Chasing Leviathan
by CG Productions
Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. Every episode is a dialogue, a journey into the depths of a meaningful question explored through the lens of personal experience or professional expertise.
Episodes
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Automated Athens: Ancient Greek Ideals in the Early Age of Automation | Dr. Michele Kennerly
Why do we constantly look back to the ancient past to make sense of artificial intelligence, automation, and the future of work? Penn State University's associate professor of communication and classics, Dr. Michele Kennerly, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the surprising history of how ancient...
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Law and the Good Life: On the Political Philosophy of Aristotle | Dr. Robert Bartlett
What does an ancient Greek philosopher have to teach us about navigating modern politics, friendship, and the ultimate pursuit of happiness? Boston College's Behrakis professor in Hellenic Political Studies, Dr. Robert Bartlett, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the enduring power and clarity of...
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Formal Objects: On Beauty and Sustainability | Dr. Robert Hariman
Why do we often assume that fighting climate change requires a life of scarcity, asceticism, and sacrificing abundance, when nature itself is wildly generative and beautiful? Northwestern University's Owen L. Coon Professor of Argumentation and Debate, Dr. Robert Hariman, joins host PJ Wehry on...
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To Taste: On Cooking and the Good Life | Dr. Scott Samuelson
Why have we reduced the profound, human experience of eating into a sterile game of counting calories, optimizing nutrition, and "maxing" our productivity? Iowa State University's professor of practice, Dr. Scott Samuelson, joins host PJ Weary to discuss how the simple act of cooking can serve as…
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A Decent Life: Morality for the Rest of Us | Dr. Todd May
Why does modern morality often feel like an exhausting, impossible burden rather than an inspiring way to live? Are we all required to be perfect "moral exemplars," or is there a strong philosophical case for simply living a decent life? Dr. Todd May, the Nielsen Professor of the Humanities at...
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Who's a Good Human? Practical Exercises for Living Mindfully with Dogs | Dr. Jessica Pierce
Why do we claim to love our dogs while breeding them for dependence and keeping them in environments that strip away their daily choices? Bioethicist and author Dr. Jessica Pierce joins host PJ Wehry on Chasing Leviathan to discuss human-animal relationships and the profound interconnections...
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Hegel's Sole Idea: The Last Great Metaphysical System | Dr. Mark Alznauer
Why did one of the most famous and ambitious philosophers in European history fall completely out of favor in just a few decades, and why is his totalizing view of reality still relevant today? Northwestern University's associate professor of philosophy and president of the Hegel Society of...
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How to Change Minds Without Lies, Bullshit, or Moral Compromise | Dr. Colin Marshall
Why do morally good people often hesitate to change other people's minds, viewing persuasion as presumptuous, obnoxious, or downright creepy? The University of Washington's professor of philosophy, Dr. Colin Marshall, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss how to successfully bridge deep divides in our...
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Chasing Leviathan Goes on a New Schedule
In this quick update, host PJ Weary shares some news about the future production schedule of the podcast. Thank you all for your continued support. We continue to having you join us for the next conversation. Check out our website at chasingleviathan.com Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan?...
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Loneliness in World History | Dr. Katie Barclay
What happens when a feeling we assume is a universal human experience is actually shaped, defined, and even created by our specific cultural language and material conditions? Macquarie University's Future Fellow at the School of Humanities, Dr. Katie Barclay, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the...
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The Psychology of Human Temporality | Dr. David Gilden
What happens when the simple act of slowing down a metronome reveals the exact limits of our attention, and how might our physical body size secretly dictate the way we experience rhythm and reality? Dr. David Gilden, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas, Austin,...
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Memory, Place, and the Monuments We Build | Dr. Janet Donohoe
What happens when we blindly accept the monuments in our built world, treating them as permanent fixtures of history rather than invitations to critique the traditions they represent? The University of West Georgia's Emerita Professor of Philosophy, Dr. Janet Donohoe, joins host PJ Wehry to…
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Music Perception & the Psychology of Enculturation | Dr. Marcus Pearce
Why is it that an ephemeral arrangement of sounds can move us to tears, while the exact same sequence might sound like chaotic noise to someone from another culture? Reader in Cognitive Science at Queen Mary University of London and Honorary Professor of Neuroscience at Aarhus University, Dr....
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The Medieval Culture of Disputation: Pedagogy, Practice, and Performance with Dr. Alex Novikoff
What happens when we assume our modern educational institutions and traditions of debate sprung from a vacuum, dismissing the Middle Ages as an uncritical era blinded by faith? Kenyon College's Assistant Professor of History, Dr. Alex Novikoff, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the overlooked...
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Turning Away: The Poetics of an Ancient Gesture | Dr. Benjamin Saltzman
What happens when our modern visual culture, which demands we constantly observe global atrocities on our phones, actually leads to apathy instead of a meaningful moral response? The University of Chicago's Associate Professor of English Language and Literature, Dr. Ben Saltzman, joins host PJ...
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A Philosopher at the Crossroads: Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola | Dr. Amos Edelheit
What happens when history remembers a brilliant young philosopher for his eccentric interests rather than the intellectual foundations he laid for the modern world? Maynooth University's lecturer and assistant professor, Dr. Amos Edelheit , joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the misunderstood legacy…
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Vico's New Science of the Intersubjective World | Dr. Vittorio Hösle
What happens when a society's pursuit of pure rationality and radical individualism actually threatens to dissolve the trust that holds it together? Notre Dame University's Paul G. Kimball Professor of Arts and Letters, Dr. Vittorio Hösle, joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the overlooked genius of...
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Making Disciples: Catechesis in History, Theology, and Practice | Dr. Alex Fogleman
What happens when secular culture does a better job of shaping our desires and beliefs than the church? Trinity Anglican Seminary theology professor Dr. Alex Fogelman joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the decline of discipleship and how modern culture invisibly catechizes us. Dr. Fogelman explores…
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Gadamer & the Transmission of History: Translating Theory into Clinical Practice | Dr. Jerome Veith
What happens when we stop treating therapy as a search for a hidden "inner life" and instead use it to explore our shared, lived world? Seattle University Senior Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Psychology and Licensed Therapist Dr. Jerome Veith joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the intersection…
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Jürgen Habermas: Public Intellectual and Engaged Critical Theorist | Peter Verovšek
This episode was recorded before the tragic news of Dr. Habermas' death. We deeply mourn his passing. Dr Habermas was a man who carefully and passionately pursued the truth, and so we hope that today's episode, in that spirit, we'll pay a small tribute to his legacy. What happens to our democracy...
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The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World | Dr. Christian Miller
What happens to our character when being dishonest becomes easier and more rewarding than ever before? Wake Forest University philosophy professor Dr. Christian Miller joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the "honesty crisis" and how modern technology reshapes our most fundamental virtue. Dr. Miller...
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Intertwined Creatures: The Embodied Cognitive Science of Self and Other | Dr. Anthony Chemero
How does recognizing our deep physical and social connections change the way we understand human nature? University of Cincinnati philosophy and psychology professor Dr. Anthony Chemero joins host PJ Weary to challenge traditional Western philosophy and explore the embodied nature of cognition.…
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Connection: How Technology Can Make Us Better Humans | Dr. Dan Turello
Are we powerless against the march of modern technology, or can we reclaim our agency to foster true human connection? Writer, cultural historian, and photographer Dr. Dan Turello joins host PJ Wehry to rethink our relationship with technology and explore its potential to improve the human...
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Metamodernism: The Future of Theory | Dr. Jason Ananda Josephson Storm
What comes after the endless critiques of postmodernism? Williams College professor Dr. Jason Ananda Josephson Storm joins host PJ Wehry to rethink the trajectory of the human sciences and chart a course for the future of academic theory. Dr. Storm, the Francis Christopher Oakley Third Century...
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Hegel, Heidegger, and the Ground of History | Dr. Michael Allen Gillespie
What do Hegel and Heidegger have to do with the struggles faced by liberalism today? Duke political philosopher Dr. Michael Allen Gillespie joins host PJ Wehry to rethink the philosophical foundations of modern history and the crisis we're living through now. Dr. Gillespie, Professor of Political...
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Balthasar on the Spiritual Senses: Perceiving Splendour | Dr. Mark McInroy
Can beauty actually reveal God? Oxford theologian Dr. Mark McInroy joins host PJ Wehry to explore Hans Urs von Balthasar's radical claim that beauty is not decoration, but the very structure of divine revelation. Dr. McInroy, Associate Professor of Contemporary and Systematic Theology at the...
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Why Read Pascal Today? | Dr. Yuval Avnur
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, host PJ Wehry sits down with Dr. Yuval Avnur, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Humanities Institute at Scripps College. They dive into Dr. Avnur's new book, Why Read Pascal Today?, and explore why Blaise Pascal remains one of the most vital voices…
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The Door of No Return: Being-As-Black | Dr. Michael E. Sawyer
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ sits down with Dr. Michael Sawyer, Professor of African American Literature and Culture at the University of Pittsburgh. They dive deep into the philosophy behind Dr. Sawyer's latest book, The Door of No Return: Being as Black. Dr. Sawyer challenges...
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God on Trial: Testing for the Divine with Dr. Paul Moser
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ is joined by Dr. Paul Moser to discuss his book, God on Trial: Testing for the Divine. They explore why traditional philosophical arguments often fail to reveal the true nature of God and why the search for the divine requires a shift from intellectual...
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Generations of Feeling: A History of Emotions, 600–1700 with Dr. Barbara Rosenwein
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ is joined by Dr. Barbara Rosenwein to discuss her book, Generations of Feeling: A History of Emotions, 600 to 1700, and the decade-long research process required to bridge the traditional academic silos of the medieval and early modern periods. Dr.…
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Hegel & Republicanism: Non-Domination, Economics, & Political Participation with Dr. Chris Yeomans
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ Wehry is joined once again by political theorist Dr. Chris Yeomans to discuss his recent work on republicanism, political participation, and the legacy of Hegel. The conversation centers on why republicanism has reemerged as a serious framework for…
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Three Pieces of Glass: Why We Feel Lonely in a World Mediated by Screens with Dr. Eric Jacobsen
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ is joined by Dr. Eric Jacobsen, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Washington, to discuss his book Three Pieces of Glass: Why We Feel Lonely in a World Mediated by Screens. Together they explore how modern life, shaped by smartphones,...
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Foundations of Black Epistemology: Knowledge Discourse in Africana Philosophy with Dr. Adebayo Oluwayomi
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ Wehry is joined by philosopher Dr. Adebayo Oluwayomi, assistant professor of philosophy at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, to discuss his book Foundations of Black Epistemology: Knowledge, Discourse, and Africana Philosophy. The conversation...
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Hunting for Justice: The Cosmology of Dike in Aeschylus’s Oresteia with Dr. Kalliopi Nikolopoulou
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Kalliopi Nikolopoulou discuss the intersection of ancient tragedy, justice, and cosmology. Drawing from Dr. Nikolopoulou’s book Hunting for Justice: The Cosmology of Decay in Aeschylus' Oresteia, the conversation explores how the relationship…
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Marginality: Solidarity and the Fight for Social Change with Dr. Jin Park
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Jin Park explore the idea of marginality and why it matters for understanding power, identity, and social change. Their conversation is grounded in Dr. Park’s book, Marginality: Solidarity, and the Fight for Social Change, which brings together...
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A Death of the World: Surviving the Death of the Other with Dr. Harris Bechtol
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Harris Bechtol discuss the death of the other—and why Western philosophy has largely failed to take it seriously. Drawing from Bechtol’s book A Death of the World: Surviving the Death of the Other, the conversation explores how grief, mourning, and...
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Christian Humanism with Dr. Jens Zimmermann
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ talks with Dr. Jens Zimmermann about Christian humanism and what it means to understand humanity through Christ. Their conversation explores the dualism that often divides faith and reason, how Neoplatonism shaped Christian thought, and why Bonhoeffer saw...
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The Fall and Redemption of Conscience: A Reformed Biblical Theology with Rev. Andrea Ferrari
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, host PJ Wehry sits down with Rev. Andrea Ferrari—Reformed pastor, theologian, and author of The Fall and Redemption of Conscience: A Reformed Biblical Theology—to explore one of the most neglected yet foundational topics in Christian thought: the nature of…
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Adorno, Heidegger, and the Politics of Truth with Dr. Lambert Zuidervaart
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Lambert Zuidervaart discuss his book, Adorno, Heidegger, and the Politics of Truth, tracing how his decades of work on Adorno led to a deep exploration of truth, art, and society. Dr. Zuidervaart explains why Adorno believed art reveals forms of...
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Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist with Dr. David Bather Woods
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ Wehry sits down with Dr. David Bather Woods to explore the remarkable life behind one of history’s most influential—and misunderstood—thinkers: Arthur Schopenhauer. Drawing from his new book, Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy’s…
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Gadamer and the Social Turn in Epistemology with Dr. Carolyn Culbertson
Can knowing ever be neutral, or are we always shaped by history and culture? PJ and Dr. Carolyn Culbertson explore how Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutics challenges both Enlightenment objectivity and postmodern relativism, showing that understanding itself is an event of truth. Their discussion...
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The Psychology of Parasocial Experiences: Fandom, Hate-Watching & Emotional Connection with Dr. Rebecca Tukachinsky-Forster
In this episode, PJ sits down with Dr. Rebecca Tukachinsky-Forster to explore parasocial relationships—the one-sided connections people form with media figures. They discuss how these relationships have evolved since the 1950s, their role in emotional support, and how social media has reshaped…
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The Logic of the Body: Retrieving Theological Psychology with Dr. Matthew LaPine
In this episode, Dr. Matthew LaPine joins PJ to discuss The Logic of the Body: Retrieving Theological Psychology—a groundbreaking exploration of how theology and psychology intersect. Drawing from his own experiences with mental health, Dr. LaPine examines how emotions, embodiment, and reason…
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Plotting Agrarian Futures in the Global Black South with Dr. Jarvis McInnis
In this episode, Dr. Jarvis McInnis, author of Afterlives of the Plantation, joins PJ to explore the deep cultural, intellectual, and historical legacy of Black life in the American South. Focusing on the Tuskegee Institute and the complex legacy of Booker T. Washington, McInnis reveals how Black...
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How the Great Books Changed My Life & Why They Matter for a New Generation with Dr. Roosevelt Montás
Join us as Dr. Roosevelt Montás, author of Rescuing Socrates, explores the transformative power of a liberal education. In this conversation, Montás critiques the current state of American higher education and advocates for a holistic approach that fosters self-reflection, empathy, civic...
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The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy with Ray Madoff
In this episode, Ray Madoff, author of The Second Estate, breaks down how the U.S. tax code has enabled the wealthiest Americans to avoid paying their fair share, creating a modern aristocracy. She explains why understanding taxes is essential for every citizen and highlights the strategies the...
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Every Noise at Once: Spotify, Music Discovery, and Human Connection with Glenn McDonald
What makes music more than sound? Glenn McDonald, data engineer, author of You Have Not Yet Heard Your Favorite Song, and former Spotify “genre taxonomist,” joins host PJ Wehry to explore the transformative power of music. From shaping Spotify’s genre mapping system to creating the interactive...
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From Bismarck to WWII: Lessons from the German Empire with Dr. Roger Chickering
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ sits down with Dr. Roger Chickering, Professor Emeritus of History at Georgetown University and author of The German Empire, 1871–1918. Together they unpack the rise of modern Germany, the role of Bismarck and Wilhelm II, and how debates around the…
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Richard Hooker, John Locke, and the Ascent of Modern Constitutionalism with Dr. Alexander Rosenthal-Pubul
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Alexander Rosenthal-Pubul discuss his book 'Crown under Law: Richard Hooker, John Locke, and the Ascent of Modern Constitutionalism.' Dr. Rosenthal-Pubul contrasts Hooker's views with those of Hobbes, delves into the historical context of…
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Signs from the Future: A Philosophy of Warnings with Dr. Santiago Zabala
In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Santiago Zabala discuss his book, 'Signs from the Future: A Philosophy of Warnings.' They explore the intriguing concept of warnings as philosophical tools, discussing how they address the absence of emergencies and the role of philosophy in…
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About this show
Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud. These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop. Every episode is a dialogue, a journey into the depths of a meaningful question explored through the lens of personal experience or professional expertise.
Hosted by
CG Productions
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