//podcastplus.net/feed/podcast~88fd1d5cc751c540a63829da44385082294f2eae84a5cf48545c04138c1bfe24 The Colloquium on Violence & Religion (COV&R) hosts conversations with authors and thinkers who apply the insights of mimetic theory in everyday life and actions. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:07:52 +0000 https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/5a622771-67f1-4843-95c2-e0c568d21636/episodes/5ef362ad-d456-42ba-b698-3df7f017bc10/audio/5e1a48fe-b98f-47cf-858d-93f5edcdc0f7/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=IoxPq00l Mimetic desire—the idea people want what others want—holds the key to understanding the 21st century, suggests entrepreneur Peter Thiel. It’s an idea first developed by philosopher René Girard that is helping a growing audience today understand everything from personal relationships and rivalries to politics, war and human identity. In this episode of A COV&R CONVO, Matthew Packer interviews author Luke Burgis about Luke's new book Wanting: the Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life,  which applies mimetic theory to everyday contexts including those of vocation, faith, and the business world. Burgis discusses a wide range of phenomena explained by mimesis (imitation), especially the dark side of human copying. He also explores the crucial difference between imitating role models outside our social circles and copying those on the same field as us—with funny, surprising examples like the tale of Ferrari and Lamborghini. Mimetic theory accounts for the unbridled competition of today’s wor... Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:10:16 +0000 https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/5a622771-67f1-4843-95c2-e0c568d21636/episodes/5ef362ad-d456-42ba-b698-3df7f017bc10/audio/5e1a48fe-b98f-47cf-858d-93f5edcdc0f7/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=IoxPq00l https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/5a622771-67f1-4843-95c2-e0c568d21636/episodes/5ef362ad-d456-42ba-b698-3df7f017bc10/audio/5e1a48fe-b98f-47cf-858d-93f5edcdc0f7/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=IoxPq00l Mimetic desire—the idea people want what others want—holds the key to understanding the 21st century, suggests entrepreneur Peter Thiel. It’s an idea first developed by philosopher René Girard that is helping a growing audience today understand everything from personal relationships and rivalries to politics, war and human identity. In this episode of A COV&R CONVO, Matthew Packer interviews author Luke Burgis about Luke's new book Wanting: the Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life,  which applies mimetic theory to everyday contexts including those of vocation, faith, and the business world. Burgis discusses a wide range of phenomena explained by mimesis (imitation), especially the dark side of human copying. He also explores the crucial difference between imitating role models outside our social circles and copying those on the same field as us—with funny, surprising examples like the tale of Ferrari and Lamborghini. Mimetic theory accounts for the unbridled competition of today’s wor... Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:10:16 +0000 https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/5a622771-67f1-4843-95c2-e0c568d21636/episodes/5ef362ad-d456-42ba-b698-3df7f017bc10/audio/5e1a48fe-b98f-47cf-858d-93f5edcdc0f7/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=IoxPq00l