
The Partially Examined Life
560 episodes — Page 8 of 12

Ep. 333: Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling" on Faith (Part Two)
Continuing on Kierkegaard's perhaps most famous book, this time focusing largely on "Problem One: Is There a Teleological Suspension of the Ethical?" Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive episode of Closereads that connects Kierkegaard to the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to a preview. Sponsors: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/PEL. Check out the Conflicted history podcast. Learn about Mark's Spring Core Texts in Philosophy Class at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.

Ep. 333: Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling" on Faith (Part One)
To wrap up our coverage of Kierkegaard, we consider his religious stage of development through this 1843 text analyzing the Biblical story of Abraham. Can we understand, much less admire, an attitude whereby you think God has commanded you to kill your son and you gladly go along with it? How does this sort of "greatness" relate to ethics? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/PEL. Check out AncientHistoryFanGirl.com. Sign up for Mark's Core Texts in Philosophy at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.

PEL Presents PMP#165: Jewish Comedy w/ Daniel Lobell
Your hosts Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al explore Jewish comedy with stand-up Daniel, whose film Reconquistador is about his ancestors being kicked out of Spain. What's the connection of Jewish humor to anti-semitism? What's the relation of a creator's identity to the creation? How does comedy relate to politics and philosophy? We touch on Mel Brooks, Larry David, Adam Sandler, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, and feminist Jewish comedy. For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content at patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel. Sponsor: Get a meal for $1.49 plus $1 steaks for life at EveryPlate.com/podcast, code 49pretty.

PREMIUM-PEL Winter Nightcap (Concluding 2023)
Mark, Wes, Seth, and Dylan set ourselves as part of our ongoing Kierkegaard reading to re-listen to our 2010 episode 29 on Kierkegaard's The Sickness Unto Death. This leads us to our personal histories regarding faith and how the idea of faith intersects with our philosophy studies. If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Ep. 332: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Ethical Self (Part Two)
Concluding our discussion of Either/Or, still this time considering "The Balance Between the Esthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality" on how the ethical helps us to develop a self. What is this ideal self that Kierkegaard wants us to aim for, but yet which is within us as individuals already? How can each of us merge with the universal ethically yet assert our individuality? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive, Kierkegaard-related Nightcap. Listen to a preview.. Sponsor: Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel. Learn about Mark's Spring Core Texts in Philosophy Class at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.

PEL Presents: NEM#208: Laura Osnes: From Broadway to Nashville
After winning a TV reality competition in 2007 to become Sandy in Grease on Broadway, Laura went on to star in shows like South Pacific, Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, and Cinderella. In 2021 she left Broadway and is now a pop-country songwriter. We discuss her 2023 singles "Getaway" and "Enough," and her performance of the Bonnie & Clyde song "How 'Bout a Dance," from Dream a Little Dream: Live at at the Café Carlyle (2012). End song: "Fell for You" (feat. Chuck Wicks). Intro: "Hopelessly Devoted" from the Grease Soundtrack (2007). More at lauraosnes.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon. Sponsor: Get the ultimate gift: A custom-written song from Songfinch. Use songfinch.com/NEM to get free Spotify streaming for your song. Listen to the song Mark commissioned.

Ep. 332: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Ethical Self (Part One)
On the second half of "The Balance Between the Esthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality" from Vol. 2 of Either/Or (1843). How do we "absolutely" form a coherent self by embracing ethical conventions like marriage, friendship, and having a job? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Get two memberships for the price of one at MasterClass.com/PEL. Have your donation matched up to $100 to a top-performing charity at GiveWell.org (enter "The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast" at checkout). Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/PEL.

PEL Presents PMP#164: Muppets, esp. Their Xmas Carol
For our annual holiday episode, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk all things Muppets, but in particular the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol. What's the appeal of this puppet act? Is its humor post-funny ironic? Should it still exist and can it still have the magic with a new generation behind the felt? For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content at patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel.

PREMIUM-Ep. 331: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Ethical Life (Part Three)
Mark and Wes talk in more details about the "stages of despair" Kierkegaard lays out in “The Balance Between the Esthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality” from Vol. 2 of Either/Or. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Philosophy vs. Improv #67: Consent to Improv w/ Sukaina Hirji
Sukaina teaches philosophy at U. of Pennsylvania, combining work from ancient Greek, contemporary moral, and feminist philosophy. She lets Mark and Bill know about critiques by feminist philosophers of the idea of consent. We talk a bit about moral agency, teaching dynamics given these kids today, Aristotelian virtue, and testing personality types by turning them up to 11. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. You'll see there the link to the video version of this. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff, including a special holiday video (which is free to all viewers)

Ep. 331: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Ethical Life (Part Two)
Continuing on "The Balance Between the Esthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality," with a critique of (Hegelian) philosophy and concrete advice for how to build yourself in an optimal way. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive part three to this discussion. Listen to a preview. Sponsors: Learn about St. John's College Winter Classics, starting this January, at sjc.edu/PEL. Check out the Go Fact Yourself podcast at gofactyourpod.com.

PEL Presents NEM#207: Jason Narducy: Punk Matured
Jason plays bass for Bob Mould's band, is a touring member of Superchunk, and has been making the promo rounds as he tours as guitarist with actor Michael Shannon to play R.E.M.'s debut Murmur live for its 40th anniversary. He's a singer-songwriter who played as Verbow in the 90s, and more recently as Split Single. We discuss two Split Single tunes: "Bitten by the Sound" from Amplificado (2021), "Monolith" from Fragmented World (2014), plus Verbow's "Fan Club" from Chronicles (1997). End song: "Blood Break Ground" from Callado (2022). Intro: "He’s a Panther" by Verböten (his first band, when he was but a tween, live in 1983). Learn more at splitsinglemusic.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon. Sponsor: Get the ultimate gift: A custom-written song from Songfinch. Use songfinch.com/NEM to get free Spotify streaming for your song.

Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" (Part 5 of 6)
Part 5 of Wes & Erin's discussion of Shakespeare’s "The Winter’s Tale." Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, St. John's College. Learn more about undergraduate--and graduate--Great Books programs at St. John's in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Annapolis, Maryland at sjc.edu/subtext.

(SUB)TEXT: The Emptiness of Signification in Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" (Part 4 of 6)
Part 4 of Wes & Erin's discussion of Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale." Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/subtextfree and use code subtextfree for free breakfast for life.

Ep. 331: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Ethical Life (Part One)
On "The Balance Between the Esthetic and the Ethical in the Development of the Personality" from Vol. 2 of Soren Kierkegaard's Either/Or (1843). What is choice? Kierkegaard's character Judge William criticizes the aesthete from our previous episode on the earlier part of this book: The aesthete doesn't make any authentic choices and so doesn't develop a coherent self. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Have your donation matched up to $100 to a top-performing charity at GiveWell.org (enter "The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast" at checkout). Get 60% off (plus 20% off your next two months) America's #1 meal kit for eating well at Greenchef.com/60pel (code 60pel). Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel.

PEL Presents PMP#163: Marvel Fatigue?
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, Al and special guest Vi Burlew talk about the new film The Marvels as well as more generally what's been coming out in film and TV from the Marvel folks in the latest "phase." Does Marvel have a consistent tone at this point)? What explains the box office poison of the new film? Subscribe directly at prettymuchpop.com or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (where we catch up on what we're consuming and engage in other off-topic chatter). You'll get that sort of treatment for every episode by supporting us via patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel.

PREMIUM-Ep. 331: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Aesthetic Life (Part Three)
Mark, Wes, and Seth read through more of Kierkegaard's Diapsalmata, translated as "Refrains," which are the aphorisms that begin the book and demonstrate the aesthetic point of view. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Ep. 330: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Aesthetic Life (Part Two)
Continuing on "Diapsalmata" and "Rotation of Crops" from the "Either" portion of Kierkegaard's pseudonymous book. We talk through more of K's aphorisms, his narrator's solution to boredom, and we take the critique personally: Is this Romantic view described one that we held as younger people (or now)? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive part three to this discussion. Listen to a preview. Sponsor: Learn about St. John's College Winter Classics, starting this January, at sjc.edu/PEL.

PEL Presents PvI#66: Legacy Mops w/ Kevin Allison
Kevin is the creator and host of the storytelling podcast RISK! and is the alphabetically foremost member of the MTV-televised, newly reformed, celebrity-infested sketch comedy troupe The State. But can he improvise? Mark and Bill surprise Kevin into a scene about a suspicious hotel. How does one engineer one's legacy? Will history inevitably either reduce your greatest contributions to mere noise or reinterpret them in light of your final, embarrassing moments? Perhaps the legendary comedy team of Ricky and Lester can serve as a scenic example; let's let them say a little about who they are and how their career reached its current nadir. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. You'll see there the link to the video version of this. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff.

PEL Presents NEM#206: Wreckless Eric: "Without Sound, You've Got Nothing"
Eric Goulden has recorded 29 albums since 1978, typically as Wreckless Eric but also with his wife Amy Rigby or under band names like Captains of Industry and The Len Bright Combo. We discuss "Standing Sunday Morning" from Leisureland (2023), "Another Drive-In Saturday" by Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby from their self-titled debut (2008), and "Depression" by Le Beat Group Electrique from their self-titled album (1989). Outro: "Father to the Man" from Transience (2019). Intro: "Whole Wide World" (single version, 1977). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

Ep. 330: Kierkegaard's "Either/Or": The Aesthetic Life (Part One)
On the aphorisms ("Diapsalmata") that begin Soren Kierkegaard's Either/Or (1843), plus the essay also in the first volume, "Rotation of Crops." What is it to live your life as if it were a work of art? K thinks such a life is unserious and unsatisfying. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Get two memberships for the price of one at MasterClass.com/PEL. Learn about St. John's College Winter Classics, starting this January, at sjc.edu/PEL. Have your donation matched up to $100 to a top-performing charity at GiveWell.org (enter "The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast" at checkout).

PEL Presents (SUB)TEXT: The Emptiness of Signification in Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" (Part 1 of 6)
When King Leontes accuses his pregnant wife of adultery, the nobleman Antigonus assumes that Leontes has been “abused and by some putter-on”—in other words, some Iago-like villain has been putting malevolent ideas into his head. In fact, Leontes is the father of his own misconceptions, just as he is the father of his wife’s children. But unlike his children, his ideas might be said to have no mother; they lack corroboration, which is to say, collaboration with a source outside himself. How, then, do we account for the seemingly spontaneous generation of his thoughts? How can false apprehensions arise out of nothing? And what price must one pay for bearing these misconceptions, these “nothings,” into the world? In this episode, the first part of a six part discussion, Wes & Erin discuss one of Shakespeare’s last plays, "The Winter’s Tale."

Ep. 329: Kierkegaard on Irony (Part Three/Closereads Part One)
Mark and Wes Closeread the conclusion to Soren Kierkegaard's On the Concept of Irony (1841), "Irony as a Controlled Element, the Truth of Irony." The discussion starts with the role of irony in good art, and then moves on to discuss the proper role of irony as an existential strategy in a well-grounded, thoughtful life. To get all Part Three PEL episodes, plus paywalled vintage episodes, Nightcaps, and all PEL episodes ad-free, become a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support. Signing up to support Closereads: Philosophy with Mark and Wes at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy will get you access to 20+ recordings like this, including (soon) the direct sequel to this one.

PEL Presents PMP#162: Poe Flavoring Upon the House of Usher
We discuss the loose mishmash adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe stories that makes up Mike Flanagan's Netflix show, The Fall of the House of Usher. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the various creative choices, moral responsibility in the show, the relation between gothic and camp, Poe's continued standing as horror icon, and more. Subscribe directly at prettymuchpop.com or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (where we catch up on what we're consuming and engage in other off-topic chatter) and avoid any ads. You'll get that sort of treatment for every episode by supporting us via patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel.

Ep. 329: Kierkegaard on Irony (Part Two)
Continuing with On the Concept of Irony, defined as "infinite absolute negativity." K criticizes his Romantic peers of taking irony too far. So what is healthy, well-grounded irony? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a third part to this episode (coming soon). Sponsors: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/pel. Have your donation matched up to $100 to a top-performing charity at GiveWell.org (enter "The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast" at checkout).

PEL Presents: Philosophy vs. Improv #65: Pop Spice
Recorded on 9/11 (a date not known primarily for its improv activities), only now making its way to you, this discussion between Mark and Bill talk child deification, pop philosophy vs. pop improv, foreign accents, and guns in schools in the hands of improvisers. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff.

Ep. 329: Kierkegaard on Irony (Part One)
Discussing On the Concept of Irony (1841). Kierkegaard builds up to telling us what irony is by showing how Socrates invented irony, as characterized by his wholly negative project of showing others that their beliefs inherited from society are wrong. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Get $250 off the #1 meal kit for eating well at GreenChef.com/pel250 (code pel250). Start selling online with a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/pel. Have your donation matched up to $100 to a top-performing charity at GiveWell.org (enter "The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast" at checkout).

PEL Presents NEM#205: Tom Heyman: Unreliable Narrator
Tom is best known as a steel guitar player who has guested with artists like Alejandro Escovedo, John Doe, and Sonny Smith. He started in the late '80s with the Philadelphia energetic alt-country band Go to Blazes. After five albums with them, he moved to San Francisco in 1997 and has since released six solo albums of Dylan-esque, lyrically driven folk-rock. We discuss "Desperate" from 24th Street Blues (2023), "Chickenhawks and Jesus Freaks" from That Cool Blue Feeling (2013), "Bloody Sam" by Go To Blazes from Any Time... Anywhere (1994), and listen to "Etch A Sketch" from Show Business, Baby (2017). Intro: A Waylon Jennings cover, "Brand New Goodbye Song" (2008). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon. Sponsors: Visit FactorMeals.com/nem50 (code improv50) to get 50% off America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit. Try the Calm History podcast at CalmHistory.com.

PREMIUM-Ep. 328: Yascha Mounk Against Identity Politics (Part Three)
Mark, Wes, Dylan, and now Seth too discuss further Mounk's project in The Identity Trap and what philosophically we can glean from it. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Ep. 328: Guest Yascha Mounk Against Identity Politics (Part Two)
Continuing on The Identity Trap (2023). Which works better to achieve social progress; classical liberalism, or strategies involving emphasis of identity group membership? Do we even have to pick a side, or can we pragmatically choose strategies from whichever philosophy most effectively addresses the situation in question? We discuss cultural appropriation, free speech, standpoint epistemology, and more. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive, guest-free part three to this discussion. Sponsor: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/pel. Check out the Clearer Thinking Podcast with Spencer Greenberg.

PEL Presents PvI#64: TEAM PLAY GENERALS with Linda Orr and Andrew Lavin
Returning freedom fighters Andrew and Linda and join Bill and Mark to talk about philosophical liberalism: Its rationales and varieties. Plus, preschool orientation, and Greek gods creating a new world. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff. This episode includes the post-game to give you a sample. Sponsor: Visit FactorMeals.com/improv50 (code improv50) to get 50% off America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit.

PEL Presents (SUB)TEXT: Terminal Wooings in "The Odyssey" (Part 3 of 3)
Wes & Erin discuss the final 12 books of "The Odyssey," translated by Emily Wilson. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode St. John’s College, and Füm. Learn more about undergraduate–and graduate–Great Books programs at St. John’s in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Annapolis, Maryland at sjc.edu/subtext. Head to TryFum.com and use code SUBTEXT to save 10 percent off when you get the Journey pack today. For bonus content, become a paid subscriber at Patreon or directly on the Apple Podcasts app. Patreon subscribers also get early access to ad-free regular episodes. This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit AirwaveMedia.com to listen and subscribe to other Airwave shows like Good Job, Brain and Big Picture Science. Email [email protected] to enquire about advertising on the podcast. Subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Android | RSS

Ep. 328: Guest Yascha Mounk Against Identity Politics (Part One)
On The Identity Trap (2023), an intellectual history of wokeness (aka "the identity synthesis") and defense of philosophical liberalism against this set of ideas. Are our differences more important than that which unites us? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.

Pretty Much Pop #161: Revisiting "The Exorcist"
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the original 1973 film (and the 1971 novel), the new Exorcist: Believer, with some talk of the early sequels. What makes the original film so scary? Its adjacency to real-life parental fears? Does the new film really dialogue intelligently with that original? Is demonic possession an inherently problematic plot device? Subscribe directly at prettymuchpop.com or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (where we catch up on what we're consuming and engage in other off-topic chatter) and avoid any ads. You'll get that sort of treatment for every episode by supporting us via patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel.

PREMIUM-PEL Fall Nightcap 2023
Mark, Wes, and Seth talk more about bullshit, Derrida and other difficult and arguably bullshitty philosophy, expressing truths through bodily movement, horror movies, and our coverage of author-guests and works that provide an introductory roadmap to some philosophical area. If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Ep. 327: Harry Frankfurt on Bullsh*t and Authenticity (Part Two)
On Frankfurt's essay "The Importance of What We Care About" (1982), which distinguishes the question of what to value from ethical questions and explores the extent to which deciding what to care about is a free act. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and a supporter-exclusive Nightcap discussion getting more into bullshit, hypocrisy, and more. Sponsor: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/pel.

PEL Presents NEM#204: Tim and Sue Lee Learn Their Craft, from Windbreakers to Bark
Tim began with The Windbreakers in Mississippi in 1982 and has released around 30 albums including solo albums starting in the late '80s plus albums with his wife Susan Bauer Lee (first on bass, then on drums) as The Tim Lee 3 and now Bark. We discuss Bark's "Love Minus Action" from Loud (2023), "Magnolia Plates" by Tim Lee 3 from 33 ⅓ (2015), "Like Sand" from Tim's Crawdad (1998), and the title track from The Windbreakers' Run (1987, with lyrics by Sherry Cothren). We conclude by listening to "Dead Guy Story" from Concrete Dog (2006). Intro: "All That Stuff" by The Windbreakers from Terminal (1985). Learn more at bark-loud.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon. Sponsor: Visit FactorMeals.com/nem50 (code improv50) to get 50% off America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit.

Ep. 327: Harry Frankfurt on Bullshit and Authenticity (Part One)
Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth discuss the celebrated 1986 essay "On Bullshit." Does bullshit necessarily involve lying? Frankfurt defines it as instead indifferent to truth, though still deceptive about what kind of speech act the audience is supposed to think that it is. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel. Get 15% off MasterClass at masterclass.com/PEL.

PEL Presents PMP#160: Mvto to "Reservation Dogs"
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the groundbreaking Native-written/starring TV show about four teens trying to get away from their Oklahoma reservation, getting into its treatment of death, community, wokeness, and more. Subscribe directly at prettymuchpop.com or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (where we catch up on what we're consuming and engage in other off-topic chatter) and avoid any ads. You'll get that sort of treatment for every episode by supporting us via patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel. If you like our podcast, check out The Opus podcast from Consequence Media, about great albums.

PEL Presents PvI#63: Virtual Socrates w/ David Chalmers
The New York University Prof and author of many influential books including the new Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy joins Mark and Bill to simulate debates about AI, cybersex, actor vs. character, and keeping children safe from reality. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Take a class this fall from him at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff. Sponsor: Visit FactorMeals.com/improv50 (code improv50) to get 50% off America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit.

Ep. 326: Michael Tomasello on the Evolution of Agency (Part Two)
Wes, Dylan, and guest Chris Heath continue to discuss The Evolution of Agency (2022) in light of our interview with the author. We relate examples from the book of animals of various levels of complexity making deliberative decisions, exhibiting rationality, experiencing causality, or otherwise engaging in agentive behaviors. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/pel.

PEL Presents PvI#62: Cutting Every Edge w/ Jeremy Richards
The author of The Accomplished Creative, a sort of anti-self-help book based around Jeremy's improv experience and what he learned as a philosophy major, joins Mark and Bill to talk impostor syndrome and benign violations, get real meta about Die Hard scenarios, and have a cheese intervention. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Take a class this fall from him at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more and get the link to the video for this episode at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff.

Ep. 326: Guest Michael Tomasello on the Evolution of Agency (Part One)
On The Evolution of Agency (2022), with the author, and guest panelist Chris Heath. What is human agency? How would we determine whether an animal is a legitimate agent, as opposed to just acting automatically? Tomasello investigates this by thinking about what capabilities and behaviors constitute agency and the degree to which near-human animals have these. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Learn about St. John's College at sjc.edu/pel.

PEL Presents PMP#159: Watching "How To with John Wilson"
https://prettymuchpop.com/2023/10/04/pmp159-how-to-with-john-wilson/Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al all watched the three seasons of this groundbreaking, polarizing documentary show that serves as a visual diary and collection of essays by its creator. While episode titles sound like practical advice, the investigations invariably swerve into something weird or philosophical. But did we enjoy it? Subscribe directly at prettymuchpop.com or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (where we catch up on what we're consuming and engage in other off-topic chatter) and avoid any ads. You'll get that sort of treatment for every episode by supporting us via patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel.

PEL Presents NEM#203: Andy White Tells the Truth
Andy has released 20 albums since 1986, touring with just him and his acoustic guitar. We discuss "The Happiness Index" from AT (2023), his second collaboration with Tim Finn; the title track from The Guilty and the Innocent (2017); and "Speechless" from Out There (1992). End song: "Italian Girls on Mopeds" from Boy 40 (2003). Intro: "Vision of You" from Rave On (1986). More at andywhite.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Sponsor: Visit FactorMeals.com/nem50 (code improv50) to get 50% off America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit.

Ep. 325: Paul Grice on Meaning and Conversation (Part Two)
Continuing on "Meaning" (1957), "Utterer’s Meaning and Intentions" (1969), and "Logic and Conversation" (1975) with guest Steve Gimbell. We tie the articles together, talk more about the rules implicit in conversation, and try to relate Grice's project to other parts of philosophy. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and a supporter-exclusive part three to this discussion.

PEL Presents (SUB)TEXT: Foolish Adventures in "The Odyssey" (Part 2 of 3)
Wes & Erin continue their discussion of the Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. In this episode, part 2 of our 3-part series, they look closely at the heart of the poem, books 5-12, in which Odysseus arrives in Phaeacia and provides the tale-within-the-tale of his adventures after the Trojan War. They discuss the significance of Odysseus’s fantastical encounters and asking what they might reveal both about his character and about the nature of our own progress—through times of safety, complacency, excitement, danger, and loss—as we wend our way back home. Sponsors: Head to factormeals.com/subtext50 and use code subtext50 to get 50 percent off. Learn more about undergraduate–and graduate–Great Books programs at St. John’s in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Annapolis, Maryland at sjc.edu/subtext. Head to TryFum.com and use code SUBTEXT to save 10 percent off when you get the Journey pack today.

PEL Presents PMP#158: "Oppenheimer" and Other Christopher Nolan Films
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the writer-director's work, touching on not only his recent tour-de-force, but back to Memento, Dunkirk, Tenet, Inception, The Prestige, Interstellar, Insomnia, and The Following. Is Nolan overrated as a thinker and storyteller? Do his plots actually make sense? We talk heroes, noir, philosophy, twists, and his depiction of women. For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content at patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel. Sponsor: Get 60% off (and free shipping) on America's #1 Meal Kit for Eating Well at GreenChef.com/60pmp (code 60pmp).

Ep. 325: Paul Grice on Meaning and Conversation (Part One)
On "Meaning" (1957), "Utterer’s Meaning and Intentions" (1969), and "Logic and Conversation" (1975), featuring Mark, Seth, Dylan, and guest Steve Gimbell. Grice tries to give a rigorous analysis of what it means for a speaker (as opposed to a sentence) to mean something in particular. Let the increasingly elaborate potential counter-examples commence! Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion, including a supporter-exclusive part three to this episode coming out next week. Sponsors: Get a $1/month shopify.com/pel. Check out Drilled, a true-crime podcast about climate change.

PEL Presents PvI#61: TEAM PLAY CIRCUS with Adal Rifai and Jenny Hansen
It's St. Lawrence University philosophy prof Jenny in the ring with UIC instructor/Podcaster with Hey Riddle Riddle and Hello From the Magic Tavern Adal, along with Mark and Bill, of course. And the Bullshot is flying! Who will be hit? Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Take a class this fall from him at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff. Sponsor: Visit FactorMeals.com/improv50 (code improv50) to get 50% off America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit.