The Problem with Reading

We’re on to part two of the Master and His Emissary with Chapter 7! The boys tighten up their summarizing skills (hopefully) and talk through cultural memes and left-hemisphere feedback loops. Also, imitation is good for the soul, boots will save our civilization, and a look into the inner priesthood of right-wing ideology today. Finally, listen to Stephen hating on the news and tune in next week...

A New Year and a New Season of the Problem with Reading! The three boys are reunited and talk through all the excitement on the way in season 3. Also, Brevin puts his co-hosts on the spot with a Sam vs Stephen TPWR trivia deathmatch!

The boys gather once more before the new year to retrospect over the first half of The Master and His Emissary. Joining them is the lord sponsor of the reading series and M+E evangelist Zach, who brings spicy takes, a dramatic voice, and archaic video game references. After that, the pod shifts into words about screens and seeing, cold soup and brunch, and the first of men. Also, four (4) rants fr...

Schoolhouse Rock and Children Eating Alone ft. Zach (Season 2 Finale Outtake) by The Problem with Reading

Zach reflects on video games and re-presentation to the haunting tones of Metroid Prime.

Stephen and Brevin finish up Part 1 of the Master and His Emissary to great fanfare. Also--White House tree planting traditions are opaque, Blade Runner 2049 has surprisingly good bioethics, and cookies are mmm.

Stephen and Brevin finish off Ch.5 of the Master and His Emissary as we enter the home stretch of part one! Also in this podcast—corporations want to make religion because they are evil incarnate, Stephen has a fun encounter with soulless bureaucracy at Michigan’s version of the DMV, and our society is decadent AF. Have a listen!

The boys are back and desperately attempting to fill the Sam-sized hole in their hearts via their friend Chris. Lord of the Rings is on the mind, and they discuss why Gandalf is actually Augustine, how Morgoth creating a dragon is completely unrealistic, and the irony of George Martin having tons of religions in his drivel-ridden fantasy world vs Tolkien's lack of religion in his inherently religi...

I See Saruman (219 Teaser) by The Problem with Reading

Stephen and Brevin are more modest this week and get through half of chapter 5, checking up on the primacy of the right hemisphere. Also: the Bible for Zoomers is the worst thing you've ever heard of, beer brewing is great, and something about golden bone leprechauns.

The boys are together in person for the first LIVE Problem with Reading episode ever! Join them for more Master and His Emissary, more Heidegger, more bourbon, and more Q&As.

Q&A from The Problem with Reading LIVE

The boys tackle The Master and His Emissary chapter 3 in this lengthy episode, solving the problems of music, language, and thought itself in a tidy hour and ten. They also find another angle to hate upon abstract art, avoid politics, rip on PG movies, approve censorship, and dunk on street preachers. Finally, they agree that the good life is porch-sittin' with beer. Have a listen!

The boys go after chapter 2 and the neuroscience of our dual hemispheres. Plus, Sam explains what face blindness is, Stephen hates on a kids TV show, an interactive quiz for our dear listeners, and Brevin goes off on Frozen 2.

The team jointly tackles chapter one, Sam (re: CS Lewis) thinks learning is worthwhile even in the worst of times, Stephen is too happy to rant, and Brevin can't pronounce "croquet" to save his life. Have a listen!

The crew's The Master and His Emissary reading series kicks off with the introduction (a very good place to start). Also, Brevin says words he may regret about the WHO, the internet gods disrupt the broadcast, and Sam thinks "problematic" is problematic. Have a listen!

Stay tuned for our next reading series!

In this snappy short pod, the chaps review the Sokal Squared Hoax and the varying responses to it. In other news, Tabletop Simulator is great, colleges are dropping the Covid-19 ball, and goddam mattress reviews online. Articles: ~https://areomagazine.com/2018/10/02/academic-grievance-studies-and-the-corruption-of-scholarship/ ~https://www.chronicle.com/article/What-the-Grievance/244753

Given the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its assorted impacts, Stephen’s rant from last episode did not age well. At all. Join Sam and Brevin as they rake him over the coals and hold him to account for his irresponsibility and poor judgement, both in opinions about viral outbreaks and popular journalists (David Foster Wallace). Also—Microsoft is a panopticon, malls are cathedrals, and Star Wars...

For the first time, Stephen and Sam take over the pod. Without the mediating and structured presence of Brevin, they swiftly collapse into chaos and long conversations about CS Lewis. Join them to hear about secular techno monks and selfishness! Plus, Sam gets political and Stephen has a rant that has not aged well given the current COVID-19 situation. Have a listen!

The boys tackle some spicy topics, including the future of work, Scientology and stoicism, and the late great Roger Scruton. Also in this episode: the best prank to pull on a hater, evil realtor experiences, and Iowa. Have a listen!

Sam is back for the first episode of 2020. The boys get into Oxford Beagle-ing procedures, mouse dystopias, and how table manners will save the west. Plus: Star Wars nerd deep dives, rants about the Witcher, and tea. Join us!

Stephen and Brevin break down the latest universalist vs infernalist articles, Vice editors go to jail for vices, and we learn that dryness freezes our souls. Let us know what you think! Enjoy!

Stephen and Brevin break down the Notre Dame Ethics Conference (where Stephen spoke or sat next to every significant Christian ethicist of our time), the OK Boomer meme, and the tectonic plates of demographics. Also--irony is great, Untitled Goose Game is a masterpiece, and friendship is impossible (according to MacIntyre). Have a listen! Article: ~firstthings.com/article/2019/11/the-future-is-mix...

'nough said