PEL Presents PvI#108: Guess Who's Coming to Christmas Dinner... Lawrence Ware!
Philosopher/writer/critic/podcaster Lawrence Ware returns to the show to meet Mary and talk about how Mark is his own personal Leroy Jesus. We act out and/or discuss orphan greeting cards, face-to-face instruction vs. writing books, imaginary friends, laugh trumpets, black ice, and is aesthetic judgment (especially of yourself) a mistake? Hear more at philosophyimprov.com (http://philosophyimp...
51m Dec 26, 2025
51m
PEL Presents PMP#212: Holiday Romance Films
The Hallmark Channel became famous for producing low-budget, formulaic Christmas films, and this has spread to other outlets, sometimes with higher budgets and ambitions. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al each watched a smattering of these and share their reflections on the genre and their specific experiences. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at https://ww...
58m Dec 24, 2025
58m
Ep. 382: Freud on Group Psychology (Part One)
On the first half of Sigmund Freud's Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego (1921). Why do members of a mob get dumber and less inhibited? Freud considers Gustave Le Bon's famous book on crowds but then turns to more organized groups like armies and churches. For all groups, Freud thinks that the leader (or leading ideal) replaces our conscience to some degree. Get more at partiallyexam...
46m Dec 22, 2025
46m
PEL Presents NEM#244: Year-End Chat with NEM Audio Editor Roger Heathers
In a special holiday episode, we get to meet musician and podcaster Roger Heathers, who edits this show. Together, Roger and I discuss how we make the show and share some highlights and challenges re. recent guests. At the beginning and the end of the show, you get to hear two tracks from his soon to be released Upward Spiral: "Guard Dogs" and "Hopefully." They both feature a warm, holiday-lik...
1hr 5m Dec 19, 2025
1hr 5m
PREMIUM-Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Three)
We discuss the first six questions from the "Moral Action" section in the Summa Theologica (1268), which we read in Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings (1993). If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2025/12/14/ep-381-3-aquinas-ethics-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://partiallyexaminedlif...
11m Dec 18, 2025
11m
Bacchic Redemption in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975) (Part 1)
41m Dec 16, 2025
41m
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Two)
Continuing to discuss the virtue and moral action from the Summa Theologica (1268). We discuss the definition of virtue and some subsequent questions about what parts of us the term virtue properly applies to. Sponsors: Visit https://functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health. Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel. (https://shopify.com/pel) Get ...
59m Dec 15, 2025
59m
PEL Presents PvI#107: Mary and Mark Argue About Arguing
Is argumentation essential to philosophy? Should you always be open to arguments challenging your beliefs? We act out a few symbiotic scenarios and reflect back on our last couple of episodes. Plus animal facts, complaining to your significant other about exes, astrology prejudice, sexual harassment videos, and on-stage self-pleasure. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com (http://philosophyimprov....
50m Dec 13, 2025
50m
PEL Presents PMP#211: Slow Horses and Predecessors
We discuss the British spy show based on the novels of Mick Herron, which are in turn firmly in a tradition of anti-007 books by John le Carré. Featuring Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al. The point is not to glamorize the spy service, but to use realism and black humor to stress the human cost and general boredom of this work along with the dysfunctional nature of the institutions involved. Get...
50m Dec 10, 2025
50m
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Two for Supporters)
http://partiallyexaminedlife.com
55m Dec 08, 2025
55m
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part One)
http://partiallyexaminedlife.com
50m Dec 08, 2025
50m
PEL Presents Subtext: Erin's New Book "Avail"
Erin just published her first book, "Avail," which you can order here: https://www.pauldrybooks.com/products/avail "Avail" features a long prose-poem which titles the book and winds through sections of lineated, often formal poems. The prose-poem comprises a series of lyric meditations on the image of the veil—from religious and cultural veils, to veils imbedded in idiom and metaphor, to veile...
56m Dec 07, 2025
56m
PEL Presents NEM#243: Corey Ledet's Eclectic Zydeco
Corey has released many of zydeco music since 2004, and mixes his dedication to tradition (even recording a recent album in Louisiana Creole) with his love of many types of music. We discuss "J'ai Parti dans la Campagne" (and listen at the end to "Outro") from his new release, Live in Alaska; "That Girl Wanna Dance" from the Grammy nominated Nothin' But the Best (2012); and "Way Back Home," a ...
1hr 6m Dec 05, 2025
1hr 6m
Ep. 380: Josiah Royce on Community (Part Two)
More on The Problem of Christianity, discussing how communities relate to history, how individuals relate to communities, and what's unique about Royce's ideal Christian world community. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Get an exclusive 5%...
54m Dec 01, 2025
54m
PEL Presents PvI#106: Heart Tchochkes w/ Seth Stephon Brown
Seth (https://thebarstooltheories.com/) is an improviser and aspiring professional "muse," which is a type of life coach that hangs out with you to see where you could be more in touch with your humanity so that you can then work out a coherent plan for your adult life. He discusses with Mary and Mark the conflict between authentic individual humans and a social structure filled with oppressive...
45m Nov 30, 2025
45m
PEL Presents PMP#210: One Paul Thomas Anderson Film After Another
In light of One Battle After Another, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al walk through the range of his films from his 1996 crime film Hard Eight through his much lauded Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood and his more controversial recent ones like Licorice Pizza, The Master, The Phantom Thread, and Inherent Vice. Get more at prettymuchpop.com (https://prettymuchpo...
55m Nov 26, 2025
55m
Ep. 380: Josiah Royce on Community (Part One)
On sections of The Problem of Christianity (1913) which establish Royce's concept of a community of interpretation: individuals working together with a sense of shared history and expectation. He claims that such a grouping can be counted as a literal mind and that it solves the problem of human meaning. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https:/...
47m Nov 23, 2025
47m
Ep. 380: Josiah Royce on Community (Part One for Supporters)
http://partiallyexaminedlife.com
44m Nov 22, 2025
44m
PEL Presents NEM#242: Marshall Crenshaw Subtracts
Marshall began creating his catchy, harmonically thick rock tunes in the early '80s with six major label albums, but went indie in the '90s to record four more as well as several EPs and live collections. We discuss "Stranger and Stranger," newly reworked for From the Hellhole (2025), "Right On Time" from Jaggedland (2009), "Fantastic Planet of Love" from Life's Too Short (1991), and we conclu...
1hr 6m Nov 20, 2025
1hr 6m
Ep. 379: Egyptian Philosophy with Chike Jeffers (Part Two)
Continuing on sources from ancient Egypt, finishing up the instructional literature: "The Instruction of Ptahhotep," and "The Instruction Addressed to King Merikare," and then we move to the dialogues, ""The Eloquent Peasant," and "The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba." Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support ...
1hr 11m Nov 17, 2025
1hr 11m
PEL Presents PvI#105: Friendtor Debate Club w/ Scott Gelfand
Scott, ex-professor at Oklahoma State University and author of "Thinking Ethically: A Handbook for Making Moral Choices," chats with Mark and Mary about ethical debate in our age of seemingly unbridgeable divides. We engage in some suspect philosophical counseling, have a staged mini-debate about affirmative action, and simulate a new class of discussion-intensive air travel. More at scottgelfa...
50m Nov 14, 2025
50m
PEL Presents PMP #209: Alien Franchised
In light of Noah Hawley TV show Alien Earth, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al revisit the franchise through its seven canon films beginning with Ridley Scott's 1979 classic. While there's plenty of sheer repetition (alien loose, killing people one by one) throughout these properties, the various filmmakers attempt to avoid sure repetition by shifting genres. On the new show, we get a pronounced...
54m Nov 11, 2025
54m
Ep. 379: Egyptian Philosophy with Chike Jeffers (Part One)
The co-author of the African run of the History of Philosophy Podcast (and new book) joins us to go over philosophical works from 2200-1400 BCE: "The Instruction of Ptahhotep," "The Instruction Addressed to King Merikare," "The Great Hymn to the Aten," "The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba," and "The Eloquent Peasant." Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) ...
44m Nov 10, 2025
44m
PEL Presents NEM#241: Humor in Music Discussion
Mark is joined by returning NEM guest Don Rauf (https://nakedlyexaminedmusic.com/nem139-don-rauf/) (from Life In a Blender (https://lifeinablender.net/) ), singer/songwriter/cartoonist David Heatley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Heatley) ), and writer/musician Dave "Diggy" Dawson aka Dave Philpott. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/18175790.Dave_Philpott) Is funny music necessarily...
1hr 1m Nov 09, 2025
1hr 1m
PREMIUM-Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Four)
We complete our Aquinas treatment for the moment by considering emotions: categorizing them, asking whether they have opposites, and making them coherent given Aquinas' Aristotelian conception of soul. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2025/11/02/ep378-4-aquinas-god-mind-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options described ...
9m Nov 08, 2025
9m
Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Three)
We're now moving on to the "mind" portion of our discussion, covering how reason motivates us, how free will is possible, and the degree to which the mind is passive or active. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit https://functionhealth.c...
50m Nov 03, 2025
50m
PEL Presents PvI#104: The Hippie Code w/ Vickie Eistenstein
Mark and Mary are joined by improvisor-comedian-actress-filmmaker-host Vickie (https://vickieeisenstein.com/) to talk about code switching and authenticity. Can you be authentic and still work a day job? Can Problem Solvers, Inc. solve the office restroom schedule? Are authentic hippies really beatniks? Also, displaying comic America on Korean talk shows, ethical pornography, commerce vs. art, ...
55m Oct 31, 2025
55m
Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Two)
Continuing on bits of Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings, completing our analysis of his arguments for the existence of God and then turning to eternity and the possibility of actually talking about God, given our finitude. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons o...
49m Oct 27, 2025
49m
PEL Presents PMP#208: An Ed Gein Halloween
It's a special two-hander where Mark and Lawrence reflect on the appeal of horror and how the new Monster: Ed Gein Netflix show has to contribute, given that it is not merely a (very loose) presentation of real events, and itself a horror drama, but also a commentary on the Hollywood properties influenced by the Ed Gein murders, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the ...
56m Oct 26, 2025
56m
PEL Presents NEM#240: Jonathan Rundman, Multi-Branded
Singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Jonathan (currently based in Minneapolis) has been putting out indie rock solo albums since 1992, but has also ventured into traditional Finnish folk music and has multiple releases of tunes that I won't call Christian rock, but more rock that grapples with being someone who goes to church. We discuss "Diner by the Train" (and listen at the end to "Evide...
1hr 21m Oct 24, 2025
1hr 21m
Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part One)
On selections from Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings, mostly taken from the Summa Theologica (1268). Given our flawed, finite human nature, how do we fit into the universe? In particular, how can we know and talk about things far beyond our experience such as God and eternity? In this part, we discuss arguments for the existence of God. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (htt...
49m Oct 20, 2025
49m
PEL Presents PvI#103: Post-COVID Mary and Mark
How does your body talk to you? Your favorite hosts-of-a-philosophy-and-improv-comedy show Mark Linsenmayer and Merry Mary Hynes re-connect after both being sick to get a bit Halloweeny so as to talk about various food-related monsters, experiencing art by disgraced creators, inner homunculi a la "Inside Out," movie talk, Nietzsche's nose fetish, and more. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com (ht...
39m Oct 17, 2025
39m
Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part Two)
Continuing on "Directions for Decomposition" from A Short History of Decay (1949). What is it that humans are inevitably trying to avoid that seems so bad to us? It's our existential separation from others, our essential, incommunicable solitude. Plus, ennui, sloth, and being a "traitor to existence." Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://pa...
46m Oct 13, 2025
46m
PEL Presents PMP#207: Spinal Tap and Other Fake Bands
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al watched Spinal Tap and its new sequel, and we throw these into a mix with K-Pop Demon Hunters and other films and shows involving made-for-TV (and film) bands, including We Are Lady Parts, That Thing You Do, Fear of a Black Hat, CB4, Atlanta, The Blues Brothers, The Commitments, Almost Famous, The Rutles, and The Monkees. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus t...
52m Oct 12, 2025
52m
PEL Presents NEM#239: Adrian Sherwood's Dub Productions
Adrian has applied his distinctive, spacey dub mixing techniques to numerous recordings since 1978 including Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sinéad O'Connor, and Spoon and has released nine albums under his own name since 2003. He has effectively served as a key band member in several groups including Creation Rebel and African Head Charge. We discuss "Body Roll" from The Colla...
1hr 6m Oct 10, 2025
1hr 6m
Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part One)
On A Short History of Decay (1949), a pessimist/existentialist somewhat text from the most famous Romanian philosopher. Cioran's short essays touch on art, humor, God, salvation, time, nostalgia, mourning, death, disease, suicide, revolt, freedom, Buddhism, Daoism, and the role of the philosopher. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://parti...
52m Oct 06, 2025
52m
PEL Presents PvI#102: Pit of Despair w/ Seth Paskin
Mark's Partially Examined Life (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) co-host Seth joins us (i.e. Mark and Mary) to introduce Seth to improv and continue introducing philosophy to Mary. We discuss Seth's attraction to depressing texts, act out couples' therapy and monster beauty parlor, and open up a few philosophical cans of worms: Is truth relative? (Hint: no!) Does outer beauty reflect inner ...
49m Oct 04, 2025
49m
Ep. 376: Plato's "Laws" (Part Two)
Continuing on selections from this late Platonic dialogue. Starting in Book 4, Plato's characters are discussing how to create a new state ("Magnesia") from scratch. What sorts of laws should it have? We talk about marriage laws, the nocturnal council, how the law is argued for that everyone has to believe in gods, and more. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife...
53m Sep 29, 2025
53m
PEL Presents PMP#206: Abbott Elementary w/o Emmys
For our Emmys/back-to-school episode, we cover the pinnacle of the current network sitcom landscape: The six-time 2025 Emmy nominated 4-year-old sitcom Abbott Elementary. Yes, it lost this year but has won in the past. Mark, Lawrence, Al and West-Philly-resident Sarahlyn discuss the show's Philly-ness and how it integrates cringe humor with realistic depiction of how messed up it is for school...
54m Sep 28, 2025
54m
PEL Presents NEM#238: Eric Andersen Endures
Eric was a major figure in the 1960s NYC folk scene, and his early tunes have been covered by Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, and many others. He's released 22 solo albums plus several live albums and two albums with The Band's Rick Danko as Danko/Fjeld/Andersen. We discuss "Don't It Make You Wanna Sing the Blues" from Dance of Love and Death (2025), "Rain Falls Down in Amsterdam" from Memory of the ...
1hr 8m Sep 26, 2025
1hr 8m
Ep. 376: Plato's "Laws" (Part One)
On this later dialogue presenting Plato's ideas about the character of laws in a just state. They should all be aimed at making people virtuous, and so should include education to this end. Each law should be equipped with a prelude presenting a rational argument for why people should obey it. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallye...
48m Sep 22, 2025
48m
PREMIUM-PEL Back-to-School Nightcap 2025
Mark, Seth, and Dylan add some more detail and thought to our recent episodes, including more about Steven Pinker and re-litigation of the utility of Irigaray's second-wave feminism in light of the distinction between philosophical and political speech.
10m Sep 20, 2025
10m
PEL Presents PvI#101: Co-Hostery: Season Five Premiere with Mark and Mary
It is a new era! Merry Mary Hynes is now Mark's co-host, and we do some improv related to that and feel our the degree to which Mary has not studied philosophy. Could it be that we ALL do philosophy whether we know it or not? Also: The Feminist Café, Luce Irigaray, Mark's voice training, an aging child pop star, non-binary preliminaries, gratis post-game chatter, and more. Hear more at philoso...
55m Sep 18, 2025
55m
Ep. 375: Luce Irigaray's Feminism (Part Two)
Continuing on "Women on the Market" from The Sex Which Is Not One (1977) and other selections. Irigaray gives a Marxist analysis of the commodification of women, addresses psychotherapists about their neglect of women's viewpoints, recommends wonder over objectification, and interprets Hegel's comments about Antigone. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) ...
57m Sep 15, 2025
57m
PEL Presents PMP#205: Fantastical Foursome
What do we expect out of a superhero film? Does it need overqualified dramatic actors? Does it even need a real budget? Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the various films modeled after Marvel's Fantastic Four comics initiated by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961. First Steps is clearly the best of them and surpassed our low expectations, with its delivery of a believable family dynamic a...
58m Sep 14, 2025
58m
Ep. 375: Luce Irigaray's Feminism (Part One)
On The Sex Which Is Not One (1977) and other Irigaray selections from the French Feminism Reader (2000), featuring guest Jenny Hansen (who wrote the introduction to the book chapter). What role should sexual difference play in philosophy and society? Irigaray qua second-wave feminist claims that unleashing the feminine can and should transform philosophy, public policy, and relationships. Che...
45m Sep 08, 2025
45m
PEL Presents PvI#100: Maximizing Turtle Revenue w/ Tim Sniffen and Anthony LeBlanc
It's our season finale, and the end of Bill's regular participation on the show. You may wish to weep, but let your tears be of joy as well as reminiscence. We are re-joined by two of our favorite improv guests for a Team Play episode to talk ship of Theseus, philosophy vs. mythology vs. video games, Renaissance contemporaries, long-lived turtles, "realist" morality, goodbyes, and our final bo...
51m Sep 07, 2025
51m
Ep. 374: Discussing Liberalism (Lincoln, et al) with Walter Sterling (Part Two)
Continuing our discussion of the dangers to and weak points of liberal democracy, including consideration of Patrick Deneen's Why Liberalism Failed (2018) Francis Fukuyama's "Liberalism and Its Discontents" (his 2020 essay), and Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now (2018). Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support ...
49m Sep 01, 2025
49m
PEL Presents PMP#204: Naked Gun Rapid Firing
What is the state of the stream-of-gags formula that used to stand tall in the films of the Zucker Brothers (mainly Airplane) and Mel Brooks? A new generation attempts to revive that with a new Naked Gun film. How does this new effort relate to the classic films? Are these kinds of films particularly timeless? Rewatchable? Do young people appreciate this kind of thing? Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn...
52m Aug 31, 2025
52m
PEL Presents NEM#237: Maia Sharp's Homey Subversion
Maia has released ten lush, Americana-influenced singer-songwriter albums since 1997 and has collaborated with artists like Art Garfunkel, Bonnie Raitt, and Trisha Yearwood, and been covered by Cher, Paul Carrack, etc. We discuss "Counterintuition" (and listen to the title track) from Tomboy (2025), "Phoenix" from The Dash Between the Dates (2015), and "A Home" from Fine Upstanding Citizen (20...
1hr 17m Aug 28, 2025
1hr 17m