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 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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2026 • 1h 32min
PEL Presents NEM#249: Kavus Torabi Now Leads Gong
Kavus Torabi, musician and songwriter leading Knifeworld and now fronting Gong, traces his path from math-rock to prog and solo hymn-like songs. He discusses songwriting, odd meters made to groove, arranging with unusual instruments like bassoon and sitar-like textures, and playful studio choices. Expect talk of key-change tricks, dense live-unfriendly arrangements, and nostalgic nods to past bands.
Mar 23, 2026 • 1h 1min
Ep. 387: Hegel on Law (Part Two)
They trace Hegel’s reading of Antigone and Oedipus to show how conflicting laws create guilt and split the self. They discuss how ethical life collapses into feeling when rival duties clash. They follow the shift from family bonds to atomized legal individuals and how civic recognition becomes empty under imperial power.
Mar 22, 2026 • 47min
PEL Presents PvI#114: Earning Crazy Town w/ Jenny Hansen
Jenny Hansen, philosophy professor at St. Lawrence known for feminist pedagogy, blends improv and teaching. She explores playful classroom games, feminist critiques of combative debate, and using humor, role-play, and status shifts to lower defenses and reveal power dynamics. Short, lively scenes illustrate alternatives to adversarial philosophy and tactics for protecting time and well-being.
Mar 18, 2026 • 57min
PEL Presents PMP#217: Mel Brooks' Old Comedy
A lively dive into Mel Brooks' films, from The Producers and Young Frankenstein to Blazing Saddles and lesser-known later work. They debate which movies have aged well and which haven’t. Conversations cover Brooks' auteur traits, collaborations, boundary-pushing comedy, and how race, sexism, and satire shape his legacy.
Mar 16, 2026 • 47min
Ep. 387: Hegel on Law (Part One)
They explore Hegel's split between divine, family-based law and explicit human law and how that fracture shapes modernity. Greek tragedies like Antigone are read as allegories of legal and ethical conflict. The conversation traces how individual deeds create guilt, how communities ritualize wrongs, and how alienation births autonomous individuality.
Mar 14, 2026 • 10min
PREMIUM-Ep. 386: Hegel on Society (Part Three)
On sec. 451-463 of Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit. We get into more detail on these passages about the way the two types of law (human and divine) interact, as well as how these play out in family roles and the responsibility to bury the dead. 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.
Mar 12, 2026 • 1h 11min
PEL Presents NEM#248: Lande Hekt: Lucky to Be Indie
Lande Hekt, singer-songwriter who moved from punk-pop band Muncie Girls to a solo career, talks songwriting, recording choices, and touring life. She explains vocal harmonies, layered shoegaze textures, and baritone guitar riffs. Conversation covers repetitive drone riffs, political punk roots, DIY ethics, and the making of the title track Lucky Now.
Mar 9, 2026 • 1h
Ep. 386: Hegel on Society (Part Two)
A deep dive into Hegel's social metaphysics, exploring how ethical life splits into human law and a subconscious 'divine' sense rooted in home and family. They trace Antigone's conflict as a clash of family duty and state law. The conversation maps culture, faith, custom, and formal legality and how individual deeds make communal universals real.
Mar 7, 2026 • 55min
PEL Presents PvI#113: Mary and Mark Pick Their Battles
They debate when to pick fights and when to let things go. Mary shares roommate-search trauma and setting practical boundaries. They act out awkward roommate and family Thanksgiving scenes. Conversations cover religion vs. public debate, handling QAnon and online disputes, social media curiosity, energy limits, and a playful moral skit about vegetarianism and compassion.
Mar 5, 2026 • 57min
PEL Presents PMP#216: Oscars So Black?
A lively discussion about what counts as a Black film and whether creators behind the camera matter. They debate why trauma-heavy dramas dominate awards and whether comedies or lighter Black stories get overlooked. Conversation covers Academy bias, palatability, and whether non-Black filmmakers can authentically tell Black experiences.
