JUST FYI POD: Conversations about Culture, Ideas, and Life

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #4 novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining Joris-Karl Huysmans' fascinating (and disturbing!) 1891 novel THE DAMNED (Là-Bas). Next, Amy explores Shūsaku Endō's famous (and controversial!) 1966 novel SILENCE (沈黙). Both works dare to probe the darkest corners of human life, albeit with an eye to rekindling a faith forgotten or misunderstood.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Ideas’ second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." Today's episode, however, will be different. In a wide-ranging conversation, my cohost Clark Elliston and I speak with George Pattison -- one of the world's leading philosophical theologians, who, among other things, has served as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford (2004-13) and 1640 Professor of Divinity at the University of Glasgow (2013-19). The occasion for our discussion is the publication of George's excellent new book Conversations with Dostoevsky: On God, Russia, Literature, and Life (Oxford University Press, 2024). However, George's erudition and geniality allowed us to touch on a number of subjects, including his role as an Anglican priest, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and why drunken football supporters are full of surprises. As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to countdown "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." However, on this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I sat down on a stormy Mardi Gras afternoon to discuss two major news stories, both of which significantly intersect with Christianity in general and the Catholic Church in particular. First, we consider the recent concerns about Pope Francis' health -- as of this recording, the Holy Father has been in hospital for a few weeks -- and we ponder his legacy and what it means for the Church going forward. Second, we breakdown the so-called Ordo Amoris controversy, which erupted when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance (a Catholic) invoked a Catholic theological concept to defend the Trump administration's policy on illegal immigration. Finally, we conclude with a few thoughts about the recent Academy Awards ceremony, which led many viewers to ask the questions: "What is Anora? And can I stream it somewhere?" As always, additional content and links can be found at Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. Your interest and support are much appreciated! Also, please consider following, liking, rating, and/or sharing our work.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two classics from the 19th Century. First, Clark offers an analysis of Democracy in America (De la démocratie en Amérique, 1835 and 1840 ) by the French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59). Next, I turn to the existentialistic novella Notes from Underground (Записки из подполья, 1862-64) written by the great Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-81). As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. Your interest and support are much appreciated! Also please consider following, liking, rating, and/or sharing our work.

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture’s second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown—this time focusing on the #5 novel on our respective lists. Amy kick things off with an examination of Wilfrid Sheed's underrated 1963 book The Hack. Next, I explore Thomas Pynchon's 1997 magnum opus Mason & Dixon. Though different in setting and in style, both novels wryly probe the modern world for signs of meaning, purpose, and even transcendence.Please visit Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown -- this time focusing on the #6 novel on our respective lists. I kick things off with an examination of Walter M. Miller's post-apocalyptic sci-fi classic A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ (1959). Next, Amy explores J.F. Powers' debut novel MORTE D'URBAN (1962). Both books explore the tension between church and society, albeit in different styles and in wildly disparate settings. Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and additional content. Please subscribe for free today, and consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode -- which might be called "Plato Day" on the pod -- I begin with a discussion of arguably the greatest philosophical work of Greek antiquity, Plato's REPUBLIC (Πολιτεία). Next, my cohost Clark J. Elliston turns to Plato's late and massively influential text TIMAEUS (Τίμαιος). As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. Your generosity and support are much appreciated! Also please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

In the last episode before we return to our series "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives," my cohost Amy Welborn and I sit down to discuss the year 2024 -- the highlights and the lowlights, particularly in the arena of culture. After a brief debate about the political "theme" of the year, we turn to our main topic: our favorite movies, TV series, books, and music of 2024. Talking points include, but are hardly limited to: A Complete Unknown, Nosferatu, A Real Pain, The Bear, Shōgun, novelist Julie Schumacher, and singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman. As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives," but today my cohost Amy Welborn and I have something else in mind. With Christmas fast approaching, we have decided to discuss our favorite Christmas movies -- an extension of our December 2023 analysis of Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life (1946) and Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960). And yet, before digging into that topic, we begin by catching up on a few hot-button news items, including the strange drones in New Jersey (and what the story really means) and Cardinal Blase Cupich's controversial December 2024 column " As We Pray...'". So please join us, whether you're out and about doing last-minute Christmas shopping, in your kitchen baking cookies or prepping the "roast beast," or just sitting by the fire sipping on a little mulled wine. Additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated! Please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, I begin with a discussion of THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS (1962), written by the decorated American philosopher of science Thomas S. Kuhn (1922-96). Meanwhile, my cohost Clark Elliston turns to the French critic and philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-84) and his celebrated 1975 study DISCIPLINE AND PUNISH: THE BIRTH OF THE PRISON (Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison). Both of these texts were considered significant, if also potentially transgressive, in their own eras. But it may be that they matter even more today! Additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated! Please consider following, liking, rating, and/sharing our work.