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Artwork for WHY? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

WHY? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

Jack Russell Weinstein / Prairie Public
Philosophy
Negative Emotions
Plato
Good Enough Life
Education
Love
Madness
Dehumanization
Spying
Mental Health
Ethics
Self-Worth
Everyday Life
Human Experience
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Justice
Luck
Empathy
Humility
Prison Abolition

Join us each month as we engage in philosophical discussions about the most common-place topics with host Jack Russell Weinstein, professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Dakota. He is the director of The Institute for Philosophy in Public Life.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes25Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePhilosophy

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Artwork for WHY? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

Latest Episodes

Jack Russell Weinstein sits down with philosopher and neurobiologist Owen Flanagan to examine addiction through the lenses of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and lived experience. Owen discusses responsibility, recovery, social influences, and ... more

In this episode of WHY: Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life, host Jack Russell Weinstein explores one of humanity’s oldest and most consequential questions: What is agriculture for?

In this episode of Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life, host Jack Russell Weinstein and guest Susan Sugarman explore the enduring legacy of Sigmund Freud, one of the most recognizable and controversial figures in psychology.

Drawing from Jennifer Morton’s work on the ethical dilemmas faced by first-generation and low-income students, this episode examines the personal costs of pursuing higher education—fractured family ties, difficult tradeoffs, and the quiet loss of ide... more

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Recent Guests

Paul B. Thompson
Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University; author of What is Agriculture For?
Michigan State University
Episode: What is Agriculture For?
Susan Sugarman
Professor of Psychology at Princeton University; developmental psychologist
Princeton University
Episode: Is Freud Still Relevant?
Jennifer Morton
Presidential Penn Compact Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The Cost of Moving Up
Erich Hatala Matthes
Professor of Philosophy at Wellesley College and author of two books on art and conservation ethics.
Wellesley College
Episode: What Things Are Worth Saving?
Adrian Bardon
Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University and author of 'The Truth About Denial'.
Wake Forest University
Episode: Why Do People Deny Such Obvious Things
Lowry Pressly
Writer and teacher, currently in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Privacy Isn’t What You Think It Is
Elizabeth Minnich
Distinguished fellow at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, author of The Evil of Banality.
Association of American Colleges and Universities
Episode: How Is It That Ordinary People Can Commit Such Overwhelming Evil?
Elizabeth Anderson
John Dewey, Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy and Women's and Gender Studies, Professor of Law, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: How Do We Do Philosophy In Politically Difficult Times
Jason D. Hill
Professor of Philosophy and Honors Distinguished Faculty at DePaul University
DePaul University
Episode: How Do We Do Philosophy In Politically Difficult Times

Host

Jack Russell Weinstein
Host and philosopher with roles at the University of North Dakota and the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life. He moderates conversations that connect philosophical ideas to everyday life and societal issues.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 75 ratings
  • Such a good thoughtful podcast

    It really does make you think. I appreciate the episode on cults and on motherhood because it raises things you might have never thought about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mashanay
    United States5 years ago
  • The best philosophy podcast!

    I’ve listened to a lot of philosophy podcasts, but this one takes the cake. Jack does an outstanding job at facilitating fascinating conversations while still being accessible and easily digestible. The guests are always a delight, and you can tell that everyone is invested in the project. Highly recommend for anyone that’s intellectually curious and wants to hear genuine conversations between genuine people! <3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anna478
    United States6 years ago
  • Modern topics with philosophical view

    While this isn’t the most well-produced or scripted podcast, the content is beyond superb and always relevant. If you love philosophy but find it difficult to apply to daily life or sociological situations this podcast is a great fit as it facilitates a greater perspective on the respective subjects covered.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tinman Sam
    Canada6 years ago
  • Worth your time Podcast

    Finally we have a quality, professional podcast option. Pairs with any downtime in the car or easy listening after a long day. The guests are current and relevant in their fields. Host Dr. Jack Weinstein has created a listener focused conversation providing new insights to modern concerns.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Thor8
    United States10 years ago
  • Great Show About Ideas

    At first glance, I wouldn't think a public radio show about philosophical ideas would make it. I say this and I'm a philosopher by trade. Jack Weinstein makes it work wot a great combination of good guests, interesting topics, and great conversation. One of the marks of a great conversation is that you don't usually notice the wheels turning. Good conversations can sound easy and effortless, but they take really good listening and thoughtfulness. Three thumbs up for this show, and I'm glad a ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tony Cunningham
    United States10 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently engaging and knowledgeable, elevating the conversations.
High production quality and strong guest selection are evident in reviews.
Content is relevant, thoughtful, and applicable to contemporary life.
Listeners praise the host's facilitation and accessibility of complex ideas.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Freud Still Relevant?
Q: How does Freud's theory handle the idea of past influencing present behavior, and is the past entirely determinative?
Freud suggested that while the past helps explain current behavior, it does not deterministically dictate it; psychoanalysis aims to uncover and work through earlier influences to gain greater freedom and agency in the present.
Is Freud Still Relevant?
Q: What is the central pivot point that allowed modern psychology to view the mind differently from prior approaches?
Freud's insight that the mind can influence behavior through unconscious channels, and that symptoms may have meaningful cognitive or affective origins, shifted psychology toward mental processes that lie beyond immediate awareness.
What Things Are Worth Saving?
Q: Is there a hierarchy of value?
Erich acknowledges that while some things are intuitively more important, often, the trade-offs in conservation are more about personal and community values rather than stark choices between options.
Why Do People Deny Such Obvious Things
Q: Why doesn't our conversation just boil down to who is right and who isn't?
Because belief doesn't operate solely on logic; it's suffused with emotion, affect, and implicit motives.
How Do We Do Philosophy In Politically Difficult Times
Q: How do we balance the perception of students with the desire to figure out what the teacher actually did or intended to do?
Liz discussed the importance of giving students permission to express disagreement and fostering an environment where they're allowed to explore different viewpoints.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Thoughtful, accessible philosophy discussions tackle everyday life, culture, and current ideas through in-depth conversations with scholars and practitioners. Core topics span ethics, cognition, social justice, history of ideas, and how philosophical concepts shape daily decisions. Noteworthy is the host's knack for balancing rigorous analysis with clear, relatable dialogue, often pairing guests who bridge theory and real-world impact. The show frequently features prominent academics across ethics, politics, psychology, and philosophy of technology, offering listeners practical frameworks for thinking about modern life and society.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Philosophize This!
2. The Daily
3. This American Life
4. No Stupid Questions
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 17 years ago and published 25 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. Paul B. Thompson
2. Susan Sugarman
3. Jennifer Morton
4. Erich Hatala Matthes
5. Adrian Bardon
6. Lowry Pressly
7. Elizabeth Minnich
8. Elizabeth Anderson

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