Mark Oppenheimer and Jason Werbeloff of the Brain in a Vat podcast join Bill and Mark L. (aka Alf) to talk about rationality, broadly construed, while not moving a couch and not giving each other Christmas presents.

Does “reason” by itself tell us what to do and what to believe? Is trypophobia really just bigotry? (It is not.) What’s the rationale for making negative comments online about a podcast? Are bigots bigger than bigamists? Was Ayn Rand a cannibal?

The image is from this site, and truly, you do not want to be there.

Audio editing by Tyler Hislop, who is looking for more podcast editing clients, if you want to reach out to him.

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If you like our show, check out the Banned Camp comedy podcast.

Zach is an improvisor who’s written for MST3K, been a commentator for Resistance Pro Wrestling, and has been a recurring guest on Hello From the Magic Tavern.

He joins Mark and Bill to discuss competitiveness in all its forms. Is strife part of utopia, or would all conflict be removed in an ideal political situation? Is the controlled competitiveness of sports or improv games fundamentally different than mere aggression? Also, we chase a dog.

Follow Zach @PocketThunder.

The image is by “Charlie,” and is on several websites that seem too unsavory to link to, but you can find it by searching on these keywords: child’s drawing wrestling dream house.

Hear more PvI. Support the podcast! You’ll get all of our post-game discussions and other exclusive bonus content, including the unedited video recording of this episode.

Sponsors: Get 16 free meals and free shipping via HelloFresh.Com/improv16 (code improv16). Check out the Skeptoid podcast at skeptoid.com.

Tanner runs the popular daily podcast Practical Stoicism, so of course we brought him on to talk about on-board flight services and attitudes among retail service workers.

Seriously, this is one of the most beefy philosophical discussions (about Stoicism and virtue, naturally) we’ve had on the show.

Follow Tanner @stoicismtanner.

Listen to PEL’s episodes on Stoicism (starting with Epictetus).

The art is from here, by Anggiana.

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Sponsor: Listen to The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman.

This episode is here, so why not listen? Philosophy vs. Improv advances to a new level of improvisation (aka half-assery) as Mark and Bill engage in a wide-ranging discussion (with scenes, of course) through the categorization of things, paradigm components and essences of things, historical advertisements, what goes in a museum, irresponsible loans, using the tools of convenience, diner culture, obsolete storage media, undefined locations, self-serve oil change, and a surprise ending whereby you learn that we’ve been painting the fence all along!

Image by Anthony, some years back.

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Marla is an improviser from the Whirled News Tonight iO Theater show. We talk about obeying proper forms of behavior and drawing improv inspiration from outside sources. Plus, a thruple blind date and BBQ chain of custody. And introducing a new character, Lil’ Confucius.

Image from here. 

Follow Marla @MarlaCaceres and @marlacaceres.

Hear more PvI. Support the podcast! You’ll get all of our post-game discussions and other exclusive bonus content, including the unedited video recording of this episode.

We talk transcendental idealism and Schopenhauer with Cole, who teaches philosophy at the College of Southern Nevada. How does the idea that everything is ideas actually affect behavior? What if you think that reality is a swirling mass of chaos? What are you gonna do then? Huh? Also, the least effective confidential informant!

Hear Mark talk about Schopenhauer on The Partially Examined Life.

Follow Cole @super_coleider. Hear more of her on YouTube.

Why did Google serve up the image I’ve featured here when I searched “ferret child’s drawing”? You decide!

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Mark and Bill act out a couple of scenes of a person trying to convince a stubborn person of something. But there’s a twist in the characterization! Also, before you were born, the world did not exist.

Part of this came out of some comments in The Partially Examined Life’s second Wittgenstein On Certainty episode and anticipates our upcoming treatment of Daoism. Mark also brings up up Rawls’ liberalism. And the meaning of the phrase “partially examined life” is revealed!

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Check out the Self Esteem Party podcast on TheSonarNetwork.com.

Rachael was a mentor of Bill’s and works with him at the newly reopened iO Theater. So it’s like we have TWO improv instructors here. We run some  scenes, talk a bit too much about chili, and touch on functionalism, idealism, napism, and other isms. Jump into the marzipan! Brucie and Frucie are waiting for you!

Rachael has been a guest on many improv podcasts.

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Sponsor: Check out the History Cache Podcast.

What does the shortness of our lives and the beauty of the world actually entail in terms of behavior and philosophy? Nick is a former pro skater who teaches philosophy at U. of San Diego and has written This Beauty about this question, as well as On Being Awesome.

Mark and Bill (your philosophy/comedy puppets, here eternally to dance for your entertainment) engage Nick via car wash planning, the appearance of Bill’s imaginary friend, Groundhog Day, excess copies of the Pol Pot biography, and other invitations to awesomeness.

Get more at nickriggle.com. Watch him talking a lot more about awsomeness. Follow him at @nickriggle.

Hey, supporters! Do you want to watch the unedited video of this episode, recorded solely for your benefit? Do it! Thanks for your support!

The episode image is from the car wash project.

Hear more PvI. Support the podcast! You’ll get all of our post-game discussions and other exclusive bonus content, including the unedited video recording of this very episode.

Sponsor: Check out Spencer Wants to Know.

Voice actor Dee, who has a background in both improv and stand-up, talks to Mark and Bill about the meaning of life and engages in THREE scenes all about a parent trying to get some kids into a vehicle and on the road. Also, does COVID cause ennui?

Hear more PvI. Support the podcast! You’ll get all of our post-game discussions and other exclusive bonus content, including the unedited video recording of this very episode.

Sponsor: Check out Killed to Death, an improvised true crime podcast.