Finding Meaning in the Matrix | Interview: Arthur Brooks

Finding Meaning in the Matrix | Interview: Arthur Brooks

April 8, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

Jonah Goldberg interviews Arthur Brooks about finding meaning in a complicated world.

In a blast from the past, Jonah sits down with his former job foreman and slumlord, Arthur Brooks, to discuss finding meaning in a complicated and empty world. Arthur and Jonah talk about the difficult conditions of modernity, phone discipline, living like your grandparents, identity portfolios, religion, love, friendship, starting The Dispatch, and Arthur's six steps for finding life's meaning.Show Notes:—Arthur Brooks: The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness—Charles Murray: Taking Religion Seriously—Charles Murray on The Remnant—Malcolm Muggeridge: Something Beautiful for God: The Classic Work on a Skeptic's Conversion Through Mother Teresa's Exemplary Influence—Helen Andrews: “The Great Feminization”The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of Jonah’s G-File newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Jonah Goldberg

Guest: Arthur Brooks

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Dispatch

Books & works: The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, Taking Religion Seriously, Something Beautiful for God: The Classic Work on a Skeptic's Conversion Through Mother Teresa's Exemplary Influence

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