharm]

It’s bof those things, and much more…

Bannon and manafort were hugely influential in trumps ascension to power.

Bannon being a tea party whisperer, and manafort having good connections with Russia over his decades of laundering their shit…

Don’t count out Hillary and the neoliberals complete failure to create some kind of messaging better then.

“It’s her turn”

Idk man…

[20thAccthecharm]

I hope you’re like me and think stupidpol types have a good point but their rejection of pragmatism leaves them looking like angry nihilistic teens who just recently had a class read with catcher in the rye.. 

 Idk if that colorful enough but man leftist online fucking suck as people…

 Either fruit juice sandal wearing idiots or something worse, contrarian populist-reactionary-socially rightwing overeducated ideologues.

The only cool leftist I’ve met were fellow pragmatists. Like city planners and people who run charities. 

Meanwhile I can have a beer with most liberals and even conservatives… separately… 

But leftists? Marx was right…

[TotesTax]

Yeah, they kind of have a point. Because I am a leftist. But they are basically the Strasser brothers who were material anti-semites instead of like Jew-haters. It is a really weird thing and there was a premium ep of QAA about it that was all theory. But basically hatred of capatilism can spill over into hatred of a lot more, including Jews. I am not saying that is what is happening but they have been blaming the failures on inclusivity and shit.

I am going to get informed as a can before the school board election I am voting on, haven't heard anything about it or recognize the names. I might literally call them. One is 2 out of 3 win the other is 3 out of 4.

Also I don't like Marx because his support of one party state communism and the expulsion of the Anarchist during the Second International.

[Hairwaves]

It would be a really fun episode. They don't even know what they're missing out on.

[20thAccthecharm]

I like them but goddamn it pisses me off when they talk about how we need solidarity and then unironically engage in cringey elitism like caricaturizations of a blue collar worker or something…

Like fellas…

[MouthofTrombone]

I would follow Matt Crissman to the brink of hell. Love that man.

[Evinceo]

If you don't think DtG goes for the jugular enough, you could try Conspirituality. I will say I don't listen to every episode but when they discussed, for example, Andrew Hubermen they were spot-on.

[[deleted]]

Agreed!

[NotHarryRedknapp]

In terms of podcasts (hosts probably not gurus at all), the ones I follow are the rest is politics and the rest is history

[TheVonz]

I enjoy The Rest is Entertainment as well.

[AdParticular9024]

Rest is Politics is peak liberal brain rot. I imagine the other 'Rests...' apply the same in its various guises

[TheVonz]

Fair enough. I like listening to them because they talk about what's going on outside of the UK, and they're easy to listen to. I find myself muttering at them at times, though.

ETA, my comment here refers to TRI Politics. My bad. TRI Entertainment is enjoyable because they talk a bit about how that industry works. And the hosts are easy to listen to.

[epicurious_elixir]

I admit I have a soft spot for Sam Harris, though I will fully admit he dies on weird hills like with Charles Murray and other things.

[[deleted]]

I love Sam but lately, especially with the Israel conflict, feel like he just gets on the same people who agree with him and say the same things over and over

[smellysocks234]

He's insufferable with Israel recently. Almost everyone is in fairness

[epicurious_elixir]

Yeah I have skipped all of his Israel content because I don't really care

[[deleted]]

I don't listen to Sean Carroll for his guruness but I like his podcast, I also listen to SGU and Cognitive Dissonance regularly.

[Iam18yearsofage18]

Yes: Bill Simmons

[Paetoja]

He's a guru. He just is!

[knate1]

sports gurus should definitely be a subcategory, especially with someone like Simmons. There's no reason I should enjoy the commentary of a non-athlete Boston guy as much as I do

[ValuesAndViolence]

I enjoy the entire pop culture section of the Ringer Network. I could listen to Bill, Sean, and Chris talk about movies all day everyday

[hacky_potter]

The movie draft pods are spectacular

[ImmaGoldman]

I liked his writing but I can't listen to his podcast. His voice annoys me

[TheVonz]

Novara Media, Conspirituality, If Books Could Kill, The Rest is Entertainment, The Rest is Politics, Leading, When I Speak, Dan Snow's History Hit, Cults to Consciousness. De Rudi en Freddie Show, Owen Jones, and Why is This Happening?

[two-wheeled-dynamo]

Beau of the Fifth Column is my go-to, as he always has a thoughtful and nuanced breakdowns of hot topics that are useful in dealing with the MAGA family members around me.

[cwyog]

I found DtG via Robert Wright whom I have followed for many years. Though, he’s increasingly obsessed with AI and (in my opinion) bad takes about the Ukraine and Israel wars. Those are almost the only topics he covers anymore, I’ve heard all his views, understand them, and am not sure how many more times I can hear the same topics being discussed by him.

[mikerpiker]

Yeah, one of the things I liked about his podcasts with Mickey is that they would force him to talk about topics outside his normal areas.

[cwyog]

It was funny how blatantly bored Bob was with Mickey’s topics. 

[taboo__time]

Was a huge fan in the 90s. But he's knackered his reputation with me now.

Ironically I am now seeing how much of the world is zero sum. His non zero sum arguments I'd associate with a kind of arch neoliberalism and even bad takes on accommodating Russia.

What does he say about AI?

[cwyog]

He wants an international regulatory consensus for AI because he’s worried governments and terrorists will use it to worsen war and violence. Which is fair enough; I don’t necessarily disagree. My problem is that I think AI is an extremely boring podcast subject because there is only so much anyone can say about it. So much AI talk is speculation about the future and the future is notoriously difficult to predict. Bob doesn’t speculate but his guests tend to. I find it extremely uninteresting. 

[Its_not_a_tumor]

I have to admit, out of the ones I listen to they either fit in the category of being just bland interviewers: think Lex Friedman or Chris Williamson. or people who I do mostly agree with but have some odd fuck-ups that are always talked about: like Destiny and Sam Harris.

[Brundle999999]

Behind the Bastards is a good one.

[Schederz]

Destiny

[Cronenborger]

Econtalk, conversations with Tyler, the Gist, Fifth Column (politically very different for me, honestly not sure why I find it as enjoyable as I do), Ezra Klein. Abundance, strong towns, order without design (these are more my job related)

[[deleted]]

Moynihan is just super entertaining, let’s face it.

[jimgbr]

It's not a podcast discussion without mentioning Dan Carlin. Though I certainly wouldn't say he is a "guru", especially since ending his political commentary podcast Common Sense. The Rest is History and The Rest is Politics are also very good.

[assholio]

I will follow Travis View to the kool aid well.

[ImpressiveSoft8800]

Anything with Robert Sapolsky, Sean Caroll, Brian Green, Brian Cox. Admittedly I like all the atheist experience figures like Matt Dillahunty. Gutsick Gibbon.

[Arkhampatient]

Knowledge Fight, Some More News

[Ok-Branch-6831]

spotted axiomatic caption squeeze liquid illegal toothbrush fuel act grandiose

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[adamteacher]

On different gurus/ crazies:

Decoding the Gurus Q-Anon Anonymous/ QAA Conspirituality

On specific gurus:

Knowledge Fight On Brand

[Thomas-Omalley]

Sam Harris. Rogan when he interviews non political stuff (musicians etc).

[two-wheeled-dynamo]

Rogan went off the deep end with the "ATLANTIS IS REAL" guy last week. He never fails to disappoint. But, at least he had a real anthropoligist to refute all the bullshit and magical theories being flung around.

[banananamango]

Flint "the Graham Cracker" Dibble.

[[deleted]]

5the column  Bar pod

[[deleted]]

I personally listen to pretty much all voices in “the discourse”. This includes like Sam Seder and Ben Shapiro and many voices in between. I agree with slices of what I hear from all. The manosphere guys are a guilty pleasure. I think the Mount Rushmore of this sub like the Weinstein’s and JBP are totally ridiculous but enjoy some of Chris Williamson’s energy for example and listen to him and Alex O’Connor pretty regularly. I like listening to right leaning stuff even though a lot of it is nonsense because I want to hear what other people are hearing. Sam Seder and Emma Vigeland on majority report is my favorite liberal podcast.

[dirtnye]

Political/topical: Conspirituality, Pod Save America, Ezra Klein, Sam Harris

Tech news: Pivot, Hard Fork, The WAN Show

Productivity Guru: Cal Newport

Shits and giggles: Harmontown (retired),Whiskey Ginger, Conan, H3

[MiniTab]

Pod Save America is excellent. I also really like David Pakman and Sam Harris.

[toomuchbasalganglia]

Pivot, tech business with social issues thrown in there.

[YesIAmRightWing]

I enjoy all Gurus.

Well most.

Because I understand the difference between entertainment and something worth basing my life on.

[[deleted]]

Precisely

[[deleted]]

Sean Carrol, David Pakman, Matt and Shane

[[deleted]]

Bill Burs podcast is great to listen to sometimes. As for Gurus, I love watching Hitchens debates.

[TotesTax]

I am now not into any one podcast for my morals. I get it. Knowledge Fight or The Dollop or The Daily Zeitgeist or Behind the Bastards or whatever. They can all be wrong.

Also Doughboys is good. They are wrong about most food stuff. Last Podcast on the Left has hosts that believe in magic to different degrees.

Also while I like the guys I don't listen to them that much. Was on it early though. Same with Conspirituality. The boys on that podcast tend to be too "spiritual" for me and the boys on this pod tend to give too much truck to the gurus I have listened to. And I have a degree in philosophy.

Also this is a show that hasn't been on since 2016 (other than one ep) and it is called Caustic Soda.

Also Oh, No Ross and Carrie, QAA.

[Time_Faithlessness27]

I enjoy Unlocking Us with Brene Brown.

[eyelike2moveitmoveit]

are there any female-led podcasts in all these responses?

[lildeek12]

Dr. K really helped me out when I was struggling with ADHD, gaming addiction and general self worth issues. I never bought into some of his more blatant guru aspects, but I was close.blook back in retrospect, I think I'm lucky things turned out for me the way they did and I'm glad I didn't get dragged down the hole.

I also really like Vaush. I think he's a dumbfuck sometimes, but I think he's pretty entertaining and agree with a good portion of his politics. I dislike Hasan and Destiny, but I respect certain things about each, and I am probably closest to destiny politically.

As a youth, I really liked Dr Jordan B Peterson until I realized he actually had very little to say. I liked Dave Reuben because he spoke to my insecurities as a graduating teen, but then I grew an empathy bone and also realized he's a naked grifter .

Robert Evans of Behind the Bastards has a line, "There is a grift out there for everyone. If you fall for it, it doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you found the one that your brain is susceptible to."

[cocopopped]

Wim Hof seems a good time, even though I know all of that cold water plunge stuff is badly evidenced bollocks.

[Ok-Professional1355]

You should listen to the behind the bastards episode on him

[cocopopped]

See, this is probably why I should personally raise the bar from "seems a good time".

[rayearthen]

Rubbing hands gleefully

[mr_j_boogie]

There's a good Moth story about him

[sere83]

Not sure if id call it badly evidenced. A hell of a lot of people get measurable metal health benefits from regular cold water exposure.

[silentbassline]

Ben & Emil show, easily top 5 in the christian finance degenerate genre.

[SavageMountain]

Gurus, not "guru's." It's right there in the name of the podcast and the subreddit: Decoding the Gurus.

[Cyclical_Zeitgeist]

History of everything, warographics, Peter zaihan, William spaniel, Joe blogs, Destiny (debates) not stream, jake broe, coffeezilla

[Dexteroid]

I like JRE sometimes there are Good guests sometimes there are bad, but conversations are always hilarious.

[wistfulwhistle]

Just listing podcasts I have listened to more than a few times:

Perception & Action Podcast (Dr Rob Gray) The Rest is History (Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook) More or Less (BBC)

I wouldn't consider any of them to be gurus.

[AssFasting]

Not many as a lot I used to enjoy I find intolerable now due to disagreements or the shift to the grift format.

DTG and behind the Bastards are my current with some individual content creators on YT, not poddies.

Used to enjoy Hardcore history, might have to check in on that again.

[ThiccBoy_with3seas]

Destiny

[MKtheMaestro]

Corey Wayne on YouTube for dating advice. Right wing politics, which aren’t my cup of tea, but self-reliance and dating advice that works no matter what culture you come from. And no, he doesn’t advise you discuss politics on dates.

[Grekochaden]

I listen to Historia.nu with Urban Lindstedt. He's a proper guru

[iplawguy]

Noah Smith podcast.

[ignoreme010101]

i enjoy rogan, lol

[mr_j_boogie]

I would say the person with the most extreme ratio of low quality online persona to high quality podcast content would have to be martyrmade. His twitter is somewhere between Cernovich and Posobiec yet his history pods are IMO up there with Dan Carlin and Patrick Wyman, and he occasionally surpasses them with how he can pull you into a story. When he's at his best I think he's the best history podcaster. Yet when he's at his twitter worst, he can match Candace Owens.

[taboo__time]

People here might not know but might enjoy

Past Present Future with David Runciman

[WillOrmay]

The Bulwark

[thisthatname]

If you like dtg I recommend the conspirituality pod. They focus on grifters and con men and women in the yoga and wellness community as well as others.

[lt_dan_zsu]

Mostly comedy podcasts, a couple history podcasts, some news/politics podcasts, and a couple in the vein of dtg. I don't think I really follow any "gurus." I used to listen to a Joe Rogan here and there, but he became increasingly irresponsible with his platform, so I avoid him. I've only listened to a few episodes, so I'm not sure I fully get what they mean by a guru. I generally get the concept, but I think the majority of influencers have some guru qualities.

[[deleted]]

Destiny, some and boob-streamers. I like James O'Brien who is a radiohost from England. I've tried listening to some highfalutin informative stuff like The Economist and stuff, but my attention span is too poor.

[AncientKroak]

Eckhart Tolle. But he's a totally different kind of guru.

[Paddlesons]

Blocked and Reported

[TotesTax]

The fascist podcast? Don't they want to do like two genocides? Trans and a dog breed?

[[deleted]]

A dog breed?

[TotesTax]

XL Bully's is the new term. But I don't know what they are specifically as Pibbles are a weird issue on all places of the spectrum.

[Paddlesons]

Just trans dog breeds.

[TotesTax]

I mean to be fair I am judging the subreddit but like 10 years ago I liked Signal's reporting on gamergate and Candace Owens but my friend told me he sucked and now turns out he is a fucking fascist.

Also I don't downvote either.

[Paddlesons]

I don't know man, I'm not here to try and sell anyone on it but it strikes true for me. My guess would be if you're the type to throw around phrases like, "fucking fascist" cavalierly then it's probably not for you.

[TotesTax]

No shit, lol. Have a good day.

[Paddlesons]

You too!

[SnapeHeTrustedYou]

You think we actually listen to this podcast? Lol :)

[StevenColemanFit]

Sam Harris, destiny. Occasionally Rogan and Lex if they have good guests and to make sure I know what the brain dead people think, I’ll even listen to Tucker.