With so many students unable to start their studies in person this fall, "back to school" is somewhat of a misnomer. But the abnormality of this year makes it the perfect time to re-evaluate what we think school is and should be. So for September, we present to you a collection of past episodes questioning the concept, value, and role of education. Click the pencils and pens above to listen!
Holly J. McDede is the criminal justice reporter for KALW public radio in San Francisco. She studied Creative Writing and Literature at the University of East Anglia in Norfolk, England, where she wrote her dissertation on Don Quixote and a radio drama about public radio. She also works as an editor and producer at KCBS radio, sometimes very late at night when it’s difficult not to ponder life’s existential questions.
October is upon us. Sightings of ghouls, ghosts, vampires, and monsters are now commonplace. Orange and black decorations appear in every shop window as a reminder that it's time to hunt for costumes and bite-sized candy. Is Halloween just another excuse for commercialism? Or is there something more we can glean from this festival with roots in the ancient Celtic ritual marking the start of the cold, dark season associated with death? For this month's From the Archive, we've gathered a collection of Halloween-related episodes to help you ponder the deeper side of this spooky, sugar-laden day. Click the Jack-o-lanterns above to see the shows we selected!
June is Pride Month, and here in San Francisco we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Pride Parade. As most states are slowly emerging from a months-long lockdown, and large gatherings, such as parades, are still not permitted, we decided to share some past episodes that explore LGBTQI issues. It's our way of celebrating pride, and we hope you'll join us. Click the rainbow above to start listening!
The week of April 7 we re-broadcast our 2016 program with John Pollack, author of The Pun Also Rises: How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More Than Some Antics. It's fair to say that puns (and humor in general) loom large in our work here at Philosophy Talk, whether delivered off the cuff or to make deeper points about language and (mis)understanding. The Philosophers have also stepped back a handful of times to question their assumptions about what makes something funny, so we've pulled those episodes from the archive for some National Humor Month listening that might just leave you in stitches. Click the smiles above to see the episodes we have in store for you!
2020 was a year of racial reckoning in America unlike anything we'd seen since the 1960s. So in honor of this year's Black History Month, we're highlighting programs that question our assumptions about Black history, politics, and culture. Click the image above for a varied selection of relevant episodes, and get ready to think!
We don't think anyone can argue with us when we assert that 2020 has been a difficult year. But now that it's drawing to a close, we're more than ready to start feeling good! So grab your favorite warm beverage, and click the smiley face above to enjoy a selection of archived episodes about love and happiness.
