Talks

On Rand’s Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (1967) and “The Objectivist Ethics” (1961).  

First Rand grounds everyday human knowledge, largely by dismissing the concerns of other philosophers (even those whom she unknowingly parrots) as absurd. Then she uses this certainty to argue for her semi-Nietzschean vision of Great Men who master their emotions and rely only on themselves. Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth are satisfied with neither effort.

Warning: This attempt to make sense of Rand’s texts will likely offend any Randians out there, and our reading numerous passages from her alleged “texts” may offend the rest of you. When in doubt, curl up in the fetal position and moan “A=A!” over and over again until the bad sounds stop.

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Ayn Rand on Living Rationally - Partially Examined Life

If you were a movie star in the market for a mansion in 1930s Los Angeles, there was a good chance you might call on Wallace Neff.

Neff wasn't just an architect--he was a starchitect. One of his most famous projects was the renovation of  Pickfair, the estate owned by the iconic silent film actress Mary Pickford, and her husband Douglas Fairbanks. When the couple moved into Pickfar, the house sat on a nameless street in an empty neighborhood called Beverly Hills. If you were lucky enough to be invited to dinner at Pickfair you might find yourself seated next to Babe Ruth, the King of Spain or Albert Einstein. Life magazine called Pickfair “only slightly less important than the white house, and much more fun.” Neff designed estates for Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland and Groucho Marx. His Libby Ranch is now owned by Reese Witherspoon.

But at the end of his life, Wallace Neff lived in a 1,000 square foot concrete bubble. And Neff believed that this simple dome was his greatest architectural achievements.

Los Angeles-based reporter David Weinberg spoke with historian Jeffrey Head, author of No Nails, No Lumber: The Bubble Houses of Wallace Neff.  David also spoke with Kathy Miles, who grew up in Igloo Village; Steve Roden, an artist and current resident of the last remaining bubble house in the US; and architect Stefanos Polyzoides, who has his practice in a classic Spanish/Mediterranean-style Wallace Neff building.

We also hear from Dakar-based producer Juliana Friend, who was nice enough to go check on the bubbles over there.

A different version of this story originally aired on KCRW as part of their Independent Producer Project.

David Weinberg is also the brains behind Random Tape, an audio experiment in, well, random tape.

99% Invisible-89- Bubble Houses

An introduction to and summary of Frithjof Bergmann’sNew Work, New Culture, read by Mark Linsenmayer. The full episode on this topic will be posted in a few weeks.

Precognition of Episode 83: Fritjhov Bergmann's New Work, New Culture - Partially Examined Life

About a year ago I travelled across America for the BBC. I visited Airports, Amusement parks, Highways and Community Colleges in order to understand how the priority queue is changing the American experience of waiting in line. ***A version of this piece aired on the BBC World Service, part of their “Real America” series.  <a href="https://www.scrollkit.com/s/aUGM5mO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click for more info</a> or VISIT toe.prx.org

Waiting In Line

On Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Gay Science (1882, with book 5 added 1887).

What is wisdom? Nietzsche gives us an updated take on the Socratic project of challenging your most deeply held beliefs. Challenge not just your belief in God (“God is dead!”) but uncover all your habits of thinking in terms of the divine. Question the motives behind relentless inquiry: the “will to truth.” Realize how little of your life is actually a matter of conscious reflection, and the consequent limits on self-knowledge. The very act of systematization in philosophy overestimates what we can know; instead, we need a “gay” (in the sense of cheerful, carefree, and subversive) science (in the sense of organized knowledge; this is not about modern experimental science) that chases after fleeting insights and is able to question, i.e. laugh at, the pretensions of its own activity. This is the position from which one can then artistically create one’s own character and one’s values, and this “creation” is not whimsical in the sense of arbitrary, but is a matter of rigorous and careful discernment, an exercise of one’s “intellectual conscience.” Hear Mark, Wes, and Dylan frolic through this field of aphorisms and short essays.

Nietzsche's Gay Science - Partially Examined Life

In this episode host Chantal Pierrat and Alanis talk about:
- Vulnerability
- Strength with Femininity and balancing the Yin/Yang or Masculine and Feminine essence
- The effect of success on the creative process
- How anger can actually build intimacy in relationship

And finally, Alanis gives her one piece of advice for women who are on the precipice of their own Emergence. 

Creative Intimacy And The Merging Of Yin And Yang with Chantal Pierrat

Alanis sits down with Jeffrey Zeig, Founder and Director of the Milton H. Erickson Foundation, to talk about art, integration, boldness and the feminine at The Evolution of Psychotherapy in Anaheim, CA.

Evolution of Psychotherapy Keynote Talk

Susan Stiffelman, is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist, an educational therapist and a highly regarded parenting coach. She is also the Huffington Post’s weekly “parent coach” advice columnist.

Parenting With Presence w/ Susan Stiffelman

I discuss fame, success, failure, what it means to tell the truth and so much more with enlightened teacher and author, Gangaji.

Please comment with any questions and I will try to answer them!

A Conversation with Alanis Morissette and Gangaji

We discuss Un-Willing: An Inquiry into the Rise of Will's Power and an Attempt to Undo It (2014) with the author, covering Socrates, Augustine, Aquinas, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Sartre, compatibilism, the neurologists' critque of free will, and more.

What is the will? Is it an obvious thing that we all can see in ourselves when introspecting? If so, then why is there so much disagreement in the literature about what it is? (e.g., Is it a causal force or just an epiphenomenon? Is it opposed to desire or the expression of desire? Is it an expression of individuality or is it a trans-personal force à la Schopenhauer?)

Eva (whom you may recall from our Heraclitus episode) thinks that the notion is a historical artifact that causes needless philosophical confusion, and worse, has had a damaging effect on our culture.

A History of "Will" with Eva Brann (Part One)

From The Howard Stern Show (11-04-15) - Alanis Morissette Performs 'You Oughta Know'

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Alanis Morissette Performs 'You Oughta Know' On The Howard Stern Show

In this podcast Alanis Morissette has an in-depth conversation with Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt.Below are the references discussed in this podcast at alanis.com

Episode 2: Conversation with Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt

From The Howard Stern Show (11-17-15) - Seth Rogen On His Call From Michael Strahan’s Dressing Room

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Seth Rogen On His Call From Michael Strahan’s Dressing Room To The Howard Stern Show

Howard Stern Presents: The 20th Anniversary of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill premieres Friday November 20 at 11pm EST with replays all weekend on Howard 101.

Alanis Morissette aguides Howard 101 listeners through various live performances from her 1995 “Jagged Little Tour” in addition to her noteworthy acoustic performances on The Howard Stern Show.  

Songs from the special include “All I Really Want”, “Head Over Feet”, “Ironic”, “You Oughta Know”, and more.

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Howard Stern Presents: The 20th Anniversary of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill

From The Howard Stern Show (12-14-15) - Howard Stern Presents: The Ultimate Dark Knight III Giveaway

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Howard Stern Presents: The Ultimate Dark Knight III Giveaway

Host Michelle Thaller talks with astronomer and author Phil Plait of Slate's Bad Astronomy blog about this conundrum: why are humans so quick to give aliens the credit for mysteries of the cosmos?

About the Show: Astronomer and host Michelle Thaller takes a look at the big questions of the cosmos and what the answers can reveal about life here on Earth. From podcast powerhouse PRX, with support from the Sloan Foundation.  

Visit our site: orbital.prx.org

Talks

Sam Faj Calaca