The Partially Examined Life was characteristically active in September, delving into many fascinating topics. In order of occurrence, here’s a list of September content you can revisit, or in case you missed it, enjoy for the first time.
Ep. 374: Discussing Liberalism (Lincoln, et al) with Walter Sterling (Part Two)
September 1, 2025
The second half of a conversation on the roots and evolution of liberalism, with particular focus on Abraham Lincoln. Walter Sterling helps illuminates the path.
Pretty Much Pop #204: Naked Gun Rapid Firing
September 3, 2025
The team revisits The Naked Gun films, exploring how slapstick, wordplay, and parody combine into a comedic style that still lands decades later.
NEM#237: Maia Sharp’s Homey Subversion
September 4, 2025
Songwriter Maia Sharp talks through her career and songwriting process, balancing intimate storytelling with subtle twists that subvert expectations.
PvI#100: Maximizing Turtle Revenue w/ Tim Sniffen and Anthony LeBlanc
September 6, 2025
The end of Bill’s regular participation on the show (and the 100th episode!) brings returning improv veterans together for an energetic, joke-packed finale to PvI’s fourth season.
Ep. 375: Luce Irigaray’s Feminism (Part One)
September 8, 2025
The hosts begin their exploration of Luce Irigaray, examining her critique of phallocentrism and her push for a female symbolic order as a foundation for equality.
Closereads: Hegel on Stoicism (Part One)
September 8, 2025
Delving into Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit, the session considers Stoicism as an attitude of inner freedom and detachment from external authority.
Ep. 375: Luce Irigaray’s Feminism (Part Two)
September 15, 2025
The second half of the Irigaray discussion focuses on her constructive proposals: how new forms of language and culture could ground genuine sexual difference.
(sub)TEXT: Freedom and Authority in Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People”
September 16, 2025
Turning to Henrik Ibsen’s drama, the hosts probe its clash between truth-telling individuals and the pressures of public opinion, showing how the play’s themes remain strikingly timely.
Pretty Much Pop #205: Fantastical Foursome
September 16, 2025
Marvel’s Fantastic Four has gone through numerous reinventions. This episode looks at how the team has been adapted in comics, films, and beyond, and why the characters continue to matter.
PvI#101: Co-Hostery: Season Five Premiere with Mark and Mary
September 18, 2025
Season five kicks off with Mark and Mary co-hosting, bringing a refreshed energy and new improvisational games into dialogue with philosophical themes.
Ep. 376: Plato’s “Laws” (Part One)
September 22, 2025
Shifting to Plato’s last dialogue, the hosts take on Laws — less utopian than the Republic, more concerned with workable governance, civic education, and the balance between freedom and order.
Closereads: Horkheimer and Adorno on Enlightenment (Part One)
September 22, 2025
Beginning a new series on the Dialectic of Enlightenment, this session wrestles with how reason’s liberating promise can collapse into domination and myth.
NEM#238: Eric Andersen Endures
September 26, 2025
Folk legend Eric Andersen reflects on decades of songwriting, survival in the music industry, and the enduring power of his craft.
Ep. 376: Plato’s “Laws” (Part Two)
September 29, 2025
Continuing the discussion of Laws, the group digs deeper into Plato’s vision of political structure, education, and the role of divine law.
Pretty Much Pop #206: Abbott Elementary w/o Emmys
September 30, 2025
The hosts take on the hit sitcom Abbott Elementary, discussing its blend of humor and social commentary, its Philadelphia setting, and what it reveals about identity and public education.
More to come in October!
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