Clogged toilets, odious jokes, difficult condolences… awkward moments are everywhere you look. In episode 113 of Overthink, Ellie and David invite philosopher Alexandra Plakias to talk through her research on awkwardness. They discuss everything from hasty clean-ups to snap decisions, from oversharing online to uncomfortable silences, as they explore the way ... Show More
May 5
Closer Look: Fanon, Wretched of the Earth
Does decolonization require violence? In episode 172 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a closer look at Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, “the bible of decolonization.” They discuss Fanon’s bold stance on violence, his condemnation of rituals and dance, and some potentia ... Show More
59m 2s
Apr 28
Butts
Bottom, rump, booty, fanny, tush, and derriere! In episode 171 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about butts. Why do humans have bigger rear ends than other animals? Why are butts often seen as a site of aversion? And is anal sex a metaphor for the universe? They discuss the evo ... Show More
52m 26s
Apr 2024
So Awkward: How to embrace the embarrassing
Forgetting a name, a poorly executed hug, the 7th grade — awkwardness is part of our lives whether we like it or not. But what if we put the embarrassment aside and embraced our awkward selves? Guests include social scientist Ty Tashiro, cartoonist Liana Finck, journalist Melissa ... Show More
50m 21s
Nov 2024
Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing
Forgetting a name, a poorly executed hug, the 7th grade — awkwardness is part of our lives whether we like it or not. But what if we put the embarrassment aside and embraced our awkward selves? Guests include social scientist Ty Tashiro, cartoonist Liana Finck, journalist Melissa ... Show More
49m 35s
Apr 2025
Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing
Forgetting a name, a poorly executed hug, the 7th grade — awkwardness is part of our lives whether we like it or not. But what if we put the embarrassment aside and embraced our awkward selves? Guests include social scientist Ty Tashiro, cartoonist Liana Finck, journalist Melissa ... Show More
49m 35s
Apr 2024
S3E16: Well, This Is Awkward
Clementine Holiday embraces National Awkward Moments Day! From misunderstood greetings to social media faux pas, Clementine shares how she navigates the cringeworthy yet hilarious pitfalls of daily life. Tune in for tips on recovering from your own awkward moments, proving that e ... Show More
6m 14s
Aug 2025
Pauwke Berkers and Yosha Wijngaarden, "A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong" (Taylor & Francis, 2025)
How does sociology help to explain modern life? In A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong (Routledge, 2025)Pauwke Berkers, a full professor Sociology of Popular Music at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Yosha Wijngaarden, an assistant professor of Med ... Show More
33m 43s
May 2024
54. Giving you kid’s parties, handy husbands, and awkward silences
<p>Do you think all men should know how to fix things around the house? If so, Jon better get to learning. In this week’s episode, Alex and Jon discuss handy men, attending children’s parties, and how to handle awkward silences with your partner. Alex and Jon live, work, and are ... Show More
56m 23s