Jane Garfinkel Podcasts

Can we free ourselves from stale ideas about consciousness? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Some argue that the reality we perceive is a controlled hallucination. Others claim that science is about to crack the ancient problem of the self once and for all. Distinguished philosopher and panpsychist…

Should we think of morality in terms of objective truth or social consensus? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Once the fashion of a postmodern age, moral relativism has always had its detractors, many of them religious. But now a new breed of atheist celebrity thinkers, from Sam Harris to Peter Sin…

Is it time to abandon the search for reality? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Nietzsche famously declared 'God is dead' in the late nineteenth century. Outspoken critic of philosophical realism Hilary Lawson observes that today we have replaced God with ‘reality’. He urges us to abandon this elusi…

Is human-like AI a pipe dream? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes A future with human-like AI is no longer limited to the pages of sci-fi, it’s now the dream of Big Tech too. But is this just a pipe dream? Join philosopher of perception Mazviita Chirimuuta as she argues that human-like AI is and will…

Is it time for the English-speaking world to move on from analytic philosophy? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Focusing on logic and the meaning of words, analytic philosophy sought to put philosophy on a scientific footing. Yet a century on and critics argue the core questions about the relations…

Should we see art as a means of getting closer to the essence of what it is to be alive? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Art is most often seen as an adornment to everyday life. An entertainment, a delightful distraction perhaps, but not an uncovering of the essential character of the world. To un…

Is knowing oneself even possible? Listen to find out. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes From the self-help industry to the contemporary focus on mental health, the ancient Greek maxim 'Know Thyself', is very much in fashion. But many would argue it is an impossible dream. We can't catch sight of our…

Should we all engage in a radical cull? Listen to find out. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We are attached to things. Our dwellings are packed with items we rarely throw out. Things have traditionally given us comfort but they also give us status. The wealthy often collect things for no other pur…

Must we give up on our current ideas of the self and identity? Listen to find out! Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We laugh at the medieval view that disease is due to an imbalance in the four humours. Instead we see infectious illness as an attack by something external. But this can't be the whol…

What are the moral limits today? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We think we should be concerned for the well being of farm animals and those used in experiments. But where should we draw the line? Mosquitoes? Plants? Rivers? Join philosopher and bestselling author Peter Godfrey-Smith as he argues…

Can we change the world? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Camus and Kafka have both been central to 20th century writing and thought. Both wrote about the relationship of the individual to society. But they had very different visions. Camus saw the individual as having the power to change and influ…

Opening a path towards more enlightened societies with Rebecca Roache. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Philosophy is not just about armchair thinking. It can help us live better lives and find meaning. In this talk philosopher of mind Rebecca Roache shows us that philosophy can be the key to creat…

An interview with CosmisSkeptic Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes What is scepticism? How do we deal with our own coginitive dissonance? Can veganism ever be justified purely by reason? These are just some of the questions that Alex O'Connor, AKA CosmicSkeptic, has been grappling with on his youtube…

Should we go back to a world before civilisation? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes With high rates of infanticide, senicide and disease, not many of us pine for the era before human civilization, farms and nations. Yet anthropologists Yuval Harari and Jared Diamond have called the agricultural revo…

Neuroscience?! Quantum Physics?! Is new data on the horizon? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We are uncovering a new science of consciousness. A theory that is getting closer to solving the problem of the self once and for all. Or at least so claim leading neuroscientists. Some argue the reality w…

Jane and Isa graduate. It's our final official episode of Under the Bleachers! Thank you so much to all who listened and watched along with us. We'd still love to hear from you in the comments, on Twitter (@bleacherteens), or at underthebleacherspod@gmail.com. We'll see you next time! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co…

How do we know if a story is worth telling? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes In this interview, award-winning writer and author of 'How I Live Now', Meg Rosoff, provides an insight into her writing philosophy. She discusses her origins in advertising, why the theme of adolescence fascinates her, an…

Isa gloats over being a varsity athlete. Kason is a poet, musician, and the #1 fan of Under the Bleachers. He currently lives in Burlington, VT. He's extremely offline, but you can read his fanfics for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power at archiveofourown/users/kropotkhristian. Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co…

Should we give up the dream of certainty? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We look for certainty to know where we are, to feel safe. Descartes founded modern Western philosophy on the search for certainty. And in our daily lives we have institutions to create the illusion of certainty, marriage in …

Jane wants to see a vampire break someone via sex. Yusong Liu is a writer and streamer. You could find him on Twitch and Youtube at yu_song and on Twitter at @YusongL. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co…

Can science and religion coexist? Listen to find out! Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes In this interview, Alister McGrath, the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford, explores the relationship between science and certainty. He charts his path from atheism to Ch…

Isa breaks down height-gap discourse (as it pertains to shower sex). Lauren Lavin is a writer and editor in Seattle. She's the nonfiction editor for Word West Review and hosts the podcast Diceland, which is about Dungeons and Dragons. Follow her on Twitter at @lalavin666. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/…

Have mundane setbacks become catastrophic? Our experts discuss. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Trauma was traditionally associated with events such as war, assault and natural disasters. Now it is increasingly used to describe everyday experiences like personal criticism or romantic rejection, an…

Jane has COVID. Kevin Bartelt is a comedy podcast producer that you might know from shows like Hollywood Handbook, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Big Grande, and Yo, Is This Racist. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co…

Beyond right and wrong? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Politicians, scientists, experts, specialists and even philosophers frequently claim to be right and to have understood how things ultimately are. Yet at the same time they know this can't plausibly be the case. In the history of humankind th…

Isa explains that only some of us can be 100% Divergent. Nate Reznicek is a powerlifter, video gamer player, number cruncher, and Isa’s husband! Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod. Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co

Are we right to abandon objective truth? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes It has been forty years since postmodernism swept through the academy changing the character of the arts and social sciences, impacting everything from literary criticism to anthropology, art history to sociology. Soon after …

Jane is horrified by the concept of a real life cake fight. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co

Are we incarcerating the innocent? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Note: this episode was recorded live at our philosophy festival HowTheLightGetsIn. Some argue behaviour is a product of our genes. Others that upbringing and environment play the primary role in determining who we are. So do we car…

Isa is delighted to hear she doesn’t seem like a potty mouth. Sridhar Ramesh is a comedian, a math expert, and a guy on Twitter. Follow him at @RadishHarmers. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co…

Is it bad if we are? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes From the evening news to the latest films and novels - we are attracted to crises and the trials and tribulations of life. The pandemic brought stories of human suffering, whether from illness, isolation or joblessness, which we readily consumed…

Jane refuses to indulge in magical realism. Elanna White is an *ctor, voice artist and comedy writer born and raised in Astoria, Queens. You can see her roll her eyes in A24’s “First Reformed” and read her satire in The Broadway Beat. Follow her on twitter @ewelannawhite for pictures of her cats and bad puns. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access…

How did consciousness come into existence? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes 'Steven Pinker and Sam Harris have argued "the emergence of consciousness is simply incomprehensible". While recent neuroscientists have concluded "there is no convincing function to be found for consciousness". But if so, …

Isa reminisces about a Girlboss for God. Clare is a standup comedian and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Her bio and photo can be found at clareaustensmith.com/stand-up. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co…

Do we need suffering to lead a meaningful life? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes From the plots of Hollywood movies to the roots of Christianity, many see value in adversity and suffering. Be it in character building boot camps or overcoming the trials of a difficult childhood or adult life. Yet th…

Jane attacks the guest. Kevin Burke is a stand up comedian, writer, and musician based in New York City. He has written and performed on many tv shows... famous ones, with celebrities on them. Don't look that up. Follow him on twitter @ke7inburke. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Fin…

Is language capable of communicating experience? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes We think sharing experience is essential to being human. At an individual level, we share experiences to get to know others and understand them. Yet from the taste of an apple to giving birth, we know we cannot fully …

Isa admits to being a teen party peeper. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co

Can empirical observation lead us to the truth? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes From Newton to Darwin, Curie to Einstein, science has been built on empirical observation. Now the very idea of neutral observation is under threat. In a postmodern world it is claimed all observation is perspectival, …

Jane asks if Britney Spears is the Hottest Teen. Kristen Bartlett is a five-time Emmy-nominated writer and performer. She was the Co-Head Writer of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, wrote for Saturday Night Live, and is developing a half-hour TV show with ABC signature. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/unde…

Is pantheism more radical than atheism? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Pantheism is the radical belief that reality and god are one and the same thing. Why has it been so feared for 400 years? Philosopher and author of Strange Wonder, Mary-Jane Rubenstein shows how the idea threatens much more th…

Isa talks about her toxic phase of watching Fight Club to become a cool girl. Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co

Are 'facts' a tool for manipulation? Listen to find out! Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Facts and reason are essential if we are to make progress and create a better world. At least that's how it used to be. But now it seems everyone has their own 'facts'. Our political leaders have 'alternative'…

Jane tells a story in which her mom says “He got an erection.” Juliet Prather is a comedian and actor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Austin, she has since been trained across the country at UCB-NY and iO Chicago. She co-created Sup Comedy Collective and Industry Night, and her shows and characters have been written up in Huffington Post, Tim…

Can we be sure there is a physical reality? Our philosophers and scientists debate. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes No-one who has ever stepped on a Lego brick could doubt the reality of physical objects. Yet from Heraclitus to George Berkeley, many philosophers claimed to have disproven the exist…

Isa thinks citrus fruits do not evoke boobs. Isabel Yap writes stories about girls and monsters. By day she builds product with devs and designers. Born and raised in Manila, she has lived and worked in the US since 2010. Her debut story collection, Never Have I Ever, was published in 2021 by Small Beer Press and has been a finalist for the Locus, …

Does nature always know best? Yuval Noah Harari and Slavoj Žižek debate. Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Most think of nature as good, while humans and human interventions are often seen as problematic and even on occasion evil. From eradicating e-numbers from our diets to refusing vaccines, many …

Jane introduces the “Realistic MILF” look. **** Subscribe to our Patreon and get access to patrons-only perks at patreon.com/underthebleacherspod! Find out more at https://under-the-bleachers.pinecast.co

Are we living in a simulation? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimes Modern technology has ushered in a new era of augmented reality - one so sophisticated that some argue within a century we will be unable to distinguish the 'real' from the 'virtual'. Yet with increasing concerns that virtual reality i…

Isa takes the greatest picture in NYC history. Karishma is a mother fuckin' city girl, a professional gossiper, aspiring divorcee, and host of NYU radio show Rose Colored Glasses. She analyzes and praises your favorite traditionally feminine media under a socialist lens (you know, roses 'cause socialism). Known for being a public girlboss appreciat…