Living Philosophy

Grasping what it means to be disabled is more complex than you might think. But doing so is key to understanding how we might treat people with impairments as equals with respect to justice, rights, and ethics. Prof Chris Riddle (Utica University) specializes in political philosophy, applied ethics, and the philosophy of disability. He has been an expert witness in several prominent legal cases concerning disability rights, and in this podcasts he discusses the historical and philosophical di...

One of the great insights from the philosophy of technology is that the more our devices become integrated with our lives, the more they reframe our relationships to others, the world, and even our purposes. In other words, technological devices tend to carry us away, for better or for worse. Dominic Smith (Associate Professor, University of Dundee) and Mark Coeckelbergh (Professor, University of Austria) discuss the paradoxical, political, and historical dimensions of our relations to techno...

Valerie Noble is a senior literary agent at the Donaghy Literary Group, where she works primarily within the genre of science fiction. She discusses the challenges she faced while completing a degree in food science, only to find how one of her primary means of escape offered a potential career in working with authors and publishing houses. Along the way, she gives some submission tips for new authors as well as reading suggestions for those looking to find a compelling and immersive narrativ...

We tend to react to the issue of the right to abortion according to moral, religious, or political convictions. But what we often tend to overlook is that the debate surrounding Roe v. Wade is primarily a legal one. So according to the US constitution, is the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade legally sound? Prof Jay Mootz (University of the Pacific) and Prof George Taylor (University of Pittsburgh) are legal philosophers who discuss key problems and questions relating to the...

Traumatic experiences are those which involve significant and terrible events on emotional, mental, and bodily levels. Their effects can often go unnoticed or can be dismissed as being purely subjective or emotional. A more balanced and holistic approach to understanding trauma examines healing in relation to the mind and body. Dr Anna Westin (St Mellitus College, UK) discusses the fundamental nature of trauma as defined philosophically and psychologically. She also delves into the variety of...

Kat Batchelor is a classically trained violinist who transitioned to the fiddle and playing folk music. She shares her insights into life, teaching, and performance that derive from her time spent performing at classical and public venues, busking, and interacting with the public on the city streets of Wales, England, and Scotland.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHillary Hutchinson, Career and Change Coach at Transitioning Your L...

What if the key to respecting and appreciating non-human animals resided in understanding our human selves better? Thinking about animals and our relation to them might then involve trying to grasp the ways in which our current social, economic, and moral systems skew our perceptions and practices. Prof. Alice Crary (The New School for Social Research) and Prof. Lori Gruen (Wesleyan University) delve into the fundamental questions and problems that can help us better understand the crisis aff...

Do crytpocurrencies and blockchain technology figure substantially in the possibility of financial freedom for those who currently are lacking in wealth? Or does the hype really just indicate that all things crypto are based on a speculative bubble and Ponzi schemes? Prof. Sebastian Purcell (SUNY, Cortland) discusses the legal, technological, and philosophical novelties behind cryptocurrencies that can potentially transform our lives for the better. He also weaves in how Aztec philosophy can ...

Is translation really just a problem of finding the right words in one language to fit the words in another language? Or, is there much more than meets the ear? Lisa Foran, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at University College Dublin (Ireland), discusses the ways in which translation can be problematic as well as constructive, not just with the aim of communicating, but also with the aim of improving how we live our lives. She delves into the deeper, ethical significances of what means to f...

Medicine involves more than science and evidence-based experiments. In today’s health climate—where there seems to be a conflict of interest between health care, on the one hand, and pharmaceutical companies and the privatization of medicine, the other hand—it is easy to overlook a more holistic approach that understands how illness is causally linked to both the mind and body. David Corfield (University of Kent, UK) is Associate Professor of Philosophy, with special interests in the philosop...

Hillary Hutchinson is a career coach and change strategist at Transitioning Your Life. She has helped professionals understand who they are in order to make significant changes to their careers. She reflects on how events in her own life put her in a place to better understand the nuances and complications of change and how it can affect us in both positive and challenging ways. Do the work! Be the change!Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philoso...

Arvind Gupta is a genetic engineer and venture capitalist whose approach to investment is driven by trying to better the planet, yet without the use of moral arguments and platforms. Instead, his approach to business draws on his personal experience with mortality and behavioral insights into how people can and cannot be convinced of a need for change. Arvind is also an accomplished rock climber, BASE jumper, and mixed martial artist.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Hos...

We see it every day—the problem of misunderstanding and misreading meaning and intentions. It can be the cause of frustration, hurt, and even violence. Hermeneutics is the branch of philosophy interested in how the interpretation of language, symbols, texts, and even the nature of existence requires a nuanced and open-minded approach. It can potentially help us to resolve a lot of the problems of miscommunication. Listen to three experts—Andreea Deciu Ritivoi (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)...

Charlie Undershaw (Carlos Marin de Miguel) is a Spanish jazz musician whose recent album “Agora” has been hitting the airwaves in Spain and on Spotify. He shares how Brazilian jazz and philosophy have shaped his life, his academic teaching, and his views on how to weather the obstacles and worries about our mortality.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHillary Hutchinson, Career and Change Coach at Transitioning Your LifeHermeneutic...

It seems more than ever that our present era is one of misunderstanding others—their motives, their reasons, their practices, and their beliefs. Is there a quick remedy to this, such as being more objective? Is objectivity even possible, especially given how incomplete our knowledge of others is? Constantine Sandis (University of Hertfordshire, UK) is Professor of Philosophy, with a special interest in ethics, action, and understanding others. He discusses the importance of shared practices a...

Hans Florine is a world-renowned climber, best known for holding the record for the fastest ascent of the Nose on El Capitan (Yosemite) with Alex Honnold in 2012. The record remained until 2018. Hans has spent his life learning from competition and the application of different models of thinking in order to problem solve and be as efficient as possible. Listen to him reflect on the roles of learning how to fail in order to become better, cooperative competition, and his own motivational wisdo...

Dr Todd Mei discusses closing thoughts and reflections on the year which explore the prospect of social cohesion through the task of posing questions. Topics discussed:StoicismToleranceHermeneuticsPhilosophical questioningSocial CohesionUnity through differenceSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHillary Hutchinson, Career and Change Coach at Transitioning Your LifeMartin Bunzl, author of Thinking while WalkingHermeneutics in Real LifeGeoffrey Moore, author of The Infinite Staircase Lo...

Paula Leach is an executive leadership coach and former executive herself, with over 25 years of experience within the public and corporate sectors. She recently made the decision to start her own consultation business, Vantage Points Consulting, with an eye to promoting a new style of leadership training based on traits we normally don’t associate with entrepreneurial leaders—such as empathy, humility, and sustainability. Paula also runs a pro bono foundation to mentor young women entering b...

We live within time, but apart from it passing or lingering too long, how much do we understand the extent to which it pervades our lives? And what should we make of the claim based on physics that time does not pass, and therefore, that our experience of it doing so is really an illusion? Graeme A. Forbes (University of Kent) is a metaphysician of time (and much more!) who helps us gain some clarity on the human experience of time.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:...

We are familiar with practice as a method for getting better at something. But what if this idea was only one part of the importance of practice? What if a key aspect of practice was learning how to fail? Professors Anna Mudde and Robert Piercey (University of Regina) discuss what practices are and how they are essential in renewal and innovation, ideally preventing traditions and our own personal identities from stagnating and becoming rigid. Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philo...

Brendan, a classically trained saxophonist and composer, discusses how he transitioned from a love of bebop jazz to house music. He reflects on his perseverance and success as a multi-faceted musician, especially in view of the pandemic, when lockdown conditions forced the performing arts to shut down. He also considers what the authenticity of music is in relation to simplicity and commercial appeal. And . . . we feature some of his composition and saxophone playing!Living Philosophy is brou...

Ashna Sen is a best-selling author and former academic in geophysics and mathematics. In her recent book, Re-Imagining Mathematics: Learning through the Magic of Nature, the Arts and Friendship, Sen explores our natural relation to mathematics and how current pedagogies and methods of teaching us about the subject miss the mark. If you live in fear of numbers or have been searching for a holistic integration of mathematics in life, this podcast is the perfect antidote!Living Philosophy is bro...

What is the difference between fake news and fiction? While we tend to deplore fake news, we often enlist fiction in the forms of stories, films, and literature to provide entertainment as well as moral and aesthetic edification. And yet, we also associate fake news with powerful political narratives. Prof. Hannah Kim (Macalester College) discusses the way facts relate to both mediums and what we can do to mitigate the problems of disinformation. Living Philosophy is brought to you by Ph...

Geoffrey Moore is a best-selling author and internationally renowned consultant for high-tech business. He’s also a former academic in the humanities and has recently turned to reflecting on what evolution can teach us about being ethical in his book The Infinite Staircase: What the Universe Tells Us About Life, Ethics, and Mortality. Moore presents an intriguing and compelling case for how natural selection underwrites and informs our senses of kindness and fairness.Living Philosophy is brou...

Negative emotions—such as fear, anger, and envy—are often seen as the kinds of things that impede our abilities to lead the kind of life we wish—the good life. Given the proliferation of violence and interminable arguments fueled by negative emotions, we might think that we need to eliminate them from our lives or suppress them. Prof. Krista Thomason (Swarthmore College) discusses how negative emotions work and why trying to eliminate or suppress them might be a bad thing. In fact, the p...

Are there any prerequisites for claiming a right or liberty? Vexation over personal liberties may be caused by a fundamental misunderstanding about what a right is and how it works. Dr. David Utsler (North Central College, Texas) discusses how our identities are formed by the environment and how recognition of individual identities is a key requirement for possessing rights and liberties.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com. Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHil...

Appropriate ways of appreciating nature may not be as straightforward as you think. They involve a variety of difficult scientific, moral, and psychological factors. Prof. Martin Bunzl (Rutgers) discusses how our relation to nature and our views towards climate change need to face some difficult realities about our habits, psychology, and facts about nature.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHillary Hutchinson, Career and Change Co...

Might an education for children featuring philosophy be one of the keys to developing a more civil society? Prof. Amy Reed-Sandoval (UNLV) discusses how wonder is integral to philosophy and how this complements a child’s natural inclination to know more about the world and others. But Philosophy for Children is not just about children. Adults can learn a great deal about their own perceptions on meaning, life, and the importance of play.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com....

Tina Rath, a former professor in the creative arts, decided to make a significant career change in 2015 by pursuing her artwork in jewelry and drawing. She is founder of Requiem, which is a ritualized grief project and interactive ceremony that acknowledges those who have died from COVID-19 and celebrates their lives.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com. Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHillary Hutchinson, Career and Change Coach at Transitioning Your LifeMarti...

Lazy Dancer Tips was co-founded in 2016 by Alessia Lugoboni and Iacopo Di Luigi. Alesssia trained and performed as a professional ballerina, and Iacopo was a special effects artist for cinema and television. Both decided to make a bold career change in view of a more fulfilling life by creating Lazy Dancer Tips as a way of helping others re-discover themselves.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:Dr Todd MeiSponsors:Philosophy2u.comHillary Hutchinson, Career and Change...

Francesca Catlow is a singer, songwriter, and dancer whose songs, choreography, and dancing featured in the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics. With the onset of the pandemic, she turned her creativity to writing romance novels. Her first novel, The Little Blue Door, is due for publication on June 28, 2021. Francesca shares what she has learned from her experience as a performer and how creativity and storytelling have enriched her life and enabled her to have a better understanding of t...

Joe Smart is the Head of Training and Organisational Development for the Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, which is part of Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). When it comes to working with people, Joe is all about innovation and compassion. In this episode, he shares his wisdom and experiences in view of how organizations and businesses can better prepare for the changing landscape of the workplace which is taking seriously the ideas of well-being and meaningfulness.Living Philosop...

Zara Davis is one of the biggest names in windsurfing when it comes to speed. She was the only windsurfer to hold simultaneously the records for the 500m distance and the outright nautical mile until Antoine Albeau accomplished the same feat more recently. As a windsurfer and osteopath, Zara is no stranger to overcoming mental and physical barriers, and in this podcast she discusses her insights into competition, getting more women into windsurfing, and the secrets of mental and physical heal...

Sam Holden is a former professional poker player who made his debut in 2011 by finishing 8th overall in the World Series of Poker Main Event. Several years after leaving the limelight of his profession, Sam explains how studying philosophy at university helped him to better understand the roles of luck, knowledge, and happiness in life. He is now owner of the Monument Pub in Canterbury, where he hopes to create a unique space for good food, drink, and conversation once the pandemic eases.Livi...

Kenji Haroutunian has devoted his life to environmentalism and outdoor adventures. As a major figure within the outdoor industry, he reflects on the history and transformations of our relation to the outdoors and the challenges of getting more people from urban and ethnic-minority backgrounds to experience nature meaningfully and respectfully. He also discusses an intriguing theory about creating urban portals to expose people to the outdoors. Kenji is founder of Kenji Consults.Living Philoso...

Susie Belanger is on the Board of Directors for the Military Veterans Advocacy organization. In this inspiring podcast, Susie shares what the virtue of perseverance has taught her and how it enabled her to succeed in getting the US government to change its policy on naval veterans from the Vietnam War who were being excluded from benefits owing to exposure to Agent Orange.Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.Host:Dr Todd MeiMusic: www.bensound.comPhoto: Military Veterans Ad...

Dr Kate Tomas is a Women's Spiritual Empowerment Mentor and has a PhD in Philosophical Theology from Oxford University (UK). She discusses her work as a mentor and how she is hoping to change the business model for her industry with a focus on enabling capabilities as opposed to continual therapy. She delves into problems about women and religious experience, as well as how the academic ideals of dialogue, community, and knowledge don’t really exist within the university.Kate Tomas' Website: ...

Author Gregory Crouch reflects on how his love of history and narrative non-fiction has enriched his life and his appreciation of human struggle. He draws on colorful historical figures and episodes when discussing how an understanding of time and place can make the most significant of differences.Greg is author of Enduring Patagonia (Random House, 2002), China’s Wings (Bantam, 2012), and most recently, The Bonanza King (Scribner, 2018). For more on Greg’s life and work, please visit his webs...

Alan Bell reflects on his life experience and lessons as a major Hollywood film editor (e.g. 500 Days of Summer, the Hunger Games Trilogy, Little Manhattan), a rock climbing guide, and silversmith. He draws on stoicism and the charity of interpretation while offering interesting ideas about the unique ways in which jewelry can aid in the process of self-discovery.Alan’s jewelry and silversmith business is called AEB Silver (www.aebsilver.com). For more on his film editing career, he can...

Dr Patricia Baker discusses her interests in the archaeology of Roman medicine and gardens, and why she decided to make a bold career change from a tenured academic position to founding her own teaching and consultation business based of Roman ideas of sustainability and well-being.More on Dr Baker's business, Pax in Natura, can be found at https://www.paxinnature.com. You can follow Patty on Twitter (@Patrici70319540) and Instagram (@pattyannester).Living Philosophy is brought to you by Phil...