Words Do Things

Don't miss Ben & Kevin’s practice session , in which they debate whether a hotdog is a sandwich! Here’s the fifth of our Rogerian dialogues between two people who passionately disagree. Today, I talk with programmer, philanthropist, and world-traveler Ben Slivka, who believes that MAGA policies on foreign affairs, immigration, energy, DEI, Iran, etc., are beneficial for America—and with religi...

*Is a Hotdog a Sandwich? A Collaborative Conversation!* Ben Slivka and Kevin Hensler joined me for a practice session so they could get used to the Rogerian format, and they debated definitions and cultural traditions related to sandwiches and whether hotdogs fit those descriptions and uses. Here's the first five minutes of that conversation. If you want to view the rest of this video, become a pa...

Don't miss Holly & Michael's practice session , in which they debate the best order for putting on one's socks and shoes. Here’s the fourth of our Rogerian dialogues between two people who passionately disagree! Today, we talk about economics, history, property, and labor. Holly Berkley Fletcher believes that Capitalism is the best system to reduce poverty, create wealth, take care of basic ne...

Dear friends! I have many plans for fascinating, important, on-target podcast series to come, but I need your support to take them from my imagination into reality. Please go to https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina and become a monthly supporter today! I need at least 10 new members of my Author’s Circle at the “Inner Ring” level or higher if I’m going to keep the podcast going. Do you want it t...

*Sock and Shoe Order of Operations: A Collaborative Conversation!* Michael Hitchcock and Holly Berkley Fletcher joined me for a practice session so they could get used to the Rogerian format, and they debated what's the right order in which to put on your footwear. Here's the first five minutes of that conversation. If you want to view the rest of this video, become a patron at https://buymeacoffe...

Don't miss Slim & Stewart’s practice session, in which they debate who is the best superhero: Batman or Nightcrawler . Here’s the third of our Rogerian dialogues between two people who passionately disagree! Today, we talk about immigration law, ICE activity, deportation, and detention. Slim believes that the current situation is cruel, chaotic, and unchristian, whereas Stewart defends law enf...

*Batman vs. Nightcrawler: A Collaborative Conversation!* English Professor Stewart Riley and Pastor Slim Thompson joined me for a practice session so they could get used to the Rogerian format, and they debated who is the best superhero: Batman or Nightcrawler (they’re obviously both wrong: the correct answer is Spiderman!). Here's the first five minutes of that conversation. If you want to view t...

Don't miss Kelly & Chris's practice session , in which they debate which is the best science-fiction franchise: Star Wars or Star Trek. Here’s the second of our Rogerian dialogues between two people who passionately disagree! Today, we talk about sex, gender, and identity. Chris holds a traditional view of two fixed, immutable biological sexes that determine gender, whereas Kelly’s lived exper...

*Star Wars vs. Star Trek: A Collaborative Conversation!* Fellow English PhDs Kelly and Chris joined me for a practice session so they could get used to the Rogerian format, and they debated which is the best science-fiction franchise: Star Wars or Star Trek (they’re obviously both wrong: the correct answer is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D!) . Here's the first five minutes of that conversation. If you want...

Here’s the first of our Rogerian dialogues between two people who passionately disagree! Dr. Jennifer Steele, a professor of Education, Public Administration, and Policy, sees great potential in Large Language Models to reveal and assist enormous potential for productivity and creativity, even in giving humans an advantage and making real art ever more valuable. Dr. Ben Utter, an English professor...

*Soup vs Cereal: A Collaborative Conversation!*  Dr. Jennifer Steele and Dr. Ben Utter joined me for a practice session so they could get used to the Rogerian format, and they debated whether or not cereal is a soup. Here's the first five minutes of that conversation. If you want to view the rest of this video, become a patron at https://buymeacoffee.com/higginssorina or a paid subscriber at https...

Here is the first episode in Season Two, Series Four: “A Gentle Answer” in which I bring together guests who passionately disagree with each other on one of the controversial issues of our day and guide them to listen carefully, repeat accurately, and respond respectfully. Sometimes it doesn’t quite work, though, and things get heated! Each set of guests did a practice episode with me on a silly t...

As I prepare the upcoming series, please enjoy this rerun from the archives. This conversation with Larry Rosen of The Enemies Project originally aired on March 22, 2026. Let me know what you think of it, please! #BadWords #Rhetoric #Politics #Enemies #Friends

A Course on Malcolm Guite's Merlin's Isle Vol I Four Tuesdays: October 6, 13, 20, & 27, from 3-5pm eastern online Visit ⁠https://wyrdhoard.com/gg-class/⁠ to register now! ⁠‪ Put on your shining armor and come on this quest! Why is an epic retelling of the King Arthur story, told in old-fashioned ballad meter, the #1 bestselling poem in the world?! How has the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Guite crafted the...

As I prepare the upcoming series, please enjoy this rerun from the archives. This conversation with Dr. Taylor Jones (aka Language Jones on YouTube) originally aired on Mar 15, 2026. Let me know what you think of it, please! #BadWords #Rhetoric #Politics #Kabbalah #Linguistics

Join my Author's Circle to get top-notch feedback on your writing AND support my independent projects at the same time! #AuthorsCircle #Writing #writinglife #writers #writerslife #writingcommunity

As I prepare the upcoming series, please enjoy this rerun from the archives. This conversation with the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley originally aired on Nov 15, 2025. Let me know what you think of it, please! #BadWords #Rhetoric #Politics #Religion #Race #Racism #Christianity #Theology

As I prepare the next series of the show, enjoy this rerun with the world’s most unlikely influencer, the #1 bestselling poet, priest, Arthurian poet, rock-n-roller, the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Guite! #Tolkien #middleearth #lordoftherings #KingArthur #books #literature #poetry #poems #Galahad #HolyGrail #TheHolyGrail #ballad

As I prepare the next series of the show, enjoy this rerun of the guys from the Prancing Pony as they share from their vast experience of J. R. R. Tolkien's works! #Tolkien #middleearth #lordoftherings #consolation #happyending #eucatastrophe #books #literature #

As I prepare the next series of the show, enjoy this rerun of Prof. Drout's excellent insights into the work of J. R. R. Tolkien! #Tolkien #middleearth #lordoftherings #consolation #happyending #eucatastrophe #books #literature 

For this last interview in the “Elvish English” series, literacy expert Elise Trudel Cedeño talks about the many ways our varied human brains learn to read, including oral, visual, verbal, and tactile approaches. She shares how she uses Tolkien in her teaching, since his approach to language is both historically embedded and physically vivid. She and Sørina discuss “series theory” (a mode of analy...

Astronomer Kristine Larsen takes Elvish English in a different direction: To outer space! She and Sørina talk about how mythology makes constellations, about the origins of the moon, and about the aurora borealis JRRT saw in the skies over Oxford. Dr. Larsen shares about how objects in space get named: Can you guess which ones must be named after Tolkien characters? And as if celestial bodies aren...

Sørina gets to talk to Dr. Simon Horobin, Professor of English Language & Literature and Tutorial Fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. In one of the most scholarly episodes in the series, they discuss what C. S. Lewis did in his day job and what he thought of modern literature, how Lewis encouraged Tolkien, and what the job of a philologist is. Prof. Horobin describes Tolkien’s work at the Oxfo...

(In)famous Tolkien punsters Dr. Rebecca Davis-Lock and Arthur Harrow, MD, join Sørina to talk about (and make) Tolkien-related jokes. They discuss what kinds of laughter Tolkien's writing evokes, what's the purpose of humor, and how the fandom has gone to town in creating Middle-earth amusements.

TikTok star Knewbettadobetta (Willie Jenkins) talks to Sørina about Tolkien’s special power of creating a sense of depth through the withheld image. Then he compares Tolkien’s highly rhythmical, alliterative writing style to the virtuosic poetry of today’s hip-hop stars. They lament the political and ideological appropriation of Tolkien by ill-intentioned fans and celebrate ways the lore of Middle...