Rich runs the Dare to Fail improv school and is author of Improv Made Easier. He joins Mark and Mary to discuss contexts of failure, failing to meet your goals vs. "objective failure," how to react in an improv scene to some topic that's too offensive for you, graveyard humor vs. reverence. Featuring Steaks You Deserve, Robo-Carson, cancer torture, interactive cemetery, Sounds … [Read more...] about PvI#109: Choose Your Own Failure w/ Rich Baker
Ethics
PvI#100: Maximizing Turtle Revenue w/ Tim Sniffen and Anthony LeBlanc
It's our season finale, and the end of Bill's regular participation on the show. You may wish to weep, but let your tears be of joy as well as reminiscence. We are re-joined by two of our favorite improv guests for a Team Play episode to talk ship of Theseus, philosophy vs. mythology vs. video games, Renaissance contemporaries, long-lived turtles, "realist" morality, … [Read more...] about PvI#100: Maximizing Turtle Revenue w/ Tim Sniffen and Anthony LeBlanc
PvI#92: Postale au Naturale w/ Greg McBrayer
Greg teaches philosophy (and is Interim Provost) at Ashland, loves Xenophon, and runs a podcast. We reflect on the dangers of radon and other "natural" things. How might one of our government agencies become more natural, and would we want that? Are fart jokes the most naturally funny kind? Then, Greg the trucker visits Empty Street and embezzles dead mules. Listen to The … [Read more...] about PvI#92: Postale au Naturale w/ Greg McBrayer
PvI#89: Improv 4 Change w/ Shawn and Aaron from srsly wrong
Mark and Bill are joined by two north-of-the-border podcasters, Shawn Vulliez and Aaron Moritz, who incorporate both improv and philosophy in their dirty leftist podcast. We simulate conversation as competing knowers-of-the-good-life and talk about using improv for political purposes. Note that this was recorded back in December when we were in the thick of Luigi Mangione … [Read more...] about PvI#89: Improv 4 Change w/ Shawn and Aaron from srsly wrong
PvI#84: Interesting? w/ Lorraine Besser
Lorraine teaches at Middlebury college and has recently written The Art of the Interesting: What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It. How does "the interesting" fit into human flourishing? How do we know when some attractive stimulation is really in our interest and really good? Can we find something interesting even the most tedious, … [Read more...] about PvI#84: Interesting? w/ Lorraine Besser
PvI#75: The Alien Literally Has Two Faces w/ Bran Peacock
The Hitchhikers and Appetizers co-host joins Mark and Bill to talk about cultural relativism. We talk about foreign-ness, what parts of ethics seem to apply to all cultures, the Museum of Soup, pushing back tactfully in a scene, and more. In my culture, listening to this episode while in a work meeting is polite. Everything you want to know about the torturer … [Read more...] about PvI#75: The Alien Literally Has Two Faces w/ Bran Peacock
PvI#73: Family Whêtspät w/ Colleen Doyle
The co-host of the Those Who Aunt podcast joins Mark and Bill to joke about the family as the fundamental political unit and its special place in ethics. On the flip side, what questions should you ask yourself about your character at the start of a scene? Plus, Jan. 6, Platonic eugenics, transcending physical desire, a story that doesn't quite get started, a military … [Read more...] about PvI#73: Family Whêtspät w/ Colleen Doyle
PvI#71: 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. You can watch video for this episode, including all our post-game chatting, all ad-free, just by visiting our Patreon page; you need not subscribe. The episode image was snatched from here. Hear … [Read more...] about PvI#71: The Cranio-Fascism Exchange
PvI#70: 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? For much more Kierkegaard, see our series on The Partially Examined … [Read more...] about PvI#70: Paramilitary Existentialism w/ Jonny Thomson
PvI#67: 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. … [Read more...] about PvI#67: Consent to Improv w/ Sukaina Hirji
PvI#59: Yes, and Technological Dystopia w/ Anthony LeBlanc
How does new technology affect ethics? Anthony (who is on strike, but that doesn't apply to improv) is an improviser with a computer science degree who now coaches kid TV actors. We talk personal identity, transhumanism, genetic engineering, AI, organizational ethics, Black Mirror, Beastars, and transporter virginity. Listen to more transporter talk on The Partially Examined … [Read more...] about PvI#59: Yes, and Technological Dystopia w/ Anthony LeBlanc
PvI#57: Happier Cancer w/ Monica McCarthy
Watch this episode as a video. This includes the full post-game segment, so you can see what you're missing by not being a supporter to this podcast. Don't you think it's time you became one? Monica is an actor and writer who ran a live-on-stage philosophy podcast called The Happier Hour, and so naturally we talk about happiness, or flourishing (eudaimonia). Can babies … [Read more...] about PvI#57: Happier Cancer w/ Monica McCarthy
PvI#52: Elegant Stoicism w/ Tanner Campbell
Tanner runs the popular daily podcast Practical Stoicism, so of course we brought him on to talk about on-board flight services and attitudes among retail service workers. Seriously, this is one of the most beefy philosophical discussions (about Stoicism and virtue, naturally) we've had on the show. Follow Tanner @stoicismtanner. Listen to PEL's episodes on Stoicism … [Read more...] about PvI#52: Elegant Stoicism w/ Tanner Campbell
PvI#50: Pro Tips w/ Marla Cáceres
Marla is an improviser from the Whirled News Tonight iO Theater show. We talk about obeying proper forms of behavior and drawing improv inspiration from outside sources. Plus, a thruple blind date and BBQ chain of custody. And introducing a new character, Lil' Confucius. Image from here. Follow Marla @MarlaCaceres and @marlacaceres. Hear more PvI. Support the … [Read more...] about PvI#50: Pro Tips w/ Marla Cáceres
PvI#41: Situatedness in Three Persons w/ Sarah Shockey
What is personhood? How can a group best collaboratively invent a scene? Sarah is a host of Marty and Sarah Love Wrestling and a repeat guest on Hello From the Magic Tavern. We fit in THREE scenes, some discussion of the various layers of what it is for something to be (or not be) person, and some musings about the weather and such. Follow us @sarahjoyshockey, @btarnett, and … [Read more...] about PvI#41: Situatedness in Three Persons w/ Sarah Shockey
PvI#40: Rules and Voices with Stephen West (Philosophize This!)
Stephen West from the juggernaut Philosophize This! podcast joins Mark and Bill to learn to say no and talk about reason vs. emotion in grounding ethics. What do the voices in your head (or at your lunch table) say to you? The image came from this site, somehow depicting what went on in both of our improv scenes here. Audio edited by Tyler Hislop. Hear more PvI. … [Read more...] about PvI#40: Rules and Voices with Stephen West (Philosophize This!)
PvI#36: Authentic Authenticity w/ Skye Cleary
Skye teaches and Columbia and the City University of New York, and she recently published How to Be Authentic: Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfillment. She joins Mark and Bill to talk about what authenticity might mean for an existentialist, how it relates to truth, responsibility, and picking a theme for your birthday party. For more on this ladder of … [Read more...] about PvI#36: Authentic Authenticity w/ Skye Cleary
PvI#33: Virtuous Garbage Director w/ Jack Newell
Bill is a sad but steadfast street sweeper. Mark has secret character traits. Filmmaker Jack C. Newell is our inaugural non-philosopher, non-improviser guest, and his film knowledge leads to us talking about ethics in terms of film tropes plus some meta-historical-reenactment. Learn more about Jack's (non-garbage!) work at jackcnewell.com. Image by The Children of Arendal. … [Read more...] about PvI#33: Virtuous Garbage Director w/ Jack Newell
PvI#22: Punishment w/ Noah Gregoropoulos
There's trouble at the work site! There are secret shifts of emotion going on. Do they make sense? Later, a guy's car is blocking a driveway. Does he deserve the electric chair, or a beer? It depends on your theory of punishment. Ep. art cribbed from a Psychology Today article. Audio editing by Tyler Hislop at Pixelbox Media. Hear more PvI. Support the podcast to get … [Read more...] about PvI#22: Punishment w/ Noah Gregoropoulos
PvI#20: The “Other” Story w/ Jenny Hansen
What is "othering"? Why did Bill get such a bad grade? Is it because of his feather quill pen? Don't miss our anti-vaxxer drama! This is our first episode with a real philosophy professor on it, and we get to talk about her experience as an academic as it relates to this most socially relevant philosophical topic. Listen to Jenny talk in more depth with Mark and co. on The … [Read more...] about PvI#20: The “Other” Story w/ Jenny Hansen
PvI#11: The Trolley Opportunity
Bill gets to have the power of live and death, with a bit of moral luck. Is he enthused? Image found on twitter by a kid told to draw a fruit salad. Audio editing by Tyler Hislop. Hear more PvI. Support the podcast to get bonus stuff and good karma! Sponsor: Learn about St. John's college at sjc.edu/improv. … [Read more...] about PvI#11: The Trolley Opportunity
PvI#9: Keepin’ It Super Real
Why is lying wrong? Scene conceptions clash. It is hard to lie in a pretend scene, because the pretending is already a lie. You can lie inside-out or outside-in. The relevant PEL episode to find out about Kant on lying is #10. Image cribbed from this article. Just look at that goddamned liar in the middle of the picture His deceit is captured perfectly! Audio editing … [Read more...] about PvI#9: Keepin’ It Super Real
PvI#8: Here Ought to Be Dragons
Mark and Bill do impressions of people you don't know. The is-ought distinction is bravely explored. Does pretending to be cavemen help? Magic business is afoot. Childhood speaks. We've now passed the point where the post-game discussion is just included with the episode here. If you want to hear our reflections on the episodes going forward and our recommendations for other … [Read more...] about PvI#8: Here Ought to Be Dragons
PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance
Bill starts us with a scene: Behold the Doctor's Office, where anything can happen, and often DOES. Is this whole thing a bad idea? Do you think you're BETTER than this idea? Do you? If you need to tell yourself that, that's OK. In the post-game, we talk a little about Stoicism (listen to PEL about it, ego issues, and ephemeral art. Our recommendations include: Bobby Huff … [Read more...] about PvI#3: Equality of Ignorance
PvI#1: We Have Always Already Been Improvising
The gauntlet has been thrown. In this first episode, Mark Linsenmayer and Bill Arnett channel their respective muses to try to enlighten each other about something having to do with ethics on the one hand and the continuity of improvisation with regular life on the other. Which lesson shall produce the most profound effect? Does this format make any sense at all? As a … [Read more...] about PvI#1: We Have Always Already Been Improvising