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Most Recent Episodes

“Lysistrata” w/ Lucy Lawless, Emily Perkins, Erica Spyres, Bill Youmans & Aaron David Gleason

April 16, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

“Lysistrata” w/ Lucy Lawless, Emily Perkins, Erica Spyres, Bill Youmans & Aaron David Gleason

The PEL Players return to perform a “cold read” of Aristophanes’s play about using a sex strike to end war, first performed in 411 BCE. Jeffrey Henderson’s translation makes this very accessible, and it’s still really damn funny. Your hosts are joined by five real actors from TV, film, and Broadway. We will be following this up in ep. 188 with a full discussion of the play and the issues it raises.

We’re pleased to bring you this performance without commercial interruptions. Why not respond in loving kind by tipping some pennies into the hat?

NEM#71: Aaron David Gleason Is a Wry Observer

April 15, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

NEM#71: Aaron David Gleason Is a Wry Observer

Aaron was born into show business, staring young in L.A. in the early ’00s with All Hours, then went solo, moved to New York, became an actor, and has now released his first album in seven years, Wry Observer.

We discuss the title track from that album plus “Brooklyn at Dawn” (the intro music is from that too: “The Last to Die in Battle”). Then we look back to “Box Office Stud” by All Hours (2004) and finish by listening to “Bright Lights” from the album Aaron David Gleason (2010). Learn more at aarondavidgleason.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.

PREVIEW-Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Part Three)

April 13, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

PREVIEW-Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Part Three)

Three substantial chunks of a follow-up conversation to our free speech episode. Mark and Wes discuss Jordan Peterson on speech, organizations promoting certain speech (as opposed to restricting), insults vs. arguments, offense vs. harm, “incoherence” arguments like Fish’s, fundamental principles in ethics, and more.

Get the full discussion by becoming a PEL Citizen or Patreon supporter.

Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Part Two)

April 9, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 6 Comments

Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Part Two)

Continuing our free-form discussion, trying to make sense of Stanley Fish’s “There’s No Such Thing as Free Speech, and It’s a Good Thing, Too” (1994) and other potential rationales for prohibiting hate speech. How might the same sentence or idea be used in different speech acts, some of which might be legitimately censured but others not?

Listen to part one first, or get the Citizen Edition, along with the full-length follow-up discussion by Mark and Wes.

Sponsors: Visit Squarespace.com for a free trial and 10% off with offer code EXAMINED and the St. John’s College Graduate Institute: partiallyexaminedlife.com/sjcgi.

NEM#70: Amy Annelle’s Natural Environments

April 9, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

NEM#70: Amy Annelle’s Natural Environments

Amy has recorded nine albums of emotionally stark but often artistically decorated original folk music, punctuated by cover tunes like the opening music here, Townes Van Zandt’s “Buckskin Stallion Blues,” which appeared in the film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
We discuss “Mouth to Mouth” from The Autopilot Knows You Best (2000), “The Nightjar’s Blues” from The Cimarron Banks (2010), and “Natural Arc” from Songs for Creeps (2006), which also contains our closer, “I’m A-Gone Down to the Greenfields.” Visit amyannelle.bandcamp.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.

Episode 187 Follow-Up: The Limits of Free Speech (Citizens Only)

April 5, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 18 Comments

Episode 187 Follow-Up: The Limits of Free Speech (Citizens Only)

Mark and Wes continue the discussion from ep. 187. We watched some Jordan Peterson, so we talk about his position a bit, and about the appropriateness of organizations encouraging certain kinds of speech, the offense principle, the difference (and overlap!) between good-faith arguments and insults, conspiracy theories, “incoherence arguments” like Fish’s (also used by Kant, Rand, and others), and “fundamental moral principles”: Does that concept even make sense given that any principle requires judgement and probably sub-principles to apply it to real situations?

End song: “Combine Man” by RHEMA, as discussed on Nakedly Examined Music #67.

Combat & Classics #18: Racine’s “Phèdre”

April 2, 2018 by Brian Wilson Leave a Comment

Combat & Classics #18: Racine’s “Phèdre”

Can you simultaneously hate and love the same thing? What is the relationship between virtue and love? Lise, Jeff, and Brian tackle those questions and more in this episode on Jean Racine’s play, Phèdre.
Get more C&C on the PEL site or at combatandclassics.org.

Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Part One)

April 2, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 5 Comments

Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Part One)

A free-form discussion drawing on Stanley Fish’s “There’s No Such Thing as Free Speech, and It’s a Good Thing, Too” (1994), Joel Feinberg’s “Limits to the Free Expression of Opinion” (1975), and other sources.

What are the legitimate limits on free speech? Feinberg delves into the harm and offense principles. Fish argues that every claim to free speech has ideological assumptions actually favoring some types of speech baked into it. A lively back and forth ensues!

Don’t wait for part two! Get the full, unbroken Citizen Edition now! Please support PEL! We’ll also be soon releasing a full-length follow-up discussion to this one between Mark and Wes, just for supporters.

Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Citizen Edition)

March 30, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 5 Comments

Episode 187: The Limits of Free Speech (Citizen Edition)

A free-form discussion drawing on Stanley Fish’s “There’s No Such Thing as Free Speech, and It’s a Good Thing, Too” (1994), Joel Feinberg’s “Limits to the Free Expression of Opinion” (1975), and other sources.

What are the legitimate limits on free speech? Feinberg delves into the harm and offense principles. Fish argues that every claim to free speech has ideological assumptions actually favoring some types of speech baked into it. A lively back and forth ensues, which Mark and Wes then continued in a supporter-only, 90-minute follow-up.

End song: “We Don’t Talk about It” by Steve Wynn, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #43.

NEM#69: Craig Wedren Catch-Up: “Safe Home/Fadeland”

March 28, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

NEM#69: Craig Wedren Catch-Up: “Safe Home/Fadeland”

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/partiallyexaminedlife/NEM_ep_069_2-1-18.mp3Podcast (nakedly-examined-music-podcast): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:51 — 33.9MB)On NEM#15, Craig introduced us to his songwriting style: How a hardcore aesthetic informs even his most syntho creations, and how whimsicality and beauty can coexist harmoniously. Craig has since then released the Adult Desire album, and returns to talk to us about the song “Safe Home/Fadeland” and about Continue Reading …

Phi Fic #21 “Foe” by J.M. Coetzee

March 27, 2018 by Nathan Hanks Leave a Comment

Phi Fic #21 “Foe” by J.M. Coetzee

Join us as we delve into Coetzee’s rich, complex exploration of story and authorship in this novel that presents an origin story of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Coetzee writes about Susan Barton, a castaway at sea who discovers an island inhabited by two men, Robinson Crusoe and Friday. Once rescued, she seeks the renowned author Daniel Defoe to help tell her story, but struggles to communicate her experiences.
Hear more Phi Fic discussions at PhiFicPodcast.com.

Episode 186: J.L. Austin on Doing Things with Words (Part Two)

March 26, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 5 Comments

Episode 186: J.L. Austin on Doing Things with Words (Part Two)

Continuing on How to Do Things with Words (lectures from 1955), covering lectures 5–9.

Austin tries and fails to come up with a way to grammatically distinguish performatives from other utterances, and so turns to his more complicated system of aspects of a single act: locutionary, illocutionary, perlocutionary. In doing so, he perlocutionarily blows our minds.

Listen to part one first, or get the ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

Sponsors: Get a free trial and 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at squarespace.com, offer code PEL. Visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/PEL for a one-month free trial of The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service.

NEM#68: Billy James (Ant-Bee): Experimenting with Idols

March 22, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

NEM#68: Billy James (Ant-Bee): Experimenting with Idols

Billy now does press for many of his idols, but began as a drummer in music school and started Ant-Bee in the late ’80s, as a Zappa-esque improv live act and as a Beach Boys–psychedelic solo recording effort. He’s released four albums, increasingly featuring his clients.

We discuss two tracks from Electronic Church Muzik (2011): “Flutter-Bye, Butter-Flye” (feat. Michael Bruce) and “The Language of the Body” (feat. poetry by Gong’s Daevid Allen and layering on parts by Zappa alums). We then look back to two tracks from With My Favorite “Vegetables” & Other Bizarre Muzik (1994): “The Girl with the Stars in Her Hair” and a Beach Boys cover, “Do You Like Worms?” Opening/closing music: “Eating Chocolate Cake (In the Bath)” from Pure Electric Honey (1990). For more info, see ant-bee.com and glassonyonpr.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.

Combat & Classics #17: Freud’s “On Transience”

March 20, 2018 by Brian Wilson 1 Comment

Combat & Classics #17: Freud’s “On Transience”

Jeff, Lise, and Brian discuss “On Transience,” in which Freud ruminates on the transitory nature of, and beautiful things in, life. The piece prompts a conversation about a variety of topics Freud raises, from death to libido to war.

Get more C&C on the PEL site or at combatandclassics.org.

Episode 186: J.L. Austin on Doing Things with Words (Part One)

March 19, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 2 Comments

Episode 186: J.L. Austin on Doing Things with Words (Part One)

On How to Do Things with Words (lectures from 1955).

What’s the relationship between language and the world? Austin says it’s not all about descriptive true-or-false statements, but also includes “performatives” like “I promise…” and “I do” (spoken in a wedding) that are actions unto themselves. They can’t be true or false, but they can be “unhappy” if social conventions aren’t fulfilled (e.g., you try to marry a pig). Austin thinks performatives will change your whole view of language and of linguistically expressed philosophical problems!

Don’t wait for part two! Get the ad-free, unbroken Citizen Edition now! Please support PEL.

Sponsors: Visit Squarespace.com for a free trial and 10% off with offer code EXAMINED and thegreatcoursesplus.com/PEL for a one-month free trial of The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service.

Episode 186: J.L. Austin on Doing Things with Words (Citizen Edition)

March 18, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 2 Comments

Episode 186: J.L. Austin on Doing Things with Words (Citizen Edition)

On How to Do Things with Words (lectures from 1955).

What’s the relationship between language and the world? Austin says it’s not all about descriptive true-or-false statements, but also includes “performatives” like “I promise…” and “I do” (spoken in a wedding) that are actions unto themselves. They can’t be true or false, but they can be “unhappy” if social conventions aren’t fulfilled (e.g., you try to marry a pig). Austin thinks performatives will change your whole view of language and of linguistically expressed philosophical problems!

End song: “The Promise” by When In Rome. Listen to Mark interview singer/songwriter Clive Farrington on Nakedly Examined Music #40.

Combat & Classics #16: Interview with Anne Kniggendorf

March 14, 2018 by Brian Wilson Leave a Comment

Combat & Classics #16: Interview with Anne Kniggendorf

Brian interviews St. John’s College alum and US Navy veteran Anne Kniggendorf. They have an engaging discussion about the relationship between liberal arts and the military.

Get more C&C on the PEL site or at combatandclassics.org.

Episode 185: Ethics in Homer’s “Odyssey” Feat. Translator Emily Wilson (Part Two)

March 12, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Episode 185: Ethics in Homer’s “Odyssey” Feat. Translator Emily Wilson (Part Two)

Continuing with Emily Wilson on her translation of the Greek epic poem. We discuss the oikos, or estate, built on violence, and its connection to xenia, or hospitality, which serves to forge military alliances. Also: status distinctions and the role of the gods in the text.

Listen to part one first, or get the ad-free, unbroken Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: “Tiny Broken Boats” by Arrica Rose, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #66.

Sponsors: Get $25 off dog-walking at rover.com/partiallyexamined, promo code partiallyexamined. Get a free trial and 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at squarespace.com, offer code PEL. Try TextExpander’s snippets at textexpander.com/podcast and get 20% off your first year. Check out Seth Godin’s Akimbo podcast sethspodcast.com.

Episode 185: Ethics in Homer’s “Odyssey” Feat. Translator Emily Wilson (Part One)

March 5, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Episode 185: Ethics in Homer’s “Odyssey” Feat. Translator Emily Wilson (Part One)

On the classic Greek epic poem, written ca. 750 BC and translated by our guest Emily Wilson in 2018.

Does this story of “heroes” have anything to teach us about ethics? Wilson wrote an 80-page introduction to her new translation laying out the issues, including “hospitality” as a political tool, the value for status and identity of one’s home (including your family and slaves), and the tension between strangeness and familiarity. Can time and change really be undone?

Don’t wait for part 2! Get the unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Sponsors: Visit Squarespace.com for a free trial and 10% off with offer code EXAMINED and thegreatcoursesplus.com/PEL for a one-month free trial of The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service. Order Danny Lobell’s comic at fairenoughcomic.com.

NEM#67: RHEMA’s Marc Jackson and Jeffrey Casey: Original Gangastas of Techno

March 5, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

NEM#67: RHEMA’s Marc Jackson and Jeffrey Casey: Original Gangastas of Techno

RHEMA as a six-piece band produced an album called Voyage of the Rock Aliens that accompanied their appearance in the film of that name. The band then broke up, but songwriters Marc and Jeffrey continued to work together on various projects, and have finally now produced a proper album as RHEMA called Shine, drawing on their ’80s roots but incorporating modern electronic music textures.

We discuss “Rebel Flame” and “The World Is So Small” and listen to “Life in Front of You” from that new album, and discuss one old song, “Combine Man,” specifically a 2009 Marc Jackson remix. Intro: “21st Century.” For more information, see rhemaband.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.

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The Partially Examined Life is a philosophy 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 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

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