Episodes

  • This/That: Sermon on the Mount Unpacked Michel Foucault and B.F. Skinner Explore Translation, Power, and Behavior

    This/That: Sermon on the Mount Unpacked Michel Foucault and B.F. Skinner Explore Translation, Power, and Behavior
    Feb 22 2025
    In this informal “Study Hall” podcast episode, two 20th-century figures—Michel Foucault and B.F. Skinner—are reimagined (with the help of A.I.) to explore the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5–7. Drawing on each thinker’s intellectual background, the conversation playfully highlights how different English Bible translations (e.g., King James Version, English Standard Version, and New American Bible) alter the text’s tone and interpretation. Foucault applies a “genealogical” lens, showing how power and historical context influence translation choices, while Skinner, from a behaviorist perspective, notes that varied wording can shift how people emotionally and ethically respond.

    They illustrate how even small translation tweaks—“earth” vs. “land,” “debts” vs. “trespasses,” “evil” vs. “the evil one”—can yield different theological and behavioral consequences, from views on the “reward” awaiting the meek to whether sin is seen as a “debt” or a “trespass.” Foucault and Skinner also discuss institutional factors (such as the Church of England for the KJV or the U.S. Catholic bishops for the NAB), revealing how centuries of scholarship and ecclesiastical authority shape modern readings. Throughout, the hosts remind listeners that translations are never neutral word swaps: they embody layers of cultural, social, and religious power.

    Finally, the episode underscores that these insights were generated via an A.I. recreation of Skinner’s and Foucault’s perspectives, rooted in their well-known works. Listeners are encouraged to compare translations themselves, explore the subtle shifts in meaning, and appreciate that every biblical text is a product of both its original languages and the interpretive lenses of translators across time.
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    45 mins
  • Michel Foucault’s Power/Knowledge: The Interplay of Authority and Discourse

    Michel Foucault’s Power/Knowledge: The Interplay of Authority and Discourse
    Feb 21 2025
    These excerpts from "Michel Foucault - Power Knowledge.pdf" are interviews and discussions between Michel Foucault and various other intellectuals discussing the nature of power, particularly how power is exercised through knowledge. Foucault argues against traditional views of power as repressive and instead emphasizes how power creates knowledge, which in turn reinforces and reproduces power structures. This discussion delves into the history of institutions like prisons and hospitals and examines how they have been shaped by power relations and used to control and discipline populations, especially in the context of sexuality and madness. He also explores how these power dynamics are reflected in a variety of disciplines, such as medicine, geography, and even the "science" of crime.
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    16 mins
  • Prison, Power, and Surveillance: Foucault on the Birth of the Carceral System

    Prison, Power, and Surveillance: Foucault on the Birth of the Carceral System
    Feb 21 2025
    This excerpt from a 1975 interview with Michel Foucault explores the historical evolution of power relations in the context of criminality and punishment. It examines how punishment transitioned from physical penalties to systems of surveillance, and how this shift contributed to the creation and utilization of a criminal class. Foucault argues that the prison, initially intended to reform individuals, ultimately functioned to manufacture criminals and reinforce societal power structures. The interview also delves into the relationship between knowledge and power, suggesting that they are mutually reinforcing and interconnected. Throughout the interview, Foucault emphasizes the importance of examining the historical context of knowledge and its relationship to power structures.
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    14 mins
  • Popular Justice and the Court System: Foucault’s Dialogue with Maoists

    Popular Justice and the Court System: Foucault’s Dialogue with Maoists
    Feb 21 2025
    This text is an excerpt from a discussion between Michel Foucault and some Maoists about popular justice. Foucault argues that the Maoists' vision of popular justice is based on a misunderstanding of how power operates. He claims that popular justice is not truly independent of the state and that it will ultimately become a new form of oppression. Foucault also critiques the development of the judicial system and argues that it has always been a tool for the control and suppression of the proletariat. He believes that a true revolution must overcome the state and its institutions in order to achieve a truly popular justice.
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    11 mins
  • This/That: Women and Shaving: The Cultural History Behind Beauty Norms

    This/That: Women and Shaving: The Cultural History Behind Beauty Norms
    Feb 20 2025
    The provided text explores the history of women's leg and underarm shaving, tracing its evolution from a largely irrelevant practice in pre-20th-century Western societies to a widespread norm driven by changing fashion trends and targeted marketing. The analysis highlights how advertising campaigns effectively linked hair removal to ideals of femininity, hygiene, and modernity, creating a strong cultural association that continues to influence contemporary perceptions. However, the text also acknowledges the emergence of counter-movements advocating for body positivity and challenging traditional gendered grooming expectations. Ultimately, the piece examines how cultural norms, economic factors, and evolving gender roles intersect to shape personal grooming choices.
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    20 mins
  • This/That: Circumcision Through the Ages: History, Culture, and Modern Debate

    This/That: Circumcision Through the Ages: History, Culture, and Modern Debate
    Feb 18 2025
    The provided text explores the extensive history and cultural significance of male circumcision. It traces the practice from ancient Egypt to modern times, highlighting its religious importance in Judaism and Islam, its medicalization in the West, and contemporary ethical debates surrounding bodily autonomy. The text examines the diverse cultural contexts in which circumcision is performed, from rites of passage in Africa to its prevalence in the U.S. It also addresses opposing viewpoints, including the intactivist movement, and considers the ongoing medical, ethical, and religious implications of this ancient procedure. Finally, the text includes intriguing historical anecdotes to enrich its comprehensive overview.
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    20 mins
  • H.R. 25 - The FairTax Act: Abolishing the IRS and Enacting a National Sales Tax

    H.R. 25 - The FairTax Act: Abolishing the IRS and Enacting a National Sales Tax
    Feb 17 2025
    H.R. 25, the "FairTax Act of 2025," proposes a radical overhaul of the U.S. tax system. The act seeks to abolish the IRS and repeal income, payroll, estate, and gift taxes. In their place, it introduces a national sales tax, primarily administered by the states. The bill outlines a framework for this sales tax, including definitions, rates, exemptions, and collection procedures, along with credits and refunds. A family consumption allowance would be established, and the bill addresses cooperative federal-state tax administration. If the 16th Amendment is not repealed within seven years of the act's enactment, the sales tax provisions will be eliminated.
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    16 mins
  • ART: Campbell’s Soup Cans: Andy Warhol’s Iconic Pop Art Masterpiece

    ART: Campbell’s Soup Cans: Andy Warhol’s Iconic Pop Art Masterpiece
    Feb 17 2025
    The provided text comprehensively explores Andy Warhol's iconic 1962 artwork, Campbell's Soup Cans. It examines the piece within the context of Pop Art's emergence, detailing Warhol's artistic process and motivations, and analyzing the artwork's reception and lasting cultural impact. The text further discusses Warhol's background in commercial illustration, his deliberate use of repetition and mechanical techniques, and the resulting ambiguity in the artwork's meaning, inviting interpretations ranging from a critique of consumerism to a celebration of mass production. Finally, the sources trace the artwork's journey from initial skepticism to its current status as a seminal work of 20th-century art.
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    21 mins