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PODCAST

Just Questions

Have you ever faced a tough decision and had no idea what to do? Just Questions takes today’s biggest dilemmas and untangles them using a philosophical lens, weaving in ideas from classic philosophies and looking at how we can apply them to the problems and debates central to modern life. New episodes drop every other Thursday. justquestionspod.substack.com

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

16:19

Why does leisure matter?

Just Questions ·

2026/01/30

In today’s hustle culture, taking a break can feel like a guilty pleasure. But leisure has its own valuable role to play in our mental and physical health. That’s why today, we’re talking about why leisure matters just as much as (and maybe a bit more than!) work.Today’s episode, we consider:* The benefits of work and leisure* Theories on why work is overvalued and leisure undervalued* What “good” leisure looks likeTake a break and give it a listen!Sources:Employment is a critical mental health

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15:55

Do you have a duty to take care of your health?

Just Questions ·

2026/01/08

So many New Year’s resolutions are rooted in health goals. Healthy habits are so highly praised that trying to be healthy is practically seen as a moral obligation. Should it be?Today’s episode, we consider:* What’s at stake when we’re deciding whether being healthy should be a moral duty* The arguments in favor of health as a duty* Potential consequences of living in a world where health really does become a dutySources:The Burden of Chronic Disease - PMCLeading Causes of Death - FastStatsTrends in

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19:22

Is cosmetic surgery ever a free choice?

Just Questions ·

2025/12/18

Cosmetic surgery is all around us, but is the “choice” to get cosmetic surgery ever really a choice? Sources:Ethical Issues in Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryInformed Consent | AMA-CodeMedical Ethics in Plastic Surgery: A Mini Review - PMCPersuasive advertising, autonomy, and the creation of desireThe Ethics and Responsibilities of Social Media Usage by Plastic Surgeons: A Literature Review | Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryTHE FOUR PRINCIPLES APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE ETHICSPaternalism (Stanford

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9:06

BONUS: How does gratitude shape us?

Just Questions ·

2025/11/27

Practicing gratitude is widely encouraged, and its benefits have been enumerated in scientific studies. But, what is the nature of gratitude, and in what way does gratitude lead us to a good life?Sources:Philosophical Perspectives on Gratitude | SpringerLinkGratitude (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Winter 2021 Edition)Gratitude, freedom and refusalGratitude and Human FlourishingGiving thanks can make you happier - Harvard HealthThe Science of Gratitude This is a public episode. If you would

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13:22

Should you donate to food banks?

Just Questions ·

2025/11/21

Donating extra food to food banks is commonly regarded as a solution to food waste, but is it that simple? And, is it ethical?Sources:Towards a circular economy in food consumption: Food waste reduction practices as ethical work - Taru Lehtokunnas, Malla Mattila, Elina Närvänen, Nina Mesiranta, 2022The Circular Economy | Definition & Model Explained | Ellen MacArthur FoundationWasted Food Scale | US EPAHow food banks prevented 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions last yearSome issues in the

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20:52

Should Jimmy Kimmel have told that joke?

Just Questions ·

2025/10/23

Jimmy Kimmel might be back from suspension, but debates over comedy’s boundaries continue to arise. This episode, we’ll bring in differing philosophical views to explore what the limits of comedy really are. Sources:Jimmy Kimmel taken off air over Charlie Kirk commentsJimmy Kimmel’s full comments on Charlie Kirk which led to his show being taken off air : r/FauxmoiYoung conservatives argue Jimmy Kimmel faced ‘consequences’ for Charlie Kirk remarks — but not ‘cancel culture’Philosophy of Humor‘It

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18:12

BONUS: Is gerrymandering ever justifiable?

Just Questions ·

2025/09/11

For today’s bonus episode, we’re going to talk about all that’s been going on with gerrymandering. We’ll examine how the fiery debate on California’s new gerrymandering bill is ultimately philosophical in nature, look at reasons for why gerrymandering is bad, and debate circumstances where the practice could be justified.Sources:Full article: Fighting fire with fire: the ethics of retaliatory gerrymanderingRedistricting war between Texas and California is about to jolt the midterms - POLITICOTexas

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24:39

How can we better handle change?

Just Questions ·

2025/08/21

Today, we’re talking about change, big and small, and how philosophy can help us better handle it when it comes.Timestamps:Heraclitus – 1:59Epictetus – 7:46L.A. Paul – 14:12Sources:The fragments of the work of Heraclitus of Ephesus on natureThe Internet Classics Archive | The Enchiridion by EpictetusWhat You Can't Expect When You're Expecting This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

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19:09

Can “missing out” be beneficial?

Just Questions ·

2025/08/08

FOMO, or fear of missing out, pervades modern life. But does constantly creating, experiencing, and doing actually create a fulfilled life? In this episode, we look at all the ways missing out can actually be the best thing we can do for ourselves. Timestamps:Seneca – 3:29Berlin – 9:49Agamben – 15:37Sources:“On the Shortness of Life”Seneca, On the Shortness of LifeIsaiah Berlin (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Isaiah Berlin, “TWO CONCEPTS OF LIBERTY,” Four Essays On Liberty, (Oxford, England:

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5:23

Missed an Episode? The Questions So Far.

Just Questions ·

2025/07/17

Reviewing everything we’ve explored over the past season of episodes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

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30:44

How can we be good tourists?

Just Questions ·

2025/07/03

Traveling is informative, relaxing, and fun. But there’s a dark side to the tourism industry, that’s rife with opportunities for abuse – how can we then make sure to be good tourists? In this episode, we examine what moral responsibilities people have while traveling, and we question what role businesses should play in tourism ethics.Timestamps:Henry Shue — 3:14Holmes Rolston III — 15:42David Fennell — 23:20Milton Friedman — 25:56Sources:Who drank all the matcha? How tourism drained a Japanese

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21:24

Can summer movies make us wiser?

Just Questions ·

2025/06/19

Classic summer blockbusters like Jaws, ET, and Stand by Me are a great way to kick off summer — but underneath the summer fun, these movies illustrate fascinating philosophy concepts. This episode, we’ll analyze clips from these movies and use them as a jumping off point to talk about three philosophical concepts. No need to watch them beforehand, and each portion of this episode is self-contained, so use the timestamps to start at whichever movie you’d like.Timestamps:Jaws — 1:16Stand by Me —

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24:23

Is it wrong to watch true crime?

Just Questions ·

2025/06/05

What does it mean to watch real-life suffering for entertainment? In this episode, we examine the ethics of true crime to determine when true crime is justice, and when it veers into voyeurism.Timestamps:Nussbaum — 6:25Catharsis — 13:00Sontag — 17:26Sources:The True Crime Consumer Report by Edison Research and audiochuckJonBenet Ramsey's dad hopes for answers as new documentary puts pressure to solve 1996 murderPoetic justice : the literary imagination and public life : Nussbaum, Martha C. (Martha

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28:55

Is virtue signaling virtuous?

Just Questions ·

2025/05/15

Virtue signaling is a term that continues to be thrown around in a variety of contexts — from people’s bumper stickers to companies’ social media logos — but what really is virtue signaling, and is it something worth critiquing? We take a pause to look closer at virtue signaling, from unpacking definitions of virtue signaling and virtue to evaluating whether virtue signaling is a virtue or a vice.Timestamps:Aristotle — 2:57Kant — 13:29Westra — 20:36Sources:Meet the man who made six figures selling

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22:55

What’s the ethical code for influencers?

Just Questions ·

2025/05/01

From doctors to lawyers, nearly every profession has an ethical code—but what about influencers? This week, we look at the philosophical literature out there on influencers to see if there’s any limit to what an influencer can post. Along the way, we’ll build the beginnings of an ethical code for influencers, and we’ll get a better idea of who we want to follow — and even how we want to lead — on social media.Timestamps:Other Professions — 3:18Authenticity — 7:48Social Good — 11:16Sources:I Became

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19:27

Are you paying fair taxes?

Just Questions ·

2025/04/17

Tax season is officially behind us, but was the government just doing its job, or were the taxes you paid theft? In this episode of Just Questions, we dive into the ethics of taxation to answer this question. Using John Rawls’ veil of ignorance and Robert Nozick’s Wilt Chamberlain argument, we explore a famous philosophical debate on taxation and cover two radically different views on fairness, ownership, and what a just state looks like.Timestamps:Rawls — 1:56Nozick — 10:18Sources:The Myth of

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22:15

Who should self-driving cars save in crashes?

Just Questions ·

2025/04/03

As self-driving cars take over our roadways, a pressing question still remains: when a crash is unavoidable, who should they protect? In this episode, we’ll navigate the toughest ethical dilemmas autonomous vehicles face in life-or-death scenarios, exploring the leading philosophical theories on how these cars should be programmed to react. TimestampsMinimizing harm — 4:22Protecting the passenger — 7:13Protecting the public — 9:04Consent — 10:58Equality — 12:30Risk — 14:50SourcesMen harass woman

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11:38

BONUS: What’s wrong with severance?

Just Questions ·

2025/03/27

Today, I’m bringing you a bonus episode inspired by the hit show Severance! In it, we’ll unpack why the severance procedure is unethical from a philosophical perspective. This episode is spoiler-free and open to anyone interested in tough thought experiments, regardless of if you haven’t even heard of the show or if you’ve just finished the latest season finale.Sources:Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other

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25:48

Should we ever show mercy?

Just Questions ·

2025/03/20

Today’s episode tackles what mercy is and when we should show it. We’ll explore views from Seneca the Younger, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jeffrie Murphy to examine whether mercy is a virtue or a vice, and we’ll come away with a more complex idea of mercy and how to navigate using it in personal and social conflicts.Timestamps:Seneca — 3:47Nietzsche — 10:44Murphy — 16:14Sources:Special counsel slams Biden for pardoning son Hunter BidenBiden faces backlash for granting pardon to son HunterSen. Graham:

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18:03

Why does privacy matter?

Just Questions ·

2025/03/06

In today’s episode, we’ll ask ourselves: why does privacy matter? Unpacking ideas from philosophers Shoshana Zuboff, Michel Foucault, and Hannah Arendt, we’ll look at three different answers to this question, and by the end, we’ll gain a greater understanding of what we lose when we give up our privacy.Sources for this episode:The Instagram Video: @hayleybayleeThe Tik-Tok

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20 results

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