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talkPOPc (Philosophers' Ontological Party club), is public philosophy + cognitively-engaged art nonprofit founded by Dr. Dena Shottenkirk, who is both a philosopher and an artist. As a topic-based project (we are now on our fourth) talkPOPc sponsors one-to-one conversations between a participant and a philosopher (who always dons our amazing gold African king hat, along with our mascot Puppet!) These conversations are consensus-building conversations and feed back into Shottenkirk's related artworks and published philosophy. The conversations become collaborative acts of making both philosophy and art. Thus, each topic - #1. nominalism, #2. censorship, #3. art as cognition, and #4 power - has three "pillars" the associated artworks, the published philosophy book, and podcast conversations. Various philosophers participate (see our website talkpopc.org for the list of philosophers) and these conversations happen in various places. For example, we go into bars and have one-to-one conversations. We sit down next to the deli counter and hold a conversation with someone who has walked in to get a ham sandwich and walked out knowing so much more about their own thoughts. We go into the MDC prison in Brooklyn and have conversations. We set up in galleries where the artworks and the philosophy are also displayed. And we listen. Here are some of those conversations.
Change happens when people talk.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Episode #144: Resident Philosopher Dena Shottenkirk speaks with Dr. Richmond Kwesi at the University of Ghana on Consensus vs. Listening
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Mar 20, 2026 |
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Episode #143: Resident Philosopher Dena Shottenkirk speaks with artist Alexander (Zev) on art as a form of power at Stephen Street Gallery
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Feb 06, 2026 |
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Episode #141: Resident Philosopher Jordan Bridges speaks with Elise Duryee-Browner at carriagetrade Gallery
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Jan 24, 2026 |
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Episode #142: Resident Philosopher Jordan Bridges speaks with Noah Gotlib at carriagetrade Gallery
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Jan 24, 2026 |
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Episode #140: Resident Philosopher Dena Shottenkirk speaks with Marketa about the Velvet Revolution at Jilska 14 Gallery in Prague
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Jan 12, 2026 |
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Episode #139: Resident Philosopher Dena Shottenkirk speaks with Amelie on power and the censorship of Lolita at Jilska 14 Gallery in Prague
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Jan 06, 2026 |
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Episode #138: Resident Philosopher speaks with William about power as both a mental construct and physical thing @ Stephen Street Gallery
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Jun 27, 2025 |
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Episode #139: Resident Philosopher Dena Shottenkirk talks with art critic Sean Tatol about power, Wittgenstein, & looking at art
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May 16, 2025 |
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Episode 137: Tsee
|
Dec 26, 2024 |
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Episode 136: Stone
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Dec 12, 2024 |
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Episode 135: Lucy Gray
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Nov 28, 2024 |
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Episode 134: Claire Hamilton
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Nov 21, 2024 |
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Episode #133 R.P. Tyler Olds talks with talkPOPc participant Maggie about philosophy, power, and justice
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Oct 06, 2024 |
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Episode #132 R.P. Tyler Olds talks with talkPOPc participant Kendall about philosophy, power, and freedom
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Sep 28, 2024 |
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Episode #131 R.P. Tyler Olds talks with talkPOPc participants Jenn and Katherin about social power, power structures, and relationships
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Sep 22, 2024 |
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Episode #130 R.P. Tyler Olds talks with talkPOPc participant Christopher about social power, community dynamics, and obligation
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Sep 08, 2024 |
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Episode #129 R.P. Alex Mendez talks with talkPOPc participant Noor about censorship,free speech, and Gaza conflict
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May 25, 2024 |
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Episode #128 R.P. Alex Mendez talks with talkPOPc participants Javon and Brodin about censorship, free speech and social media
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May 18, 2024 |
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Episode #127 R.P. Alex Mendez talks with talkPOPc participant Noah about censorship, free speech and cancel culture
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May 11, 2024 |
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Episode #126 R.P. Dena talks with talkPOPc participant Emily about censorship, art, and free speech
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May 04, 2024 |
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Episode #124 R.P. Dena talks with talkPOPc participant Malka about censorship and Gaza conflict
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Mar 17, 2024 |
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Episode #125 R.P. Dena talks with talkPOPc participant Joshua about art, expression, and censorship
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Mar 17, 2024 |
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Episode #119 Magdeburg Seminar (in German)
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Mar 16, 2024 |
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Episode #118 R.P. Shottenkirk speak in Prague at Jilska 14 with Victoria about art, peacemaking, and God
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Jan 03, 2024 |
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Episode #117: Resident Philosopher Vincent Peluce talks with talkPOPc participant Levi about censorship
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Dec 14, 2023 |
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Episode #116: R.P. Shottenkirk and J. L. Brandl speak at the Galerie 5020 in Salzburg, Austria on art as a tool for individual cognition and social cooperation
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Oct 14, 2023 |
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Episode #115: Dena Shottenkirk speaks with Viennese gallerist Christine König about literature and art at Salzburg5020 Gallery
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Oct 07, 2023 |
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Episode #122, Resident Philosopher J. L. Brandl and talkPOPc participant Ophia talk about philosophy, art, and sociology
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Oct 07, 2023 |
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Episode #123 Resident Philosopher J. L. Brandl talks with participant Bruendl vegh about philosophy in medicine (auf deutsch)
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Oct 07, 2023 |
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Episode #114 R. P. Sascha Benjamin Fink speaks with several participants in Magdeburg, Germany 2022 (auf deutsch)
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Sep 25, 2023 |
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Episode #113 R. P. Shottenkirk speaks with Philosopher Christopher Gauker @ 5020 Gallery, Salzburg, Austria
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Sep 11, 2023 |
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Episode #112: Resident Philosopher Dr. Sascha Benjamin Fink speaks (in German / auf Deutsch!) with Pauline Simon in Magdeburg, Germany
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Sep 04, 2023 |
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Episode #111 In Magdeburg, Germany: R.P. Fink talks about how cognitive processes of art with Chiara Lindloff & Ioannis Armoutis
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Aug 28, 2023 |
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Episode #110: In Prague, Alicia speaks about the social, communicative, and spiritual experience of art
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Aug 20, 2023 |
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Episode #120 R.P. Peluce and Mia talk about censorship and the self-exploration of one's beliefs
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Aug 13, 2023 |
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Episode #121 R.P. Peluce talks with participant Miriam about censorship, free expression and cultural appropriation
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Aug 13, 2023 |
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Episode #109 Resident Philosopher Fink speaks with Nele Köhler in Magdeburg, Germany (auf deutsch!)
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Jun 16, 2023 |
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Episode #108 Resident Philosopher Sascha Benjamin Fink speaks (auf deutsch!) in Magdeburg, Germany, with the scholar of philosophical anthropology Prof. Antonio Roselli
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Jun 05, 2023 |
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Episode #107: Hendrix speaks with R.P. Shottenkirk about how art can make the viewer feel as though they are being seen
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Mar 05, 2023 |
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Episode #106: Danielle - Art, Fiction & Truth
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Jan 23, 2023 |
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Episode #103 R.P. Sascha Benjamin Fink speaks in Magdeburg, Germany with students Bosse Schäfer, etc.
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Dec 20, 2022 |
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Episode #104 Three Universität Otto von Guericke students (including Ioannis Armoutis) discuss ontology, cognition, and art
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Dec 20, 2022 |
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Episode #105 Magdeburg Paula Kaskel and Nele Köhler (in German)
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Dec 20, 2022 |
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Episode #102: Estafania Soto Reyes and the Theatre of the Oppressed
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Nov 27, 2022 |
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Episode #101: Arliss speaks with Resident Philosopher Shottenkirk (his mother!) about 20th Century nihilism, God, and the role of art
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Nov 27, 2022 |
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Episode #100: talkPOPc at galerie Jilská14: Philosophers Dena Shottenkirk and Martin Nitsche: the Bridge between Continental and Analytic Philosophy
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Nov 13, 2022 |
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Episode #99 R.P. Shottenkirk speaks in Prague at Jilska 14 gallery with William about art as paying attention
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Oct 02, 2022 |
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Episode #98: Darell: "The Nugget of Fun" entertainment that is at the core of all art
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Sep 12, 2022 |
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Episode #97: Edward - empathy, psychedelics, theatre and "Art as a Vitamin of Consciousness"
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Aug 21, 2022 |
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Episode #96: Hazel - The Connection Between Love and Art
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Aug 07, 2022 |
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Episode #95: Elizabeth - the non-commodity, transcendent power of art
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Jul 10, 2022 |
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Episode #94: George Menz on art that is narcissistic or art that is ego-shattering
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Jun 26, 2022 |
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Episode #93: Amanda - How art creates a physical/psychic space
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Jun 19, 2022 |
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Episode #92: Aharon - Individual PoV and how consensus is reached
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Jun 12, 2022 |
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Episode #91: Thelonious Moree speaks about stories, utopias.
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Jun 05, 2022 |
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Episode #90: Anastasia - Fiction and its power to teach you about yourself
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May 29, 2022 |
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Episode #89: Ehime Ora speaks with Dr. Carolina Flores about fashion, African fabrics, and political messaging
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May 23, 2022 |
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Episode #88: Jesi Taylor speaks about poetry and Sam Gilliam's work
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May 08, 2022 |
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Episode #87: Will - Russia and the plight of art under totalitarianism
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May 01, 2022 |
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Episode #86: Levi - How understanding art is social and cognitive
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Apr 24, 2022 |
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Episode #85: Johny - The aesthetics of anime: classical art, expression and anime's sophisticated narratives
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Apr 16, 2022 |
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Episode #84: The talkPOPc Summary Episode - everything you ever wanted to know about the Philosophers' Ontological Party club
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Apr 04, 2022 |
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Episode #83: talkPOPc on Montez Press Radio featuring Resident Philosophers Nicholas Whittaker, Carolina Flores and Dr. Dena Shottenkirk in conversation: "Philosophy as conversation", "Art as conversation" & "talkPOPc as thought-building and love"
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Mar 20, 2022 |
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Episode #82: talkPOPc Resident Philosophers Ian Olasov & Carolina Flores discuss narratives of group-identity, beliefs, racism, colonization, and how to restructure the future
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Mar 13, 2022 |
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Episode #81: Resident Philosopher Anatoly Nichvoloda in conversation with talkPOPc founder and Resident Philosopher Dr. Shottenkirk on art's basis in science
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Mar 13, 2022 |
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Episode #80: Andrey - "From Recording to Speaking"
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Feb 27, 2022 |
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Episode #79: Taylor - Dreams, Sisyphus and meaning
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Feb 21, 2022 |
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Episode #78: Morgan -"Philosophy tells us how to think, not what to think" - in conversation with talkPOPc Resident Philosopher Carolina Flores
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Feb 06, 2022 |
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Episode #77: Laura - "Art as non-linguistic, Unconscious Thought"
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Feb 01, 2022 |
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Episode #76: Resident Philosopher Nicholas Whittaker in conversation with an Anonymous Passerby on talkPOPc Topic #3 Art as Cognition - "Art is Taking a Break from Thinking"
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Jan 24, 2022 |
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Episode #75: Sam - Humor, Emotions, & Art
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Jan 10, 2022 |
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Episode 74: Marta. "Higher and Lower Order" in the Cognitive Function of Art
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Jan 03, 2022 |
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Episode #73: Frank - "French Stucturalist Philosophers, Ancient Asian Philosophy, & Compassion"
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Dec 27, 2021 |
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Episode 72: Kyle speaks to R.P. Whittaker about thinking like an artist
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Dec 20, 2021 |
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Episode #71: Meg asks Resident Philosopher Nick Whittaker about human vs. animal aesthetic experience
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Dec 12, 2021 |
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Episode #70: Oralie - Biology and the limits of Observation, Meaning-making
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Nov 29, 2021 |
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Episode #69: Alex & Resident Philosopher Whittaker: cognition is a form of art
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Nov 21, 2021 |
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Episode #68: RP Whittaker with Sasha and Glen: Art, history, authenticity - art a kind of legitimated, time-stamping of history
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Nov 15, 2021 |
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Episode #67: Hyppolite, Substance Abuse Counselor, talks with RP Whittaker about art, catharsis, and living.
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Nov 05, 2021 |
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Episode #66: "art stops us in our tracks": Rony Ortiz speaks with Philosopher Whittaker
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Oct 24, 2021 |
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Episode 61: Jay Ortiz Bryant Park
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Oct 17, 2021 |
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Episode #60: Complex Systems & The Social Construction of Meaning in Art: Ben Porter with Resident Philosopher Whittaker @ Bryant Park
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Oct 10, 2021 |
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Episode #59: Expression in Art, Hegel & Billie Eilish: Sebastian speaks with Philosopher Nicholas Whittaker
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Oct 03, 2021 |
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Episode #58: Cognition, Humans, Animals, and Art: Participant Elaine Angelopoulos with Resident Philosopher Nicholas Whittaker @Bryant Park
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Sep 26, 2021 |
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Episode #57: Gist, Art, and Personal Interactions: Resident Philosopher Shottenkirk speaks with student Jacob Sabu
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Sep 19, 2021 |
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Episode #56 Software Design, Bodies, Virtual Reality and Affordances: John Palmer talks with talkPOPc Resident Philosopher Shottenkirk
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Sep 19, 2021 |
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Episode #55 Meditation, Art, & Cognition: Resident Philosopher Carolina Flores talks with talkPOPc participant Nicholas Ligotino
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Sep 05, 2021 |
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Episode 54: Fashion: "Buying a piece of clothing is buying someone's mind", Resident Philosopher Shottenkirk with talkPOPc participant Nicola Johnson
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Aug 29, 2021 |
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Episode 53: Attention, Education, and "Can art change your attitude to the world?" Resident Philosopher with talkPOPc participant Mark Friedman
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Aug 22, 2021 |
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Episode 52: The Stoics, the Bible, Artists, Eating People, NFT's, and Your First Period: talkPOPc Resident Philosopher Olasov speaks to talkPOPc Participant Alex
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Aug 15, 2021 |
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Episode 51: Music - Socializing, and Thinking: talkPOPc Resident Philosopher Ian Olasov & talkPOPc Guest Participant Eva Pilay on Art as Cognition
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Aug 08, 2021 |
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Episode 50: Mereology, Subjectivity, and Movies & Novels: talkPOPc Resident Philosophers Carolina Flores & Martina Botti discuss Art as Cognition
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Aug 01, 2021 |
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Episode 49: Resident Philosopher Ian Olasov and talkPOPc Guest Participant Nayanci Lopez "Why Do We Make Art?"
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Jul 25, 2021 |
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Episode 48: talkPOPc Resident Philosopher Ian Olasov & talkPOPc Guest Participant Joshua Rosenberg converse about art as a medium for philosophy and vice versa, using Picasso's Guernica as an example and how the medium of photography can be philosophical
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Jul 11, 2021 |
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Episode 47: "Art is Verb Not a Noun": Resident Philosopher Carolina Flores talks with talkPOPc participant Shannon Rousseau
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Jul 11, 2021 |
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Episode 46: Gaston speaks of artists' suffering during covid
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Mar 14, 2021 |
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Episode 45: Marjorie Sweeney on why America needs Group Dancing
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Feb 28, 2021 |
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Episode 44: Joan talks about Medieval art & the political role of art
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Feb 14, 2021 |
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Episode 43: Justin Freeman: Art, Basketball and being Black
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Jan 17, 2021 |
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Episode 42: Aaron Eastburn: Art as Communicative Language and Empathy-Generator
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Jan 03, 2021 |
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Episode 40: Stephen Hanson: Galleries, Museums, and Embodied Experience
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Dec 20, 2020 |
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Episode 39: Hoover Chung: Fashion, Gender, and Art versus Design Debate
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Dec 13, 2020 |
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Episode 38: Arion Toles: Power, Identity and the Art of Being "Unresolved"
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Dec 06, 2020 |
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Episode 37: Bogyi Banovich: Body/Mind - Art Makes Our Minds Manifest
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Nov 29, 2020 |
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Episode 36: Kaya Simmons: Acting, Vulnerability, and Truth
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Nov 22, 2020 |
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Episode 32: Beth: Covid, BLM protests, and Reclaiming Urban Places
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Nov 15, 2020 |
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Episode 33: Will Smith: What Both Country and Rap Can Do for You
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Nov 08, 2020 |
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Episode 34: Charles: Animals, Evolution, and the Naturalness of Aesthetics
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Nov 01, 2020 |
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Episode 35: Steven: Theatre, Empathy, and Knowledge
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Oct 25, 2020 |
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Episode 31: Richard: Art, Civil War Monuments, and the Collective Thought
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Oct 18, 2020 |
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Episode 30: Robert & The Sensory Pleasure of Art
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Oct 11, 2020 |
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Episode 29: George: architecture and social usage
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Oct 04, 2020 |
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Episode 28: Ulysses Pizarro: Unmediated, Direct Gaze
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Aug 02, 2020 |
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Episode 27: Dan Durso talks about art, evolution, and social bonding.
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Jul 28, 2020 |
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Episode 26: Jeremy. A critic's POV. Interrogating yourself to learn, think and communicate.
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May 10, 2020 |
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Episode 25: Beth. Art in the environment. A reconfiguration of thought
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May 03, 2020 |
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Episode 24: John. A photographer's gaze. Mechanical over artistic.
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Apr 26, 2020 |
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Episode 23: Caron. Spirituality of art. Nigunim and the levels of music.
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Apr 19, 2020 |
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Episode 22: Jesi. Who is art for? Creating to create, or creating for an audience?
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Apr 12, 2020 |
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Episode 21: Nicholas. Art's duality. When you create, you don't think. When you consume, you contemplate.
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Apr 05, 2020 |
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Episode 20: João, Art as a system of signs. A language of exception.
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Mar 29, 2020 |
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Episode 19: Keith: Is Art Defined by Our Reaction?
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Mar 08, 2020 |
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Episode 18: Gilles: Art is What Art Does
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Mar 01, 2020 |
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Episode 17: Patrice, Choreography and World-Building
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Feb 23, 2020 |
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Episode 16: Raffle-winner Destin: It Moves Us. We Call it "Art"
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Jan 19, 2020 |
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Episode 15: Boredom, Anxiety, and Being an Artist
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Jan 12, 2020 |
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Episode 14: Dr. Sascha Benjamin Fink + talkPOPc Resident Philosopher Andrew Rubner explore Topic #3 "Art as Cognition"
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Jan 05, 2020 |
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Episode 13: Crystal: Feeling/Meaning in Art
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Dec 29, 2019 |
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Episode 12: Jasmine & The Butterfly
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Dec 22, 2019 |
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Episode 11: Mr. Walcott and Landscaping
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Dec 15, 2019 |
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Episode 10: Erline and the Purpose of Uniform. Expression and Meaning Through Clothing
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Dec 08, 2019 |
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Episode 9: Flora, Art History and Voyeurism
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Dec 01, 2019 |
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Episode 8: Mark's Math and Surrealism
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Nov 24, 2019 |
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Episode 7: Charlexia's City Murals & City Parks
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Nov 17, 2019 |
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Episode 6: Angelie: Science, Creativity, and Getting it Right
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Nov 16, 2019 |
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Episode 5: Jake: The Soteriological Role of Art
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Nov 16, 2019 |
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Episode 2: Marcus on Rasta, Music, and Being Happy
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Aug 11, 2019 |
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Episode 3: Tom and Art as Education for Children
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Aug 11, 2019 |
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Episode 4: Marina and the Stained Glass Experience
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Aug 11, 2019 |
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Episode 1: Pessy and Ultra Orthodox Upbringing
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Aug 11, 2019 |