Vienna, Austria.

What makes us fall for easy solutions in a complicated world? In this episode, I explore the rise of populism with the case of the US in mind, the isolation of modern society, and how it's trying to hold on from anything simplistic to make sense of it.

Drawing from personal reflections, political observations, and philosophical insights, this episode dives into how loneliness and frustration lead us to trust ideas, leaders, or promises that often fall short.

This is not just about politics—it’s about us, our inner struggles, and the stories we tell ourselves.

Sources: Populism by Cas Mudde & Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser, UN: A Super Year for Elections

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Did you enjoy this episode? Please consider liking it on your platform of choice, leaving a review, and sharing it with your loved ones. It makes a big difference for me, so thank you!

Visit the website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠afterthedragon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the episode transcripts, and follow @afterthedragon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, to share your thoughts and stay connected. Music Credits: Satie - Gnossienne No. 1, recorded by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay

Marketing & Promotional Materials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Strategaze

Eani, Greece

After the Dragon returns for 2025, delving into the lessons that emerge from facing life’s hardest moments.

Inspired by personal struggles and Albert Camus' The Fall, the episode explores how avoiding responsibility and pain can leave us fragile, like the trees of Biosphere2.

Through reflections on failures, guilt, and transformation, this episode challenges us to endure hardships, embrace change, and grow stronger in the process.

Further Resources: The Fall (Albert Camus), Biosphere 2 Project

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Did you enjoy this episode? Consider liking it on your platform of choice, leave a review, and share it with your loved ones. It makes a big difference for me, so thank you!

Visit the website, ⁠⁠⁠afterthedragon.com⁠⁠⁠ for the episode transcripts, and follow @afterthedragon on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, to share your thoughts and stay connected.

• Music Credits: Music by ⁠⁠Universfield from Pixabay, ⁠⁠Crow sound effects by All-Rounder & rzalmanialmani
• Marketing & Promotional Materials: ⁠⁠Strategaze⁠

Athens, Greece

With the same existentialism notes, this time inspired by Jorge Bucay's Power of Self Dependence and an old love letter, the second episode revolves around a concept that we consider of great value. While also attempting to avoid at all costs. Freedom.

This episode explores deep philosophical concepts that are under-analyzed & overexplained, as the point of the podcast is to inspire you, the listener, to carry on and seek your answers. Great resources to look at are:

• Philosophize This' Podcast Episodes on Sartre & Camus,
• Sartre's Book on Being & Nothingness, and
• Jorge Bucay's Book on the Power of Self Dependence.

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Did you enjoy this episode? Consider liking it on your platform of choice, leave a review, and share it with your loved ones. It makes a big difference for me, so thank you!

Visit the website, ⁠⁠afterthedragon.com⁠⁠ for the episode transcripts, and follow @afterthedragon on ⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠or ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, to share your thoughts and stay connected.

• Music Credits: Music by ⁠Clavier Clavier from Pixabay⁠
• Marketing & Promotional Materials: ⁠Strategaze⁠

Thessaloniki, Greece.

The debut of After the Dragon reflects on life’s most profound challenges and the courage it takes to confront them. Inspired by Nietzsche’s philosophy on life stages and his transformative journey, Michalis unpacks the metaphor of slaying dragons—our personal battles—and how they lead to growth and freedom.

This episode explores themes of self-discovery, navigating life changes, and breaking free from limiting contexts. As well as what it takes to evolve from a camel to a lion and, ultimately, to a child, while challenging societal expectations and our own limitations.

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Did you enjoy this episode, or have feedback? Like us on Spotify, visit our website at afterthedragon.com, and follow @afterthedragon on Instagram or Facebook, to share your thoughts and stay connected.

Credits:

1. Marketing & Promotional Materials: Strategaze
2. Music: Vasyl Sakal from Pixabay
3. Sound Effects:

• Cyberwave Orchestra from Pixabay

• freesound_community from Pixabay