Zach reflects on video games and re-presentation to the haunting tones of Metroid Prime.

Stephen and Brevin finish up Part 1 of the Master and His Emissary to great fanfare. Also--White House tree planting traditions are opaque, Blade Runner 2049 has surprisingly good bioethics, and cookies are mmm.

Stephen and Brevin finish off Ch.5 of the Master and His Emissary as we enter the home stretch of part one! Also in this podcast—corporations want to make religion because they are evil incarnate, Stephen has a fun encounter with soulless bureaucracy at Michigan’s version of the DMV, and our society is decadent AF. Have a listen!

The boys are back and desperately attempting to fill the Sam-sized hole in their hearts via their friend Chris. Lord of the Rings is on the mind, and they discuss why Gandalf is actually Augustine, how Morgoth creating a dragon is completely unrealistic, and the irony of George Martin having tons of religions in his drivel-ridden fantasy world vs Tolkien's lack of religion in his inherently religious world. Plus! Gandalf intended for the party to use Eagles, a Gollum video game no one wanted, and Harry Potter < LOTR. (Audio Fixed)

I See Saruman (219 Teaser) by The Problem with Reading

Stephen and Brevin are more modest this week and get through half of chapter 5, checking up on the primacy of the right hemisphere. Also: the Bible for Zoomers is the worst thing you've ever heard of, beer brewing is great, and something about golden bone leprechauns.

The boys are together in person for the first LIVE Problem with Reading episode ever! Join them for more Master and His Emissary, more Heidegger, more bourbon, and more Q&As.

Q&A from The Problem with Reading LIVE

The boys tackle The Master and His Emissary chapter 3 in this lengthy episode, solving the problems of music, language, and thought itself in a tidy hour and ten. They also find another angle to hate upon abstract art, avoid politics, rip on PG movies, approve censorship, and dunk on street preachers. Finally, they agree that the good life is porch-sittin' with beer. Have a listen!

The boys go after chapter 2 and the neuroscience of our dual hemispheres. Plus, Sam explains what face blindness is, Stephen hates on a kids TV show, an interactive quiz for our dear listeners, and Brevin goes off on Frozen 2.