What do we mean when we say "Nature"? And what, if anything, is "natural"?

In this week’s episode, we’re pulling up a chair at the bar to ask: What do we really mean when we talk about “nature”? From the world outside us—plants, animals, and landscapes—to the idea of human nature itself, we’re questioning our often contradictory and complex ideas of what counts as “natural.” Are we referring to the non-human world or to something essential and intrinsic within us? And is either way of thinking about it as simple as it seems?

We look at how the concept of nature has been shaped by culture, philosophy, politics, and technology. Why, for instance, does a bird’s nest seem “natural” while our own homes do not? Does labeling something “natural” ever settle an argument, or does it just spark new ones? We also talk about the climate crisis, asking if we should see ourselves as part of nature or as caretakers of something separate. And should we trust that technology will resolve environmental issues, or do we need to challenge some of our own longstanding assumptions about nature itself?

Pour a drink and join us as we rethink what it means to be “natural” in a world where the line between nature and culture is more blurred than ever.

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-156-meat

-------------------
If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Are you there, God? It's us, Hotel Bar Sessions.

This week, our co-hosts jump headfirst into one of philosophy’s biggest questions: "Does God exist?" Rick kicks things off by asking whether a final answer would even matter: would knowing God exists (or doesn’t) shift our lives and choices in any real way? Might belief in God itself just be a placeholder for the unknown? Why is the idea of an "Intellligent Designer" or an "Unmoved Mover" or a "First Cause" so compelling, even in the absence of evidence? Each host weighs in with their own take on faith, doubt, and the questions that keep us all up at night.

Our resident medievalist, Rick, also breaks down the classic proofs for God’s existence—from Aristotle, to Aquinas, to Descartes and Kant—motivating a lively debate on whether these arguments help us see more clearly or simply add to the mystery. Leigh introduces what might be evidence of AI creating its own gods, and asks: if an artificial agent can invent deities, what does that mean for our own understanding of God (and our belief in their existence)? David brings in the polytheistic perspective, and together they explore the human urge to find meaning, even if it eludes rational proof.

So, does God exist? Maybe there’s no simple answer, but that’s exactly where things get interesting. Listen in and decide for yourself: is belief the answer, or just the beginning?

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-158-the-existence-of-god

-------------------
If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

When is it right, or even necessary, to say "no"?

Refusing can be a powerful act—whether it’s standing up to authority, rejecting harmful norms, or pushing back against injustice. But when is saying “no” the right thing to do? And what are the stakes when we decide to refuse? Often our refusals are quotidian and inconsequential, but sometimes, and sometimes without our knowledge, they’re huge.

We often underestimate how often we issue refusals, both large and small, and we don’t consider carefully enough the moral and political dimensions of those acts. It’s not always easy to decide when it is appropriate to refuse, and even when we know it’s necessary, it’s not always easy. Our guest today, Dr. Devonya Havis University of Buffalo), has been thinking about the ethics and politics of refusal for some time, and how how refusing to go along with something can be an act of courage, rebellion, or survival.

We’re going to ask what happens when-- in the immortal words of Nancy Reagan-- you “just say no.”

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/episode-157-the-ethics-of-refusal-with-devonya-havis

-------------------
If you enjoy Hotel Bar Sessions podcast, please be sure to subscribe and submit a rating/review! Better yet, you can support this podcast by signing up to be one of our Patrons at patreon.com/hotelbarsessions!

Follow us on Twitter/X @hotelbarpodcast, on Facebook, on TikTok, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!