Other Life

Apr 03 2025 236 ep. 74 mins 1.5k

Other Life Podcast artwork

I study the lives of the wildest writers who ever lived.

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Intoxicated by Truth: Plato's Symposium with Alex Priou

Apr 03 2025 77 mins

Socrates shows up late, looks like hell, and still somehow rules the room. What's really going in the Symposium? Plato uses a dinner party to show how authentic love is more intoxicating than alcohol. We explore the relationship between erotic desire and philosophy, and how philosophy is often a cold shower on our lesser temptations.We examine why talented poets like Aristophanes m

From Tech to Public Philosophy: Johnathan Bi on Production Quality and Patronage Networks

Mar 03 2025 55 mins

Johnathan Bi shares his journey from successful tech founder to independent philosophy lecturer, explaining why he walked away from founder equity to pursue his passion for bringing philosophical works to a broader audience. Through a unique modern patronage model backed by tech leaders, he's creating high-production lecture videos while maintaining his own independence.The convers

Plato's Republic with Nina Power and DC Miller: Philosophy, Repression, Madness, and Courage

Nov 26 2024 82 mins

I'm joined by Nina Power and DC Miller to discuss Plato's Republic. Topics include physical training and physical pleasure, philosophy under political repression, the training of philosophy, wealth, social class, and the role of irony in philosophy.Starting with the opening scene of The Republic, we explore how philosophy operates under political pressure and the relationship betwe

The Truth Will Set You Free: Nietzsche vs. St. John

Nov 13 2024 48 mins

I explore Nietzsche's critique of Christianity in The Genealogy of Morals, and specifically how it stands against what we find in the New Testament, especially the Gospel of John. Nietzsche’s understanding of Christian belief as naive and slavish is inconsistent with the sophisticated epistemology presented by John. I discuss the pursuit of truth, the function of miracles, and th

Don't Be a Slave: Nietzsche on Philosophy and Slavery

Mar 04 2024 8 mins

For references, see Nietzsche on the Pride of the Philosopher in Contrast to the Slave✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world https://OtherLife.co✦ If you're working on independent creative work, join the next cohort of https://IndieThinkers.org

We're Back: On how I fixed the company (a big lesson for independent scholars)

Feb 17 2024 20 mins

A personal reflection and update on my 5-year journey to design a new kind of scholarly life for the internet era. In a previous podcast, I shared how the Other Life company hit some hard times. Here I explain what I learned from that, and how I've turned it around. I share some meditations on the pursuit of weird goals, finding one's own path, and some new things I've come to lear

we almost just died (and it was great, I think?)

Nov 30 2023 17 mins

On muddling through, faith, and the absurdity of pursuing a singular creative vision on the open market...A story about the past few months of Other Life (and the next few).✦ If you’re in the Los Angeles area, come to our meetup tomorrow Friday Dec. 1 at 3pm in Santa Monica. RSVP here.Other Life✦ Subscribe to the coolest newsletter in the world https://otherlife.co✦ Become

The Rigor of Angels: Kant, Borges, & Heisenberg with William Egginton

Sep 14 2023 51 mins

I'm joined by author William Egginton to discuss his new book The Rigor of Angels. We talk Borges, Kant, and Heisenberg—and the big idea(s) they had in common. We discuss the antimonies of knowledge and the possibility that art is their solution. We discuss Coltrane, intelligence, creativity, biography, academia, and specialization vs. generalism. At the end, we discuss writing a

Ezra Pound: The Solitary Volcano

Aug 01 2023 83 mins

We dissect the complex life of Ezra Pound, one of the most interesting and controversial poetic geniuses of the 20th century. You'll gain insight into: Why Pound was so influential, his extraordinary talent-spotting skills, and his knack for turning vibrant social scenes into artistic movements. However, be prepared for a rollercoaster ride, as we also delve into the darker sides o

Literary Outlaw: The Life of William S. Burroughs

Jul 12 2023 83 mins

A deep dive into the life of William S. Burroughs based on a close reading of Ted Morgan's 1988 biography, Literary Outlaw: The Life and Times of William S. Burroughs. Burroughs is one of the most independent creative spirits of the 20th century. My goal is to understand how he did it; how he remained so free but was also so influential and successful.I discuss his transformation f