Womanhood & International Relations

Author: Natalia Bonilla

Womanhood and International Relations is a weekly podcast created by Natalia Bonilla to explore the intersection of feminist theory from a personal to an international level.
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Language: en

Genres: News, News Commentary

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202. Kurt Warner on How Idol Worship Undermines Democracy
Monday, 1 September, 2025

Are citizens evolving into fans or merely behaving like it? Does the worship of political figures, celebrities, pop culture or sports idols reflecting a deeper cultural shift in how people engage with democracy and its values?How does the creation and following of idols, and the emotional investment they evoke, affecting the mental health of individuals and collectives?Is the fixation on seemingly superficial cultural phenomenons, such as tv programming, famous celebs or child-like items like dolls mirroring back to us how unsafe and restrictive political discourse and freedom of speech have become?What are the economic ideologies running, advertently or not, behind these figures and the media narratives that sustain them?How and why do "the masses" willingly surrender so much of their power, effectively infantilizing themselves in the process?An interview with Kurt Warner, psychotherapist, LCSW, and author of the book “False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy”. Listen to related episodes:91. Dr. Paul Slovic & Dr. Scott Slovic on the Science Behind the Limits of Compassion165. Rachel Winny on the Rise of Disinformation & Conflict Escalation190. Dr. William T. Armaline on The Crisis of Human Rights in the Age of Global Capitalism192. Nicole Steward on Radical Self-Care for ChangemakersRecommended links to this episode:Kurt Warner Books Official WebsiteVictory in Every Fall: The Antaeus Approach to Overcome DisabilitiesFalse Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy