Is Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House the feminist landmark it’s often portrayed to be? Or is it a critique of radical individualism and the undermining of traditional societal roles? The Post Millennial’s Libby Emmons joins Michael Knowles to discuss this groundbreaking 19th-century play and explore its insights into our intrinsic selfish nature and te…

Once required reading for high school students, To Kill a Mockingbird now comes with trigger warnings. The book, which confronts and calls out the evils of racism, is considered by some to be too offensive for our modern-day woke sensibilities. Why? Set in 1930s Alabama, a young girl watches her attorney father defend a black man falsely accused of…

World premiere 2024 full-cast audio drama production of Ayn Rand's classic novel.An epic comic drama set in New York City in the 20's & 30's, The Fountainhead depicts the effects of Collectivism both on an individual young architect who aspires to greatness--and on those who seek to thwart him.By Joseph Conrad, Ayn Rand & More

Michael Knowles is joined by Pastor Rob McCoy to discuss the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most beloved and frequently cited passages in the gospels of the New Testament. Together, Michael and Pastor McCoy explore the various interpretations of the text and reflect on the lessons that Jesus’s sermon teaches us about living a virtuous Christian li…

Is the purpose of life happiness, and if so, how can we achieve it? Written nearly 2,500 years ago, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is as relevant today as it's ever been. Michael Knowles is joined by Professor Charles Kessler to discuss this seminal work exploring the age-old question of how to live a happy and meaningful life. As it turns out, Ari…

What if your sins were on display for all the world to see? Michael Knowles is joined by Julie Hartman to discuss The Scarlet Letter, which tells the story of a young woman who is shunned by her community after bearing an illegitimate child. What can we learn from this American classic about society’s response to immorality, the complexities of lov…

How do you stay true to yourself in a world that demands conformity? Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead—centered around a talented architect who refuses to compromise his principles or conform to the expectations of others—examines whether we should uphold the “common good” if it means sacrificing our own self-interest. Michael Knowles is joined by former…

In the heart of the 80's Bay Area, where metal music thrived, one band emerged as an icon of the 80s thrash scene – Death Angel. Recently, I had the privilege to sit down with the legendary guitarist, Ted Aguilar. Together, we journeyed through time, delving into the band's captivating tales of tours, encounters with the Big Four, technology's impa…

Elegant Weapons is the brainchild of Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner. The quartet released their debut album ‘Horns for a Halo’ on May 26th via Nuclear Blast Records.Elegant Weapons are Richie Faulkner, Christopher Williams, Ronnie Romero and Dave Rimmer. I caught up with Richie from his home in Nashville, to talk about the new album, playin…

If you lost every good thing in your life, would you still praise God? The Book of Job from the Old Testament is considered one of the great masterpieces of early literature. Michael Knowles is joined by Owen Anderson, Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Arizona State University, to examine one of the Bible's most profound stories, which explor…

In a heartfelt interview, Jamie Adler opens up about his own life, the undeniable power of rock 'n' roll, and his unwavering dedication to saving his brother Steven Adler from the clutches of drugs, reuniting him with Guns N' Roses, and tirelessly working to rebuild his career. ___________________________________________________________________LIST…

Tom Geldschlager, also known as Fountainhead, is a German guitarist and music producer. He began his musical journey at a young age, learning to play guitar and studying music theory. He developed a unique style influenced by various genres, including metal, fusion, jazz, and classical music. Throughout his career, Geldschlager has collaborated wit…

How do you know if you’re trapped in a false reality? Can you see the truth or are you simply looking at shadows on the wall? Solveig Gold joins Michael Knowles to discuss Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” from his renowned work, “The Republic.” This symbolic story about human perception and the pursuit of truth reminds us not to trust our senses alon…

What makes The Canterbury Tales the most popular work of English literature ever? Penned by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, this medieval collection of stories depicts a diverse group of characters and covers topics ranging from chivalry and deceit to religious corruption. Michael Knowles sits with Catherine Illingworth to discuss what he des…

Life is “nasty, brutish, and short.” That’s why we need a social contract—an exchange of freedom for security to avoid a dog-eat-dog state of nature. At least, that’s what Thomas Hobbes posited in Leviathan. Michael Knowles and guest John Yoo, Professor of Law at UC Berkeley, discuss how Hobbes’s seminal work has shaped political philosophy for cen…

What can we learn from ancient Greek poetry? A foundational text of Western Civilization—The Iliad by Homer—is one of the oldest pieces of literature still read by modern audiences. Why? Because we recognize ourselves in its timeless themes of war, love, fate, and free will. Ivy League classicist Joshua Katz joins Michael Knowles to discuss this 2,…

Christians have been mocked, humiliated, and persecuted for their faith for hundreds of years. The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by Puritan preacher John Bunyan while he was in prison for holding religious services, is an encouraging reminder that difficulties and hardships are part and parcel with a life of faith. Allie Stuckey joins Michael Knowles…

Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud—the father of psychoanalysis—explores the perpetual struggle between self and society. Clinical psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at UCLA Dr. Stephen Marmer joins Michael Knowles for a deep dive into Freud’s anti-utopian work that calls for individuals to take responsibility for themselves. D…

Could anyone have predicted the future of America 200 years ago? Alexis de Tocqueville foresaw a society fraught with materialism and “soft despotism" in his classic study of self-governance, freedom, and equality, Democracy in America. Pete Peterson, Dean of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and Michael Knowles discuss what we can learn from…

What happens if you follow your heart, pursuing love and happiness above all else, devoid of duty or virtue? Nothing good according to Leo Tolstoy, author of Anna Karenina. Inez Stepman, senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Forum, joins Michael Knowles for a deep dive into this great literary work about fidelity, marriage, and betrayal. Lea…

World premiere 2023 full-cast audio drama production of Ayn Rand's classic novel.A semi-autobiographical epic drama w/comedy set in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, WE THE LIVING is a cautionary tale depicting the devastating effects of Bolshevik Collectivism on two men and the woman they both love.…

The American Revolution led to the birth of a new, free nation, while the French Revolution led to blood and terror. What was the difference and what can we learn from history before it’s rewritten or forgotten entirely? Political theorist and Bible scholar Yoram Hazony joins Michael Knowles for a discussion about Edmund Burke’s treatise “Reflectio…

Kris Barras is a British blues rock guitarist and singer.Kris began playing guitar at the age of 5, under the guidance of his musician father, Paul Barras. He performed his first-ever gig with his Dad’s band at the age of 9. For most of his adult life, Kris used had an unusual side-job alongside his music career. Although now retired, he had a succ…

Something is deeply amiss in contemporary American culture. Young people have lost touch with reality and have become trapped by moral relativism. Is post-modern education to blame? Education expert Max Eden joins Michael Knowles for an eye-opening discussion of Allan Bloom’s unexpected bestseller The Closing of the American Mind. Donate today to h…

In a world without consequences, are humans naturally good or is there darkness within us all? Lauren Chen sits with Michael Knowles to discuss the classic novel Lord of the Flies about a group of British schoolboys who become stranded on a deserted island. Free to behave however they please, the boys reject societal norms and devolve into depravit…

Why should Biblical literacy matter today? What happens to society when people fear public opinion more than God? Joining Michael Knowles in this episode of The Book Club is the author of the best-selling Bible commentary in America, Dennis Prager. They discuss the enduring relevance of the Book of Exodus, history’s most powerful story of slave lib…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Is history repeating itself? Set during the French Revolution, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities offers parallels to American Society today. PragerU’s Allen Estrin joins Michael Knowles on this episode of The Book Club to explore the novel’s stark contrasts of fate vs. free will, tyranny an…

Jack J Hutchinson is a London based blues rock guitarist and songwriter. Described by Classic Rock Magazine as “a real rock contender”, he has toured internationally, sharing stages with acts such as ZZ Top, Bad Company, Kris Barras Band and Blackberry Smoke. His most recent album ‘The Hammer Falls’ was released earlier this year to universal accla…

Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, has created some of the loudest yet melodic guitar riffs in rock history. As lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, he helped shut the door on the synth-heavy sounds of 1980s pop and ushered in a new era of salacious rock that sold millions of albums for the band. His solos on songs such as “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Nov…

A guitar hero for guitar heroes, Joe Satriani had already served as a teacher for some of rock's most impressive axe slingers before accomplishing the rare feat of breaking into the mainstream with instrumental guitar music. His 1987 album Surfing with the Alien turned him into a star, kicking off a series of hit records that included 1989's Flying…

Steve Vai’s contribution to the world of rock music and to the electric guitar is profound. Starting out under the tutelage of Joe Satriani, Steve is a three-time Grammy Award winner,fifteen-time nominee and a legendary performer across the world. He started out as a transcriptionist and guitar player with Frank Zappa in 1978, replaced Yngwie Mlalm…

Former Young Guitarist of The Year and now a full-fledged blues-rock virtuoso,Simon Mcbride grew up in Ireland, influenced by Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore. At the age of 16 he joined Irish Metal Band Sweet Savage and toured and recorded a couple of albums with them. A few years later he joined fellow Irishman Andrew Strong, playing soul, R&B and P…

Robert is a multi-talented producer/songwriter/vocalist/instrumentalist. When it comes to creating music, he does it all and does it very well.Across his 40-year career, this Bay Area legend has impacted the lives of hundreds of musicians. Thanks to his band Hush and the Robert Berry Band he has worked with everyone from Sammy Hagar to Steve Howe t…

“I didn’t know how he would react to what I was doing. So I warned him before he listened. I said, “Look, I changed the middle section of your song.” Now in my mind, he’s either going to have his bodyguards kick me out for butchering his song, or he’s going to like it. And so he gave it a listen, and he turned to me and went, “Wow, thank you so muc…

Dead Romantic are a melodic hard rock band from the UK. I caught up with Mike, Dan and Sam from the band to talk about thier new single and music video Waste of Who I am , the upcoming album, what touring will be like now, how they found music and a whole lot more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------…

Joe Louis Walker is one of the greatest bluesmen of his generation. He is a four-time Blues Music Award winner and 2013 Blues Hall of Fame inductee who has appeared on multiple Grammy-winning albums. He is known worldwide as one of the genre’s top musical trailblazers—a mesmerizing guitarist and soul-testifying vocalist. I caught with with Joe from…

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is one of the most beloved books in literature. In this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles and Madeleine Kearns take you through the pages of the Victorian novel to examine the themes of love versus independence, social class and structure, religion, and gender roles. In our fast-paced world, it’s tough to make …

Alan Parsons is a lengendary producer and engineer. He is also an acclaimed vocalist, keyboardist, bassist and guitarist. His perfection and fingerprint are all over some of the greatest albums of our time from The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let it Be, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and Atom Heart Mother, and Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat, All this…

Ian Haugland is the drummer for Swedish rock band Europe’s . From the time joined the band in 1984 he has played on all their important releases and seminal albums. Outside of Europe, he has contributed to albums by Glenn Hughes, and Candlemass. Ian lives in Stockholm and his desire to be involved in music also sees him as a DJ for Swedish classic …

Mick box is firmly focused on serving the music. His unrelenting passion for music has kept British rock legends Uriah Heep alive across a 52 year career spanning 24 albums and 1000’s of shows across 62 countries. I caught up with Mick to chat about the bands latest offering, 50 Years In Rock, a 23 cd and vinyl boxset that celebrates Uriah Heep’s e…

Unquestionably, John Corabi is one of the most unique and instantly recognizable voices in rock history. John’s unique vocals and songwriting were standout elements in his music and albums with motley crue and the dead daisies. Over the years John has also fronted his own bands w/ The Scream and Union w/ex-Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick and brief stin…

Marty Friedman is one of the most unique, engaging and adventurous musicians to ever pick up an electric guitar. Marty has profoundly influenced musicians over the years from the 80’s when he teamed up with fellow guitarist Jason Becker in Cacaphony to his time in Megadeth in the early 90’s, where he contributed to some of their most most seminal a…

Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford was the drummer and one part of the rhythm section for the legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival. Doug is a creative spirit and after Creedence broke up in the early 70’s Doug put together a whole lot of music, collaborating with various musicians over the years, starting with his first solo album Cosmo in 1972 to his latest …

George Orwell and Aldous Huxley warned of the evils of communism in the pages of 1984 and Brave New World; however, Arthur Koestler’s Darkness at Noon is a lesser-known but impactful novel that describes the horrors of the Stalinist USSR. Michael Knowles and Brad Thompson take you through this powerful literary work. In our fast-paced world, it’s t…

It took me a while to track Roy down. Roy Venkataraman was a name I heard often when I was growing up in India in the 80’ and 90’s. I knew of him as the Indian guitar player for Bob Marley’s legendary band the Wailers. He is widely considered reggae royalty, at least here in India. Roy started his career in Bombay, playing with some of the most pop…

My next guest is Caitlin Koch, best known for her performances as the singing rugby coach on The X Factor USA. I caught up with Caitlin from her home in Nashville to talk about her new single So different now, the second in a heartfelt, gritty weaving story of releases to come during 2021. The song was originally written by her fellow X factor cont…

My nextt guest is Troy Redfern, British slide guitarist and singer songwriter and dubbed by the British press as “The King of Slide Guitar”. We spoke about his new album The Fire Cosmic that comes out August 6th, his new singles Waiting for your love and Ghosts. The new album follows five unprecedented albums that Troy released in 2020. It was reco…

Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, named by readers in 1991 as the most influential book after the Bible, is a novelized warning about the allure and evils of socialism. What happens when the most productive members in society give up? How much can be asked of them before they do? Who is left to support the rest? Michael Knowles and Eric Daniels take you t…

On this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles and Farah Jimenez discuss Race and Culture, Thomas Sowell’s powerful analysis on why culture has a profound impact on the socioeconomic outcomes of different minority groups. Is systemic racism really to blame? In our fast-paced world, it’s tough to make reading a priority. At least it used to be. A…

My next guest is the legendary KK Downing. They say you can’t keep a heavy metal legend down. Although it’s been nearly a decade since guitarist and songwriter K.K. Downing departed Judas Priest, the famous band he co-founded and played with for 40 years, he was never really going to retire. It was only a matter of time before he reclaimed the spot…