Eels, Sharks, Tiki and more on this episode of Unfiltered Coffee
In this episode we discuss the basics of Catholicism and current issues within the Church. Tyler and Matt share their perspective on these topics with myself - asking questions from outside of the Church.
How can we understand Catholicism in the United States? Is it out of place? The structure and the hierarchy struggle to mesh with the American Spirit. Does America inherit the German and Anglican revolutions against the Church? Can Christianity not just survive but advance if the structural body of the Church (Catholic) is damaged or destroyed? As a network of believers in individual union with Christ?
Clay and Andrew Unfiltered
Neeraj, a Nepalese student studying biomedical engineering and an aspiring poet, joins the show. We discuss the culture shock of university dining halls, using poetry to deal with heartbreak, social media's influence on shaping current conflicts, and tourism in Nepal. Check out Neeraj's podcast Soch ko udaan that captures the experiences of the Nepalese diaspora in the United States. https://open.spotify.com/show/3KXIHe93G7KZqYdtE1MB0j?si=8b0a0d87723a4e39
Olivia and I talk about art: Spanish art museums, the town of Cadaques, and compare Dali, Picasso, and Miro. We focus in on Dali's project - Nuclear Mysticism - an attempt to fuse art, religious mysticism, and advances in physics.
Ross and Lauren join the show and discuss a variety of topics including aliens, AI, global warming, and horseshoe crabs.
A selected, or rather random reading of poems from Bukowski's The Last Night of the Earth Poems.
In a discussion with Jeferson and Ish, we continue our exploration into travel while trying to get to the root of culture: what is the internet doing to culture formation, the experience of first generation Americans, the influence of technology on the Taliban.
'Has tourism displaced locals or created economic opportunity? The answer is both. I fear for local customs being eradicated and swallowed up by easy travel, telecommunication, and international capital. But what are locals and customs? Surely there has never been a ‘pure’ people or tradition. Maybe the speed of transformation is what has changed. We can all bear witness to the throbbing of the waves of culture in a much more tangible period of time as opposed to centuries, decades, and years. The confusion and the beauty of these collisions – past and future, local and foreign – offers a richness that gets under the skin of the human condition.'
Expounding on a philosophy of travel, blending of Ancient Egyptian with modern Egyptian culture, the importance of food a la Bourdain, and using movement as a mind altering experience.
In this wrap-up episode, we discuss the balancing act between conservative and progressive movements, the concept of 'bridling the Demos', and the role of technology in the changing landscape of politics.
We drop in on a conversation discussing current events like UFOs and train crashes through the lens of our notes on Degenerations of Democracy. We move on to a discussion of how culture is formed - shared mythology, human landscapes, and media ecosystems. The series continues in this shorter, less focused edition.
"That was actually a pretty good podcast"
-Clay Lenhart
In this episode, we discuss the relationship between Democracy and Economy. Specifically, we go more in depth on the impact Capitalism has had on American Democracy in the decades following World War II. Also discussed is the transformation of the American economy from one of industrialization to one primarily driven by financialization.
Clay, Jordan, and Ish hash it out
In this next installment of our Degenerations of Democracy series, we share our first impressions of the book. We hit several topics including - the ultimate ideals of Democracy, free and fair elections, the impact of media, and how to establish the public good.
We kick off our Degenerations of Democracy series with an introduction to the book sharing the same title. We will keep you updated with regular installments as we work through the book and the general topic of Democracy in its current state. Below is a preview to the book stolen from the front sleeve:
Democracy is in trouble. Populism is a common scapegoat but not the root cause. More basic are social and economic transformations eroding the foundations of democracy, ruling elites trying to lock in their own privilege, and cultural perversions like making individualistic freedom the enemy of democracy’s other crucial ideals of equality and solidarity. In Degenerations of Democracy three of our most prominent intellectuals investigate democracy gone awry, locate our points of fracture, and suggest paths to democratic renewal.
Despite technical difficulties, we caught up with Mark for a discussion ranging from his experience in the Army National Guard to his personal take on getting lean and fit.
Like Avicenna and Aquinas, we have a discussion centered around the traditions of two of the core Abrahamic belief systems. Prominently featured topics include: the being of God, the importance of the Christ, and the interplay between the rational and revealed within Christianity, Islam, and Western secular traditions.