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Artwork for The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey
Philosophy
Improv
Ethics
Thomas Aquinas
Aristotle
Hegel
Kant
Morality
Identity
Object-Oriented Ontology
David Hume
Existentialism
Community
Ecclesiastes
Hollywood
Hume
Empathy
Virtue
Creativity
Sinners

The Partially Examined Life is a podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode, we pick a short text and chat about it with some balance between insight and flippancy. You don't have to know any philosophy, or even to have read the text we're talking about to (mostly) follow and (hopefully) enjoy the discussion. For link... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes890Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Latest Episodes

It's been 2019 since our last Spider-Man episode, so what's with the new film (Brand New Day), and the Spider-Verse, and Nicholas Cage being Spider Noir? Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al discuss in this, our SEASON FINALE!

Get more at prettymuchpop.... more

On Daniel C. Dennett's Consciousness Explained (Ch. 1, 5), featuring guest Mark, Seth, Dylan, and guest Chris Heath.

What is the mind? Dennett puts forth his "multiple drafts" model against the centralization that he characterizes as the "Cartesian... more

Chris Sunami, the editor of the PEL book, joins Mark, Wes and Seth as part of the launch of his new book, Free Your Mind, which is a series of PEL-like conversations all coming out of Chris' brain, using the model of Plato's symposium to talk about r... more

lenn was a central figure in the Hoboken punk scene, fronting the band "a" in the late '70s and then The Individuals in the early '80s. His next band, Rage to Live, was the first release from Bar/None records in 1986, and Glenn then joined the label ... more

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Recent Guests

Glenn Morrow
Founder of Bar/None Records; musician
Bar/None Records
Episode: PEL Presents NEM#259: Glenn Morrow (Bar/None): Songwriting Re-Emergence
Jennifer Hansen
Philosopher, guest on the show
Episode: PEL Presents PvI#123: Brain Spritzing w/ Bill Arnett and Jenny Hansen
Bill Arnett
Former co-host, philosopher and improv performer
Episode: PEL Presents PvI#123: Brain Spritzing w/ Bill Arnett and Jenny Hansen
Dan Montgomery
Singer-songwriter
Drugs Before Breakfast, Beat/Desert Sessions
Episode: PEL Presents NEM#258: Dan Montgomery: Direct Communication
AmirAli Maleki
Philosophy researcher based in Iran
Iranian academic
Episode: PEL Presents PvI#122: Hello from Iran w/ AmirAli Maleki
Josh Joplin
Musician, artist behind Josh Joplin Group/Among the Oak & Ash
Josh Joplin Group
Episode: PEL Presents NEM#257: Josh Joplin Doesn't Look Back… Until Now
Maddie Mutations
A multimedia artist and doll stylist performing in Doll Court
Doll Court (Maddie Mutations)
Episode: PEL Presents PvI#121: Meat Suit Dolls w/ Maddie Mutations
Bruce Soord
Singer and guitarist for Pineapple Thief
Pineapple Thief
Episode: PEL Presents NEM#256: Bruce Soord (Pineapple Thief): Heartbreaking Prog by Ear
Wes Alwan
Guest on this episode; listener-turned-participant in the discussion
The Partially Examined Life community / Wes Alwan
Episode: PEL Presents PMP#225: Survivor the Constant (with Wes!)

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • Waste of time

    Tried listening to the episode on Wittgenstein; sound quality was awful, and it opens with dopey American guys talking nonsense over the top of each other. I realised there was nothing to be learned here.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FT1/(
    Australiaa month ago
  • Fun and accessible

    I couldn’t afford to even pretend I was going to do philosophy for a living, but I can listen to this podcast while I labor under capitalism. I think it’s a good level, and pleasantly challenging to the layperson (me!)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LostListens
    United States2 months ago
  • just tired.

    been listening to this podcast since really early on and the quality if discussion has risen and fallen, but i’m just tired of the need on wes’s part to inject his little hatred of trans people in every chance he gets. its annoying and really pathetic at a point. it’s old and tired now, get over it and talk about hegel.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    A is not A
    United States5 months ago
  • Smart people discussing big ideas - love it!

    This is my favorite podcast of all time. I always learn something from PEL. All of the participants are excellent and super knowledgeable, and Mark especially has a great entertaining personality. Love PEL - thank you all!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    girltalk77
    United States6 months ago
  • Simplistic

    Although they try and make a good show of it these guys are outside of the mainstream of philosophy and have not the time to actually go deep into the texts they approach.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Renormalizer
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners criticize sound quality or chaotic banter, suggesting room for tighter editing.
Listeners praise accessibility and informativeness, noting high-quality discussion and engaging hosts.
Positive feedback for guest insights and broadly useful philosophy introductions.
Praise for diverse viewpoints and the balance of depth with entertainment.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

PEL Presents NEM#259: Glenn Morrow (Bar/None): Songwriting Re-Emergence
Q: So at some point, what, 2017 at least was the first record that you rediscovered your muse. Can you say a little about that reemergence before we hear something from the new album?
I had been in bands in the 70s and 80s and then started Bar/None Records and got married and had a couple of kids. I kept my chops up, wrote songs, and after Maxwell's closed I felt a creative surge and began gathering like-minded players to form Glenn Morrow's Cry for Help, which reignited my songwriting.
PREMIUM-PEL Sunami Nightcap August 2026
Q: What is the core message you want readers to hear beyond current events?
He emphasizes that the book aims to spark citizen engagement and to encourage people to think differently about ideas, communities, and how philosophy can shape action in the world.
PREMIUM-PEL Sunami Nightcap August 2026
Q: What inspired you to write the book now?
Chris explains that a sense of urgency, driven by perceived real dangers and a desire to catalyze public dialogue, pushed him to move from didactic essays to dramatic dialogue as the core format.
PEL Presents NEM#254: Teddy Thompson Gets Off the Sofa
Q: Any thought about the arc of the direction and where you're at before we hear the new song?
Teddy reflects on his gaps between records, the influence of the pandemic, and how distance and time shaped his approach to the new album, emphasizing both natural shifts and deliberate studio decisions.
PEL Presents NEM#253: Synth-Scaper Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree)
Q: What role does sampling play in your composing process, especially at the start of a track?
Sampling often acts as the spark that starts the track; I build around a few abstract elements, slow them down if needed, and then craft the rest of the arrangement so the sample anchors the evolving texture.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A philosophy-focused discussion show that regularly revisits canonical texts and themes, mixing rigorous analysis with accessible, often humorous banter. Episodes span ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and the history of ideas, frequently featuring multiple hosts and occasional guests who bring diverse perspectives from academia, media, and the arts. Noteworthy traits include a lively debate style, accessibility for newcomers, and a willingness to entertain wide-ranging interpretations of complex texts. This podcast is likely to appeal to curious listeners who enjoy long-form conversation, dialectical exploration, and playful mock-ery alongside serious critique.

A standout aspect is the rotating panel format and the way discussio... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Philosophy For Our Times
2. Philosophize This!
3. Philosophy Bites
4. Overthink
5. Theory & Philosophy

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 17 years ago and published 890 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Glenn Morrow
2. Jennifer Hansen
3. Bill Arnett
4. Dan Montgomery
5. AmirAli Maleki
6. Josh Joplin
7. Maddie Mutations
8. Bruce Soord

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