Give and Take

My guest is Daniel Oppenheimer. Daniel is the host of Eminent Americans, a podcast about the writers and public intellectuals who either are key players in the American intellectual scene or who typify an important aspect of it.

Special Guest: Daniel Oppenheimer .

On this episode of Give and Take, host Scott Jones sits down with Denise Hamilton to discuss her debut book, Indivisible. A visionary leader and advocate for inclusion, Hamilton explores what it truly means to bridge divides in an increasingly polarized world. Together, they delve into the urgent need for unity, the challenges of fostering meaningful conversations across differences, and how individuals can take action to create a more connected and equitable society. Tune in for an insightful and inspiring discussion on building a future where everyone belongs.

Special Guest: Denise Hamilton .

In this episode of Give and Take, host Scott Jones sits down with Amanda Marcotte, author of Troll Nation and Senior Writer at Salon Magazine, for a sharp and incisive discussion on the forces reshaping American politics and culture. As Elon Musk’s influence extends beyond Silicon Valley into the political arena, and Christian Nationalism gains traction in the nation’s discourse, they examine the implications for democracy,, and the very nature of truth. At a time when disinformation thrives and political identities harden, what does it mean to seek and defend reality? It's a compelling and timely conversation that confronts some urgent questions of our political moment.

Special Guest: Amanda Marcotte .

My guest is Amanda Tyler, the Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and a leading voice in the fight to uphold the separation of church and state. In her new book, How to End Christian Nationalism, Amanda lays out a compelling case against this

In this conversation, we explore what Christian nationalism is, why she se es it as a threat, and how she thinks you can push back against it. Whether you have a deep knowledge of Christian Nationalism or just starting to learn about it, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

My guest is Jennifer Briney. She''s the host of the widely acclaimed podcast Congressional Dish, joins us for a critical discussion on the state of American governance. Congressional Dish is dedicated to illuminating the workings of Congress, where the American people hold their greatest political power. With an unflinching, nonpartisan approach, Briney examines the actions of elected officials after the campaign season ends, revealing how their decisions shape the daily lives of citizens. In this conversation, Briney offers her insights on President Trump’s State of the Union address, the broader trajectory of the country, and whether Congress is fulfilling its role as a check on executive power.

Special Guest: Jennifer Briney.

My guest is Marci Shore. Marci Shore is associate professor of history at Yale University, specializing in European intellectual history, with a focus on twentieth- and twenty-first-century Central and Eastern Europe. She earned her M.A. from the University of Toronto in 1996 and her Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2001. Shore is the translator of The Black Seasons _by Michał Głowiński and the author of several books, including _Caviar and Ashes: A Warsaw Generation’s Life and Death in Marxism, 1918-1968, The Taste of Ashes: The Afterlife of Totalitarianism in Eastern Europe, an_d The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution_.

In the wake of a tense and unusually combative exchange between former President Donald J. Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in the Oval Office last week, we turn to Professor Shore for insight. At a moment of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting alliances, what should Americans understand about Ukraine—its history, its struggle for sovereignty, and its place in an increasingly fractured world?

Special Guest: Marci Shore.

My guest is Todd McGowan. HIs newest book is Pure Excess: Capitalism and the Commodity. In it he forges a new theory of capitalism as a system based on the production of more than what we need: pure excess. He argues that the promise of more―more wealth, more enjoyment, more opportunity, without requiring any sacrifice―is the essence of capitalism. Previous socioeconomic systems set up some form of the social good as their focus. Capitalism, however, represents a revolutionary turn away from the good and the useful toward excessive growth, which now threatens the habitability of the planet.

Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, McGowan shows how the production of commodities explains the role of excess in the workings of capitalism. Capitalism and the commodity ensnare us with the image of the constant fulfillment of our desires―the seductive but unattainable promise of satisfying a longing that has no end. To challenge this system, McGowan turns to art, arguing that it can expose the psychological mechanisms that perpetuate capitalist society and reveal the need for limits. Featuring lively writing and engaging examples from film, literature, and popular culture, Pure Excess uncovers the hidden logic of capitalism―and helps us envision a noncapitalist life in a noncapitalist society.

Special Guest: Todd McGowan.

My guest is Lisa Sharon Harper. She's an author, podcaster, activist, and sought after speaker. She joins me to talk about what it looks like to bear witness to the Christian faith it what feels like an increasingly post-democratic cultural moment in America.

Special Guest: Lisa Sharon Harper.

My guest is Mark Oppenheimer. He returns to the show to talk about the current American religious landscape. We discuss a recent piece in The Atlantic that he calls "evangelical fear mongering." We also talk about his recent review of Jonathan Rauch's new book [Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy](https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Purposes-Christianitys-Bargain-Democracy/dp/0300273541/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=t4d15&content-id=amzn1.sym.bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&pf_rd_p=bc3ba8d1-5076-4ab7-9ba8-a5c6211e002d&pf_rd_r=134-0351661-4060607&pd_rd_wg=1LhYy&pd_rd_r=c352f3e6-6355-4103-963b-3617511be8f1&ref=aufs_ap_sc_dsk)_. We also talk about Mark's newfound love for the Philadelphia Eagles. Go Birds!

You can find Mark's response to The Atlantic piece we reference here.

Mark's review of Rauch's book can be found here.

You can find Mark's celebration of the Eagles here. Go Birds!

Special Guest: Mark Oppenheimer .

My guest is Harold Dean Trulear. Dean has served as Associate Professor of Applied Theology at Howard University School of Divinity since 2003. He joins me to talk about the future of Martin Luther King's dream in Donald Trump's America.

Special Guest: Harold Dean Trulear.