Best Wes Alwan Podcasts (2024)

1
NEM#214: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown 1:11:47

1h ago1:11:47

1:11:47

It's a new, discussion-only format, just for this episode (and perhaps some rare ones in the future)! When we write, how much is planned vs. improvised? How much is inspirational vs. double-or-triple checked? How does this factor weigh into how much music we release, how eclectic our sound is, and how well we improvise with others? This discussion …

1
PMP-NEM Crossover: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown 1:13:11

4h ago1:13:11

1:13:11

When we write, how much is planned vs. improvised? How much is inspirational vs. double-or-triple checked? How does this factor weigh into how much music we release, how eclectic our sound is, and how well we improvise with others? This discussion features three returning guests: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. was the keyboardist/singer for Jellyfish and…

1
Ep. 339: Brian Ellis on the Metaphysics of Science (Part Two) 45:56

3d ago45:56

45:56

Continuing on The Philosophy of Nature: A Guide to the New Essentialism (2002) with guest Chris Heath. We get further into the text about metaphysical realism, criteria for a natural kind, properties vs. predicates, and much more. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonu…

1
PEL Presents PvI#74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink) 1:05:37

5d ago1:05:37

1:05:37

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. Mark…

1
Ep. 339: Brian Ellis on the Metaphysics of Science (Part One) 52:31

11d ago52:31

52:31

On The Philosophy of Nature: A Guide to the New Essentialism (2002). What kind of metaphysics underlies chemistry and physics? Ellis argues that items such as chemical elements and physical particles have essences, and that these essential properties determine their behavior, which is characterized by scientific laws. Thus, these laws are necessary…

1
Pretty Much Pop #171: The Traitors - A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom 56:36

12d ago56:36

56:36

Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the American version, and to a lesser extent the British and Australian versions, of this reality game show that originated in 2021 in the Netherlands, based on the party game Mafia (aka Werewolf), plus Survivor-like challenges and a gothic tone. How does such a simple (stupid?) concept end up creating compe…

1
Ep. 338: Aristotle on Potential vs. Actual and the Unmoved Mover (Part Two) 43:19

17d ago43:19

43:19

To conclude our discussion of Aristotle's Metaphysics, we finish discussing potency by talking about the potential to learn (the Meno problem), the metaphysical priority of the actual over the merely potential, and how the Unmoved Mover motivates all primary beings to strive toward their full actualization. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Vi…

1
PEL Presents NEM#213: Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush): Flavors of Brightness 1:05:44

19d ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Illinois singer/bassist Paul had his first release in 1985 and joined with drummer Ric Menck to form a band eventually called Velvet Crush, which released six albums from 1991-2004. He has since played in Matthew Sweet's band and has released two albums under the name The Small Square. We discuss "Can't Let Go (Oh, Tommy)" by The Small Square from …

1
Ep. 338: Aristotle on Potential vs. Actual and the Unmoved Mover (Part One) 48:23

24d ago48:23

48:23

We read portions of books 9 (Theta) and 12 (Lambda) of Aristotle's Metaphysics, first on "being-at-work" (actuality) vs. mere potency, then on Aristotle's famous argument for the existence of God. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Get a $1/m…

1
PEL Presents PMP#170: Poor Things and Other Yorgos 51:35

26d ago51:35

51:35

We discuss the 4-Oscar-winning film Poor Things as well as the other creations of writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos, including most notably The Lobster, Dogtooth, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. These films mix high concepts, purposively stilted line-readings, and increasingly rich cinematography with horror and gross sex. For more, visit prettymu…

1
PREMIUM-PEL Nightcap w/ Chris Sunami (March 2024) 10:27

27d ago10:27

10:27

Mark, Seth, and Dylan are joined by the editor of our new book (see partiallyexaminedlife.com/book) to talk a bit about his background, meeting celebrities (or being met qua celebrity) and more generally how a writer or performer's real personality relates to their work, various things we're reading and watching, scientists' attitudes towards philo…

1
Ep. 337: Aristotle on Primary Being (Part Two) 45:52

1M ago45:52

45:52

Continuing on Aristotle's Metaphysics, Book 7 (Zeta), on essences and what sorts of things have them. Contrasting with Plato, Aristotle believes that some changing, visible things have forms. How do they get them? Well, they're received from some previous thing that has a comparable form, e.g. a child from its parents, or perhaps a form could come …

1
Ep. 337: Aristotle on Primary Being (Part One) 47:00

1M ago47:00

47:00

Continuing for our third session on Aristotle's Metaphysics, now covering Book 7 (Zeta). What exactly is the type of being that is the chief reason why we call anything being? Aristotle says its the substantial form present in an individual animal or plant. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-fre…

1
PEL Presents PMP#169: Doctor Who? (When?) 1:00:35

1M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

Do you Who? Did you Who back in the day, or just from the point of the 2005 revival? Did you Who through Tennant, Smith, Capaldi... Were you still on board for Whittaker, and now as Disney+ and revival creator Russell T. Davies attempt to make this more readily accessible in all ways with the transition to Ncuti Gatwa? Mark, Al, and Lawrence are jo…

1
Ep. 336: Aristotle on Being and Non-Contradiction (Part Two) 53:10

2M ago53:10

53:10

Continuing on Book 4 (Gamma) of the Metaphysics. We discuss further the relations between the logical and metaphysical versions of the principle of non-contradiction and how Aristotle characterizes relativists like Protagoras who he claims violate non-contradiction. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to g…

1
PEL Presents NEM#212: Graham Parker's Hard Graft 1:28:58

2M ago1:28:58

1:28:58

Graham has released 25+ studio albums of soul-infused British singer-songwriter goodness since 1976, first with the Rumour, but often in the second half of his career playing live entirely solo. We discuss "Lost Track of Time" by Graham Parker and the Goldtops from Last Chance to Do the Twist (2023), "Going There" by Graham Parker & The Rumour from…

1
Ep. 336: Aristotle on Being and Non-Contradiction (Part One) 51:44

2M ago51:44

51:44

On Aristotle's Metaphysics, book 4 (aka Gamma) (ca. 340 BCE). What does studying "being" entail? It involves claiming that all beings are distinct individuals, as opposed to, for instance, an undifferentiated flux. They're thus subject to the law of non-contradiction, which Aristotle defends against objectors. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com.…

1
Ep. 335: Aristotle on Fundamental Explanations (Part Two) 44:29

2M ago44:29

44:29

Continuing on Aristotle's Metaphysics, book 1. We get seriously into Aristotle's four types of causation and how previous philosophers in leaving out one or most of these made a mistake. This includes a critique of Platonic forms, which as eternal, unchanging patterns can't actually explain why change occurs in the world. Get more at partiallyexami…

1
Ep. 335: Aristotle on Fundamental Explanations (Part One) 47:33

2M ago47:33

47:33

On Aristotle's Metaphysics, book 1 (aka Alpha) (ca. 340 BCE). What constitutes a basic explanation of the universe? We talk about how mere practical knowledge of how things in fact work is not enough; there's greater wisdom in knowing the theoretical underpinnings. Various philosophers before Aristotle had given different kinds of explanations of w…

1
REISSUE-Ep. 29: Kierkegaard on the Self 1:56:39

2M ago1:56:39

1:56:39

What is the self? For K. we are a tension between opposites: necessity and possibility, the finite and the infinite, soul and body. He thinks we're all in despair, whether we know it or not, because we wrongly think we're something we're not, or we reject what we are, or we just don't pay attention to this dynamic at all: we just go along with the …

1
PREMIUM-PEL Long Winter's Nightcap (Jan-Feb 2024) 10:33

3M ago10:33

10:33

We anticipate our upcoming series on Aristotle's Metaphysics by talking through some preliminary issues about the text including what translations we're reading. Is this book really "timeless," or is it like old, outdated science? Also, what kind of person becomes an ancient philosophy student? Plus (in the full discussion), we talk more about Moun…

1
Ep. 334: Gabriel Marcel's Christian Existentialism (Part Two) 54:29

3M ago54:29

54:29

Continuing on "On the Ontological Mystery" (1933), we talk more about problems vs. mysteries: The latter implicate OURSELVES; we are not merely witnesses, but our involvement complicates things. Also, what makes Marcel an existentialist? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus…

1
Ep. 334: Gabriel Marcel's Christian Existentialism (Part One) 46:28

3M ago46:28

46:28

Discussing "On the Ontological Mystery" (1933) about our need for meaning. Marcel asserts that our need for "mystery" is much more primal than the scientific, technical point of view that breaks down problems into component parts for easy analysis. In fact, this more modern-seeming way of looking at the world presupposes and relies on the more orig…

1
PEL Presents NEM#209: Bruce Hornsby Is a Lifelong Student 1:11:37

3M ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Bruce is best known for his first album The Way It Is (1986), but has come light years since then through 18+ albums, experimenting with different styles, playing over 100 shows with the Grateful Dead, and scoring numerous projects for Spike Lee. He's won three Grammys and recorded with music royalty including Elton John, Ornette Coleman, Branford …

1
Identity and Infamy in “Citizen Kane” (1941) (Part 2) 47:36

3M ago47:36

47:36

Wes & Erin continue their discussion of Orson Welles’s “Citizen Kane.” Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/subtextfree and use code subtextfree for free breakfast for life. For bonus content, become a paid subscriber at Patreon or directly on the Apple Podcasts app. Patreon subscribers also get early access to a…

1
Ep. 333: Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling" on Faith (Part Two) 45:32

3M ago45:32

45:32

Continuing on Kierkegaard's perhaps most famous book, this time focusing largely on "Problem One: Is There a Teleological Suspension of the Ethical?" Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and bonus content including a supporter-exclusive episode of Closereads that connects Kierkegaard…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Wes Alwan Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

1
SUBTEXT Literature and Film Podcast

Wes Alwan and Erin O'Luanaigh

1
NEM#214: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown 1:11:47

1
PMP-NEM Crossover: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown 1:13:11

1
Ep. 339: Brian Ellis on the Metaphysics of Science (Part Two) 45:56

1
PEL Presents PvI#74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink) 1:05:37

1
Ep. 339: Brian Ellis on the Metaphysics of Science (Part One) 52:31

1
Pretty Much Pop #171: The Traitors - A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom 56:36

1
Ep. 338: Aristotle on Potential vs. Actual and the Unmoved Mover (Part Two) 43:19

1
PEL Presents NEM#213: Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush): Flavors of Brightness 1:05:44

1
Ep. 338: Aristotle on Potential vs. Actual and the Unmoved Mover (Part One) 48:23

1
PEL Presents PMP#170: Poor Things and Other Yorgos 51:35

1
PREMIUM-PEL Nightcap w/ Chris Sunami (March 2024) 10:27

1
Ep. 337: Aristotle on Primary Being (Part Two) 45:52

1
Ep. 337: Aristotle on Primary Being (Part One) 47:00

1
PEL Presents PMP#169: Doctor Who? (When?) 1:00:35

1
Ep. 336: Aristotle on Being and Non-Contradiction (Part Two) 53:10

1
PEL Presents NEM#212: Graham Parker's Hard Graft 1:28:58

1
Ep. 336: Aristotle on Being and Non-Contradiction (Part One) 51:44

1
Ep. 335: Aristotle on Fundamental Explanations (Part Two) 44:29

1
Ep. 335: Aristotle on Fundamental Explanations (Part One) 47:33

1
REISSUE-Ep. 29: Kierkegaard on the Self 1:56:39

1
PREMIUM-PEL Long Winter's Nightcap (Jan-Feb 2024) 10:33

1
Ep. 334: Gabriel Marcel's Christian Existentialism (Part Two) 54:29

1
Ep. 334: Gabriel Marcel's Christian Existentialism (Part One) 46:28

1
PEL Presents NEM#209: Bruce Hornsby Is a Lifelong Student 1:11:37

1
Identity and Infamy in “Citizen Kane” (1941) (Part 2) 47:36

1
Ep. 333: Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling" on Faith (Part Two) 45:32

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