Best David Pena Podcasts (2024)

1
PvI#80: Brief, Alternative Facts w/ David Shields 47:01

8h ago47:01

47:01

Important announcement for Chicago-area listeners: On Wed. 8/21, Mark and Bill will record a live episode of PvI at iO Theater (1501 N Kingsbury St.). Our show runs from 6-7 pm followed by a Bill-hosted regular improv event called The Green Room. Admission is free, parking is plentiful, no reservations required. Come meet us! Internationally best-s…

1
Intensity 58:48

1h ago58:48

58:48

What do skydiving, guitar-playing teenagers, and deep-seated psychic states have in common? They're all intense! In episode 110 of Overthink, Ellie and David untangle the role of intensity in shaping our aspirations, cultural tropes, and political goals. They trace the concept’s history from its tricky roots in Aristotle's theory of change, passing…

1
Predictive Brain with Andy Clark 55:53

14d ago55:53

55:53

Phantom phone buzzes? Painless mosquito bites? Toy masks flipped inside-out? It might be your brain bringing order to its complex world. In episode 109 of Overthink, Ellie and David interview cognitive philosopher Andy Clark, whose cutting edge work on perception builds off theories of computation to offer an intriguing new model of mind and experi…

1
PvI#79: Edificial Intentions with Danny Mora 52:52

24d ago52:52

52:52

Danny was in a sketch troupe called Maximum Party Zone back in the day with your improv host Bill, and they’ve now revived that trio to create the MPZ Listening Party podcast, which workshops sketch ideas in real time as a fun form of conversation. So we try out some of their tricks, such as combining two properties (in this case nominally The Appr…

1
Success 58:27

30d ago58:27

58:27

Cooked, slayed, delivered, ate. In episode 108 of Overthink, Ellie and David break down what it means to succeed, and why this sneaky word pervades our society today - in everything from the ambitions of classic American stage figures, to the refined effortlessness in Zhuangzi’s tales, to the corporate world of buzzwords. Your hosts discuss party p…

1
PvI#78: We Essence Merge with Tamler Sommers 1:03:09

1M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

Tamler teaches philosophy at The University of Houston and hosts the Very Bad Wizards podcast. He joins Mark and Bill to talk about personal identity and whether the “self” is necessarily co-extensive with a particular body. Plus: meditation, Daniel Day Improv’s method acting, All of Me vs. Regarding Henry, what does “metaphysics” mean to YOU, drea…

1
Episode 321 – SEGA vet ERIK WAHLBERG talks about making ETERNAL CHAMPIONS and other Genesis hits! – Vic’s Basement 50:41

1M ago50:41

50:41

Victor Lucas welcomes SEGA video game veteran, Erik Wahlberg to the Basement to discuss his long and winding career in games. From his earliest days testing SEGA Genesis games, to joining the production teams of games like Garfield Caught In The Act and Eternal Champions, to launching the SEGA Saturn, to pivoting to EA and the Knockout Kings franch…

1
Organisms 48:03

1M ago48:03

48:03

In episode 107 of Overthink, David and Ellie take up a philosophical perspective on biology’s squirmiest concept: the organism. From Kant’s distinction between organisms and mechanisms, to Deleuze and Guattari’s infamous call for ‘bodies without organs,’ they uncover and question the ontological and metaphorical baggage behind the concept. Their ex…

1
Making INSIDE OUT 2 with Vic’s Review and Interviews with Pixar’s John Hoffman and Rebecca McVeigh! – Vic’s Basement 26:26

2M ago26:26

26:26

Victor Lucas reviews Inside Out 2 and speaks with Pixar’s John Hoffman and Rebecca McVeigh about making the new Disney movie. Watch EPN: YouTube.com/EPNtv The Electric Playground on Facebook (for contests): Facebook.com/ElectricPlayground EPN Live: Twitch.tv/EPN EPN Shorts: tiktok.com/@theelectricplayground Official EPN Merch: EPN.tv/Merch Thanks f…

1
Episode 319 – BEST OF SUMMER GAME FEST with Brittney Brombacher, Jake Baldino and Kevin Kenson! 57:44

2M ago57:44

57:44

Victor Lucas is joined by Brittney Brombacher, Jake Baldino and Kevin Kenson to discuss the hits and misses of Summer Game Fest. Ubisoft Forward and the Xbox Showcase! Follow: @KevinKenson @JakeBaldino @WhatsGoodGames Watch EPN: YouTube.com/EPNtv The Electric Playground on Facebook (for contests): Facebook.com/ElectricPlayground EPN Live: Twitch.tv…

1
PvI#77: Fashionation with Sheri Flanders 59:01

2M ago59:01

59:01

The actor/writer/comedian joins us to talk about the philosophy of fashion, from the ancients to the present: Is clothing a mode of self-expression or something more (or less)? What does retro fashion say about the current state of culture? Should you wear clothes that you have to be sewn into? If you only had one little piece of cloth to wear, whe…

1
Fun 58:20

2M ago58:20

58:20

Even philosophers need downtime. In episode 106 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a break and chase down fun’s place in today’s world — from its aesthetic opposition to the highbrow realm of beauty, to its peculiar absence from philosophical discourse. What role does fun play in the good life? How does fun relate to art, play, and ritual? Can you …

1
Episode 318 – EASY ALLIES’ BLOODWORTH & HUBER chat about SUMMER GAME FEST and PLAYSTATION STATE OF PLAY! 1:19:23

2M ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Victor Lucas is joined by his pals at @EasyAllies, Daniel Bloodworth and Michael Huber, and the trio breaks through the hype and noise to get into what to expect from PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and their partners at Summer Game Fest 2024! Will we be seeing and playing new Batman, Metroid, Wolverine, Death Stranding, Resident Evil and Dragon Age ga…

1
PvI#76: Hello, Larry w/ Lawrence Ware 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

The philosopher and entertainment journalist direct from Mark’s Pretty Much Pop podcast joins PvI for an hour of merriment. We talk parenthood, philosophy of race, the RULES of improv (or the singular answer to a philosophy question), old 9th graders, one black Peggy, using racy improv in a classroom setting, and more. Here’s an excerpt from the es…

1
Civil Disobedience with Noëlle McAfee 53:34

2M ago53:34

53:34

Do political subjects have a default obligation to obey the law? In episode 105 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss civil disobedience in the present context of university activism for divestment from genocide in Gaza. They chart the genealogy of the concept of disobedience in political theory, from Thoreau and MLK through to today. Together with…

1
Episode 317 – NAUGHTY DOG’S ANDY GAVIN – Building The Legendary Studio! 1:06:15

2M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

Victor Lucas interviews Naughty Dog co-founder, Andy Gavin about his years building a game studio that has become recognized as one of the world’s best. From the early days working with Jason Rubin, to launching the Crash Bandicoot and Jack & Dexter franchises, to watching his game dev baby grow up with Uncharted and The Last of Us, this is an illu…

1
Episode 316 – NAOMI KYLE from This Week In Gaming! – From Montreal to iHeartRadio – Vic’s Basement 55:06

3M ago55:06

55:06

Victor Lucas welcomes Naomi Kyle from This Week In Gaming to chat about her path into the game industry and the many twists and turns her career has taken her. From modelling in Montreal, to hosting early online gaming shows, to her long run at IGN, to going out on her own and becoming a prolific producer, Naomi has a very unique voice in the media…

1
Reading 59:25

3M ago59:25

59:25

This is one for the books. In episode 104 of Overthink, Ellie and David consider what makes reading so rewarding, and, for many people today, so challenging! How did society shift toward inward silent reading and away from reading aloud in the Middle Ages? How have changes in teaching phonics and factors of classism, accessibility, and educational …

1
Episode 315 – WHAT NOW XBOX? – With Danny Peña and Parris Lilly! – Vic’s Basement 1:05:00

3M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Victor Lucas is joined by Danny Peña and Paris Lilly to discuss the recent studio closure Xbox has made, what it means for the Xbox brand, the state of the AAA gaming industry and how Xbox and its competition will operate and pivot in the face of these dramatic changes. These three veterans of game coverage have a lot to discuss. Enjoy! Watch: YouT…

1
PvI#75: The Alien Literally Has Two Faces w/ Bran Peacock 1:07:27

3M ago1:07:27

1:07:27

The Hitchhikers and Appetizers co-host joins Mark and Bill to talk about cultural relativism. We talk about foreign-ness, what parts of ethics seem to apply to all cultures, the Museum of Soup, pushing back tactfully in a scene, and more. In my culture, listening to this episode while in a work meeting is polite. Everything you want to know about t…

1
Episode 314 – ALAN BELARDINELLI’S Wild Ride! – From Nintendo to Norway – Vic’s Basement 1:22:59

3M ago1:22:59

1:22:59

Victor Lucas connects with Alan Belardinelli, a recurring presence in The Electric Playground’s early years , representing Nintendo for many of the latest games of 1997-1998, like Goldeneye 007, Pokémon, 1080º Snowboarding, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Pilot Wings 64 and many more! Alan was part of some of the biggest moments in Nintendo h…

1
Laziness 58:42

3M ago58:42

58:42

We’re taking it easy! In episode 103 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a leisurely dive into laziness, discussing everything from couchrotting to the biology of energy conservation. They explore Devon Price’s idea of the ‘laziness lie’ in today’s hyperproductive society and search for alternatives to work through Paul Lefargue’s 19th century campa…

1
Episode 313 – DR. DAVID DOAK SPEAKS! Making GOLDENEYE, PERFECT DARK, TIMESPLITTERS and More! – Vic’s Basement 2:22:31

3M ago2:22:31

2:22:31

Victor Lucas is joined by game industry legend, David Doak to chat about his years with Rare working on Donkey Kong Country 3, Goldeneye 007 and starting and leaving Perfect Dark; then his years at Free Radical and inventing the incredible, TimeSplitters franchise; and we also hear about his time spent working on Star Wars: Battlefront 3, Haze and …

1
Episode 312 – SEGA & XBOX vet MARK SUBOTNICK – Launching Dreamcast, Saturn & Xbox! 1:11:09

4M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

ProbablyMonsters’ Mark Subotnick joins Victor Lucas in Vic’s Basement to discuss his long career in video games. Fresh from Mark’s appearance in S1E3 of #EPClassic, Mark details his years at SEGA working on Genesis, SEGA CD, Saturn and Dreamcast projects, then his transition to Xbox and launching the original platform and Xbox 360. Afterwards Mark …

1
Mixed-Race Identity 59:49

4M ago59:49

59:49

In episode 102 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss diverse ideas of racial mixedness, from family-oriented models of mixed race to José Vasconcelos’ and Gloria Anzaldua’s idea of the ‘mestizo’ heritage of Mexican people. They work through phenomenological accounts of cultural hybridity and selfhood, wondering how being multiracial pushes beyond t…

1
PvI#74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink) 1:05:36

4M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

David is co-host of the excellent Overthink podcast, popular among the young people today, and so we have him monologue to children as an anti (?) drug speaker. How can drugs change us, our sense of self, and the ways we see the world? Can some drugs be considered “natural”? Also, legally defensible drug use at work, and Nancy Reagan the Heel. Foll…

1
Episode 311 – KELLY BENSON Returns To EP! – A Catch Up With Kelly! – Vic’s Basement 27:27

4M ago27:27

27:27

Victor Lucas sits down with Kelly Benson to celebrate the launch of #EPClassic and to catch up on all of Kelly’s adventures over the years in television, video games, new media and beyond! Enjoy this long overdue catch up convo with the wonderful Kelly Benson! EP on Facebook (for contests): Facebook.com/ElectricPlayground EPN Live: Twitch.tv/EPN EP…

1
AI Safety with Shazeda Ahmed 57:06

4M ago57:06

57:06

Welcome your robot overlords! In episode 101 of Overthink, Ellie and David speak with Dr. Shazeda Ahmed, specialist in AI Safety, to dive into the philosophy guiding artificial intelligence. With the rise of LLMs like ChatGPT, the lofty utilitarian principles of Effective Altruism have taken the tech-world spotlight by storm. Many who work on AI sa…

1
Episode 310 – CHRIS TAYLOR, creator of Total Annihilation and Dungeon Siege in Vic’s Basement! 52:04

5M ago52:04

52:04

Victor Lucas is joined by game industry legend, Chris Taylor, who helped create Total Annihilation, Dungeon Siege, Hardball II, Test Drive, Triple Play Baseball, 4D Boxing and many more games in hi long and prolific career in games! Plus he’s got a prominent feature in The Electric Playground’s very first episode from 1997! EP on Facebook (for cont…

1
PvI#73: Family Whêtspät w/ Colleen Doyle 57:21

5M ago57:21

57:21

The co-host of the Those Who Aunt podcast joins Mark and Bill to joke about the family as the fundamental political unit and its special place in ethics. On the flip side, what questions should you ask yourself about your character at the start of a scene? Plus, Jan. 6, Platonic eugenics, transcending physical desire, a story that doesn’t quite get…

1
Overthinking 59:45

5M ago59:45

59:45

Overthink goes meta! In the 100th episode Ellie and David reflect on the podcast’s journey and the origins of its (flawless!) title. They take up the question, “What is overthinking?” Is it a kind of fixation on details or an unwanted split in the normal flow of ideas? Then, they turn to psychology to make sense of overthinking’s highs and lows, as…

1
Episode 309 – JEFF MINTER & CHRIS KOHLER – The Legendary Llamasoft! – Electric Playground 55:44

5M ago55:44

55:44

Victor Lucas is joined by Jeff Minter, the creator of games like Tempest 2000, Llamatron 2112, Akka Arrh, Space Invaders Extreme, Attack of the Mutant Camels, Polybius, Gridrunner, TxK and dozens more! As well as Digital Eclipse’s Editorial Director, Chris Kohler, to discuss their brand new game & documentary project: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Sto…

1
Episode 308 – The HELLDIVERS 2 Episode – This Game Changes Everything w/ JOSE SANCHEZ & BEHR SAFI! – Vic’s Basement 1:05:12

5M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

Victor Lucas is joined by Jose Sanchez and Behr Safi to talk about the unquestioned hit live service game of the moment: Helldivers 2! Does it deliver? Does it have legs? Does it stack up to other live service games like Destiny and Left 4 Dead? Find out in this in-depth Vic’s Basement/Review on the Run chat! Rest in Peace Akira Toriyama. Thank you…

1
PvI#72: Spock Fever w/ Cole Nasrallah and Chris Rathjen 1:04:53

5M ago1:04:53

1:04:53

It’s another TEAM PLAY episode, with our returning champions, star of improv stages and podcasts Chris and College of Southern Nevada philosophy prof Cole receiving NOT THE INFORMATION THEY EXPECT and gettin’ all rational and such when consoling a friend and wrangling about a math quiz. Luxuriate in the rich characters and philosophy tools! Cole ph…

1
Zombies 59:47

5M ago59:47

59:47

Who’s afraid of zombification? Apparently not analytic philosophers. In episode 99 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk all about zombies and their unfortunate legacy in the thought experiments of academic philosophy. Their portrait as brain-eating and consciousness-lacking mobs is a far cry from their origins in the syncretic sorcery at the margins …

1
Episode 307 – Classic Electric Playground is Coming Soon! PNP Games’ Lee Skwarek On Why They’re Partnering! 1:40:11

5M ago1:40:11

1:40:11

Victor Lucas sits down with Lee Skwarek from EP Classic sponsor, PNP Games, to discuss the massive EP project and what bringing the episodes to YouTube will entail; why PNP is the perfect fit for EP; what the shows will look like; why the archive has endured and much more! Enjoy this lengthy conversation about the beginning of an epic partnership! …

1
Reputation 59:58

6M ago59:58

59:58

They say this one is the real deal. In Episode 98 of Overthink, Ellie and David untangle the philosophy behind the way we compare, judge, and defend our reputations. From Machiavelli’s advice to despots looking to stay popular, to disgruntled students venting on their professors online, reputation can glide you to victory or trigger your fall from …

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