December closed out the year at PEL with a mix of philosophy, psychoanalysis, music, film, and holiday-season reflection. The month featured discussions on Freud, law, music, television, and popular film, alongside seasonal episodes of Philosophy vs. Improv and Pretty Much Pop. Below is a full roundup of everything published across the network last month, listed in order of occurrence.
Ep. 380: Josiah Royce on Community (Part Two)
Dec 1, 2025
Continuing the discussion of Royce’s The Problem of Christianity, the conversation presses further into what it means for a community to have a shared “mind” across time, anchored not just in present individuals but in inherited history, projected futures, and collective interpretation. The episode develops Royce’s picture of community as something more like an ongoing time-process than a mere aggregation of people.
Philosophy vs. Improv #106: Heart Tchotchkes w/ Seth Stephon Brown
Dec 5, 2025
Seth Stephon Brown joins Philosophy vs. Improv for an episode that blends playful improvisation with reflective conversation. Moving between humor and sincerity, the discussion touches on sentimental objects, emotional attachment, and the small, often absurd artifacts through which people invest meaning in everyday life.
NEM #243: Corey Ledet’s Eclectic Zydeco
Dec 5, 2025
A conversation with zydeco musician Corey Ledet, whose work blends Louisiana Creole traditions with eclectic modern influences. The discussion highlights how regional musical forms sustain identity, tradition, and communal energy while remaining open to innovation.
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part One)
Dec 8, 2025
The first installment in a series on Aquinas’s ethical psychology, focusing on virtue, moral dispositions, and the relationship between reason and emotion. The discussion draws from the Summa Theologica to examine how Aquinas integrates moral action, habit, and rational deliberation.
Pretty Much Pop #211: Slow Horses and Its Predecessors
Dec 10, 2025
A discussion of the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, placing it in conversation with earlier spy fiction and television, especially the tradition shaped by John le Carré. The hosts consider how the show balances genre conventions, character-driven storytelling, and political cynicism.
(sub)TEXT: Erin’s New Book, Avail
Dec 10, 2025
Wes Alwan and Erin O’Luanaigh turn their interpretive lens toward Erin’s new book Avail. Through close attention to language, imagery, and allusion, they explore themes of illness, identity, creativity, and the layered meanings of availability and presence.
Philosophy vs. Improv #107: Mary and Mark Argue About Arguing
Dec 12, 2025
Mary and Mark turn the lens inward, staging a playful but pointed meta-discussion about argument itself. Through improvised disagreement and reflection, the episode explores when arguing clarifies ideas, when it hardens positions, and how conflict, performance, and sincerity intersect in philosophical exchange.
Closereads: Royce on Interpreting Others
Dec 12, 2025
A close reading of Josiah Royce on interpretation and community, focusing on how understanding another person depends on shared purposes, commitments, and historical context. The discussion emphasizes Royce’s view that interpretation is not merely psychological but ethical and communal, grounded in the possibility of mutual recognition over time.
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Two)
Dec 14, 2025
Continuing the series, this episode delves deeper into Aquinas’s account of virtue, emotion, and moral responsibility. The hosts examine how ethical psychology fits within Aquinas’s broader metaphysical framework and what it suggests about human flourishing.
NEM #244: Year-End Chat with NEM Audio Editor Roger Heathers
Dec 19, 2025
A year-end Nakedly Examined Music conversation with audio editor Roger Heathers. The episode reflects on the craft of sound editing, listening practices, and the behind-the-scenes work that shapes how music-focused philosophical discussions are experienced.
Closereads: Aquinas and Scotus on Law (Part One)
Dec 20, 2025
A Closereads session comparing Aquinas and John Duns Scotus on the nature of law. The discussion explores natural law, divine command, and the grounding of moral and legal norms, setting the stage for deeper contrasts between their medieval frameworks.
Ep. 382: Freud on Group Psychology (Part One)
Dec 22, 2025
The first part of a discussion of Freud’s Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, focusing on how individual psychology changes in collective contexts. The episode introduces Freud’s account of identification, authority, and libidinal attachment, laying the groundwork for understanding how groups generate cohesion, obedience, and shared emotional life.
Ep. 382: Freud on Group Psychology (Part Two)
Dec 28, 2025
The continuation of the Freud series examines Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, focusing on how individual psychology changes within collective contexts. Topics include identification, libidinal bonds, authority, and the emotional mechanisms underlying group cohesion.
Pretty Much Pop #212: Holiday Romance Films
Dec 28, 2025
A seasonal exploration of the holiday romance genre, from Hallmark staples to streaming-era variations. The hosts reflect on narrative formulas, cultural appeal, and why these films continue to resonate—whether sincerely or ironically—with holiday audiences.
Philosophy vs. Improv #108: Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas Dinner… Lawrence Ware!
Dec 28, 2025
A holiday-themed Philosophy vs. Improv episode featuring Lawrence Ware. The conversation blends festive improv with philosophical reflection, moving fluidly between humor, social commentary, and end-of-year cheer.
There’s much more to come in all of 2026!
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