Why Theory
Why TheoryWhy Theory brings continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine cultural phenomena.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 214 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | TV & Film | |||
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Latest Episodes
On this episode, Ryan and Todd take a short break from their Kant Odyssey to discuss one of the podcast's most admired filmmakers: Rob Reiner. Coincidentally being released on Oscar's Sunday, the hosts dedicate their time to Reiner's first seven film... more
On this episode, Ryan and Todd cover the next major idea in Kant's first critique: the transcendental deduction. While explicating the trajectory of Kant's argument, the pair continue to track the latent and manifest influence of this section on Fich... more
On this episode, Ryan and Todd return to Kant and discuss the Transcendental Aesthetic from his Critique of Pure Reason. The hosts work through a sketch of Kant's idea, why he's proposing it, and why even the form of its argumentation is significant ... more
On this episode, Ryan and Todd return to the topic of the superego to discuss--for the first time at length--the enjoyment particular to it. Superegoic enjoyment is an idea that first appears in Freud though it is not fully developed as a concept unt... more
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- For the love of it
Just a reminder that these two make this podcast for free in their spare time. They never have any sponsors, ad breaks, and not even a patreon. If you leave a less than 4 star review and fail to mention that then you are not a deep thinker about what a review system is for. Perhaps they should do an episode about rating systems.
Apple Podcasts5KingBroseph
United States22 days ago - Millennium Christmas December 21
I listen to Why Theory regularly and find Todd’s input to be highly educational if not downright entertaining. I looked forward to this particular episode as I have watched The Family Man every year since its release. In fact, I have found it to be one of my favorite movies until recent years when, like alluded to in this episode, have found myself liking it less and less. I can’t tell you how incredibly disappointed I was as I listened to Ryan describe the scene in which Jack is going through ... more
Apple Podcasts3Obscurity’sUnited States3 months ago - Educational & engaging
Ryan & Todd have great rapport, and communicate well. Extensive catalogue. Episodes are usually part exposition, part exploration. Plenty of examples from arts and politics. The core repertoire is Hegel and psychoanalysis, but they also branch out. Highly recommended!
Apple Podcasts5ebp_reviews
Australia3 months ago - Seminar 2
It's not Poe's fault police get a bum rap in mysteries, they really earned it.
Apple Podcasts5Flora RacineUnited States4 months ago - What if they’re not buddies?!?
I love listening to this seminar; even if Ryan’s customary, “hey, buddy” always makes me anxious.
Apple Podcasts5DaveyDaveyDooAustralia4 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #205 | United States/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #178 |  United Kingdom/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #108 |  Germany/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #109 |  France/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #140 | Australia/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #11 |  Sweden/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 dissect culture, cinema, and politics through rigorous, accessible conversations. Episodes weave Kant, Freud, Lacan, Marx, and film theory into commentary on contemporary media, ideology, and social structures, often using classic films and TV as springboards for deep theoretical exploration. A standout is the sustained emphasis on bringing dense theory to practical, culture-facing analyses, with frequent cross-pollination between philosophy and pop culture that appeals to academically curious listeners seeking intellectual challenge without esotericism.
Where can I find podcast stats for Why Theory?
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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?
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Which podcasts are similar to Why Theory?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Why Theory:
1. Know Your Enemy
2. The Dig
3. Rev Left Radio
4. Weird Studies
5. Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella
How many episodes of Why Theory are there?
Why Theory launched 8 years ago and published 214 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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