Today we are joined by our first guest on Shooting The Breeze: Ryan Schwartz! Ryan studied Bible and Religion at Anderson University where he also attended seminary. Logan, Austin, and Pat are joined by Ryan in conversation to discuss topics including Nihilism, Post Modernism, absolute truth, interpretation, suffering, meaning, and being open minded.

This is part one of a two part discussion. We hope you enjoy!

We discuss chapter 10: Be Precise In Your Speech from 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote For Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. The topics we talk about include perception, the complexity of the world, purpose (the importance of having an aim), speech, the Enlightenment, Nihilism, the chaos of the desert, fasting, ignored reality, sins of omission, when it is necessary to have conflict, dragons, behavior of school children, and the internet as medium for communication.

Austin warns about running back to the tyranny of the known, Logan waxes poetically about the world being beautiful but tragic, and Pat emphasizes the importance of slaying the dragon in its lair.

Pat, Austin, and Logan shoot the breeze about American church structures, Austin then shares insight on duty and belonging, and we end by discussing our opinions on Christian worship music.

The conversation you are about to hear is centered around an anecdote from chapter 9: Assume That The Person You Are Listening To Might Know Something You Don’t from 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote For Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. The aforementioned anecdote involves a woman from Peterson's clinical practice who was seeking help in making sense of the experiences in her life. Pat, Austin, and Logan had different understandings as to the purpose of the story Peterson shared so they share their different perspectives during this episode.

We discuss chapter 9: Assume That The Person You Are Listening To Might Know Something You Don’t from 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote For Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. Pat, Austin, and Logan converse about advice, thinking, ideas, being a good listener, Carl Rogers and the Rogerian Method, Socrates, the importance of community, and mutual exploration.

Pat wonders about the effects of great music, Logan relates to the idea that talking helps aid good thinking, and Austin observes how seeing the humanity in each other can compliment our weaknesses.

Logan, Austin, and Pat shoot the breeze today. Austin shares an accomplishment while we discuss working out and trying to be healthy. We then talk about how today is a gift and we end the conversation with thoughts about the transitions we are going through in life right now. Pat may or may not share some thoughts on Texas at the end.

We discuss chapter 8: Tell The Truth - Or, At Least, Don’t Lie from 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote For Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. Logan, Austin, and Pat team up to tackle concepts including “life lies,” safety and the corporate state, totalitarianism, agreeableness, sacrifice, error, reason, resentment, Satan and the Garden of Eden, vision, and social justice.

Austin sings Bob Dylan, Pat shares one of his favorite lyrics, and Logan surprisingly does not share a musical reference.

Makenzie Arvidson is passionate about psychology and is currently working on her Masters degree at Miami University (Oxford). Today Logan and Makenzie discuss how she became interested in psychology as a field of study, her unique job experience in the field, behavioral tools, Christianity (and how it relates to psychology), mental health, the mind and its complexities, family dynamics, resiliency, nature vs nurture, and relationships.

Logan shares a quick update about future releases.

We discuss chapter 7: Pursue What Is Meaningful (Not What Is Expedient) from 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote For Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. This chapter was both Austin and Pat’s favorite so we hope you enjoy our conversation. The topics and notable ideas we cover include Sigmund Freud, pleasure, motivation, Socrates, sacrifice, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Carl Jung, freedom, Abraham and Isaac, corruption in the Christian church, the importance of a good attitude, life being inherently valuable, Nihilism, suffering, the problems Christianity did solve, the Death of God (as declared by Friedrich Nietzsche) and its implications, the difference(s) between ideas and facts, loneliness, and carrying your cross. Yes, it is a long discussion.

Logan focuses on making things better (instead of worse), Pat offers introspection on what makes his life most meaningful, and Austin expresses the wisdom in carrying a light yolk.