Best Video Game Logic Podcast Podcasts (2025)

Philosophers cannot stop talking about consciousness - what are its limits? What is it made of? What does it allow us? This podcast is part of that conversation, but from a more experimental perspective. Join biologist and researcher Rupert Sheldrake as he discusses consciousness with philosopher Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes from the lens of psychedelics.…

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The philosophy of religion and love with Alain de Botton and Alex O'Connor 26:11

Play Pause

6d ago26:11

26:11

Why we worship without knowing it What should be included within the remit of philosophy? Religion? Love? Hair? Join well-known public speakers and writers Alain de Botton and Alex O'Connor as they talk through what philosophy can offer us, why we should study love, and what the role of religion is in philosophy and in our lives. See Privacy Policy…

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Mazes of the mind: The philosophy of neuroscience | Iain McGilchrist, Colin Blakemore, Bryan Appleyard 47:58

19d ago47:58

47:58

Over the past decades, neuroscience has blossomed, positioning itself as a kind of master discipline over everything else. For who understands the brain surely understands all of human activity and creation? Or not? Neuroscience's reach has extended past its scientific remit and into the world of philosophy and its major questions. What is a human?…

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Early MLB the Show 26 News 15:48

8h ago15:48

15:48

Sony San Diego Studios has released some brief information about the upcoming MLB the Show 26 due to release sometime in March of 2026. Video version: https://youtu.be/UphKT9i33nEBy stateofthefranchise

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In search of nothing | David Deutsch, Amanda Gefter, Lee Smolin 1:00:17

25d ago1:00:17

1:00:17

What is nothing? Can it be defined, either philosophically or scientifically? Or will the exploration of nothing bring, ultimately, to nothing? The philosophical exploration of nothingness is an ancient one, from the mysterious number zero through theological understandings of the absence of God right to modern physics and ideas of the void. Join l…

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Lynn Rothschild: Nature’s Hardware Store 1:16:23

22d ago1:16:23

1:16:23

What if the solutions to humanity’s greatest challenges — on Earth and beyond — have already been invented by nature? In this forward-looking talk, evolutionary biologist and astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild explores how life’s patterns, materials, and mechanisms, refined over billions of years, can serve as a blueprint for building better future…

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Video Game Logic Episode 65: VGL Game Club: Life is Strange (Update) 4:16:46

30d ago4:16:46

4:16:46

This week Shrink & Rage have a very in depth look at the VGL Game Club game Life is Strange. Do you have feedback for the show or wish to respond to something we say? E-mail us at [email protected] drop by our Discord, tweet us @VGLPodcast and we'll read it on the show. You can also contact us via our Steam group or our Discord. We'll be hosting…

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Halloween SPECIAL | The philosophy of the apocalypse 44:25

1M ago44:25

44:25

Why are we fascinated by apocalyptic stories? Join the team at the IAI for a reading of four Halloween-themed articles, written by historian and philosopher Natalie Lawrence, professor of political philosophy Matthew Festenstein, and professor of comparative literature Florian Mussgnug. From the allure of the end times to the symbolic value of mons…

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The importance of giving up | Adam Phillips 27:14

1M ago27:14

27:14

Einstein was called “slow” at school, J. K. Rowling collected a dozen rejections, and Walt Disney was once fired for “lacking imagination.” We love stories of perseverance—but what’s the cost of never letting go? In this conversation, psychoanalyst Adam Phillips argues that our obsession with endurance can have hidden, corrosive effects. He invites…

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VGL Podcast EP....: A Quick Update! 6:08

29d ago6:08

6:08

By Video Game Logic Podcast

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Slavoj Žižek on philosophy today | The madness of reality 38:03

1M ago38:03

38:03

Slavoj Žižek is back in a new interview where he takes us through his thoughts on the role of philosophy, the future of sex, his fear and love of AI and, as always, so much more. Tune in to hear one of contemporary philosophy's most original and darkly comedic minds expose his thoughts on the present and where we are heading - though that is imposs…

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Video Game Logic Episode 220: VGL Gameclub: Celeste (Update) 1:41:05

1M ago1:41:05

1:41:05

This week Shrink & Rage hold the final game club of the year. Do you have feedback for the show, have a response for something we said, or something we should know about? Drop us an e-mail at [email protected] stop by our Discord, or tweet us @VGLPodcast. Finally, if you wish to throw us some cash to help improve the show, and for various show r…

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How to fathom timelessness | Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes 31:23

2M ago31:23

31:23

What should time mean to us? Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes is a philosopher of mind who specialises in the thought of Alfred North Whitehead, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Benedict de Spinoza, and in fields pertaining to panpsychism and altered states of mind. In this talk, he combines insights from psychedelic experiences with an intriguing view put forward by…

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Video Game Logic Episode 212: VGL Gameclub: Overland (update) 1:58:13

2M ago1:58:13

1:58:13

By Video Game Logic Podcast

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After postmodernism | Hilary Lawson, Robin van den Akker, Abby Innes, Sophie Scott-Brown 47:13

2M ago47:13

47:13

Hugely influential in the latter decades of the 20th century, postmodernism transformed many academic disciplines and culture at large. Associated with an attack on objective truth and the uniqueness of meaning, it called into question the whole edifice of knowledge which Western culture had previously glorified. But it left many lost, and in the w…

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Blaise Agüera y Arcas: What is Intelligence? 1:14:40

1M ago1:14:40

1:14:40

Blaise Agüera y Arcas’s talk took us on a journey through What is Intelligence?, his groundbreaking new work connecting the evolutionary dots between life, computation, and symbiogenesis. He explores how, in our symbiotic world, things combine to make larger things all the time. We might think of humanity in terms of the individual — but we're alre…

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The language of the unconscious: Pyschoanalysis and AI | Alenka Zupančič 29:46

2M ago29:46

29:46

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VGL Podcast Ep 356: Interview with a Spooder 29:43

1M ago29:43

29:43

This episode is an interview I recorded last week with my friend who is also an artist and now a game developer! We spend nearly half an hour discussing Game Jams, her experience with them, and what she may be working on in the future. If you want to know more, find her at all the links below. Twitch Youtube BlueSky…

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The Enlightenment is racist (and why) | Kehinde Andrews 20:38

2M ago20:38

20:38

The Enlightenment has faced a lot of criticism in recent years - its defenders and detractors often come head to head, scrambling to articulate its ultimate value or lack thereof to contemporary society. This podcast contributes to this wider debate and question facing all those interested in philosophy and politics: Are Enlightenment ideas salvage…

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Video Game Logic Episode 183: VGL Gameclub: Stacking (Update) 1:37:51

2M ago1:37:51

1:37:51

This week Shrink & Rage hold the monthly game club then talk about some news. Do you have feedback for the show, have a response for something we said, or something we should know about? Drop us an e-mail at [email protected] stop by our Discord, or tweet us @VGLPodcast. Finally, if you wish to throw us some cash to help improve the show, and fo…

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Ecological Dynamics of Injury Recovery 58:03

2M ago58:03

58:03

Bring your CLA coaching and ecological dynamics knowledge to the next level and upgrade to the premium combat learning newsletter. It’s the best way to support the show, and you’ll get access to exclusive articles and recordings on how to practically apply the science of skill acquisition to martial arts training. Right now, I’m taking Rob Gray’s H…

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Video Game Logic Episode 180: VGL Gameclub: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine (Update) 1:54:07

2M ago1:54:07

1:54:07

Welcome back to another one of our update episodes! This time we revisit Where the Water Tastes Like Wine. Posted late because my internet has been out all day. Enjoy! This week Shrink & Rage hold the monthly game club then talk some news. Do you have feedback for the show, have a response for something we said, or something we should know about? D…

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The struggle for the good life | Massimo Pigliucci on ancient philosophy for the modern era 29:29

3M ago29:29

29:29

We all want to live the good life. But how many of us can claim to be truly content? Join philosopher and evolutionary biologist Massimo Pigliucci as he argues that pleasure, character, and a healthy dose of doubt, form the basis of the good life, and that purpose in life is crucial to realising our potential. Massimo Pigliucci is a renowned philos…

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VGL Podcast Ep 355: Another Solo Session 18:41

2M ago18:41

18:41

All by myself again! It's Jared to give you an update and some ideas about what is going on around these parts.By Video Game Logic Podcast

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Psychedelics and the structure of reality | Julian Baggini, Eileen Hall, and James Rucker 46:51

3M ago46:51

46:51

Truth, delusion and psychedelic reality Do psychedelics reveal hidden layers of reality, or are we simply tripping? Psychedelics are back in the cultural zeitgeist, this time as a treatment for mental health issues. However, critics argue that psychedelics only work by replacing mental illness with a distorted view of reality - but, is this an accu…

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The unconscious mind: Is the unconscious real? 48:58

3M ago48:58

48:58

The unconscious has become a well-known feature of our human lived experience since Freud. We often refer to unwanted impulses, suppressed thoughts, unconscious desires, and the like. But what IS the unconscious? Is it just an easy excuse for our behaviour? Or is it a necessary piece of what it means to be human? Join our diverse and rich panel as …

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Video Game Logic Episode 175: VGL Gameclub: Celestial Command. (Update) 1:55:25

3M ago1:55:25

1:55:25

When it rains it pours it seems. This week Jared was sick and had to rest. Have another gameclub update/re-release!By Video Game Logic Podcast

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A landscape of consciousness | Robert Lawrence Kuhn and Hilary Lawson 41:19

3M ago41:19

41:19

Will we ever reach a conclusive, agreed-upon theory of consciousness? Over the millennia of recorded history, countless stories, theories, and arguments have emerged to explain the origins of consciousness. And yet, here we are in 2025 - post-Plato, post-Descartes, post-scientific revolution - and still we don't understand the phenomenon of conscio…

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Video Game Logic Episode 171: VGL Gameclub: Prey (update) 1:55:32

3M ago1:55:32

1:55:32

Jared was released from finishing his notice period this week and had to do a little scrambling and have a small existential crisis. He's fine, and we'll be back next week. Enjoy another classic gameclub episode!By Video Game Logic Podcast

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Will psychedelics revolutionize mental health treatment? | Matthew Johnson, Shayla Love, and Kevin Sabet 49:34

3M ago49:34

49:34

The psychedelic revolution Will LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine treatments live up to the hype? For decades, psychedelics were derided as dangerous recreational drugs; now many claim they have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of mental health. With hundreds of clinical trials now taking place, the psychedelic therapeutic market is p…

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The illusion of separation | Jessica Frazier on the Monism of Hindu philosophy 24:39

3M ago24:39

24:39

Indian philosophy and the search for unity In our everyday lives we act as though we are all separate individuals, but is this really the case? Jessica Frazer argues that reality is ultimately unified, and that this shift in perspective can change the way we live our lives. It can help you lose your isolated ego and escape feelings of alienation fr…

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VGL Podcast Ep 354: Civ 6 Gameclub (Late Edition) 1:08:22

3M ago1:08:22

1:08:22

Good day folks! We finally recorded our gameclub for Civ 6 as well as discussed a number of other things in a freestyle franken type recording, but rest assured this is fresh content. We hope you enjoy!By Video Game Logic Podcast

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The limits of nothingness | Peter van Inwagen 27:44

3M ago27:44

27:44

From philosophy to science, metaphysics to psychology, the idea of 'nothing' is central to the universe, existence and experience as a whole. But the nature of 'nothing' is even more bewildering than we might first imagine. Parmenides argued that non-being is impossible because thinking about nothing is still something. Join philosopher Peter van I…

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(Update) Video Game Logic Episode 162: VGL Gameclub: Final Fantasy Tactics 1:56:45

4M ago1:56:45

1:56:45

Greetings! We have another classic episode update to put on the feed this week. If all goes well, Rage's work schedule is changing and will allow us a more guaranteed recording slot to utilize within in the next week or so.By Video Game Logic Podcast

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Is free will an illusion? The chemistry of freedom | Patrick Haggard, George Ellis, Jennifer Hornsby 40:10

4M ago40:10

40:10

The question of free will - and whether we have it or not - is age-old across philosophy, religion, and human thought in general. Having free will allows us to have meaning, responsibility, reward and punishment. Yet discoveries in neuroscience have put our ability to choose, outside of a set of neuronal reactions, in question. Do we have free will…

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Video Game Logic Episode 178: VGL Gameclub: My Time at Portia (Update) 2:03:40

4M ago2:03:40

2:03:40

We have another one of these update/clean ups of a classic episode of ours to help account for the ongoing family disaster stealing Jared away from recording. We hope you have a good and safe weekend and we'll see you soon!By Video Game Logic Podcast

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Has the world gone to Hell? | Slavoj Žižek on fascism, shame, and dirty jokes 41:11

4M ago41:11

41:11

Žižek: "Trump did what The Left couldn't" As we look around at the state of the modern world, it's very easy to get disheartened - and that's putting it lightly! From pointless wars and endless suffering to the decline of social bonds and trustworthy institutions, there really is a lot to get you down. Fortunately, maverick philosopher Slavoj Žižek…

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Franken Episode: Drama Story Time 43:15

4M ago43:15

43:15

This week we recorded some franken style content telling Jared's clinic drama as he moves to start his own business. There's some other stuff here too, and we'll be getting to the game club in the next real episode!By Video Game Logic Podcast

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You Need More Variability w/ Andre Grandbois 1:03:48

4M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

You could always use more variability. We discuss game selection variety, injury prevention, differential learning, and aliveness. Other topics covered: * The value of some information processing concepts * Performance vs learning, instruction as a constraint, and how to measure learning * Did the research you’re using include representative design…

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Video games and the meaning of life | James Tartaglia 27:49

4M ago27:49

27:49

Video games are changing how we think. Many are so realistic that some argue they are becoming reality. In this talk by philosopher James Tartaglia, he uncovers the relationship between games and reality. James Tartaglia is Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy at Keele University. His latest book is Inner Space Philosophy: Why the Next Stage of Hum…

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Video Game Logic Episode 156: The Bonus Gameclub Goes Vroom (update) 2:46:31

4M ago2:46:31

2:46:31

Welcome back to another update/re-release of an old episode. This week Jared had some struggles that prevented a recording. We hope you enjoy, and in the next recording Jared will share the juicy details he canBy Video Game Logic Podcast

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The philosophy of literature SPECIAL | George Orwell, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Aldous Huxley, and more 44:01

4M ago44:01

44:01

How literature helps us to understand morality, totalitarian politics, and the life of Jesus Christ. Join the team at the IAI for four articles about great, classic literature, covering world-renowned authors such as George Orwell, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Clarice Lispector, to name but a few. These articles were written by Michael Marder, Emrah Atasoy, …

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How other species challenge our idea of consciousness | Peter Godfrey-Smith 21:13

4M ago21:13

21:13

In this IAI Studio interview, philosopher and science writer Peter Godfrey-Smith explores the evolution of consciousness and the enduring mystery of the mind–body problem. Drawing on his work with octopuses and other animals, he argues that consciousness emerged gradually through increasingly complex forms of sensory-motor interaction, rather than …

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VGL Franken Episode: I can't fix it guys. 23:22

4M ago23:22

23:22

This week Rage had very bad work scheduling and so we knew from the start we'd have a Franken Episode. We hope you enjoy this one and will see you again soon.By Video Game Logic Podcast

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Why Details and Drilling Don't Work for Us w/ Andre Grandbois of Grappling Garden 49:15

4M ago49:15

49:15

It’s not a mystery at all why so many people quit jiu jitsu and martial arts generally, and coach Andre and I dissect why. Other subjects covered: * Praise the process, not the outcome (fostering intrinsic motivation) * Warmups * Athletic skills Bring your CLA coaching and ecological dynamics knowledge to the next level and upgrade to the premium c…

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Utopia and human nature | Paul Bloom 27:15

5M ago27:15

27:15

Human nature and the possibility of utopia The idea of utopia - of a perfect society devoid of suffering and inequality - is planted firmly in the human imagination and psyche. From pre-biblical times to Thomas More and communism and beyond, widely disparate groups have attempted to plan or create a utopia. But is it achievable? And if not, why not…

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VGL Podcast Ep 353: Fresh Franken Freestyle 1:10:35

5M ago1:10:35

1:10:35

This week, the two of us recorded some "franken" style content for an episode because it was very late when we started. We don't want to do this all the time, but it helps us stay a little more current when work is very much in the way. We hope you enjoy!By Video Game Logic Podcast

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More choice means less freedom | Psychologist Barry Schwartz 18:32

5M ago18:32

18:32

Why more is less We're surrounded by choice - an endless sea of possible paths we might take. However, does the overwhelming range of choices leave us better off or worse? In general, we tend to think that more is better, but Barry Schwartz, author of the ground-breaking book 'The Paradox of Choice', argues that this view is mistaken. More can lead…

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The limits of logic: Should we embrace the irrational? |Iain McGilchrist, Beatrix Campbell, Simon Blackburn 43:28

5M ago43:28

43:28

Our culture prizes logic and rationality, if not above all else, as two of the most fundamental social traits. But are we missing out by overlooking the irrational? Can logic explain everything, or what is it missing? And is it possible to live (and enjoy) a life led by logic? Logic, in philosophy and beyond, seems to always to be self-evidently ri…