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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Philosophical Currents podcast

Moral Responsibility. The Clancy Trial.

2026/10/07

UND's Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein examines the Lindsey Clancy trial and how mental illness may affect moral responsibility, intent, free will and criminal accountability.

Beyond the Diploma: What Does It Mean to Be Educated?

2026/08/31

As students begin a new school year, Philosophical Currents examines a deceptively simple question: What does it mean to be educated?

WHY? Celebrates 200 Episodes

2026/08/04

The 200th episode of “Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life” premieres this Sunday. Ahead of the milestone, Erik Deatherage sits down with host Jack Russell Weinstein and his wife, Kim Donehower, a professor in the University of North Dakota’s Department of English. Friends and colleagues also join the celebration as we turn the tables on Jack and ask him questions, and give those he has impacted a chance to tell him “Why?” it all matters.

When Life Isn't Ours to Control

2026/07/27

Wildfire smoke raises a broader question: What do we owe ourselves when life is beyond our control? Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein explores resilience and meaning.

Who Gets In, Who Gets Remembered? Museums, Memory and Belonging

2026/06/29

As the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library prepares opens, UND philosopher Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein explores how museums shape public memory, belonging and access.

AI, Trust, The Future of University Learning

2026/06/01

Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein explores how AI is reshaping higher education, challenging academic integrity, critical thinking and the future value of a college degree.

Trust, Fear, and the Fractures in American Society

2026/05/04

A conversation with Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein on trust and skepticism in America, and what it may take to rebuild confidence in democracy.

When a Nation Goes to War: Duty, Dissent, and the Moral Divide

2026/03/30

What does war demand of us all? Jack Russell Weinstein explores just war, citizenship, and moral tension in “Philosophical Currents” on Prairie Public’s “Main Street.”

What Makes a Nation A Nation?

2026/02/25

UND philosopher Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein examines what defines a nation — borders and government, or shared identity and civic commitment — in this month’s segment.

No One Above the Law: A Philosophical Reckoning in a Time of Crisis

2026/02/03

A timely Philosophical Currents conversation with Jack Russell Weinstein on the rule of law, power, accountability, and democracy under strain.

Happy or Content? Rethinking What a Good Life Really Means

2025/12/30

A philosopher’s take on happiness vs. contentment. Why a good life may be less about feeling happy and more about meaning, perspective, and community.

When the Music Becomes Us: A Philosophical Look at Identity, Memory & Jimmy Cliff

2025/11/25

How the music of our youth becomes part of who we are. Dr. Jack Weinstein reflects on Jimmy Cliff’s legacy and why deeply listening still matters in the digital age.

Morality vs. Legality: When Right and Law Collide

2025/10/29

Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein of UND examines the tension between what’s moral and what’s legal - how shifting boundaries challenge justice and democracy today.

Can Happiness Be Taught—or Shared—Across Cultures?

2025/09/26

UND's Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein asks: Is happiness about less suffering, more joy, or wealth—and can Finland’s model of well-being be shared across cultures?

Philosophy of NIH Cuts: Justice, Equity, and America’s Common Good

2025/08/20

Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein examines NIH funding cuts, health equity, and what these choices reveal about justice, politics, and America’s common good.