Philosophy vs. Improv
Mark Linsenmayer
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Recent Episodes
S5E118 PvI#118: Aphoristically w/ Andrea Roccella
Mark and Mary are joined by Andrea, an Italian teacher with a broad performing background who’s written a book of philosophical, poetic aphorisms called Think Town: self-help reflections and…
S5E117 PvI#117: Mark and Mary in the Triboobal Aftermath
We are REELING from our REDACTED episode, and so we talk about the lessons we learned from that and start thinking about what it is to be out of one’s comfort zone: How do fear and ego issues…
S5 PREVIEW-BONUS EPISODE: Redacted Acting Coach
Every PvI recording is an experiment, and in this case, our guest (a bigwig acting coach in NYC whom I went to high school with) didn’t feel great about the episode, so I offered to paywall it. Here…
S5E116 PvI#116: Full Bird Mode w/ BJ Lange
BJ is an LA improviser/actor/TV host (who teaches wounded warriors among others), and he chats with Mark and Mary about migratory patterns, TV shows that date you, how to draw in students, the…
S5E115 PvI#115: Mary and Mark Astro-Logically
In this pitched, high-stakes battle, your hosts have it out about astrological biases, doing offensive accents, letting go of control in an improv scene, and group-based restrictions on who you feel…
S5E114 PvI#114: Earning Crazy Town w/ Jenny Hansen
St. Lawrence philosophy prof Jennifer L. Hansen, one of the most frequent guest on Mark’s podcasts and expert in feminist philosophy, here hits it off with our new host Mary. We act out vegan jerky…
S5E113 PvI#113: Mary and Mark Pick Their Battles
What is it worth raising an objection over, and how hard do you fight? We hear (and act out) Mary’s roommate-searching trauma, plus Mary for President, curiosity about bellicose Twitter, respect vs.…
S5E112 PvI#112: Musical Zoom w/ Jerome Kurtenbach
Jerome is an LA composer/director/screenwriter who is involved in a lot of musical improv, so Mary and Mark interview him about that and about the function of art, plus songs for pets, a support…
S5E111 PvI#111: God Smites Elijah Dann
Elijah is a philosophy prof (and PhD theologian) in Vancouver who was a die-hard, evangelical Christian but gradually became liberal and then atheist. In light of his latest book that collects all…
S5E110 PvI#110: Memories of 2026 w/ Mark and Mary
To kick off the Year of Our Lord 2026, Mark and Mary talk about memory: memory care for the elderly, the relation between things and memories, what professional activities are worth preserving…
S5E109 PvI#109: Choose Your Own Failure w/ Rich Baker
Rich runs the Dare to Fail improv school and is author of Improv Made Easier. He joins Mark and Mary to discuss contexts of failure, failing to meet your goals vs. “objective failure,” how to react…
S5E108 PvI#108: Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas Dinner… Lawrence Ware!
Philosopher/writer/critic/podcaster Lawrence Ware returns to the show to meet Mary and talk about how Mark is his own personal Leroy Jesus. We act out and/or discuss orphan greeting cards,…
S5E107 PvI#107: Mary and Mark Argue About Arguing
Is argumentation essential to philosophy? Should you always be open to arguments challenging your beliefs? An actual argument would not be just two abstract positions being measured against each…
S5E106 PvI#106: Heart Tchotchkes w/ Seth Stephon Brown
Seth is an improviser and aspiring professional “muse,” which is a type of life coach that hangs out with you to see where you could be more in touch with your humanity so that you can then work out…
S5E105 PvI#105: Friendtor Debate Club w/ Scott Gelfand
Scott, until lately a philosophy professor at Oklahoma State University, joins Mark and Mary to tout his new book, Thinking Ethically: A Handbook for Making Moral Choices. The point is to provide…
S5E104 PvI#104: The Hippie Code w/ Vickie Hayley
Mark and Mary are joined by improvisor/comedian/actress/filmmaker/host Vickie to talk about code switching and authenticity. Can you be authentic and still work a day job? Can Problem Solvers, Inc.…
S5E103 PvI#103: Post-COVID Mary and Mark
How does your body talk to you? Your favorite hosts-of-a-philosophy-and-improv-comedy show Mark Linsenmayer and Merry Mary Hynes re-connect after both being sick to get a bit Halloweeny so as to talk…
S5E102 PvI#102: Pit of Despair w/ Seth Paskin
Mark’s Partially Examined Life co-host Seth joins us (i.e. Mark and Mary) to introduce Seth to improv and continue introducing philosophy to Mary. We discuss Seth’s attraction to depressing texts,…
S5E101 PvI#101: Co-Hostery: Season Five Premiere with Mark and Mary
It is a new era, a new dawn, a new beginning, with a new font of improv wisdom in the form of Merry Mary Hynes, whom you’ve met, and in turn a fresh challenge for Mark to engage in philosophy…
S4E100 PvI#100: Maximizing Turtle Revenue w/ Tim Sniffen and Anthony LeBlanc
It’s our season finale, and the end of Bill’s regular participation on the show. You may wish to weep, but let your tears be of joy as well as reminiscence. We are re-joined by two of our favorite…
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Philosophy vs. Improv has published 121 episodes since July 2021, covering topics in Comedy, Improv.
Philosophy vs. Improv is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 53m.
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