Don’t Trust People? You May Be the Problem. | Happiness Hour

Should you trust people even though human nature is not always good? Dennis Prager explores the difficult balance between having a sober view of human nature and remaining open to the people around you. Dennis argues that believing everyone is basically good can leave you naive and vulnerable to disappointment, but becoming so guarded that you trust no one can leave you isolated and unhappy. Dennis takes calls from listeners who share their experiences with trust, including a law enforcement officer who describes the importance of being friendly and courteous while remaining prepared for danger. Dennis also discusses why expectations can lead to resentment, why attractive women may be hesitant to be friendly to strangers, and how our surroundings can influence how much we trust the people around us. Dennis ultimately argues that happiness requires a willingness to take some risks with other people. You may occasionally be rejected or hurt, but living behind a constant shield can prevent you from forming friendships and experiencing the everyday human connections that make life richer. The challenge is to remain wise about human nature without becoming cynical about humanity. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What kind of America did the Founding Fathers envision? Dennis Prager explores the bitter rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton with historian John Ferling, author of Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged a Nation. Though both played crucial roles in the founding of the United States, they had radically different visions for the country’s future. Dennis and Professor Ferling examine Hamilton’s enormous influence on the new nation, from his role in the Revolutionary War and the Federalist Papers to his work as George Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury, where he helped address the country’s enormous financial problems. They also discuss Hamilton’s infamous duel with Aaron Burr and the political rivalry that preceded it. The conversation then turns to the fundamental disagreement between Jefferson and Hamilton. Hamilton favored a stronger central government and a more powerful national economy, while Jefferson emphasized individual liberty and the importance of the states. Dennis and Ferling also explore Jefferson’s complicated relationship with the French Revolution and what their competing visions reveal about the political debates that helped shape America. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What happens when men stop looking at women? Dennis Prager takes on a controversial question about male attraction and asks whether women really want men to stop noticing them “that way.” Dennis argues that attraction between men and women is natural and, when expressed respectfully, can be a healthy part of human relationships. At the same time, he draws an important distinction between noticing a woman’s attractiveness and staring, leering, or behaving in a way that makes her uncomfortable. Dennis takes calls from men and women with very different perspectives. Some women say they enjoy being noticed and would actually miss that attention, while others find prolonged or overt attention uncomfortable. Dennis explores why these reactions differ and why he believes normal attraction should not automatically be treated as something shameful or inappropriate. The conversation also turns to dating and the mistakes men make when expressing attraction. Dennis explains why there is a difference between letting a woman know you find her attractive and making her feel as though she is being judged solely on her appearance. He argues that understanding male sexual nature, while also developing the character and restraint to handle it appropriately, is essential to healthy relationships between men and women. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When should you seek to be loved—and when can the desire to be loved actually get in the way of doing what is right? Dennis Prager explores the different kinds of relationships in our lives and argues that there is an important distinction between horizontal relationships, such as friendships and marriage, and vertical relationships, such as parent and child, teacher and student, clergy and congregation, and leaders and those they lead. Dennis explains why seeking love can be healthy and appropriate between equals, but can become destructive when it becomes the primary goal of a parent, teacher, religious leader, or political leader. When leaders become more concerned with being loved than with telling the truth or fulfilling their responsibilities, Dennis argues, they are more likely to compromise. The discussion also examines what this means for parents, clergy, political leaders, and even our relationship with God. Ultimately, Dennis argues that love is important—but it has to know its proper place in our lives. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dennis Prager is back—and answering your questions. In this special new edition of Ask Me Anything, Dennis personally responds to listener questions about faith, politics, relationships, happiness, morality, and his own life. After being away from the air since his injury in November 2024, Dennis returns to the microphone to reconnect with listeners and share his thoughts on the questions they’ve been waiting to ask. If you'd like to ask a question, call and leave us a voicemail: 877-243-7776 Dennis discusses what has given him the strength to keep going after his injury, whether God has a fixed plan for our lives, the relationship between America and Israel, classical music, the roles of men and women, the nature of evil, and what he would change about his own life. He also reflects on the impact his work has had on others and why he considers his life deeply blessed. This marks the beginning of a new chapter of Ask Me Anything, with Dennis inviting listeners to call in with their own questions about faith, morality, politics, history, relationships, happiness, or his life. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Fireside Chat Ep. 197 — Life, Legacy, and a Dangerous Mission in the Soviet Union originally aired on July 29th, 2021 A touching moment: Dennis receives birthday messages from PragerFORCE and it triggers a reflection on his life and career. What’s his most important message? Why does he receive so much hatred and how does he deal with it? He has led a unique life, including a smuggling operation in the Soviet Union—and experiencing that true totalitarianism taught some key life lessons. Donate to PragerU today: https://www.prageru.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this edition of Weekend Torah Teaching, Dennis Prager continues his study of Exodus 5, examining what happens when Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh—and why their first attempt does not go as planned. Dennis explores the significance of the elders’ absence, Moses’ failure to follow God’s instructions precisely, and Pharaoh’s decision to make the Israelites’ already difficult work even harder. The discussion then turns to one of the Torah’s most striking moments: Moses’ anger toward God. After seeing the suffering of the Israelites worsen, Moses directly confronts God and asks why He has brought evil upon His people. Dennis examines what this reveals about faith, suffering, and the difference between believing that God exists and trusting that God will ultimately do what is right. Dennis also explores the difficult tension between loving God and loving humanity, arguing that genuine concern for human suffering can itself lead to profound questions about God. Through Moses’ struggle, the Torah presents a deeply human picture of faith—one that allows room for doubt, anger, questions, and the struggle to trust God when circumstances seem to be getting worse. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the secret to happiness is expecting life to go wrong? Dennis Prager argues that happiness doesn’t come from avoiding life’s problems—it comes from understanding that problems are inevitable. Life is an obstacle course, filled with potholes, red lights, disappointments, and unexpected setbacks. The key is learning how to navigate them without letting every setback destroy your happiness. Dennis explains why expecting life to be difficult can actually make you happier, why we shouldn’t take the good days for granted, and why the absence of problems is itself something to appreciate. He also discusses how relationships, family, faith, health, and the people we surround ourselves with can provide lasting sources of happiness—even when life delivers its inevitable blows. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We revisit four memorable conversations between Dennis Prager and Julie Hartman, spanning more than two years and tracing the beginnings of a remarkable friendship and partnership. From Julie’s time as a student at Harvard to her emergence as the “Harvard Heretic,” these conversations capture her intellectual journey, her thoughts on the challenges facing her generation, and the early days of the relationship that would become “Dennis & Julie.” • May 26, 2021 — Dennis talks with Julie Hartman, then a Harvard student, about her intellectual transformation after discovering Dennis’ books and PragerU. Julie explains why she was hesitant to appear on Dennis’s show, the reaction she received from her Harvard peers, and what it meant to publicly embrace her beliefs. • June 6, 2021 — Dennis and Julie discuss why so many young Americans are struggling with depression and a sense of purposelessness. Julie reflects on the pressure to achieve, the obsession with résumés and elite colleges, the loss of religion and wisdom, and the realization that when too much goes into a résumé, there may not be much left in the person. • November 29, 2022 — Dennis welcomes Julie for a discussion of one of his favorite “Ultimate Issues”: Are people basically good? They explore human nature, free will, morality, religious values, and why the belief that people are inherently good can overlook the darker realities of human behavior. • July 11, 2023 — Dennis and Julie continue their regular conversations as co-hosts of “Dennis & Julie.” Dennis reflects on having a co-host for the first time in his long radio career and the unique friendship and chemistry that developed between them, while they tackle the deeper questions surrounding human nature and morality. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What makes you feel truly loved by your spouse? Dennis Prager explores a deceptively simple question: What is the one or two things your husband or wife could do that would most assure you of their love? Dennis explains why people often express love in the ways that come naturally to them rather than in the ways their spouse actually understands as love. He takes calls from husbands and wives who reveal what makes them feel valued—from affection and words of affirmation to quality time, acts of service, and, for some men, sex. Dennis also challenges couples to stop expecting their spouses to read their minds and instead be honest about what they need. The key, he argues, is not having a long list of demands, but understanding the few things that communicate love most clearly to the person you married. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.