Overthink

Podcast Nation
  • 4.8 (449)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. 15H AGO

    Cuteness

    What do Labubus, Beanie Babies, Hello Kitty, and Furbies have in common? They’re all cute! In episode 153 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss cuteness. From the idea of cuteness as a logic of contagion to the evolutionary explanation for why we find babies so adorable, this episode has it all. How is the increasing demand for shortform content a symptom of cuteification? What are the harms of categorizing certain animals as cute? In what ways is cuteness tied to consumption? And is society heading towards a future of cuteness? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts talk about the emergence of cuteness in Kawaii culture and what is so cute about Paddington bear.   Works Discussed: Amy Ireland and Maya B. Kronic, Cute Accelerationism Sianne Ngai, Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, and Interesting Sianne Ngai, The Cute Dylan Wittkower, “On The Origins of the Cute as a Dominant Aesthetic Category in Digital Culture” Sarah Wolfensohn, “Too Cute to Kill? The Need for Objective Measurements of Quality of Life” 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
  2. You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    15H AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Introducing “Drinkin' The Soda” (w/ Brittany Snow) from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Follow the show: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang True symbol of excellence and full fledged icon Brittany Snow finally joins Las Cultch after Matt + Bow recorded an episode in her NAME all those months ago in Ptown! The three discuss attending teen clubs in Orlando, memories from American Dreams, how Brittany is a Kingdom Hearts legend, and auditioning twice for Hairspray. Also, finding the tone of Hunting Wives, being the party ringleader on the Pitch Perfect set, psychics and hypnotists, and the grace, power and heat of Malin Akerman. All this, Meg Ryan culture, whether or not romantic comedies are ust glorified love bombing, dust, advanced light switches and hospital shows being too f*****g much when they're really f*****g good. Watch all of Brittany's shows! She's killing it! Literally, it's a lot of murder! The Hunting Wives, Murdaugh: Death In The Family and The Beast In Me are all available now. "You c*nts..." - Katie Lowes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 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. DEC 16

    Closer Look: Foucault, History of Sexuality Vol. 1

    It’s time for something new! In episode 152 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a deep dive into Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality, Volume 1. From the repressive hypothesis to the role of confession in producing the truth of sex, your hosts get into all of the juicy content of this seminal book. They also talk about the difference between “ars erotica” and “scientia sexualis,” two key concepts in Foucault’s treatment of sexuality.Why does Foucault reject the view that sexuality has been repressed? What is the function of power in sexuality? How does the desire for truth about oneself produce various discourses of sexuality? And, when all is said and done, are Foucault’s reflections on power in this work too homogenous? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts discuss the pedagogization of children’s sexuality and Foucault’s problematic treatment of a historical case involving the sexual abuse of a minor. Works Discussed: Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality Volume 1 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

  4. DEC 9

    Meritocracy

    We've all been sold the ideal of meritocracy. The American dream, our education system, and our politics are all based on it. But what if meritocracy is actually impossible--and based on a misunderstanding of how society works? In episode 151 of Overthink, Ellie and David put meritocracy in the spotlight. They think through the inherent inequality of meritocracy, its tendency to skew toward conservatism, and what Trump’s attacks on DEI reveal about how society favors merit. How does meritocracy create vertical social distance between those in power and the working class? And is meritocracy even a worthwhile ideal? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts get into the role that merit plays in Christian theology and the promise of heaven.   Works Discussed: Christopher Hayes, Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy Judith Lichtenberg and David Luban, “The Merits of Merit” Michael Young, The Rise of the Meritocracy 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.

    57 min

  5. DEC 2

    Aztec Philosophy with Sebastian Purcell

    Why are Aztecs often considered pessimists from a philosophical perspective? In episode 150 of Overthink, Ellie and David chat with philosopher Sebastian Purcell about his book The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs. They discuss how the Aztecs urge us to take an “outside-in” approach to the self, how their understanding of happiness differs from much of Western philosophy, and how their view of the mind as inherently chaotic shapes their moral outlook. Why did the Aztecs think happiness was not an important goal? How can the Aztec notion of ‘right speech’ help us gain control over the internal chaos of the mind? And why did the Aztecs reject the possibility of redemption? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts dive deeper into the pessimism of the Aztecs and the claustrophobia of the Spanish conquest. Works Discussed: Sebastian Purcell, The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs Jacques Soustelle, Daily Life of the Aztecs on the Eve of the Spanish Conquest 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

  6. NOV 25

    Surfing

    Hang loose! In episode 149 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about all things surfing. They explore the long history of wave-riding across the globe, from Peru to West Africa, and consider how surfing helps us to reimagine social issues and what surfing reveals about the connection between flow and freedom. Is surfing the pinnacle of human life? How has the sportification of surfing directly contravened surfing’s anti-capitalist ethos? Why is the average surfer an image of white masculinity? And how is this image tied to indigenous erasure? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts discuss the similarities between surfing and skating, surfing as an art, and the existential risk of surfing. Works Discussed Daniel Brennan, Surfing and the Philosophy of Sport Kevin Dawson, Undercurrents of Power: Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora William Finnegan, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life Aaron James, Surfing with Sartre: An Aquatic Inquiry Into a Life of Meaning Peter Kreeft, I Surf, Therefore I Am: A Philosophy of Surfing Aileen Moreton Robinson, “Bodies That Matter: Performing White Possession on the Beach” Peter J. Westwick and Peter Neushul, The World in the Curl: An Unconventional History of Surfing Wade in the Water: A Journey Into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture (2023) 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

  7. NOV 18

    Loneliness

    How can we explain the rise of loneliness in our world? In episode 148 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the difference between loneliness and solitude, how loneliness could help explain the rise of fascism in the US, and the public health implications of loneliness. What is the male loneliness epidemic, and does it truly exist? Does the state have a moral obligation to address the loneliness of its citizens? And do we have a fundamental human right to connection? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts get into the etymology of loneliness and discuss the type of companionship that animals offer humans. Works Discussed: Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism Kimberley Brownlee, Being Sure of Each Other: An Essay on Social Rights and Freedoms Bouke de Vries and Sarah A. Rezaieh. “Political Philosophy and Loneliness” Bouke de Vries, “State Responsibilities to Protect us from Loneliness During Lockdown” Samantha Rose Hill, "Where loneliness can lead" Zohar Lederman, “Loneliness as Lack of Solidarity: The Case of Palestinians Standing Alone” Emmanuel Levinas, Otherwise than Being David M. Peña-Guzmán and Rebekah Spera, Professional Philosophy and Its Myths Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science  Jill Stauffer, Ethical Loneliness: The Injustice of Not Being Heard Lars Svendsen, A Philosophy of Loneliness 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

  8. NOV 11

    Confidence

    Don’t shy away from this one! In episode 147 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss confidence. Modernity has created a crisis of confidence, leading to the demand that we all maximize our confidence. But what is confidence? Is it a personality trait or a relational concept? What causes under- and over-confidence? And is instilling confidence an equity issue? Your hosts think through Charles Pépin’s pillars of confidence, Don A. Moore's formula for calibrating your confidence, and the gendered nature of confidence through bodily expressions. In the Substack bonus segment, Ellie tells an embarrassing story which reveals the situational nature of confidence, and they discuss the relationship between confidence and nature. Works discussed: Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance” Don A. Moore, Perfectly Confident: How to Calibrate Your Decisions Wisely Charles Pépin, Self-Confidence: A Philosophy Iris Marion Young, “Throwing Like a Girl: A Phenomenology of Feminine Body” 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.

    57 min
See All (154)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
449 Ratings

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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    154
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © © 2025 Overthink 149604
  • Show Website
    Overthink

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