Rephonic
Artwork for Ordinary Unhappiness

Ordinary Unhappiness

Patrick & Abby
Psychoanalysis
Freud
Feminism
Hysteria
Trauma
Abjection
Family Dynamics
Gender Dynamics
Capitalism
Identity
Projective Identification
Mental Health
Desire
Taylor Swift
Lacanian Psychoanalysis
Homelessness
Covid-19
Fantasy
Pop Culture
Donald Trump

A podcast about psychoanalysis, politics, pop culture, and the ways we suffer now, featuring Abby Kluchin & Patrick Blanchfield

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes163Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsSociety & CultureNewsPhilosophy

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Artwork for Ordinary Unhappiness

Latest Episodes

Subscribe to get access to the full episode, the episode reading list, and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness

Abby, Patrick, and Dan close out their reading of Winnicott’s paper, “Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomen... more

Abby and Patrick welcome clinician, activist, and writer Lara Sheehi, author of the brand-new book, From the Clinic to The Streets: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures. Situating this book and her other work within the context of her background ... more

Subscribe to get access to the full episode, the episode reading list, and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness

Abby, Patrick, and Dan continue their reading of Winnicott’s famous essay, “Transitional Objects and Transitional Ph... more

Taking a breather from our moment’s unrelentingly grim headlines, Abby, Patrick, and Dan return to a favorite analytic thinker – Donald Winnicott (1896-1971) – and begin the first of a two-part episode on one of his most famous papers, “Transitional ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lara Sheehi
Author and psychoanalyst; researcher and lecturer
University of South Africa's Institute for Social and Health Sciences
Episode: 145: Psychic Militancy feat. Lara Sheehi
Jonathan Lear
Philosopher/psychoanalyst (as referenced in episode framing)
Episode: 141: Jonathan Lear and the “Good-Enough World” feat. Chris Landry
Chris Landry
Guest referenced in title as part of the episode feat.
Episode: 141: Jonathan Lear and the “Good-Enough World” feat. Chris Landry
Avgi Saketopoulou
Psychoanalyst; author and scholar on gender, race, and politics
NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis; UC Berkeley (Avinalli Chair)
Episode: 138: Genocide and the Politics of Hospitality feat. Avgi Saketopoulou
Séamus Malekafzali
Guest on the episode, discussing psychoanalytic readings of repression and Zionism
Author/Scholar
Episode: 137: Repression, Resistance, and Reenactment feat. Séamus Malekafzali Teaser
Jordy Rosenberg
Author of Night Night Fawn and Confessions of the Fox
author; professor at UMass Amherst
Episode: 136: Ideology and Family History feat. Jordy Rosenberg
Helen Epstein
Visiting Professor of Human Rights and Global Public Health at Bard College
Bard College
Episode: 134: On Suicide and the Indifference of Others feat. Helen Epstein
Danielle Drori
Associate Faculty of Literary Studies at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research and a psychoanalyst in training.
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
Episode: 132: Laplanche Part One: Sexuality and Subjectivity feat. Danielle Drori
Abby Kluchin
Host of Ordinary Unhappiness, a podcast about psychoanalysis, culture, and ways we suffer now.
Ordinary Unhappiness
Episode: BONUS EPISODE: Romantasy, Fantasy, and Trauma

Hosts

Abby Kluchin
Host and co-host known for guiding close-reading psychoanalytic discussions and broader cultural critique.
Patrick Blanchfield
Co-host known for driving analytic inquiry, framing concepts, and engaging with guests.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 600 ratings
  • Collective Effusiveness

    As a psychoanalyst, writer, and teacher: I wholeheartedly approve of this close-reading dialogue.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rigatonijoe
    United States21 days ago
  • talk normal!

    I love this podcast! I send episodes to my friends and we enjoy discussing them! But the hosts' speaking styles are DIFFICULT. Abby talks too slowly, and I assume she thinks it makes her easier to understand, but I forget the beginning of each sentence by the time she gets to the end. Patrick talks at a normal rate (and I know Abby coached him to slow down from what used to be too fast), but he still hedges with 15 different clauses between the subject and the verb, so that I have to rewind ever... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HandDrawnFoxes
    United States4 months ago
  • Bizarre and Lucid

    Brace yourself for immersive cold opens that wander 5 minutes or more. Dis-orienting orientation. Intense, but curious and oddly fond and respectful chats.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coffeeteacoffee
    United States5 months ago
  • Really thoughtful but meandering

    I used to love this podcast so much, but what is happening recently? Each episode is mostly just Patrick going off on tangents and constantly hedging and Abbie occasionally riffing on what he says. The guests get hardly any air time and the episodes feel directionless. Did Patrick up his Adderal or something?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bizzle1888
    United States5 months ago
  • Quickly becoming one of my new favorite podcasts

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    It’s honestly absurd that Ordinary Unhappiness is sitting at a 4.6 rating. This podcast is consistently thoughtful, deeply conversational, and genuinely thought-inspiring in a way that so many shows aim for but rarely achieve. Each episode feels less like content and more like an invitation to think—about psychology, culture, suffering, and meaning—without rushing toward easy answers.

    The hosts create space for curiosity, nuance, and reflection, and the conversations unfold with an ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    qautrey
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guest-driven episodes are especially strong and informative.
Thoughtful, nuanced psychoanalytic discussions that challenge conventional thinking.
Sound and pacing can be polarizing for some listeners, but the ideas are consistently engaging.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

145: Psychic Militancy feat. Lara Sheehi
Q: What role does repetition play in sustaining political commitments against power?
Repetition anchors movements, undermines power's attempts to normalize oppression, and keeps commitments visible and active even in the face of backlash or discouragement.
145: Psychic Militancy feat. Lara Sheehi
Q: What does 'psychic militancy' mean in practical terms for researchers, clinicians, and activists?
Psychic militancy is a daily, political commitment to question how power mobilizes affect, detect intrusions, maintain an antagonistic relation to oppressive processes, and use repetition as a tool of liberation.
145: Psychic Militancy feat. Lara Sheehi
Q: How do you conceptualize 'despecialization' and why is Fanon foundational to this project?
Despecialization is about reading theory as a tool for liberation, beginning with Fanon to critique eurocentric psychoanalysis, and using psychoanalysis to challenge oppressive structures rather than to reinforce them.
145: Psychic Militancy feat. Lara Sheehi
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your path to psychoanalysis?
Sheehi describes a journey from English literature to psychoanalysis, seeking a theory that could organize the world and address contradictions, moving from Beirut to the United States, and ultimately embracing a critical, political form of psychoanalysis.
136: Ideology and Family History feat. Jordy Rosenberg
Q: How did the structure of the novel influence your portrayal of Barbara Rosenberg?
The structure grew from Barbara's long, uninterrupted venting, which then became a framing device that blends past and present and allows for a non-didactic, immersive portrait of her worldview.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ordinary Unhappiness

What is Ordinary Unhappiness about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking show that blends psychoanalysis, political commentary, and cultural analysis through in-depth conversations and close readings. Listeners often engage with complex ideas about desire, society, trauma, and power, with episodes featuring scholars, writers, and practitioners who push the boundaries of theory into everyday life. Notable strengths include rigorous theory paired with accessible discussion, a willingness to tackle provocative topics, and a format that favors nuanced dialogue and guest-led exploration. The show is probably of interest to academics, clinicians, and intellectually curious audiences who value careful analysis and open-ended inquiry, even when conversations become challenging or controversial.

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Which podcasts are similar to Ordinary Unhappiness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ordinary Unhappiness:

1. New Books in Psychoanalysis
2. Why Theory
3. Know Your Enemy
4. In Bed With The Right
5. Psychoanalysis On and Off the Couch

How many episodes of Ordinary Unhappiness are there?

Ordinary Unhappiness launched 3 years ago and published 163 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 Ordinary Unhappiness?

Recent guests on Ordinary Unhappiness include:

1. Lara Sheehi
2. Jonathan Lear
3. Chris Landry
4. Avgi Saketopoulou
5. Séamus Malekafzali
6. Jordy Rosenberg
7. Helen Epstein
8. Danielle Drori

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