Overthink

Podcast Nation
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Philosophy
  • Every two weeks

The best of all possible podcasts, Leibniz would say. Putting big ideas in dialogue with the everyday, Overthink offers accessible and fresh takes on philosophy from enthusiastic experts. Hosted by professors Ellie Anderson (Pomona College) and David M. Peña-Guzmán (San Francisco State University).

  1. 2 hr ago

    Beauty with Heather Widdows

    Beauty is big business, and the rise of looksmaxxing and increasingly invasive treatments is raising the alarm on the ways that our looks matter in our personal and social lives. Ellie and David speak with philosopher Heather Widdows about how the emphasis on beauty in the present day constitutes a real shift from previous eras. Beauty is no longer taken as a sign of moral goodness, but itself has become a moral ideal. This applies worldwide. The “beauty ideal” is seeping into practically every culture and coming to be expected of more and more people for longer periods of their lifespan. They touch on the four elements of the beauty ideal that Widdows identifies and reflect on their own beauty practices and what it means to be complicit in a toxic system. In the Substack bonus segment, they touch on Lacan, America’s Next Top Model, and image-based profiles. Works Discussed: Heather Widdows, Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal Start your business today with the industry’s best business partner, Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/overthink. Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/overthink for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. If you’re ready to stop talking yourself out of finding care and making progress, then head to rula.com and take the first step. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    57 min
  2. You Might Also Like: The Run-Through with Vogue

    2 hr ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Run-Through with Vogue

    Introducing Simone Rocha’s Menswear Runway Debut | PLUS World Cup Style from The Run-Through with Vogue. Follow the show: The Run-Through with Vogue Designer Simone Rocha makes her menswear runway debut today as guest designer at Pitti Uomo in Florence. Nicole Phelps sat down with Rocha just a few days ahead of the debut and to discuss why now felt like the right time to give her menswear line its own runway spotlight, how independence has shaped her career, and the family legacy behind her approach to design. Reflecting on everything from her days at Central Saint Martins to dressing figures like Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, Rocha shares her vision of a “tender, intimate masculinity”—and explains why she still loves surprising her audience. For headlines, Phelps and Chloe Malle are joined by Vogue Runway senior fashion news editor Max Berlinger for a globetrotting edition of The Run-Through that begins at the World Cup and ends on the menswear runways of Milan, Paris, and Florence. Fresh from France’s opening match against Senegal at MetLife Stadium, Chloe reports on the tournament’s unexpectedly chic sidelines—from sold-out Nike x Jacquemus training jerseys to French players arriving with covetable Chanel and Hermès bags. The trio also discusses New York’s euphoric Knicks celebrations and why sports fandom is becoming one of fashion’s most compelling new front rows. Then, attention turns to the upcoming men’s shows. The hosts break down what to expect from Milan, where Ralph Lauren’s return continues what Max dubs a “Ralph-aissance,” alongside runway outings from Prada and Armani. In Paris, anticipation is building around Michael Rider’s first standalone menswear show for Celine, Jonathan Anderson’s evolving vision for Dior Men, Sarah Burton’s menswear debut at Givenchy, and Simon Porte Jacquemus’s grand finale in Corsica. Along the way, the conversation touches on the return of slimmer silhouettes, the rise of low-profile footwear, and the designers poised to define the next chapter of menswear. The Run-Through with Vogue is your go-to podcast where fashion meets culture. Hosted by Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.; Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue; and Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, each episode features the latest fashion news and exclusive designer and celebrity interviews. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 16 Jun

    Cheating

    Is it easier to cheat now than ever? In episode 177 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about cheating. From micro-cheating on your girlfriend to doping in sports, cheating appears to have escalated in various domains. Your hosts explain the relationship between cheating and rule-breaking, then question norms surrounding cheating in romantic relationships. Why is cheating considered the ultimate dealbreaker? Is it always dishonest? Finally, they address the rise of generative AI cheating in schools and the ethical numbing that promotes it. How is ChatGPT different from using a calculator? And has it become rational for students to cheat? In the Substack Bonus Segment, Ellie and David question whether we should even use the word ‘cheating’ for romantic relationships rather than infidelity. Works Discussed: Stuart Green, “Cheating” Natasha McKeever, “Is the Requirement of Sexual Exclusivity Consistent with Romantic Love?” Deborah Rhode, Cheating: Ethics in Everyday Life James D. Walsh, “Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College” Go to https://surfshark.com/overthink or use code OVERTHINK at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Go to Quince.com/overthink for free shipping on your orders and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/overthink. Go to Rula.com/overthink for convenient therapy that’s covered by insurance. Visit Progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1 hr

  4. 2 Jun

    Attention

    Are you paying attention when you scroll online? In episode 176 of Overthink, Ellie and David draw your attention to attention. They explain why attention is so hard to define and debate the extent to which it should be equated with consciousness. Is attention the same thing as consciousness? Or are there important differences between these concepts? They consider different ways that attention has been classified, from “overt vs. covert” to “effortful vs. effortless” to “voluntary vs. involuntary.” Ellie and David then discuss the commodification of attention and how it has been intensified by the digital era, or what Chris Hayes calls “the age of attention.” How has social media changed the way we attend to the world, to ourselves, and to others? Is our attention still our own? Or has it become alienated? In the Substack Bonus Segment, Ellie and David talk about Simone Weil’s and Iris Murdoch’s ethical approaches to attention. Works Discussed: Jelle Bruineberg, “Rethinking the cognitive foundations of the attention economy” Chris Hayes, The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource William James, The Principles of Psychology Carlos Montemayor and Harry Haroutioun Haladjian, Consciousness, Attention, and Conscious Attention The Friends of Attention, Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Subscribe to our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    58 min

  5. 26 May

    Coolness

    Play it cool and play this episode. In episode 175 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about what it means to be cool. From swag gap relationships to Mark Zuckerberg and the manosphere’s failed attempts at being cool, your hosts examine coolness’s ties to youth and subversion and its opposition to displays of wealth. They trace how coolness emerged from Black American culture in the 1930s, before being associated with Beat Poets and punk musicians. They consider precursors to cool, like the Italian term sprezzatura, and question the ontology and the morality of coolness. Is coolness an attitude or a state? Is it inherently narcissistic? Can you ever successfully “try” to be cool? In the Substack bonus segment, Ellie and David discuss coolness through an ethical perspective. Works Discussed: Joel Dinerstein, “Jazz Cool” Ted Gioia, The History of Jazz bell hooks, We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity Dick Pountain and David Robins, Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Subscribe to our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    55 min

  6. 19 May

    Climate Action with Kyle Whyte

    What resources do Indigenous studies provide for addressing the crisis of human-made climate change? And how is the climate crisis linked to settler colonialism? In episode 174 of Overthink, Ellie and David chat with Indigenous philosopher and activist Kyle Whyte about his work on climate action. They discuss how Indigenous people are often blocked out of conversations about environmental impact, the common mischaracterization of the land back movement, and the importance of kinship. How are certain groups disproportionately affected by climate change? Is climate change actually a new problem? And how can respecting land rights of Indigenous people offer some solutions to climate change? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts question who is called upon to respond to the crisis of climate change and how non-Indigenous people should engage in discussions surrounding climate change and colonialism. Works Discussed: Kyle Whyte, “Climate Action at the Speed of Consent” Kyle Whyte, “Indigenous Climate Change Studies: Indigenizing Futures, Decolonizing the Anthropocene” Kyle Whyte, “Settler Colonialism, Ecology, and Environmental Injustice” Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Subscribe to our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    55 min

  7. 12 May

    Theft

    Thou shalt not miss this episode! In episode 173 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about theft. They discuss our moral intuitions around theft, how feudalism and capitalism may be founded upon an original (and large scale) act that of theft, and the gendered association between kleptomania and women. They also critique the lack of legal repercussions for tech companies that steal information to train new AI models. Finally, they look at representations of theft and capital in film and television. What does the move from heist films to grift docudramas say about 21st century capitalism? And why do we love to take the side of thieves? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts discuss the ethics of stealing from large corporations. Works Discussed: Elaine Abelson, When Ladies Go A-Thieving: Middle-Class Shoplifters in the Victorian Department Store Anna Kornbluh “Falling Heists, Rising Grift: Filming Capital in the Already Long Twenty-First Century” Robert Nichols, Theft Is Property! Dispossession and Critical Theory Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    56 min

  8. 5 May

    Closer Look: Fanon, Wretched of the Earth

    Does decolonization require violence? In episode 172 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a closer look at Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth, “the bible of decolonization.” They discuss Fanon’s bold stance on violence, his condemnation of rituals and dance, and some potential criticisms. They also question what the subjectivity of colonized people looks like given colonialism’s psycho-affective effects. What does violence do for the colonized? Who gets liberation movements off the ground? And what are the challenges that a newly independent nation might face once a colonial power has been overthrown? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts talk about Fanon’s critique of Africanism and some of the clinical cases Fanon incorporates into this important work. Works Discussed: Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of The Earth Concerning Violence (2014) Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    59 min
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Trailer

Hosts & Guests

About

The best of all possible podcasts, Leibniz would say. Putting big ideas in dialogue with the everyday, Overthink offers accessible and fresh takes on philosophy from enthusiastic experts. Hosted by professors Ellie Anderson (Pomona College) and David M. Peña-Guzmán (San Francisco State University).

Information

  • Channel
    Podcast Nation
  • Creator
    Ellie Anderson, Ph.D. and David Peña-Guzmán, Ph.D.
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © © 2025 Overthink 149604
  • Show Website
    Overthink

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