Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. Every episode is a dialogue, a journey into the depths of a meaningful question explored through the lens of personal experience or professional expertise.
Chasing Leviathan
Claim This Podcastby CG Productions
5.0(12 reviews)
225 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
Podcast Overview
Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. Every episode is a dialogue, a journey into the depths of a meaningful question explored through the lens of personal experience or professional expertise.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/5/2021
1 verified contact email on file for Chasing Leviathan
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
July 21, 2026
How to Change Minds Without Lies, Bullshit, or Moral Compromise | Dr. Colin Marshall
<p>Why do morally good people often hesitate to change other people's minds, viewing persuasion as presumptuous, obnoxious, or downright creepy? </p><p>The University of Washington's professor of philosophy, Dr. Colin Marshall, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss how to successfully bridge deep divides in our highly polarized climate.</p><p>Dr. Marshall explores the ethics and psychology of civil persuasion in his book, Just Hear Me Out: How to Change Minds Without Lies, Bullshit, or Moral Compromise. They examine how genuine persuasion isn't about manipulation or aggressive takedowns , but rather requires a delicate balance of respect, compassion, and the right environment.</p><p>In this conversation they explore: </p><ul><li>Why the fallout of the 2016 US presidential election pushed Dr. Marshall from pure theoretical philosophy into finding practical tools for civil engagement. </li><li>The crucial difference between manipulative persuasion—where people are treated as obstacles to maneuver—and civil persuasion that honors a person's complete humanity. </li><li>How combining Immanuel Kant's emphasis on rational respect with Arthur Schopenhauer's focus on deep compassion creates a coherent framework for changing minds. </li><li>Why attempting to persuade someone at the Thanksgiving table almost always fails, and the importance of establishing an "attention-friendly context" like grabbing a coffee or a beer. </li><li>Incredible real-world examples of successful persuasion, including Daryl Davis persuading extremists to leave the KKK and Megan Phelps-Roper leaving the Westboro Baptist Church after patient, charitable interactions on Twitter. </li><li>The concept of "moral myopia"—the deeply human tendency to become so hyper-focused on one moral issue or our own self-respect that we lose sight of the other person's bandwidth and feelings. </li><li>The psychology of building trust, and why establishing warmth and shared humanity must always come before proving your intellectual competence. </li></ul><p>This is a conversation for anyone interested in philosophy, psychology, and healthy communication who wants to understand how to sincerely navigate our modern disagreements without sacrificing their own moral integrity.</p><p>Make sure to check out Dr. Marshall's book: Just Hear Me Out: How to Change Minds without Lies, Bullshit, or Moral Compromise 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0226842002/</p><p>Check out our website at chasingleviathan.com </p><p>Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified. Nothing on earth is its equal. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. </p><p>These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. </p><p>Timestamps<br>0:00 Introducing Dr. Colin Marshall<br>1:17 Why Good People Avoid Persuasion After the 2016 Election<br>4:32 Respect and Compassion in Kant and Schopenhauer<br>6:16 Balancing Respect and Compassion in Difficult Conversations<br>8:38 Thanksgiving, Arguments, and Creating Better Conversation Contexts<br>9:09 Daryl Davis, Jane Addams, and Megan Phelps Roper as Persuasion Case Studies<br>13:17 Curiosity, Compassion, and Seeing People You Disagree With<br>15:57 Self Respect, Boundaries, and When to Disengage or Walk Away<br>18:15 Mr. Rogers' Congress Testimony and Quiet Moral Confidence<br>19:35 Manipulation Versus Civil Persuasion and the Marionette Metaphor<br>24:32 Attention Friendly Contexts and Why Rushing Arguments Fails<br>33:42 Moral Myopia and Missing Key Ethical Pieces in Arguments<br>40:34 Respect Versus Trust and When Not to Trust Someone<br>44:44 Warmth, Competence, and the Psychology of Building Trust<br>47:53 Practical Ways to Build Trust and Show You Know What You are Talking About<br>52:02 Closing Thoughts</p>
July 14, 2026
Chasing Leviathan Goes on a New Schedule
<p>In this quick update, host PJ Weary shares some news about the future production schedule of the podcast. Thank you all for your continued support. We continue to having you join us for the next conversation.</p><p>Check out our website at chasingleviathan.com </p><p>Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified. Nothing on earth is its equal. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. </p><p>These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. </p>
July 7, 2026
Loneliness in World History | Dr. Katie Barclay
<p>What happens when a feeling we assume is a universal human experience is actually shaped, defined, and even created by our specific cultural language and material conditions? </p><p>Macquarie University's Future Fellow at the School of Humanities, Dr. Katie Barclay, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the overlooked complexities of a deeply human emotion. </p><p>Dr. Barclay explores the history and cultural variety of this feeling in her book, Loneliness in World History. They examine how loneliness is frequently not just an internal psychological state, but rather a reflection of our relationships with our environment, our community, and the specific language we use to make sense of our world. </p><p>In this conversation they explore: </p><ul><li>How the "language trap" challenges our ability to compare emotions across cultures, and why translating words for love and loneliness requires understanding their thick cultural context. </li><li>The surprising nighttime weeping rituals of the Kaluli people in Papua New Guinea, where singing about loneliness serves as a cathartic communal release of pain. </li><li>Why the historical narrative of human "modernization"—moving from supposedly primitive communal selves to modern individualized subjects—carries deeply colonial and problematic assumptions. </li><li>The physiological elements of isolation, including "touch hunger" and how the modern internet trend of Mukbang satiates the deep-seated desire to eat alongside a community. </li><li>How physical places and material architecture—from fairy-tale forests to utopian high-rise flats and car-centric suburbs—actively teach us to feel isolated and shape our emotional experiences. </li><li>The paradox of the "lonely genius," revealing how the supposedly solitary pursuit of art and creativity is fundamentally dependent on an unseen network of community support and labor. </li></ul><p>This is a conversation for anyone interested in world history, anthropology, and the humanities who wants to understand the cultural weight behind our everyday emotions and how we can navigate our increasingly isolated, digital modern age. </p><p>Make sure to check out Dr. Barclay's book: Loneliness in World History 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1032359811/ </p><p>Check out our website at chasingleviathan.com </p><p>Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified. Nothing on earth is its equal. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. </p><p>These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. </p><p>Timestamps<br>0:00 Introducing Dr. Katie Barclay<br>0:48 Why a Love Historian Studied Loneliness<br>2:07 How to Study Loneliness Across Cultures<br>4:03 The Language Trap in Emotion and Translation<br>5:34 Imperialism, Medicine, and Measuring Pain<br>7:01 Thick Cultural Definitions of Emotion<br>8:43 Humor, Culture, and Everyday Misunderstandings<br>10:34 Defining Loneliness as Pain and Social Mismatch<br>13:01 Questioning Modern Western Psychology on Loneliness<br>14:07 Kaluli Ritual of Shared Grief and Loneliness<br>16:44 Community Survival and Existential Loneliness<br>20:15 Modernization Narratives and the Communal Self<br>23:36 East/West Stereotypes about Self and Loneliness<br>27:17 Philosophers, Hunger, and the Limits of Elite Theory<br>30:45 Bodies, Touch, Hunger, and the Physiology of Loneliness<br>32:22 Forests, Liminal Spaces, and Emotional Landscapes<br>36:03 Colonization, Land Displacement, and Indigenous Loneliness<br>38:12 Suburbs, High Rise Flats, and Designed Isolation<br>44:48 Solitude, Creativity, and the Myth of the Lone Genius<br>49:08 Closing Thoughts</p>
225 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for Chasing Leviathan
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Chasing Leviathan?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.