WHY? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life

Latest Episodes:

Why Do People Deny Such Obvious Things Jan 11, 2026

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Jack sits down with philosopher Adrian Bardon to unpack The Truth About Denial and our strange habit of rejecting what’s right in front of us. Together, they discuss why people deny obvious facts, how self-deception takes hold, and what denial reveals about our fear, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to get through the world.

Privacy Isn’t What You Think It Is Dec 14, 2025

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Jack sits down with scholar Lowry Pressly to discuss the provocative ideas behind his book The Right to Oblivion: Privacy and the Good Life. They explore what it means to protect our inner worlds in an age of constant exposure, why forgetting can be just as crucial as remembering, and how reclaiming privacy might be the key to living well.

How Is It That Ordinary People Can Commit Such Overwhelming Evil? Nov 10, 2025

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Jack sits down with Elizabeth Minnich, moral philosopher and author, to explore a haunting and urgent question: How is it that ordinary people can commit extraordinary evil? Together, they unpack Minnich’s idea of the evil of banality, a subtle, everyday corruption of thought and conscience that allows atrocities to unfold, and consider what it means for our moral lives today.

How Do We Do Philosophy In Politically Difficult Times Oct 12, 2025

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Jack sits down with philosophers Jason Hill and Elizabeth S. Anderson to tackle a timely and urgent question: How do we do philosophy during difficult times? From the rise of AI and shifting political landscapes to debates over censorship, diverse student bodies, and evolving educational models, this conversation explores how philosophy can and must adapt.

What is indigenous philosophy? Sep 14, 2025

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Jack sits down with Brian Burkhart, Indigenous philosopher and scholar, to explore a radical and timely idea: What if Indigenous thought isn’t just tradition or spirituality, but a powerful philosophical framework—one that challenges Western systems and offers a deeply relational way of understanding nature and community in our time?

Is Marx Still Relevant? Aug 10, 2025

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Jack interviews Vanessa Wills, philosopher, professor, and author of Marx’s Ethical Vision, to explore a radical and timely idea: What if Marx wasn’t just a political economist, but a moral thinker, one whose ethical critique of capitalism speaks urgently to the injustices of our time?

The Argument for Peace and Non-Violence Jul 17, 2025

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Host Jack Russell Weinstein visits with peace activist Kathy Kelly

A Philosophical Look at Madness with guest Justin Garson Jun 08, 2025

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Jack interviews Justin Garson, writer, philosopher, and professor, to explore an unsettling and illuminating idea: What if madness isn't just a disorder, but a signal, expressing something deeply out of sync in our lives or society?

Is Virtual Reality Real? May 11, 2025

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Jack sits down with David Chalmers, renowned philosopher of mind, to explore the provocative question: Is virtual reality real? They explore the blurred boundaries between the virtual and the physical, consciousness, and presence. Together, they consider whether digital worlds can hold the same ontological weight as the "real" world, and what that means for the future of how we live, think, and perceive.

Announcing a new book: "Israel, Palestine, and the Trolley Problem" by Jack Russell Weinstein May 09, 2025

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Jack announces his new book, Israel, Palestine, and the Trolley Problem.