PZ's Podcast

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PZ's Podcast episodes

September 22, 2010 Episode 16: Irvin S. Cobb
Irvin S. Cobb (1876-1944) was famous in his day, but is unread now.
Ours is the loss! His "Judge Priest" stories are as parabolic of grace as it gets. They exude peace, love, and understanding. And what's so funny about that?
Here's your chance to bone up on Irvin S. Cobb!
By the way, John Ford liked Cobb so much that
he made two movies out of his stories, and then put him in a third.
In 1961 Ford made a personal pilgrimage to Cobb's grave at Paducah, Kentucky.
Two weeks from tomorrow I hope to do the same.
32 min
September 16, 2010 Episode 15: Hot August Night
The Jansenists never declined.
They got wiped out good.
Think "End of the Line" by the Traveling Wilburys.
Pascal enters and exits, assisted by Roberto Rossellini's tv show (1971) and Jack Kerouac's bar game (1969).
The 'Sun King' plays his cruel part, while Our Ladies of Port-Royal
hold the line.
They really hold the line!
As Sainte-Beuve wrote of the Jansenists,
"They were from Calvary".
35 min
September 09, 2010 Episode 14: Paris When It Sizzles
Jansenism was a religious movement in Seventeenth-Century France that threatened Church and State. Its apologists, including Blaise Pascal and Jean Racine, thought their movement, based on its re-discovery of the teachings of St. Augustine, could save Christianity from the Protestants.
Its detractors thought Jansenism WAS Protestantism, but a Fifth Column of it, burrowing away within the Catholic Church. The two positions were irreconcilable.
The Jansenists lost, and lost catastrophically.
What an interesting lesson here in 'Church', and State.
33 min
August 29, 2010 Sunday Supplement: The Life of James Gould Cozzens
James Gould Cozzens (1903-1978) observed life accurately. in 1957 he told 'Time' Magazine that "most people get a raw deal from life, and life is what it is". His novels "By Love Possessed" and "Guard of Honor" are among the greatest of 20th Century novels.
37 min
August 29, 2010 Sneak Peek: "By Love Possessed"
"By Love Possessed" was hailed at first as the great novel of its decade. A few months later it was traduced as a symbol of Eisenhower-era 'middle-brow' complacency. The second verdict stuck.
The problem was its message: it praised acquiescence rather than transformation. It is indeed a 'novel of resignation'. Is that a good thing?
33 min
August 20, 2010 BONUS Episode!:Giant Crab Movies
In this amazing weekend bonus episode, our hero must claw his way through the history of giant-crab movies. Does he survive? You be the judge!
34 min
August 18, 2010 Episode Seven - "Man Gave Names to all the Animals"
"Man Gave Names to all the Animals" (Bob Dylan),
meaning
Eric Burdon and The Animals.
Thoughts on true greatness, thoughts on Fun.
46 min
August 18, 2010 Episode Six - The Browning Version
From a perfect movie comes a Version of the 25th Chorus of "Mexico City Blues":
Is my own, is your own,
Is not Owned by Self-Owner
but found by Self-Loser --
Old Ancient Teaching".
This podcast is dedicated to David Browder.
39 min
August 10, 2010 Beatnik Beach
The title of a song by the Go-Go's sets the stage for this second cast on the preaching art. Once again, it's the singer not the song. Or at least, that's where we start.
Welcome to Beatnik Beach!
38 min
August 10, 2010 Bohemian Rhapsody -- The Rite One
The subject is preaching, the Achilles Heel of American religion. We turn to Jack Kerouac's "List of Essentials" in spontaneous expression for help. Turns out it's the singer not the song.
38 min

About PZ's Podcast

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From "Telstar" to "Vault of Horror," from Rattigan to Kerouac, from the Village of Bray to the Village of Midwich, help PZ link old ancient news and pop culture. I think I can see him, "Crawling from…