In this episode we get down to trust and robots, spending a lot of time on a recent in-class experiment we did with our students: could we get them to trust a robot to teach them philosophy? #trust #philosophy #robot #education

In this episode we dig into why robots can be culturally insensitive, the value of the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy and the philosophical backdrop to imposter syndrome. https://theconversation.com/why-robots-can-be-culturally-insensitive-and-how-scientists-are-trying-to-fix-it-227610https://plato.stanford.eduhttps://kylevo.substack.com/p/imposter-syndrome-is-a-conspiracy#philosophy #impostersyndrome #robots

In this episode, we explore what it means to have a transformative experience — moments that permanently alter how we understand ourselves and the world.From forests to philosophy, we also trace the question of consciousness in unexpected directions: Do trees think? Can our encounter with nature change the way we define mind, agency, and moral worth? We also turn to philosopher Havi Carel’s work on the Philosophy of Illness, asking whether a good life depends on good health — and to Angie Hobbs’ reflections on bringing philosophy to the public through the BBC’s Remembrance project.Together, these conversations reveal philosophy as something lived and felt — not just argued. Whether through illness, art, or awe in the natural world, transformation isn’t an abstract concept; it’s how thought becomes experience.#philosophy #transformativeexperience #illness

In this episode, we explore how laughter can open the door to serious thought. From classroom jokes at Rutgers–Camden to the psychology of better choices, we trace how humor disarms us, helping philosophy land where it matters most — in everyday life.

The conversation then turns to belief and reason: what’s the difference between a religious and a philosophical exemption — and why does even the law struggle to tell them apart? Along the way, we reflect on the power of public philosophy, as Michael Sandel’s $1 million Berggruen Prize highlights the enduring need for moral debate in civic life.

It’s a lively, good-humored journey through the serious business of thinking clearly, disagreeing well, and remembering that philosophy works best when it makes us smile and think.

Using Humor to Spark Deep Thinking in Philosophy | Rutgers University-Camden

 https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/psychologist-philosopher-make-better-choices-bookbite/57493/amp/

What's a religious exemption and what's a philosophical one? Even the lawyers see that differently - WV MetroNews

https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/1-million-berggruen-philosophy-prize-awarded-to-michael-sandel-302580909.html

In this episode we dive into what might be the single most crucial skill for college students in today’s rapidly changing world. Drawing on ideas from recent pieces like “The Philosophical Bet in the Age of AI” (Time), we explore why preparing for an AI-transformed future is not just a tech issue but a moral and philosophical one.  

We also examine “5 Great Thinkers Who Rejected Their Own Ideas” (Big Think), considering what intellectual humility, adaptability, and the willingness to change one’s mind can teach students about learning, identity, and growth.  

There's also a discussion of the controversial idea of Pastoral AI: affective, companion-type generative AI in higher education, asking what happens when institutions become responsible for not just educating minds—but attending to hearts.

Whether you’re a student, educator, or just curious, this episode offers something essential: how to think resiliently, change bravely, and prepare for futures that might demand more than just knowledge.

The most important skill college students should learn

https://time.com/7320539/philosophical-bet-age-of-ai/

Pastoral AI? Why Higher Ed Must Talk About Affective GenAI Companions.

https://bigthink.com/thinking/5-great-thinkers-who-rejected-their-own-ideas/

In this episode, we explore what it really means to think well in the age of AI and appearances. We discuss new research showing that philosophy majors outperform every other discipline on critical thinking tests—why might that be, and what does it say about the future of higher education? And we also discuss the claim that evidence of objective morality is “hidden in plain sight,” asking whether moral truths still hold when machines can reason. Along the way, a thread on respectability and dress sparks a conversation about judgment, perception, and how we read moral character from appearance. Finally, a Daily Nous guest post on how philosophers can use theory-driven GPTs brings the discussion full circle: what happens when our theories start to think back?

Evidence of Objective Morality Is Hidden in Plain Sight - Christianity Today

https://studyfinds.org/philosophy-majors-beat-every-other-major-on-critical-thinking-tests/

derek guy on X: "ON RESPECTABILITY IN DRESS Every once in a while, people here will get mad at me. And it often involves the same issue: respectability in dress. Or its related cousin: dress codes. Judging someone's deeper, more important qualities based on attire often feels so natural; people https://t.co/2fjFS4wG0u" / X 

https://dailynous.com/2025/09/25/best-next-moves-how-philosophers-can-make-good-use-of-theory-driven-gpts-guest-post/

Welcome to This is Not an Episode! This ... episode... takes us down the rabbit hole of applied philosophy. We begin by being as boring as we can be—in the name of art. Then we move to something less or more boring, depending on your view of Manchester United, and get stuck into what it means to have a sporting philosophy. A touch of extremism and responsibility is up third before we close of with a talk through the impacts of professor gender on student ratings. 

Items we talk about:

In Praise of Boring Art - Aesthetics for Birds 

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/46258918/defiant-amorim-change-philosophy-manchester-united 

Who's responsible for extreme beliefs? - ABC listen  

Students rate identical lectures differently based on professor's gender, researchers find 

Welcome to This is Not an Episode! This ... episode... takes us into some of the most provocative frontiers of philosophy today. We begin inside the prison walls, asking what it means to teach philosophy in a world where truth and lies carry life-changing weight. Then we shift gears: should philosophers take drugs? Could altered states open new doors to insight, or is that a dangerous distraction from philosophy’s real task? Finally, we turn to the future—how should we think about education in the age of AI, when technology is reshaping not just what we know, but how we learn?

From truth and deception to psychedelics and artificial intelligence, this conversation explores how philosophy remains alive, disruptive, and deeply human in a rapidly changing world.