Podcast
Rescuing Reason
Hosted by Bill Kourelakos · ENGLISH
Welcome to Spartan Spirit - Rescuing Reason. This podcast examines critical political and socioeconomic topics affecting Western cultures, particularly Australia, Canada, and the US. The point being to ground-truth the issues and bring reason back to the discussion.
The podcast will do it through a logical, scientific, and most importantly, a Spartan lens, i.e., through a tough-minded view that considers the nation and the planet above the individual.
The podcast will be published on the 1st and 15th of each month. You can send comments and suggestions to spartan.spirit@yahoo.com
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Rescuing Reason - E13 - Iran Pt2 - Nuclear Threat
2w ago01:27:51Tap to summarizeThe 2026 conflict between the US/Israel and Iran was supposedly started to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon capability. The nuclear weapon threat could be curtailed through destruction of the related systems (thereby removing the capability) or by causing regime change (thereby removing the intent). This episode is the 2nd episode in a 4-part series on Iran. It considers whether going to war over the nuclear threat is "ethical" or a "Just" cause for war - under the 'Laws of War' or 'Just War Theory'. The 'legal' reasons for going to war are detailed, along with a deep review of Iran's nuclear capabilities. One must also consider that Iran's proxy wars and state-sponsored terrorism are justification for going war, but that is covered in part 3 of this series on Iran. The actual conduct of the war is covered in part 4 of this series.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E12 - Iran Pt1 - The History
Mar 2901:04:58Tap to summarizeThe 2026 conflict between the US/Israel and Iran has a long history, arguably traceable to the mid-20th century. This multi-part series looks at how Iran was shaped over millennia to become the force it is today; the roots of the modern day conflict; the key issues (Iranian anti-West behavior [through proxies too], its nuclear program, state-sponsored terrorism, and its oppressive regime); analysis of the current conflict, and concludes with a look to the future. This first episode takes us through Iran's history with a focus on the last 100 years and how that shaped Iran to be anti-West.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E11 - Gender in Sports Pt 2
Feb 2700:21:53Tap to summarizeThe 2026 Winter Olympics are over and only one openly transgender athlete competed - Elis Lundholm. Elis was born as a female, identifies as a man, and competed in women's skiing (finishing 25th). Thus, the recent winter Olympics did not have to deal with criticism over biological males identifying as women and competing in women's categories. However, this issue remains a feature of many sports and will certainly feature in the next summer Olympics. This podcast episode concludes a two-part series looking at the issues around gender in sports.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E10 - Gender in Sports Pt 1
Jan 3000:33:36Tap to summarizeThe 2026 Winter Olympics are starting shortly after this episode is published, and that means there will, yet again, be controversy over gender classification. This episode is part one of a two-part series exploring the issues related to sex vs gender in organized sports.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E9 - Taiwanese Microchips
Jan 100:29:35Tap to summarizeMicrochips are essential components of almost everything we humans make today. Yet, about 90% of the world's microchips come from one country: Taiwan. Given how essential these components are to global manufacturing and trade, the West should be concerned about its reliance on an island that is under threat of invasion from China. This episode explores the history of microchips; how they ended up being almost entirely produced in Taiwan, and what the West should consider doing to protect its supply chain.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E8 - Rare Earth Elements
Dec 1500:38:50Tap to summarizeRare earth elements are essential to our world's manufacturing sectors; particularly hi-tech defense equipment, green technologies, and anything that uses a battery or magnet (which is a lot of stuff). Yet, China cornered the market on rare earth element processing, leaving Western democracies vulnerable to trade disruptions. This episode explores the history of rare earth elements and how the West needs to regain market share in rare earth element processing.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E7 - Rules Based Order
Nov 2700:36:00Tap to summarizeThe Global Rules Based Order is fracturing. This episode examines its history, relevance to Western liberal democracies, the threats coming from autocratic states, and thoughts on the way forward.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E6 - Military Spending Pt 2
Nov 1400:26:08Tap to summarizeIn this episode we examine Australia's military spending - which has not matched NATO increases in % GDP on military spending. With war raging in the Ukraine and the Middle East, and a growing Chinese military threat, many states have substantially increased their military budgets in recent months. Most NATO countries pledged 5% GDP on military spending, and the US is urging its allies in the Indo-Pacific region to do the same. Part 1 of this two-part podcast explored the history of military spending and the reasons for increasing military spending. In this episode (Part 2), we examine Australia's reasons for retaining military spending at 2% GDP.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E5 - Military Spending Pt 1
Oct 3000:36:25Tap to summarizeWith war raging in the Ukraine and the Middle East, and a growing Chinese military, many states have substantially increased their military budgets in recent months. Most NATO countries pledged 5% GDP on military spending, and the US is urging its allies in the Indo-Pacific region to do the same. This podcast explores the history of military spending, the reasons for increasing military spending, and in Part 2 (coming out mid-Nov 2025), we will look at the case of Australia - which has not matched NATO increases in % GDP on military spending.
Transcribe →Rescuing Reason - E4 - Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Oct 1300:42:30Tap to summarizeThe Shanghai Cooperation Organization is seeking to counter Western global influence through mutual economic, political and security agreements between its member states. Those states include China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan and Belarus. Some are going so far as to call the Shanghai Cooperation Organization the Global South's NATO. It behooves westerners to understand what the Global South is, and how this loose alliance affects the West - This episode tells you all about it.
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