From 1995 to 1999, Objectivist philosopher Leonard Peikoff hosted a radio talk show, The Leonard Peikoff Show. In this 1997 lecture, he discusses the challenging task faced by a talk-show host with a radical philosophy to sell.
Offering humorous anecdotes along the way, Peikoff recalls shows that were unexpected hits or total bombs and assesses the results of his experiment to bring philosophy to a wider audience.
In addition to reflecting on what he learned during his first two years on the radio, Peikoff muses about how to create enthusiasm around philosophic issues.
The talk is followed by an extensive Q&A on such topics as:
- The motivating power of prizes
- What Peikoff learned from interacting with the general public
- The type of people who are reached by a radio program about philosophy
- Peikoff’s experience as a guest on the television show Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher
- The popularity of Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and Dr. Laura
- Radio versus television and newspapers as a communications medium
- What Peikoff enjoyed most and least as a radio talk-show host
