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PODCAST

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

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

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

48:42

Ep. 382: Freud on Group Psychology (Part Two)

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/12/29

Continuing on the first half of Sigmund Freud's Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, now getting really into Freud's own type of explanation, whereby he explains how libidinal ties bind group members, typically via their shared love of a leader or leading idea. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Make a tax deductible donation at GiveWell.org; pick "podcast" and enter "The Partially

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51:22

PEL Presents PvI#108: Guess Who's Coming to Christmas...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/12/26

Philosopher/writer/critic/podcaster Lawrence Ware returns to the show to meet Mary and talk about how Mark is his own personal Leroy Jesus. We act out and/or discuss orphan greeting cards, face-to-face instruction vs. writing books, imaginary friends, laugh trumpets, black ice, and is aesthetic judgment (especially of yourself) a mistake? Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at philosophyimprov.com/support. Sponsor: Get the holiday deal (up to 50% off!) at

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10:41

PREMIUM-Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/12/18

We discuss the first six questions from the "Moral Action" section in the Summa Theologica (1268), which we read in Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings (1993). If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

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49:42

PEL Presents PvI#107: Mary and Mark Argue About Arguing

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/12/13

Is argumentation essential to philosophy? Should you always be open to arguments challenging your beliefs? We act out a few symbiotic scenarios and reflect back on our last couple of episodes. Plus animal facts, complaining to your significant other about exes, astrology prejudice, sexual harassment videos, and on-stage self-pleasure. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at philosophyimprov.com/support. Sponsor: Get the holiday deal (up to 50% off!) at

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44:28

PEL Presents PvI#106: Heart Tchochkes w/ Seth Stephon...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/30

Seth is an improviser and aspiring professional "muse," which is a type of life coach that hangs out with you to see where you could be more in touch with your humanity so that you can then work out a coherent plan for your adult life. He discusses with Mary and Mark the conflict between authentic individual humans and a social structure filled with oppressive systems. Should we "deprogram" ourselves from our standardized upbringing? Is there actually an authentic core we would uncover if we do so,

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54:34

PEL Presents PMP#210: One Paul Thomas Anderson Film...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/26

In light of One Battle After Another, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al walk through the range of his films from his 1996 crime film Hard Eight through his much lauded Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood and his more controversial recent ones like Licorice Pizza, The Master, The Phantom Thread, and Inherent Vice. Get more at prettymuchpop.com. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop for only the tiniest

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43:41

Ep. 380: Josiah Royce on Community (Part One for...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/22

http://partiallyexaminedlife.com

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01:06:54

PEL Presents NEM#242: Marshall Crenshaw Subtracts

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/20

Marshall began creating his catchy, harmonically thick rock tunes in the early '80s with six major label albums, but went indie in the '90s to record four more as well as several EPs and live collections. We discuss "Stranger and Stranger," newly reworked for From the Hellhole (2025), "Right On Time" from Jaggedland (2009), "Fantastic Planet of Love" from Life's Too Short (1991), and we conclude by listening to Our Town" from Field Day (1983). Intro: "Someday, Someway" from Marshall Crenshaw (1982)

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43:54

Ep. 379: Egyptian Philosophy with Chike Jeffers (Part...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/10

The co-author of the African run of the History of Philosophy Podcast (and new book) joins us to go over philosophical works from 2200-1400 BCE: "The Instruction of Ptahhotep," "The Instruction Addressed to King Merikare," "The Great Hymn to the Aten," "The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba," and "The Eloquent Peasant." Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the

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01:01:09

PEL Presents NEM#241: Humor in Music Discussion

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/09

Mark is joined by returning NEM guest Don Rauf (from Life In a Blender), singer/songwriter/cartoonist David Heatley), and writer/musician Dave "Diggy" Dawson aka Dave Philpott. Is funny music necessarily less sincerely emotional, and so a failure at what music is supposed to do? We discuss rock star personas, ironic use of genre, humor in musical gesture, Zappa, Spinal Tap, and more. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic

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08:51

PREMIUM-Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Four)

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/08

We complete our Aquinas treatment for the moment by considering emotions: categorizing them, asking whether they have opposites, and making them coherent given Aquinas' Aristotelian conception of soul. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

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49:38

Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Three)

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/11/03

We're now moving on to the "mind" portion of our discussion, covering how reason motivates us, how free will is possible, and the degree to which the mind is passive or active. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health.

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54:45

PEL Presents PvI#104: The Hippie Code w/ Vickie...

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/31

Mark and Mary are joined by improvisor-comedian-actress-filmmaker-host Vickie to talk about code switching and authenticity. Can you be authentic and still work a day job? Can Problem Solvers, Inc. solve the office restroom schedule? Are authentic hippies really beatniks? Also, displaying comic America on Korean talk shows, ethical pornography, commerce vs. art, granola in your hair, and more. Vickie sticks around for a bit of post-game (usually restricted to supporters but shared with you this

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48:51

Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part Two)

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/27

Continuing on bits of Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings, completing our analysis of his arguments for the existence of God and then turning to eternity and the possibility of actually talking about God, given our finitude. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health.

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55:48

PEL Presents PMP#208: An Ed Gein Halloween

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/26

It's a special two-hander where Mark and Lawrence reflect on the appeal of horror and how the new Monster: Ed Gein Netflix show has to contribute, given that it is not merely a (very loose) presentation of real events, and itself a horror drama, but also a commentary on the Hollywood properties influenced by the Ed Gein murders, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs. We bring this up to date by including discussion of the Terrifier films as well as the work of Rob

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01:21:24

PEL Presents NEM#240: Jonathan Rundman, Multi-Branded

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/24

Singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Jonathan (currently based in Minneapolis) has been putting out indie rock solo albums since 1992, but has also ventured into traditional Finnish folk music and has multiple releases of tunes that I won't call Christian rock, but more rock that grapples with being someone who goes to church. We discuss "Diner by the Train" (and listen at the end to "Evidence") from Waves (2025), "Home Unknown" from Look Up (2015), "Tape" from Recital (1997), and "Failing

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48:55

Ep. 378: Aquinas on God and Mind (Part One)

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/20

On selections from Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings, mostly taken from the Summa Theologica (1268). Given our flawed, finite human nature, how do we fit into the universe? In particular, how can we know and talk about things far beyond our experience such as God and eternity? In this part, we discuss arguments 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: Visit

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38:47

PEL Presents PvI#103: Post-COVID Mary and Mark

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/17

How does your body talk to you? Your favorite hosts-of-a-philosophy-and-improv-comedy show Mark Linsenmayer and Merry Mary Hynes re-connect after both being sick to get a bit Halloweeny so as to talk about various food-related monsters, experiencing art by disgraced creators, inner homunculi a la "Inside Out," movie talk, Nietzsche's nose fetish, and more. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at philosophyimprov.com/support. Sponsor: Get 15% off at

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52:02

Ep. 377: Emil Cioran's Pessimism (Part One)

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/06

On A Short History of Decay (1949), a pessimist/existentialist somewhat text from the most famous Romanian philosopher. Cioran's short essays touch on art, humor, God, salvation, time, nostalgia, mourning, death, disease, suicide, revolt, freedom, Buddhism, Daoism, and the role of the philosopher. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take

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47:57

PEL Presents PvI#102: Pit of Despair w/ Seth Paskin

The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast ·

2025/10/04

Mark's Partially Examined Life co-host Seth joins us (i.e. Mark and Mary) to introduce Seth to improv and continue introducing philosophy to Mary. We discuss Seth's attraction to depressing texts, act out couples' therapy and monster beauty parlor, and open up a few philosophical cans of worms: Is truth relative? (Hint: no!) Does outer beauty reflect inner beauty? Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at philosophyimprov.com/support.

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