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Park Bench Ontology

Gavin Stephens
Capitalism
Hauntology
Byung-Chul Han
The Sopranos
Escape From Freedom
Necropolitics
The Shining
Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City
Comedy
Racism
Legacy
Denial Of Death
Racecraft
Mark Fisher
Capitalist Realism
Psychopolitics
Social Media
Eric Fromm
Duty/responsibility
Jean Baudrillard

is a low-stakes existential crisis disguised as a comedy podcast for people quietly losing faith in the script of modern life. Each week, comedian and writer Gavin Stephens dissects the absurd machinery of capitalism and culture — from sitcoms to wealth inequality, Baudrillard to people who talk in the movies — exposing the broken myths, invisible rules, and slow-motion collapse we all pretend isn... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes421Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureComedy

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Artwork for Park Bench Ontology

Latest Episodes

"I Watched CBC's Boys-Are-Falling-Behind Segment So You Don't Have To" — matching the YouTube title across platforms means search and word-of-mouth ("did you see/hear the boys-falling-behind episode") converge on one phrase instead of splitting disco... more

YouTube

Hamilton voted down a data center last week. Hundreds showed up to a planning tribunal, the city council meeting was livestreamed on Reddit, and the proposal was denied. It was a real win.

The infrastructure that needed the data center is unaffected... more

Stand-up comedy has always told itself it speaks truth to power. But the court jester was only in the room because the king let him in.

In this episode, Gavin traces the mythology of the truth-telling comedian — from Lenny Bruce and Mort Saul throug... more

YouTube

The "don't judge the past by today's standards" argument sounds principled. It references real historical philosophy — presentism, anachronism, the dangers of projecting backwards. And if you look at it charitably, it almost makes sense.

Except it's... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Breach Show
The Breach ShowThe Breach

Host

Gavin Stephens
Host of the show and primary speaker; plays monologue and drives discussion.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Great show

    Love this show. Always keeps me interested and always look forward to new episodes. Can’t recommend it enough.

    -Tabby from Your New Best Friends Podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HelloandNo
    United States6 years ago
  • A Cultural Conversation with Your Smartest and Funniest Friends

    MRD is so addictive! Gavin and B Black discuss cultural events and critique them through a minority - and uniquely Canadian - lens. They also bring in guests with a variety of backgrounds (not just comedians; they are both experience stand up comedians) whose expertise adds depth to the conversations. While the material can be heavy at times, Gavin and B Black keep things light and funny with their great chemistry and dialogue while highlighting the controversies within our culture that everyone... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    killer8unnylol
    Canada7 years ago
  • Canadian racism explained

    Gavin and B Black examine racism in Canada. It's eye-opening but entertaining

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cocobeewhere
    Canada7 years ago
  • A great podcast!

    Gavin and B do an amazing job of breaking down today's racial & social concerns as they appear in pop culture. Whether thats the growing MAGA trends or Hollywood's "white" saviour complex in films, they look at he issues and break down whats actually going on. Loving listening to them discuss the topic at hand every week!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nelson Forster
    Canada7 years ago
  • Great work guys!

    Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much I've really been enjoying MRD. I've been listening since the beginning, and while sometimes I find myself yelling at my phone when I watch, at least I'm passionately engaged. :) I also love that they change the format every season just a little to keep it fresh.

    Regarding S03E01, for the record I've never been able to watch The Blind Side because something always just felt off about it. Gavin and B. Black very effectively put into words what t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Craig Churchill
    Canada8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Canadian perspective and guests add depth to discussions.
Hosts' chemistry and long-form discussions are highly appreciated.
Sound quality and production can be variable, with some notes about improvements.
Listeners praise thoughtful cultural critique delivered with humor.

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Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per EpisodeGender SkewLocation
InterestsProfessionsAge Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Park Bench Ontology

What is Park Bench Ontology about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Park Bench Ontology blends sharp cultural critique with low-stakes existential humor, frequently unpacking capitalism, public symbols, and modern identity through monologue and conversation. Episodes tether philosophy to everyday life, exploring topics like productivity culture, wealth inequality, media critique, surveillance, and the performative nature of brands. The show stands out for its blend of accessible humor, dense ideas, and a distinctive Canadian perspective, with a willingness to tackle heavy themes while keeping the tone witty and engaging for curious, value-driven listeners.

Where can I find podcast stats for Park Bench Ontology?

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How many listeners does Park Bench Ontology get?

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What are the audience demographics for Park Bench Ontology?

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How many subscribers and views does Park Bench Ontology have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Park Bench Ontology?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Park Bench Ontology:

1. The Breach Show

How many episodes of Park Bench Ontology are there?

Park Bench Ontology launched 13 years ago and published 421 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 Park Bench Ontology?

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