Josh and Joe are joined by Dr. Massimo Pigliucci philosopher, evolutionary biologist, and the K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York to discuss the most fundamental of all questions: How to live a happy life? They discuss his latest book How to be a (Happy) Skeptic and use ancient philosophy to analyze contemporary problems. We also spend a good deal of time talking about why stoicism is so popular now and the distorted forms it takes. Also: Rome.
Josh and Joe have been doing the show for about a year now. In this episode they chat about a number of things that were on their mind. Why does the Trump admin want to sell off protected land? Why do New Yorkers seem to hate people from Ohio? What’s going to happen in the midterms? and more.
Josh and Joe are joined by Massimo Faggioli, a professor of historical theology at Villanova and author of Leo XIV and the Global Church. They discuss the Catholic Church in the U.S., how its split politically, what made it that way, and ancient and modern Rome.
Josh and Joe are joined by Dr. David Kyle Johnson, philosopher at King’s College in Pennsylvania to discuss the role of a philosopher in contemporary society. We live in a time where philosophical subjects like what is a person? What is consciousness? and others are front and center in political discourse. But where are the philosophers themselves? We also talk about Artificial intelligence, and a lot of Star Trek
Josh and Joe are joined by Liberal Currents’ executive editor Samantha Hancox-Li to discuss Hanxcox-Li’s analysis of the 2025 Prairieland ICE detention center protest and aftermath. We also talk about Liberal Currents’ mission and wrap up with a discussion of speculative fiction. We cover a lot of ground in the Social Club.
Joe is joined by special guest host Derick Dirmaier to talk about the state of sports in America. They talk about the experience of being a sports fan, the state of youth sports, and the effect of money and private equity.
Josh and Joe are joined by Jake Bittle, a reporter covering climate change at Grist to discuss the state of the Colorado River Basin. Seven states depend on this water system, but between overuse and aridification, it’s sustainability is in question. We discuss this and then touch on some other climate related issues, such as the relationship between data centers and coal. It was an amazing episode and if you don’t listen idk what’s wrong with you tbh.
Josh and Joe are joined by Joel Christensen, classics professor at CUNY Graduate School to discuss The Odyssey, both the Homerian epic and Christopher Nolan’s recent adaptation. The three talk through the differences between the movie and the original, what modern actor could fit the bill for Odysseus, and what Gods we should all be worshipping and sacrificing to.
Josh and Joe are joined by Devin Kennedy, history professor and author of the new book “Coding Capitalism: Computers and the Remaking of The Postwar US Economy”.
TPM’s Kate Riga joins Josh and Joe to talk about sports and the right, specifically the tendency of the current administration to make itself the main character. We talk Kash Patel and the Olympics, Trump and FIFA, and everything Caitlin Clark/WNBA.