Hotel Bar Sessions

Leigh M. Johnson, Devonya N. Havis, Rick Lee
  • 3.5 (2)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Hotel Bar Sessions

where the real philosophy happens

  1. Revenge

    3 DAYS AGO

    Revenge

    The HBS co-hosts savor the complexities of a dish best served cold. Is revenge ever ethical? Can it be a form of justice, or is it always about personal satisfaction? In this episode, Rick Lee, Leigh Johnson, and Devonya Havis take a deep dive into the philosophy of revenge. From the timeless allure of stories like Kill Bill and The Count of Monte Cristo to the rise of cancel culture and online harassment, the hosts explore how revenge plays out in both individual and collective contexts. They tackle big questions about power, helplessness, and the difference between avenging a wrong and simply lashing out. They also consider the role of technology in making vengeful acts easier—and more public—than ever before. Leigh reflects on the satisfaction we feel from justice-oriented narratives, while Devonya highlights the deeper systemic issues that revenge often overlooks. Rick weighs in on the distinction between personal vendettas and social movements like #MeToo, asking whether collective action can transform personal grievance into meaningful justice. Whether you're a fan of revenge thrillers or just curious about the ethical limits of payback, this episode will leave you questioning the line between retribution and justice. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation that’s equal parts philosophy and pop culture!

    59 min
  2. Virtue

    JAN 10

    Virtue

    Is "virtue" an outdated concept? And why is there a bear in this classroom?!

    58 min
  3. REPLAY: Forgiveness

    JAN 3 · BONUS

    REPLAY: Forgiveness

    This week's episode is a REPLAY of a previously-aired episode from Season 9.  HBS will return with all new episodes on January 10, 2024. Stay tuned! The HBS hosts wonder how a hard heart is melted and mended. In a world often colored by misunderstandings, hurtful actions, and lingering grudges, the concept of forgiveness emerges as a beacon of hope and healing. For some, its transformative power to mend relationships, free us from the shackles of resentment, and grant us the gift of emotional liberation make forgiveness a moral imperative. Forgiveness is not merely an internal journey; it's also a dynamic force that shapes societies and mends the fabric of communities torn apart by conflict and strife.   But what does it mean to forgive? What does forgiveness do, and for whom? Does forgiveness require the forgetting of wrongs done? Is real forgiveness even possible? Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-107-forgiveness -------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotebarsessions! Follow us on Twitter @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

    57 min
  4. REPLAY: Deconstruction

    2024-12-27 · BONUS

    REPLAY: Deconstruction

    This week's episode is a REPLAY of a previously-aired episode from Season 9.  HBS will return with all new episodes on January 10, 2024. Stay tuned! The HBS hosts dig into Jacque Derrida's philosophy to see if it really is responsible for everything that's wrong with the world. There are very few philosophies that are blamed for so much as deconstruction. Introduced by Jacques Derrida in the late 60s, deconstruction rose to popularity in the late 70s and 80s, fought a real battle to be accepted as something other than a “fad” in the early 90s, and really built up steam in the late 90s, after having been adopted by other humanities disciplines as a method of analysis and exposition. However, by the end of the 21st century aughts, deconstruction was already being edged out of favor by many of its critics and some of its heirs.  Today, in 2024, deconstruction has been refigured and disfigured so dramatically that it has become a chimera. One of its faces is reductive and banal, but mostly harmless, as seen in so-called “deconstructed” dishes or clothing on reality TV. The other face, though, is hyperbolically menacing: distorting reality, poisoning discourse, undermining traditional values, and sneakily turning all of us into nonsense-babbling relativists. So what is deconstruction all about? Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-122-deconstruction -------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotebarsessions! Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

    57 min
  5. Kant's Categorical Imperative

    2024-12-20

    Kant's Categorical Imperative

    What if morality was law-governed in the same way as logic and physics? The Hotel Bar Sessions hosts close out Season 11 with a deep dive into one of philosophy’s most important moral principles: Immanuel Kant’s “Categorical Imperative.” They carefully unpack Kant’s three formulations of the “moral law”—the Universality formulation, the Humanity formulation, and the Kingdom of Ends formulation—to demonstrate how Kant sought to ground morality in rationality, universality, and freedom. Through accessible examples– punctuality, lying, slavery, and even prostitution– the hosts illustrate Kant’s vision of the moral law as an unconditional principle, independent of personal preferences or consequences. They also clarify common misconceptions, like conflating Kant’s universality formulation with the Golden Rule, and examine how his ideas prioritize duty over subjective inclinations. This is a spirited debate about Kant’s relevance today, questioning the challenges of applying the rigid moral framework  of the Categorical Imperative to complex modern realities. The co-hosts address critiques of Kant’s metaphysical assumptions, his treatment of non-human entities, and the potential for misusing his ideas to justify exclusion. Despite these critiques, the hosts argue for the enduring importance of Kantian ethics in safeguarding the dignity and autonomy of all rational beings. Filled with humor, thoughtful analysis, and practical insights, this episode invites listeners to reflect on the philosophical foundations of morality and their own ethical commitments. Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-165-kants-categorical-imperative -------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions! Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

    1h 7m
  6. The Significance Impulse (with Josh Glasgow)

    2024-12-13

    The Significance Impulse (with Josh Glasgow)

    What if our cosmic unimportance is itself not all that important? This week, the Hotel Bar Sessions hosts welcome Joshua Glasgow, author of The Significance Impulse: On the Unimportance of Our Cosmic Unimportance, to unpack humanity’s seemingly irrepressible drive to seek significance and the societal and psychological effects of this pervasive impulse. Glasgow argues that the quest for cosmic importance is not only unrealistic, but detrimental, and he urges us to embrace our smallness as a path to greater freedom and fulfillment. From cultural pressures to excel to the personal burdens of striving for greatness, Glasgow highlights how letting go of the need to be “the greatest” can both foster joy and realign our assessment of our own significance in more honest ways. Drawing on examples like Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, and Frida Kahlo, the conversation explores the interplay between morality, aesthetics, and well-being in shaping human values. The hosts reflect on how society’s emphasis on individual greatness can distort priorities and undermine happiness, while Glasgow introduces the concept of "irreverent contentment" as a counterbalance. Whether you're pondering your place in the cosmos or just trying to enjoy a good game of cribbage, this episode offers fresh insights into what it means to live a meaningful life. Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-164-the-significance-impulse-with-josh-glasgow -------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions! Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

    1h 4m
  7. Justice

    2024-12-06

    Justice

    The HBS hosts survey theories of justice from the ancients to the present. What does it mean to think justice, to pursue justice, or to act justly? Are we servicing justice, or just serving our self-interests? How do different philosophical approaches help us imagine a “just” society? This week, we consider retributive, restorative, and distributive theories, among others, exploring how each shapes our understanding of equality, rights, and fairness, and try to determine which approach provides the most useful guide in a world that appears increasingly unjust. So, grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let’s dig in: Is justice something we can pour out—or just a top-shelf ideal? Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-161-justice -------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions! Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

    1h 6m
  8. Matter and Consciousness in Indian Philosophy (with Tuhin Bhattacharjee)

    2024-11-29

    Matter and Consciousness in Indian Philosophy (with Tuhin Bhattacharjee)

    What can the Indian dualist philosophy of Sāṃkhya teach us about matter and consciousness? In this captivating episode, we explore the fascinating interplay between matter and consciousness as articulated in Sāṃkhya, a key tradition of Indian philosophy. Joined by special guest Dr. Tuhin Bhattacharjee, whose expertise spans ancient Greek and Indian texts, feminist theory, and psychoanalysis, we consider the interconnectedness of gender and metaphysics, setting the stage for broader discussions of matter and consciousness in both Western and non-Western philosophical traditions. The episode concludes with a lively exchange focusing on the implications of philosophy as a generative practice. The group reflects on how Indian traditions can inform modern philosophical debates, particularly around ethics, materiality, and the politics of recognition. This conversation invites listeners to reconsider dominant narratives in philosophy and encourages them to engage with underexplored intellectual terrains that illuminate shared human concerns. Grab a drink and settle in for a mind-expanding dialogue that bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary thought! Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-163-matter-and-consciousness-in-indian-philosophy-with-tuhin-bhattacharjee -------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions! Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

where the real philosophy happens

Information

  • Creator
    Leigh M. Johnson, Devonya N. Havis, Rick Lee
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Leigh M. Johnson, Devonya N. Havis, Rick Lee
  • Show Website
    Hotel Bar Sessions

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