Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

PodMine

Cultural Criticism

Matches in: Topic
26 episodes
Jan 13, 2026• How To Academy Podcast

Mark Galeotti - How Crime Organises the World

Global security expert Mark Galeotti reveals how organized crime is deeply intertwined with society, shaping our everyday lives from financial institutions to construction materials, and challenging our understanding of legitimacy and criminality.

1:05:10
Jan 7, 2026• Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)

Walter Isaacson discusses the most powerful sentence in the Declaration of Independence, exploring how its authors crafted a nuanced mission statement about common ground, individual rights, and the ongoing pursuit of the American dream, while wrestling with the complex realities of their time.

1:58:13
Jan 6, 2026• Worklife with Adam Grant

ReThinking: The George Washington story you haven’t heard with Ken Burns (Part 1)

Ken Burns explores the complexities of George Washington and the American Revolution, revealing the nuanced humanity of historical figures and challenging simplified narratives about America's origins.

36:12
Jan 2, 2026• Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

Daron Malakian - ON METAL (Part 2)

Daron Malakian explores the evolution of heavy metal through various subgenres, from thrash and death metal to black metal and nu metal, sharing his personal journey and musical influences along the way.

2:02:52
Dec 22, 2025• Huberman Lab

Transform Pain & Trauma Into Creative Expression | David Choe

An artist, podcaster, and former graffiti writer shares his raw journey through addiction, shame, and creative expression, revealing how he transformed pain into art and found self-acceptance through vulnerability and resilience.

3:53:53
Dec 18, 2025• The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

What’s Actually Breaking America — with David Brooks

David Brooks joins Scott Galloway to examine the forces reshaping American society, discussing declining trust, economic uncertainty, the challenges facing young men, and the importance of love, commitment, and purpose in holding society together.

1:15:35
Dec 17, 2025• Infinite Loops

Vik Muniz — The Art of Perception (EP.294)

A captivating exploration of art, representation, and human perception through the lens of Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, who argues that representation may be humanity's greatest invention after fire, allowing us to extend our experience beyond our immediate senses and inviting viewers to complete the artistic process.

1:35:07
Dec 12, 2025• Lex Fridman Podcast

#487 – Irving Finkel: Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations & Flood Myths

A captivating conversation with Irving Finkel, a renowned curator at the British Museum, exploring the origins of writing, cuneiform script, ancient flood myths, the Royal Game of Ur, and the profound human drive to communicate, play, and preserve knowledge across millennia.

Dec 4, 2025• Infinite Loops

Ariel Meyerowitz — Navigating the Art World (EP. 292)

A comprehensive and intimate exploration of the art world through the eyes of art adviser Ariel Meyerowitz, revealing how to approach art collecting with passion, curiosity, and a focus on personal connection rather than investment potential.

1:36:08
Dec 2, 2025• How To Academy Podcast

John Higgs - Unravelling the Spell of David Lynch

A deep dive into the enigmatic world of David Lynch, exploring his unique artistic vision, dreamlike filmmaking style, and profound impact on cinema through the lens of cultural critic John Higgs.

56:01
Nov 25, 2025• Plain English with Derek Thompson

A Grand Unified Theory of Cultural Stagnation

Adam Mastroianni explores why culture seems "stuck" across various domains, arguing that increased risk aversion and a higher value placed on life have led to less deviance, innovation, and originality in movies, music, science, and other cultural spheres.

58:51
Nov 20, 2025• Modern Wisdom

#1022 - Sheehan Quirke - How Did The Modern World Get So Ugly?

A captivating exploration of beauty, architecture, and romance in the modern world through the lens of Sheehan Quirke's passionate advocacy for meaningful design, cultural depth, and the transformative power of art and poetry.

1:55:35
Nov 18, 2025• How To Academy Podcast

HYPERLAND: Graham Harman on the Nature of Reality

A kaleidoscopic exploration of reality through the lens of continuous and discrete phenomena, examining how waves and stones interact across physics, philosophy, politics, and human experience to challenge our understanding of change, causality, and knowledge.

1:30:24
Nov 17, 2025• Design Matters with Debbie Millman

20th Anniversary celebration with photographers Catherine Opie, Albert Watson, Pete Souza, Lynn Goldsmith, and Mary Ellen Matthews

In this 20th anniversary episode, Debbie Millman revisits conversations with photographers Catherine Opie, Albert Watson, Pete Souza, Lynn Goldsmith, and Mary Ellen Matthews, exploring their unique perspectives on capturing truth, craft, and human stories through photography.

49:46
Nov 17, 2025• Modern Wisdom

#1021 - Louise Perry & Mary Harrington - The Performative Male Epidemic

A candid exploration of modern dating, masculinity, and social dynamics, touching on topics like birth rates, performative males, and the evolving relationship between men and women in a technology-driven world.

2:15:36
Nov 12, 2025• Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Beyond Lieutenant Dan: Gary Sinise on Love, Loss & Legacy

Gary Sinise shares an intimate journey from struggling academically to becoming an actor and humanitarian, revealing how personal challenges and a deep commitment to service led him to support military veterans and navigate profound personal loss through his son Mac's cancer battle and musical legacy.

1:11:57
Nov 6, 2025• Modern Wisdom

#1016 - Rob Henderson - Is Having a Boyfriend Cringe Now?

A deep dive into modern dating culture explores how influencers, media, and social dynamics are reshaping relationship perceptions, revealing complex evolutionary psychological motivations behind women's attitudes towards boyfriends and mating strategies.

1:26:58
Nov 5, 2025• The James Altucher Show

Jeff Pearlman on Tupac Shakur: The Myths, the Music, and the Man Behind the Legend

Jeff Pearlman explores the myths, complexities, and untold stories of Tupac Shakur, tracing his evolution from a performing arts student to a poetic voice of West Coast hip hop and revealing how his Black Panther upbringing and artistic brilliance shaped his legendary, tragically short life.

52:26
Nov 4, 2025• How To Academy Podcast

Ian Mortimer - The Time Traveller's Guide to England

In this engaging podcast episode, historian Ian Mortimer explores the fascinating intricacies of English life across medieval, Elizabethan, Restoration, and Regency periods, offering unique insights into everyday experiences, social changes, and the resilient nature of human beings through his Time Traveller's Guide series.

42:58
Oct 24, 2025• a16z Podcast

Marc Andreessen: How Movies Explain America

In this episode of the a16z Podcast, Marc Andreessen, Katherine Boyle, and Erik Torenberg discuss how iconic films like "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," "Tropic Thunder," "Oppenheimer," and "Fight Club" reveal different cultural moments and transformations in American society.

1:15:30
Oct 17, 2025• a16z Podcast

Marc Andreessen on the State of Film and Hollywood

Marc Andreessen discusses the state of Hollywood, highlighting a cultural shift away from "the message" in films, the impact of streaming economics, and the potential of AI to democratize filmmaking and unleash a new generation of creative storytellers.

1:07:46
Oct 17, 2025• Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

Tyler Cowen (Part 2)

Tyler Cowen explores the rich history of choral music, discussing its evolution from medieval religious compositions to contemporary works, highlighting composers from various traditions and periods while delving into the cultural and spiritual significance of vocal music.

1:36:03
Oct 16, 2025• How To Academy Podcast

Philippa Gregory - Jane Boleyn Reimagined

In this episode, Philippa Gregory discusses her novel about Jane Boleyn, exploring how historical fiction can reveal the internal life of a woman often misunderstood by Victorian historians, offering a nuanced perspective on her role in the Tudor court as a possible spy for Thomas Cromwell.

32:55
Oct 15, 2025• Dialectic

31: Gabe Whaley - Playing the Crowd and Outlasting the Hype

Gabe Whaley discusses Mischief's journey of creative disruption, the evolution of internet culture, and their strategic pivot from frequent viral drops to a more intentional, long-term approach focused on craft, permanence, and creating meaningful cultural impact.

2:03:50
Oct 14, 2025• Plain English with Derek Thompson

The Future of Entertainment, Part 2: What’s the Matter With Broadway?

A deep dive into the challenges facing Broadway musicals, exploring demographic shifts, rising costs, and the struggle to attract audiences in a changing entertainment landscape.

47:18
Oct 7, 2025• The Art of Manliness

The Classical Code of Manhood

A scholarly exploration of classical and biblical views on manliness, examining how virtues like love, courage, pride, family, and patriotism can help men develop a noble and integrated character.

59:51