Episodes 45
Avg. Duration 29m
Activity Sporadic
Apple Rating 4.7 (458)
Since Jun 2018
Latest Episode Sep 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
64%
Hosting
rss.libsyn.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Context is a podcast that explores the historical forces shaping our modern world. Hosted by Brad Harris, who earned his PhD from Stanford in the History of Science & Technology, each episode delves into pivotal ideas, events, and figures that have influenced civilization's trajectory. From the rise of scientific thought to the challenges of globalization, Brad provides insightful analysis that connects the past to our present. Whether you're a history enthusiast or seeking deeper understanding of contemporary issues, Context with Brad Harris offers a thoughtful journey through the narratives that define us.

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Recent Episodes

Back from the Brink: How Societies Recover

Sep 30, 2025 30m

Can fractured societies pull themselves back from the brink? Is America doomed to slide into another civil war? Or, are we already engaged in a kind of Cold Civil War? In this episode of Context, we…

Good vs Evil

Sep 16, 2025 27m

My thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and what his martyrdom reveals about truth versus lies, good versus evil, and the West's spiritual fight for its life.

The Wilderness at the Gates

Sep 02, 2025 27m

For fifty years, we've been told that nature is fragile — a porcelain Eden, easily shattered by the slightest human pressure. But history tells a different story. From the fall of Rome to the Black…

Phantom Worlds

Aug 26, 2025 25m

History is full of phantom worlds—alternative technological paradigms that could have made everything turn out radically differently. Airships instead of airplanes. Rail instead of cars. Direct…

The Machinery of Abundance

Aug 12, 2025 24m

Modern life runs on hidden engine rooms—vast, intricate systems most of us never see. The Haber-Bosch process, which turns air into fertilizer, is one of them. It feeds billions, yet almost no one…

When We Were Most Human

Aug 05, 2025 21m

The modern world is defined by acceleration. But what if the most stable—and perhaps most human—version of ourselves existed long before civilization? In this episode, we explore the world of the…

The History of the Future

Jul 28, 2025 19m

Why did we stop believing in utopia? By the late 19th century, many Americans had come to believe that the future would be defined by peace, prosperity, and moral progress. But over the next century,…

The Meaning of War

Jul 01, 2025 22m

Is it possible that war, for all its horror, once played a vital role in human flourishing—and that its disappearance has left a cultural and spiritual void? In this episode, we explore the…

The Decline of the West: Oswald Spengler's Prophetic Vision

Jun 19, 2025 18m

A century ago, Oswald Spengler warned that Western civilization was entering its final phase—not from war or catastrophe, but from cultural exhaustion. In The Decline of the West, he argued that…

Narrative Warfare: How National Stories Shape Geopolitics

Jun 12, 2025 19m

We often think global power is all about armies and technology. But what if the most decisive battles are fought through stories? In this episode of Context, we explore the concept of narrative…

PREVIEW: The Ghost in the Machine – Why We Believe in Robots

Jun 05, 2025 5m

This is a short preview of a supporter-only bonus episode. In this episode, I explore the psychological and philosophical reasons we keep projecting something human into our machines. From ancient…

The Lost Virtue of Boredom: What We Lose When We're Never Still

May 29, 2025 17m

We didn't cure boredom—we erased it. And in doing so, we may have lost one of the most quietly powerful forces in human development. In this episode of Context, I explore boredom as a lost human…

The Bureaucracy vs. the Future: How the SEC Is Undermining American Innovation

May 22, 2025 14m

The SEC was created to protect investors—but is it now protecting incumbents instead? In this episode of Context, we explore the rise of unelected bureaucracies and their hostility to innovation,…

Sliding Into Serfdom - 10 Minutes on Hayek

May 15, 2025 10m

In this episode, we examine Friedrich Hayek's The Road to Serfdom, a chilling warning about how societies drift into tyranny—not through force, but through the seductive promise of central planning.…

Into the Trenches Once More

May 17, 2023 18m

If you like this stuff and you'd like to hear more, please support my work on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bradcoleharris

Urban Versus Rural

Jun 01, 2021 31m

There's a lot that's dividing Americans right now - lots of divisive narratives that have captivated lots of people. One of those narratives features the apparent widening political divide between…

Notes On Tribalism

Apr 26, 2021 22m

"Notes on Nationalism" was an essay written by George Orwell in 1945, just as World War II was ending. It caused quite a stir at the time, but most people these days have never heard of it.…

The Fate of Universities

Feb 24, 2021 38m

Like many others, I've begun to worry about the fate of higher education in American society. Having spent most of my professional life in academia, my instinct is to regard the university system as…

Explaining Postmodernism: A Conversation with Stephen Hicks

Jan 25, 2021 1h 1m

In this episode, I invited the philosopher and author Stephen Hicks on the podcast to chat about his book, Explaining Postmodernism. Stephen has been a Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University…

Escaping the Cycle of History

Dec 21, 2020 33m

What's that line attributed to Mark Twain?... "History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes." As the authors Neil Howe and William Strauss wrote in their best-selling book The Fourth Turning:…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Context with Brad Harris have?

Context with Brad Harris has published 45 episodes since June 2018, covering topics in History, Society & Culture.

Is Context with Brad Harris still active?

Context with Brad Harris is currently sporadic with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 29m.

How do I contact Context with Brad Harris for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Context with Brad Harris, including email and social media links.

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