Philosophy Talk Podcast

This Week’s Episode

Democracy By Numbers

November 1, 2026

Despite adhering to the principle of “one person, one vote,” elections in the United States are often highly contentious: presidents can be elected after losing the popular vote, there is widespread gerrymandering and voter purging, and not everyone has equal…

US map composed of dots, text overlay: ONE PERSON ONE VOTE. Illustrates democracy by numbers.

Recent Episodes

Nachman of Breslov and the Obligation to be Happy

Nachman of Breslov was an 18th-century spiritual rabbinic leader, mystic, and storyteller, known particularly for…

October 25, 2026

Illustration of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov with arms raised in joy, emphasizing happiness.

Foucault and Power

Michel Foucault was a 20th century philosopher known for his work concerning power and knowledge.…

October 18, 2026

Michel Foucault contemplating power; "Foucault: Power

Liberty and Justice for Who?

Many democracies are founded on the ideals of 18th- and 19th-Century British Liberalism: the idea…

October 11, 2026

Allegorical painting of the British Empire, circa 1900, showing flags and coats of arms. "An Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets" is inscribed.

Live in San Francisco November 17

Panel discussion at KALW event with audience watching

Join us for “Franz Kafka and the World Without a Path”

On Tuesday, November 17, come be part of a live recording at KALW’s community event space in downtown San Francisco as Josh and Blakey welcome Karen Zumhagen-Yekplé from Tulane University to explore Kafka’s extraordinary philosophical imagination. In addition to thought-provoking conversation and audience questions, the show will feature multimedia storytelling from our Roving Philosophical Reporter and satirical commentary from Ian Shoales the Sixty-Second Philosopher. Free and open to the public — click on the image for more information and to reserve your seat.

Frege and the Language of Reason

November 8, 2026

At the end of the 19th Century, the German philosopher Gottlob Frege invented a new…

Gottlob Frege, German philosopher, logician, and mathematician.

Daniel Kahneman and the Fallible Mind

November 15, 2026

Together with Amos Tversky, Daniel Kahneman discovered many fascinating quirks of the human mind, such…

Daniel Kahneman, Nobel laureate, contemplates in a dimly lit room.

Iris Murdoch

November 22, 2026

Iris Murdoch may be best known for her works of fiction, but her philosophical contributions…

Black and white photo of Iris Murdoch, author, sitting on a bed, holding papers.

Philosophers’ Corner

July 16, 2026

Lifetimes of Learning

If you’re like anything the typical philosopher, your response to the title of this week’s...

June 4, 2026

My Body, My Perception

Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a 20th century French philosopher who had all kinds of theories about...

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