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Artwork for New Books in Critical Theory

New Books in Critical Theory

Marshall Poe
Philosophy
Colonialism
Feminism
Democracy
Addiction
Caste
Arts Engagement
Health Benefits Of the Arts
Political Economy
Anarchism
Public Health
Walter Benjamin
Architecture
Identity
Psycho-Neuroimmunology
Marxism
Contemplation
Ukrainian Working Class
Artificial Intelligence
Heidegger

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2339Founded14 years ago
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Artwork for New Books in Critical Theory

Latest Episodes

In Tainted Tools: New Materialisms As a Decolonial Project (Manchester University Press, 2026), Angela Last offers a provocative intervention into the tense relationship between new materialist and decolonial thought. Although both seek to challenge ... more

Kahlil Joseph has collaborated with musicians FKA twigs, Flying Lotus, Sampha and Shabazz Palaces among many others. He has directed numerous films, music videos and advertisements across Africa, America and Europe. The award-winning filmmaker's disr... more

The book Towards Palestinian Liberation: Global Perspectives on Anti-Colonial Resistance & Solidarity (Daraja Press, 2026), published by Daraja Press, portrays a collection of solidarity movements around the world, highlighting the interconnectednes... more

In Afroindigenization: A Theory of Grassroots Cultural Practice (Duke University Press, 2026), Catherine A. John addresses the underbelly of spiritual resilience shaping a range of African diasporic institutions, traditions, and practices. John argue... more

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Recent Guests

John Charles Simon
Author of Understanding Laughter and Humor
Palgrave Macmillan (author)
Episode: John Charles Simon and Jennalee Donian, "Understanding Laughter and Humor: Why We Laugh, Why We Don’t, and Why It Matters" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2026)
Jennalee Donian
Author of Understanding Laughter and Humor
Palgrave Macmillan (author)
Episode: John Charles Simon and Jennalee Donian, "Understanding Laughter and Humor: Why We Laugh, Why We Don’t, and Why It Matters" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2026)
Robert Wilson
Professor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
Episode: Robert A. Wilson, "Kin Matters: Relational Beings in the Fragile Sciences" (Oxford UP, 2026)
Robert Ovetz
Co-editor of Points of Departure; labor scholar and organizer
Common Notions/Points of Departure editors
Episode: Kevin Van Meter and Robert Ovetz eds. "Points of Departure: Refusal of Work and the Crisis of Capitalism: the Collected Writings of Harry Cleaver" (Common Notions, 2026)
Kevin Van Meter
Co-editor of Points of Departure; geographer and labor scholar
Common Notions/Points of Departure editors
Episode: Kevin Van Meter and Robert Ovetz eds. "Points of Departure: Refusal of Work and the Crisis of Capitalism: the Collected Writings of Harry Cleaver" (Common Notions, 2026)
Marnie Hughes-Warrington
Bradley Distinguished Professor of History and Philosophy, Adelaide University, author of Artificial Historians
Adelaide University
Episode: Marnie Hughes-Warrington, "Artificial Historians" (Routledge, 2025)
Chika Watanabe
Author, disaster studies researcher
Author of Play to Survive: Disaster Preparedness Along the Ring of Fire
Episode: Chika Watanabe, "Play to Survive: Disaster Preparedness Along the Ring of Fire" (Stanford UP, 2026)
Piergiorgio Di Giminiani
Associate Professor of Anthropology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Episode: Piergiorgio Di Giminiani, "Alterhumanism: Becoming Human on a Conservation Frontier" (U Arizona Press, 2025)
Jonathan Quong
Author of Political Philosophy, The Puzzle of Legitimate Injustice
University of Southern California
Episode: Jonathan Quong, "Political Philosophy: The Puzzle of Legitimate Injustice" (Princeton UP, 2026)

Hosts

Matthis Frickhoeffer
Host of New Books Network (New Books in Critical Theory)
Lydian
Host of the interview
Morteza Hajizadeh
Host of New Books Network

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 462 ratings
  • Edward Yore

    A podcast devoted to new books in critical theory would be great.

    But this is infrequently actually about critical theory. So many cross posted interviews, appearing on multiple New Books podcasts. I’m sure these books are super interesting to some people but the heading is misleading.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Edward Yore
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • unsubscribing due to ads

    the placement of ads is abrupt and comes without warning, it's very annoying to the point that I can no longer listen to these episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    irrelevance is taken
    United States6 months ago
  • Thank you

    Really enjoyed this conversation with Dr Welch.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    12345carole12345
    Canada7 months ago
  • Learn to use a microphone

    Trying to listen to Wolin’s discussion of his new Heidegger book. Not sure if it’s Wolin or his interlocutor who keeps touching his microphone, but good grief. Unlistenable, even beyond Wolin’s tedious prolixity.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hieronymus667
    Canada9 months ago
  • More 2 Author Discussions

    Absolutely engaging and informative discussion between Slobodian and Stern and the kind of format change that will set the pod apart. Hope you decide to continue in this direction.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    carterfrancis
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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Sound quality and ad placement are common critique points that affect listening experience.
Guest quality and topic relevance are generally praised, though some episodes feel unbalanced or too author-led for some listeners.
Listeners value the rigorous, idea-forward conversations and the chance to hear scholars discuss authorship and critique in depth.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

John Charles Simon and Jennalee Donian, "Understanding Laughter and Humor: Why We Laugh, Why We Don’t, and Why It Matters" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2026)
Q: Could you unpack the working comprehensive definition of humor and how distancing fits into it?
Humor arises when vulnerability is intentionally created, highlighted, or manipulated for an audience, with affiliation (acceptance by the group) and distancing (perspective, absurdity, information over time) jointly shaping whether the audience laughs in a sympathetic or derisive way.
Ryan Engley, "Seriality: Media and the Psychic Form of Everyday Life" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Q: But death drive, how can you speak about that? How does it tie the other concepts together?
He argues death drive provides a key mechanism for understanding how seriality works in practice, illustrating how self-destruction or risk-taking can propel individuals and media narratives into new forms, and how everyday life is animated by a primary masochism that pushes toward the new while exposing gaps that drive meaning.
Ryan Engley, "Seriality: Media and the Psychic Form of Everyday Life" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Q: What motivated you to write this book?
The author explains there was a conspicuous gap in TV studies and psychoanalysis, which motivated him to bring together these fields and demonstrate a coherent framework for seriality across media and the psyche; the long answer discussed his graduate work and the need to justify why psychoanalytic methods reveal the serial structure in television and literature.
Chika Watanabe, "Play to Survive: Disaster Preparedness Along the Ring of Fire" (Stanford UP, 2026)
Q: What surprised you in your fieldwork and how did those surprises shape your arguments about resilience and memory?
Surprises included officials viewing interventions as catalysts rather than cures, and that memories and local experiences sometimes contradicted official lessons, which led to the concept of fragility and a more nuanced view of resilience.
Chika Watanabe, "Play to Survive: Disaster Preparedness Along the Ring of Fire" (Stanford UP, 2026)
Q: Why did you choose to focus on playful preparedness, and how does it differ from traditional approaches to disaster readiness?
She explains that playful preparedness uses everyday objects and relational dynamics to make prepping feel doable and emphasizes imagination and improvisation as ways to prefigure a more resilient future, not as a guaranteed safety strategy.

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Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in Critical Theory

What is New Books in Critical Theory about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with scholars about recently published books across philosophy, critical theory, politics, and social science. Episodes commonly cover topics like postcolonial theory, capitalism, environmental governance, feminist labor, and the ethics of argumentation, often connecting theoretical ideas to real-world case studies and teaching practice. A notable strength is the sustained, academically rigorous dialogue that situates complex texts within broader intellectual and social debates, occasionally pairing ground-breaking theoretical work with accessible applications for students and practitioners. Its focus on scholarly books and critical perspectives makes it a rich resource for researchers, educators, a... more

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1. What's Left of Philosophy
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New Books in Critical Theory launched 14 years ago and published 2339 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on New Books in Critical Theory?

Recent guests on New Books in Critical Theory include:

1. John Charles Simon
2. Jennalee Donian
3. Robert Wilson
4. Robert Ovetz
5. Kevin Van Meter
6. Marnie Hughes-Warrington
7. Chika Watanabe
8. Piergiorgio Di Giminiani

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