Serious Conversations on Sex, Religion, Politics and Other Things
46 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingSerious Conversations on Sex, Religion, Politics and Other Things. Friends JR and William are consummate amateurs: having read, dabbled and screened their way across the humanities and social sciences, they have formed opinions on many things--and they're not afraid to broadcast them. Join them for lighthearted commentary and discussion on a variety of topics, from philosophy, art and literature to recent events. Get the intellectual perspective from the new generation.
Get in touch with us at [email protected].
We're also on YouTube! Check out our channel for high-quality audio: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGXPIoRcHyWHY6hYkU_CH4w
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Episodes
Terrence Malick
February 02, 2020 03:16 - 31 minutes - 36 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss some of the films and the directorial style of Terrence Malick.
Not Even Renoir is Safe
December 01, 2019 18:37 - 24 minutes - 28.4 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss feminism, and how various aspects of human life--including art--are coming under ideological scrutiny. Because ideologies such as feminism dominate the public discourse, what we now see is ideological censorship, not by a central authority, but by popular opinion: even Renoir's paintings are being called into question, as is, apparently, our entire two-thousand-year-old tradition of aesthetic judgement--all for the sake of feminism.
Saint Kardashian Cathedral
November 18, 2019 09:26 - 24 minutes - 28.2 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss some odd developments in American popular culture involving Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
Brainwashing
November 10, 2019 07:25 - 31 minutes - 35.8 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the popular concept of "brainwashing," and question whether reference to this science fiction plot device is an accurate way to describe real-world social and political phenomena.
From Moscow with Love
November 10, 2019 06:59 - 45 minutes - 52.3 MBIn this episode, JR relates some stories from his recent trip to Moscow, and the friends share their reflections on Russian history and the state of the nation today.
Temple of the Golden Pavilion
November 03, 2019 07:14 - 17 minutes - 19.8 MBIn this episode, William hosts a solo discussion of author Yukio Mishima's novel The Temple of the Golden Pavilion.
The Will to Power
October 06, 2019 22:14 - 21 minutes - 24.5 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss Nietzsche's concept of the will to power, and try to clear up some of the popular misconceptions surrounding this somewhat infamous subject. William then gives some modern and historical examples in order to illustrate his understanding of the concept.
Academics and Office Culture
October 06, 2019 22:08 - 22 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this episode, JR shares some stories from his office, and William reflects on some of the negative aspects of academic culture.
Blow Job in a Nuclear Bunker
October 06, 2019 22:01 - 25 minutes - 28.8 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss some of the reasons why many young men today are having trouble forming romantic relationships.
Civil War
September 15, 2019 08:46 - 52 minutes - 60.4 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the factors that are eroding away at the social and political cohesion of the United States.
Actors
September 08, 2019 06:48 - 20 minutes - 23.2 MBIn this episode, William discusses what he considers to be different "types" of actors.
Christianity and Psychology
September 08, 2019 06:40 - 1 hour - 71.5 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the relationship between Christianity and psychology. In particular, they discuss the role Christianity played in the development of psychology as an intellectual discipline.
Gym Stories
September 02, 2019 01:21 - 28 minutes - 32.1 MBIn this episode, the friends exchange some stories from the gym. (RIP Franco Columbu, 1941-2019. A great bodybuilder from the greatest era of bodybuilding!)
Social Media and Technology
September 02, 2019 01:14 - 22 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the recent developments in social media and technology, and how these phenomena affect society.
Terrible Films
August 26, 2019 00:20 - 1 hour - 70.5 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss some of their least favorite films, and why you should never, ever see them.
Saab Story
August 11, 2019 11:17 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss cars, sexual fetishes, and cannibalism--all involving the Germans and the Japanese.
Nietzsche
August 04, 2019 09:14 - 1 hour - 71.7 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the third essay of Friedrich Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals.
Russian and Japanese Cinema
July 28, 2019 09:24 - 44 minutes - 51 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss films such as The Forty-First (1956); Branded to Kill (1967), by Seijun Suzuki; and Woman in the Dunes (1964), by Hiroshi Teshigahara.
Pretend Activism
July 28, 2019 09:14 - 21 minutes - 24.7 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the recent phenomenon of "buy a product/send a product"-style activism. (Note: William's argument runs that if one assumes 1. that there are social problems in the world, 2. that these problems should be solved, and 3. that these problems can be solved by sending material aid (and so consequently that social problems are being caused by the unequal distribution of wealth and material goods), then it is not rational to buy products with a view to solving s...
Environmentalism
July 21, 2019 07:55 - 20 minutes - 23.4 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss some of the practical, necessary policies related to environmentalism, and contrast this with the fanaticism and the needless politicization that seems to characterize the movement today.
Tensions with Iran
July 21, 2019 07:50 - 29 minutes - 33.4 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the mounting tensions between the US and Iran. They talk about some of the diplomatic and political aspects of the issue, but they also discuss some of the strategic considerations that would be involved in another major war in that region.
Pole-Dancing on Caravaggio
July 21, 2019 07:44 - 21 minutes - 25.1 MBIn this episode, JR has some sexy stories about pole-dancing and Caravaggio.
Nationalism
June 30, 2019 07:41 - 24 minutes - 28.2 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss nationalism as it exists in today's political world. They talk about some of the problems it poses, and whether or not nationalism can even be eliminated given our current historical circumstances.
Southeast Asia and Japan
June 30, 2019 07:35 - 26 minutes - 30.1 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and the city of Bangkok. They discuss how Bangkok is effectively a morals-free zone for western tourists. They then move to a discussion of Japan, specifically how and why Japanese art and culture are so appealing to western audiences.
Sexual Harassment
June 30, 2019 07:29 - 23 minutes - 27.1 MBIn this episode, William lays out some hypothetical principles as to why some social actions are deemed appropriate, and others inappropriate. He then attempts to explain the recent phenomenon of sexual harassment accusations in light of these principles.
Anti-Beauty
June 16, 2019 06:45 - 21 minutes - 24.4 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the bizarre phenomenon in which actresses deliberately make themselves ugly for a role in order to win praise. They then discuss how democratic doctrine discourages exceptional standards in general, and how it distorts our perception by assigning new definitions to words and imagery.
Mothers
June 16, 2019 06:39 - 23 minutes - 27.4 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss parenting and motherhood. In America, motherhood is often talked about in relation to the individual--for instance, as a step in a woman's path to fulfillment--though in this episode, the friends point out how motherhood brings with it several very important social obligations, and how motherhood cannot be entirely reserved to the individual.
US, UK, Trump
June 09, 2019 00:31 - 25 minutes - 29.7 MBIn this episode, the second part of a Talking at Random Segment, the friends discuss Brexit, Trump's presidency and the historical circumstances which have led to America's position in world affairs.
More Movies
June 09, 2019 00:27 - 29 minutes - 34.3 MBIn this episode, a Talking at Random segment, the friends discuss some of the films they have seen recently. Among others, the friends discuss House (1977), by Nobuhiko Obayashi; Nekromantik (1987), Der Todesking (1990), and Schramm* (1993), by Jörg Buttgereit; On Golden Pond (1981); The Color of Pomegranates (1969), by Sergei Parajanov; The Mission: Impossible** series; Top Gun (1986); and Doctor Strangelove (1964), by Stanley Kubrick. Film lovers are sure to be entertained! This episode co...
Nothing Wrong with English
June 09, 2019 00:05 - 20 minutes - 23.3 MBIn this episode, William makes a case for the English language as a good, versatile language with a long and illustrious literary tradition. This is in spite of the culture which directs misplaced cynicism and derision towards the language. For over 500 years, the English language has been spoken and written well--why should it be condemned on the basis of how it is spoken today? Why should English be criticized by the very people responsible for degrading the standards of the language?
Canada, France, Russia
June 02, 2019 06:26 - 57 minutes - 65.3 MBIn this episode, the friends try something different: rather than record a segment with a set topic, they record their natural, bantering conversation. They drift from topic to topic, beginning with some closing thoughts on sex before moving on to how Canada and France interact with the world as outspoken proponents of liberal democratic doctrine. They then finish with some thoughts about Russia's place in world affairs.
More on Sex
June 02, 2019 06:12 - 20 minutes - 23.9 MBIn this episode, the friends revisit the topic of sex, focusing especially on the ways in which the liberal democratic worldview affects and even distorts our understanding of its basic nature.
Sex
May 19, 2019 06:29 - 23 minutes - 27.1 MBIn this episode, the friends finally get round to discussing sex. Assessing the subject as a social phenomenon, they talk about how western society--American in particular--has come to view sex, and how these views affect social behavior. They discuss how sexual attitudes find expression in art. They then criticize the excessive attention given to sex, and point out some of ways that this is detrimental to society.
Plane Crashes
May 19, 2019 06:24 - 21 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss recent plane crashes, focusing especially on the 737 MAX crashes. They talk about the possibility of declining standards in aeronautical technology, and assess air travel as a cultural and a political phenomenon.
Feminism
May 12, 2019 09:19 - 21 minutes - 24.6 MBA controversial topic, here the friends point out some of the ways in which feminism goes beyond its purported goal of gender equality and actually establishes unequal benefits for women in society. They also discuss how feminism and similar democratic ideologies are serving to destabilize society.
Fashion
May 12, 2019 09:14 - 21 minutes - 25.1 MBA seemingly innocuous topic, the friends quickly find that fashion contains a great deal of interest from a social, political and psychological standpoint. They even manage to bring in discussion of Nazism.
Notre Dame Fire
May 12, 2019 09:09 - 22 minutes - 25.8 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the recent fire at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, focusing on the sensational reactions both in the news media and social media. Was this truly the "saddest moment in history?" We have our doubts.
Racism Today
April 28, 2019 05:16 - 25 minutes - 28.7 MBIn this episode, the friends conclude a two-part discussion on racism. Here, they focus on racism as a modern phenomenon. They point to the development of nationalist ideologies in the 19th century as the possible origin of racial ideology, and, consequently, racism as we are familiar with it today. They then offer speculation as to how liberal democracy--far from resolving racial tension--actually permits and perpetuates group identity founded in race, and the resulting conflicts between suc...
Race and Racism
April 28, 2019 05:11 - 21 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this episode, the friends begin a two-part discussion of racism. Here, they define racism, and offer a historical perspective on the issue. They outline some of the political circumstances which may have given rise to racism in the past, and offer an overview of the issue in America.
Islam Today
April 21, 2019 04:57 - 25 minutes - 29.3 MBContinuing their discussion on Islam, in this episode the friends discuss what might happen in the future given the tension between Islam and the West. They bring up points that they missed in the previous episode, and lay out some possibilities as to what may happen in the future.
The Muslim Question
April 21, 2019 04:39 - 22 minutes - 26.2 MBIn this episode, the friends address the tension which seems to exist between Islam and the West. They identify some of the doctrinal aspects of the Islamic faith which puts it at odds with western ideology, and discuss how modernity has affected Islam and other traditional ways of life.
Liberal Ideology
April 15, 2019 02:21 - 20 minutes - 23.3 MBIn this episode, the friends make further points on contemporary ideology, a word which is here used to refer to the body of ideas which govern human behavior and dictate the structure of political society. Focusing specifically on liberal-democratic ideology, they outline its assumptions and goals, and point out its shortcomings in implementing its principles in reality.
Mass Shootings
April 15, 2019 02:13 - 24 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this episode, the friends discuss the New Zealand shooting of March, 2019. They put forth some of the possible motivations for the shooting, and discuss liberal-democratic ideology and the discontent which has in some cases prompted violence.
Leviathan
March 25, 2019 04:47 - 19 minutes - 22.1 MBIn this episode, the friends conclude their discussion of two recent Russian films, The Fool (2014), by Yuri Bykov, and Leviathan (2014), by Andrey Zvyagintsev. Having finished their discussion of The Fool, the friends now move on to Leviathan, another drama about political corruption in Russia, and give a detailed analysis of its themes and its criticism of contemporary Russian society. They then compare the two films, discussing their various similarities and possible trends in contemporary...
The Fool
March 25, 2019 04:32 - 19 minutes - 22.2 MBCinephiles, what Russian film have you seen lately? Serious Conversations has two suggestions for you. The first of a two part conversation on recent Russian cinema, in this episode the friends introduce two Russian films: The Fool (2014) by Yuri Bykov, and Leviathan (2014) by Andrey Zvyagintsev. They give a summary and an analysis of The Fool, a dark drama about political corruption and moral principle, and discuss some of its thematic qualities. This episode contains spoilers.
Naming the Show
March 25, 2019 04:19 - 5 minutes - 6.91 MBIn this brief episode, the friends take time to name their new podcast during a recording session. Hear them reflect on the purpose and the guiding principles of their show--and banter.
Religion
March 25, 2019 04:11 - 22 minutes - 31 MBIn the inaugural episode of Serious Conversations on Sex, Religion, Politics and Other Things, the friends discuss various aspects of religion as a contemporary social phenomenon, including the role of religion today, their own experiences with religion, and the future of religion in an increasingly secularized world.