The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast podcast

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

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 links to the texts we discuss and other info, check out www.partiallyexaminedlife.com. We also feature episodes from other podcasts by our hosts to round out your partially examined life, including Pretty Much Pop (prettymuchpop.com, covering all media), Nakedly Examined Music (nakedlyexaminedmusic.com, deconstructing songs), Philosophy vs. Improv (philosophyimprov.com, fun with performance skills and philosophical ideas), and (sub)Text (subtextpodcast.com, looking deeply at lit and film). Learn about more network podcasts at partiallyexaminedlife.com.

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 links to the texts we discuss and other info, check out www.partiallyexaminedlife.com. We also feature episodes from other podcasts by our hosts to round out your partially examined life, including Pretty Much Pop (prettymuchpop.com, covering all media), Nakedly Examined Music (nakedlyexaminedmusic.com, deconstructing songs), Philosophy vs. Improv (philosophyimprov.com, fun with performance skills and philosophical ideas), and (sub)Text (subtextpodcast.com, looking deeply at lit and film). Learn about more network podcasts at partiallyexaminedlife.com.

 

#803

Ep. 398: Donald Davidson on Mind vs. Body (Part One)

On "Mental Events" (1970) and "Actions, Reasons, and Causes" (1963), w/ guest Chris Heath.... more

17 Aug 2026

52 MINS

52:03

17 Aug 2026


#802

Ep. 397: Federalist Papers LIVE (Part Two)

We now have a free-form discussion in light of what was raised in part one about the Feder... more

10 Aug 2026

51 MINS

51:56

10 Aug 2026


#801

PEL Presents NEM#258: Dan Montgomery: Direct Communication

Dan was Ben Vaughn's sound-man and released his first solo album of Americana rock in 2004... more

09 Aug 2026

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:43

09 Aug 2026


#800

PEL Presents PvI#122: Hello from Iran w/ AmirAli Maleki

AmirAli is a philosophy researcher in Iran who tries to make Islamic philosophy speak to a... more

07 Aug 2026

46 MINS

46:21

07 Aug 2026


#799

Announcement: Mark's "Key Ideas in the Philosophy of Mind" Fall 2026 Class

Enrollment is now open for our new online class. It will be nine 75 min sessions, running ... more

07 Aug 2026

01 MINS

01:56

07 Aug 2026


#798

Ep. 397: Federalist Papers LIVE (Part One)

To celebrate our nation's 250th birthday, we gathered in front of a lovely audience near M... more

03 Aug 2026

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:13

03 Aug 2026


#797

PEL Presents PMP#227: The Odyssey: Epic Film

We discuss the already over-discussed Christopher Nolan adaptation of Homer's classic poem... more

01 Aug 2026

54 MINS

54:49

01 Aug 2026


#796

PEL Presents NEM#257: Josh Joplin Doesn't Look Back… Until Now

With his roots in folk, Josh released three rock albums in the '90s before his big hit "Ca... more

31 Jul 2026

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:58

31 Jul 2026


#795

Ep. 396: Peirce on Knowledge (Part Two)

Continuing on "Questions Concerning Certain Faculties Claimed for Man" and "Some Consequen... more

27 Jul 2026

55 MINS

55:19

27 Jul 2026


#794

PEL Presents Closereads: Galen Strawson on Panpsychism (Part One)

On "Realistic Monism: Why Physicalism Entails Panpsychism" (2008). Strawson argues that ph... more

27 Jul 2026

56 MINS

56:43

27 Jul 2026


#793

PEL Presents PMP#226: Toy Story Played Out

In light of Toy Story 5, the gang (Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al) consider the Pixar fra... more

24 Jul 2026

57 MINS

57:09

24 Jul 2026


#792

Ep. 396: Peirce on Knowledge (Part One)

On 1868 essays by Charles Sanders Peirce: "Questions Concerning Certain Faculties Claimed ... more

20 Jul 2026

49 MINS

49:29

20 Jul 2026


#791

PEL Presents PvI#121: Meat Suit Dolls w/ Maddie Mutations

The LA-based clown, multimedia performance artist, and doll stylist (see [maddiemutations.... more

18 Jul 2026

51 MINS

51:51

18 Jul 2026


#790

PEL Presents NEM#256: Bruce Soord (Pineapple Thief): Heartbreaking Prog by Ear

Bruce started as guitarist for the '90s for Vulgar Unicorn and started Pineapple Thief as ... more

17 Jul 2026

1 HR 09 MINS

1:09:42

17 Jul 2026


#789

Ep. 395: C.S. Lewis Argues for Christianity (Part Two)

Continuing on Mere Christianity (1952). We discuss his take on the problem of evil, how ha... more

13 Jul 2026

54 MINS

54:59

13 Jul 2026


#788

PEL Presents Closereads: Hegel on Faith vs. The Enlightenment (aka PEL#394 pt. 3)

On Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit, sec. 551-559, which are sections assigned for but not ... more

12 Jul 2026

56 MINS

56:56

12 Jul 2026


#787

PEL Presents PMP#225: Survivor the Constant (with Wes!)

Survivor has remained a top-rated show since its debut in 2000, and some of us (Sarahlyn a... more

11 Jul 2026

54 MINS

54:22

11 Jul 2026


#786

Ep. 395: C.S. Lewis Argues for Christianity (Part One)

On Mere Christianity (1952), where Lewis presents the moral argument for the existence of ... more

06 Jul 2026

47 MINS

47:24

06 Jul 2026


#785

PEL Presents PvI#120: Mark and Mary in the Struggle Club

Your wise and authoritative hosts explore forms of respectful address, what counts as good... more

04 Jul 2026

53 MINS

53:06

04 Jul 2026


#784

Ep. 394: Hegel on Faith vs. The Enlightenment (Part Two)

We conclude our treatment for the moment of the Spirit section of Hegel's Phenomenology of... more

29 Jun 2026

53 MINS

53:32

29 Jun 2026


#783

PEL Presents NEM#255: Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies): Mellow But Energized

Michael is the songwriter and guitarist for the Canadian band Cowboy Junkies (featuring tw... more

28 Jun 2026

1 HR 12 MINS

1:12:26

28 Jun 2026


#782

PEL Presents PMP#224: Fantasy Novels Galore

Mark and Al share their mutual interest in fantasy novels. Is "high fantasy" fundamentally... more

26 Jun 2026

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:56

26 Jun 2026


#781

Ep. 394: Hegel on Faith vs. The Enlightenment (Part One)

On Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (1807), sec. 527-73, i.e. "Faith and Pure Insight" and ... more

22 Jun 2026

46 MINS

46:14

22 Jun 2026