Ep. 334: Gabriel Marcel's Christian Existentialism (Part One)
Discussing "On the Ontological Mystery" (1933) about our need for meaning. Marcel asserts that our need for "mystery" is much more primal than the scientific, technical point of view that breaks down problems into component parts for easy analysis. In fact, this more modern-seeming way of looking at the world presupposes and relies on the more originary position. Get more at partiallyexaminedl...
46m Jan 22, 2024
46m
PEL Presents SUBTEXT: Identity and Infamy in “Citizen Kane” (1941) (Part 2)
It’s a film bursting with objects—the treasure troves of Xanadu, a snowglobe, jigsaw puzzles, a winner’s cup, the famous sled. Even the conceptual elements of the film’s plot are expressed tangibly. Kane’s mind-boggling wealth isn’t an abstraction, but a list of concrete holdings—gold mines, oil wells, real estate. And the news Kane controls and manipulates, when yoked to another noun, is somet...
47m Jan 21, 2024
47m
PEL Presents PvI#69: Alternative Religious Practices w/ Katie Caussin
Katie is the co-artistic director of Chicago's IO theater (https://ioimprov.com/about/) and used to do Comedy Sports improv with Bill. She also took a lot of classes in philosophy and religion, so we talk some about cults, Kierkegaard, tolerance, and more. In our scenes, a family contemplates celebrating Christmas differently this year, and people debate the appropriate gift for a newborn king....
1hr 4m Jan 20, 2024
1hr 4m
NEM#209: Bruce Hornsby Is a Lifelong Student
Bruce is best known for his first album The Way It Is (1986), but has come light years since then through 18+ albums, experimenting with different styles, playing over 100 shows with the Grateful Dead, and scoring numerous projects for Spike Lee. He's won three Grammys and recorded with music royalty including Elton John, Ornette Coleman, Branford Marsalis, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, etc. We di...
1hr 11m Jan 20, 2024
1hr 11m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive episode of Closereads that connects Kierkegaard...
46m Jan 15, 2024
46m
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 (https://partial...
47m Jan 08, 2024
47m
PEL Presents PMP#165: Jewish Comedy w/ Daniel Lobell
Your hosts Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al explore Jewish comedy with stand-up Daniel (http://www.dannylobell.com/) , whose film Reconquistador (https://vimeo.com/760514630) 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 ...
51m Jan 07, 2024
51m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2010/11/21/episode-29-kierkegaard-on-the-self/) 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 ful...
11m Jan 07, 2024
11m
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 individual...
54m Jan 01, 2024
54m
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: Li...
1hr 15m Jan 01, 2024
1hr 15m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to ge...
46m Dec 25, 2023
46m
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 (http://prettymuchpop.com/) . Hear bonus content ...
46m Dec 24, 2023
46m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2023/12/17/ep331-3-kierkegaard-either-or-ethical-citizen/) , sign up via one of the opti...
10m Dec 22, 2023
10m
Philosophy vs. Improv #67: Consent to Improv w/ Sukaina Hirji
Sukaina teaches philosophy at U. of Pennsylvania (https://philosophy.sas.upenn.edu/people/sukaina-hirji) , 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 personal...
1hr 3m Dec 20, 2023
1hr 3m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including  a suppor...
49m Dec 18, 2023
49m
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 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhxQWLF_h5g) 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...
1hr 6m Dec 18, 2023
1hr 6m
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 https://sjc.edu/subtext.
59m Dec 17, 2023
59m
(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 (https://hellofresh.com/subtextfree) and use code subtextfree for free breakfast for life.
1hr 15m Dec 17, 2023
1hr 15m
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 partiallyexa...
49m Dec 11, 2023
49m
PEL Presents PMP#163: Marvel Fatigue?
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, Al and special guest Vi Burlew (https://prettymuchpop.com/?s=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 (https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/the-marvels-box-office-lowes...
54m Dec 10, 2023
54m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2023/11/06/ep-328-3-mounk-identity-politics-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://...
12m Dec 08, 2023
12m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://p...
50m Dec 04, 2023
50m
PEL Presents PvI#66: Legacy Mops w/ Kevin Allison
Kevin is the creator and host of the storytelling podcast RISK! (https://www.risk-show.com/) and is the alphabetically foremost member of the MTV-televised, newly reformed, celebrity-infested sketch comedy troupe The State (https://davidwain.com/thestate) . 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...
59m Dec 01, 2023
59m
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 se...
1hr 11m Nov 30, 2023
1hr 11m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free ep...
49m Nov 27, 2023
49m
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 m...
55m Nov 26, 2023
55m
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, Night...
53m Nov 25, 2023
53m
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 (http://prettym...
47m Nov 22, 2023
47m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a third part to this episode (coming ...
56m Nov 20, 2023
56m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimpro...
53m Nov 17, 2023
53m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free epi...
45m Nov 13, 2023
45m
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 St...
1hr 9m Nov 11, 2023
1hr 9m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2023/11/06/ep-328-3-mounk-identity-politics-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
10m Nov 10, 2023
10m
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 epistemolog...
59m Nov 06, 2023
59m
PEL Presents PvI#64: TEAM PLAY GENERALS with Linda Orr and Andrew Lavin
Returning freedom fighters Andrew (https://philosophyimprov.com/pvi27-normality-andrew-lavin/) and Linda (https://philosophyimprov.com/pvi26-money-linda-orr/) 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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife...
1hr 15m Nov 06, 2023
1hr 15m
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 https://sjc.edu/subtext. Head to TryFum.com (https://tryfum.com/) and use code SUBTEXT to save 10 percent off whe...
1hr 4m Nov 05, 2023
1hr 4m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus disc...
51m Oct 30, 2023
51m
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 prettymuc...
48m Oct 29, 2023
48m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2023/10/21/fall-nightcap-2...
12m Oct 28, 2023
12m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and a supporter-exclusive Nigh...
53m Oct 23, 2023
53m
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 tit...
1hr 29m Oct 20, 2023
1hr 29m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support ...
45m Oct 16, 2023
45m
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 (http://prettymuchpop.com/) or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (wher...
45m Oct 15, 2023
45m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Take a class this fall from him at https://parti...
58m Oct 14, 2023
58m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlif...
52m Oct 09, 2023
52m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Take a class t...
56m Oct 03, 2023
56m
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...
46m Oct 02, 2023
46m
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 ...
51m Oct 01, 2023
51m
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 (h...
1hr 39m Sep 30, 2023
1hr 39m
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 (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife...
56m Sep 25, 2023
56m