PRIMER Podcast

In today’s Primer+ episode, Charley talks with the world’s leading C.S. Lewis expert— Michael Ward.

Michael Ward, a Catholic priest, is Senior Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of the best-selling and award-winning Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis, co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis, and presenter of the BBC television documentary The Narnia Code.

His newest book After Humanity is a guide to one of C.S. Lewis’s most widely admired but least accessible works, The Abolition of Man. Tune in to hear more of the duo’s conversation!

In this episode, I get you primed on a remarkable, incredibly readable author— C.S. Lewis.

While he is best known as the author of the beloved Chronicles of Narnia series, C.S. Lewis was also a highly-esteemed professor, poet, broadcaster, and theologian.

One of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century, Lewis wrote more than thirty books in his lifetime with genres ranging from Christian apologetics, fantasy, science fiction, and children’s literature.

Lewis’ eternal legacy can never stale: he will continue to delight and inspire future generations with his spiritual guidance, thoughtful essays on a far-ranging subject matter, and entertaining fiction. Tune in to learn more about this prolific writer with timeless insights.

Links:

· The Screwtape Letters

· The Chronicles of Narnia

· Dr. Michael Ward (https://michaelward.net/)

· Bishop Barron on C.S. Lewis' “The Great Divorce” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwJ8j-gNosQ)

· C.S. Lewis Website (https://www.cslewis.com/us/)

· Socrates in the City Interview (https://socratesinthecity.com/listen/the-life-and-writing-of-c-s-lewis-part-1/)

In this Primer Plus Episode, Melissa Rihl interviews Jerry Lenaburg about the historical nonfiction book, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz.

Written by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson, this book goes into the life of Winston Churchill precisely when he becomes the “Churchill” that history remembers. Melissa and Jerry discuss Churchill’s quirks, the impact of his family on his decisions, his ability to choose “the right man for the job,” and lasting lessons in leadership.

About Jerry D. Lenaburg: Jerry is a Project Manager and Senior Military Analyst with over 30 years' experience in the defense and intelligence community, where he has written extensively on military and national security topics relating to both conventional and unconventional warfare.

Links:

· The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

· Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

· Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts

In this episode, I get you primed on Winston Churchill and a remarkable book that captures the predicament he was in on his first day as prime minister. Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile, tells the story of London facing the Blitz during World War II from May of 1940 to May of 1941. An enthralling page-turner, Larson provides a new lens on London’s darkest year and lesser-known details of Churchill’s personal life during this time.In the first year of his administration, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, but Churchill promised his country and the world that the British people would “never surrender.” They never did. Tune in to learn more about this fearless leader and his bold plans for British resistance during a pivotal moment in history.

Links:

* Darkest Hour

* Dunkirk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_(2017_film))

* The Splendid and the Vile (https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Vile-Churchill-Family-Defiance/dp/0385348711)

* Winston Churchill biography (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Winston-Churchill)

Charley sits down with Malachy Walsh, author of Socratic Scribbling. Malachy spent some 25 years at J. Walter Thompson working directly with some of the world’s favorite brands. His new book reveals how he was able to leave his mark in advertising, namely through classical rhetoric and a deep appreciation of the Great Books.

In this episode, we go back 2,500 years to address a modern writing dilemma called “Blank Page Syndrome.” As a retired advertising man, Malachy Walsh had to write on demand for 30 years. In his new book Socratic Scribbling, Malachy reveals secrets he learned from Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Quintillion, Shakespeare, and other ancient philosophers that helped him face the blank page and make his mark in advertising.

Socrates becomes the model of dealing with the Blank Page Syndrome because of his question-and-answer method. This method empowers us to pick our own minds, for ideas we didn’t even realize were there. Tune in as I discuss the elements of Classical Rhetoric which have been honed, mastered, and imitated by the greatest writers and thinkers of Western Civilization.

Links:

* Socratic Scribbling website

* Schemes and Tropes Examples

* Todd Rundgren - Onomatopoeia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN-pnU8hGSw)

In this episode, I talk about the detective comedy-drama television series that never disappoints.

Psych follows the adventures of a detective agency run by a fake psychic, Shawn, and his dubious sidekick Gus. Shawn uses his amazing observational abilities to solve crimes and has a lot of fun in the process.

In all eight seasons, you can expect to find reliably witty dialogue, engaging trivia references, and reoccurring themes that keep you constantly entertained.

While Psych was the highest-rated US cable television premiere of 2006, the show has developed a cult following especially in the years since going off air, with fans of the show being called "PsychOs.“ Tune in and get primed on the TV show that provides a refreshing take on the crime-solving genre.

 

Episode notes:

· Top 10 show and movie reference episodes: https://screenrant.com/best-psych-episodes-pay-homage-to-other-shows-movies/

· Top 10 characters: https://screenrant.com/psych-every-main-character-ranked-likability/

· Gus aliases: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/psych-dule-hill-james-roday-improvising-scene-gus-getting-aliases.html/

In this Primer Plus episode, Melissa Rihl interviews Professor Susan Hanssen on the Battle of Lepanto, which occurred on October 7, 1571. Professor Hanssen describes the historical details and circumstances leading up this significant battle between two large powers: The fleet of the Ottoman Turk Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.  This was the greatest naval battle before the modern period, and the turning point of the Crusades. Professor Hanssen is an Associate Professor and chair of the History Department at the University of Dallas. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about this historic battle and it’s importance.

In this episode, I revisit an epic naval battle that determined the fate of Christian Europe in 1571. This event represents a turning point between the daunting forces of the Ottoman Empire against a splintered and leaderless Holy League. The outcome of the battle would determine not only who would control the flow of commerce in the Mediterranean but also shape if Europe would remain Christian or be Muslim dominated. Pope Pius V called on all Christians to pray the rosary on October 7th to bring much-needed spiritual intercession in a time of desperation.

 

Links:

* The Battle of Lepanto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lepanto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lepanto)

* YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0S8eSbDjQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0S8eSbDjQ)

* G.K. Chesterton poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47917/lepanto (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47917/lepanto)

* Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-battle-that-saved-the-christian-west (https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-battle-that-saved-the-christian-west)

Charley talks to Scott Hambrick the founder of OnlineGreatBooks.com (http://onlinegreatbooks.com/) and the host of The Online Great Books (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/online-great-books-podcast/id1375330490) and Music and Ideas (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-and-ideas/id1500358614) podcasts. They dig into some of the hurdles to approaching these epic texts and the immense wisdom that they still offer.