The hosts explore Leibniz's Monadology and its connection to later thinkers like Kant and Hegel. They discuss the concept of monads as the foundation for existence and examine the role of God and reason. They analyze the movie 'Heaven Can Wait' and its portrayal of a shared fiction. They also discuss the separation between God and possibility and critique the inclusion of God in the method. Finally, they engage in a discussion about various movies including 'Defending Your Life'.

Ryan and Todd analyze Machiavelli's The Prince and its influence on later political thinkers. They discuss Machiavelli's novelty and limitations, the relevance of his ideas in modern politics, the non-existence of the Other and the People in his work, his perspective on reading texts, and the concept of unthinkable ideas and winning decisively. They also touch on actor performances in movies, the question of Machiavelli's thesis, and the limitations of contemporary politics.

The podcast explores the concept of surplus enjoyment and its ties to capitalism. It discusses the disappearance and revival of the term 'lekon' in seminars. The podcast also delves into the connection between surplus enjoyment and perversion, Trump's embodiment of surplus enjoyment, and the connection between right-wing populism and capitalism. It further explores the historical development of the current system and its impact on society, as well as comparing action movies from the 80s to recent films.

Unpacking Marx's concept of surplus value and its role in capitalist society, including its relationship to profit. Examining the disparity between labor value and wages, as well as the exploitation of workers in various sectors. Discussing the lack of customer service and exploitation of workers by companies like Spectrum and Netflix. Exploring the significance of surplus value in capitalism and its translation into profit. Analyzing scenes from a film and discussing mental production. Discussing the limitations of Marx's theory and the idea that for a theory to be valid, it should include a place for the theorist themselves.

The hosts discuss Christopher Nolan's film Oppenheimer, focusing on its form and content. They explore the political implications of the hero's depiction and compare it to Nolan's other films. They also discuss the success and impact of Oppenheimer, the consequences of the atomic bombings, and the portrayal of women in Inception. They analyze the representation of Oppenheimer and the strengths and weaknesses of biopics.

Ryan and Todd interpret the film Barbie while responding to both leftist and rightist critiques of the film. They discuss the film's exploration of fantasy, its highlighting of contradiction, and its emphasis on the role of desire in politics.

Ryan and Todd analyze Freud's essay "Creative Writings and Daydreaming." They look first at the theory of fantasy that Freud develops in this essay and then turn to his conception of what generates the work of art, discussing it in terms of the current strike in Hollywood. In their concluding remarks, they deal with problems that Freud runs into in his theorizing here.

Ryan and Todd analyze Freud's essay "The Uncanny" and the broader implications of this concept. They discuss the importance of the uncanny for understanding the horror film and focus on the difference between a psychoanalytic approach to the concept and the notion of the uncanny valley. Links from the episode: Žižek & So On podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6S0mig3K8TiuJoXHOG5VnT?si=6a55de55c2f24b22 Shibui (minimal groove quartet): https://shibuimusic.bandcamp.com/ Joseph Aisenberg’s Brian De Palma’s Carrie: Studies in the Horror Film: https://www.amazon.com/Brian-Palmas-Carrie-Studies-Horror/dp/B09NH3BCCP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PCVQVVCQ49BW&keywords=joseph+aisenberg&qid=1689001285&sprefix=joseph+aisenber%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1

Ryan and Todd attempt to show why the term "poststructuralism" is inapt for describing any of the thinkers that it usually is thought to indicate. They go through the major theorists known under this moniker and reveal why poststructuralism doesn't exist.

Ryan and Todd devote this episode to the memory of Mari Ruti, who died on June 8, 2023. They discuss her core theoretical ideas and work through her major works. In addition, they include a few memories of Mari's singular life.