WHATRYADOIN’ – Jack Hitt, Part 3 “Crystal Ballz”

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Back in April of 2020 author and journalist Jack Hitt sat down with us to discuss the beginings of the pandemic and make a few predictions. Over two years later we emerge from our basements and closets to check the accuracy of those predictions and we are once again visted by the ghost of Ignaz Semmelweis. What did we get right and what did we get wrong? Have any lessons been learned?

Vijay Gupta – Part 2 – “The Call” – TWP057

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Imagine getting an anonymous phone call.  The person on the other end tells you that, not only has your work been recognized by group of world recognized artists and innovators, but they are also going to inject your bank account with enough money to change your work and, yes, your life.  That’s what happened to Vijay Gupta.  Here’s our episode about Vijay’s induction into the MacArthur Foundation’s Fellows program and the strange history of the so-called “Genius Grant.”

Vijay’s album “When the Violin…” can be found here.

Vijay Gupta, Part 1 – “Saying Yes” – TWP056

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When a virtuoso violinist realizes he has yet to develop his own artistic voice, nor any idea of how to accomplish that task, he is face with a choice: continue a lonely descent into angst, or learn to say “yes”. Here’s the story of how he chose the latter and developed a powerful friendship in the process.

You can find Vijay’s album “When the Violin” here.

You can find out more about “Street Symphony” here.

You can find Steve Lopez’s book “The Soloist” here.

Tom McElroy, Part 2 – “How Far is Too Far?” – TWP054

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Tom McElroy has found the road less traveled to be full of unexpected turns, from the absurdities of reality TV to the perils of traveling in remote wildernesses. Along this sometimes tangled path one thing remains clear, we were not meant to go it alone. 

And if you haven’t checked it out yet, our Island Survival Exit Interview is now on YouTube where Anson Mount interviews Branan Edgens about his time in St. Croix learning primitive survival skills from Tom McElory of wildsurvivalskills.com.

Tom McElroy, Part 1 – “Chasing the Dream” – TWP053

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Who amongst us has not dreamed of a simpler life more connected to nature, of escaping the rat race and living a singular existence full of adventure? It’s easier dreamed than done but primitive survival expert Tom McElroy of wildsurvivalskills.com sat down with us to tell us how he did it and share the unexpected twists and turns of his adventure thus far. 

The Drop – Part 13

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This episode finds Branan tired and new father Anson unexpectedly well-rested. Discussed in this episode: SEVERANCE, GIRLS Vs. GANGSTERS AND MIKE TYSON (!), Joel Coen’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH as reviewed by Ethan Coen,  Octavia Butler’s  WILD SEED, THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell, A delinquent dancing cactus, wisdom from Sterling Hayden, Anson’s worst moment as an actor, and a giant and expensive rebar chicken, and more!

The Drop – Part 12

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In this episode we discuss impending Fatherhood! Plus Bo Burnham’s INSIDE, Burt Reynolds’ HEAT, Branan’s experience Cabin living, camping with the gang, John Fahey , Mr. Rogers discusses silence, Never Ending Story, Fellini’s Toby Dammit excerpt from SPIRITS OF THE DEAD, Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater in F minor, RV 621: VI Eja Mater, fons amoris and how is it compares to BB King and Shakespeare, MIDNIGHT MASS (Netflix), Mark Twain, I am One of You Forever by Fred chapel, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, SUCCESSION (HBO), THE DEATH OF STALIN, Our Mathematical Universe by Max Tegmark, Fabric or Reality by David Deutsch, Simulation theory, plus readings from Harper’s Magazine “Writing Wrongs” and “Clause and Effect”and we read listener reviews.
Artwork “Fatherhood” by Mahfuzur Rahman