In today’s hustle culture, taking a break can feel like a guilty pleasure. But leisure has its own valuable role to play in our mental and physical health. That’s why today, we’re talking about why leisure matters just as much as (and maybe a bit more than!) work.

Today’s episode, we consider:

* The benefits of work and leisure

* Theories on why work is overvalued and leisure undervalued

* What “good” leisure looks like

Take a break and give it a listen!

Sources:

Employment is a critical mental health intervention - PMC

Association of Returning to Work With Better Health in Working-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review

Evidence-based supported employment for people with severe mental illness: Past, current, and future research

How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action

In Praise of Idleness, by Bertrand Russell

Paul Lafargue: The Right To Be Lazy (1883)

Philosophers on Laziness | Issue 154 | Philosophy Now

On Moral Duties (De Officiis) | Online Library of Liberty

Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle Batoche Books

Aristotle on Work vs. Leisure « The Noble Leisure Project

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So many New Year’s resolutions are rooted in health goals. Healthy habits are so highly praised that trying to be healthy is practically seen as a moral obligation. Should it be?

Today’s episode, we consider:

* What’s at stake when we’re deciding whether being healthy should be a moral duty

* The arguments in favor of health as a duty

* Potential consequences of living in a world where health really does become a duty

Sources:

The Burden of Chronic Disease - PMC

Leading Causes of Death - FastStats

Trends in Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, By Life Stage, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013–2023

Patients have an ethical obligation to their health

Personal responsibility within health policy: unethical and ineffective

On the person in personal health responsibility

A Philosophy of Health: Life as Reality, Health as a Universal Value

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Cosmetic surgery is all around us, but is the “choice” to get cosmetic surgery ever really a choice?

Sources:

Ethical Issues in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Informed Consent | AMA-Code

Medical Ethics in Plastic Surgery: A Mini Review - PMC

Persuasive advertising, autonomy, and the creation of desire

The Ethics and Responsibilities of Social Media Usage by Plastic Surgeons: A Literature Review | Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

THE FOUR PRINCIPLES APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE ETHICS

Paternalism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Five Faces of Oppression

Informed Consent and Genetic Information

WOMEN AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: The Capabilities Approach

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Practicing gratitude is widely encouraged, and its benefits have been enumerated in scientific studies. But, what is the nature of gratitude, and in what way does gratitude lead us to a good life?

Sources:

Philosophical Perspectives on Gratitude | SpringerLink

Gratitude (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Winter 2021 Edition)

Gratitude, freedom and refusal

Gratitude and Human Flourishing

Giving thanks can make you happier - Harvard Health

The Science of Gratitude

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Donating extra food to food banks is commonly regarded as a solution to food waste, but is it that simple? And, is it ethical?

Sources:

Towards a circular economy in food consumption: Food waste reduction practices as ethical work - Taru Lehtokunnas, Malla Mattila, Elina Närvänen, Nina Mesiranta, 2022

The Circular Economy | Definition & Model Explained | Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Wasted Food Scale | US EPA

How food banks prevented 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions last year

Some issues in the ethics of food waste

Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Circular Economy | Columbia University School of Professional Studies

​​The experiences and perceptions of food banks amongst users in high-income countries: An international scoping review - ScienceDirect

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Jimmy Kimmel might be back from suspension, but debates over comedy’s boundaries continue to arise. This episode, we’ll bring in differing philosophical views to explore what the limits of comedy really are.

Sources:

Jimmy Kimmel taken off air over Charlie Kirk comments

Jimmy Kimmel’s full comments on Charlie Kirk which led to his show being taken off air : r/Fauxmoi

Young conservatives argue Jimmy Kimmel faced ‘consequences’ for Charlie Kirk remarks — but not ‘cancel culture’

Philosophy of Humor

‘It was just a joke!’ Comedy and freedom of speech - Simeon Goldstraw, 2025

The Ethics of Offensive Comedy: Punching Down and the Duties of Comedians | Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements | Cambridge Core

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

For today’s bonus episode, we’re going to talk about all that’s been going on with gerrymandering. We’ll examine how the fiery debate on California’s new gerrymandering bill is ultimately philosophical in nature, look at reasons for why gerrymandering is bad, and debate circumstances where the practice could be justified.

Sources:

Full article: Fighting fire with fire: the ethics of retaliatory gerrymandering

Redistricting war between Texas and California is about to jolt the midterms - POLITICO

Texas GOP passes the House gerrymander Trump asked for - POLITICO

California’s governor signed a redistricting plan. What happens next?

California Republicans sue over redistricting, allege constitutional violations

Newsom signs off on redistricting plan for California in retaliation to Republicans' plan in Texas

'Fight fire with fire': Newsom unveils California redistricting effort

Republicans sue over California redistricting as Newsom mocks Trump with Patriot Shop

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Today, we’re talking about change, big and small, and how philosophy can help us better handle it when it comes.

Timestamps:

Heraclitus – 1:59

Epictetus – 7:46

L.A. Paul – 14:12

Sources:

The fragments of the work of Heraclitus of Ephesus on nature

The Internet Classics Archive | The Enchiridion by Epictetus

What You Can't Expect When You're Expecting

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FOMO, or fear of missing out, pervades modern life. But does constantly creating, experiencing, and doing actually create a fulfilled life? In this episode, we look at all the ways missing out can actually be the best thing we can do for ourselves. 

Timestamps:

Seneca – 3:29

Berlin – 9:49

Agamben – 15:37

Sources:

“On the Shortness of Life”

Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

Isaiah Berlin (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Isaiah Berlin, “TWO CONCEPTS OF LIBERTY,” Four Essays On Liberty, (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1969)

Bartleby, The Scrivener

Giorgio Agamben - Bartleby, or On Contingency

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Reviewing everything we’ve explored over the past season of episodes.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com