Leigh M. Johnson
@drleighmjohnson.bsky.social
Memphian (now in DC), philosopher, raconteuse, and co-host of Hotel Bar Sessions podcast (@hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social). I love arguments.
www.drleighmjohnson.com
www.hotelbarpodcast.com
www.drleighmjohnson.com
www.hotelbarpodcast.com
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
I said this to a friend yesterday and will repeat it here. A lot of people are going to be hyper-focused on elections this year but if that's not your ministry, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HYPER-FOCUS there. There's so much other organizing work to do. You can focus your energies and attention there.
January 4, 2026 at 10:49 PM
I said this to a friend yesterday and will repeat it here. A lot of people are going to be hyper-focused on elections this year but if that's not your ministry, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HYPER-FOCUS there. There's so much other organizing work to do. You can focus your energies and attention there.
This is a really fantastic reflection on pain from Bob. Definitely check it out!
(And don't forget to subscribe to Hotel Bar Sessions podcast!)
(And don't forget to subscribe to Hotel Bar Sessions podcast!)
We're hard at work prepping Season 15-- which drops JAN 23!-- so for the next 3 wks our hosts are serving up solo "Minibar" episodes. Check out this week's Minibar from co-host Bob Vallier, who describes the lessons pain taught him after a terrible bike accident.
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/mini...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/mini...
MINIBAR: Pain (with Bob Vallier) - Hotel Bar Podcast
What can the body, in pain, teach us about the hilarity of our own finitude?
hotelbarpodcast.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:13 PM
This is a really fantastic reflection on pain from Bob. Definitely check it out!
(And don't forget to subscribe to Hotel Bar Sessions podcast!)
(And don't forget to subscribe to Hotel Bar Sessions podcast!)
What's your play-out song for 2025?
December 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
What's your play-out song for 2025?
Newest episode of @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social just dropped and what says "holiday dinner table conversation" more than the topic of "oppression"?
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/mari...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/mari...
Episode 210: Marilyn Frye’s “Oppression” - Hotel Bar Podcast
How to mark the distinction between being "inconvenienced" and being oppressed.
hotelbarpodcast.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Newest episode of @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social just dropped and what says "holiday dinner table conversation" more than the topic of "oppression"?
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/mari...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/mari...
No lies detected.
December 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
No lies detected.
Devastating loss to the philosophical community, especially in these times. Please consider planting a tree, or a grove of trees, in memory of #EduardoMendieta.
December 20, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Devastating loss to the philosophical community, especially in these times. Please consider planting a tree, or a grove of trees, in memory of #EduardoMendieta.
While you're reflecting on this year that is almost past, check out our new episode on nostalgia! @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social @philosophymatters.bsky.social @jenhkling.bsky.social
Episode 209 just dropped!
Listen now and remember it fondly later!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/nost...
Listen now and remember it fondly later!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/nost...
Episode 209: Nostalgia - Hotel Bar Podcast
What does nostalgia fondly remember, and what might it dangerously enable?
hotelbarpodcast.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM
While you're reflecting on this year that is almost past, check out our new episode on nostalgia! @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social @philosophymatters.bsky.social @jenhkling.bsky.social
I wish I could remember who said this (I don't), but someone say in an interview recently that nothing had a "COVID-level" impact on higher-ed like that of AI.
They were basically arguing that the Fall 2025 semester has been the most game-changing for higher ed since COVID.
I think I agree.
They were basically arguing that the Fall 2025 semester has been the most game-changing for higher ed since COVID.
I think I agree.
December 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
I wish I could remember who said this (I don't), but someone say in an interview recently that nothing had a "COVID-level" impact on higher-ed like that of AI.
They were basically arguing that the Fall 2025 semester has been the most game-changing for higher ed since COVID.
I think I agree.
They were basically arguing that the Fall 2025 semester has been the most game-changing for higher ed since COVID.
I think I agree.
Everybody: "AI exists only for surveillance."
Me: "Surveillance exists for democracy."
Me: "Surveillance exists for democracy."
a man in a purple shirt is sitting at a table in a restaurant .
ALT: a man in a purple shirt is sitting at a table in a restaurant .
media.tenor.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Everybody: "AI exists only for surveillance."
Me: "Surveillance exists for democracy."
Me: "Surveillance exists for democracy."
There are productive ways to use AI inside (and outside) of the classroom to forward critical thinking skills, learning, and insight. This is not one of them.
“This is a kind of de-professionalizing of what we do in classrooms, where we’re narrowing the horizon of what’s possible…And I think once we give that up, that’s like giving up the whole game. That’s the whole purpose of why universities exist.”
Texas universities deploy AI for course audits
Records obtained by The Texas Tribune show how universities are using the technology to reshape curriculum under political pressure, raising concerns about academic freedom.
www.texastribune.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
There are productive ways to use AI inside (and outside) of the classroom to forward critical thinking skills, learning, and insight. This is not one of them.
Is there a word for when someone feels like they nailed a point, but their audience didn't receive it that way?
Not that the point wasn't relevant/good. Just the awkward silence that follows a speaker thinking they 100% "stuck the landing," anticipates enthusiastic agreement, but doesn't get it.
Not that the point wasn't relevant/good. Just the awkward silence that follows a speaker thinking they 100% "stuck the landing," anticipates enthusiastic agreement, but doesn't get it.
December 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Is there a word for when someone feels like they nailed a point, but their audience didn't receive it that way?
Not that the point wasn't relevant/good. Just the awkward silence that follows a speaker thinking they 100% "stuck the landing," anticipates enthusiastic agreement, but doesn't get it.
Not that the point wasn't relevant/good. Just the awkward silence that follows a speaker thinking they 100% "stuck the landing," anticipates enthusiastic agreement, but doesn't get it.
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
Just want to say ftr that I don't think what Donald Trump calls "the weave" is a good example of sophistry.
(We don't get a chance to correct ourselves after episodes are edited & published, so this is my humble attempt to excuse myself for a really bad use of an example!)
Still, listen to this!
(We don't get a chance to correct ourselves after episodes are edited & published, so this is my humble attempt to excuse myself for a really bad use of an example!)
Still, listen to this!
Episode 208 is now live and this week we're talking about speciousness, mendaciousness, and sophistry. Wasn't hard to find examples!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/soph...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/soph...
Episode 208: Sophistry - Hotel Bar Podcast
What to do when "just asking questions" is not that.
hotelbarpodcast.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Just want to say ftr that I don't think what Donald Trump calls "the weave" is a good example of sophistry.
(We don't get a chance to correct ourselves after episodes are edited & published, so this is my humble attempt to excuse myself for a really bad use of an example!)
Still, listen to this!
(We don't get a chance to correct ourselves after episodes are edited & published, so this is my humble attempt to excuse myself for a really bad use of an example!)
Still, listen to this!
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
Episode 208 is now live and this week we're talking about speciousness, mendaciousness, and sophistry. Wasn't hard to find examples!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/soph...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/soph...
Episode 208: Sophistry - Hotel Bar Podcast
What to do when "just asking questions" is not that.
hotelbarpodcast.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Episode 208 is now live and this week we're talking about speciousness, mendaciousness, and sophistry. Wasn't hard to find examples!
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/soph...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/soph...
FB accounts are 20% based in the afterlife (dead people), 50% based in the cloud (bots), and the remaining 30% is either based in your hometown or whatever town you went to high school in, or your grad school diaspora's new locations.
Otherwise, this checks out.
Otherwise, this checks out.
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
December 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
FB accounts are 20% based in the afterlife (dead people), 50% based in the cloud (bots), and the remaining 30% is either based in your hometown or whatever town you went to high school in, or your grad school diaspora's new locations.
Otherwise, this checks out.
Otherwise, this checks out.
We'll Get Over
YouTube video by The Staple Singers - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Nothing of any significance, in the whole history of human affairs, hinged on what grade someone made in a Philosophy course... or any other course, for that matter.
Perspective matters. It can make small things seem gigantic and gigantic things seem small.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
Perspective matters. It can make small things seem gigantic and gigantic things seem small.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
December 10, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Nothing of any significance, in the whole history of human affairs, hinged on what grade someone made in a Philosophy course... or any other course, for that matter.
Perspective matters. It can make small things seem gigantic and gigantic things seem small.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
Perspective matters. It can make small things seem gigantic and gigantic things seem small.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
December 9, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Just watched the latest episode of #Pluribus. As I expected, Soylent Green is people.
I hope the whole series hasn't hung its hat on this.
I hope the whole series hasn't hung its hat on this.
December 9, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Just watched the latest episode of #Pluribus. As I expected, Soylent Green is people.
I hope the whole series hasn't hung its hat on this.
I hope the whole series hasn't hung its hat on this.
From my former @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social co-host, @jasonread.bsky.social. Brilliant, as always.
www.unemployednegativity.com/2025/05/do-y...
www.unemployednegativity.com/2025/05/do-y...
Do Your Own Damn Research: The New Episteme of Trump 2.0
www.unemployednegativity.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
From my former @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social co-host, @jasonread.bsky.social. Brilliant, as always.
www.unemployednegativity.com/2025/05/do-y...
www.unemployednegativity.com/2025/05/do-y...
Reposted by Leigh M. Johnson
Only 3 episodes left in Season 14! No time like the present to sign up and support us on Patreon to keep the podcast's lights (and microphones) on!
Many (totally affordable) options for support available at the link below. Every little bit helps!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
Many (totally affordable) options for support available at the link below. Every little bit helps!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
Hotel Bar Sessions | Patreon
creating a podcast where the real philosophy happens
www.patreon.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Only 3 episodes left in Season 14! No time like the present to sign up and support us on Patreon to keep the podcast's lights (and microphones) on!
Many (totally affordable) options for support available at the link below. Every little bit helps!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
Many (totally affordable) options for support available at the link below. Every little bit helps!
www.patreon.com/c/hotelbarse...
Current end-of-the-semester grading soundtrack has been 100% Stax, partially because I'm (a little) homesick, but mostly because... well, it's f'in Stax.
December 7, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Current end-of-the-semester grading soundtrack has been 100% Stax, partially because I'm (a little) homesick, but mostly because... well, it's f'in Stax.
Friendly reminder as we approach "final grading" season: grades are a fabricated assessment metric that never accurately reflect students' skill or progress, and only reproduce in students the god-awful idea that they should "game" the system and not actually learn.
TY for coming to my Ted Talk.
TY for coming to my Ted Talk.
December 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Friendly reminder as we approach "final grading" season: grades are a fabricated assessment metric that never accurately reflect students' skill or progress, and only reproduce in students the god-awful idea that they should "game" the system and not actually learn.
TY for coming to my Ted Talk.
TY for coming to my Ted Talk.
Newest episode of @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social podcast just dropped and this week we're taking Cory Doctorow's concept of "enshittification" and applying it to things other than tech platforms, like American democracy, higher education, and criminal justice.
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/the-...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/the-...
Episode 207: The Enshittification of… everything? - Hotel Bar Podcast
How late capitalism turns every click into crap.
hotelbarpodcast.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Newest episode of @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social podcast just dropped and this week we're taking Cory Doctorow's concept of "enshittification" and applying it to things other than tech platforms, like American democracy, higher education, and criminal justice.
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/the-...
hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/the-...