logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2016
1h 16m

PEL Special: Nakedly Examined Music #1 w...

Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey
About this episode
Welcome to Nakedly Examined Music, our first spin-off of PEL. Hear more at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com or find it via iTunes. Mark interviews songwriters about why and how they do what they do. Think of it as applied philosophy. Four episodes are now posted; this cross-post of our pilot features David Lowery of Camper van Beethoven and Cracker talking through three of his songs. He's as well-spoken and full of ideas as many a decent philosopher, so sit back and turn on your active listening function!
Up next
Jul 6
PEL Presents #200: Hollywood Studio Antics (feat. The Studio and Erica Spyres)
In immediate reaction to the Apple TV+ Seth Rogan show The Studio, we talk about Hollywood's obsession with itself and how studio dynamics interfere with what exactly we all get to see. Also, what's with the fascination with old Hollywood? What's the appeal of Hollywood gossip? E ... Show More
57m 55s
Jul 7
Ep. 370: Christine Korsgaard on the History of Ethics (Part Two)
We dive further into the text of lectures 1 and 2 of The Sources of Normativity (1996). We give Korsgaard's account of the idea of reflective endorsement through Hume and Bernard Williams to get to her own view. When you come to know the origins of your moral sentiments, do you s ... Show More
49m 24s
Jun 29
PEL Presents NEM#233: Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) Is Not Taking This for Granted
This famed finger-style guitarist broke through with Jefferson Airplane's seven albums from 1966-1972, recorded eight with Hot Tuna 1970-1976 (with subsequent reunions by both bands), recorded his first solo album in 1974 and then 10 more from 1981-2025, and has collaborated with ... Show More
1h 13m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2018
The Politics of Friedrich Nietzsche: German Idealism, Nazism, and Freud
Wes Alwan is one fourth of The Partially Examined Life, a podcast and blog dedicated to studying and teaching philosophy. Wes is a writer and researcher living in Boston who studied ancient philosophy, Kant and Nietzsche in graduate school.  Wes joins Brett to discuss the politic ... Show More
1h 4m
Mar 2015
Episode #054 ... Hume pt. 4 - Art
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Hume’s views on taste and find out whether or not all of our opinions about art are equally valid. First, we compare the poetry of Shakespeare and Shel Silverstein, the music of Beethoven and Skrillex, and throw in the profound prose of ... Show More
29m 57s
Apr 2022
35: The Spirit of Music
"Without music, life would be a mistake." It's commonly known that Nietzsche was a sort of 'musical philosopher' - in fact, it was a feat he aspired to quite openly - but a glance at Nietzsche's thoughts on music reveals that he was so enamored with this form of artistic expressi ... Show More
1h 24m
Jun 2023
Bach vs Beethoven - Part 1
Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven are without doubt two of the most sublime musical geniuses who ever lived. But which of the two was the greater? To battle it out In part one of this live event, Intelligence Squared brought to the stage two celebrated figures from t ... Show More
30m 31s
Feb 2024
Wisdom from Great Musicians - Philosophy Artists Should Live By
Exploring the harmonies of life: Join us in this episode as we delve into the unique melodies of musicians' personal philosophies, discovering the rhythms that inspire their artistry and shape their extraordinary journeys. Speakers: Kurt CobainJohnny CashRingo StarrPaul McCartney ... Show More
42m 8s
Dec 2019
The moral philosophy of The Good Place (with Mike Schur and Pamela Hieronymi)
After creating and running Parks and Recreation and writing for The Office, Michael Schur decided he wanted to create a sitcom about one of the most fundamental questions of human existence: What does it mean to be a good person? That’s how The Good Place was born.Soon into the s ... Show More
1h 44m
Apr 2019
David Byrne
Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell talk with David Byrne (formerly of Talking Heads) about protest music: some of his favorite protest songs, the earliest ones he heard, how they affected his songwriting, and what makes them effective. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www ... Show More
38m 11s
Sep 2022
Bonus Episode: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and the flip-flop, flippy flip flop and ass bitches.
Nobody knows how to critique anymore and it makes my ass itch. Beyoncé can be both in the oppressor class and one of the best artists alive; I promise I have the capacity to entertain both these thoughts. I am here to give libations to an artist that inspires me and to grieve whe ... Show More
22m 56s