Novel Ideas

Much of our world is complex, none more so than the inheritance and expectation of heroism. Is a hero someone who sacrifices everything for the greater good, even if that means there humanity? Is perfection sought in fulfilling the ultimate goal of saving everyone, even if it means losing one's self? To be a hero is a dream greatly sought after, hardily tried, and doomed in the inevitability that one day, we all fall. So what does it mean to strive any way? To change the world for a hopeful better? It is in our heroes' hands after all, and they may decide our fault in the end. I hope you enjoy this episode and I hope to see you for another. BYYEEE!!!!

If being a "monster" is about survival, then being a villain is about power. Villains force us to ask what it means to bend the world toward our own desires, no matter the cost. Voldemort pursued pure-blood supremacy. Dr. Drakken wanted to eliminate a high school cheerleader before conquering the world. Cats—if memes are to be trusted—dream of humanity's eventual subservience. Whether absurd or terrifying, villainy exposes moral decay, unchecked ambition, and the dangerous belief that the world exists to satisfy one's own ends. If only such worlds remained safely imagined instead of becoming blueprints for reality. Enjoy the episode! BYYEEE!!!!

I find it hard to deny my own capacity to be monstrous. Push me far enough and I don't need claws to shred, fists to bruise, or powers to destroy. Life is worth enough to protect at all costs. My humanity? Well, there lies the question. Do monsters lack humanity? Humans are surprising, are we not? It seems childish to consider what we wouldn't do to keep ourselves alive, as long as your morals and ethics are guiding you. Shade Darby, Dekka Talent, and Cruz Rojas are just a few characters from today's episode asking what makes a monster, and what do we do with the power it affords us? I hope you enjoy. BYYEEE!!!!

Just as darkness can hide or permit the truth of our nature, light can obscure or highlight our greatest flaw. Behind the wishes for a return to society, it's hard to avoid the inevitability of judgment. Whether it be from the forces of darkness seeking the destruction of all in the FAYZ, or the external world ready to place their authority above the children, a truth will be hard to ignore: light reveals all, both and good and everything in-between. I hope you enjoy this final episode of the "GONE" series. BYYEEE!!!!

When life gives you lemons, imagine them squirting into your eyes, tripping on some steps and dying from the impact. Fear is a funny thing, isn't it? You live your life and the impossible confronts you, or at least what seems illogical. The FAYZ has been dangerous for a number of reasons, but the semblance of night and day has kept life in the dome "normal", until a growing black stain threatens an eternal darkness. Could you imagine anything as scary as not knowing whether your eyes are open or closed? Hopefully there's a star out there guiding our characters through the gloom. Enjoy this penultimate episode to the "GONE" series. BYYEEE!!!!

One could say the greatest challenge in life is to walk a road. Down and much further ahead, there is a horizon that supersedes our vision of life and our choices in love, in life, and in safety. We straddle a world of choices and just up above us, claimed and lost in our vision, a star. And as we gaze on to emblazon our hopes, our fears and dreams of a life made better, it's a call to a sweet fortune, to continue living better at the end of it all, in this moment and the next. I hope you enjoy the analysis and hope to have you next episode! BYYEEE!!!!

It's been a minute since I've gotten emotional and even more so talking about how an album has allowed me to reflect on life and Ryan Beatty's album did that for me. Life is full of contradictions and you must still live, flawed, insecure, and hopeful. I'm reading the lyrics in this part 1 of 2, spurring you to listen to the episode and album for the lyrics before my breakdown following this. It's a beautiful piece and one quite meaningful for anyone trying to find solace and gratitude in a life we are fortunate to live in spite of its contradictions. I hope you enjoy! BYYEEE!!!!

Plagues are notoriously difficult to manage. Could you imagine trying to exterminate a bunch of 5-foot tall gut-roaches? How about solving the case of a spreading cough that gives one the supernatural ability to break one's own neck and cough up your lungs? And has anyone figured out how to stop the incessant voices of doubt that plagues this or that choice? No solution is perfect, especially when there isn't anything to solve or fix. Sometimes, you can only try to survive doing your best, which if you're planning on listening to this episode from beginning to end, you deserve a medal. Please enjoy this episode whenever it finds you! BYYEEE!!!!

A boyfriend who cooks, a dream internship, and a spot on the varsity soccer team alongside new friends—Darius finally has everything he thought he wanted. So why doesn't he feel as happy as he expected? In this bonus episode, our brother Darius discovers that getting what you want isn't always the end of the story. Sometimes the hardest part begins after the choice is made.

Darius the Great is learning about life, personhood, and the importance of history to one's own journey. Unfortunately, a trip to Iran towards this self-actualization comes with a mentally-declining grandfather and a hard lesson about beginnings and endings. Get choked up with me as we watch a family try to figure out how to make it through when things aren't as okay as we say they are. Enjoy! BYYEEE!!!!