80 episodes

Mark Linsenmayer (host of The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast) and Bill Arnett (head of the Chicago Improv Studio) each try to teach each other their crafts via conversation, sketches, and what can only be called performance art. No taking turns!

Philosophy vs. Improv Mark Lintertainment

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 14 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
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Mark Linsenmayer (host of The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast) and Bill Arnett (head of the Chicago Improv Studio) each try to teach each other their crafts via conversation, sketches, and what can only be called performance art. No taking turns!

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Spock Fever w/ Cole Nasrallah and Chris Rathjen

    Spock Fever w/ Cole Nasrallah and Chris Rathjen

    It's another TEAM PLAY episode, with our returning champions, star of improv stages and podcasts Chris and College of Southern Nevada philosophy prof Cole receiving NOT THE INFORMATION THEY EXPECT and gettin' all rational and such when consoling a friend and wrangling about a math quiz. Luxuriate in the rich characters and philosophy tools!

    Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.

    Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions, and other bonus stuff.

    • 1 hr 7 min
    The Cranio-Fascism Exchange

    The Cranio-Fascism Exchange

    If people would be uniquely healed by your blood, how much would you charge for it? Would it make a difference if they were wealthy vampires? Bill entices Mark to join a cult.

    Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.

    Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions, a video version of the podcast, and other bonus stuff. You can watch video for this episode and hear the post-game talking gratis just by visiting our Patreon page.

    • 52 min
    Paramilitary Existentialism w/ Jonny Thomson

    Paramilitary Existentialism w/ Jonny Thomson

    Jonny taught philosophy at Oxford, wrote the international bestseller Mini Philosophy, and now writes for Big Think.

    We talk Kierkegaard and act out some scenes about scouting and military recruitment. Do we have to live within labels? Does one have to leap to a label, without justification?

    Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.

    Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. You'll see there the link to the video version of this. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions, a video version of the podcast, and other bonus stuff.

    Sponsor: If you enjoy our podcast, check out Historical Blindness.

    • 57 min
    Alternative Religious Practices w/ Katie Caussin

    Alternative Religious Practices w/ Katie Caussin

    Katie is the co-artistic director of Chicago's IO theater and used to do Comedy Sports improv with Bill. She also took a lot of classes in philosophy and religion, so we talk some about cults, Kierkegaard, tolerance, and more. In our scenes, a family contemplates celebrating Christmas differently this year, and people debate the appropriate gift for a newborn king. 

    Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.

    Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. You'll see there the link to the video version of this. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff.

    Sponsors: Get a meal for $1.49 plus $1 steaks at EveryPlate.com/podcast, code 49improv. Get a weekly dose of Internet comedy at CanYouDontPodcast.com.

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Mark and Bill Oozing at Christmastime

    Mark and Bill Oozing at Christmastime

    It's our office holiday party, where we engage in chit-chat then enter into a few holiday scenes. Is there any philosophy content in this one at all? We do talk a bit about status and authority. Was there any particular improv lesson? We forgot to actually lay out our lessons at the end, and (SPOILER) declined to name a winner.

    Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.

    Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. You'll see there the link to the video version of this. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Consent to Improv w/ Sukaina Hirji

    Consent to Improv w/ Sukaina Hirji

    Sukaina teaches philosophy at U. of Pennsylvania, combining work from ancient Greek, contemporary moral, and feminist philosophy. She lets Mark and Bill know about critiques by feminist philosophers of the idea of consent. We talk a bit about moral agency, teaching dynamics given these kids today, Aristotelian virtue, and testing personality types by turning them up to 11.

    Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.

    Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. You'll see there the link to the video version of this. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions and other bonus stuff, including a special holiday video (which is free to all viewers)

    • 1 hr 4 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

mikes117 ,

Entertaining and informative

This is such a creative format for a podcast, combining improv scenes while trying to teach something completely unrelated. I really enjoy watching Mark and Bill try to fit their lessons into improv scenes, and it’s always funny seeing where the scenes take them, even when it’s off the rails!

The topics and presenters are a perfect contrast, since Bill is focused on the practical side of what works for performers, while male is presenting philosophical ideas that are usually theoretical.

Also, I always enjoy the guests on the show. It’s especially fun watching people with no improv experience jump right into the scenes. Keep up the fun!

Kaitkaitkaitkaitkait ,

Hilarious

Definitely worth a listen!

Dhryvrnf ,

Take two great distractions and multiply them!!!

Who says you can’t mix apples and oranges!!! Philosophy and improv make a perfect mix. Mark and Bill are legitimate experts in their field, and great guys. I always look forward to the new episodes. -Amber

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