Rephonic
Artwork for The Lack
Demolition Man
Saltburn
Bamboozled
Breaking Away
No Country For Old Men
Videodrome
Blackface
May December
Racial Stereotypes
Evil
Society
Media Influence
David Cronenberg
Capitalism
Black Middle Class
Spike Lee
Cormac Mccarthy
Culture
Sex and Violence In Media
Technology

The Lack is a weekly podcast from political theorist Benjamin Studebaker, philosopher Nina Power and filmmaker Helen Rollins. We take a work each week (film, poem, essay, book...) and relate it to a philosophical theme for a wide-ranging discussion about ideas, culture and society. Each week, there is an A-side public episode and a B-side, patreon only, private episode. You can subscribe to our pa... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes155Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophyTV & FilmSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Lack

Latest Episodes

This episode is on the 2019 film, I Am Mother. To hear the B-side, subscribe on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelackpodcast

This episode is on the 1999 film, The Iron Giant. To hear the B-side, subscribe on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelackpodcast

This episode is on the 2024 film, The Wild Robot. To hear the B-side, subscribe on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelackpodcast

This episode is on the 1975 film, Barry Lyndon. To hear the B-side, subscribe on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelackpodcast

Key Facts

Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Doug Lane
Science fiction author and founder of Sublation Media
Sublation Media
Episode: The Parallax View
Helen Rollins
Director and filmmaker
Episode: Chinatown
Nina Power
Philosopher and writer
Episode: Chinatown

Hosts

Nina Power
Co-host with a background in philosophy, exploring cultural artifacts through a critical lens.
Benjamin Studebaker
Co-host specializing in political theory and cultural critique, providing insights into contemporary issues.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 128 ratings
  • Great conversations

    This is absolutely one of my favorite podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GrouchoGrouch
    United Statesa month ago
  • Ran rings around Nina Power

    Stupendous episode. So many interesting angles and ideas coming from Benjamin Studebaker and utter lack of ability to engage, spar or be in any way additive from one note Nina Power.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Deeeeeedubya
    United States5 months ago
  • The best podcast

    I would listen to Benjamin analyse anything, the insights he brings out are incredible. He would make a great Aristotle to an Alexander the Great

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hjngjjggg
    Australia7 months ago
  • Stay in your lane

    “… now I’m even more critical from a virologist point of view—not that I’m a virologist, but as if I were.” (Episode:Possession, Feb 2022) Nina, I listen to this show for the psychoanalysis and theory, not rubbish about so-called ‘immunity debt’.

    Oh wait, just discovered Nina Power is a big TERF. The bar has lowered, along with my rating.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    broadcastappeal
    Australia2 years ago
  • Really engaging conversations from a progressive perspective that it quite critical of mainstream liberalism. Makes some more obscure continentual theory, particularly Lacanian psychoanalysis, feel relevant and interesting.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    xolotlll
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews express concerns regarding the hosts' tendencies to agree too much with each other, suggesting a desire for more diverse viewpoints during discussions.
The hosts are praised for their ability to analyze and relate various forms of media to broader societal and political themes.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its thought-provoking discussions that intertwine cultural critique with philosophical insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Birth of a Nation
Q: What are the underlying economic problems that continue to influence race relations in the U.S.?
Economic disparities between regions, particularly between the North and South, coupled with racial inequalities, perpetuate tension and prevent reconciliation. It's a complex challenge involving job creation and addressing deep-rooted economic issues.
Birth of a Nation
Q: How does the film impose certain categories and perspectives on its audience?
The film's portrayal imposes troubling categories regarding race and class, reflecting societal biases without irony or self-awareness, which is deeply disturbing.
May December
Q: How do you feel about the age gap discourse that surrounds relationships depicted in films like this?
This discourse raises questions about maturity and ethical responsibilities in relationships, indicating a societal discomfort with age disparities.
May December
Q: What do you think about the representation of arrested development in the film?
The film portrays characters stuck in their developmental stages, highlighting the consequences of their intertwined exploitations and relationships.
The Curse
Q: What did you think of the ending of The Curse?
The ending underscores the absurdity of trying to resolve the ideological contradictions of capitalism and reflects the show's deeper themes.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Lack

What is The Lack about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly exploration of cultural works such as films, poems, essays, and books, featuring discussions that intertwine philosophical themes with societal issues. The content showcases a diverse range of ideas, aiming to stimulate thought about culture, politics, and identity. Notably, the discussions often challenge traditional narratives, offering fresh perspectives on well-known works while encouraging a deep analysis of the socio-political context surrounding them. The format includes a public episode accessible to all listeners and a supplementary private episode for Patreon supporters, which may enhance the overall engagement with the themes presented.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Lack?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Lack. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Lack and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Lack get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Lack?

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How many subscribers and views does The Lack have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Lack?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Lack:

1. Why Theory
2. PlasticPills - Philosophy & Critical Theory Podcast
3. Bungacast
4. Acid Horizon
5. What's Left of Philosophy

How many episodes of The Lack are there?

The Lack launched 4 years ago and published 155 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 The Lack?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Lack?

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What guests have appeared on The Lack?

Recent guests on The Lack include:

1. Doug Lane
2. Helen Rollins
3. Nina Power

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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