Why I Quit Academia

I am no longer updating this podcast. I will continue with two new podcasts at my Substack account, "Douglas Giles, PhD w/o BS/" Please join me there: https://substack.com/@dgilesphd

Hello Listeners. I'm transitioning away from this podcast to two new podcasts that will be hosted in my Substack account: https://substack.com/@dgilesphd. One podcast will cover philosophy and the other will cover political analysis. Thank you for listening, and please join me there.

I've moved to a new podcast: https://dgilesphd.substack.com/podcast The real tragedy is that what Trump does is normal in the context of US history. Today, I will talk about Trump’s return to the US’s normal foreign policy doctrine for Latin America. Text version on my Substack: https://imnotyourechochamber.substack.com/p/theres-nothing-new-in-trump-foreign Links to more reading: “The Banana Wars: How the US Plundered Central America.” https://www.thecollector.com/the-banana-wars-how-the-us-plundered-central-america/ “U.S. interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean haven’t always gone as planned.” https://www.npr.org/2026/01/02/nx-s1-5652133/us-venezuela-interventionism-caribbean-latin-america-history-trump “American Irregular Warfare in Latin America.” This is an arm of the Defense Department acknowledging the history of US colonialism. https://irregularwarfarecenter.org/publications/perspectives/american-irregular-warfare-in-latin-america/ “The consequences of CIA-sponsored regime change in Latin America.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0176268023000964 “United States Interventions.” https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/united-states-interventions/ “The Banana Wars: A History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the Spanish-American War to the Invasion of Panama.” https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3751&context=nwc-review Elbridge Colby - https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/elbridge-colby-trump-china-iran-nuclear-russia-tucker-carlson #Politics #project2025 #colonialism

I've moved to a new podcast: https://dgilesphd.substack.com/podcast For years I had kept one foot in academia; I’ve now taken that foot out and can walk freely

Many people feel that philosophy is not relevant to their lives. That feeling is completely mistaken, but it’s understandable how someone could come to feel that way. Philosophy isn’t dead, but most philosophers are — not just those people writing papers for academic journals but also those teaching philosophy courses. My Philosophy Textbook Showing Philosophy As Very Much Alive

I've moved to a new podcast: https://dgilesphd.substack.com/podcast Failing Our Students. Part 1: The two cursed cohorts have reached college and they are struggling and the system is failing them. Part 2: Corporatization is diluting higher education. Link mentioned in the episode. Rethinking the Generations

Right-wing politicians, including Donald Trump this week at the United Nations, stoke fear and hate against immigrants. Let’s replace black and white thinking with the many colors of reality. #Immigration #HumanRights

And you may ask, “How could you say that Charlie Kirk is a coward? Didn’t he frequently speak in public?” Good question. Charlie Kirk wasn’t a coward for speaking in public; Charlie Kirk was a coward because of why he was speaking in public. Links mentioned in the episode. Kirk didn’t agree that no one should die from gun violence.The description of a reactionary, from my book, perfectly fits Charlie Kirk.Charlie Kirk in his own words: 'prowling Blacks' and 'the great replacement strategy'The far-right commentator didn't pull his punches when discussing his reactionary views on current eventsCharlie Kirk in His Own Words17 quotes you should read from Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and Trump ally who was shot and killed on…Gun Violence To 'China Virus': A Look At Charlie Kirk's Controversial TakesCharlie Kirk, who died on Wednesday after being shot during an appearance at Utah Valley University, was one of the…Let's Not Forget Who Charlie Kirk Really WasThe right-wing influencer did not deserve to die, and we shouldn't forget the many despicable things he said and did.Charlie Kirk’s Top 11 Most Heinous Statements & Remarks #Philosophy #Politics #Education #Prejudice #Extremism #Reactionary

What precedes hate is fear and the psychological inability to cope with fear. Hate is a symptom of giving in to the fear of those who are different and choosing to hide behind false views of other people rather than face the reality of how others actually are. Understanding hatred in this way gives clarity to many things.

Let’s go beyond the schadenfreude of watching MAGA having a conniption over Pam Bondi covering up the Epstein files. Instead of having a watch party hoping to see some kind of anti-Trump revolt, and breathlessly keeping score of every statement made by people about Epstein, Bondi, and Trump like its some kind of sick sports game, let’s dig a little deeper. What Lurks Behind Conspiracy Theories Why Trump? Book