The Greatest Lessons in Philosophy, Parenting, and Kindness with Scott Hershovitz

The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose

Eric Zimmer, The One You Feed

Buddhism, Mental Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Religion & Spirituality

4.5 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 24 April 2026

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, Scott Hershovitz discusses the greatest lessons in philosophy, parenting, and kindness. He also explores how children are natural philosophers and how everyday life raises deep questions about identity, truth, and moral responsibility. Other topics include personal identity, relativism, civil discourse, and the importance of treating others as moral agents. Throughout, Scott connects philosophical thinking to parenting, politics, and personal growth, emphasizing kindness, humility, and critical thinking as essential virtues for a meaningful life. Exciting News!! My new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life, is now available!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Key Takeaways: Exploration of the relationship between emotions like anger and gratitude and their role in self-respect and respect for others. The natural philosophical curiosity of children and the importance of nurturing critical thinking. Philosophy’s relevance in everyday life and moral decision-making. Examination of consciousness and the challenge of understanding other minds, including animals. The philosophical puzzle of personal identity and the concept of change over time. The impact of relativism and the importance of civil discourse in addressing differing beliefs. Insights from a seminar on abortion, emphasizing respectful dialogue and shared inquiry. The distinction between reasoning with individuals versus shaping their behavior. Reflections on responsibility, choice, and the complexities of the criminal justice system in relation to trauma and empathy. For full show notes:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this conversation with Scott Hershovitz, check out these other episodes: What We Know But Don’t Believe with Steve Hagen Everyday Courage with Ryan Holiday By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: ⁠Alma⁠ has a directory of 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Visit ⁠helloalma.com⁠ to learn more! ⁠Brodo Broth⁠: Shop the best broth on the planet with Brodo. Head to ⁠Brodo.com/TOYF⁠ for 20% off your first subscription order and use code TOYF for an additional $10 off. ⁠Quince:⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠Quince.com/feed⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. ⁠Rocket Money⁠ Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at ⁠rocketmoney.com/feed⁠. ⁠Pebl⁠ – an AI-powered platform that helps companies hire and manage global teams in 185+ countries. Get a free estimate at ⁠hipebl.ai⁠ ⁠Hello Fresh⁠ – Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. ⁠David Protein⁠ bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to ⁠www.davidprotein.com/FEED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Sometimes being upset, being angry, feeling resentful is a way of defending yourself in the world and respecting yourself.
0:09.6	And, you know, we could tell a similar story about gratitude as a way of sort of respecting others and recognizing the sacrifices they might make on your behalf. Welcome to the one you feed.
0:27.1	Throughout time, great thinkers have recognized the importance of the thoughts we have.
0:31.6	Quotes like garbage in, garbage out, or you are what you think, ring true.
0:37.2	And yet, for many of us, our thoughts don't
0:39.4	strengthen or empower us. We tend toward negativity, self-pity, jealousy, or fear. We see what we don't
0:47.1	have instead of what we do. We think things that hold us back and dampen our spirit. But it's not
0:53.0	just about thinking. Our actions matter. It takes
0:56.3	conscious, consistent, and creative effort to make a life worth living. This podcast is about how other
1:02.4	people keep themselves moving in the right direction, how they feed their good wolf.
1:09.1	If I could have one wish, not something big or dramatic, I think I just want to spend
1:14.8	an hour in a dog's mind, just to know what it's like in there, how they experience the world,
1:21.1	what any of it feels like from the inside. That kind of question might sound abstract, but it gets
1:26.9	it something real. Because the truth is, we don't fully understand what it's like to be anyone else. And most of the time, we don't even examine what it's like to be ourselves. In this conversation, I sit down with Scott Hershiewicz, who's the author of Nasty, Brutish and Short, Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids,
1:46.7	and we explore what philosophy looks like in real life, through kids, through relationships,
1:53.1	and through the kinds of questions that shape how we live.
1:56.6	I'm Eric Zimmer, and this is the one you feed.
2:00.5	One of the shows I admire the most is the Being Well podcast.
2:05.3	Content about psychology and self-help is everywhere right now, but much of it is oversimplified or just plain wrong.
2:13.4	On Being Well, host Forrest Hansen has spent seven years interviewing top researchers, clinicians, and authors.
2:21.1	Serious people doing serious work.
2:23.6	And he's great at translating their complex ideas into advice that you can actually use.
	...

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