The Owedometer: A good place to talk about the themes of The Good Place

Elwood Kidd
  • 5.0 (8)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

At its core, The Owedometer is a revisit to NBC’s The Good Place as a lens to explore the question: What do we owe to each other? Each episode, Elwood and a range of guests break down an episode of The Good Place, unpack its themes, and connect them to real-life lessons on kindness, morality, and human connection. You don’t need to be a fan of the series, however. Just curious about what makes us better people. Thoughtful, funny, and uplifting, The Owedometer explores how a sitcom about the afterlife can help us in this one. Email us at TheOwedometer@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 10/24/2025

    Chapter 7: Craig Kuehne

    In this episode of The Owedometer, Elwood sits down with visual effects artist and author Craig Kuehne to explore the theme of honesty through The Good Place episode “The Eternal Shriek.” From Chidi’s white lie about a friend’s cowboy boots to Eleanor’s choice to tell the truth, they dig into what it really means to be honest and when it might be okay to bend the truth a little. Craig also shares the inspiration behind his children’s book Did Elliot’s Cat Really Do That? and why honesty holds such a special place in his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  2. 09/16/2025

    Chapter 6: Todd May

    Dr. Todd May, philosophical advisor to The Good Place and author of 18 books, joins Elwood Kidd to explore some of the big questions at the heart of both the show and our podcast: What do we owe each other? How do we handle moral exhaustion? How can we find common ground with people we disagree with? He discusses his experiences while working on The Good Place and helps us unpack some of the bigger ideas it presents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  3. 09/09/2025

    Chapter 5: Marc Warzecha

    This week, Elwood sits down with Marc Warzecha, veteran of The Second City, to talk about the sweet spot where comedy and philosophy meet. From the rise of AI in comedy to the importance of satire and the use of humor to speak truth to power, they explore how laughter helps us confront uncomfortable truths and why integrity matters just as much as the punchline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  4. 09/02/2025

    Chapter 4: Tommy Owens

    In this episode, Elwood is joined by Tommy Owens: activist, retired nurse, drag nun, and host of the podcast Let Me Tell You Something with Tommy Owens. They discuss Tommy’s work with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, his part in the fight for HIV/AIDS care in the 1980's, and the lessons he learned during his time in hospice care. The conversation touches on chosen family, standing up for what’s right, and even finding wisdom in the face of death. Enjoying the show? Share it with a friend, and let us know what you’d love to hear more of. You can always reach us at TheOwedometer@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  5. 08/26/2025

    Chapter 3: Marc Evan Jackson

    On this episode of The Owedometer, Elwood is joined by Marc Evan Jackson. He played Shawn. Marc shares behind-the-scenes stories from the show, his experience hosting The Good Place: The Podcast, and his work with The Detroit Creativity Project. Along the way, he offers wisdom, humor, and thoughtful reflections on creativity and giving back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 12m

  6. 08/19/2025

    Chapter 2: Kyle Hartman

    What does it mean to truly belong? In Episode 2, Elwood welcomes composer Kyle Hartman, whose music spans film, TV, and video games. Kyle even created the theme music for The Owedometer! Together they talk about belonging, community, selfishness vs. self care, and how art and identity shape the spaces we build. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  7. 08/08/2025

    Chapter 1: Pamela Hieronymi

    In the debut episode of The Owedometer, host Elwood Kidd welcomes UCLA philosophy professor Pamela Hieronymi, whose work helped inspire the concepts of The Good Place. They explore the show’s central question, “What do we owe to each other?”, discuss her ideas on Evaluative and Managerial Control, and unpack the concept of “moral exhaustion.” Along the way, Pamela shares her behind-the-scenes experiences, her thoughts on the pilot episode’s moral dilemmas, and moments of kindness that shaped her life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  8. 07/31/2025 ·  BONUS

    Preview Episode

    Host Elwood Kidd opens up about the heart behind The Owedometer, a podcast inspired by NBC’s The Good Place and the big, messy question at its core: What do we owe to each other? In this preview episode, Elwood shares personal turning points, the unexpected path that led to launching a podcast, and the real-life struggles, doubts, and small victories that shaped this project. It’s honest, a little vulnerable, and full of hope for what’s ahead. More episodes coming soon. Follow @theowedometer and visit theowedometer.com for updates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min

  9. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Trailer

    Welcome to The Owedometer! In this preview episode, you’ll meet your host, Elwood Kidd, and hear what this podcast is all about: revisiting The Good Place one episode at a time, with a different guest each week, to explore kindness, empathy, and what we owe to each other. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

At its core, The Owedometer is a revisit to NBC’s The Good Place as a lens to explore the question: What do we owe to each other? Each episode, Elwood and a range of guests break down an episode of The Good Place, unpack its themes, and connect them to real-life lessons on kindness, morality, and human connection. You don’t need to be a fan of the series, however. Just curious about what makes us better people. Thoughtful, funny, and uplifting, The Owedometer explores how a sitcom about the afterlife can help us in this one. Email us at TheOwedometer@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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