Producer and current senior, Juno Kerelis, talks about organization, and how being responsible for writing a year-long thesis differs from more structured, assignment-driven courses. Juno talks to other thesising seniors about how they're dealing with organization as well.

Explore more interviews on our website: reed.edu/burnyourdraft

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/burnyourdraft/

Thesis Mini #1

Do you want to listen to this episode? Or do you want to want to listen to this episode? Ashley tells us a bit about first and second order desires in her thesis studying moral responsibility. She also shares with us how she selected her major and shares some of her own struggles with mental illness in her time at Reed.

Reed community members can read Ashley's thesis, “How Mental Illness Impacts Moral Responsibility,” online in the Electronic Theses Archive:
https://rdc.reed.edu/i/57075318-72d1-4b40-a407-9a5231861249

Explore more interviews with Reed College alumni on our website:
reed.edu/burnyourdraft

#60: Mildly Morally Wrong with Ashley Ledbetter '24, Philosophy

More on the Zhuangzi, books 1-6 and 17-19 with guest Theo Brooks. We discuss epistemology (Can we know the mind of someone else? How can virtue make truth more accessible?), metaphysics (Is the world constantly changing such that we can't actually refer to anything? Does each thing somehow contain its opposite in virtue of being defined by its contrast with all that it is not?), and ethics (What constitutes the Utmost Person, i.e. the sage?). Get more at . Visit  to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Learn about our new book at .

Ep. 342: Zhuangzi on Knowledge and Virtue (Part One)

Kim has recorded about ten meticulously recorded country-evolving-to Americana albums out of Nashville since 1995. We discuss "Joy Rider" (and listen at the end to "Floating on the Surface") from Every New Beginning (2024), "A Place Called Home" from Rise (2002), and "I’m Alright" from Bitter Sweet (1997), which is also the home of the intro, "Every River."&nbsp;More at . .&nbsp;.

NEM#216: Kim Richey Learns to Cherish Collaboration

Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al discuss the new Amazon TV show based on on the video game series that launched in 1997. How does one best adapt a sandbox game? How dark is too dark for comedy? We talk world-building and exposition dumps, narrative structure and character revelation, and morality in a ruined world. For more, visit . Hear bonus content at  or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the .

Pretty Much Pop #174: Fallout Plays Post-Apocalyptic

We're concluding our treatment of the Daoist sage, focusing on the relation between metaphysics and ethics. Is a "wu wei" (non-action) philosophy compatible with fighting for justice? Does it even necessitate kindness? Get more at . Visit  to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at .  Information on our book is available at . Listen to Mark's new band, including the ending song to this episode, "I Insist," at .

Ep. 342: Zhuangzi on Knowledge and Virtue (Part Two)

The philosopher and entertainment journalist direct from Mark's &nbsp;joins PvI for an hour of merriment. We talk parenthood, philosophy of race, the RULES of improv (or the singular answer to a philosophy question), old 9th graders, one black Peggy, using racy improv in a classroom setting, and more. Mark philosophizes at . Bill improvises (and teaches) at . .  to get all our post-game discussions, a video version of the podcast, and other bonus stuff.

Philosophy vs. Improv #76: Hello, Larry w/ Lawrence Ware

On selections from the Enneads (270 C.E.), as presented by Elmer O'Brien as the first four essays in The Essential Plotinus: "Beauty," "The Intelligence, Ideas and Being," "The Descent of the Soul," and "The Good or The One." Featuring Mark, Wes, Dylan, Seth, and guest . Get more at . Visit  to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. If you like our show, check out the . Learn about our new book at  (which Chris edited).

Ep. 343: Plotinus the Neo-Platonist (Part One)

Richard started as guitarist in the folk-rock staple Fairport Convention in 1967 but left in 1970 after five albums. He then recorded his debut solo album, six as Richard and Linda Thompson, and has since recorded 20 more solo albums of lyrically inventive, stylistically varied tunes that nearly always feature very skilled guitar work. We discuss "Freeze," the first single from his new album Ship to Shore, "The Ghost of You Walks" from You? Me? Us? (1996), and "Don't Take It Lying Down" from Still/Variations EP (2015). End song: "When I Get to the Border" by Richard and Linda Thompson from I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974). Intro: "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" from Rumor and Sigh (1991). More at  . .

NEM#217: Richard Thompson's Moments in Time

Continuing with guest Chris Sunami, mostly discussing "The Good or The One," though we start off by completing "The Descent of the Soul" about why there is something rather than nothing, given that materiality is so undesirable compared to The One. Get more at . Visit  to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion, including a supporter-exclusive part three coming out this week. Sponsor: Check out the Subtitle podcast at . Learn about our new book at .

Ep. 343: Plotinus the Neo-Platonist (Part Two)

We discuss the ten films that all started with the 1968 Charlton Heston vehicle (based on Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel) through the latest offering, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. What psychologically are these films about? Which parts of this sprawling franchise are worth your time? For more, visit . Hear bonus content at  or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the .

Pretty Much Pop #175: Podcast of the Planet of the Apes

“Burn Your Draft” is a podcast exploring the year-long senior thesis experience at Reed College, an independent liberal arts and sciences college in Portland, Oregon. Each episode showcases a senior or recent graduate and interviews them about their thesis: what is it, why did they do it, and what comes next. This podcast is a joint production of Reed students, staff, and alumni, and was made possible by a gift from Seth Paskin '90. New episodes released every other week during the academic year. Episodes may contain explicit language and may deal with sensitive topics. The views, information, or opinions expressed on this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Reed College.

Thesis Mini #1

Burn Your Draft

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