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PODCAST

The Mad Genius Thesis

Mnemosyne Media

Is there a thin line between brilliance and madness? The Mad Genius Thesis podcast investigates the complex and often controversial relationship between creativity and what we variously call madness—whether it’s labeled mental illness, neurodivergence, or simply the wild temperament of genius. Each episode explores cutting-edge research in psychology, neuroscience, and the creative arts to understand how extraordinary minds work—and why they so often seem to walk the edge. We unpack the myths of the

science social sciences

All Episodes

00:14:56

Without Religion, We Go Mad

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/09/27

Religion is irrational. It makes unprovable claims, contradicts science, and asks for faith where reason demands evidence. And yet — without it, human beings descend into despair, fragmentation, and madness. Across cultures and centuries, the sacred has given suffering meaning, death dignity, and life direction. When societies abandon religion, they don’t become purely rational — they become lost, desperate for substitutes, and vulnerable to darker forms of faith.In this episode, we explore the

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00:05:03

Why Modern Freedom Inevitably Leads to Depression

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/04/20

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis, we confront a haunting paradox of the modern world: the more freedom we gain, the more depressed we seem to become. Why does a society built on choice, autonomy, and self-expression leave so many people feeling empty, anxious, and lost?We explore how modern freedom, unanchored from tradition, structure, or inherited identity, creates a crushing psychological burden. Drawing on existential philosophy, psychology, and cultural criticism, we examine how the

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00:21:30

Anatomy of Melancholy: The book that predicted modernity

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/03/09

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Robert Burton’s The Anatomy of Melancholy, a Renaissance-era deep dive into the causes, symptoms, and cures of melancholy. Drawing from classical philosophy, astrology, medicine, and personal observation, Burton offers an encyclopedic meditation on human suffering, creativity, and the delicate balance of the mind. How did the Renaissance view mental health, passion, and the influence of the stars? What can Burton’s insights teach us about

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00:16:23

The Birth of Tragedy: Sanity, Madness, and Greek Culture

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/03/09

In this episode of *The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast*, we dive into **Friedrich Nietzsche’s *The Birth of Tragedy***, exploring how his vision of **Apollonian order and Dionysian chaos** shaped not only Greek tragedy but also German culture and modern thought. Drawing on multiple sources, we examine **Nietzsche’s influences, from Schopenhauer to Wagner**, his critique of modernity, and the book’s impact on **Freud, philosophy, and art theory**. How did Nietzsche’s early ideas evolve into his later

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00:02:59

A warm welcome from the hosts of The Mad Genius Thesis

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/28

The podcast hosts reveal something important about themselves and tell listeners what the podcast is all about.

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00:15:41

"The wolf, the snake, the hog" : The darker side of...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/27

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore the life and work of Walt Whitman, drawing from multiple biographies that illuminate his creative journey, personal struggles, and lasting influence. From his humble beginnings and strained family ties to the revolutionary impact of Leaves of Grass, Whitman crafted not only poetry but also a public image that blurred the lines between self-promotion and artistic vision. How did his experiences during the Civil War, his political ideals,

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00:15:59

Murder, Madness, and the Making of the Oxford English...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/27

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore The Surgeon of Crowthorne by Simon Winchester, a fascinating true story about the interplay of brilliance, madness, and obsession in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. At the heart of this tale are James Murray, the dictionary’s tireless editor, and William Chester Minor, a Civil War surgeon turned convicted murderer who became one of its most important contributors—all while confined to Broadmoor Asylum. How did Minor’s mental

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00:17:27

Basquiat: 'Perishable' - Art as a Response to Grief...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/27

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Eric Fretz’s biography of Jean-Michel Basquiat, tracing his meteoric rise from graffiti artist to global art icon. Basquiat’s work, infused with themes of racism, inequality, and African American history, redefined contemporary art—but behind the brilliance was a man grappling with fame, mental health struggles, and drug addiction. How did his heritage, early experiences, and relationship with Andy Warhol shape his creative vision? Did the

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00:14:55

"Get as Much of That Poison Out" : Tupac's Art as...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/27

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur by Michael Eric Dyson, a deep dive into the life, artistry, and lasting influence of Tupac Shakur. More than just a rapper, Tupac was a poet, activist, and cultural icon, whose work reflected his intellectual depth, political consciousness, and personal demons. How did his childhood, addiction struggles, and complex relationships shape his music? What role did race, violence, and black

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00:19:02

César Vallejo : The Broken Machine

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/25

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Stephen M. Hart’s literary biography of César Vallejo, one of Latin America’s most profound and enigmatic poets. Vallejo’s poetry was deeply shaped by personal loss, poverty, political struggle, and illness, yet his voice remains timeless in its exploration of human suffering and resilience. How did his mental and physical hardships fuel his creative process? What role did his fraught relationships, evolving political convictions, and

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00:12:48

Mirrors and Monsters: Jorge Luis Borges's Nightmares

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/25

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Borges and Me by Jay Parini, a surreal and deeply personal journey through literature, memory, and self-discovery. This “novelistic memoir” recounts Parini’s unexpected road trip through Scotland with the blind and enigmatic Jorge Luis Borges, whose mind—filled with labyrinths, mirrors, and riddles—turns the journey into a meditation on love, poetry, and the mysteries of existence. How did Borges, whose own life was marked by isolation,

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00:12:15

Rabindranath Tagore's Restless Spirit : Versatility...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/25

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore the life and legacy of Rabindranath Tagore, as chronicled in the biography by Krishna Dutta and Andrew Robinson. A poet, philosopher, artist, and Nobel laureate, Tagore’s genius transcended borders, yet his life was shaped by personal loss, existential struggles, and emotional turmoil. How did his encounters with Western and Eastern cultures, his fraught relationship with Gandhi, and his pioneering educational vision at Shantiniketan

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00:18:11

"A Lazy and Sick Mind" James Agee's Struggles with...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/25

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore James Agee: A Life by Laurence Bergreen, a portrait of the brilliant but troubled writer whose work spanned poetry, journalism, film criticism, and screenwriting. Agee’s life was shaped by intellectual ambition, personal turmoil, and an unrelenting pursuit of artistic truth, yet he also battled alcoholism, depression, and self-doubt. How did his mental health struggles influence his writing? Did his restlessness and self-destructive

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00:08:18

Rimbaud: The Cost of Genius – Poetry, Trauma, and the...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/24

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Rimbaud: The Cost of Genius by Neal Oxenhandler, a deep dive into the life and work of Arthur Rimbaud, the rebellious poet who revolutionized literature before abandoning it entirely. Using psychoanalytic theory, we examine how Rimbaud’s fraught relationship with his mother, his sexuality, and his experiences with trauma and fantasy shaped his groundbreaking poetry. But why did this literary prodigy reject art for a life of exile in

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00:11:18

Borstal Boy : The Inner Turmoil of Brendan Behan

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/24

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Brendan Behan: Life and Works by Michael O'Sullivan, a deep dive into the life of one of Ireland’s most charismatic and self-destructive literary figures. Behan’s world was shaped by political activism, imprisonment, and an unrelenting battle with alcoholism, yet out of this turmoil came some of the most powerful works of Irish literature, including The Quare Fellow and Borstal Boy. How did his mental health struggles, addiction, and

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00:25:16

Diane Arbus – Photography, Obsession, and the Dark...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/24

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Diane Arbus: A Biography by Patricia Bosworth, a revealing look at the life of one of photography’s most provocative and enigmatic figures. Born into privilege but drawn to the margins of society, Arbus rejected convention to document the unusual, the grotesque, and the overlooked. Her work challenged notions of beauty and normalcy, but behind the lens, she battled depression, artistic obsession, and personal turmoil. How did her mental

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00:11:39

Baudelaire’s World – Poetry, Madness, and the Curse...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/24

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Baudelaire’s World by Rosemary Lloyd, a deep dive into the life, art, and tortured mind of Charles Baudelaire. A poet of modernity, exile, and decadence, Baudelaire lived a life marked by mental anguish, addiction, and creative obsession. How did his struggles with depression, self-destructive tendencies, and alienation fuel his visionary poetry? What role did his fascination with memory, duality, and the darker aspects of human nature

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00:15:09

Numbers and Nerves: The Creative Struggles of...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/24

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel, the extraordinary story of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a self-taught mathematical genius whose intuitive brilliance reshaped the field. Despite his astonishing insights, Ramanujan faced cultural displacement, health struggles, and the pressures of academia when he moved from India to Cambridge. How did his isolation, mental strain, and fragile health intersect with his creative genius? Was his

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00:14:23

Darkness Visible, William Styron's memoir of major...

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/23

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron, a raw and deeply personal account of the author’s battle with severe depression. Styron takes us through his descent into despair, hospitalization, and the fight for recovery, offering a rare glimpse into the inner world of a creative mind under siege. How did his depression affect his writing, relationships, and sense of self? What does his journey reveal about the link between

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00:16:06

Yukio Mishima – Art, Obsession, and Tragic Genius

The Mad Genius Thesis ·

2025/02/23

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore the life, work, and shocking death of Yukio Mishima, one of Japan’s most enigmatic literary figures. From his early influences and literary brilliance to his obsession with beauty, honor, and nationalism, Mishima’s story is one of artistic intensity and psychological complexity. His dramatic ritualistic suicide was not just a political statement but the culmination of a lifelong interplay between creativity, ideology, and self-destruction

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