The Partially Examined Life

What The Partially Examined Life does

The Partially Examined Life is a privately held, bootstrapped philosophy media company operating as a podcast network. Founded in 2009 in Austin, Texas by four former philosophy graduate students — Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, and Dylan Casey — the company produces long-form conversational podcast episodes that bridge academic philosophy and general-audience accessibility. Its core product is the flagship PEL philosophy podcast, now at 396 episodes as of July 2026, covering major philosophical texts and thinkers through multi-host discussion rather than lecture or interview formats.

The business operates a freemium model: public podcast episodes are distributed free across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Audible, and other major directories to drive top-of-funnel discovery, while a paid PEL Citizens subscription ($7/month or $70/year) unlocks ad-free episodes, exclusive Part 2 discussions, the Nightcap after-show, guided readings, episode guides, and Discord community access. Parallel Patreon tiers ($5, $10, $20/month) extend the same value proposition with incremental benefits. The company has expanded into a network of sub-brands — Pretty Much Pop, Nakedly Examined Music, Philosophy vs. Improv, (sub)Text, Closereads, Phi Fic, Combat & Classics, and Constellary Tales — diversifying into culture, music, literature, improv, and fiction verticals while sharing infrastructure and audience.

Revenue is diversified across recurring subscriptions, Patreon patronage, episodic sponsorships (Shopify, NordLayer, OneSkin), a Shopify-powered merchandise store (t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, CDs), individual episode sales at $2.99 each, and structured online philosophy courses taught by Mark Linsenmayer at $310 per 9-session course. In April 2025 the company published an anniversary book on Amazon. The operation runs lean with approximately 5 employees and no external institutional funding, serving a globally distributed audience of philosophy enthusiasts and students through both direct website commerce and third-party platforms.

Name

The Partially Examined Life

Legal name

The Partially Examined Life, LLC

Website

https://partiallyexaminedlife.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Partially Examined Life is a bootstrapped philosophy podcast network founded in 2009, producing long-form discussions on philosophical texts for a global audience of enthusiasts and students, monetized via subscriptions, Patreon, ads, merchandise, and online courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Podcast Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirituality & Personal Growth Publishing (Mindfulness, Contemplative, New Age) (MPAJAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH), Live Podcast Recordings (MPAGACAJ)

Keywords

• Philosophy podcast
• Educational podcast network
• Philosophy courses
• Podcast subscription
• Philosophy media

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. PEL Citizenship Membership: Monthly and annual subscription providing ad-free access to all episodes, bonus content, Nightcap after-show, Discord community, guided readings, and episode guides.
2. Patreon Subscription: Multi-tiered subscription ($5-$20/month) with varying benefits including Closereads podcast access and live event discounts.
3. Individual Episode Sales: Back catalogue episodes available for $2.99 each through the website store.
4. Merchandise Sales: Physical merchandise including t-shirts, mugs, tote bags featuring philosophical themes, priced $7-$24.95.
5. Online Philosophy Classes: 9-session online courses taught by Mark Linsenmayer for $310, with recordings available for $200.
6. Advertising/Sponsorships: Sponsored episodes featuring advertising from companies like Shopify, NordLayer, and OneSkin.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Partially Examined Life is a philosophy-focused media company producing a flagship multi-host podcast and a network of related shows covering philosophy, culture, music, literature, and improv. It sells ad-free premium membership (PEL Citizenship), tiered Patreon subscriptions, individual back-catalogue episodes, online philosophy courses, branded merchandise, and a 15th-anniversary book.

Product overview

The Partially Examined Life is a multi-platform philosophy media company operating primarily as a podcast network with a flagship philosophy podcast at its core. The main PEL podcast features former philosophy graduate students discussing philosophical texts, with a freemium model offering public episodes alongside a PEL Citizens subscription ($7/month or $70/year) for ad-free content, the Nightcap after-show, Discord community access, and bonus material. The network extends across multiple branded podcasts including Pretty Much Pop (culture/media), Nakedly Examined Music (music interviews), Philosophy vs. Improv, (sub)TEXT (literature/film), Closereads (philosophy close readings), Phi Fic (fiction), Combat & Classics, and Constellary Tales. Additional revenue streams include a published book, online philosophy courses, and a merchandise shop selling podcast episodes, physical objects, music, and tutoring services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pretty Much Pop: A culture podcast where a philosopher, an actor, and a sci-fi writer discuss media including TV, film, music, novels, games, comics, comedy, theater, podcasts, and more.
• Nakedly Examined Music
• Philosophy vs. Improv
• (sub)Text
• Closereads
• Phi Fic Podcast
• Combat & Classics
• Constellary Tales
• Nightcap

Products and services

• The Partially Examined Life (PEL) Main Philosophy Podcast The flagship long-form philosophy podcast where former philosophy graduate students discuss philosophical texts, thinkers, and concepts in an accessible multi-host dialogue format. Episodes are released publicly for free with ads, with selected bonus content (Part 2 episodes) paywalled to supporters. Aimed at general philosophy enthusiasts and students.
• PEL Citizens Subscription Paid membership at $7/month or $70/year granting ad-free access to all PEL episodes, exclusive Part 2 discussions, Nightcap after-show, Discord community, guided readings, and episode guides. Available via the website and equivalent Patreon tiers.
• Pretty Much Pop Podcast Culture and media podcast where a philosopher, an actor, and a sci-fi writer discuss entertainment and media including TV, film, music, novels, games, comics, comedy, theater, and podcasts. Available with ad-free bonus content via Patreon.
• Nakedly Examined Music Podcast Podcast about music-making in which host Mark Linsenmayer interviews songwriters and composers, discussing specific recordings and creative processes with full tracks played on the show.
• Philosophy vs. Improv Podcast Podcast in which Mark Linsenmayer and Bill Arnett teach each other philosophy and improv through conversation, scenes, and performance art in a non-turns-taking dialogue format.
• (sub)Text Podcast Literature and film podcast where philosopher Wes Alwan and poet Erin O'Luanaigh explore life's big questions through close readings of texts and films, co-writing audio essays in real time.
• Closereads Podcast Philosophy podcast featuring Mark Linsenmayer and Wes Alwan conducting close readings of philosophical texts, with bonus content available to supporters via Patreon.
• Phi Fic Podcast Fiction podcast within the PEL network hosted by Daniel Johnson, an attorney and intellectual, featuring occasional guest readers.
• Mark's Online Philosophy Classes Live online philosophy courses taught by Mark Linsenmayer (including Key Ideas in Philosophy of Mind and Core Texts), structured as 9 sessions of 75 minutes each delivered every two weeks. Full course priced at $310; recordings only at $200; tutoring at $50/hour. Requires active PEL Citizenship.
• The Partially Examined Life: 15 Years with Your Favorite Philosophy Podcasters (Book) Published book celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Partially Examined Life podcast, compiling an elite selection of the best episodes. Released April 25, available in Kindle and print formats through Amazon.
• PEL Shop (Merchandise and Digital Downloads) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling philosophy-themed merchandise (tote bags, mugs, T-shirts, music CDs), individual podcast episode downloads ($2.99 each), close readings, audio books, transcriptions, and tutoring services. Powered by Shopify.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lex Fridman Podcast: A massive long-form interview podcast that frequently engages with philosophy, science, and ideas. Comparable as a host-driven intellectual podcast attracting overlapping philosophy-interested listeners, though vastly larger in scale and interview-format rather than conversational.
• Making Sense with Sam Harris: A leading philosophy-adjacent podcast by a public intellectual covering consciousness, morality, and current events. Comparable as a long-running, philosophy-rooted listener-supported show with subscription tiers, though with a much larger audience and broader scope than PEL.
• The Knowledge Project (Shane Parrish): An interview podcast on decision-making, learning, and ideas with intellectual depth. Comparable as a long-running idea-driven podcast with listener-supported tiers and overlapping philosophy-adjacent audience, though broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Hi-Phi Nation: A philosophy podcast that brings philosophical ideas to bear on contemporary real-world topics. Directly comparable as a general-audience philosophy show with a host-led narrative format and similar listener demographics to PEL.
• Philosophize This!: A long-running philosophy podcast that walks listeners through the history of philosophy in accessible, chronological episodes. Most directly comparable to PEL by format, target audience (philosophy-curious general listeners), and solo-to-multi-host conversational delivery.
• Very Bad Wizards: A philosophy and psychology podcast featuring two academics in unscripted dialogue. Highly comparable to PEL in its multi-host conversational format, niche intellectual subject matter, and listener-supported monetization model.
• The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps: A dense, comprehensive philosophy podcast series covering major thinkers across traditions. Comparable to PEL in deep coverage of philosophical texts and similar academic credibility, though more lecture-formatted versus PEL's multi-host dialogue.

Emerging players

• BrainScience Podcast (Brain Matters): A neuroscience-focused podcast exploring the intersection of brain science and philosophy of mind. Comparable to PEL's offerings like Closereads and philosophy of mind courses, sharing the academic-but-accessible positioning.
• 80,000 Hours Podcast: A long-form podcast exploring philosophy, ethics, and effective action with academic guests. Comparable to PEL in its focus on applied philosophy and rational inquiry, with a similar high-engagement niche listener base.
• Rationally Speaking: A philosophy and critical thinking podcast featuring conversations with academics. Comparable to PEL in its academic-host conversational format, niche intellectual audience, and long-form episodic style.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PartiallyExLife
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ThePartiallyExaminedLife
• Facebookfacebook.com/partiallyexaminedlife
• Instagraminstagram.com/partiallyexaminedlife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-partially-examined-life

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Partially Examined Life