The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

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

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-l

PEL Presents PMP#231: Euphoric Teens

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, Ski

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

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 reas

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

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,

PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Theater w/ David Epstein

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 Act

Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part Two)

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 c

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

On "Are We Explaining Consciousness Yet" (2001), an article published with and commenting on papers by psychologists, neurologists, etc. on the state of consciousness stu

PEL Presents PMP#230: Gettin' Furious

To begin our new season, we're up to the moment covering the first season of Elizabeth Meriwether's Hulu crime drama Furious, about an abused detective pursuing, and ulti

Ep. 400: Dennett Rejects Qualia (Part One)

We focus on the final chapters of Dan Dennett's Consciousness Explained, where he confronts various views, figures, and thought experiments that contend that he's failed

PEL Presents NEM#260: Jacqui Hunt (Single Gun Theory) Now Master of Her Synth Domain

Jacqui rose to fame with the Australian electronic dance band Single Gun Theory (three albums '87-'94), did some one-off collaborations, and released her first solo album

PEL Presents PvI#124: Navel Evaluation (Our Season 5 Finale)

We wrap up Mary's first year with the podcast, and changes are afoot for our upcoming season, but why? Let's explore to the point of physical discomfort! We act out an od

Ep. 399: Dan Dennett's Model of Mind (Part Two)

Continuing on Consciousness Explained (Ch. 5, 12). We talk about appearance vs. judgment and whether Dennett's denial of this distinction makes sense or just holds for ve

PEL Presents Closereads: Donald Davidson on Self-Knowledge (Part One)

On "First Person Authority" (1984). What warrants our superior knowledge of our own mental states, as oppose to those of others? Why is this not obvious? Read along wit

PEL Presents PMP#229: What's Spider-Man Up To?

It's been 2019 since our last Spider-Man episode, so what's with the new film (Brand New Day), and the Spider-Verse, and Nicholas Cage being Spider Noir? Mark, Lawrence,

Ep. 399: Dan Dennett's Model of Mind (Part One)

On Daniel C. Dennett's Consciousness Explained (Ch. 1, 5), featuring guest Mark, Seth, Dylan, and guest Chris Heath. What is the mind? Dennett puts forth his "multiple

PREMIUM-PEL Sunami Nightcap August 2026

Chris Sunami, the editor of the PEL book, joins Mark, Wes and Seth as part of the launch of his new book, Free Your Mind, which is a series of PEL-like conversations all

PEL Presents NEM#259: Glenn Morrow (Bar/None): Songwriting Re-Emergence

lenn was a central figure in the Hoboken punk scene, fronting the band "a" in the late '70s and then The Individuals in the early '80s. His next band, Rage to Live, was t

Ep. 398: Donald Davidson on Mind vs. Body (Part Two)

Continuing on Consciousness Explained (Ch. 5, 12). We talk about appearance vs. judgment and whether Dennett's denial of this distinction makes sense or just holds for ve

PEL Presents PvI#123: Brain Spritzing w/ Bill Arnett and Jenny Hansen

Future co-host philosophy Jenny joins past co-host improviser Bill along with the usual Mark and Mary for some tag-team mud swimming, hot takes about The Odyssey, and dis

PEL Presents Closereads: Peirce's New Categories (Part One)

How shall we break down the universe into basic types of things? Peirce has an idiosyncratic way of thinking about this problem and coming up with his division, revolving