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Philosophy Talk

Philosophy Talk
Philosophy
Dionysus Awards
Ethics
Conclave
Arthur Schopenhauer
Heretic
Hard Truths
The Room Next Door
Pessimism
Feminism
A Real Pain
Dune Part II
Suffering
Im Yunjidang
Artificial Intelligence
Elizabeth Anscombe
Gilbert Ryle
Mary Midgley
Music
Existentialism

"The program that questions everything—except your intelligence." Philosophy Talk began as a weekly one-hour radio series and has been on the air for more than two decades. The host-professors bring clarity, depth, and humor to everyday topics that are lofty (Truth, Beauty, Justice), arresting (Terrorism, Intelligent Design, Suicide), and engaging (Baseball, Love, Happiness). This is not a lecture... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes652Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for Philosophy Talk

Latest Episodes

For French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, everything we perceive takes the form of a shape. You don’t just see green and splotches: you see a tree. Even before your rational brain gets its motor running, your body has a sense of what’s out there,... more

Human beings share the planet with many different organisms with vastly diverse ways of life. We like to think we’re a higher form of intelligence. But are we really that unique? How different are we as a species when it comes to language, thought, a... more

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A memoir is a personal narrative written about a pivotal time in the author’s life. While the story is told from a particular perspective, the events recounted are supposed to be fact, not fiction. But what exactly counts as truth in memoir? Is the d... more

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Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky was a practicing Christian, and his writings often feature characters who have or find faith. But many of the most fascinating and charismatic characters are flamboyant atheists, and Dostoevsky has these characters ... more

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Recent Guests

Helena de Bres
Professor of Philosophy at Wellesley College; author of Artful Truths, The Philosophy of Memoir
Wellesley College
Episode: The Scandalous Truth about Memor
Garry Hagberg
Professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy
Bard College
Episode: Dostoevsky and Doubting Faith
Rachana Kamtekar
Professor of Philosophy at Cornell University and author
Cornell University
Episode: Marcus Aurelius
Amy Copeland
Professor of philosophy at Cal State Fullerton, contributor on Hamnet and Frankenstein discussions
California State University, Fullerton
Episode: The 2026 Dionysus Awards
Alison McQueen
Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, author of Political Realism in Apocalyptic Times
Stanford University
Episode: Hobbes and the Ideal Citizen
Nastassja Pugliese
Professor of Philosophy and Education
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Episode: Wise Woman: Nísia Floresta
Hanna Pickard
Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, author of What Would You Do Alone in a Cage with Nothing But Cocaine? A Philosophy of Addiction
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: What Is Addiction?
Sylvana Tomaselli
Professor of History, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: Wise Woman: Mary Wollstonecraft
Jayati Ghosh
Professor of Economics at UMass Amherst and co-author of Earth for All, A Survival Guide for Humanity.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Episode: Can Money Buy Well-being?

Hosts

Josh Landy
Host of Philosophy Talk; affiliated with Philosophy Talk (Stanford/KALW) and Stanford University
Ray Briggs
Co-host of Philosophy Talk; appears across multiple stations and affiliations
Ken Taylor
Co-host of Philosophy Talk; long-running contributor

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#205
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#197
Netherlands/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Scandalous Truth about Memor
Q: Do memoirs have to be completely true?
Memoirs should aim for experiential truth rather than every fact, balancing memory, interpretation, and the lived experience while avoiding bigger fabrications or impersonations that would mislead readers.
Hobbes and the Ideal Citizen
Q: What would make someone a good citizen for Hobbes?
For Hobbes, a good citizen is essentially a subject who shows virtually complete obedience to an absolute state in order to avoid the state of nature and civil war.
What Is Addiction?
Q: What is addiction, if not a brain disease?
A definition focusing on drug use that is harmful to the person's own good and persists despite costs, incorporating behavioral, personal, and social dimensions rather than reducing to brain pathology.
Wise Woman: Mary Wollstonecraft
Q: Are Wollstonecraft's arguments for gender equality similar to those later advocated by John Stuart Mill?
Sylvana Tomaselli notes that while Mill references Wollstonecraft and shares the goal of equal rights, Mill explicitly articulates civil and political rights in a way Wollstonecraft did not, highlighting both continuity and differentiation in their approaches to equality.
Can Money Buy Well-being?
Q: How do you think about these philosophies?
Jayati discusses how certain philosophies promise a good life regardless of income, noting that while they provide dignity, they may also reduce the urgency for system change.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Philosophy Talk

What is Philosophy Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thought-provoking discussions that bring rigorous philosophy into everyday life, often through lively interviews with scholars and practitioners. Across recent episodes, core threads include memory and truth in memoir, doubt and faith in literature, nuanced analyses of ethics in addiction, civil disobedience, and the relationship between money and well-being, as well as deep dives into ancient and modern political philosophy. The show frequently pairs accessible classroom-style dialogue with expert guests to illuminate how philosophy can inform personal decisions, public policy, and cultural criticism, from Stoicism and Diogenes to Wollstonecraft and Cooper. A standout aspect is the blend of rigorous argument with practical, relatable takea... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Philosophy Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Philosophy Talk:

1. Philosophy Bites
2. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
3. Philosophy For Our Times
4. Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of Philosophy Talk are there?

Philosophy Talk launched 10 months ago and published 652 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 Philosophy Talk?

Recent guests on Philosophy Talk include:

1. Helena de Bres
2. Garry Hagberg
3. Rachana Kamtekar
4. Amy Copeland
5. Alison McQueen
6. Nastassja Pugliese
7. Hanna Pickard
8. Sylvana Tomaselli

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