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A podcast where the real philosophy happens.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes243Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophyEducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Hotel Bar Sessions

Latest Episodes

We are living through a peculiar moment in the long, complicated history of humans and mind-altering substances. After decades of prohibition and stigma, psychedelics have staged a remarkable comeback — not just in underground culture, but in univers... more

Philosophers have had many conceptions of the future–metaphysical, eschatological, ontotheological, dialectical, fatalistic, idealist, materialist, and more–and these in turn have been central to discussions of free will and determinism, freedom and ... more

There have been many reports in the last several years of a growing trend of estranged families in the United States. For those who make the decision to go "no contact" (or "low contact") with their family members, the response from non-family member... more

This week, our co-hosts are joined at the bar by Dr. Robert T. Valgenti, philosopher and professor at the Culinary Institute of America to talk about food, the “gastronomic event,” the ethics and politics of cooking and eating, and what it means to b... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Justin Smith-Ruiu
PhD from Columbia University; professor of the history and philosophy of science
Université de Berry-Cité
Episode: Philosophy on Drugs (with Justin Smith-Ruiu)
Simon Critchley
Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School; author and public philosopher
New School
Episode: Against the Future (with Simon Critchley)
Dr. Kiran Bhardwaj
Philosophy Department Chair at Phillips Andover
Phillips Andover
Episode: Family "No Contact" (with Kiran Bhardwaj)
Bob Valgenti
Philosopher with a focus on food studies, professor at Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Institute of America
Episode: Food (with Bob Valgenti)
Dr. Tamara Fakhoury
Philosopher and author of the essay on Quiet Resistance
Episode: Quiet Resistance (with Tamara Fakhoury)
Laura K. Field
Associate with the Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington University, non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution, and visiting scholar in residence at American University.
Princeton University Press
Episode: Furious Minds (with Laura K. Field)
Stephen T. Asma
Philosopher at Columbia College, author of works on imagination and evolution.
Columbia College in Chicago
Episode: Imagination (with Stephen T. Asma)
Mark Balaguer
Professor of philosophy at Cal State LA and author known for his work in metaphysics.
Cal State LA
Episode: Free Will (with Mark Balaguer)
Robin James
Philosopher, writer, and editor, currently works as an acquisitions editor at Palgrave Macmillan
Palgrave Macmillan
Episode: How The Manosphere Killed Cool (with Robin James)

Hosts

Leigh Johnson
Host with broad engagement across Hotel Bar Sessions; central to bar-lecture style conversations.
Jen Kling
Co-host contributing to a wide range of philosophical discussions and minibars.
Bob Valier
Co-host with a focus on practical philosophy and personal narratives.
Lee Johnson
Co-host known for collaborative, Socratic-style discussion and analytical rigor.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 134 ratings
  • Always thought provoking

    Not a podcast junkie but when I tune in, HBS is always my first stop. Leigh has nailed this medium, curating the best cohost (and guest) combos. It takes a lot of willpower not to pull up to the bar with these wise philosophers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Philosopher in exile
    United States4 months ago
  • First time listening

    I turned in bc I’m a fan of Stephen Asma. I enjoyed the episode, though my knowledge of philosophy is limited. I will definitely listen again, due to the casual, affable nature of the dialogue. Enlightening and fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarastawberry
    United States5 months ago
  • Great—even for non-philosophers!

    If you want to be entertained and laugh like crazy together with the hosts of this brilliant and truly educational podcast, give it a try.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    monika-polka
    United States3 years ago
  • Discussion among liberal professors

    Liberal professors - say no more. Little traction, no reviews. Time to hang is up and gallop into the sunset.

    Charter schools FTW

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    HaydayRay
    Canada3 years ago
  • Funny & engrossing

    Funny, deeply smart, and full of meaningful, nuanced disagreements. A gift to anyone wanting a deeper take on some of our biggest questions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Socrates' Daimonion
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong host dynamics and engaging topic variety.
Casual yet deep; great for non-philosophers and pros alike.
Thoughtful, accessible philosophy with smart guests.
Some episodes skewed toward political opinion which may feel partisan to some listeners.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Against the Future (with Simon Critchley)
Q: Is hope compatible with a rigorous understanding of the future?
Hope is discussed as potentially energizing and political, but the speakers warn it can be used ideologically; a courageous, historically informed disposition toward the future is favored over naive optimism.
Against the Future (with Simon Critchley)
Q: What role does history play in shaping our orientation toward the future?
History provides a grounding against amnesia; by reading past narratives and outcomes, we can better orient our present actions toward more nuanced futures rather than blindly chasing a single narrative.
Against the Future (with Simon Critchley)
Q: How should we think about the future—as determined, open, or probabilistic?
The hosts present a spectrum: the future can be seen as determined, open, or probabilistic, and the discussion leans toward keeping an open, historically informed stance while recognizing probabilistic forecasts influence present actions.
Nostalgia
Q: How do you see nostalgia playing in politics right now?
Nostalgia plays a significant role in political discourse, often used as a tool for campaigning and shaping ideological narratives.
Nostalgia
Q: What do you think nostalgia is?
Nostalgia is the pain that one feels as one thinks about one's home, often linked to a longing for simpler times.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hotel Bar Sessions

What is Hotel Bar Sessions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, philosophy-forward show that blends accessible dialogue with deep dives into big questions. Across episodes, conversations span family ethics, anonymity, oppression, nostalgia, and political culture, often pairing multiple hosts with guests to explore how ideas apply to everyday life. The tone tends to be approachable yet rigorous, with a mix of Socratic questioning, contemporary relevance, and occasional lighter moments. A standout feature is the recurring bar-talk energy—hosts challenge each other while keeping complex topics engaging for a wide audience, making it a strong fit for listeners who enjoy thoughtful debates grounded in lived experience.

Noteworthy aspects include guest-driven discussions on timely social topics... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Hotel Bar Sessions has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Hotel Bar Sessions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hotel Bar Sessions:

1. What's Left of Philosophy
2. Know Your Enemy
3. Philosophy For Our Times
4. On the Media
5. Galaxy Brain

How many episodes of Hotel Bar Sessions are there?

Hotel Bar Sessions launched 5 years ago and published 243 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hotel Bar Sessions?

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What guests have appeared on Hotel Bar Sessions?

Recent guests on Hotel Bar Sessions include:

1. Justin Smith-Ruiu
2. Simon Critchley
3. Dr. Kiran Bhardwaj
4. Bob Valgenti
5. Dr. Tamara Fakhoury
6. Laura K. Field
7. Stephen T. Asma
8. Mark Balaguer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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