Why Theory
Why TheoryWhy Theory brings continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine cultural phenomena.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 227 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | TV & Film | |||
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Latest Episodes
On this episode, Ryan and Todd discuss the notion of divine violence. The conversation draws principally on an encounter staged between the term's evocation in Walter Benjamin's 1921 essay, "Toward a Critique of Violence" and the term's later deploym... more
On this episode, Ryan and Todd complete their Frantz Fanon duology by talking about his final completed work, Wretched of the Earth. The episode focuses on Fanon's "stretching" of both Marxism and psychoanalysis to ground his unique decolonial interv... more
On this episode, Ryan and Todd discuss Frantz Fanon's decolonial classic, Black Skin, White Masks. The hosts work through the conversation surrounding his credentials as a psychoanalyst, his engagement with Freud, Lacan, Octave Mannoni, and Carl Jung... more
On this episode, Ryan and Todd theorize the adaptation as a form of film. The episode takes its point of departure the continuing conversation over Nolan's Odyssey. Film adaptations, according to the hosts, must represent an intervention to the sourc... more
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- thank you (from a woman!!)
not every ep is for me (love film, don’t love film theory, oddly enough) but this is the best theory podcast as far as thoughtfulness, HUMOR, entertainment value and grounding in culture goes that i’m aware of. Not much can get me to listen to men these days but this archive is such a comfort for me.
Apple Podcasts5DimesSquareDweller age 36
United States3 months ago - Michael Clayton
Ryan, that was a fantastic break down of Michael Clayton, thank you both for your insights and efforts, what a great movie, what a great episide.
Apple Podcasts5Tconlon71
United Kingdom3 months ago - Love it!
Fantastic show! Can’t stop listening and learning. As someone with misophonia, soooo many loud swallowing sounds ahhhhh lol
Apple Podcasts5spyvsspyroUnited States4 months ago - A treat!
Always look forward to new episodes and have been listening to past ones — even the ones that seemingly are irrelevant to me or my interests like sports or Christmas movie end up generating questions and ideas for me that I wish I would earnestly pursue.
Apple Podcasts5Juliette9619United States4 months ago - My Favorite Podcast
Why Theory is, without question, my favorite podcast.
Todd and Ryan have that rare kind of chemistry that makes even the most difficult philosophical and psychoanalytic ideas feel alive, engaging, and surprisingly accessible without ever dumbing them down. There’s a rhythm between them—intellectually sharp, genuinely funny, and deeply human—that makes each episode feel less like a lecture and more like being invited into an ongoing conversation you can’t wait to keep listening to.
What continu... more
Apple Podcasts5Quique AutreyUnited States4 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #189 |  Canada/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #249 | United Kingdom/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #20 |  Sweden/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #22 |  Belgium/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #33 |  India/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #95 |  Argentina/TV & Film |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Why Theory
What is Why Theory about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Two hosts fuse continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory to analyze culture, film, politics, and everyday life. Across episodes, they connect dense ideas to cinema, literature, and current events with a playful, rigorously argued back-and-forth that balances depth with accessibility. A standout feature is the duo's dynamic: brisk, insightful, and warmly skeptical, making complex theory feel relevant and engaging for listeners who love film, culture, and philosophy. The show often treats big concepts as lenses for understanding real-world phenomena rather than abstract puzzles, which can appeal to both academics and curious general listeners.
Where can I find podcast stats for Why Theory?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Why Theory. 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 Why Theory and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Why Theory get?
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What are the audience demographics for Why Theory?
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How many subscribers and views does Why Theory have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Why Theory has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Why Theory?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Why Theory:
1. Acid Horizon
2. Ordinary Unhappiness
3. What's Left of Philosophy
4. New Books in Psychoanalysis
5. Hermitix
How many episodes of Why Theory are there?
Why Theory launched 9 years ago and published 227 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 Why Theory?
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Why Theory?
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What guests have appeared on Why Theory?
Recent guests on Why Theory include:
1. Richard Boothby
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