Intellectual Freedom Podcast
Intellectual freedom is not just a buzzword. It is a fundamental necessity for human civilization and your life's flourishing. It is the essence of the human spirit to question, explore, and seek answers to the most profound questions that confront us every day.
Without intellectual freedom, we are but slaves to the whims of those in power, unable to challenge authority, push boundaries, or pursue truth. In our post-modern world, ignorance and oppression weigh heavy on all of us, stifling creativity, innovation, and progress. The quest for knowledge is not a luxury. It is a basic human need. Only through intellectual freedom can we unlock the full potential of our collective intellect and build a brighter future for all.
This podcast explores topics in culture, philosophy, wisdom literature, and complex problems we all confront in life.
Intellectual Freedom Podcast
#136: Your World Is Too Big. Shrink Your Life to What Matters.
Most people aren’t overwhelmed because life is too hard; they’re overwhelmed because their world is too big. In this episode of the Intellectual Freedom Podcast, Dr. David Hopkins breaks down why modern life is emotionally crushing us and how to reclaim your sanity by shrinking your sphere of focus.
We live in a culture where we know everything about everyone, everywhere, all the time, and the human brain was never designed for that level of input. Drawing from Stoic philosophy (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius), Viktor Frankl, and Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, David explains why meaning collapses when attention exceeds capacity—and why the solution isn’t apathy, outrage, or disengagement, but radical focus on what you can actually control.
You’ll learn:
- Why anxiety skyrockets when we fixate on things outside our influence
- How the “circle of control” can immediately reduce stress and increase clarity
- Why meaning is local, not global
- The Three-Foot Revolution (and how to start today)
- How shrinking your world makes your life bigger, not smaller
If you’re tired of doomscrolling, exhausted by the news cycle, and ready to live a grounded, meaningful, mentally sovereign life, this episode is your reset button.
Stay curious. Stay grounded. And stay free.
Visit my website at davidhopkins.com.
