Overthink
Episodes
Emotional Labor
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the emotional opacity of men a social justice issue? In episode 71, Ellie and David break down the concepts of emotional and hermeneutic labor. The...
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the next hour, I might miss out on the greatest thing that could happen to me. Or maybe that’s just the FOMO talking. FOMO, the fear of missing o...
Animal Justice with Martha Nussbaum
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wild animals who build communities, domestic companions who love, and captive creatures who suffer. In episode 69 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk w...
Heroes
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m holding out for a hero. From Achilles to Odysseus and modern day heroes, what does it mean to be a hero, and why are we obsessed with hero worsh...
Taste
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s corn! A big lump with knobs, it has the juice, I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing. Wise words about corn that relate to the sense of tast...
Smell with Benjamin Young
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever experienced the headache-inducing odor of Axe body spray? Smell has immense power, but why has it been undervalued in philosophy? In epi...
Hearing
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard? In episode 65 of Overthink, Ellie and David continue the series on the five senses as they discuss hearing. From wanting to close your...
Vision
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
And at last I see the light. In episode 64 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss vision in the second installment of their ongoing series on the five ...
Touch
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Touch, texture, and tickling. From touch working as a form of recognition to the sensation of shapes, touch is a part of our everyday lives. In episod...
Curiosity (feat. Perry Zurn and Dani S. Bassett)
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Curiosity led Pandora to open a box, but what does being curious look like in our everyday lives? In episode 62, Ellie and David discuss the vilificat...
Self-Knowledge
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Know thyself, the inscription at the shrine of Delphi reads. But can we truly know ourselves, like the Ancient Greeks believed? In episode 61 of Overt...
Influence(rs)
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Likes, lighting, and Lil Miquela. Influencers have taken over the online world, promoting everything from brands to lifestyle changes. But, what does ...
Film
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since the invention of film, we’ve seen an unimaginable shift in the nature of human perception — but what is film, really? In episode 59 of Overt...
Feminism (feat. Carol Hay)
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of #MeToo, the controversial Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, where does feminism stand today? In episod...
Waiting
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Has society progressed past the need for waiting? In the time of smartphones and their 24/7 carousels of distraction, the liminal agony of waiting see...
Kitsch
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do garden gnomes, the #BlackLivesMatter black squares of June 2020 Instagram, and formulaic pop songs all have in common? They’re kitsch. In ep...
Surveillance
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling watched? Suspicious your Google Home is a front for Big Brother? From period tracking apps to police body cams, surveillance has immense socia...
Animal Sociality (feat. Cynthia Willett)
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are humans the only animals with culture? In episode 54 of Overthink, Ellie and David explore the social and cultural bonds that animals develop with ...
Animal Personhood
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A court case over an elephant’s right to liberation from the Bronx Zoo shows that we’ve come a long way from Descartes’ concept of animal-as-mac...
Animal Consciousness
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From snoozing puppies kicking their legs to controversial octopi who change colors while asleep, nonhuman dreaming fascinates us. Science says that sl...
Gen Z (feat. Sam Hernandez and Anna Solomon)
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Generational differences emerge in subtle ways, but how do we identify these? And how does the new generation of youth culture Gen Z is defining diffe...
The Unconscious
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do Freudian slips, Josie and the Pussycats, and solving math problems have in common? Psychoanalysis claims to have some answers! Sigmund Freud s...
Gossip
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do humans in every known culture love juicy gossip? Some theorists say gossip evolved as the modern version of picking fleas off our friends, reas...
Productivity
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re always worried about being productive enough with our time, but where does this compulsion come from? In episode 48, Ellie and David examine p...
Rage (feat. Myisha Cherry)
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is rage a bad thing? Philosophers usually frame anger as an unhealthy or even immoral emotion that leads us away from compassion and towards violence,...
Anti-Natalism
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is it really better to exist than not exist? With rampant climate destruction, income inequality, and suffering in the world, some have begun to quest...
Trees
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever hugged a tree? In episode 45 of Overthink, Ellie and David head into nature to explore the philosophical side of trees. Often, trees hav...
Heteropessimism
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are the straights okay? In episode 44 of Overthink, Ellie and David dive into “heteropessimism,” the sense of disillusionment or even shame associ...
Walking
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some podcasts only talk the talk, but David and Ellie walk the walk (or talk the walk?) in episode 43 by diving into the philosophy of walking. Walkin...
Science Fiction (feat. Helen de Cruz)
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Would you willingly plug yourself into an experience-simulating machine such as The Matrix? What would happen to society if robots suddenly became con...
Intoxication
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Drunks, like children, always tell the truth. And after a night (or day) of drinking, everyone turns into a professional philosopher! What is it about...
Christmas-Industrial Complex
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy holidays! As Christmas approaches, the average American prepares to spend nearly $1,000 on presents, decorations, and family feasting. How did a...
Secrets
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What’s this episode about? Shh, it’s a secret. Just kidding! In episode 39, Ellie and David take a deep dive into the concepts of secrets and secr...
Disgust
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Disgust is often assumed to be biological, but in what ways do cultural norms and personal preferences influence what disgusts us? Can we shape what...
Living Your Truth (feat. Tamsin Kimoto)
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you #LivingYourTruth? This buzzy catchphrase is all over Instagram, but might it actually justify selfish or irresponsible behavior? Alternatively...
Art as Commodity
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today's art world is driven by multimillion-dollar auctions and fancy art fairs inaccessible to most Americans — Art Basel Miami, anyone? Those who ...
Hooking Up
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hooking up: sexual liberation or unethical exploitation? With the rise of dating apps, sexual gratification seems like a few taps (or swipes) away at ...
Paradox
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ever want to have your cake and eat it too? Maybe you can! In episode 34, join Ellie and David (and the Olsen twins) in an investigation into paradox....
Synesthesia
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever tasted music or experienced numbers as having genders? If so, you might be a synesthete! Synesthesia refers to subjective experiences in...
Astrology
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Astrology. Dangerous pseudoscience? Comforting salve in a cold capitalist world? Subjugated knowledge? It's all fun and games when you're looking up y...
Genomics (feat. Joel Michael Reynolds)
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From 23andMe to prenatal testing, genetic testing is everywhere these days! The use of these tests raises important concerns about "velvet eugenics" a...
Brain in a Vat
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you considered that you might be a brain in a vat of liquid floating in a laboratory somewhere? How can you know that the world around you is rea...
Alienation
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you fear the Sunday Scaries and Thank God It's Friday? You might be suffering from a case of what Karl Marx called "alienation." In episode 29 of O...
Cancel Culture
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 28 of Overthink, Ellie and David explore cancel culture. Is it a thing--and if so, what are its merits and dangers? They unpack the origins...
Body Positivity to Fat Feminism (feat. Dr. Amelia Hruby)
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 27 of Overthink, Ellie and David speak with feminist philosopher and author Dr. Amelia Hruby about fat feminism, intersectionality, alterna...
Living Together During Covid
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 26 of Overthink, Ellie and David explore cohabitation during Covid. They use philosopher Henri Bergson's theory of rhythm and the Africana ...
Dating During Covid
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 25 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss dating during Covid--including their own experiences! With so many Americans getting vaccinated, t...
Friendship During Covid (feat. Anna Koppelman)
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 24 of Overthink, Ellie and David tackle friendship during Covid. They begin by discussing their dream day with friends, which includes: bru...
Games and Gamification (feat. C. Thi Nguyen)
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 23 of Overthink, Ellie, and David sit down with philosopher Dr. C. Thi Nguyen to discuss his work on games and gamification. They begin by ...
Free Britney! Conservatorship and Disability
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 22 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the new Britney Spears documentary exposing her legal conservatorship. After bonding over their tw...
Gaslighting
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ellie and David discuss the term "gaslighting" in episode 21. They begin by jumping into the origin of the term in the 1940s and its entrance into mai...
Reparations (feat. Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò)
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 20 of Overthink, Ellie and David sit down with philosopher Dr. Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò to discuss climate reparations and why they are nee...
Genius
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 19 of Overthink, Ellie and David debate the idea of genius. They begin by explaining Kant and Schopenhauer's theories of genius before divi...
Polyamory
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 18 of Overthink, Ellie and David conclude their four-part series on intimate relationships with a discussion of polyamory. Many argue that ...
Open Relationships
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 17 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about open relationships. 50% of millennials are not interested in having purely monogamous relatio...
Monogamy
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 16 of Overthink, Ellie and David dive into monogamy. Ellie jumps into her obsession with reality shows centered around monogamy that are ac...
Marriage
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 15 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the history and philosophy of marriage. Why do married people in the U.S. receive over 1,000 legal...
Buddhist Practice and Anti-Racism (feat. Jessica Locke)
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 14 of Overthink, Ellie and David sit down with Dr. Jessica Locke, an expert in Buddhist philosophy, to discuss mindfulness as a tool for an...
Performativity
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 13 of Overthink, Ellie and David explain what performativity is. They explain why the phrase "performative ally" is not philosophically acc...
Conspiracy Theories (feat. Brian Keeley)
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 12 of Overthink, Ellie and David sit down with philosopher Brian Keeley to discuss conspiracy theories. The three examine both the appeal o...
Me, Myself, and Zoom
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 11 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the ways in which Zoom has impacted our perception of the self and others. They begin by exploring...
New Year's Resolutions
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 10 of Overthink, Ellie and David debate the merit of New Year’s Resolutions. Only 8% of people keep the resolutions they set – so why d...
Parrhesia - Speaking Truth to Power
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 9 of Overthink, Ellie and David dive into the concept of parrhesia (speaking truth to those in power). They discuss its origin in Ancient G...
Ghosting
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been ghosted? In episode 8 of Overthink, Ellie and David deconstruct this dating dilemma. The duo discuss what ghosting does to our emot...
Empathy
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 7 of Overthink, Ellie and David dive into the sensation of empathy! The dynamic duo discuss mirror neurons, whether animals can feel empath...
Why Millennials Love Homemaking
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 6 of Overthink, Ellie and David look at millennials' obsession with homemaking through the lens of Epicurus and Mariana Ortega. The duo tal...
Nostalgia
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 5 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about the taste, smell, and function of nostalgia. They dive into al pastor tacos, cottagecore, teenag...
Anti-Maskers and American Individualism
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 3 of Overthink, Ellie and David delve into the rise of Anti-Mask protests across the country. The two discuss American individualism in our...
Existential Anxiety
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 4 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about existential anxiety, FOMO, Netflix’s Emily in Paris, The Good Place, and the difference betwee...
How Capitalism Commodifies Time
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 2 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss how millennials love talking about hating capitalism, the influence capitalism has had on our u...
Welcome to Overthink!
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Overthink. A philosophy podcast you'll actually want to listen to. Smart but cool. Fun but deep. Hosted by professors Ellie Anderson (Pom...