Fruitless

On today's episode, Keanu Heydari joins Josiah to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran in historical context.

• Read Keanu’s piece in the New International: https://newintermag.com/iran-israel-the-logic-of-escalation/
• Follow Keanu on Bluesky @keanuheydari.bsky.social
• Find Keanu's work here: https://www.keanuheydari.com/
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZWDsDrQ0XvDQFWzE6s2gg
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• Quote from Ursula von der Leyen about energy markets, https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1934821830977835129
• Agence France-Presse. “Guerre au Proche-Orient : « Les habitants de Téhéran paieront le prix » des frappes iraniennes, avertit Israël.” 15 June 2025. https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/160625/guerre-au-proche-orient-les-habitants-de-teheran-paieront-le-prix-des-frappes-iraniennes-avertit-is
• El Azzouzi, Rachida. “À Téhéran, les habitants sont saisis de peur et de panique.” Mediapart, 16 June 2025. https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/160625/teheran-les-habitants-sont-saisis-de-peur-et-de-panique
• Financial Times. “Iran’s regime fights for survival.” 16 June 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/6103cfdb-0f36-4500-96ef-f3b86a7b29f8
• Financial Times. “Israel-Iran tensions test central banks’ appetite for rate cuts.” 16 June 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/62b8ccec-4997-49b0-99ee-31876e0e6a15
• Financial Times. “Oil price falls back as flow of crude through Strait of Hormuz unaffected.” 17 June 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/06ce9c20-f5cb-41bf-862c-27d1c4521d45
• Financial Times. “Was Iran really developing nuclear weapons?” 16 June 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/3a8d78b9-4923-4aef-a303-a0e973ef812d
• Ramdani, Ilyes. “Guerre contre l’Iran : Emmanuel Macron pris au piège israélien.” Mediapart, 16 June 2025. https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/politique/160625/guerre-contre-l-iran-emmanuel-macron-pris-au-piege-israelien

Music & audio credits

• Sunshine (Prod. Riddiman)
• Yesterday – bloom.
• Lofi hiphop 2020 - midsummer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVcH-b6vi8Y

On today's episode, Jackal, Alien, and Josiah discuss Weiner (2016) and Anthony Weiner's story since the events of the film.

• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube
• Find more of Josiah’s work here: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter & Bluesky @josiahwsutton(.bsky.social)

References

• Weiner (2016)
• "ANTHONY WEINER | Scandal, 2016 Election, Hillary Clinton," The Adam Friedland Show on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k2klUR6h9o
• "Anthony Weiner MELTDOWN," PBD Podcast on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8sKo4KQO-E
• "Anthony Weiner Addresses Past Sexting Scandals As He Launches Attempted Comeback," The View on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdZPxddXWcM

Audio credits

• Sentimental - Dan Darmawan
• Yesterday – bloom.
• Anthony Weiner on The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell in 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBkm_tsmO4
• Clip from The Simpsons

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130384396

Josh and I discuss Hot Fuss by The Killers and Blue Record by Baroness. Also The Office and re-watch podcasts.

Music by The Killers, Baroness, and SHADE08

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129786888

On today's episode, Jackal, James C. Liker, and Josiah discuss the first season of Common Side Effects.

Music by SHADE08

On today's episode, Caleb, Josh, and Josiah discuss the early work of Nick Cave, The Birthday Party, and a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds concert that both Caleb and Josiah attended. 

• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube
• Find more of Josiah’s work here: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter & Bluesky @josiahwsutton(.bsky.social)

References

• Caleb's Spotify playlist, https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7bSlCXPulffUmLsTt5ueeT?si=05a7243f0a0c4ed9
• "Nick Cave's first band was called 'the most violent band in the world,'" QwithTomPower on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UBKA2ehQE7A?si=MdWyyVAb3HPN-6gI
• "Henry Rollins on Nick Cave PoPP CLIPS," Tyler Smith on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THuenrCAPIE
• "Nick Cave On Singing With Johnny Cash And The Joyful, Uplifting Vibe Of His New Album, ‘Wild God’," The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8qmV6MYCF4
• "50 truths on the hidden metaphysics of America," MythoAmerica on Substack, https://mythoamerica.substack.com/p/50-truths-on-the-hidden-metaphysics

Audio credits

• Yesterday – bloom.
• Roman Roman - The Boys Next Door
•  iPhone recording I took of Red Right Hand by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
• Tupelo - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
• The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
• The Mercy Seat (Live from KCRW) - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
• Release the Bats - The Birthday Party
• Dead Joe - The Birthday Party
• After a Fashion - The Boys Next Door

On today's episode, Finch joins Josiah to talk about the 2025 conclave, the Conclave (2024) fandom, and the last few weeks of Vatican news online.

• Check out Finch's Substack here: https://jmkazmierczak.substack.com/
• Read Finch's piece "Death and the Archivist" here: https://jmkazmierczak.substack.com/p/death-and-the-archivist
• Follow Finch on Twitter @santo_pinzon or Bluesky @finchowar.bsky.social
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZWDsDrQ0XvDQFWzE6s2gg
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• "Society of the Snow (feat. Finch)," Fruitless, https://share.transistor.fm/s/69ca1424
• "The pope called them every night until his final hours. Now, Gaza’s Christians cling to the hope he left behind," Abeer Salman and Oren Liebermann for CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/middleeast/pope-gaza-christians-mourning-intl/index.html
• Conclave (2024, dir. Edward Berger)
• Conclave by Robert Harris
• Conclavoscope, https://conclavoscope.com/en
• "How Pope Crave Went From Conclave to the Conclave," Meg Zukin in Time, https://time.com/7283807/pope-crave-conclave-rome/
• "Cardinals are watching ‘Conclave’ the movie for guidance on the actual conclave," Ben Munster for Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/cardinals-watch-conclave-movie-for-real-life-guidance/
• "Pope Leo XIV Watched Conclave Before Being Elected the New Pope (Yes, Really!)," John Weiss for NBC, https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/pope-leo-watched-conclave-movie-before-being-elected-new-pope-at-actual-conclave
• Papability Index, https://x.com/pope_predictor
• "Meet ‘Luce’: The Vatican’s cartoon mascot for Jubilee 2025," Courtney Mares for Catholic News Agency, https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260129/meet-luce-the-vatican-s-cartoon-mascot-for-jubilee-2025
• Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
•  "Cubs, White Sox celebrate election of Chicago native Pope Leo XIV," ESPN, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45058434/chicago-cubs-white-sox-celebrate-pope-leo-xiv-sports-fandom
• "Chase Meidroth gets hit in the head with a pop up," https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/cam-booser-in-play-no-out-to-drew-waters
• "Church officials OK’d moving another priest accused of abuse to Hyde Park friary, records show," Robert Herguth in Chicago Sun Times, https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/26/22302129/catholics-priest-child-sex-abuse-st-john-friary-james-ray-richard-mcgrath-hyde-park-augustinians
• "Conservatives accused Prevost of covering up abuse in Peru and the United States before conclave," Pablo Ordaz in El Pais, https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-05-09/conservatives-accused-prevost-of-covering-up-abuse-in-peru-and-the-united-states-before-conclave.html
• "Pope dissolves Peru-based Catholic movement after ‘sadistic abuses’," The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/20/pope-dissolves-sodalitium-of-christian-life-peru-catholic-movement-vatican-investigation
• "Will Pope Leo XIV be the one who makes the call on women deacons?," Phyllis Zagano in RNS, https://religionnews.com/2025/05/09/will-pope-leo-xiv-be-the-one-who-makes-the-call-on-women-deacons/
• "Pope Leo signals he will closely follow Francis and says AI represents challenge for humanity," Lauren Kent for CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/10/europe/pope-leo-prevost-cardinals-artificial-intelligence-intl
• "New Pope Leo XIV’s brother shared gross post calling Nancy Pelosi a ‘drunk c—t’," David Propper in New York Post, https://nypost.com/2025/05/11/us-news/new-pope-leo-xivs-brother-shared-gross-post-calling-nancy-pelosi-a-drunk-c/

Music & audio credits

• Gregorian Chant Rap Beat - sero.k
• Yesterday – bloom.
• "Chase Meidroth gets hit in the head with a pop up," https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/cam-booser-in-play-no-out-to-drew-waters
• A royalty free hip-hop remix of Ave Maria I downloaded back when I did Mammonburg but have lost the artist name since. If the person who did this somehow stumbles across this, let me know so I can credit you.

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127834866

Josh and I discuss The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan and The Suburbs by Arcade Fire. Also the Minecraft movie.

Music by Gary Numan, Arcade Fire, and SHADE08

On today's episode, Gaius from Tribunate joins Josiah to talk about Roman history and it's parallels to the present moments. Is the U.S. in a decline like the end of the Roman Republic? Or, perhaps, the end of the Roman Empire? Why are fascists and far right groypers so obsessed with Rome? All this and more.

• Check out Tribunate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tribunateSPQR
• Follow Gaius on Bluesky @gaius.bsky.social
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZWDsDrQ0XvDQFWzE6s2gg
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• "Cato, the Filibuster, and the Death of the Republic," Tribunate on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgD3_eBBn5o
• "The Price of Power: Exploitation and the End of the Roman Republic," Tribunate on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEi8Tu1-DSM
• "...And Forgive Them Their Debts (Bookclub #6)," Fruitless, https://share.transistor.fm/s/ebf3fb42
• "Class & Sexuality in Ancient Rome Part 1: Gay Relationships," Tribunate on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9y-thVnwKg
• "Why Caesar Committed Genocide (and Why He was Proud of It)," Tribunate on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lzrrTZTRZA
• "Sulla, Rome's Bloodiest Dictator," Tribunate on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RClu7ADAcb4
• "Why Elon Musk Loves Sulla," Tribunate on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8DP3jz__ik

Music & audio credits

• Hungry - Liadiii
• Yesterday – bloom.
• In My Dreams – bloom.

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126664485

On today's episode, Alien, Josh, and Josiah turn up the dubstep, shotgun their Monster energy drinks, and get party rocking as they talk about Spring Breakers (2012) and the cinematic universe of Harmony Korine, as well as take a brief detour into the work and influence of Skrillex on American pop culture.

Music by SHADE08 and Skrillex

On today's episode, Phil Christman joins Josiah to discuss Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. They explore Postman's intellectual trajectory and legacy, as well as the broader media ecology movement. Did Postman predict Donald Trump? Is Postman a conservative? Would Postman have liked podcasts? All this and more on today's episode.

• Phil Christman's previous appearance on Fruitless: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e49b23bc
• Pre-order Why Christians Should Be Leftists here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884053/why-christians-should-be-leftists/
• Check out Phil Christman's Substack The Tourist: https://philipchristman.substack.com/
• Follow Phil on Bluesky @philipchristman.bsky.social
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZWDsDrQ0XvDQFWzE6s2gg
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
• Technopoly by Neil Postman
• The Medium is the Massage by Marshall McLuhan
• "The Media Ecologists," Phil Christman on Substack, https://philipchristman.substack.com/p/the-media-ecologists
• "You Don't Need a Postman To Know It's Mostly Junk Mail," Phil Christman on Substack, https://philipchristman.substack.com/p/you-dont-need-a-postman-to-know-its
• Teaching as a Subversive Activity by Neil Postman
• Teaching as a Conserving Activity by Neil Postman
• The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman
• The Age of Missing Information by Bill McKibben
• WNUF Halloween Special (2013, dir. Chris LaMartina)
• Ghostwatch (1992, dir, Lesley Manning)
• 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance (1994, dir. Michael Haneke)
• Benny's Video (1992, dir. Michael Haneke)

Music & audio credits

• Sunflower (Prod. Lukrembo)
• Yesterday – bloom.
• "Russia Invades Ukraine Sponsored By Applebee's - CNN Clip (February 24, 2022)," YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6QUsx68DCA
• In My Dreams – bloom.