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

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.

The hosts share humorous family anecdotes alongside literary insights. They discuss Flannery O'Connor's 'The Violent Bear It Away' and Paul Horgan's 'Things As They Are', emphasizing their cultural significance. The conversation touches on the misconceptions surrounding education and the importance of self-learning. Richard's emotional growth and loss highlight the interplay of innocence and adulthood. Music reflecting lost innocence is explored, along with O'Connor's life, faith themes, and the grotesque in literature, culminating in reflections on redemption.

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 analyzes CROSSING THE POSTMODERN DIVIDE (1992), written by longtime University of Montana professor Albert Borgmann (1937-2023). Next, I follow with an assessment of A SECULAR AGE (2007), the magnum opus of celebrated Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor (1931-). These are two great books, both of which intend to help us navigate the complexity of our current socio-political era. Additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe today -- for free! As always, we truly appreciate your support. Please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

Looking for more Election 2024 coverage? Interested in a point of view that does not coincide with Twitter/X sensationalism or MSM banality? Look no further than Just FYI Pod: Culture.! On today's episdode, Amy Welborn and I take a break from our usual content and offer an analysis of Tuesday's United States presidential election. But this is not just any analysis. Instead of prattling on about "Decision 2024," Amy and I have pithily subdivided our thoughts into various categories, focusing on the people and issues that made this election cycle particularly memorable. Topics include: Butler, PA, Joe Rogan, Ann Selzer, "Joy," French Fries, squirrels, Anthony Fauci, Cornpop, and the 1986 movie Hoosiers. Please visit cbarnett.substack.com for more details, links, and content. As ever, likes, ratings, shares, and "follows" are greatly appreciated!