Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Philosophy discussions • Analysis of philosophical texts • Cultural and media critique • Interviews with musicians • Exploration of societal issues • Ethical theory exploration • Humor in philosophy • Political and social commentary
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast explores a variety of philosophical themes and ideas, skillfully blending rigorous analysis with a conversational tone. The podcast is hosted by individuals who have shifted from attempting to pursue philosophy professionally to discussing it informally, creating a space where philosophical texts are dissected with equal measures of insight and levity. The show delves into works from diverse philosophical traditions and epochs, often providing a series of episodes on specific texts or ideas, which allows for comprehensive exploration.
Recurring themes involve discussions on ethics and morality, as evidenced by episodes concerning the philosophies of Kant, Hume, and Christine Korsgaard's views on normativity. The podcast often examines the utilitarian and virtue ethics through different philosophical lenses. Episodes also cover socio-political philosophy, engaging with topics like feminism, political structures, liberalism, and critiques of capitalism, with episodes exploring the thoughts of thinkers like Marx and Luce Irigaray.
The podcast extends beyond traditional philosophical discussions, incorporating reflections on culture and the arts. Through its various subsidiaries, such as Nakedly Examined Music and Pretty Much Pop, it also examines intersections of philosophy with music, media, literature, and film, thereby enriching philosophical discourse with cultural critique. Musicians' influences and creative processes are dissected, and pop culture phenomena such as superhero films and iconic blockbusters are scrutinized, reflecting the broader impacts of philosophy on everyday culture and media.
Overall, The Partially Examined Life spans a wide array of subjects, inviting listeners to explore philosophical ideas in contexts ranging from the deeply theoretical to the strikingly familiar. The collaboration and dynamic between hosts create rich, layered discussions accessible to both seasoned philosophy enthusiasts and curious newcomers.
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Episodes:
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Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Two)
2025-Oct-27
48 minutes
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PEL Presents NEM#240: Jonathan Rundman, Multi-Branded
2025-Oct-24
81 minutes
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Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part One)
2025-Oct-20
48 minutes
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PEL Presents PvI#103: Post-COVID Mary and Mark
2025-Oct-17
38 minutes
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Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part Two)
2025-Oct-13
45 minutes
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PEL Presents PMP#207: Spinal Tap and Other Fake Bands
2025-Oct-12
51 minutes
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PEL Presents NEM#239: Adrian Sherwood's Dub Productions
2025-Oct-10
66 minutes
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Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part One)
2025-Oct-06
52 minutes
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PEL Presents PvI#102: Pit of Despair w/ Seth Paskin
2025-Oct-04
47 minutes
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Ep. 376: Plato's "Laws" (Part Two)
2025-Sep-29
52 minutes
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PEL Presents PMP#206: Abbott Elementary w/o Emmys
2025-Sep-28
53 minutes
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PEL Presents NEM#238: Eric Andersen Endures
2025-Sep-26
65 minutes
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Ep. 376: Plato's "Laws" (Part One)
2025-Sep-22
47 minutes
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PREMIUM-PEL Back-to-School Nightcap 2025
2025-Sep-20
10 minutes
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PEL Presents PvI#101: Co-Hostery: Season Five Premiere with Mark and Mary
2025-Sep-18
54 minutes
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Ep. 375: Luce Irigaray's Feminism (Part Two)
2025-Sep-15
56 minutes
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PEL Presents PMP#205: Fantastical Foursome
2025-Sep-14
56 minutes
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Ep. 375: Luce Irigaray's Feminism (Part One)
2025-Sep-08
44 minutes
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PEL Presents PvI#100: Maximizing Turtle Revenue w/ Tim Sniffen and Anthony LeBlanc
2025-Sep-07
50 minutes
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Ep. 374: Discussing Liberalism (Lincoln, et al) with Walter Sterling (Part Two)
2025-Sep-01
48 minutes
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PEL Presents PMP#204: Naked Gun Rapid Firing
2025-Aug-31
50 minutes
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PEL Presents NEM#237: Maia Sharp's Homey Subversion
2025-Aug-28
77 minutes
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Ep. 374: Discussing Liberalism (Lincoln, et al) with Walter Sterling (Part One)
2025-Aug-25
46 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #99: Philosophy of Humor w/ Nessa Voss
2025-Aug-24
53 minutes
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PEL Presents Closereads: Peter Railton's "Moral Realism" (Wrap Up)
2025-Aug-23
58 minutes
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Announcement: Mark's "Foundational Political Philosophy Texts" Fall 2025 Class
2025-Aug-21
4 minutes
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Ep. 373: Michael Walzer on Just Wars (Part Two)
2025-Aug-18
60 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #203: What Superman?
2025-Aug-17
49 minutes
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NEM#236: Tee Templeton's Psychedelic Ending
2025-Aug-16
72 minutes
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Ep. 373: Michael Walzer on Just Wars (Part One)
2025-Aug-11
47 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #98: Ragnarocking
2025-Aug-10
52 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #202: 50-Year-Old Jaws Busts Our Block
2025-Aug-08
53 minutes
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Ep. 372: Kant's Ethics Lectures (Part Two)
2025-Aug-04
47 minutes
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NEM#235: Willie Nile's Poetic Rock Anthems
2025-Jul-31
73 minutes
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Ep. 372: Kant's Ethics Lectures (Part One)
2025-Jul-28
49 minutes
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PEL Presents PvI#97: Peep Dome Pets w/ Merry Mary Hynes
2025-Jul-27
60 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #201: John Wick Minus Wick
2025-Jul-22
52 minutes
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Ep. 371: Christine Korsgaard on Normativity (Part Two)
2025-Jul-21
55 minutes
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NEM#234: John Kruth the Multi-Hyphenate
2025-Jul-18
92 minutes
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Ep. 371: Christine Korsgaard on Normativity (Part One)
2025-Jul-14
47 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #96: We Allege Humor w/ Mark Schiff & Daniel Lobell
2025-Jul-14
52 minutes
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Ep. 370: Christine Korsgaard on the History of Ethics (Part Two)
2025-Jul-07
49 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #200: Hollywood Studio Antics (feat. The Studio and Erica Spyres)
2025-Jul-06
57 minutes
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Ep. 370: Christine Korsgaard on the History of Ethics (Part One)
2025-Jun-30
48 minutes
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NEM#233: Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) Is Not Taking This for Granted
2025-Jun-29
73 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #95: The Techucational Edge w/ Khafiz and Nicholas from Invasive Thoughts
2025-Jun-26
63 minutes
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Ep. 369: Philippa Foot's Naturalistic Ethics (Part Two)
2025-Jun-23
47 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #199: Missioning Impossibly
2025-Jun-22
57 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #94: Storifying Philosophy w/ Kolby Granville
2025-Jun-19
61 minutes
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Ep. 369: Philippa Foot's Naturalistic Ethics (Part One)
2025-Jun-16
47 minutes
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NEM#232: Chris Church Refines Power Pop
2025-Jun-15
77 minutes
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Ep. 368: Hume on Reason in Ethics (Part Two)
2025-Jun-09
49 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #198: Andor: Grown-Up Star Wars
2025-Jun-07
50 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #93: Poetry Stands its Ground w/ Shannon Bass and Audrey Kohler
2025-Jun-04
47 minutes
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Ep. 368: Hume on Reason in Ethics (Part One)
2025-Jun-02
44 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #197: Medically Dramatic
2025-May-29
54 minutes
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Ep. 367: Hume on the Foundations of Ethics (Part Two)
2025-May-26
46 minutes
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NEM#231: Bill Champlin (ex-Chicago) Sings of Love Just to Find It
2025-May-24
75 minutes
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Ep. 367: Hume on the Foundations of Ethics (Part One)
2025-May-19
49 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #196: Our "Sinners" Shindig
2025-May-16
49 minutes
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Ep. 366: Edith Stein on Empathy (Part Two)
2025-May-12
50 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #92: Postale au Naturale w/ Greg McBrayer
2025-May-11
62 minutes
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PREMIUM-PEL Sentimentalism Nightcap 2025
2025-May-09
10 minutes
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Ep. 366: Edith Stein on Empathy (Part One)
2025-May-05
44 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #195: Mike White's Lotus
2025-May-02
50 minutes
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Ep. 365: Scheler on Love (Part Two)
2025-Apr-28
52 minutes
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NEM#230: Dean Wareham (Luna, Galaxie 500) Waxes Poetic
2025-Apr-25
64 minutes
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Ep. 365: Scheler on Love (Part One)
2025-Apr-21
46 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #194: Adolescence Wrecks Us
2025-Apr-18
52 minutes
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Ep. 364: Max Scheler on Sympathy (Part Three)
2025-Apr-14
50 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #91: Community Breakdown (or Breakdance?) w/ Nick Armstrong
2025-Apr-13
61 minutes
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Ep. 364: Max Scheler on Sympathy (Part Two)
2025-Apr-07
52 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #193: Severance: Mystery Box in Progress
2025-Apr-03
55 minutes
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Ep. 364: Max Scheler on Sympathy (Part One)
2025-Mar-31
46 minutes
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NEM#229: Peter Holsapple (dB's, Continental Drifters) Pays Tribute to His Adolescence
2025-Mar-30
78 minutes
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PEL Presents Closereads: Husserl on Perceiving Minds
2025-Mar-28
62 minutes
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Ep. 363: Franz Brentano's Moral Epistemology (Part Two)
2025-Mar-24
49 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #90: Empty Street
2025-Mar-22
48 minutes
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Ep. 363: Franz Brentano's Moral Epistemology (Part One)
2025-Mar-17
48 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #192: Exhibitionist Reality TV
2025-Mar-16
60 minutes
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Ep. 362: Ecclesiastes: Biblical Existentialism? (Part Two)
2025-Mar-10
51 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #191: Saturday Night Liver
2025-Mar-09
56 minutes
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Ep. 362: Ecclesiastes: Biblical Existentialism? (Part One)
2025-Mar-03
44 minutes
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NEM#228: John "JR" Robinson: Omnipresent Drummer
2025-Mar-02
72 minutes
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Ep. 361: Marx on Machines (Part Two)
2025-Feb-24
56 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #190: The Substance: Act Your Age!
2025-Feb-20
55 minutes
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Ep. 361: Marx on Machines (Part One)
2025-Feb-17
48 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #89: Improv 4 Change w/ Shawn and Aaron from srsly wrong
2025-Feb-15
53 minutes
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Ep. 360: Karl Marx on Economic Value (Part Two)
2025-Feb-10
51 minutes
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NEM#227: Django Haskins (The Old Ceremony): Pop Noir
2025-Feb-08
63 minutes
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Ep. 360: Karl Marx on Economic Value (Part One)
2025-Feb-03
48 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #189: Bob Dylan As We Know Him
2025-Feb-02
53 minutes
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PEL Presents Closereads: Marx on Stirner (Part One)
2025-Feb-01
60 minutes
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Ep. 359: Karl Marx's Project (Part Two)
2025-Jan-27
52 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #88: The Dark Side of Improv w/ Randy Fertel
2025-Jan-25
67 minutes
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Ep. 359: Karl Marx's Project (Part One)
2025-Jan-20
49 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #188: Vampire Appreciation
2025-Jan-18
54 minutes
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Ep. 358: Max Stirner's Egoism (Part Two)
2025-Jan-13
41 minutes
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Ep. 358: Max Stirner's Egoism (Part One)
2025-Jan-06
48 minutes
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NEM#226: The Evolution of Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention, Southern Comfort, Plainsong)
2025-Jan-05
78 minutes
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Announcement: Mark's "Core Texts in Philosophy" Fall 2025 Class
2025-Jan-01
4 minutes
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PEL '24-'25 Transition Nightcap
2024-Dec-30
68 minutes
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Ep. 357: Feuerbach on the Evolution of Philosophy (Part Two)
2024-Dec-23
50 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #187: Taking Down Santa Claus
2024-Dec-22
54 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #87: Mystic Toaster with Simon Critchley
2024-Dec-21
59 minutes
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Ep. 357: Feuerbach on the Evolution of Philosophy (Part One)
2024-Dec-16
49 minutes
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Subtext: The Sublime Mundane in Conrad Aiken's "Morning Song of Senlin" (Part 1)
2024-Dec-14
47 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #186: From Oz Books to Wicked Film
2024-Dec-12
54 minutes
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Ep. 356: Feuerbach Against Theology (Part Two)
2024-Dec-09
51 minutes
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NEM#225: Loudon Wainwright III, the Reporter-Songwriter
2024-Dec-08
69 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #86: Friends with App-Platter Benefits w/ Sarah Shockey and Tommy Maranges
2024-Dec-06
58 minutes
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Ep. 356: Feuerbach Against Theology (Part One)
2024-Dec-02
51 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #185: Steve Martin: X-Tuple Threat
2024-Dec-01
51 minutes
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SUBTEXT: The Aesthetics of Death in "Beetlejuice" (Part 1)
2024-Nov-30
43 minutes
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Ep. 355: Marx on Alienation (Part Two)
2024-Nov-25
49 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #85: Prototype Protoplasm w/ Mike Gorgone
2024-Nov-21
51 minutes
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Ep. 355: Marx on Alienation (Part One)
2024-Nov-18
39 minutes
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PREMIUM-PEL Thick-of-Fall Nightcap 2024
2024-Nov-17
10 minutes
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Ep. 354: Guest Tim Williamson on Philosophic Method (Part Two)
2024-Nov-11
41 minutes
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Ep. 354: Guest Tim Williamson on Philosophic Method (Part One)
2024-Nov-04
42 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #184: !BREAKING! Comedy News
2024-Nov-03
50 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #84: Interesting? w/ Lorraine Besser
2024-Nov-03
49 minutes
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Ep. 353: Reid on Visual Knowledge (Part Two)
2024-Oct-28
47 minutes
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NEM#224: Steve Dawson (Dolly Varden) Elevates Americana
2024-Oct-26
66 minutes
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Ep. 353: Reid on Visual Knowledge (Part One)
2024-Oct-21
48 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #183: Classic Universal Monster Movies
2024-Oct-20
52 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #83: Half Philosophizing (Season 4 Premiere)
2024-Oct-18
51 minutes
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Ep. 352: Thomas Reid on Smelling and Knowledge (Part Two)
2024-Oct-14
49 minutes
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SUBTEXT: Love Dishonored in Euripides' "Medea" - Part 6
2024-Oct-13
68 minutes
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Ep. 352: Thomas Reid on Smelling and Knowledge (Part One)
2024-Oct-07
55 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #182: Tim Burton: Shtick Macabre
2024-Oct-07
51 minutes
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PREMIUM-Ep. 351: Sophie Grace Chappell on Transgender (Part Two)
2024-Oct-05
13 minutes
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Ep. 351: Guest Sophie Grace Chappell on Transgender (Part One)
2024-Sep-30
53 minutes
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NEM#223: Dale Crover (Melvins) the Accidentalist
2024-Sep-29
70 minutes
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Ep. 350: Rorty on Justification and Essentialism (Part Two)
2024-Sep-23
52 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #82: LIVE in Personability w/ James Whittington
2024-Sep-21
52 minutes
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Ep. 350: Rorty on Justification and Essentialism (Part One)
2024-Sep-16
51 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #181: M. Night Shyamalan's Films Are a Trap
2024-Sep-15
56 minutes
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NEM#222: Amy Rigby's Nostalgic Simplicity
2024-Sep-13
74 minutes
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Ep. 349: Rorty's Pluralistic Pragmatism (Part Two)
2024-Sep-09
51 minutes
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PREMIUM-Closereads: Merleau-Ponty on the Body
2024-Sep-06
15 minutes
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Ep. 349: Rorty's Pluralistic Pragmatism (Part One)
2024-Sep-02
46 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #180: Season Four Wrap: Nostalgia
2024-Aug-31
41 minutes
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Ep. 348: Tim Williamson's Knowledge-First Epistemology (Part Two)
2024-Aug-26
51 minutes
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PREMIUM-PEL End-of-Summer Nightcap 2024
2024-Aug-25
9 minutes
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Ep. 348: Tim Williamson's Knowledge-First Epistemology (Part One)
2024-Aug-19
48 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #179: Deadpool Gets Meta
2024-Aug-18
52 minutes
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NEM#221: David Nagler Goes Brazilian
2024-Aug-16
83 minutes
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Ep. 347: Nyaya Sutra Against Buddhist Skeptics (Part Two)
2024-Aug-12
37 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #80: Brief, Alternative Facts with David Shields
2024-Aug-11
47 minutes
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Ep. 347: Nyaya Sutra Against Buddhist Skeptics (Part One)
2024-Aug-05
52 minutes
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NEM#220: Jah Wobble's Bass Worship
2024-Aug-03
77 minutes
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Ep. 346: Nyaya Sutra on Knowledge (Part Two)
2024-Jul-29
53 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #178: The Bear's Incomplete Dish
2024-Jul-28
54 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #79: Edificial Intentions with Danny Mora
2024-Jul-26
51 minutes
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Ep. 346: Nyaya Sutra on Knowledge (Part One)
2024-Jul-22
45 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #177: Inside Out - Animated Psyche
2024-Jul-19
50 minutes
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Ep. 345: William James on Religious Experience (Part Two)
2024-Jul-15
51 minutes
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NEM#219: Oliver Wakeman Beyond the Keyboard
2024-Jul-14
110 minutes
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Announcement: Mark's "Big Books in Continental Philosophy" Fall 2024 Class
2024-Jul-13
5 minutes
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Ep. 345: William James on Religious Experience (Part One)
2024-Jul-08
46 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #78: We Essence Merge with Tamler Sommers (Very Bad Wizards)
2024-Jul-06
61 minutes
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PREMIUM-PEL Mid-Summer Nightcap 2024
2024-Jul-05
12 minutes
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Ep. 344: Gettier and Goldman on Justified True Belief (Part Two)
2024-Jul-01
51 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #176: Furiosa: Are We Mad Maxed Out?
2024-Jun-30
53 minutes
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NEM#218: Pat Mastelotto: Prog Neanderthal Drum-Painting
2024-Jun-29
82 minutes
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Ep. 344: Gettier and Goldman on Justified True Belief (Part One)
2024-Jun-23
42 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #77: Fashionation with Sheri Flanders
2024-Jun-22
58 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #175: Podcast of the Planet of the Apes
2024-Jun-21
53 minutes
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Ep. 343: Plotinus the Neo-Platonist (Part Two)
2024-Jun-17
49 minutes
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SUBTEXT: Psychedelic Regrets in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (Part 5)
2024-Jun-15
73 minutes
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PEL Presents NEM#217: Richard Thompson's Moments in Time
2024-Jun-14
73 minutes
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Ep. 343: Plotinus the Neo-Platonist (Part One)
2024-Jun-10
38 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #76: Hello, Larry w/ Lawrence Ware
2024-Jun-09
57 minutes
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SUBTEXT: Psychedelic Regrets in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (Part 4)
2024-Jun-08
66 minutes
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Ep. 342: Zhuangzi on Knowledge and Virtue (Part Two)
2024-Jun-03
41 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #174: Fallout Plays Post-Apocalyptic
2024-Jun-02
55 minutes
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Ep. 342: Zhuangzi on Knowledge and Virtue (Part One)
2024-May-27
42 minutes
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NEM#216: Kim Richey Learns to Cherish Collaboration
2024-May-26
71 minutes
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Ep. 341 Supplemental: Zhuangzi for Closereads Evergreen Network Launch
2024-May-20
65 minutes
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SUBTEXT - Psychedelic Regrets in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (Part 1)
2024-May-19
68 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #173: Cowboy Beyoncé? (Cross-Genre Music)
2024-May-18
65 minutes
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Ep. 341: Guest Karyn Lai on Daoism in the Zhuangzi
2024-May-13
58 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #75: The Alien Literally Has Two Faces w/ Bran Peacock
2024-May-11
67 minutes
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Ep. 340: Brian Ellis on the Implications of Essentialism (Part Two)
2024-May-06
45 minutes
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NEM#215: Lynn Drury's New Orleans Emotionality
2024-May-04
66 minutes
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Ep. 340: Brian Ellis on the Implications of Essentialism (Part One)
2024-Apr-29
42 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #172: Curb Larry David's Shtick
2024-Apr-27
55 minutes
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PEL 15th Anniversary and Book Release
2024-Apr-22
52 minutes
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NEM#214: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown
2024-Apr-18
71 minutes
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Ep. 339: Brian Ellis on the Metaphysics of Science (Part Two)
2024-Apr-15
45 minutes
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PMP/NEM: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown
2024-Apr-14
73 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink)
2024-Apr-13
65 minutes
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Ep. 339: Brian Ellis on the Metaphysics of Science (Part One)
2024-Apr-08
50 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #171: The Traitors - A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom
2024-Apr-06
56 minutes
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Ep. 338: Aristotle on Potential vs. Actual and the Unmoved Mover (Part Two)
2024-Apr-01
43 minutes
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NEM#213: Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush): Flavors of Brightness
2024-Mar-30
65 minutes
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Ep. 338: Aristotle on Potential vs. Actual and the Unmoved Mover (Part One)
2024-Mar-25
45 minutes
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Philosophy vs. Improv #73: Family Whêtspät w/ Colleen Doyle
2024-Mar-24
54 minutes
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Pretty Much Pop #170: Poor Things and Other Yorgos
2024-Mar-23
51 minutes
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