Episodes

  • Episode 78: Law and Literature with Donald Kochan
    Jun 27 2025

    In this season finale, I speak with Donald Kochan, who is a Professor of Law at George Washington University's Antonin Scalia Law School. We discuss George Orwell's essay, "Politics and the English Language". I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    43 mins
  • Episode 77: Rooney's "Beautiful World Where Are You?" with Rachel Wiseman and Anastasia Berg
    Jun 27 2025

    In this episode, I speak with Rachel Wiseman and Anastasia Berg, both of whom are editors at The Point magazine, about Sally Rooney's "Beautiful World Where Are You?" I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    56 mins
  • Episode 76: James's "The Portrait of a Lady" with Merve Emre
    Jun 27 2025

    In this episode, I speak with Merve Emre, renowned author and literary critic, on Henry James's "The Portrait of a Lady". I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    49 mins
  • Episode 75: Ghali's "Beer in the Snooker Club" with Phil Klay
    Jun 27 2025

    In this episode, I speak with National Book Award winner Phil Klay, author of "Redeployment" and "Missionaries". We discuss a novel you've probably never heard of, but very fun: "Beer in the Snooker Club" by Egyptian writer Waguih Ghali. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    57 mins
  • Episode 74: Boethius's "Consolation of Philosophy" with John Marenbon
    Jun 27 2025

    In this episode, I speak with John Marenbon, Cambridge Professor of medieval philosophy and world expert on Boethius, about Boethius's masterwork "Consolation of Philosophy". I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Episode 73: St. Bonaventure's "Journey of the Mind into God" with Carlos Eire
    Jun 27 2025

    In this episode, I speak with Carlos Eire, renowned historian of the late medieval and early modern era and winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction for "Waiting for Snow in Havana." In this episode, we discuss St. Bonaventure and desire. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    56 mins
  • Episode 72: The 'Sacred' and the 'Profane' with Michael Foley
    Jun 27 2025

    In this episode, Professor Michael Foley and I discuss the differences between the titular concepts of this podcast, namely, the 'sacred' and the 'profane'. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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    51 mins
  • Episode 71: Dana Gioia on the Tragic Thought of Seneca
    Jun 21 2024

    In this season finale, internationally acclaimed poet Dana Gioia and I discuss Seneca's thought in general, and his tragic work The Madness of Hercules in particular. I hope you enjoy our conversation!

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    57 mins