Scott Levin: The Illusion of Control, Surviving 9/11, and the True Purpose of College

Scott Levin is a tenured college professor, a lifelong friend of Brett’s, and someone who has learned to find profound comfort in life's unavoidable chaos.

In this conversation, Brett and Scott trace the full arc: growing up in Ohio, the sudden loss of his father at 13, discovering Dostoevsky to escape the trap of 1980s materialism, moving to New York City just two weeks before 9/11, and the decades of teaching that helped him understand the ultimate "in-between" stage of young adulthood.

They discuss the concept of "negative capability," why the materialism portrayed in novels like American Psycho leaves us feeling dead inside, and the true role of higher education today. Scott explains why his primary goal in the classroom is teaching young adults how to think for themselves, rather than pushing an agenda.

This is a raw, 40-year friendship on display. Whether you are navigating change or searching for deeper meaning beyond the material world, this conversation is a powerful reminder that we are never truly stuck.

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