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The Partially Examined Life is a 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 short 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. For links to the texts we discuss and other info, check out www.partiallyexaminedlife.com. We also feature episodes from other podcasts by our hosts to round out your partially examined life, including Pretty Much Pop (prettymuchpop.com, covering all media), Nakedly Examined Music (nakedlyexaminedmusic.com, deconstructing songs), Philosophy vs. Improv (philosophyimprov.com, fun with performance skills and philosophical ideas), and (sub)Text (subtextpodcast.com, looking deeply at lit and film). Learn about more network podcasts at partiallyexaminedlife.com.

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Ep. 402: Plato Talks Homer: Hippias Minor and Ion (Part Two)

2026/10/19

Finishing up on Hippias Minor and moving on to the Ion, where Socrates convinces a rhapsode (someone who does public, dramatic readings of Homer and is a Homer scholar) that his talent is a matter of inspiration and not knowledge. So how does this relate to Plato's dismissal of poets in the Republic? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: If you're ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to Shopify.com/pel to start your free trial.

PEL Presents NEM#262: Bruce Cockburn Expands Political/Spiritual Folk

2026/10/18

Bruce has released 34 solo albums between 1970 and the present. He's a very accomplished finger-picker and often plays entirely solo but has also written rock, jazz, Christian, and 80s syntho songs. We discuss "Louis Collins" from The Blood of Others (2026), "Look How Far" from Breakfast in New Orleans Dinner in Timbuktu (1999), and Let's Go Laughing" from High Winds White Sky (1971). End song: "Café Society" from Bone on Bone (2017). Intro: "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" from Stealing Fire (1984). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.

PEL Presents PMP#232: Obsession (for Men?)

2026/10/16

On the 2024 low-budget horror blockbuster film by Curry Barker. Mark, Lawrence, and Sarahlyn are joined by feminist philosopher Jenny Hansen to talk about this peculiar film. Is it a feminist tract exposing "nice guys" for their underlying narcissism, or just a lengthy Twilight Zone episode getting creative about the mechanics of the old magic wish trope? Like Get Out, this film is a surreal take on exploitation, but it also places itself in the tradition of Fatal Attraction as playing on our fear of and disdain for "clingy women." Did Barker even know what his message is? Is this film actually scary? Get more at prettymuchpop.com. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Ep. 402: Plato Talks Homer: Hippias Minor and Ion (Part One)

2026/10/12

On two short Platonic dialogues, written perhaps around a decade after Socrates' death in 399 BCE. Hippias Minor, where Hippias is (like many of Socrates' interlocutors) a Sophist. In this case, this means that Hippias presents himself as an expert in all sorts of practices (techne) including not only literary marvels but even making his own clothes. Do these things add up to virtue? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.

PEL Presents Closereads: Gilbert Ryle on Self-Knowledge (Part One)

2026/10/11

On The Concept of Mind (1949), Ch. 6, "Self-Knowledge." Ryle is arguing against a Cartesian take on mind that he sees as over-intellectualizing. In this case, it is not the case that every conscious act is itself an object of an act of consciousness: Not all consciousness is self-conscious, and introspection itself must involve a layer of mentality (the act of self-consciousness) that is not itself the object of an act of consciousness. Read along with us, starting on p. 136 (PDF p. 199). Subscribe to Closereads at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy; follow us there via the free tier to get many other episodes like this one ad free, or pay us to get subsequent parts to this and everything else we've recorded. (Alternatively, support both PEL and Closereads at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife for a nice combo deal.)

Ep. 401: Mind/Brain Identity Theory (J.J.C. Smart) (Part Three)

2026/10/11

Mark and Wes further explore J.J.C. Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes" (1959). Place had established that it's not the meanings of the words "brain" and "mind" that show their identity; they're metaphysically identical despite this difference in words. However, Smart claims that when referring to a mental state, a speaker is unknowingly still referring to a brain state. So we talk a lot about meaning vs. reference.

PEL Presents PvI#125: Mrs. Nussbaum's Credit Card

2026/10/09

The new official crew of Mark Linsenmayer, Mary Hynes, and "Jus' Jenny" Hansen kicks off our new endeavor to explore ancient self-help/psychologically therapeutic philosophical traditions via Martha Nussbaum's book "The Therapy of Desire," which we've read the intro of. We talk and/or act about preconceptions about philosophy, AA, a single-celled support group, a foul-mouthed poetry slam, and more. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at patreon.com/philosophyimprov.

Ep. 401: Mind/Brain Identity Theory (U.T. Place, J.J.C. Smart) (Part Two)

2026/10/05

Finishing up U.T. Place's "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?" (1956) and starting on J.J.C. Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes" (1959). Place argues against the "phenomenological fallacy," i.e. the reality of the contents of one's inner life. Then Smart considers objects against mind/brain identity: Must qualities of sensations be something over and above qualities of brain processes? Finally, is mind/brain identity a scientific hypothesis at all? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.

PEL Presents NEM#261: Joan as Policewoman's Living Growth

2026/10/03

Joan Wasser started as violinist/support member in the 90s for The Dambuilders and then for Mind Science of the Mind and Antony and the Johnsons. In the mid-90s, she co-led a band called Black Beetle that released nothing, but taught her songwriting. She's had 13 solo releases, as she has continued to guest and tour with major artists including Iggy Pop, and Gorillaz. We discuss "Eternal Flame" from Real Life Evolution (2026), "I Defy" from Real Life (2006), and "Full-Time Heist" from Lemons, Limes and Orchids (2024). Intro: "The Magic" from The Deep Field (2011). End song: "Valid Jagger" from Damned Devotion (2018). More at joanaspolicewoman.com. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic.

PEL Presents PMP#231: Euphoric Teens

2026/10/01

We discuss high school drama TV shows and films in light of the genre-breaking, star-birthing teen drama Euphoria. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al touch on Riverdale, Skins, Degrassi, John Hughes films, Buffy, Saved By the Bell, 90210, and many others. How much of the plots are driven by "affluenza?" What do they have to say about friendship? Is there something very white about even shows like Euphoria that have plenty of POC characters? Do the "genre" shows (e.g. The Craft) count? What about anime? Get more at prettymuchpop.com. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop. Sponsor: Get started with Claude AI at claude.ai/pmp.

Ep. 401: Mind/Brain Identity Theory (U.T. Place, J.J.C. Smart) (Part One)

2026/09/28

On U.T. Place's "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?" (1956) and J.J.C. Smart's "Sensations and Brain Processes" (1959), w/ guest Chris Heath. Is there some a priori reason for denying that the mind can actually be the brain? Obviously those two words don't mean the same thing, but can we think of them as a single thing under two descriptions? Place argues that the identity is not unlike other scientific identities, like lightning being the same as a motion of electric charges. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.

PREMIUM-Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part Three)

2026/09/26

Mark and Seth rejoin to complete our treatment of Consciousness Explained, focusing on Dennett's responses to Frank Jackson's Mary the Color Scientist thought experiment, Searle's Chinese Room, inverted qualia, and more. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Theater w/ David Epstein

2026/09/25

As an interlude between our Philosophy vs. Improv seasons, here's an interview left over from July with Mark's former classmate, actor/director/writer David, who runs Actor Class on Times Square. We talk about his career and his insights about Broadway, Shakespeare, contemporary entertainment, theory in acting, and more. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at patreon.com/philosophyimprov.

Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part Two)

2026/09/21

Continuing on Consciousness Explained, ch. 12-14, especially responding to Dennett's discussion of Nagel's "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" which which gets us in a whole conversation about animal consciousness. What is it like to be any languageless creature? How is the debate relevant to ethical issues? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.

PEL Presents Closereads: Late Dennett on Consciousness (Part One)

2026/09/20

On "Are We Explaining Consciousness Yet" (2001), an article published with and commenting on papers by psychologists, neurologists, etc. on the state of consciousness studies at the time, featuring his newer metaphor for consciousness, "fame in the brain." Follow along with us. You can choose to watch this on video. Subscribe to Closereads at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy; follow us there via the free tier to get many other episodes like this one ad free, or pay us to get part 2 and everything else we've recorded. (Alternatively, support both PEL and Closereads at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife for a nice combo deal.)

Podcast reviews

Read The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast podcast reviews

4.6 out of 5

2109 reviews

★★★★★

LostListens 2026/07/20

Fun and accessible

I couldn’t afford to even pretend I was going to do philosophy for a living, but I can listen to this podcast while I labor under capitalism. I think ...

★★☆☆☆

A is not A 2026/04/14

just tired.

been listening to this podcast since really early on and the quality if discussion has risen and fallen, but i’m just tired of the need on wes’s part ...

★★★★★

girltalk77 2026/03/06

Smart people discussing big ideas - love it!

This is my favorite podcast of all time. I always learn something from PEL. All of the participants are excellent and super knowledgeable, and Mark e...

★☆☆☆☆

Renormalizer 2026/02/10

Simplistic

Although they try and make a good show of it these guys are outside of the mainstream of philosophy and have not the time to actually go deep into the...

★★★★★

Adam Ellingson 2026/01/23

Great philosophy talk

Mark, Wes, Seth, and Dylan take great philosophical works and discuss them in a digestible and entertaining way. I highly recommend doing the reading ...

★★★★★

Zumolllaaaaaaaa 2025/12/22

Premier Philosophy Pod

Really cool diversity of viewpoints and texts, and serious yet engaging debate and analysis. They have a cool listener community going and a stellar b...

★★★★★

Raaaaaaaaaaaul 2025/12/01

Possibly the Greatest Philosophy Podcast

Found this podcast on accident while down a YouTube rabbit hole, as one does. I appreciate the human quality of the discussions. Multiple voices, mult...

★★☆☆☆

Jdkdns is 2025/07/22

Snarky/unserious

The hosts tend to provide snarky and unserious analysis with a generally shallow understanding of the source material. There are much better podcasts ...

★★★★★

Soulfulseoul 2025/05/07

Wonderful contents

Found this podcast while searching for Eichmann in Jerusalem. Clear, thoughtful, and easy to follow. Now it’s on my 2-year bucket list to listen from ...

★★★★★

GladiateGoat 2024/11/17

Excellent Pod

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