Podcast Episodes

PEL Presents PvI#28: Enhanced Interrogation w/ Adal Rifai

Today's episode is about questioning: how one might question, what sets the parameters for a proper answer, and how to give those answers in an informative and/or dramatically effective way. Watch ou…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PREMIUM-Ep. 288: Scruton on Ethical Art (Part Two)

Concluding on Beauty (2009). Why would we be attracted to beauty if on Scruton's account it takes so much work? We consider the form/function distinction as it applies to architecture and human beaut…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PEL Presents PMP#118: Adapting Agatha Christie

In light of Death on the Nile, we discuss the continuing appearance of the works of the world's most successful mystery writer in film and TV.

Mark is joined by repeat guests Sarahlyn Bruck, Al Bake…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

PEL Presents NEM#167: David Christian (Comet Gain) Sings for the Awkward and the Wayward

David has released 8 albums and some EPs as the London-based Comet Gain since 1994, putting out literate, energetic, sloppy rock, typically splitting the lead vocals with a female voice. As a pandemi…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

Ep. 288: Scruton on Ethical Art (Part One)

On Roger Scruton's Beauty (2009), ch. 5-9. Scruton argues against aesthetic relativism on moral grounds: That the "flight from beauty" in modern art and the crassness of popular art deny important th…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

PEL Presents PMP#117: Roguelikes Like Hades

Supergiant's Hades is now the first video game ever to have won a Hugo award and has set a new standard in the Roguelike genre. What is this genre, and what makes Hades unique?

With guests Jamie Mad…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

PEL Presents PvI#27: Normaliticitizationism w/ Andrew Lavin

We are joined by the young purveyor of the Reductio podcast, who wrote his dissertation on normality, which was such a normie thing to do. Can "abnormality" be morally neutral, or is that term cursed…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

PREMIUM-Ep. 287: Roger Scruton on Beauty (Part Two)

Continuing on Beauty (2009), ch. 1-4. Does apprehending beauty really have to involve reason, or can it be merely sensory?

If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion, sign…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

PEL Presents NEM#166: L. Shankar's World of Violin and Voice

Shankar played with John McLaughlin in Shakti in the mid-70s and has released over 25 solo albums while backing A-list artists including Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Frank Zappa, Elton John, Bruce Sp…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago

Ep. 287: Roger Scruton on Beauty (Part One)

On Beauty (2009), ch. 1-4. What truths about beauty does any theory of beauty have to acknowledge? Scruton argues that appreciating beauty is a cognitive act: something we argue about, and not just "…

Published on 3 years, 8 months ago