Tarek Arouse
Self-Discovery Through Sound: Tarek Arouse on podcasts, philosophy, and the diversity of the Liberal Arts
By Jacqueline Magno | Social Media Intern
December 15, 2020
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After returning home early from his freshman year of college, Tarek Arouse suddenly faced a hard-hitting existential crisis.
“During the pandemic, I kept asking myself, ‘What is the meaning of all this? Will my hard work amount to anything?’” he admitted with a laugh. “So, I took a deep dive into philosophy. I read The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus, who presents this idea of ‘the absurd’ as a human desire for answers in this world. I mulled over the concept constantly while in quarantine.”
Arouse’s fascination inspired the title of his current podcast, “This is Absurd!” Co-hosted by Arouse and his roommate Arturo Rolón, “This is Absurd!” takes on life’s burning questions through insightful and oftentimes humorous conversation. According to Arouse, quarantine was the perfect opportunity to start recording.
“There wasn’t going to be another time in our lives where we could take up a passion project like this,” he said. “We had so much free time on our hands.”
Since its initial release in May of 2020, "This is Absurd!” has garnered over 2,000 downloads over the span of 57 episodes. Arouse attributes this success to the podcast’s casual and friendly approach.
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“I liked the idea of having a conversation with one of my closest friends in a public and relatable way,” he said. “I feel as though people can listen to our podcast and take part in the conversation, even if they’re not present in the room.”
Arouse has also benefitted from his time behind the microphone. He claims that talking to Rolón and their guests on the show has expanded his worldview tremendously.
“When I talk to Arturo or a guest, I learn a lot about myself in the process. I get to put my ideas out there, pick apart our thoughts. We’ve really created a respectful space for us to agree and disagree with one another.”
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Despite the podcast’s success, Arouse says that he and his co-host initially faced a few technical challenges.
“I have to give our listeners a round of applause for dealing with the terrible audio in the first episode,” he laughed. “There was definitely a learning curve when it came to managing the technical equipment.”
Arouse continues to challenge himself in his academics. He is currently a Liberal Arts Honors student double-majoring in Psychology and History — two subjects he loved well before his first day on The Forty Acres.
“Not to romanticize it, but I took AP Psychology in high school and found it so interesting. I started reading the material and was like, ‘Why hasn’t anyone exposed me to this before?’” he recalled. “History, however, has always been a big hobby of mine. I make constant comparisons between the past and the present, and I always see the value of it.”
While his passions for Psychology and History inform his undergraduate studies, Arouse admits that his career goals lie elsewhere.
“I actually want to go to law school,” he said. “I chose two majors that allow me to study things I like while also going after something else, which is a fantastic thing about the Liberal Arts. There’s just so much flexibility.”
When asked about who inspires him in his academic and professional pursuits, he smiled.
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“My parents, 100%. Both of them are immigrants — my dad from Syria, my mom from Brazil. I always love hearing their story about how they came to America and struggled in their own ways. They gave me and my siblings the opportunity to succeed, to have a better deck of cards than they started out with. I look up to them as a testament to what hard work can achieve.”
Aside from schoolwork and the podcast, Arouse writes for The Texas Orator, a multi-partisan political publication on campus.
“I had my first article published with them a couple weeks ago,” he shared. “I never saw myself as a writer who would publish things, but I’ve enjoyed the process so far. It’s another outlet for me to get my thoughts out into the world.”
Arouse also turns to exercise to maintain balance in his busy life.
“I’m a big running enthusiast,” he said. “During the pandemic, it’s been a therapeutic way to relieve stress, listen to other podcasts, and catch up on news. Austin’s also such a beautiful city; I get the opportunity to explore it on foot in ways I wouldn’t get otherwise.”
As a sophomore Psychology and History major, Arouse advises students in The College of Liberal Arts to embrace the diversity of a Liberal Arts education.
“There’s so many courses to choose from. Within my own major, there’s social psychology, abnormal psychology, psychology of the consciousness. The list goes on and on. Lean into the fact that your education includes a wide range of options — because while some may see that as a stigma of the Liberal Arts, it’s also the best thing about it.”
Arouse’s podcast, “This is Absurd!,” is available for streaming and download on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.