April at PEL carried the Hegel series forward while shifting into some of its more socially relevant territory. Additionally, the month saw a mix of film, music, and improvisation, with episodes on everything from horror franchises and prestige TV to Diderot and songwriting. Below is a full roundup of everything published across the network in April, listed in order of occurrence.
Ep. 388: Hegel on Culture (Part Two)
Apr 6, 2026
Continuing the discussion of the “Spirit” chapter (“Culture and its realm of actuality”) in Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit (secs. 490–510), the hosts examine Hegel’s account of acculturation. The episode traces how individuals identify with and internalize shared cultural forms, using language and moral categories like “good” and “bad” to situate themselves within social conflicts such as those between state power and wealth.
Pretty Much Pop #218: All the “Scream”-ing
Apr 6, 2026
The hosts discuss the Scream meta-slasher franchise, from Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s 1996 original through the newest installment in the series. The conversation considers whether the films’ self-awareness about horror conventions genuinely elevates the genre or simply provides another way to enjoy its familiar pleasures, while also touching on the franchise’s recurring cast and long-running appeal.
Philosophy vs. Improv #115: Mary and Mark Astro-Logically
Apr 9, 2026
Mark and Mary take up astrology as a springboard for a mix of discussion and improvised scenes. The episode touches on astrological biases, letting go of control in performance, and how group-based assumptions shape judgment and attraction, framed as an illustration of how people actually come to change their minds.
Closereads: Galen Strawson Against Narrativity (Part One)
Apr 10, 2026
This session turns to Galen Strawson’s “Against Narrativity” (2004), which challenges the widespread view that we understand our lives by organizing them into a coherent story. The discussion examines Strawson’s rejection of both the descriptive claim that we all experience ourselves narratively and the normative claim that ethical life depends on such a narrative framework, introducing his contrast between diachronic and episodic forms of self-experience.
Ep. 389: Hegel on Wealth and Power (Part One)
Apr 13, 2026
Continuing the “Culture and its Realm of Actuality” section of Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit (secs. 511–526), the hosts examine the relationship between political power and private wealth. The episode explores how identification with both state authority and personal wealth becomes concentrated in the figure of the monarch, tracing Hegel’s account of how social hierarchy, loyalty, and material power reinforce one another within a shared cultural order.
Ep. 389: Hegel on Wealth and Power (Part Two)
Apr 19, 2026
Continuing the conclusion of “Culture and its Realm of Actuality” in Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit (secs. 519–526), the hosts examine the psychological dynamics of power between nobles and the monarch. The episode explores how acts of giving both express and reinforce hierarchy, producing resentment, duplicity, and shifting moral language, and how this unstable structure tends toward cynicism and eventual rebellion.
Pretty Much Pop #219: Project Hail Mary
Apr 19, 2026
The hosts discuss Project Hail Mary, the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, focusing on how the story translates its scientific problem-solving and first-contact elements to the screen. The conversation considers the balance between exposition and character, as well as how the film handles collaboration, communication, and discovery in an isolated setting.
Philosophy vs. Improv #116: Full Bird Mode w/ BJ Lange
Apr 22, 2026
Improviser and actor BJ Lange joins Mark and Mary for a mix of conversation and improvised scenes touching on topics like migratory patterns, teaching, the “realness” of birds, and playing unsafe characters. The episode moves through sketches involving improv classes, spying on birds, and online arguments while continuing the show’s blend of discussion and spontaneous performance.
Nakedly Examined Music #250: Bill Pritchard the Tourist
Apr 22, 2026
Singer-songwriter Bill Pritchard joins the show to discuss his long-running career, from his early recordings in the late 1980s through his more recent work. The conversation moves through several tracks spanning this period, touching on his songwriting, collaborations, and the way his music reflects different places and influences over time.
Ep. 390: Diderot Debates a Cynic (Part One)
Apr 26, 2026
Beginning a discussion of Denis Diderot’s Rameau’s Nephew, a dialogue written in the 1760s and published posthumously, the hosts examine the character of Rameau. The episode introduces his claim that prudence, rather than virtue, governs real-world success, raising questions about whether ethical norms reflect genuine ideals or practical compromises.
Nakedly Examined Music #251: Dr. Alan Williams (Birdsong at Morning)
Apr 30, 2026
Dr. Alan Williams joins the show to discuss his varied musical career, from early work with the band Knots and Crosses through later projects including Birdsong at Morning and his solo recordings. The conversation moves through tracks from these different periods while touching on his work as a recording engineer and ethnomusicologist.
Pretty Much Pop #220: Peaky Blinders: Gangs of Birmingham
Apr 30, 2026
The hosts discuss Steven Knight’s historical crime series Peaky Blinders, considering its six-season run and whether it sustains the strength of its early premise. The conversation touches on the show’s focus on post–World War I trauma, its heavily stylized tone and performances, and whether its recurring heists and plot developments support or undercut its dramatic weight.
There’s more to come in May!
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