Something feels off, doesn’t it?

You wake up. You go through the motions. You scroll endlessly, consuming more information than any human in history, yet nothing sticks. Nothing matters. You chase productivity, optimization, self-improvement—yet the emptiness lingers. The world is noisier than ever, but all you hear is silence where meaning used to be.

Welcome to The Meaning Crisis—a slow, creeping collapse of purpose, connection, and shared reality. In this episode of The Observing I, we’re pulling back the curtain on why life feels increasingly hollow for so many people, and more importantly, how to escape the void.

We’ll cover what meaning actually is—and why most people never define it, why this crisis is happening now, the hidden symptoms, and how to break free.

This isn’t just another philosophical discussion. It’s a wake-up call. The Meaning Crisis won’t solve itself. but you can choose to face it.

So the question is: What kind of life will you live now that you know?

Listen now. Then act.

Much love,

David

One hundred episodes. A hundred dives into the deep end. This one? This one is different.

You’ve been sold a lie. Happiness. Perfection. The stories that shape you, control you, keep you running like a hamster on a wheel, chasing a dangling carrot that’s always just out of reach. In this special 100th episode, we rip the blindfold off. We’re talking about the hedonic treadmill, the lie of self-improvement, the cult of perfection, and why everything you’ve been taught about success and happiness is a rigged game.

We dig into the stories that own you, the philosophy of imperfection, and the unseen chains that keep you trapped. No fluff. No sugarcoating. Just brutal, unfiltered truth.

If you’re ready to wake up, stop running, and start writing your own script, hit play.

Mich love,

David

What happens when we build something smarter than ourselves? Smarter, faster, maybe even more ethical - if it can figure out what ethics even are. In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the philosophical minefield of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). This isn’t just about robots and algorithms; this is about us—what AGI learns from humanity, what it means for the future, and whether we’re ready for the world we’re creating.

We’re tackling the big questions. If AGI learns morality by watching us, does it inherit our flaws? Could it outgrow its teachers and decide humanity is more liability than asset? And if AGI does everything we do, what’s left for us?

We’ll explore Ian M. Banks’ Culture series - a vision of a universe where AGI Minds run entire civilizations and humans are left to play, create, or simply drift. Is this the best-case scenario, or a future where our freedom is an illusion, handed to us by machines that know better?

This is more than a discussion about technology - it’s a conversation about what it means to be human in a world where machines don’t just follow orders; they think for themselves. Will AGI save us, replace us, or make us irrelevant?

Much love,

David

Here’s the pitch: What if every religion you’ve ever heard of, every sacred story, every whispered prayer, was just a shard of broken glass? Each one catching the light, but none of them showing you the whole picture. That’s Omnism. The belief that truth isn’t neat or whole - it’s shattered.

In this episode of The Observing I, we go scavenging. Through ancient texts and modern questions, through the chaos of conflicting theologies, we try to make sense of the mess. We talk history. We talk philosophy. We talk about what happens when you stop clinging to one answer and start seeing the connections between all of them.

Omnism doesn’t give you peace. It doesn’t promise certainty. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also freeing. It forces you to build your own spirituality from the pieces you find, to see the sacred in places you’d never think to look.

So, if you’re ready to let go of the answers and start asking better questions, hit play. Just be warned: Once you see the world this way, there’s no unseeing it.

Much love,

David

In our first episode of 2025, we dive deep into The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick—the sprawling, chaotic, and profoundly philosophical work of one of science fiction's greatest minds. Through the lens of Dick’s personal life and mystical experiences, we explore the core themes of his Exegesis: the nature of reality, the divine, time, and the fragmented self.

But the journey doesn’t stop there. We analyze how these ideas manifest in Dick’s fiction, from the reality-warping Ubik to the metaphysical quest of VALIS, and consider their relevance to our modern world of AI, simulation, and existential uncertainty. Along the way, we reflect on the big questions Dick asked—questions that still resonate today: What is real? Who are we? And how do we navigate a world that feels increasingly unreal?

Whether you’re a fan of Philip K. Dick, a seeker of philosophical insights, or just curious about the mysteries of existence, this episode offers a thought-provoking journey into the mind of a literary and metaphysical pioneer.

Join us as we unravel the threads of The Exegesis, explore its connection to Dick’s fiction, and uncover the timeless lessons it holds for us all.

Much love,

David

PS: Buy my book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D54FV5D5

In today's episode, we're talking about Immanuel Kant, the philosopher with ideas so big, they’re still shaping how we think centuries later. We take a deep yet approachable dive into Kant’s life, his revolutionary ideas, and his surprisingly modern legacy.

Join us as we explore his daily routine of clockwork precision, his ground-breaking “Copernican Revolution” in philosophy, and his ethical framework that challenges us to act with universal respect. We also tackle his reflections on beauty and the sublime, debunk popular myths about his work, and uncover how Kant became a favourite of pop culture and meme creators alike.

Whether you're a seasoned philosopher or a curious beginner, this episode offers fresh insights into why Kant remains one of history’s greatest thinkers, and why his ideas are more relevant. Hit play and step into the mind of the original over thinker.

Subscribe to The Observing I for more insights into philosophy, psychology, and the human experience.

If you like what you hear, there's a book I wrote that goes alongside the podcast called "The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life". You can buy it on Amazon at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Observing-Guide-Living-More-Authentic-ebook/dp/B0D54FV5D5/

Listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcasting app.

Much love,

​David

In today's episode, we delve into the world of Ernest Becker's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Denial of Death. Exploring Becker’s central ideas, we uncover how the awareness of mortality shapes human behaviour, fuels creativity, and drives us to seek meaning in a transient world.

Join us as we examine heroic projects, the role of culture and religion in coping with death anxiety, and the dark consequences of avoiding mortality - from tribalism to perfectionism. We also dive into the critiques of Becker’s work and discuss how his ideas remain deeply relevant in today’s age of consumerism, technology, and social media.

More importantly, we look at what it means to authentically embrace mortality. How can facing our fears of death liberate us from distractions and bring greater clarity, purpose, and connection to our lives?

Much love,

David

In today's episode, we're exploring the world of media theorist and philosopher Douglas Rushkoff and how his ideas impact the human experience He's also one of the few living philosophers that we've covered so far (the other being Alain de Botton, go check out that episode as well).

Have you ever felt that time is slipping away from you whilst simultaneously piling up like a never ending quagmire? Like reality itself has become a fragmented, chaotic rush of content, to-dos, and things vying for your attention? This is the essence of Rushkoff's idea Present Shock, and it's reshaping how we experience time, connection, and meaning in the digital age.

We'll explore Rushkoff's ideas of narrative collapse, digiphrenia, and overwinding, and the impact that these have on our mental health, relationships, and sense of purpose. We'll get into the philosophical and psychological side of these ideas (quelle surprise), and offer some advice on how to handle that gnawing sense of Present Shock.

Discover how to slow down, reconnect with what truly matters, and live with intention in a world that seems designed to pull us apart.

Subscribe to The Observing I for more insights into philosophy, psychology, and the human experience.

If you like what you hear, there's a book I wrote that goes alongside the podcast called "The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life". You can buy it on Amazon at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Observing-Guide-Living-More-Authentic-ebook/dp/B0D54FV5D5/

Listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcasting app.

Much love,

David