Best Agnes Callard Podcasts (2025)

1
Living The Philosophical Life | Agnes Callard 55:21

24d ago55:21

55:21

In this episode, Brain in a Vat is joined by public philosopher and author Agnes Callard to explore the relevance of philosophy in everyday life. Drawing from her work on Socrates, Agnes makes a case for why philosophical inquiry matters, now more than ever. From the pig farmer analogy to Socratic love, this conversation is a deep dive into how phi…

1
Erik Hoel: Free Will, Consciousness, and Hopeful Futures 1:21:10

1d ago1:21:10

1:21:10

The very great Erik Hoel joins me for a conversation on AI, free will, emergence, creativity, neuroscience, consciousness and much more. Hope you enjoy! For the full transcript of our conversation, click here. Important Links: The Intrinsic Perspective Erik on Twitter/X Show Notes: Innovative Structures in Fiction Gender Dynamics in Publishing Erik…

1
Disgust | Martha Nussbaum (Rebroadcast) 58:01

3d ago58:01

58:01

What exactly makes us feel disgusted? Is disgust for a person or group ever justified? And is disgust useful, or should we try to eliminate it? Chapters: [00:00] Introduction to Disgust and Cognitive Content [00:11] Paul Rosen's Experiments on Disgust [02:16] Disgust and Its Connection to Animality and Mortality [03:05] Projective Disgust and Socia…

1
Ezra Klein on building the things we need for the future we want (revisiting) 1:35:30

5d ago1:35:30

1:35:30

For this episode of Berkeley Talks, we are revisiting an October 2023 conversation in which Ezra Klein, a New York Times columnist and host of the podcast The Ezra Klein Show, discusses the difficulties Democratic governments encounter when working to build real things in the real world. Klein, who has since co-written the 2025 book Abundance with …

1
Hanno Sauer on The World History of Morality 24:33

5d ago24:33

24:33

How did morality evolve? Why do different cultures have such a similar set of moral norms and values? Hanno Sauer gives an evolutionary story that explains the genealogy of morality through human co-operation.

1
Patriotism Unpacked | Spencer Case (Rebroadcast) 59:38

10d ago59:38

59:38

What does it mean to be patriotic, or to love your country? Some argue that patriotism is virtuous because it allows us to transcend our selfish needs and act for the good of our community. But others argue that patriotism is overly narrow-minded, arbitrary and sometimes immoral. Microdigressions Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@Micro-Digressions …

1
Takeshi Morisato on Japanese Philosophy 18:05

12d ago18:05

18:05

Most Western philosophers are deeply ignorant of Japanese philosophy. Takeshi Morisato who was brought up in Japan, and who has studied both continental and analytic Western traditions provides and introduction to some of the key strands in Japanese philosophy.

1
Is Tarot a Tool for Thought? | Georgi Gardiner 1:01:44

17d ago1:01:44

1:01:44

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, Georgi Gardiner returns to explore the epistemic value of tarot: its capacity to shape self-understanding, spark creative reflection, and influence major life decisions. Drawing on personal experience and philosophical analysis, Georgi examines how tarot can serve as a mirror for introspection while also raising c…

1
On Hegel's 'Spirit' with Terry Pinkard 1:09:05

19d ago1:09:05

1:09:05

In this conversation with Terry Pinkard, I discuss Hegel’s famous Phenomenology of Spirit. Terry recently published a brilliant introductory guide to this famously difficult book [Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit: A Guide (2023)] which we use as our jumping off point. We discuss the origin of Hegel's book against the backdrop of its turbulent histor…

1
How the tobacco industry drove the rise of ultra-processed foods 57:19

19d ago57:19

57:19

In the early 1960s, R.J. Reynolds, one of the largest and most profitable tobacco companies in the U.S. at the time, wanted to diversify its business. Its marketing strategies had been highly successful in selling its top brands, like Camel, Winston and Salem cigarettes, and executives thought, Why not apply the same strategies to, say, the food in…

1
Santiago Ramos: A Hope for End Times 55:51

26d ago55:51

55:51

Santiago Ramos of Wisdom of Crowds joins me to talk about hope in apocalyptic times. AI, public philosophy, journalism, the aesthetics of urgent honesty, the value of disagreement, dialectics leading one to religion, whether crowds really are wise... ENJOY! For the full transcript of our conversation, click here. Important Links: Wisdom of Crowds A…

1
Ocean Vuong Uses the Sentence as a Tool to Understand Deep Mystery 1:14:51

29d ago1:14:51

1:14:51

Beloved novelist, poet, and educator Ocean Vuong joins his friend and colleague Adrian Matejka, editor of Poetry magazine, for a hilarious, heartbreaking, and affirming conversation about the power of the sentence. SHOW NOTES: Read the podcast transcript. CW: Discussion of drug addiction PHOTO: Ocean Vuong and Adrian Matejka on stage at the Athenae…

1
Henry David Thoreau 51:00

1M ago51:00

51:00

Henry David Thoreau A Very Short Introduction Lawrence Buell The first concise account of Thoreau's life, thought, work, and impact in more than half a century Builds upon the explosion of new scholarship on Thoreau during the decade of the bicentennial of his birth Treats Thoreau's two most famous and influential works - Walden and "Civil Disobedi…

1
The Israel Palestine Conflict | David Benatar 59:21

1M ago59:21

59:21

Are Jews entitled to their own homeland? Is the Israeli response to the massacre of civilians perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th justified? Should there be a ceasefire? David's Article in Quillette: https://quillette.com/2023/10/21/its-not-the-occupation/ Raja Halwani wrote to us about Jason's exposition of his view at 33:06. Here is Raja's clarif…

1
Energy justice expert on his pursuit for affordable and clean energy for all 52:46

1M ago52:46

52:46

In Berkeley Talks episode 228, Tony Reames, a professor of environmental justice at the University of Michigan, discusses how the U.S. energy system has persistently harmed marginalized communities, a result of legacies of government-sanctioned policies, like redlining, land theft and resource extraction. He goes on to emphasize the need for intent…

1
Melissa Lane on Plato, Rule, and Office 15:04

1M ago15:04

15:04

Melissa Lane, a classics scholar as well as a philosopher, discusses some key features of Plato's political philosophy and shows its continuing relevance.

1
The Ideal State: An AI Debate - Plato vs Nozick 47:59

1M ago47:59

47:59

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, we examine two competing political visions through an AI debate between Plato and Robert Nozick. Plato defends rule by philosopher kings and a unified society, while Nozick argues for individual liberty and a minimal state. Following our previous episode featuring Mill and Kant, we continue investigating major phi…

1
Leslie Odom, Jr. on Learning that Love is Being Kind to Yourself 59:05

1M ago59:05

59:05

Originator of the role Aaron Burr in the Broadway smash hit Hamiliton, Leslie Odom, Jr. reflects on his Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Oscar and Emmy Award-nominated career. With a loving eye toward his own creative practice and collaborative spirit, he gabs with NBC’s Matthew Rodrigues on self-care, fame, and might just bring us a little Christmas…

1
On Life, AI and Technosymbiosis with Katherine Hayles 1:07:29

1M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

In this wide-ranging conversation, I met with acclaimed literary theorist, philosopher and technology scholar N. Katherine Hayles, whose pioneering work has reshaped how we understand the boundaries between humans and machines, cognition and computation, biology and code, artificial intelligence and artificial life. We primarily discussed Katherine…

1
Organ Markets | James Stacey Taylor (Rebroadcast) 1:13:57

1M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market? Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant? Check out FeedSpot's list of 90 best philosophy podcasts, where Brain in a Vat is ranked at 15, here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/philosophy_p…

1
Agnes Callard: Socratic Inquiries for a Hopeful Age 1:17:16

2M ago1:17:16

1:17:16

The very great Agnes Callard joins me to talk about her excellent new book Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life. Just two Hungarian girls discussing love and ethics, truth and ignorance, paradoxes and beliefs—and Kant, Aristotle, Mill, Nussbaum, William James—and of course Socrates. Hope you enjoy! For the full transcript of our convers…

1
Feeding the world without ‘eating the earth’ 1:14:36

2M ago1:14:36

1:14:36

By 2050, the global population is expected to reach about 10 billion people. That means we need to find a way to feed nearly 2 billion more mouths in the next 25 years. Industrial farming practices have already destroyed countless natural ecosystems, and experts say that expanding farmland even further would have devastating consequences for the pl…

1
Academic Freedom in Universities | Eric Sampson and Rebecca Tuvel 1:07:23

2M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Eric Sampson and Rebecca Tuvel explore the contested issue of academic freedom. They discuss the tensions that emerge when universities try to balance the promotion of diverse intellectual perspectives with concerns over potential harm to community members, as seen in controversies involving figures like philosopher Peter Singer. Drawing on debates…

1
Bernard Mandeville, 1670-1733. 57:36

2M ago57:36

57:36

Man-Devil: The Mind and Times of Bernard Mandeville, the Wickedest Man in Europe John J. Callanan A lively and provocative account of Bernard Mandeville and the work that scandalized and appalled his contemporaries—and made him one of the most influential thinkers of the eighteenth century In 1714, doctor, philosopher and writer Bernard Mandeville …

1
Philosopher Agnes Callard Has Some Questions About Questions 58:26

2M ago58:26

58:26

Our goal at Chicago Humanities Tapes is to help you get closer to the answers to life’s biggest questions with the brightest minds the world offers. And we’ll get those answers eventually according to philosopher Agnes Callard, though it might take another 10,000 years of humanity. So, how do we live our lives knowing we’ll never know the answers t…

1
Children's Rights and Parenting | Connor Kianpour and Ella Coleman 1:02:09

2M ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Connor examines involuntary commitment, substance abuse disorders, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding parenting and children's welfare. Should children be allowed to transition genders? When is the state justified in removing children from harmful environments? And what is the role of non-parental caregivers in a child's life? Join us for this th…

1
Rohit Krishnan: Hope for India, Hope for the AGI Era 58:46

2M ago58:46

58:46

Author, builder and friend — Rohit Krishan joins me in a wide ranging conversation about Indian and American culture. We discuss the Get Shit Done mentality of Indian entrepreneurs, predictions for the Indian diaspora, Rohit’s experiences with LLMs, and the surprising ways his children use AI. For the full transcript of our conversation, click here…

1
Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) on reading the authors you want to write like 56:04

2M ago56:04

56:04

It took nearly six years for bestselling author Daniel Handler to sell his first book, a satirical novel called The Basic Eight. When his agent sold it in 1998, it was “for the least amount she had ever negotiated for,” laughed Handler, who spoke at a UC Berkeley event earlier this month. More than two decades later, Handler has published seven nov…

1
Are Conspiracy Theories Right? | Jared Millson and Ella Coleman 58:01

2M ago58:01

58:01

Jared Millson delves into the intriguing world of conspiracy theories, exploring well-known cases like Pizzagate and lesser-known but historically significant events such as the COINTELPRO. The discussion spans the definitions and philosophical debates about what constitutes a conspiracy theory, the criteria for evaluating these theories, and the p…

1
Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Wonder What You Will Build for the Future 1:14:45

2M ago1:14:45

1:14:45

Bestselling authors and popular podcasters Ezra Klein (The New York Times) and Derek Thompson (The Atlantic) are interested in societal abundance – how do we get closer to equality when it seems like we’re getting farther from having enough resources for everyone? Joined by historian and science fiction writer Ada Palmer, these three brilliant mind…

1
Animal Liberation Now | Peter Singer (Rebroadcast) 1:05:15

2M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Peter Singer delves into difficult ethical questions regarding animal rights, the morality of factory farming, and difficult human-related ethical dilemmas. Singer discusses his views as a consequentialist, examining the impact of our choices on animal suffering, the ethical considerations around organ donation from anencephalic children, and the b…

1
In 1970, one in five Americans moved every year. Now it’s one in 13. What changed? 1:32:19

2M ago1:32:19

1:32:19

In Berkeley Talks episode 225, The Atlantic journalists Yoni Appelbaum and Jerusalem Demsas discuss the decline of housing mobility in the United States and its impact on economic opportunity in the country. Appelbaum, author of the 2025 book Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity, began by tracing the…

1
End Taxes? | Jessica Flanigan 55:05

3M ago55:05

55:05

Jess Flanigan argues that personal income tax is illegitimate. But is the state ever justified in extracting money from its population to pay for public goods? Are property taxes and privatization of state functions better options? And if taxes are illegitimate, are we permitted, or even obligated, to stop paying our taxes? [00:00] Introduction and…

1
How Classic Painted Signs Help Us Time Travel with Heavy Pages Press 30:03

3M ago30:03

30:03

Join fine art painters turned sign designers turned book publishers Andrew and Kelsey McClellan of Heavy Pages Press on a lovingly nerdy investigation through the signs of Chicago’s small businesses of yesteryear. A chance encounter with a perfectly preserved “ghost sign” by the Beverly Design Co. from the 1930s led them to uncover previously lost …

1
The Problem with Democracy | Jason Brennan (Rebroadcast) 1:01:12

3M ago1:01:12

1:01:12

If most voters are misinformed, is democracy legitimate? What sort of voting system should we have in its place? And should some votes count more than others? [00:00] Introduction to the Problems of Democracy [00:17] Brexit: A Case Study in Misinformed Voting [05:33] Voter Behavior: Social Benefits and Signaling [18:29] The Legitimacy of Democratic…

1
The case for a philosophical life, with Agnes Callard and Judith Butler 1:35:20

3M ago1:35:20

1:35:20

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is considered the father of Western philosophy, one whose most famous ideas have all but risen to the level of pop culture. We parrot his claim that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” His name has been invoked by politicians to bolster their stance against “cancel culture.” There’s even an AI chat app …

1
On Socrates with Agnes Callard 53:02

3M ago53:02

53:02

On this episode I talk to the Agnes Callard about the great Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. We discuss Agnes' new book Open Socrates: The Case for A Philosophical Life [Penguin, 2025]. Agnes and I discuss the themes of Open Socrates, focusing on philosophy as a public, outward-looking practice, Socrates’ call to examine life is framed not just …

1
Replit Co-founder Haya Odeh: Hope for the Bravest Founders 51:08

3M ago51:08

51:08

The brilliant and always candid Haya Odeh - co-founder and design lead of Replit - and I talked about her company (and her husband and co-founder Amjad Masad), entrepreneurship, and hope — immigration, motherhood, resilience, being your best self, and the great power of not having a plan B.https://x.com/HayaOdehhttps://x.com/Replit…

1
This concise book introduces phenomenology in its rigor--and its breadth: from philosophical foundation to application in psychology, psychiatry, qualitative research, critical theory, sociology, etc. 52:58

3M ago52:58

52:58

Dan Zahavi Phenomenology: The basics, 2nd Edition Two footnotes to the podcast. 1. Walter Hopp's beloved Boston University course is distilled in his Phenomenology: A Contemporary Introduction (2020), an excellent companion to Zahavi's text that focuses on philosophical phenomenology. 2. Paul Møller's Psychosis risk and experience of the self (2023…

1
Agnes Callard on Lessons from Socrates 22:14

3M ago22:14

22:14

Does Socrates still have something to teach us? Agnes Callard thinks he has. Here she discusses the great Athenian and his continuing relevance with David Edmonds.

1
Mini Tapes: The Journey is the Destination for the Jewish Museum of Chicago 16:54

3M ago16:54

16:54

In support of Chicago-based klezmer band Upshtat Zingerai bringing Yiddish tunes and dancing to the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival, the creative partners behind the Jewish Museum of Chicago sat down with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal to preview the upcoming event. They chat artistic process, visions for having a future physical space, and how th…

1
Mass Shootings | Kurt Blankschaen 58:00

3M ago58:00

58:00

Does our common understanding of mass shootings help us to prevent them? Blankschaen argues that our common beliefs and media narratives around gun ownership, mental illness, and school policies are unhelpful in preventing future mass shootings. Can we even provide an adequate definition of mass shootings? Should we give up the concept of mass shoo…

1
Hebru Brantley on His Chicago Murals, Fine Art, and Everything in Between 51:45

3M ago51:45

51:45

Bronzeville native and preeminent Black pop artist Hebru Brantley joins visual artist and MacArthur Fellow Amanda Williams for a life-affirming conversation that spans the power of unbridled creativity, his inviting marketing strategy, and naturally, a little bit of Chicago vs. LA discourse. This program was recorded live at the Illinois Institute …

1
The Problems with Virtue Ethics | Travis Timmerman 58:02

3M ago58:02

58:02

Through comparisons to consequentialism and deontological ethics, Travis dissects the core principles and critiques of virtue ethics. Along the way, we discuss moral dilemmas, the application of virtues, and the real-world implications of ethical theories. Whether you're a student of philosophy or just curious about moral reasoning, this discussion…

1
J Finley on how Black women use sass to claim their humanity 1:23:07

3M ago1:23:07

1:23:07

When J Finley arrived at UC Berkeley as a graduate student in 2006, she planned on studying reparations and the legacy of slavery. But after a fellowship in South Africa, where she studied the Zulu language and culture, Finley says she realized Black people were never going to get reparations. Switching gears, she started thinking: “How else do Bla…

1
Bullsh*t (Robin Hanson & Agnes Callard) 57:15

3M ago57:15

57:15

Minds Almost Meeting: Season 10, Episode 11. View the transcript for this episode here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mindsa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lmostmeeting.com/episodes/bs Imagine two smart curious friendly and basically truth-seeking people, but from very different intellectual traditions. Traditions with different tools, priorities, and ground rules. What woul…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Agnes Callard Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide