Vantage Point - the podcast for critical thinkers.

What a 1950s public education and a Greek ideal still teach us about holistic learning.

In this episode
A definition and a hard look at the episode's theme, plus 4 of Eli's aphorisms, a "What If?" to ponder.

Eli’s Aphorisms
“Everyone dreams at night. It's when you dream during the day that things happen.”
“To many people, a conclusion is the place where they got tired of thinking.”
“The past we know does not have to be accepted as the designer of the future we don't know.”
“Too many people think they're right for the simple reason that they're surrounded by people who agree with them.”

What If?
The light-beam mirror.

This episode is supported by Vantage Point's Executive Sponsor, Stephen Bozer, SVP of Human Health at Flavine.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. More at eliamdur.com.

Vantage Point - the podcast for critical thinkers.

What critical thinking really is, where it went, and the 10 forms every thinker should know.

In this episode
A definition and a hard look at the episode's theme, plus 3 of Eli's aphorisms, Einstein and Bohr from great minds, a "What If?" to ponder.

Eli’s Aphorisms
“Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.”
“Very few people ever got into trouble by listening too much.”
“You can easily identify the people who don't know what they're talking about. They're usually the ones who insist they do.”

From Great Minds
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Einstein
“No, no, no. You're not thinking. You're just being logical.” — Bohr

What If?
If I rode the first wave of a beam of light holding a mirror, would I be invisible in it?

This episode is supported by Vantage Point's Executive Sponsor, Stephen Bozer, SVP of Human Health at Flavine and Vantage Point's Executive Sponsor.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. More at eliamdur.com.

In this inaugural episode of Vantage Point, host Eli Amdur confronts an issue that quietly shapes every aspect of modern life: the rapid decline of critical thinking.

Drawing on nearly three decades as a career and executive coach, professor, columnist, and advisor to leaders across industries, Eli argues that this erosion is not theoretical—it is observable, measurable, and consequential. From graduate classrooms to boardrooms, he has seen firsthand how fundamental thinking skills have weakened, often without awareness.

This episode introduces Vantage Point’s central mission: to preserve, strengthen, and re-center critical thinking as a practical life skill—not an abstract academic concept. Eli breaks down critical thinking into its essential components, including analytical, logical, evaluative, reflective, creative, strategic, ethical, and skeptical thinking, explaining how these modes work together rather than in isolation.

Listeners are also introduced to recurring segments that will define the podcast:

• Eli’s Aphorisms — short, hard-earned truths about work, leadership, and human behavior
• Great Minds — lessons drawn from history’s most influential thinkers, including Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr
• The “What If?” Question — ideas designed to provoke thought rather than comfort

The episode closes by previewing upcoming discussions on global alliances, hiring for the 21st century, what business school leaves out, and how ancient Greek education shaped thinking in ways modern systems often neglect.

Vantage Point is not political. It is critical.
And its purpose is singular: to help you think better—so you can live, work, and decide more effectively.