The Thinking Reed
A philosophy podcast for everyone. The main idea is for us to get to know some of the most interesting thinkers that ever lived. Each episode is part of a series on a certain thinker/writer. Episodes are fairly short (about 15-30 minutes), but long enough to get you thinking. We explore a wide range of thinkers and writers, both ancient and modern. Pascal, Plato, Dostoevsky, Seneca, Nietzsche, Rousseau, Shakespeare, Camus, Melville -- just some of the names we will encounter together.
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Episodes
Feb 18, 2026
Feb 18, 2026
24 min
In this episode we explore Pascal's famous statement that all of our problems come from our inability to sit alone quietly in a room. Why does he say this? Why do we love distractions? Why would we do anything to get away from being alone with our thoughts? Enjoy!
Feb 13, 2026
Feb 13, 2026
18 min
In this episode we look more closely at the most important experience of Blaise Pascal's life -- his "Night of Fire" vision. This experience is the gateway to understanding his great philosophical work, the Pensées. Enjoy!
Feb 10, 2026
Feb 10, 2026
29 min
In this episode we take up the life of Blaise Pascal and the world in which he lived. It was a time of religious conflict, of major shifts in scientific and philosophical understanding, and at the center of it all was the brilliant Pascal. Our goal in this episode is to set a context for upcoming episodes focusing on Pascal's philosophical masterpiece, the Pensées. Enjoy!
Jan 31, 2026
Jan 31, 2026
20 min
In this episode the podcast itself is introduced, along with a short reflection on Pascal's famous statement that man is "a thinking reed."