Poets At War

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, The Brood digs into the sands of Arrakis to debate literary style. Is Frank Herbert's Dune a masterpiece of philosophy, or just a dry reed compared to the lush prose of J.R.R. Tolkien? The squad debates the merits of the "filtered" narration of Herbert versus the "pulp energy" of Robert E. Howard.Then, the ink spills as Ian steps up to the mic with a retelling of a giant-slaying classic, attempting to inject some Conan-style barbarism into Jack and the Beanstalk.Finally, we head to the war room. Brendan unrolls the blueprints for a new tabletop conquest, "Shattered World," while Michael Bush runs a tactical analysis on every rule. From D6s vs. D8s to the ethics of "attrition tokens" and deck-building mechanics, the poets break down what makes a war game actually fun to play.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://joshuadavidling.com/discord to join.If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get recordings of all our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more!Be Your Family's Bard!

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, we enter the tactical warroom. The Chief Bard sits down with his production tacticians to map out the future invasion plans for the poetic serial, Idiot's Guide to Illegal Tech Repair. We are discussing the transformation of poetry into space opera, the philosophy of audio-first storytelling, and the weaponization of melody against the modern noise.In this episode, The Brood discusses:The "Druthers" Scenario: If time and money were no object, how does one turn a poetic serial into a cultural phenomenon?Audio-First Warfare: Jesse proposes a radical shift toward the musical, arguing that to win the hearts of the people, we must first win their ears.Vaporwave Theology: Defining the aesthetic of Idiot's Guide—where 80s pop meets Stranger Things instrumentation—and how to use AI tools like Suno to draft the architecture of a song.Guerrilla Marketing: From unlisted YouTube videos to scattering floppy disks across college campuses, we explore "boutique" distribution methods that force the audience to hunt for the art.The Chief Artist: A look at the future hierarchy of the Brood and the role of production leadership.Fight the good fight. You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more! Troops, be your family's bard. [1] Do not turn to the right or to the left, and the Lord will be with you wherever you go!Over and out.

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, the Brood gathers to welcome new recruits to the ranks—specifically the naming of Joshua's newest daughter, Jane Anduin—and discuss the theology of naming children as an act of spiritual warfare. We strategize on the digital front lines, debating the effectiveness of "Medieval Scholar" aesthetics for short-form video and the use of AI imagery versus human intent.Later, we turn our receiver to the Night Watch, where Aaron Reed reports in on the difficulties of maintaining creative discipline while working the graveyard shift. The Brood offers counsel on serializing fiction under a pseudonym and the value of "getting your reps in." Finally, Ian Wilson debriefs us on a gritty, Sword and Sorcery retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk involving Lovecraftian giants.From the naming of children to the slaying of giants, the ink is flowing freely tonight!Recorded November 20th, 2025.LINKS:Join the Brood: https://joshuadavidling.com/discord

This is The Broodcast! An Inkling-style Discord Chat in the vein of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, recorded the last Friday of every month.In this episode, the Brood explores the edges of the galaxy and the code behind the curtain. Ian kicks things off with a space opera outline featuring "The Heart of the Stars," giant spiders, and a Space Princess with a Cthulhu-esque twist. Daniel discusses the art of the procedural drama and reads a new, happier opening for The Maiden’s Child.The Host becomes the Hacker as Joshua reveals "Epic PageMaster" and Thumby Web Builder, some custom-coded writing apps complete with a hidden terminals and text-to-speech features. Later, we dive into the trenches with Joel’s high-octane Mech story and Brendan breaks down the party dynamics of his new Pathfinder-inspired cast.In this Episode:Ian: Heart of the Stars (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)Daniel: The Maiden’s Child (Fantasy) & Procedural DramasJoshua: Thumby Web Builder (Tech/Coding) & Beauty and the Big Dog (Wrestling Fiction)Joel: 37 Sci-Fi/Mech storyBrendan: Yoshi & Bleys (Character Concepts)To join our ranks of writers and artists, please visit: https://joshuadavidling.com

Joshua David Ling and Alexander Robertson engage in a skirmish over the soul of art in the age of the machine. But first, a briefing on new hardware and expanding the universe of the Guardians of Atlanta.In this tactical briefing, the brood discusses Valve's surprise hardware drop and the return of the legendary Steam Controller. The conversation then shifts to the frontlines of The Guardians of Alana and The Idiot's Guide to Illegal Tech Repair, debating whether a sequel season should focus on the beloved crew or the wider world.Finally, the battle lines are drawn regarding Artificial Intelligence. Is AI a tool for the conductor to realize a vision beyond their budget, or is it a cheap replacement for the human musician? From "Celtic Blues" to the "Steve Jobs" approach to creativity, Ling and Robertson wrestle with the ethics and aesthetics of the future.Topics Covered:Valve’s new Steam Machine and VR HeadsetWorldbuilding: Character-driven vs. World-driven narrativesThe "Celtic Blues" aestheticAI: The Studio Musician vs. The Live PerformanceThe philosophy of "Audio First" mediaJoin the ranks of writers and artists: https://joshuadavidling.com/discord

Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, our troops gather in the barracks to discuss the tactical importance of singing all the verses of a hymn—and why leaving out the third verse is a strategic error. We also take a deep dive into the personnel files of a new sci-fi universe, examining the origins of the Magnus Canis, the Gentleman's Highline, and the Knights of Adonai.Finally, we end with a heavy theological skirmish regarding the waters of baptism. Does the King's decree outweigh the soldier's understanding? The brood engages in a high-level discussion on justification, sanctification, and the means of grace.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & The Tactical Hymn21:16 - The Map & Sci-Fi Personnel Files1:08:16 - The Baptism SkirmishYou too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more!Troops, be your family's bard. Do not turn to the right or to the left, and the Lord will be with you wherever you go!

Welcome to Poets of War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, Joshua and Abbi discuss the serendipity of fixing plot holes, the lost art of internet cartoons, and a deep dive into the theology of the stars—from C.S. Lewis's Planet Narnia to the man who changed the zodiac.For practical tools of creation, the conversation shifts from philosophy to the artist. The brood discusses the death of Hollywood, the necessity of Christian storytelling, and Joshua demos a new song generated to inspire fathers to be the bards of their own homes.But leaving the digital studio behind, we wade into the deep waters of theology and economics. The trio debates eschatology, the concept of duty as the foundation of theonomy, and whether a return to the guild system could save the free market from crony capitalism. To close out the transmission, then the men brainstorm a revolutionary new business model for wedding videography: the Mockumentary.Topics Covered:00:00 - Intro & The Serendipity of Editing02:18 - Reading "Guardians of Atlanta" with the Brood07:20 - The 1922 Stradivarius & Musical Improvisation16:38 - The Absurdist Humor of Homestar Runner & Dexter's Lab34:00 - Machete Order Star Wars & Lord of the Rings41:20 - Edgar Allan Poe & The Cozy Goth Aesthetic46:20 - Deep Dive: C.S. Lewis, The Seven Heavens, & The Zodiac ShiftFight the good fight.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get the recordings of all of our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more!Troops, be your family's bard. Do not turn to the right or to the left, and the Lord will be with you wherever you go!

Welcome to Poets of War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, Joshua David Ling, Benjamin Curlee, and Jesse Marsalis gather to discuss the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and the ancient role of the bard. We begin with a look at new tools for world-building—specifically MarbleWorld Labs and Gaussian splats—and a recap of the Fight Laugh Feast conference from 2025 (featuring the legendary "Fast" pens).For practical tools of creation, the conversation shifts from philosophy to the artist. The brood discusses the death of Hollywood, the necessity of Christian storytelling, and Joshua demos a new song generated to inspire fathers to be the bards of their own homes.But leaving the digital studio behind, we wade into the deep waters of theology and economics. The trio debates eschatology, the concept of duty as the foundation of theonomy, and whether a return to the guild system could save the free market from crony capitalism. To close out the transmission, then the men brainstorm a revolutionary new business model for wedding videography: the Mockumentary.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & The "Fast" Pen06:45 - AI World Building & Gaussian Splats27:39 - The Death of Hollywood & The Father as Bard47:46 - Theology, Duty, & The Guild System1:12:32 - The Wedding MockumentaryJoin The Brood!Visit JoshuaDavidLing.com for more.Over and out.

Reports are coming in regarding the ethics of storytelling, the tactical deployment of Substack, and new intelligence on 3D visualization technology.First, the Brood analyzes the narrative styles of internet critics and the interconnected storytelling of creators like the Nostalgia Critic. Then, the battlefront shifts to the physical realm as Brendan arrives with harrowing tales of home renovation and his war against metal window trim.Finally, the squad engages in a fierce debate on the nature of Artificial Intelligence. Is AI "penicillin for the mind" or a poison to the soul of animation? From "Marble Worlds" technology to the "Be Your Family's Bard" hair metal anthem, the poets clash over whether we are facing a new prohibition or a new frontier.Topics Covered:The narrative ethics of internet critics3D Visualization: Gaussian Splats and Marble WorldsThe "Be Your Family's Bard" AnthemThe Great AI Debate: Tool for Masters or Trap for Novices?Tactical advice for conferences and creative stewardshipFight the good fight.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.If you're a true poetry patriot, you can support us on Substack and Patreon and get recordings of all our encouraging and strategic meetings, along with much more!Troops, be your family's bard. Do not turn to the right or to the left, and the Lord will be with you wherever you go.We'll see you next time in the trenches on Poets at War. Over and out.

Welcome to Poets at War, the podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, we are intercepting signals from two separate evenings on the front lines of culture. First, The General Joshua David Ling and Officer Brendan Sunshine dig into the digital trenches to discuss Artificial Intelligence. Is AI just "singing to rocks"? They cover the spiritual implications of silicon, the struggle of the creative mind to find motivation in the machine, and the argument that the American Experiment may have ended in 1865.Later, the barracks are full as new recruits and old veterans join the show. To settle the troops, the General pulls out a field manual—specifically the prologue to The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson—to demonstrate the perfect execution of literary whimsy. The unit then plays a round of musical roulette involving their birth years before laying out the map for "Operation Oklahoma": the strategic plan to secure a physical headquarters and establish The Brood as a multi-generational institution.In this episode:Why AI will never be God (or Man).The People-Pleaser’s struggle with creative perfectionism.The hope for a re-Christianized West coming from the Global South.A reading of The Wingfeather Saga prologue.The vision for a physical base of operations and the future of the Brood.Join the Brood Today!https://joshuadavidling.com