In episode 121 of Overthink, Ellie and David chat with philosopher Mariana Alessandri about her book on dark moods. They talk about how our obsession with metaphors of light fuel toxic positivity, how shame amplifies our dark moods, and how we can connect with one another in moments of emotional darkness. Why do we devalue negative emotions? Is there a good reason why the medical field pathologizes states such as anger, sadness, and grief? And how can we better support those experiencing a dark mood?

In episode 120 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk through different types of disagreement (e.g. disagreements online vs philosophical disagreements) and consider why we have such a tough time dealing with those who don’t see things as we do. Is the format of social media platforms to blame for the bad faith disagreements that occur on them? What role do confidence and conviction play in disagreement? Can we have a world without disagreement, or is disagreement an inevitable feature of our social lives? And how can we navigate the “shitstorm” when others refuse agree with us?

Ellie and David discuss all things comfortable…and uncomfortable. They talk through the conflation of comfort and luxury, modern architecture’s prioritization of comfort, and whether our need for comfort is the reason for our burning planet. With everything from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to “the comfort-industrial complex,” this episode will have you questioning what it takes for us to lead a full and happy life.

In episode 115 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the meaning of hope, from casual travel plans, to electoral optimism, to theological liberation. They explore Kant’s ambitions for perpetual peace, and discuss the Marxian imperative to transform the world. Should we hope for what seems realistic, or reach for impossible utopias?

Awkward moments are everywhere you look. In episode 113 of Overthink, Ellie and David invite philosopher Alexandra Plakias to talk through her research on awkwardness. They discuss from oversharing online to uncomfortable silences, power, morality, and the core scripts of our social expectations.

In episode 111, Ellie and David untangle envy, jealousy, and admiration, in everything from Sigmund Freud to Regina George. They think through the role of envy in social media and status regulation alongside Sara Protasi's The Philosophy of Envy, and investigate the philosophical lineage of this maligned emotion.

In episode 110 of Overthink, Ellie and David untangle the role of intensity in shaping our aspirations, cultural tropes, and political goals. They trace its roots in Aristotle's theory of change, medieval science and princely romanticism. They turn to Henri Bergson and Gilles Deleuze’s accounts of consciousness and emotion to explore how intensity looks beyond the scientistic impulse to categorize and quantify, and think about its role in capitalist acceleration.

In episode 103 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a leisurely dive into laziness, discussing everything from couchrotting to the biology of energy conservation. They explore Devon Price’s idea of the ‘laziness lie’ in today’s hyperproductive society and look into the racialization of laziness in Ibn Khaldun and Montesquieu’s ideas on the idle tropics, thinking through how the Protestant work ethic punishes laziness, even when technology could take care of the work.

Overthink goes meta! In the 100th episode Ellie and David reflect on the podcast’s journey and use psychology to understand overthinking as the distracting voice inside your head and a welcome relief from traumatic memories. With John Dewey and the Frankfurt School, they look at different ways to understand the role of overthinking in philosophy and the humanities.

In episode 93 of Overthink, Ellie and David guide you through the philosophy of this emotion. From Aristotle to British charity telethons, pity lives in our moral and cultural worlds. But who is the object of our pity, and why? Where is the line between pity and compassion? How does pity interact with our social responsibilities and power structures?

In Overthink’s epsiode 82, David and Ellie dicuss regret, from career decisions to breakups. They talk its usefulness and philsophy from Confucius and Aristotle to today. Can teens and dogs regret? Is regret, remorse, and existential despair rational?

What is boredom? Listen to episode 78 of Overthink as two philosophers and professors, David Peña-Guzmán and Ellie Anderson discuss this “bestial, indefinable affliction.” They discuss the pandemic panic, medieval Monks; they speak of Dostoyevsky, Lars Svendsen, and Kierkegaard.