Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch

The discussion of Saul Bellow's Ravelstein concludes in this episode, while Michael & Ethan finish their Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban.  And they have a lot to say about both....

In this episode:​​​​​​​

Ethan confuses himself with Michael.  It's the worst intro ever.

A clarification of the rules makes Michael laugh maniacally.

They can't pretend.

There's heated debate about the rules.

Ethan imports Kierkegaard.

Michael finds a loophole.

Michael alienates the entire Hoosier audience.

Ethan loses Minnesota.  Michael gets it back.

Michael loses Wisconsin.  Ethan gets it back.

Indiana is definitely gone.

There's even more debate about rules.

Michael says civil war is okay.

Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you!

Next month, the discussion will be on Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book, by Walker Percy.  Read along, and tell us what you think!

Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and

Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett)

"Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Michael & Ethan, sipping on some ruby red Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, discuss Saul Bellow's last novel Ravelstein, surprising themselves and one another with all of their thoughts and insights and stupidities.

In this episode:

Ethan solves Michael's crisis of identity.

Ethan tries his hand at "Names with Michael."  Guess how that goes.

Their analysis of Ravelstein boils down to: "Seymour: An Introduction, longer and Jewish."

Michael has a childish epiphany.

Michael & Ethan are dumb.

Ethan gets into trouble with his wife.

So does Michael.

Michael's wife, Sarah, wins the episode.

Michael says a sentence that makes Ethan hate him.

Ethan gives Michael more work to do.

Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you!

Come back in two weeks to hear the conclusion of this discussion!

Next month, the discussion will be on Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book, by Walker Percy.  Read along, and tell us what you think!

Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and

Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett)

"Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Michael & Ethan, after two weeks, conclude their discussion of J. D. Salinger's Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, and Seymour: an Introduction.

In this episode:

The show starts before Ethan knows it.

Ethan explains synecdoche.

Michael says “literally” a lot.  It’s embarrassing, really.

They read listener feedback, which includes a game of Date/Marry/Murder.

They discuss their wives’ plans to start a sitcom without them.

Ethan suffers out of humility.

Ethan is right.

Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you!

#IsThisScotch?

#BetterThanMouthmallows

#IsOneSecondWorthIt?

Next month, the pair will discuss Ravelstein by Saul Bellow.  Read along!

Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and

Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett)

"Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Other SFX:

News 2 by IthacaAudio, edited for this podcast, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

acclivity, used under an Attribution Noncommercial License.

One of Ethan's favorite authors comes under the scalpel in this episode, as the pair discusses J. D. Salinger's Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, and Seymour: an Introduction.  This is part one of that discussion, part two will come in two weeks! In this episode: Michael & Ethan play Calvinball and Whose Line Is It, Anyway? simultaneously. The loss comes sooner than ever. Michael & Ethan decide not to be rational. A new regular segment: "Names with Michael"! Ethan disagrees with Michael a lot (sort of). Michael & Ethan are very mysterious. The dog is a good girl. Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you! Come back in two weeks to hear the conclusion of this discussion! Next month, the pair will discuss Ravelstein by Saul Bellow.  Read along! Special thanks to Cody Hardin! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

In the podcast that critics are calling "Shroedinger's podcast" and "a sad version of Blue's Clues," Michael & Ethan & Josiah continue their discussion of C. S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces and finish off a bottle of Old Pulteney 12yo.  The shenanigans get worse, with more scotch, more punishments, and more...Nutcrackers? In this episode: We apologize to C. S. Lewis.  A lot, actually. Ethan declares himself a heretic. Michael doesn't let Josiah finish.  A few times. We change the name of the podcast to Boom Delta Laser-Gun Nutcracker and are now an anime podcast. Josiah is our anchor. Michael doesn't say "vampire."  Kinda.  Actually, he does. Josiah dies. Michael also dies, but like a fairy. Josiah is a communist. We don't talk about love.  Dangit. Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you! Don't forget to tweet about the show, using #Ethans1stGF with your comments on the Lewisian Multiverse. Next month, the pair will discuss Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters, and Seymour: an Introduction by J. D. Salinger.  Read along! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

The rules are changing yet again.  Michael & Ethan have decided to split their book discussion in half, so that you don't have to sit and listen to our podcast for two hours straight.  Instead, this week we bring you part 1 of our discussion, and in two weeks' time we'll bring you part 2! Michael & Ethan have a very special guest with them this month, to help them discuss C. S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces and finish off a bottle of Old Pulteney 12yo. In this episode: The rules are broken before they are established. Ethan forgets the glasses. Michael nearly dies. Ethan looks a little beaverish. Their special guest proves to be a sadist. They desecrate Shakespeare's grave. Come back in two weeks to hear Part 2 of the conversation about Till We Have Faces, including ratings, next month's book, and more punishments! Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you! Next month, the pair will discuss Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters, and Seymour: an Introduction by J. D. Salinger.  Read along! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Michael & Ethan discuss Joshua Ferris's Then We Came to the End while sipping the U.S. Exclusive batch of Glenfiddich 14yo. In this episode: Michael gives Ethan a grade. Ethan says things out loud. The guys take a pee break. They talk about Star Trek. Michael invents a word. Ethan debuts his operatic career. Michael becomes a Jane Austen heroine. Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you! Next month, the pair will discuss Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis.  Read along! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) "Queen of the Night" aria from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflöte, sung by Diana Damrau. All copyrighted content remains property of their respective owners. "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Michael & Ethan discuss Joshua Ferris's Then We Came to the End while sipping the U.S. Exclusive batch of Glenfiddich 14yo. In this episode: Michael gives Ethan a grade. Ethan says things out loud. The guys take a pee break. They talk about Star Trek. Michael invents a word. Ethan debuts his operatic career. Michael becomes a Jane Austen heroine. Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you! Next month, the pair will discuss Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis.  Read along! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) "Queen of the Night" aria from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflöte, sung by Diana Damrau. All copyrighted content remains property of their respective owners. "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.

Michael & Ethan discuss East of Eden by John Steinbeck, while sipping Craigellachie 13-year. Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! Next month, the pair will discuss Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. Read along! "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission.

Michael & Ethan discuss East of Eden by John Steinbeck, while sipping Craigellachie 13-year. Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! Next month, the pair will discuss Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. Read along! "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission.