In this episode of Let’s Talk About the Deep Stuff, Sean Kneese examines the forces that fuel division, dehumanization, and authoritarianism—past and present. He explores how fear, prejudice, and propaganda pit people against one another, and why recognizing shared humanity matters more than ever. Sean also reflects on today’s challenges, from political tensions in the U.S. after Charlie Kirk’s assassination to the destruction of Gaza and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. With personal insight and moral clarity...
In this episode of Let’s Talk About the Deep Stuff, Sean Kneese examines the forces that fuel division, dehumanization, and authoritarianism—past and present. He explores how fear, prejudice, and propaganda pit people against one another, and why recognizing shared humanity matters more than ever. Sean also reflects on today’s challenges, from political tensions in the U.S. after Charlie Kirk’s assassination to the destruction of Gaza and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. With personal insight and moral clarity, this episode invites listeners to question narratives, confront injustice, and think critically about the choices shaping our world. Books referenced: https://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-World-Revisited/dp/0060776099
https://www.amazon.com/How-Fascism-Works-Politics-Them/dp/0525511830
https://www.amazon.com/Orientalism-Edward-Said-audiobook/dp/B004HOD1Y2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1X1G6KKEQK06A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7JDBK9YxjOb1kp_qndiL3XhoqEE4U18ofmfbI3Qp7Xf3n5gtTFinnc9tVmgkt_4yxfUrL7ejvZG5_x3BuCnTn9e97bd_OmCPj48v7Rx4OtpniaDKGwk12AKla_JDaCc4mUrvxGJbtMjshbogs3iEM8JorDhMkSC3NHcvodMbdxK4CXiUj6fcB-T-AQYwud59sMUmr2cIbQXWkeneTm6h9dK98aYahnCBnRqdGcg-_zI.WvFkuCwVsv6QCL1mSi9zcsgXlvgnTxaJUUma10jeUZE&dib_tag=se&keywords=orientalism&qid=1757996747&s=books&sprefix=orientalism%2Cstripbooks%2C100&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Years-War-Palestine-Colonialism/dp/B083Z3YW4S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EPANHMMR1BZU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-2saM3bIOJB0-8gcmppnww.yMi029to-pI4FaE2zAu-Db1evKChxgV-m37HRvexExk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+hundred+year+war+on+palestine&qid=1757996775&s=audible&sprefix=the+hundred+year+war+on+palestine%2Caudible%2C94&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Being-Jewish-After-Destruction-Gaza/dp/B0DD4M928M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IGVO13KMRCRO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X3ewAAD1G5W3-QiRH5dLJA.FQIQEJzz5laqBAKLx1mkm0OMEyR5c0dMSbPzKSvvLNY&dib_tag=se&keywords=being+jewish+after+gaza&qid=1757996802&s=audible&sprefix=being+jewish+after+gaza%2Caudible%2C88&sr=1-1
Sources to things mentioned:
https://www.vox.com/culture/461239/trump-smithsonian-art-kennedy-center-cia-cold-war
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/charlotte-nursing-student-arrested-ice-150806944.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-the-aftermath-of-charlie-kirks-assassination
https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/erdogan-blasts-biden-silent-on-putin-after-both-recognize-armenian-genocide/
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/stephen-miller-hatemonger-biography/
https://www.newsweek.com/groyper-charlie-kirk-shooting-nick-fuentes-2129114
https://www.aclu-wi.org/news/scotus-just-gave-ice-a-green-light-to-profile-latinos-we-should-all-be-outraged/
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-says-immigrants-are-poisoning-blood-country-biden-campaign-liken-rcna130141
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/stephen-miller-deportation-high-school-classmate-b2768997.html
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/13/business/charlie-kirk-death-fired-comments
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/09/15/Dangerous-Targeting-Canadian-Journalist/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/16/the-language-being-used-to-describe-palestinians-is-genocidal
https://www.un.org/unispal/about-the-nakba/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-says-returning-hostages-not-the-most-important-thing-sparking-fierce-backlash/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/investigation-finds-israeli-forces-shot-95-gaza-children-in-head-or-chest-in-over-160-examined-cases/3649091
https://churchleaders.com/news/855020-church-at-the-crossroads-stand-against-gaza-war-rns.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/
https://www.972mag.com/mass-assassination-factory-israel-calculated-bombing-gaza/
My friend Malak Mattar, incredible Palestinian artist who I mentioned: https://www.wallpaper.com/art/together-for-palestine-artist-malak-mattar-interview
Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish: https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/arts24/20250423-i-shall-not-hate-a-palestinian-doctor-s-call-for-peace
The intro music is "Daybreaker" by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
Check out more of his music here: https://karlcasey.bandcamp.com/
Or listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4oGlqi5TaK8r8K50fQhUbe?si=drdN0wQNQ7aVXEm3Nx3xhA
IG for Podcast: @letstalkaboutthedeepstuff
Donate to the show:
Venmo: @Sean-kneese Paypal:
Skneese1989@gmail.com
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