Hotel Bar Sessions

The central debate this week? Whether interpretation goes “all the way down.” Leigh stakes out a position, arguing that even the simplest acts of clarification are interpretive performances grounded in systems of meaning. Talia, donning her analytic hat, pushes back hard—insisting that certain discursive acts, like clarifications and first-person avowals of emotional states, are distinct from interpretation and must retain ethical authority, especially in politically fraught times. Rick mediates, drawing on hermeneutics and pragmatism to suggest that truth itself is an emergent product of interpretation, not a pre-existing ideal.What results is one of the most spirited episodes yet—complete with sharp disagreements, honest reflection, and even a break to cool off before the bartender makes final call!Whether you side with “everything is interpretation” or insist on preserving non-interpretive discursive acts, this episode will leave you questioning what it means to make sense of anything. Grab a drink and buckle up—this is the kind of philosophical brawl you don't want to miss!Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/interpretation-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Is it time to panic? In this episode, we invite rhetorician Ira Allen to the bar to explore the possibility that, yes, it might be—and that panic isn't just an irrational breakdown but a vital, even necessary, affective response to the ongoing collapse we're all living through. Allen's recent book Panic! Now: Tools for Humanizing in an Age of Staggered Collapse challenges the neoliberal injunction to “stay calm” and instead asks what might be made possible if we allowed ourselves to feel—and live with—our panic.Together with co-hosts Leigh Johnson, Talia Bettcher, and Rick Lee, Allen traces how the overlapping crises of climate change, late capitalism, and colonial legacies (what he dubs the "CaCaCo assemblage") have produced a collective emotional numbness, even as our world becomes increasingly uninhabitable. The conversation ranges from the epistemic realism of panic, to historical insights on military discipline, to a speculative politics of reorganization rooted in solidarity, care, and a radical openness to the more-than-human world.Equal parts sober analysis and mischievous wordplay (yes, CaCaCo is a "shit company"), this episode offers listeners a profound reframing of emotional collapse not as weakness, but as a portal to collective possibility. Whether you're already living in the slow burn of existential dread or just now starting to smell the smoke, you won't want to miss this disarmingly hopeful invitation to “panic wisely.”Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/panic-now-with-ira-allen-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

How can we talk, or think, about "private parts" in a philosophical way?In this provocative and unexpectedly tender episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, co-hosts Leigh M. Johnson, Rick Lee, and Talia Mae Bettcher unpack the philosophical complexities of “private parts.” What starts as a playful premise quickly becomes a deep exploration of bodily privacy, modesty, and the moral and social codes that govern our most intimate physical boundaries. Drawing from cultural history, personal anecdotes, and ethical theory, the hosts ask why some body parts are marked as “private,” what makes them morally charged, and why euphemisms often stand in for anatomical accuracy in public discourse.The conversation traverses the gendered policing of exposure, the politics of public breastfeeding, the different textures of shame and vulnerability, and the legal and ideological battles over trans access to public bathrooms. Talia introduces a key distinction between boundary transgression and boundary traversal—highlighting how intimacy requires consented crossings of private lines, while violations mark moral failure. Leigh and Rick connect these questions to broader cultural scripts of modesty and the performance of decency, noting how certain bodies—especially trans, fat, Black, and disabled bodies—are denied privacy altogether.As the episode unfolds, the hosts reflect on how “private parts” are not just physical zones, but sites of personal storytelling, social construction, and erotic creativity. Drawing on insights from queer and trans subcultures, the trio explores the ways that intimacy, vulnerability, and even pleasure are shaped by the boundaries we erect and the ones we dare to cross. What makes a body part private, they ask, and what possibilities for connection—ethical, emotional, political—open up when we reimagine the limits of privacy itself?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/private-parts-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Can the University be saved? Should it be saved? In this sobering and timely episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, co-hosts Leigh M. Johnson, Rick Lee, and Talia Mae Bettcher tackle the existential crisis facing higher education in the U.S. and beyond. Nothing is off limits in this conversation!  From the increasing defunding of universities to their alignment with neoliberal capitalism, we're looking at the deeper values and societal roles that universities are meant to serve—and how far many institutions have strayed from that mission.  The metastasis of administrative bloat. The erosion of shared governance. The complicity of universities in sketchy politics and business. It's all on the table. Talia laments the pressure to sell philosophy as a vocational asset;  Rick draws a poignant line from medieval liberal arts education to today's hyper-quantified outcomes-based models;  Leigh reminds us that universities are increasingly inaccessible, both financially and ideologically, especially for those who have been sold college as the “next step” with little clarity on its value or purpose. All three of our hosts are also here for a critique of recent state interventions in University operations, of course, particularly those tied to the elimination of DEI programs and the suppression of student protest. In a climate where both the left and right are disillusioned with Higher Ed, we're asking the hard questions: Is the university still worth saving? And if so, what would it take to rebuild it from the inside out? From indictments of NCAA excess to calls for renewed commitment to general education and moral formation, this episode dares to imagine what universities should be—and who they're really for.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/the-future-of-the-university-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, your favorite philosophical trio—Leigh Johnson, Rick Lee, and Talia Bettcher—dive headfirst into the squirmy, complicated world of cringe. From wedding speeches gone wrong to tone-deaf icebreaker confessions, they unpack the peculiar affective cocktail we experience when someone's self-presentation dramatically misfires. Cringe isn't just about secondhand embarrassment—it's a visceral, full-body response that blends aesthetic, moral, and even ontological dissonance.Leigh kicks off the discussion by proposing that cringe moments represent aesthetic failures that are rarely just personal—they feel universal. Drawing on Kant, Foucault, Butler, and even Kierkegaard, the hosts unpack how cringe exposes the fragile choreography of our social performances. Talia and Rick help flesh out how laughter at cringe can be a nervous coping mechanism, an act of social policing, or even a weird kind of solidarity. Whether it's Succession's Kendall Roy, real-life icebreaker disasters, or awkward philosophical conference moments, they ask what makes cringe feel so charged—and sometimes so politically consequential.Ultimately, this episode suggests that cringe is a kind of social flare-up: a breakdown in dialogical flow, a misfire in performance, a moment when norms wobble and the audience winces. But it's also a space for critique. Who gets to decide what's cringe and why? Is labeling something as cringe always an act of control, or can it sometimes challenge the boundaries of the “we” who makes those rules? This episode may be uncomfortable, but it'll definitely leave you thinking—and maybe cringing at your past self just a little less harshly.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/cringe-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sean Kirkland unpacks living on the edge of "was" and "not yet."What if time isn't just something we move through—but something that shapes us, wounds us, and makes us who we are? In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Leigh and Rick sit down with philosopher Sean D. Kirkland (DePaul University), author of Aristotle and Tragic Temporality, to talk about what Aristotle can teach us about the tragic structure of human life. Together, they explore how ancient philosophy—and especially tragedy—reveals the limits of control, the inevitability of error, and the complicated beauty of living in a time that's never fully ours.Expect reflections on fate, failure, and final causes, plus spirited detours into protest songs, pandemic philosophy students, and why Aristotle might be more existential than you think. If you've ever felt the weight of trying to do the right thing while knowing you might be wrong, this one's for you.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/tragic-temporality-with-sean-kirkland-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this season-opening episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Rick Lee and Leigh Johnson welcome new co-host Talia Mae Bettcher, a leading voice in trans philosophy and feminist theory, to dive into the deceptively simple but persistently perplexing question: What is philosophy?This wide-ranging conversation explores whether philosophy is defined by its methods (argument, critique, concept creation), its outcomes (or lack thereof), or the scenes and communities in which it takes place. Along the way, the hosts discuss credentialism in academia, gatekeeping in the discipline, and how philosophy might survive outside the university.Drawing on thinkers like Graham Priest, Gilles Deleuze, Wittgenstein, Richard Rorty, Kristie Dotson, and Pierre Hadot, the trio refuse to close the question. Instead, they ask: Can philosophy remain meaningful in a world that demands clear outcomes and fixed definitions? Is staying with the question itself the real task?Whether you're a seasoned philosopher or new to the field, this episode invites you into an ongoing, unfinished conversation—over drinks, at the bar, where the real philosophy happens.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/what-is-philosophy-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What can Frantz Fanon and Friedrich Nietzsche teach us about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict?[NOTE: This episode originally aired on October 11, 2024.]This week, we're joined by Zahi Zalloua (Whitman College) to discuss the final chapter of his most recent book The Politics of the Wretched: Race, Reason, and Ressentiment (Bloomsbury, 2024)-- entitled "Zionist ressentiment, the Left, and the Palestinian Question"-- which offers a fresh lens through which to understand the complex affects and power dynamics that continue to fuel this ongoing struggle by focusing on what 19th C. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche called ressentiment—a deep-seated feeling of injustice and grievance.Zalloua unpacks how a collective sense of moral outrage on the part of Zionists has been deployed to shield Israel from criticism by accusing pro-Palestinian advocates, and the Left more generally, of a “new anti-Semitism.” He contrasts this with Palestinian ressentiment, which he frames as a legitimate response to the ongoing reality of settler-colonialism and displacement. His work both critiques the complicity of liberal Zionism in maintaining the status quo and challenges us to reframe the way we understand both Zionist and Palestinian anger.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-155-the-palestinian-question-with-zahi-zalloua-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The HBS co-hosts learn why it's not just about pronouns.[This episode originally aired in November 2023.]In recent years, society has witnessed a seismic significant shift in our understanding of gender. For some, the binary notion of gender, once seen as immutable and fixed, has given way to a more inclusive and fluid understanding of identity… a transformation that has brought to the forefront the lived experiences of transgender individuals, who have long grappled with issues of self-identity, societal acceptance, and the philosophical underpinnings of gender itself.For others, the emergence of trans issues and trans people has motivated a passionate and often violent kind of re-entrenchment. The refusal of trans recognition and trans rights, for those on the political right, is not just a matter of attitudinal disposition or theory, but actual legislation.Transgender individuals often find themselves at the intersection of various philosophical disciplines, from ethics to epistemology and metaphysics. Questions about the moral obligations society owes to its transgender members, the authenticity of one's gender identity, and the implications of gender fluidity for our understanding of reality are just a few areas in which trans philosophers have made important contributions in the past several decades. Philosophy can also be blamed—or credited, depending on one's views—with the rise and influence of trans-exclusionary radical feminists, or TERFs, whose rhetoric and views sharply divides not only philosophy Twitter, but the discipline itself.But discussions about trans philosophy extends beyond academia into the realm of social justice and activism. Trans issues encompass a wide range of concerns, including healthcare access, legal recognition, and the protection of civil and human rights. These practical considerations are deeply rooted in philosophical discussions not only about sex and gender, but also about fairness, equality, and the social contract, adding an urgent and concrete dimension to the work of people like our guest today, Talia Mae Bettcher (California State University, Los Angeles), author of the 2019 essay "What is Trans Philosophy?".Full episode notes at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-117-trans-philosophy-with-talia-mae-bettcher-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotebarsessions!Follow us on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  , on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!      

Who, if anyone, is speaking truth to power these days?In the Season 12 finale of Hotel Bar Sessions, we take a deep dive into Michel Foucault's late lectures on parrhesia, the ancient Greek concept of "fearless speech." But don't be fooled—this isn't a dusty historical exercise. With campuses erupting in protest, free speech weaponized by the powerful, and truth-tellers increasingly under threat, parrhesia has never felt more urgent. What does it mean to speak truth to power today—and who is still brave enough to do it?The HBS co-hosts unpack Foucault's insights with characteristic wit and depth, drawing connections from Socrates to student protestors, from trans youth testifying in state legislatures to comedians canceled by the White House Correspondents' Association. Is free speech still possible in a fractured political landscape? Can parrhesia survive in an age of rhetorical manipulation and moral cowardice? And what's the difference between being “canceled” and actually being in danger?This episode doesn't just explain Foucault's concept of parrhesia—it performs it. If you've ever wondered whether truth-telling still matters in a time of disinformation, performative politics, and rising authoritarianism, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Tune in for our Season 12 send-off, and stick around to find out who we believe the real parrhesiastes are today.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-177-totalitarianism-with-peg-birmingham-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Do universals “exist”? Are they real? And why are we talking about porcupines so much?!In this episode, Leigh, Rick, and Devonya dive headfirst into one of philosophy's oldest and knottiest questions: Is “porcupine-ness” a real thing, or just a name we slap on pointy animals?Starting with the simple question of what makes a beer a beer (and not a Long Island iced tea), this wide-ranging conversation traces the debate from Plato and Aristotle to TikTok documentaries, Sally Haslanger, and Star Trek's Borg. Along the way, the hosts wrestle with the metaphysical status of categories like “human” and “race,” the political risks and rewards of strategic essentialism, and why it might matter that something can be real even if it doesn't exist.Whether you're a dyed-in-the-wool realist, a card-carrying nominalist, or just someone who likes their drinks served correctly, this episode offers an illuminating, and at times hilariously heated, exploration of how we classify the world—and why it matters.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-179-are-universals-real/-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Can democracy be saved from totalitarianism? In this episode, the co-hosts are joined by political theorist Dr. Peg Birmingham (DePaul University) for an urgent discussion on the topic of totalitarianism. Starting with a critique of what counts as “the people” in democratic systems, our conversation unpacks the entanglement of nationalism and racism, the dangerous erosion of the rule of law, and the troubling resurgence of executive overreach in the United States.Drawing from theorists like Hannah Arendt and Carl Schmitt, we unpack how nationalistic democracies easily pivot toward authoritarian structures—and why naming, resisting, and reimagining democracy remains critical in this moment of global precarity.We also detail the signs of creeping totalitarianism, including terror tactics, de-nationalization, and the centralization of political power, while also reflecting on possibilities for resistance. What can be salvaged from democracy when the demos itself is fractured? What role can listening, ridicule, and justice-oriented solidarity play in resisting fascist creep?Birmingham emphasizes the need for collective action rooted in material justice and care for the most vulnerable, while co-hosts Leigh, Rick, and Devonya wrestle with how to reignite meaningful political opposition and build new coalitions of resistance. This powerful conversation challenges listeners to reckon with our political present and what might still be possible within it.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-177-totalitarianism-with-peg-birmingham-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Carlos Amador on Latin American aesthetics, precarity, and what it means to be completely f*cked. In this episode, the HBS crew welcomes Carlos Amador—Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature at the University at Buffalo SUNY—for a raw and wide-ranging conversation about lo jodido: the aesthetic, political, and material condition of being well and truly fucked. Drawing on Latin American literature and film, Amador introduces lo jodido not just as a descriptor for individual suffering, but as a cross-cultural, translatable, and recognizable structure of feeling rooted in precarity, immobility, and disillusionment with liberal democratic promises. Alongside lo jodido, he introduces two other categories—el roto and lo huachafo—to map a terrain of contemporary exhaustion and survival.Drawing on Frantz Fanon's articulation of "the wretched of the earth," we dig into how "the fucked" functions not merely as a subject position, but also a way of seeing, feeling, and naming what seems unlivable. Topics include cruel optimism, abjection, the cultural logic of fascism, and whether political possibility requires hope at all. In the end, we ask: what does it mean to live with no outside to capital? And can the category of the fucked help us understand not only where we are, but what might still be possible?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-178-el-roto-lo-huachafo-lo-jodido-with-carlos-amador-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

This week, we're pulling up a seat at the intersection of faith, governance, and democracy as we take on the Establishment Clause—that little First Amendment provision that's supposed to keep church and state in their own lanes. But is that how it's really playing out?Leigh, Rick, and Devonya dig into the history and contemporary implications of the separation of church and state, from school prayer to Supreme Court decisions, faith-based government offices, and religious encroachments on reproductive rights. We tackle the tension between private belief and public reason, the way religious institutions have both challenged and reinforced state power, and whether the U.S. is creeping toward a civic religion of its own.Along the way, we take detours through Southern Bible Belt culture, the moral status of fetuses, and even a surprise debate over whether capybaras are too cute to eat. (Spoiler: they are.)As always, we're serving up straight shots of wisdom, no divine intervention required.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-175-the-establishment-clause-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Who's afraid of DEI? And why?Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives have become institutional mainstays in corporate and academic settings—but they are currently under attack. In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Leigh and Devonya sit down with Freedom Rider and retired Associate Professor of History at Boston College, Paul Breines, to reflect on the evolution of social justice movements from the civil rights struggles of the 1960s to today's embattled DEIA programs. How did a radical movement for racial justice morph into bureaucratic diversity training? And how should we understand the backlash against DEIA as part of a longer history of reactionary politics?Is what we're seeing in today's political climate a Second Reconstruction or a Second Redemption? The hosts discuss the ideological shifts that have transformed how both the left and right frame issues of race, gender, sexuality, ability, and inclusion—asking whether the language of justice has been co-opted by those seeking to dismantle it. From the Freedom Rides to contemporary campus activism, we dig into what has changed, what remains the same, and whether today's movements need a more radical edge. What kind of activism does this moment demand?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-175-dei-then-and-now-with-paul-breines-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

When does decorum keep us civil-- and when does it keep us silent?From courtroom etiquette to the Oval Office, from department meetings to NFL sidelines, decorum shapes our public interactions—but who gets to decide what counts as “proper” behavior? In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Rick, Leigh, and Devonya take on the contested role of decorum in social and political life. Is it a necessary lubricant for peaceful coexistence, or a tool for policing and silencing dissent?The hosts explore decorum's history, its role in institutions like Congress and the courts, and its power to both reinforce and resist social hierarchies. From Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest to Zelensky's wartime wardrobe, the conversation turns to moments when violating expectations becomes an act of defiance. Does focusing on breaches of decorum distract from deeper moral and political failures? And if we abandon the language of decorum, what do we lose—or gain?With their signature mix of philosophical insight and barroom banter, the hosts wrestle with the real stakes of politeness, propriety, and protest.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-174-decorum-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Who gets to decide who we are?In this episode, Rick Lee and Devonya Havis pull up a chair with philosopher and political theorist Falguni Sheth to talk about the ways identity is shaped, claimed, and—more often than not—forced upon us. From census categories and legal definitions to personal choices and political struggles, they dig into the tensions between how we see ourselves and how we're seen by others. What does it mean to be recognized—or misrecognized—by the state? How do institutions decide which identities “fit” and which ones have to be managed, disciplined, or erased? And when does refusing to conform become its own form of power?With insights from Sheth's work on race, law, and political power, this conversation moves between philosophy, history, and the headlines of today. The hosts talk about the state's obsession with controlling identity, from laws targeting Muslim women to the racial bias baked into facial recognition software. But they also ask whether there's room for resistance—whether refusing to be easily categorized might be a way to push back. By the time last call rolls around, they're raising a glass to the troublemakers, the misfits, and the ones who just won't play by the rules.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-173-unruly-identity-with-falguni-sheth-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

When nothing is clear, how do we decide?Many people prefer their morality to be straightforward—right or wrong, good or bad, clear as day. But more often than not, human life is a mess of contradictions, competing values, and gray areas. In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Rick, Leigh, and Devonya wade into the murky waters of ambiguity—what it means, how we experience it, and why we're often so uncomfortable with it. From moral dilemmas and political rhetoric to aesthetics and queer theory, the hosts explore how ambiguity can be both a site of oppression and a tool of resistance.Is ambiguity a lack of knowledge, or does it open the door for deeper understanding? How does power exploit uncertainty to maintain control? And why do we crave clarity in some parts of life but celebrate ambiguity in art, music, and literature? With philosophical insight, a dash of humor, and a deep appreciation for the chaotic bartender that is moral life, the hosts wrestle with the question: Can we ever truly escape ambiguity—or do we just have to learn to live with it?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-172-ambiguity-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Can anyone be trusted anymore?Trust is the glue that holds our social world together, yet it's one of the most fragile bonds we have. In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Rick, Leigh, and Devonya dive into the complexities of trust—what it means, how it functions, and why it's so easy to break but so difficult to restore. From everyday acts of trust, like believing the grocery store clerk's name tag, to the deep-seated political crisis of trust in institutions and democracy, the hosts explore trust as an epistemic, moral, and affective structure that shapes our relationships. Along the way, they discuss Derrida's take on truth-telling, the role of consistency and shared values, and why mistrust often seems more apparent than trust itself.But what happens when trust is shattered—whether between friends, citizens and their government, or even entire political factions? The conversation takes a sobering turn toward our current crisis of trust, examining how unmoored we feel when institutions, democratic processes, and even long-standing social contracts seem to be unraveling. Is trust something we can rebuild, or are we slipping toward a Hobbesian world of raw power? With humor, philosophical insight, and a healthy dose of frustration, the hosts wrestle with the question: how do we live together well when trust is in such short supply?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-171-trust-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Who gets to judge right and wrong? And on what grounds?In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Leigh, Rick, and Devonya talk about judgment—what it is, when we need it, and whether it's a skill or just a faculty of reason. They start with Aristotle's distinction between knowledge and judgment, move through Kant's ideas about moral and aesthetic judgment, and consider how judgment functions in ethical reasoning, political life, and even artificial intelligence. The conversation raises questions about whether judgment is simply applying rules or if it requires something more—something closer to discernment, habit, or lived experience.Can a decision be right or wrong if we can't fully predict its consequences? Do moral rules always apply, or do some situations require exceptions? What happens when judgment operates within systems of power? These questions lead to reflections on everything from friendship to legal pardons to the ethics of AI. Whether you think of yourself as someone with good judgment or someone just trying to make better choices, this episode gives plenty to think about.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/judgment-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

How, and for what, are we responsible?What does it even mean to be responsible? Is it about blame? Credit? Or something else entirely? Leigh, Devonya, and Rick hash it out over drinks, tackling everything from personal accountability to collective responsibility, and digging into big questions about freedom, moral agency, and how our social and political systems shape what we're capable of doing—and not doing.This week's conversation covers some heavy ground: systemic racism, climate change, and whether collective responsibility can actually lead to change (or if it's just another way of avoiding blame) —and, because it wouldn't be a Hotel Bar Sessions episode without it, there's a Star Trek tangent in there, too!Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/responsibility/-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Is ChatGPT usurping the authority of the "Author"? Or is it just a pretender to the throne?We're opening up the question of "authority" to extend well beyond the usual suspects of kings, generals, or politicians. To borrow a line from Tennyson's poetry: “authority forgets the dying King.” That is, power begins to slip from the grasp of political authorities as they weaken, as respect for and obedience to them wanes.Now almost 60 years after Foucault announced the “death of the author,” we might actually be living through what he imagined. Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-168-authority-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

The HBS co-hosts savor the complexities of a dish best served cold.Is revenge ever ethical? Can it be a form of justice, or is it always about personal satisfaction? In this episode, Rick Lee, Leigh Johnson, and Devonya Havis take a deep dive into the philosophy of revenge. From the timeless allure of stories like Kill Bill and The Count of Monte Cristo to the rise of cancel culture and online harassment, the hosts explore how revenge plays out in both individual and collective contexts. They tackle big questions about power, helplessness, and the difference between avenging a wrong and simply lashing out.They also consider the role of technology in making vengeful acts easier—and more public—than ever before. Leigh reflects on the satisfaction we feel from justice-oriented narratives, while Devonya highlights the deeper systemic issues that revenge often overlooks. Rick weighs in on the distinction between personal vendettas and social movements like #MeToo, asking whether collective action can transform personal grievance into meaningful justice.Whether you're a fan of revenge thrillers or just curious about the ethical limits of payback, this episode will leave you questioning the line between retribution and justice. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation that's equal parts philosophy and pop culture!

Is "virtue" an outdated concept? And why is there a bear in this classroom?!

This week's episode is a REPLAY of a previously-aired episode from Season 9.  HBS will return with all new episodes on January 10, 2024. Stay tuned!The HBS hosts wonder how a hard heart is melted and mended.In a world often colored by misunderstandings, hurtful actions, and lingering grudges, the concept of forgiveness emerges as a beacon of hope and healing. For some, its transformative power to mend relationships, free us from the shackles of resentment, and grant us the gift of emotional liberation make forgiveness a moral imperative. Forgiveness is not merely an internal journey; it's also a dynamic force that shapes societies and mends the fabric of communities torn apart by conflict and strife.  But what does it mean to forgive? What does forgiveness do, and for whom? Does forgiveness require the forgetting of wrongs done? Is real forgiveness even possible?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-107-forgiveness-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotebarsessions!Follow us on Twitter @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!     

This week's episode is a REPLAY of a previously-aired episode from Season 9.  HBS will return with all new episodes on January 10, 2024. Stay tuned!The HBS hosts dig into Jacque Derrida's philosophy to see if it really is responsible for everything that's wrong with the world.There are very few philosophies that are blamed for so much as deconstruction. Introduced by Jacques Derrida in the late 60s, deconstruction rose to popularity in the late 70s and 80s, fought a real battle to be accepted as something other than a “fad” in the early 90s, and really built up steam in the late 90s, after having been adopted by other humanities disciplines as a method of analysis and exposition. However, by the end of the 21st century aughts, deconstruction was already being edged out of favor by many of its critics and some of its heirs. Today, in 2024, deconstruction has been refigured and disfigured so dramatically that it has become a chimera. One of its faces is reductive and banal, but mostly harmless, as seen in so-called “deconstructed” dishes or clothing on reality TV. The other face, though, is hyperbolically menacing: distorting reality, poisoning discourse, undermining traditional values, and sneakily turning all of us into nonsense-babbling relativists.So what is deconstruction all about?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-122-deconstruction-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotebarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

What if morality was law-governed in the same way as logic and physics?The Hotel Bar Sessions hosts close out Season 11 with a deep dive into one of philosophy's most important moral principles: Immanuel Kant's “Categorical Imperative.” They carefully unpack Kant's three formulations of the “moral law”—the Universality formulation, the Humanity formulation, and the Kingdom of Ends formulation—to demonstrate how Kant sought to ground morality in rationality, universality, and freedom.Through accessible examples– punctuality, lying, slavery, and even prostitution– the hosts illustrate Kant's vision of the moral law as an unconditional principle, independent of personal preferences or consequences. They also clarify common misconceptions, like conflating Kant's universality formulation with the Golden Rule, and examine how his ideas prioritize duty over subjective inclinations.This is a spirited debate about Kant's relevance today, questioning the challenges of applying the rigid moral framework  of the Categorical Imperative to complex modern realities. The co-hosts address critiques of Kant's metaphysical assumptions, his treatment of non-human entities, and the potential for misusing his ideas to justify exclusion. Despite these critiques, the hosts argue for the enduring importance of Kantian ethics in safeguarding the dignity and autonomy of all rational beings.Filled with humor, thoughtful analysis, and practical insights, this episode invites listeners to reflect on the philosophical foundations of morality and their own ethical commitments.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-165-kants-categorical-imperative-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

What if our cosmic unimportance is itself not all that important?This week, the Hotel Bar Sessions hosts welcome Joshua Glasgow, author of The Significance Impulse: On the Unimportance of Our Cosmic Unimportance, to unpack humanity's seemingly irrepressible drive to seek significance and the societal and psychological effects of this pervasive impulse. Glasgow argues that the quest for cosmic importance is not only unrealistic, but detrimental, and he urges us to embrace our smallness as a path to greater freedom and fulfillment. From cultural pressures to excel to the personal burdens of striving for greatness, Glasgow highlights how letting go of the need to be “the greatest” can both foster joy and realign our assessment of our own significance in more honest ways.Drawing on examples like Muhammad Ali, Andre Agassi, and Frida Kahlo, the conversation explores the interplay between morality, aesthetics, and well-being in shaping human values. The hosts reflect on how society's emphasis on individual greatness can distort priorities and undermine happiness, while Glasgow introduces the concept of "irreverent contentment" as a counterbalance.Whether you're pondering your place in the cosmos or just trying to enjoy a good game of cribbage, this episode offers fresh insights into what it means to live a meaningful life.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-164-the-significance-impulse-with-josh-glasgow-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

The HBS hosts survey theories of justice from the ancients to the present.What does it mean to think justice, to pursue justice, or to act justly? Are we servicing justice, or just serving our self-interests? How do different philosophical approaches help us imagine a “just” society? This week, we consider retributive, restorative, and distributive theories, among others, exploring how each shapes our understanding of equality, rights, and fairness, and try to determine which approach provides the most useful guide in a world that appears increasingly unjust.So, grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let's dig in: Is justice something we can pour out—or just a top-shelf ideal?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-161-justice-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

What can the Indian dualist philosophy of Sāṃkhya teach us about matter and consciousness?In this captivating episode, we explore the fascinating interplay between matter and consciousness as articulated in Sāṃkhya, a key tradition of Indian philosophy. Joined by special guest Dr. Tuhin Bhattacharjee, whose expertise spans ancient Greek and Indian texts, feminist theory, and psychoanalysis, we consider the interconnectedness of gender and metaphysics, setting the stage for broader discussions of matter and consciousness in both Western and non-Western philosophical traditions.The episode concludes with a lively exchange focusing on the implications of philosophy as a generative practice. The group reflects on how Indian traditions can inform modern philosophical debates, particularly around ethics, materiality, and the politics of recognition. This conversation invites listeners to reconsider dominant narratives in philosophy and encourages them to engage with underexplored intellectual terrains that illuminate shared human concerns. Grab a drink and settle in for a mind-expanding dialogue that bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary thought!Full episode notes available at this link:episode-163-matter-and-consciousness-in-indian-philosophy-with-tuhin-bhattacharjee-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

This week, the HBS hosts are joined by Dimitris Vardoulakis (Associate Professor of Philosophy at Western Sydney University) to discuss the phronetic tradition and its significance for ethics, politics, and democracy. Drawing on both Aristotle and Hannah Arendt's understanding of agonism in The Human Condition, Vardoulakis connects what he calls the phronetic tradition to human interaction and instrumental thinking, emphasizing its foundation in uncertainty and disagreement.Our conversation with Vardoulakis traces the historical development of the phronetic and so-called "ineffectual" traditions, examining their roots in ancient philosophy, their transformation through Judeo-Christian metaphysics, and their impact on contemporary political thought. Vardoulakis critiques current approaches to agonistic democracy and advocates for a renewed focus on phronesis as a way to approach ethical and political action without reliance on transcendence or the extremes of anarchism.With references to Spinoza, Derrida, Jon Stewart, and others, this conversation invites listeners to reconsider how we structure collective life in the face of conflict and uncertainty.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-161-phronesis-and-instrumentality-with-dimitris-vardoulakis-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Blue Sky @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

What are the limits of the "human"? And what comes after us?This week, we're taking on the big questions: What does it mean to be “human,” and is it possible we're already moving beyond that? Starting with Foucault's provocative claim that “the human is an invention… perhaps nearing its end,” we look at how history, culture, and technology have shaped—and continue to shape—our understanding of ourselves. Are we still the “rational, autonomous individuals” of the Enlightenment's humanist legacy, or are we becoming something more complicated?Our conversation tackles the key ideas of posthumanism and transhumanism: while transhumanists seek to enhance human abilities with technology, posthumanists want to question the very boundaries that define “the human” and its place at the center of everything. Drawing from feminist thinkers like Donna Haraway, we consider what it means to challenge traditional notions of the human, especially in a world where the line between humans, animals, and machines is increasingly blurred.Finally, we get into the ethical and practical stakes. With gene-editing tools like CRISPR and advanced AI systems on the rise, how do we draw the line between human and machine—or should we? And if freedom is what makes the human worth preserving, does technology ultimately support that freedom or put it at risk?Grab a drink and join us as we ask what “posthuman” could mean for our future—and whether we're already there.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-160-posthumanism-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

What do we mean when we say "Nature"? And what, if anything, is "natural"?In this week's episode, we're pulling up a chair at the bar to ask: What do we really mean when we talk about “nature”? From the world outside us—plants, animals, and landscapes—to the idea of human nature itself, we're questioning our often contradictory and complex ideas of what counts as “natural.” Are we referring to the non-human world or to something essential and intrinsic within us? And is either way of thinking about it as simple as it seems?We look at how the concept of nature has been shaped by culture, philosophy, politics, and technology. Why, for instance, does a bird's nest seem “natural” while our own homes do not? Does labeling something “natural” ever settle an argument, or does it just spark new ones? We also talk about the climate crisis, asking if we should see ourselves as part of nature or as caretakers of something separate. And should we trust that technology will resolve environmental issues, or do we need to challenge some of our own longstanding assumptions about nature itself?Pour a drink and join us as we rethink what it means to be “natural” in a world where the line between nature and culture is more blurred than ever.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-156-meat-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

When is it right, or even necessary, to say "no"?Refusing can be a powerful act—whether it's standing up to authority, rejecting harmful norms, or pushing back against injustice. But when is saying “no” the right thing to do? And what are the stakes when we decide to refuse? Often our refusals are quotidian and inconsequential, but sometimes, and sometimes without our knowledge, they're huge.We often underestimate how often we issue refusals, both large and small, and we don't consider carefully enough the moral and political dimensions of those acts. It's not always easy to decide when it is appropriate to refuse, and even when we know it's necessary, it's not always easy. Our guest today, Dr. Devonya Havis University of Buffalo), has been thinking about the ethics and politics of refusal for some time, and how how refusing to go along with something can be an act of courage, rebellion, or survival.We're going to ask what happens when-- in the immortal words of Nancy Reagan-- you “just say no.”Full episode notes available at this link:episode-157-the-ethics-of-refusal-with-devonya-havis-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Should we eat meat?Humans have been eating other animals for close to 2.5 million years--a fact that is evidenced by cut traces on fossil animal bones, surviving stone tools, and analyses of our ancestors' teeth. Does this evolutionary fact render meat-eating physiologically necessary and morally justifiable? Our ancestors did a lot of things to survive; is that sufficient reason to continue the practice? How they obtained this meaty source of protein was arguably very different from the industrial practices of animal agriculture that are justifiably criticized for their cruelty to non-human sentient creatures and their contribution to the global climate crisis. Can we as a species continue to eat meat? Or in doing so are we literally eating ourselves out of house and home? What about lab-grown Franken-meat, which Governor Ron DeSantis recently made illegal in the state of Florida? Is lab-grown meat a solution, or does it just feed the problem? How and why is the unassuming "Impossible Burger" now a subject of the culture wars? Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-157-nature-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

What can Frantz Fanon and Friedrich Nietzsche teach us about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict?This week, we're joined by Zahi Zalloua (Whitman College) to discuss the final chapter of his most recent book The Politics of the Wretched: Race, Reason, and Ressentiment (Bloomsbury, 2024)-- entitled "Zionist ressentiment, the Left, and the Palestinian Question"-- which offers a fresh lens through which to understand the complex affects and power dynamics that continue to fuel this ongoing struggle by focusing on what 19th C. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche called ressentiment—a deep-seated feeling of injustice and grievance.Zalloua unpacks how a collective sense of moral outrage on the part of Zionists has been deployed to shield Israel from criticism by accusing pro-Palestinian advocates, and the Left more generally, of a “new anti-Semitism.” He contrasts this with Palestinian ressentiment, which he frames as a legitimate response to the ongoing reality of settler-colonialism and displacement. His work both critiques the complicity of liberal Zionism in maintaining the status quo and challenges us to reframe the way we understand both Zionist and Palestinian anger.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-155-the-palestinian-question-with-zahi-zalloua-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Philosophy has traditionally associated the feminine with matter, implying passivity. Why? And to what ends?In our previous episode on materialism (Season 6, Episode 83), we came to see that in more recent years, two, often related, forms of materialism have been developed: “new materialism” and feminist materialism. New materialism tends toward a philosophical reflection on advances in science, particularly neuro-science and biology, but feminist materialism is not so easy to define, as it takes many forms. There is, however, one unique issue that feminist materialists must contend with: the way that the tradition of philosophy in the West has associated "the feminine" with "matter" and contrasted matter with form, reason, and structure, evidencing yet another way in which the masculine has been privileged throughout the history of philosophy in the global North and West. This week, we are joined by Dr. Emanuela Bianchi (Associate Professor of Comparative Literature, NYU), expert in ancient philosophy and feminist philosophy, to find out what's the matter with "matter"?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-154-troubling-feminist-materialism-with-emmanuala-bianchi-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel! 

Are we nearing the end of the "Age of Print"? And, if so, what comes next?The concept of "the Gutenberg Parenthesis" suggests that the era of print – which began in the 15th century, when the printing press was developed by Johan Gutenberg, and extended to the 20th century, when radio and television muscled in – was a unique period for human communication. However, as this week's guest Jeff Jarvis argued in his book The Gutenberg Parenthesis: The Age of Print and Its Lessons for the Age of the Internet(Bloomsbury, 2023), our emphasis on literacy is historically situated in ways we may find difficult to recognize. After, all, there were not always authors, publishers, editors, or newspapers-- all of which are recent inventions, in the grand scheme of things-- and we may in fact be coming to the end of this age. Printing as a technology brought with it all manner of social, political, religious, and cultural effects that we now take for granted: for example, that we know who the "authorities" are, that grammar is fixed, that spelling must be consistent, or that our information must be curated for us. If the age of printing is coming to an end, and if the web is our "new" technology, then we might not be in the best position to understand its potentials and implications.Some contours of the closing of this parenthesis are coming into view, to be sure, but the full extent is not entirely clear. What did print allow and what did it deny? What does the end of print mean for the ways in which we find and digest information about our world? What happens to our ability to communicate complex and subtle ideas? Are we headed toward the promised land... or the apocalypse?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-153-the-gutenberg-parenthesis-with-jeff-jarvis-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

What counts as evidence? What makes it good or bad? How do we know?In court cases, the prosecution, plaintiff, and defendant present “evidence” that something happened or didn't happen, that it happened in one way or another, that someone did something or did not do something. Evidence is meant to point to something as-yet undetermined. The same goes with scientific evidence, statistical evidence, and anecdotal evidence. Yet, because evidence points to something unknown, sorting it out is often messy business! How do we judge whether evidence is trustworthy or good? Can we determine shared "rules" of evidence? And what about so-called "self-evident" things or claims? This week, we're diving right into this messy business of evidence.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/evidence-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

When did Jesus start hating immigrants and gays, and loving guns and capitalism?Many Christians on the political left today no longer recognize the Jesus of the political right in the United States. Despite sharing a text and history, (at least) two dramatically different versions of "Jesus" have emerged in contemporary American Christian discourse, each reflecting a set of moral and political inferences presumably gleaned from the teachings of the historical Jesus, and each set of inferences containing its own problems with respect to verifiability, authenticity, and legitimacy.This week, we are joined by internationally renowned Catholic scholar Dr. John D. Caputo, author of What Would Jesus Deconstruct? (2007), to re-trace the emergence of these seemingly incompatible iterations of "Jesus," and try to figure out whose Jesus works for whom.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-151-whose-jesus-with-john-d-caputo/-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

The HBS hosts struggle for recognition.[NOTE: This is a REPLAY episode, first aired on August 11, 2023. The HBS hosts will be back with new episodes for Season 11 starting on September 13, 2024!]The dialectic of lordship and bondage, more commonly known as the “Master/Slave dialectic,” is a moment in a much longer and exceedingly difficult-to-read (much less understand!) text by G.W.F. Hegel entitled The Phenomenology of Spirit. It's probably a passage that is referenced in a wide number of fields– psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, literary analysis, any number of “area studies,” and even economics-- though very few of the scholars who reference it have slogged all the way through Hegel's Phenomenology. Nevertheless, like Plato's Allegory of the Cave from the Republic and Nietzsche's story about the lambs and the birds of prey from Genealogy of Morals, both of which we've discussed before on this podcast, Hegel's dialectic of Lordship and Bondage manages to capture, in a concise and powerful way, something both intuitively true and yet, at the same time, utterly mystifying. This week we ask the question, why has this passage become the hit single off of the dense concept album that is the Phenomenology.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-105-the-master-slave-dialectic-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review!Follow us on Twitter @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!   

The HBS hosts ask Devin Shaw whether and how to punch Nazis.[NOTE: This is a REPLAY episode, first aired on Jun2, 2023. The HBS hosts will be back with new episodes for Season 11 starting on September 13, 2024!]Since at least the 2016 election the word fascism has emerged from the historical archive to contemporary political debates. This question has primarily been one about the identity of fascism, what are its minimal characteristics? To what extent can the Trump administration be considered fascist, and so on? We discussed some of this last season with Alberto Toscano. As much as this question of definition is important, a no less important question is what to do in the face of fascism. How to respond. It is on this point that the opposition to fascism divides rather sharply between those who argue that fascism must be countered with the norms of civil society, debated, discussed and defeated in the marketplace of ideas and those who argue that the violence of fascism must be met with counter-violence.In this episode, we are joined by Devin Shaw, who teaches at Douglas College and is the author of Philosophy of Antifascism: Punching Nazis and Fighting White Supremacy. Full episode notes at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-95-punching-nazis-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Follow us on Twitter @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!You can also help keep this podcast going by supporting us financially at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions.  

Welcome to the desert of the real.Hotel Bar Sessions podcast is predicated on the idea that the three of us meet up at bar, order-up some drinks, and then settle in to talk philosophy. But—spoiler alert—none of that is true. There is no bar, sadly there are not drinks, and the conversation takes place through the instrumentality of digital technology without us ever meeting up and being together in the same space. It's all an artifice, or what Jean Baudrillard called "simulation." We point this out not to ruin your enjoyment but because it is this very issue—simulation—that we are examining in this week's simulated conversation. In keeping with our tradition of ending each season with a "deep dive" episode, we're focusing this week on the short book that made this a subject of conversation: Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation, originally published in French in 1981.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/baudrillards-simulacra-and-simulation-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

Does voting matter?Voting is often heralded as the cornerstone of democracy, a fundamental right that empowers citizens to influence the direction of their government and society. Proponents argue that every vote counts, that it is through the collective decisions of the electorate that leaders are held accountable, policies are shaped, and societal change is enacted. They highlight the historical struggles and sacrifices made to secure voting rights, particularly for marginalized groups, as evidence of its profound importance. Voting is seen not merely as a civic duty, but also a moral duty, a vital expression of individual agency and a mechanism for ensuring that diverse voices contribute to the governance of a nation.Conversely, critics of the current voting system note that voting often feels inconsequential. Systemic issues like gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the outsized influence of money in politics distort the democratic process, leading to a sense of disenfranchisement among otherwise enthusiastic citizens. The winner-takes-all format in the US leaves many feeling that their votes do not translate into meaningful representation.These challenges-- where voters become convinced that their votes don't matter--diminish public trust in the electoral process and fuel apathy, prompting a critical examination of whether voting, in its current form, truly reflects the will of the people or merely perpetuates existing power structures. Does every vote truly matter, or is it just another drop in a vast, indifferent ocean?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-149-voting-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

What happens when AI overtakes the role of human journalists?The HBS hosts are joined this week by Dr. Andrea Guzman, one of the leading experts in human-machine communication studies, to chat about the changing landscape of journalism in the age of artificial intelligence, where AI is not just a tool, but an active participant in content creation and distribution. We examine how journalism has historically adapted to new technologies, from print and radio to the digital age, and how those differ (or don't) from the new challenges it faces with AI's involvement in shaping the media.Like many 21st C. news consumers, we're concerned with both the unique challenges and the opportunities AI presents, especially as it transitions from being a mere medium to an active "messenger." Dr. Guzman addresses pressing questions about whether journalism is in crisis due to AI, the ethical implications of using AI in news production, and the future landscape for journalists and news consumers. How will human journalists navigate these changes while upholding journalism's (alleged) commitment to truth and accountability? Will AI will mark the end of journalism as we know it or usher in the dawn of a bold new era in media?Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-148-the-future-of-journalism-with-andrea-guzman-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

Can queer theory overcome its ties to sexuality?Toward the end of the 20th Century, French Philosopher Michel Foucault called into question the ways in which a variety of practices, relations, institutions, and discourses came to be organized under the concept of "sexuality." The construction of sexuality as a thing, as a category, as a concept that seemingly identifies something crucial about us, operates as a way to make certain individuals, practices, and relations visible: scientifically, institutionally, juridically, and politically. There is, of course, a danger with this visibility, as it brings into the open and identifies individuals so that they can become subject to regimes of power. Queer theory, and queerness itself, seems inextricably tied to the notion of sexuality: how can some one or some thing be queer if we give up the concept of sexuality? On the other hand, the very notion of sexuality sexualizes everything it touches and thereby reduces the possibilities of queerness itself. Can we think queer without sexuality? Why should we think queer without sexuality? What possibilities are opened by queer thought once it is not longer bound by the image of sexuality?This week, we are joined by Dr. Nir Kedem, author of A Deleuzian Critique of Queer Thought: Overcoming Sexuality (Edinburgh UP, 2024) to talk about how Deleuze might aide us in the project of liberating queer theory from sexuality.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-147-overcoming-sexuality-with-nir-kedem-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

The HBS hosts dig into the crisis of academic peer review.Peer review, touted as the gold standard for ensuring research quality, has come under increasing scrutiny. Decades of studies have revealed surprising inconsistencies: from papers initially hailed as groundbreaking being rejected upon resubmission, to the current “retraction crisis,” to concerns about bias and subjectivity among reviewers. Because peer review is not only central to the production of knowledge, but also the security and advancement of knowledge-prodcers' careers, mounting concerns about this practice raise a lot of important questions.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/peer-review-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

Ideology is said in many ways. Which one is emancipatory?This week, we are joined by Dr. William Clare Roberts, Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University, to discuss his recent essay "Ideology and Self-Emancipation: Voluntary Servitude, False Consciousness, and the Career of Critical Theory." This is the second part in our "Ideology" series. You can listen to the first part (Episode 142) here.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-145-ideology-and-self-emancipation-with-william-clare-roberts-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

The ocean and space and "Ode to Joy" are sublime, of course... but what about an excellent lentil soup?In a confusing twist of etymology, where one would expect "sub" to mean "below," in the word "sublime" it indicates something above or even beyond. We use it as a superlative, but a superlative of what?Edmund Burke argues that the experience of sublimity is related to fear in the extreme, even terror-- and  Immanuel Kant's not far from this understanding-- so when someone says the lentil soup they're eating is "sublime," are they just making a category mistake? This week, the HBS hosts dig into the concept of the sublime, and test the limits of not only our imagination and understanding, but also language itself.Full episode notes available at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-144-the-sublime-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!  

What motivates people to live off-grid in the 21st C? And how hard is it to survive out there?This week, the HBS hosts are joined by journalist and co-host of the Our Uncertain Future podcast Eric Mack, who decided in 2020 to move his family "off-grid." Currently residing in a 100% water- and energy-independent compound in the New Mexico desert, Eric chats with us not only about the skills and resources necessary for making a home off the grid, but also his (and others') philosophical reasons for doing so. Full episode notes at this link:https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-143-off-grid-living-with-eric-mack-------------------If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!