The Troubadour Podcast

The Troubadour Podcast

By Kirk j BarberaSociety & CultureEducationArtsSelf-Improvement
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The Troubadour Podcast episodes

  • BLOOM! Poetry

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    Often to understand poetry, it helps to compare two poems of a similar subject. On this episode I will be comparing a new poet to an old one. 

    The new: Jeremiah Cobra is a writer and poet living in Souther California. He recently published his first book of short stories and poems in a compilation, "Beauty and Perspective." 

    I'll be reading and discussing his poem A Flower's Bloom. 

    The old: William Blake (1757-1827). Blake is one of the great Romantic poets of the 18th and 19th century. Considered a visionary in his own time, his series Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience commonly portray a deceptively simplistic scene, but hide a beautifully dark vision of the world.

    I'll be reading and discussing his poem The Blossom.

    Read these poems here: https://www.kirkbarbera.com/single-post/2018/10/31/BLOOM-poetry

    44 min
  • Lost Boys Case File #1836924

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    "An essential text for anyone who seeks to understand the United States Social Democracy from the years 2022-2034."

    -Christopher Billings, The Afternoon Telegraph

     "In this historical labor of research, the Jefferson Group has rescued the voices of the untold number of young boys from the grave."

    - Robert Spindler, The Soloist

    "He has mastered this distressing material and convincingly tells the terrifying truth about the U.S.S.D terror."

    -Greg Thick, The Caller

    33 min
  • Why I Distrust "Studies" Used in Arguments and Articles

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    If we've ever had a conversation, or if you've ever heard me have a conversation, you may notice that I will not accept as an argument a "study" you cited. I've even been made fun of for saying that I don't trust "stats." (Yes I'm using scare quotes on purpose).

    The reason for this is simple. Stat and studies and research papers may be well done. Just as easily they may be inaccurate, false, misleading and untruthful. Creating a truthful and rigorous scientific study is complex and difficult. Darwin dedicated his entire life to not only proving his own theory but DISPROVING his own theory. He wanted to make sure he was correct. 

    Throwing out a "study" that "proves" your case is inappropriate and destructive.

    In this podcast (originally a video on my youtube channel) I dig into a particularly pernicious study done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) about rape and sexual assault. Their study, the National Crime Victimization Survey is quoted and used as evidence for such claims that the vast majority (63% or more) of women do not report rapes and that only 2-10% of rape accusations are false.

    Find out what this source actually says and how to be cautious of accepting magic words like "studies," "Stats," or even "science."

    Here are the urls for all the websites that I refer to in this episode. It may be useful to go to my youtube page and watch the video. There I show the articles as well as talk about them. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmjldJNAsOzI50kfzOHyLA

    Dr. Ben Bayer, The Sniff Test:
    https://medium.com/@benbayer_62236/the-sniff-test-cb5727f319a6

    Washington post article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/false-accusations-of-rape-which-are-rare-should-not-be-the-priority/2018/10/05/969910ce-c820-11e8-9c0f-2ffaf6d422aa_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3e03c579b678

    NSVRC overview: https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/Publications_NSVRC_Overview_False-Reporting.pdf

    BJS Review:

    https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsarp00.pdf

    The Cut Article: https://www.thecut.com/article/false-rape-accusations.html

    NCVS Report 2015 https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv15.pdf

    NCRVS About page: https://www.nsvrc.org/about/national-sexual-violence-resource-center

    National Academies report https://www.nap.edu/read/18605/chapter/11

    35 min
  • Conversation #2: the evil of "the other side of the aisle"

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    Today I'll be speaking with my friend Hernando Arce about a controversial issue: the evil of "the other side" of the aisle. We tend to think "Those guys over there are the bad ones!" "The lefties are destroying free speech," I commonly hear. Today, we will be conversing about free speech and how to keep our country united, despite our differences.

    Controversial Conversations is a new show where I will be discussing hot topic issues with those with whom I disagree. Which, is pretty much everyone!

    2 hr 14 min
  • A Nation of Pain: Kavanaugh and #metoo

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    During the Senate hearings Senator Chris Coons used a phrase that I think is correct. After having received numerous messages from female friends who said that they too had been sexually abused, he said it is clear that we are in a "nation of pain."
    We are. And like any kind of pain, we should ask what causes it.
    Rather than blame individual actors or patriarchal structures, I claim there are other cultural causes. The only way forward is to understand the true causes of our national pain.
    42 min
  • Is San Antonio Truly A Good Place to Live?

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    Today my guest is Faris Virani, the President of The San Antonio Young Professionals: http://sayp.us/
    As you may know, I've decided to sell my stuff and go around talking to people about controversial topics. One reason for leaving is the opportunity to be more flexible and stretch my abilities as a writer and media producer. But another reason I'm leaving is I just don't like San Antonio.
    Faris gives a good defense of San Antonio. And I admit it's a big city with a lot to offer, just not for me.
    We discuss:
    Dating in San Antonio
    Meeting People here
    Starting a business
    Growing a business
    Family life
    and more
    In the end we came to some understanding of what is the culture of San Antonio as opposed to other places in America. And, I hope it helps you decide if it is a place for you... or, like me, not.
    2 hr 15 min
  • The Road Not Taken -- With Guest Dan Pontefract

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    Dan is that unusual creature, the C-level exec who loves poetry.
    Or, perhaps he is not. Perhaps, there are many more individuals in corporate jobs who spend their evenings amongst great poets and scholars.
    We tend to think of life as having a series of crossroads: go down the corporate path and leave behind the artistic path. Be a scholar, or an athlete. A mom or a business owner. But, often, the best the greatest lives come from the greatest combinations.
    And Dan is a perfect example of that.
    Today we will be discussing not only The Road not Taken by Robert Frost, but why poetry is something that everyone should add to their lives, and how poetry can help you in your corporate job, in your business, with your spouse, and really just... well... live a life worth living!
    Dan is a c-level executive for a major Canadian corporation, Telus. He's an accomplished Ted speaker and has written 2 books about building better organizations and finding your purpose. In his latest book he tackles the subject of thinking and how to slow down, think creatively, and make better decisions.
    You can find his work at danpontefract.com.
    1 hr 1 min

About The Troubadour Podcast

From the publisher's feed

"It is the honourable characteristic of Poetry that its materials are to be found in every subject which can interest the human mind." William Wordsworth The Troubadour Podcast invites you into a…