Book | "In Search of Achilles" | A Conversation about Humanity, Society, Technology, and Moral Values with Author Marco Van Den Berg Scholten | Audio Signals Podcast With Marco Ciappelli

Guest: Marco Van Den Berg Scholten, Author

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-van-den-berg-scholten-679220261/

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Host: Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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This Episode’s Sponsors

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Episode Introduction

Navigating the New World Through Stories: In an engaging episode of the Audio Signal Podcast, host Marco Ciappelli welcomes a unique guest who shares his first name and a deep passion for storytelling and technology. Marco Van Den Berg Scholten, a basketball coach and author, joins the conversation from the Netherlands to discuss his insights on technology's role in our lives, his latest book, In Search of Achilles, and the value of preserving human stories.

The Intersection of Two Marcos: Marco Ciappelli introduces Marco Van Den Berg Scholten, highlighting their first encounter and the shared fascination with storytelling. Although Van Den Berg Scholten is Dutch, the two share the same first name, which serves as a bridge in their dialogue about technology and its impact on society.

A Journey Through Time: Van Den Berg Scholten takes listeners on a journey through his life, beginning with his upbringing as a member of Generation X. His narrative is filled with twists and turns, from his love for basketball and its untimely interruption due to an injury, to his eventual role as a coach in the Netherlands' top league. Scholten outlines the process that led him to put his long-thought-of novel to paper, detailing the discipline required to balance writing and coaching.

The Struggle for Moral Foundations: Central to the discussion is a shared concern over what Van Den Berg Scholten describes as humanity's increasingly tenuous grasp on moral values in the face of rapid technological advancement. Both Marcos explore the conflicts between old-world values and the capitalist-driven landscape that emerged post-Berlin Wall. Scholten likens the modern dilemma to the philosophical struggles depicted by Nietzsche and Heidegger, reiterating the essential need for a solid moral foundation amid changing times and technologies.

Balancing Tradition with Change: The conversation transitions to how humanity can balance the undeniable benefits of technology with the risk of losing connection to deeper, time-tested values. Van Den Berg Scholten emphasizes the role of storytelling in ensuring that these moral values are passed on to future generations. He asserts that while technology like social media can unite us, it also has the potential to exploit and distort reality, especially among younger populations.

Stories as a Medium of Connection: Ciappelli and Van Den Berg Scholten both agree on the enduring power of narrative to bind communities and convey essential truths. Ciappelli shares his own experiences of writing magical and morally-inclined stories for children with his mother, reflecting a shared conviction in the importance of instilling values through storytelling.

Looking Ahead: Wrapping up the podcast, they touch upon the future of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on storytelling and human behavior. Both emphasize the need for combining technology with a moral compass to navigate these advancements responsibly. The episode concludes on a hopeful note, with Van Den Berg Scholten revealing that he is already working on his second book, focusing on the theme of freedom.

Conclusion: This episode of the Audio Signal Podcast brings forth a compelling dialogue on the blend of technology and humanity, led by two individuals deeply invested in storytelling and moral integrity. Marco Van Den Berg Scholten's journey from coach to author serves as an inspiring testament to the power of stories in navigating our ever-evolving world. Listeners are encouraged to read his book, In Search of Achilles, and reflect on the profound insights shared during this episode.

About the Book

Summer 1990. The Berlin Wall has fallen. In Europe, society is about to spiral upward toward more prosperity and freedom for all. The free market provides the lone blueprint for a life of purpose. But does it? As the sun of plenty shines brighter, the shadows grow darker. And while his professors teach postmodernist dogmas, Johan van Geesteren, a young aristocrat on the threshold of society, is searching for meaning. Where have all the virtues gone? Where are the good people?

When his friends embark on a dangerous hedonic roller coaster, Johan is forced into their stream of destruction and needs all the discipline from his upbringing to remain standing. Will he be able to hold on to his ideals? Is there any truth left out there? Or is the enlightenment project of the Occident, like a modern-day Rome, about to burn to ashes?

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Resources

In Search of Achilles (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Search-Achilles-Marco-Berg-Scholten/dp/B0CD18N3PN

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For more podcast stories from Audio Signals: https://www.itspmagazine.com/audio-signals

Watch the video version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllQvnJ8eHUlVX8AuyhehtexA

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