Chasing Leviathan

Apr 23 2024 3

Chasing Leviathan Podcast artwork

Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. Every episode is a dialogue, a journey into the depths of a meaningful question explored through the lens of personal experience or professional expertise.

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Heidegger, German Idealism, & the Fate of Philosophy with Dr. Robert Pippin

Apr 23 2024 53 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Robert Pippin discuss Heidegger's metaphysics and his conclusion that Hegel was the culmination of the Western philosophical tradition. Pippin explores Heidegger's question of the meaning of being and how it differs from traditional philosophical inquiries, as well as Heidegger's critique of Hegel's concept of finitude. Dr. Pippin al

Living Gently in a Violent World with Dr. Stanley Hauerwas

Apr 16 2024 37 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Stanley Hauerwas discuss Living Gently in a Violent World and the inspiration behind it. Hauerwas reflects on the controversy surrounding co-author Jean Vanier and the L'Arche movement. Dr. Hauervass explores the concept of time and the importance of patience in our lives. He also discusses Sabbath, American culture, and Martha Nussb

People and Animals After 1492 with Dr. Marcy Norton

Apr 09 2024 54 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Marcy Norton discuss the different ways Europeans and indigenous peoples in the Americas interacted with animals, and how their encounter re-shaped both groups' perceptions of non-human creatures. Dr. Norton invites us to consider the conditions that promote empathy and curiosity towards animals and to question cultural blind spots r

Aquinas and the Infused Moral Virtues with Dr. Angela Knobel

Apr 02 2024 56 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Angela Knobel discuss the difference between acquired and infused virtue and the role of grace in Thomas Aquinas' work on moral development. They also have a fascinating and informative exchange comparing Reformed and Catholic approaches to issues of nature, virtue, and grace.For a deep dive into Angela Knobel's work, check out her b

AI, Rhetoric, and the Influence of Nonhuman Agents with Dr. Alex Reid

Mar 26 2024 54 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Alex Reid discuss the role of digital media technologies in shaping communication and knowledge production. He explores the impact of generative AI and the changing landscape of technology in fields like digital marketing and filmmaking. Dr. Reid also examines how technology shapes our attention and behaviors, necessitating new forms

How Our Stuff Makes Us: Tools, Art, Religion, and Evolution with Dr. Chip Colwell

Mar 19 2024 63 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Chip Colwell discuss the origin of things, exploring how humans went from having nothing to having everything over the course of four million years. Dr. Colwell emphasizes the interplay between biology and culture, highlighting how our ancestors' use of tools led to physiological changes and the emergence of art and religion. He also

Technology and the Body in Ancient Greek and Roman Medicine with Dr. Colin Webster

Mar 12 2024 56 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Colin Webster discuss the impact of tools and technology on ancient understandings of the human body. Dr. Webster explores historical shifts of our views of the body, and the wisdom that can be gained from studying historical paradigms of medicine from ancient cultures.For a deep dive into Colin Webster's work, check out his book: To

Making Statistics Understandable For Public Policy with Dr. Jeremy Weber

Mar 05 2024 56 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Jeremy Weber discuss the importance of understanding statistics in the context of public policy. Dr. Weber provides helpful insights into interpreting statistics, including common mistakes in reading and using them. While we often think of statistics as final nail in policymaking decisions, Dr. Weber explains why they are rarely deci

How the Attention Economy Builds Urban America with Dr. David Banks

Feb 27 2024 59 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. David Banks discuss how the attention economy has led to the rise of "authentic" urban lifestyles. Dr. Banks explains how social media and other cultural forces have played on our nostalgia in ways that makes groups as different as urban hipsters and MAGA supporters in small-town America seek to find, or recreate, romanticized carica

The Cult of Creativity with Dr. Samuel W. Franklin

Feb 20 2024 65 mins

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Samuel W. Franklin discuss the concept of creativity and its historical development. Dr. Franklin examines the disagreements and fuzziness surrounding the definition of creativity and its connection to art, imagination, and genius. He also delves into the relationship between creativity and capitalism, highlighting the ways in which