August 2018 Q & A

In the 'August 2018 Q & A' episode of 'The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,' Jordan Peterson begins by expressing gratitude towards his audience for participating in the Q&A session and acknowledges the popularity of these events. He provides updates on his self-development programs, selfauthoring.com and understandmyself.com, offering discounts to listeners. These programs are designed to help individuals write about their past, present, and future, as well as understand their personalities through the Big Five traits model. Peterson highlights the effectiveness of these programs, particularly for university students struggling with academic performance.

Peterson then updates listeners on his touring activities, having completed a significant number of city tours with his wife, Tammy. He outlines the future tour schedule, which includes visits to the eastern United States, the UK, Northern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of Europe. He reflects on the positive and meaningful experiences he's had during these talks, contrasting them with the stress of dealing with journalists.

He shares personal updates about his health, noting improvements and ongoing sharpness in cognitive function. He also mentions writing the introduction for the 50th anniversary edition of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's 'The Gulag Archipelago,' which he found to be a daunting yet fulfilling task. Peterson touches upon his work on an online university project, which is progressing ahead of schedule thanks to his Patreon supporters.

The episode transitions into a Q&A format, where Peterson addresses a variety of questions from his audience. Topics range from assertiveness training for agreeable individuals, distinguishing between genuine interaction and superficiality, wisdom acquired in recent months, and the process of hoarding. He also discusses his approach to dressing well, the influence of astrological elements in religious narratives, and the balance between masculinity and femininity in his work.

Peterson provides insights into his speaking style, emphasizing the importance of speaking truthfully and exploring ideas in real-time with the audience. He critiques the media's focus on political narratives and expresses a preference for engaging with his audience directly through lectures and discussions. The episode concludes with Peterson responding to questions about the nature of truth and its potential to unravel lives, advocating for facing the truth courageously despite the risks involved.