
The Troubadour Podcast
"It is the honourable characteristic of Poetry that its materials are to be found in every subject which can interest the human mind." William Wordsworth The Troubadour Podcast invites you into a world where art is conversation and conversation is art. The conversations on this show will be with some living people and some dead writers of our past. I aim to make both equally entertaining and educational.In 1798 William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge published Lyrical Ballads, which Wordsworth called an experiment to discover how far the language of everyday conversation is adapted to the purpose of poetic pleasure. With this publication, he set in motion the formal movement called "Romanticism." 220 years later the experiment is continued on this podcast. This podcast seeks to reach those of us who wish to improve our inner world, increase our stores of happiness, and yet not succumb to the mystical or the subjective.Here, in this place of the imagination, you will find many conversation with those humans creating things that interest the human mind.
Latest episodes

May 31, 2020 • 31min
Sonnet 129: 'The Expense of Spirit in a Waste of Shame' by William Shakespeare
Send us a textShakespeare in LUST!When most of us think of Shakespeare we think of the great love poet. He is known as one of the greatest romantic love poets of all time. Yet in this poem he rails against sex. Not romantic sex of course, but sex devoid of spirit.By the end of watching this video you'll be able to talk about this poem with anyone, and you'll have a better understanding of how Shakespearean sonnets are structured and how they operate.

May 28, 2020 • 1h 12min
The Practical Value of Reading Literature W/ Deanna Heikkinen
Send us a textAsk someone the following two questions. First, "Is reading literature a good thing?" Then, "Do you read literature?" And it is amazing that everyone will answer affirmative in the former and negative in the latter.Do that with anything else in life and you will likely find a wide range of answers. "Is riding horseback a good thing?" Some will say yes and some will say no and some will be neutral. Then follow with the second question "Do you horseback ride,? And again you'll get a variety of answers. Try the question with 'working hard,' 'following your passion,' 'exercise,' 'eating healthy.'There is a huge disconnect in our society. We all know that reading literature is a Good and yet very few of us actually read literature. On today's episode I talked with Deanna Heikkinen from Pisan Academy to talk about the value of literature. Both Deanna and I share the missoin of attempting to bring literature to non-academics. At the Pisan Academy, they focus on creating curriiculum for homeschoolers.

May 24, 2020 • 35min
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day by William Shakespeare
Send us a textWho remembers those magic eye illusions from the 90s? On this episode I use Shakespeare's most famous poem to illustrate how poetry is like those illusions.Poetry begins as a meaningless jumble of lines on a page, but it ends with deep meaning. As Frost puts it, a good poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom. But how can we reach that "end?" And is it truly worth it?These are some questions I discuss with you as I explore this great and short 14 line sonnet by the great bard himself.

May 15, 2020 • 1h 4min
Surprised by Art! With Luc Travers
Send us a textOn this episode, Luc Travers and Kirk Barbera surprise each other (and hopefully you too!) with art. They chose a topic—Memory and Loss—and each chose a work of art to surprise the other with. Luc chose a painting and Kirk chose a poem. Memory and loss are part of the human experience. Whether you're 15 or 100 how we deal with loss and how we remember that which we have lost will change. In this episode Luc and Kirk will discuss two artists conception of this topic, and explore the ways in which it impacts our lives.

May 10, 2020 • 17min
The Clod and the Pebble by William Blake
Send us a textPoets are thinkers. We don't see them as thinkers. But great poets have a special way of thinking that can benefit us all.In this poem we see that type of thinking at its clearest. The poem is a simple poem about two types of love, but expressed in the way that only a poet can express it.

May 3, 2020 • 37min
Songs of Experience 'Introduction' and 'Earth's Answer' By William Blake
Send us a textWilliam Blake believed there were two contrary states battling it out within each and every individual human being. Innocence and experience. The way that we developed as unique individuals was by a "dialectic process." That is, there is a Thesis (a little boy is lost) and an Anti-thesis (The little boy is found) Together they can become a synthesis, or, a new thesis.We find this process all throughout this book of poetry by Blake.In today's episode we will be covering the two aforementioned poems. They are very short but reveal much of the way that Blake believed the human soul was developed.The Little Boy LostBY WILLIAM BLAKEFather, father, where are you going O do not walk so fast.Speak father, speak to your little boy Or else I shall be lost,The night was dark no father was there The child was wet with dew.The mire was deep, & the child did weep And away the vapour flew.Little Boy FoundBy William BlakeThe little boy lost in the lonely fen,Led by the wandering light,Began to cry, but God, ever nigh,Appeared like his father, in white.He kissed the child, and by the hand led,And to his mother brought,Who in sorrow pale, through the lonely dale,Her little boy weeping sought.

Apr 25, 2020 • 1h 8min
Quarantine Tales: Old Man Traveling
Send us a textIn unusual times even the usual is extraordinary.

Apr 16, 2020 • 1h 9min
Bonding with Art and Artists W/Luc Travers
Send us a textNathaniel Branden, a psychologist and pioneer in the study of self-esteem, said that artists and creators have an above average acceptance of the condition of aloneness. We can learn a lot from artists at any time of life, including our current situation. So how did great artists deal with isolation? What can we learn from them? How can we be better in contemplating art and our own lives?Luc Travers is an art historian and art guide who has returned to the show to explore art with us. We looked at six paintings and he describes what he believes are two huge values of studying not only the painting of great artists, but their lives as well.Luc will be putting on a multi-week course on the topic of Bonding with Great Artists. This video will be a tiny taste of all that he has to offer. I highly recommend you check it out: http://www.touchingtheart.com/bonding-with-great-artists.html?fbclid=IwAR0UkDpz4BglGgvfzwbA1Xp4WplDPK3QA1VE5fTpHkhjbDlUJQdTi-1UdyM

Apr 14, 2020 • 1h 33min
A Candid Conversation with Chris De Pretis
Send us a textIt's great to catch up with friends during this time so Chris De Pretis chatted about what's going on in the world and of course we discussed movies. All of us react differently to external tragedies and I'm personally appreciative of Chris for cheering me up.Also hear our thoughts on the similarities between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and an old but relevant film genre.

Apr 12, 2020 • 41min
On Another's Sorrow by William Blake
Send us a textThis is the final poem in William Blake's Songs of Innocence (1789). The theme is a simple one of "God's love.' But even if you are not religious, it is a wonderfully told poem. Hear how a poet expresses discontent and comes to an understanding of this elusive idea for Christians.