reeducated

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Gilmore professor of philosophy and co-editor of The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism to explore how we experience fiction, art, and museums in ways that often blur the line between imagination and reality. We talk about why fictional stories can feel so emotionally true, and what’s happening in the brain and mind when we respond to imagined worlds....

In this episode, I talk with Sherri Irvin, a philosopher whose work explores aesthetics, contemporary art, and embodiment. We begin by discussing her entry into the philosophy of art and how artists challenge traditional rules to express new forms of meaning. Sherri explains how rules are not just constraints, but frameworks for communication, and how breaking them intentionally can create powerfu...

In this episode, I sat down again with David Goldblatt, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, to talk about how philosophy moves from theory to practice and why that movement often doesn't happen. We reflected on how routine and academic settings can limit our thinking, and why breaking out through travel, art, or even a conversation in a roadside bar can shift our sense of what matters. David sha...

In this episode, I speak with David Goldblatt, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Denison University, who has spent decades redefining how we think about aesthetics and art. Unlike traditional philosophers who primarily focus on "high art," David has expanded the boundaries of aesthetics to include overlooked yet culturally significant areas such as sports, ventriloquism, and jazz music...

In this enriching episode, I sit down with Mohan Matthen, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Toronto and an esteemed figure in contemporary philosophy of perception, aesthetics, and the nature of time. Our conversation takes us from his personal journey transitioning from mathematics and physics into philosophy, highlighting his unique cross-disciplinary approach and his deep ex...

In this enlightening episode, I speak with Bence Nanay, Professor of Philosophy and BOF Research Professor at the University of Antwerp, and Director of the Centre for Philosophical Psychology. Bence shares his intriguing journey from film criticism to philosophy, highlighting his interest in understanding why we appreciate certain artworks and not others, and how our perceptual systems shape our...

In this profound conversation with philosopher Rachael Wiseman, I dive deep into the intricate worlds of imagination, fantasy, and human understanding. Drawing from the philosophical insights of Iris Murdoch, we explore a transformative way of perceiving ourselves and others that goes beyond our ego-driven fantasies. Wiseman introduces a compelling distinction between fantasy, our tendency to proj...

In this deeply introspective conversation, I dive into the profound world of artistic expression with Richard Eldridge, a distinguished philosopher who challenges our understanding of art, creativity, and human experience. We explore the rich historical origins of art, tracing its roots from religious rituals to modern creative practices, and unpack the complex ways art helps us understand ourselv...

In this conversation, I explore the fascinating world of collective film experience with Julian Hanich, a professor of film studies at the University of Groningen who specializes in the emotional and social dimensions of cinema. We dive deep into what Hanich calls the "paradox of pleasurable fear," why we seek out emotions in movie theaters that we'd normally avoid in real life, and...

In this conversation, I explore the thorny question of artistic value with philosopher James Young from the University of Victoria, who makes a compelling case that we can indeed distinguish between great art and mere entertainment. Young argues that while we may no longer have a coherent definition of what constitutes "art" in our post-conceptual, post-abstract world, we can still meani...

In this conversation, I explore the profound nature of aesthetic experience with philosopher James Shelley, who argues that beauty represents a fundamental value that cannot and should not be reduced to mere pleasure or utility. We begin with his transformative childhood encounter with classical music an experience so vast and mysterious that it felt larger than the world he knew and discuss how t...

In this conversation, I explore the fascinating intersection of fiction, emotion, and ethics with philosopher Derek Matravers from the Open University and Cambridge. We begin by discussing how The Great Gatsby fundamentally changed his relationship with literature through its complex narrative structure and multiple perspectives, before diving into one of philosophy's most puzzling questions:...

In this conversation, I sit down with 93-year-old philosopher Dr. Arnold Berleant, Professor Emeritus at Long Island University and one of the most influential voices in contemporary aesthetics. We dive deep into his revolutionary concept of "aesthetic engagement" – a radical departure from traditional art appreciation that challenges Kant's classical notion of "disinterested co...

In this solo reflection, I wrestle with one of the deepest questions I've encountered—not just on this podcast, but in my life: Why should humanity continue at all? What started as pre-travel anxiety before a flight to Peru led me to reflect on the season’s central thread. Throughout Season 8, I’ve spoken with anthropologists, philosophers, educators, and spiritual thinkers, asking them one qu...

In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Jessica Thompson, a paleoanthropologist whose work explores the evolution of early humans and the environments that shaped them. We began our conversation by grounding ourselves in the vast timescales of human evolution—discussing milestones like upright walking, brain expansion, and the emergence of symbolic behavior. Jessica’s ability to...

In this episode, I talk with David Raichlen, an evolutionary anthropologist whose research explores the intersection of movement, brain health, and human evolution. We unpack how our species’ deep history of physical activity from hunting and foraging to long-distance migration has shaped the structure and function of our brains. David walks us through his findings on why aerobic exercise is so st...

In this conversation with Dr. Sachi Edwards, we dive deep into the complexities of how religion shows up seen and unseen in education systems, particularly in the United States. Sachi, a lecturer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, walks us through the journey that led her to explore religious diversity, from her early experiences in college to her frustration with how religious topics are ofte...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. SJ Beard, a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, to explore the ethical, philosophical, and deeply human questions behind our most pressing global threats. We begin with SJ’s journey from philosophy to public policy and how a thought experiment called "The Repugnant Conclusion" unexpectedly shaped their career. Fr...

In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Currie, Associate Professor at the University of Exeter, whose work explores the philosophy of historical sciences like paleontology and geology. We dive into what it means to "know" something, particularly when our evidence from the deep past is fragmentary and seemingly impoverished. Adrian unpacks how paleontologists can create rich narratives a...

In this episode, I sit down with Anders Sandberg, a researcher, futurist, and transhumanist, to explore the evolving nature of humanity and the future we're actively creating. We dive into how Anders' early curiosity led him into the world of science fiction, philosophy, and long-term future studies, and how what some might call "academic ADHD" actually became a strength in a wor...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Patrick McNamara, a pioneering neuroscientist studying the intersection of religion, mystical experience, and the human brain. We start with the question of why something as central to human history and culture as religion hasn’t traditionally been studied through a scientific lens—and what happens when it is. Patrick walks me through how religious rituals engage...

What can ancient tools, symbols, and writing systems tell us about the evolution of human thought? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Karenleigh A. Overmann, a cognitive archaeologist, to explore how our ancestors' interactions with the material world fundamentally shaped the way we think. From the earliest stone tools to the development of writing, we discuss how changes in human behavior r...

In this episode, I sit down with Tanya Keggin to explore her incredible transformation from lawyer to artist and the deep self-reflection that led her there. She shares how societal expectations and the pursuit of success once kept her in the legal profession, despite her underlying passion for creativity. We discuss the fears that held her back—fear of failure, of judgment, of creating something...

In this episode, I share a deeply personal journey that kicked off my 2025 with an unexpected challenge and plenty of travel adventures. While sitting at a familiar Starbucks in Pattaya, Thailand, I struck up a conversation with a fascinating Canadian businessman that lasted for hours. Our dialogue—filled with reflections on life, the fear of not fully living, and the pursuit of passion—ignited an...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Celine Benoit, an assistant professor in sociology at the University of Nottingham, to discuss a topic that often gets overlooked how children themselves perceive education, autonomy, and the systems designed for their growth. We dive into the sociological constructs of childhood, exploring how cultural, historical, and societal norms shape our understanding of...