Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager

In this week's Torah teaching, Dennis Prager examines the story of the Ten Plagues in the Book of Exodus and explains what these events were meant to teach the Egyptians, the Israelites, and the world. While the plagues helped secure the Israelites' freedom from slavery, Dennis argues that their deeper purpose was to make clear that God is the Creator, that He rules over nature, and that there is no power greater than Him.

As Dennis explores the Torah's account of the plagues, he discusses the conflict between God and the false gods of Egypt, the relationship...

Should parents stay married for the sake of their children? On this episode of the Happiness Hour, Dennis Prager takes on a sensitive and often misunderstood subject: the effects of divorce on children. Challenging the conventional wisdom that divorce inevitably leads to lasting unhappiness, Dennis argues that the reality is more complicated than many people believe.

Dennis discusses research on children of divorced parents and questions whether these studies adequately account for the circumstances children would have experienced if their parents had stayed together. He emphasizes that while a happy, loving, intact family is the ideal, remaining...

In the wake of the 2026 midterm elections, we're revisiting a lecture Dennis Prager delivered in 2007, exploring the role of religion, faith, and traditional values in American politics.

At the time, the 2008 presidential race was beginning to take shape, and religion had become a major topic in the campaign. Candidates such as Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith drew national attention, and Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, brought questions about personal faith and public leadership to the forefront of the political conversation. Voters and commentators were debating how much a candidate's religious beliefs should matter in choosing a...

What should you talk about on a first date? On this episode of the Male Female Hour, Dennis Prager challenges the conventional approach to dating, arguing that too many people focus on superficial conversation instead of discussing what truly matters when looking for a lasting relationship.

Dennis explains why shared tastes in movies, television, and food may have less to do with long-term compatibility than people think. If you're dating with the hope of finding a spouse, he argues, you should focus on understanding your potential partner's character, values, priorities, and outlook on life. He also emphasizes...

Is there a God, and why does the answer matter so much? On this episode of The Ultimate Issues Hour, Dennis Prager explores what he considers the most important question in life and explains why our answer shapes how we understand meaning, morality, and human existence.

Dennis discusses his new PragerU course, “The Most Important Verse in the Bible,” which focuses on Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” He explains why he believes this verse provides the foundation for life’s meaning and purpose, and why the question of God’s existence deserves a c...

Rediscovered from the archives, this special episode of Timeless Wisdom features Dennis Prager’s original 1987 lecture, “Happiness Is a Serious Problem,” recorded at Chabad of UCLA. Decades before the book of the same name, Dennis explored why happiness can be so difficult to achieve and why so many people struggle to find lasting contentment.

In this thought-provoking lecture, Dennis identifies six obstacles to happiness, including our own nature, the mistake of pursuing happiness directly, confusing fun with fulfillment, expecting life to be free of pain, and a culture that encourages dissatisfaction. He explains why happiness is not simply...

Fireside Chat Ep. 165 — America the Fearful | Fireside Chat originally aired on December 17th, 2020

The pandemic has shown how much America has changed for the worse. Our American ancestors were incredibly courageous people but today, we live in fear—of illness, of our fellow neighbors, of intellectual diversity, of alternative ideas, of climate change, of dying from COVID. The world never stopped before because of a virus. How did Americans become conditioned to be so fearful?

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Why did God send the ten plagues against Egypt? In this Torah teaching, Dennis Prager examines the deeper purpose behind the plagues, explaining why the Exodus was about more than freeing the Israelites from slavery. Through the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, and hail, Dennis explores how God challenged Egypt’s idols, confronted its belief in multiple gods, and demonstrated His sovereignty over nature.

Dennis also examines Pharaoh’s repeated refusal to keep his promises, the distinction between Pharaoh hardening his own heart and God later hardening it, and the ways the plagues reve...

Could the way parents treat their children today shape the adults they become tomorrow? On this episode of the Happiness Hour, Dennis Prager is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Marmer to examine the most common mistakes parents make and how early childhood experiences can influence a person's happiness, confidence, and relationships for years to come.

Dr. Marmer identifies four major parenting mistakes: humiliating children, failing to listen to them, being inconsistent, and allowing too much mindless activity. He explains how seemingly harmless behaviors, such as mocking a child, dismissing their feelings, or responding unpredictably, can undermine their...

What makes our memories so important to who we are? On this episode of Timeless Wisdom, Dennis Prager speaks with author and researcher Sue Halpern about the science of memory, why we forget things, and what researchers are learning about Alzheimer's disease. Halpern, author of Can't Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research, explains how scientists are gaining new insights into the disease and exploring potential treatments that could one day slow its progression.

Dennis also discusses his own lifelong struggle to remember people's names, while Halpern explains the connection...

How much criticism is too much in a marriage? On this episode of the Male Female Hour, Dennis Prager explores the difficult balance between offering helpful advice and constantly criticizing the person you love. He discusses why the way criticism is delivered matters, how to recognize whether it comes from genuine concern or hidden anger, and why a relationship filled with criticism can slowly undermine confidence and affection.

Dennis argues that while loving criticism can help spouses and friends grow, a constant stream of negative comments can damage even the strongest relationships. He encourages listeners to consider...

Why are people in the prime of their lives losing hope? On this episode of the Ultimate Issues Hour, Dennis Prager examines a reported rise in suicide among Americans ages 45 to 54 and explores why people who appear healthy and successful can still struggle to find meaning in life. Through a discussion of a New York Times article and calls from listeners, Dennis considers the pressures of failure, the fear of aging, and the challenge of facing life's inevitable hardships.

Dennis argues that the loss of religious faith and a sense of purpose may be part of the...

Should love be unconditional, or must it be earned? In this Ask Me Anything episode of Timeless Wisdom, Dennis Prager answers listener questions on love, marriage, religion, family, and morality. He challenges the idea that everyone deserves unconditional love, arguing that while every human being has value, love as a personal bond of affection depends in part on how we treat one another. Dennis also explores when divorce may be justified, whether religious marriage vows require spouses to remain together at all costs, and how unhappiness within a marriage can affect the people around us.

The conversation...

Fireside Chat Ep. 173 — Love vs. Blood: The Case for Adoption originally aired on February 11th, 2021

You may have doubts that a parent's love for their adopted child could be every bit as strong as their love for a biological child. Dennis Prager has one of each and is here to tell you there is NO difference: Love is more powerful than blood.

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In this installment of Dennis Prager’s in-depth study of the Torah, Dennis examines Exodus Chapter 7 and the beginning of the ten plagues of Egypt. He explains the three purposes of the plagues: to punish Egypt for its wrongdoing, compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites, and teach both the Egyptians and the Israelites fundamental truths about God. At the heart of his discussion is the Torah’s distinction between the God of monotheism and the nature worship central to ancient Egyptian religion.

Dennis explores how the plagues challenged Egypt’s gods and symbols of power, beginning with the Ni...

Can another person make you happy? On this episode of the Happiness Hour, Dennis Prager explores the relationship between happiness and the people in our lives. He argues that while others can make us unhappy, they cannot make us happy. True happiness begins with us. However, when we are already happy, the people around us can add to that happiness. Dennis explains why we cannot depend on a spouse, friend, or family member to make us happy, and why entering a marriage in the hope that it will solve our unhappiness is a mistake.

Through conversations with...

Mark Gonsalves spent 1,967 days held hostage in the Colombian jungle after the plane he was traveling in crashed during a counter-narcotics mission. In this interview with Dennis Prager, Gonsalves recounts his capture by FARC guerrillas, the brutal conditions of captivity, and how the group used American hostages as political leverage. He describes the violence and intimidation he witnessed, the ideology used to recruit young guerrillas, and the uncertainty of living for years at the mercy of his captors.

Gonsalves also shares how he turned to God as the plane was going down and how faith and hope...

What do men do that drives women crazy? In this edition of the Male Female Hour, Dennis Prager turns the tables and asks women to explain the behaviors that frustrate them most about men, particularly when dating or navigating relationships. Dennis argues that understanding male sexual nature is important, but it does not give men a free pass to say or do whatever they want.

Dennis takes calls from women who describe the difference between normal male attraction and behavior that crosses the line. They discuss men who stare rather than make eye contact, openly ogle other...

What is the moral worth of the unborn? In this edition of the Ultimate Issues Hour, Dennis Prager tackles one of the most passionately debated issues in America, arguing that before we debate the legality of abortion, we must first confront a more fundamental question: Does the unborn have intrinsic value? Dennis explains how the language surrounding abortion can shape our moral understanding, particularly the difference between calling the unborn a “baby” when a pregnancy is wanted and a “fetus” when it is not.

Dennis revisits his own journey toward reexamining abortion, including a conversation with Christian leader J...

Is obeying God always the right thing to do? Dennis Prager takes on one of the Bible’s most difficult stories, Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, and explains what he believes the story is really teaching about obedience, faith, and the value of human life. Dennis argues that God’s commands exist within a hierarchy of values, meaning that saving innocent life can take precedence over other moral commands.

Dennis also answers a wide range of listener questions, including whether he procrastinates, whether a person should tell a woman that her husband appears to be on a dati...

Fireside Chat Ep. 194 — Do You Want to Understand the Middle East? originally aired on July 8th, 2021

How do you make sense of the Israel-Palestinian conflict? This week’s guest, Bassem Eid, is a pro-Israel Palestinian who writes for several Israeli publications—an extremely brave and risky thing to do. Watch this fascinating conversation between two men who value truth over everything.

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In Exodus 6, Dennis Prager examines what happens after Moses angrily confronts God over the suffering of the Israelites. God does not rebuke Moses for questioning Him. Instead, He tells Moses that he will now see what He will do. Dennis uses this powerful passage to explore the difference between believing that God exists and actually trusting God, especially when suffering raises difficult questions about God and His justice.

Dennis then examines the difference between the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the faith required of the Israelites in Egypt. The patriarchs had a deep, personal faith...

Should you trust people even though human nature is not always good? Dennis Prager explores the difficult balance between having a sober view of human nature and remaining open to the people around you. Dennis argues that believing everyone is basically good can leave you naive and vulnerable to disappointment, but becoming so guarded that you trust no one can leave you isolated and unhappy.

Dennis takes calls from listeners who share their experiences with trust, including a law enforcement officer who describes the importance of being friendly and courteous while remaining prepared for danger. Dennis also...

What kind of America did the Founding Fathers envision? Dennis Prager explores the bitter rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton with historian John Ferling, author of Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged a Nation. Though both played crucial roles in the founding of the United States, they had radically different visions for the country’s future.

Dennis and Professor Ferling examine Hamilton’s enormous influence on the new nation, from his role in the Revolutionary War and the Federalist Papers to his work as George Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury, where he helped address the co...

What happens when men stop looking at women? Dennis Prager takes on a controversial question about male attraction and asks whether women really want men to stop noticing them “that way.” Dennis argues that attraction between men and women is natural and, when expressed respectfully, can be a healthy part of human relationships. At the same time, he draws an important distinction between noticing a woman’s attractiveness and staring, leering, or behaving in a way that makes her uncomfortable.

Dennis takes calls from men and women with very different perspectives. Some women say they enjoy being notice...

When should you seek to be loved—and when can the desire to be loved actually get in the way of doing what is right? Dennis Prager explores the different kinds of relationships in our lives and argues that there is an important distinction between horizontal relationships, such as friendships and marriage, and vertical relationships, such as parent and child, teacher and student, clergy and congregation, and leaders and those they lead.

Dennis explains why seeking love can be healthy and appropriate between equals, but can become destructive when it becomes the primary goal of a parent, te...

Dennis Prager is back—and answering your questions. In this special new edition of Ask Me Anything, Dennis personally responds to listener questions about faith, politics, relationships, happiness, morality, and his own life. After being away from the air since his injury in November 2024, Dennis returns to the microphone to reconnect with listeners and share his thoughts on the questions they’ve been waiting to ask.

If you'd like to ask a question, call and leave us a voicemail: 877-243-7776

Dennis discusses what has given him the strength to keep going after his injury, whet...

Fireside Chat Ep. 197 — Life, Legacy, and a Dangerous Mission in the Soviet Union originally aired on July 29th, 2021

A touching moment: Dennis receives birthday messages from PragerFORCE and it triggers a reflection on his life and career. What’s his most important message? Why does he receive so much hatred and how does he deal with it? He has led a unique life, including a smuggling operation in the Soviet Union—and experiencing that true totalitarianism taught some key life lessons.

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In this edition of Weekend Torah Teaching, Dennis Prager continues his study of Exodus 5, examining what happens when Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh—and why their first attempt does not go as planned. Dennis explores the significance of the elders’ absence, Moses’ failure to follow God’s instructions precisely, and Pharaoh’s decision to make the Israelites’ already difficult work even harder.

The discussion then turns to one of the Torah’s most striking moments: Moses’ anger toward God. After seeing the suffering of the Israelites worsen, Moses directly confronts God and asks why He has brought evil upon His pe...

What if the secret to happiness is expecting life to go wrong? Dennis Prager argues that happiness doesn’t come from avoiding life’s problems—it comes from understanding that problems are inevitable. Life is an obstacle course, filled with potholes, red lights, disappointments, and unexpected setbacks. The key is learning how to navigate them without letting every setback destroy your happiness.

Dennis explains why expecting life to be difficult can actually make you happier, why we shouldn’t take the good days for granted, and why the absence of problems is itself something to appreciate. He also dis...

We revisit four memorable conversations between Dennis Prager and Julie Hartman, spanning more than two years and tracing the beginnings of a remarkable friendship and partnership. From Julie’s time as a student at Harvard to her emergence as the “Harvard Heretic,” these conversations capture her intellectual journey, her thoughts on the challenges facing her generation, and the early days of the relationship that would become “Dennis & Julie.”

• May 26, 2021 — Dennis talks with Julie Hartman, then a Harvard student, about her intellectual transformation after discovering Dennis’ books and PragerU. Julie explains why she was hesitant to appear on Dennis’s show, t...

What makes you feel truly loved by your spouse? Dennis Prager explores a deceptively simple question: What is the one or two things your husband or wife could do that would most assure you of their love?

Dennis explains why people often express love in the ways that come naturally to them rather than in the ways their spouse actually understands as love. He takes calls from husbands and wives who reveal what makes them feel valued—from affection and words of affirmation to quality time, acts of service, and, for some men, sex.

Dennis al...

What happened to wisdom? Dennis Prager examines how the Baby Boomer generation challenged the traditions, institutions, and inherited wisdom of previous generations—and how that rejection helped shape the world we live in today.

Dennis explores the ideas that emerged from the cultural revolution, from “Don’t trust anyone over 30” to the rejection of religion, traditional morality, and long-established ideas about human nature. What happens when each generation assumes it knows better than the generations that came before it?

Dennis argues that the problem isn’t a lack of intelligence, but a loss of wisdom—and asks whe...

Dennis Prager answers questions on everything from God, suffering, and faith to feminism, relationships, and the changing culture. He discusses what it means to remain connected to God when life is painful, whether adopted children should seek out their birth parents, and how family, love, and values shape our lives.

And because this is an AMA, no question is too serious—or too silly. Dennis talks about political correctness, blindness and perception, Christianity and Catholicism, and even reveals his favorite vegetables and funniest movies. It’s a wide-ranging hour filled with serious questions, unexpected debates, and plenty of D...

Fireside Chat Ep. 200 — Good Things to Celebrate with PragerU CEO Marissa Streit originally aired on August 19th, 2021

PragerU’s marvelous CEO Marissa Streit joins Dennis for this special 200th Fireside Chat! They discuss our fans, our haters, and reminisce on the early days of PragerU (including the time we had to start over from scratch). Thank you for making this weekly visit with Dennis part of your life! We hope it contributes something special.

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Did God take away Pharaoh’s free will? Dennis Prager explores one of the most challenging passages in Exodus, where God says He will harden Pharaoh’s heart. Does this mean Pharaoh was no longer free to choose, or is there another way to understand the text?

Dennis also examines the mysterious encounter between God and Moses, the significance of circumcision in Jewish identity, and why God refers to Israel as His “firstborn.” Through these difficult passages, he considers the relationship between divine purpose, human freedom, and the meaning of faith.

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Are you easily offended? Dennis Prager explores how taking things personally can rob us of happiness, damage relationships, and give other people control over our emotions. While genuine mistreatment should not be ignored, Dennis argues that we must learn to distinguish between real insults and perceived slights.

Through listener calls, personal examples, and insights from his book Happiness Is a Serious Problem, Dennis examines why some people are constantly offended and how we can develop the strength to respond differently. The key to greater happiness may be learning that, even when we cannot control what happens to...

In this special edition of Timeless Wisdom, Dennis Prager speaks with physicist and author Dr. Gerald Schroeder about the relationship between science, faith, and the existence of God. Schroeder was one of the thinkers cited by renowned atheist philosopher Antony Flew as influencing his decision to believe in God.

In this extended conversation, Dennis and Dr. Schroeder explore the staggering complexity of life, the origins of the universe, evolution, consciousness, and whether the discoveries of modern science point toward an intelligent Creator. They also examine difficult questions about suffering, natural disasters, free will, and whether belief in...

In this revealing Male-Female Hour, Dennis Prager examines the differences between male and female sexuality and explains why honest communication about sexual desires can be essential to a strong marriage.

Dennis discusses why many men are afraid to share their sexual nature with their wives, how misunderstandings can create unnecessary tension, and the difference between accepting someone’s nature and approving every behavior. He also explores the importance of monogamy, openness, and understanding the person you are considering marrying.

Through candid listener calls, Dennis hears from couples whose marriages have been affected by these issues, in...

How should we regard animals, and what moral obligations do we have toward them? In this Ultimate Issues Hour, Dennis Prager explores the proper relationship between human beings and animals, examining animal rights, cruelty, hunting, farming, eating meat, and the distinction between human and animal life.

Dennis argues that animals should be treated humanely and never subjected to unnecessary suffering, while maintaining that animal life is not equivalent to human life. He discusses biblical teachings concerning the treatment of animals, the purpose of animal sacrifice, bullfighting, factory farming, and the importance of recognizing the seriousness involved in...