I talk about the challenge of being an Artist, which means having enough singular confidence to believe that what you have benefits the world in ways that can be difficult to measure, and the challenge of being a Parent or Teacher, which means having enough humility to believe that you must pass along the very best of your knowledge, skills, experience, and character to those who will likely surpass you - if you do your job well. 00:10:50 Micro-musings These are partially-formed thoughts and ideas about life. Here is a sampling below: If you’re on a really tight budget, then one idea that sometimes works is to buy a house on top of a mountain, and then spend a couple years carefully cultivating a strong relationship with a neighbor who has a flatbed truck and ramp, and when the moment seems right, you ask her if she’d be willing to load your car up every evening on the way up the mountain so you don’t have to pay for gas, and then the next morning you coast down in neutral, and then voila, evening rolls around and you’re all set and your gas bill is way better. Cycle continues. Tip: have your neighbor sign a contract committing to the plan for at least seven years. Win-win: you save money and she has a good friend for life. Or seven years.

A special holiday edition, in which I talk about hellos & goodbyes, the importance of forgetting, poetry in bed, and a very special Christmas Eve story about me and my dad shopping on the night of December 24.

I tell a couple stories about conversations with various strangers and people about race, politics, and reasons why a certain someone should probably not be reelected. Some of it may be humorous and illuminating.

Three big topics in this episode, amidst discussing my dad and his baking skills. The big three are 1) a mini-biography of Socrates, 2) theories and thoughts on Earth’s origins and the challenges of reconciling reason and faith, science and religion, and 3) my Ten Commandments of Homeschooling (or any kind of schooling).

A conversation with musician, comic, web personality, and cultural philosopher Lanessa Long. Oh, and she's my sister. We discuss a variety of topics, including swimming, fears, art, and COVID. Also, we dance and banter around a bunch of other half-finished meanderings about being an aunt, politics, film, books, and other items that interest us. Lanessa is an artist who blends up music and comedy into sometimes interwoven, sometimes separate genres via stand-up, film, and sketch improv. Also, she is a magnificent and and magical human being whose presence, even virtual and remote, may fill with you a thoughtful energy and renewed interest in living a unique and imaginative life. This episode clocks in at 37 minutes and 57 seconds.

A little about Christopher Nolan, Costco, galaxies, and the movie "Crawl." A lot about mask-deniers, perverse expressions of empathy, being a parent during this pandemic, and the importance of shared vocabulary and news sources in discussing issues. Also, I close with Eleven Things every human being should think about in order to live a fantastic and full life during this time. Love y'all.

I return to normal programming by opening with a wonderful and intense version of Tom Thumb that may involve King Arthur. After that I dive into an exploration of how to balance the accessible and the challenging in our lives (yes, I invoke Radiohead in this part). Also, there's some stuff on the Moon, Cain and Abel and a crocodile, and a super-fast overview of the Black Plague in the 1300s.

"We are janitor" is a statement of position in regards to Black Lives Matter and the role our children play in conversations about privilege, change, identity, and equality.

I sit in a Costco parking lot on a rainy afternoon with my brother Jonny and we argue about a movie he doesn't care for, about privacy and location tracking, and discuss his experience of being a new dad for the last four months. We eat almonds and embrace at the end. He probably wins this round.

I talk about why everyone should read Shakespeare, then start with one of his most uncomfortable and difficult comedies, in which I provide my own gateway version. We complete our Astronomy, ch.4 segment on Stars, in which I remind listeners how important it is to refer to the Sun as "a medium-sized main sequence yellow dwarf star," rather than, you know..."the sun." I take a giant brush to Ch. 6 of our series on Judaism and in sweeping strokes, get us to the Promised Land, Moses's death somewhere in there, and single-sentence references to the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. I tell a story about a conversation I once had in a coffee shop with a late-70s kid named Ralph, and our exchange about technology, California real estate, and adult education. I connect the dots on an array of topics revolving around privacy, location tracking, art, Sabbath, the creative process, my brother Jonny, and what we choose to share or not share. I say farewell and invite you to return next episode. But not before listening to Jeremy M. Long many times.

I talk for a second time with our daughter, this time about a variety of topics covering the German idea of schadenfreude, Hunger Games, Little Women, Homeland, Contagion versus World War Z, Socratic discourse, Geena Davis films, the illegality of children weaponizing their parents’ advice against them, and advice on being a better dad. It’s about fifteen minutes. I also talk about relationships and the band Mates of State, introduce Jeremy Long’s new 15-second intro podcast song, and blame my daughter for not having enough time to talk about Greek and Latin. We then jump into some questions about the Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution, Chapter 4 of Astronomy (“Stars”), Chapter 5 of Judaism (The Exodus), and then wrap things up with some stuff I forgot. Like a thank you to someone at the end.

02:20 EDUCATION / PARENTING Three discoveries that can be disappointing to a child. 04:36 CONVERSATIONS I speak with a nine-year old about Greek mythology, tragicomic film endings, and the royal illustrator Sir Quentin Blake. 17:10 GREEK & LATIN Astron (Greek : star). Your mind will be blown with beauty when you realize what the literal meaning of “astronaut” is. 19:36 HISTORY In which I answer a few more questions about American history, specifically involving the 1800s, treatment of Native Americans, slavery, and the art of moral rationalizing at a nation-wide level. 24:30 SCIENCE Astronomy, chapter 02 : the moon. 29:50 RELIGION Judaism, chapter 4 : “Egypt and the Pharaoh’s Daughter” 35:45 PARENTING ”If you’re super good, maybe we’ll watch Pulp Fiction too.” 36:18 POETRY A poem inspired by William Carlos Williams entitled “Ode to William Carlos Williams.” Hint: it’s about pie. 37:35 DADS My dad’s thoughts on white water rafting. 38:50 PARENTS AND CHILDREN ”There’s always the bronze.” 39:37 OBSERVATIONS ABOUT A 12-YEAR OLD’S HANDLING OF A PANDEMIC ”At the moment of crisis you will assassinate panic and find quiet valor. (life in a pandemic for a 12-year old).” 44:20 ASSORTED THOUGHTS ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN. Exactly what it sounds like. Click here to read instead of listen. Or follow along. Your choice. 49:16 WRAPPING THINGS UP. Jeremy M. Long on SoundCloud Lanessa Cherie Long on Instagram 50:23 THE END.

01:15 EDUCATION / PARENTING Aristotle was wrong, and sometimes I am too. 03:32 CONVERSATIONS I speak with a three-year old about ABBA and mathematics, and ask for a hug afterwards. 05:06 GREEK & LATIN Caesar non Supra Grammaticos (“The emperor is not above the grammarians”) 07:04 HISTORY In which I answer a few questions about American history. 13:00 SCIENCE Astronomy, chapter 01 : the solar system 25:26 CONVERSATIONS WITH MY WIFE I speak with the Countess Becca about the death of hope, parenthood, improvement, and being both an effective leader and and effective follower. 36:29 RELIGION Judaism, chapter 3 40:25 A 40-YEAR OLD IN THE SECOND WEEK OF A PANDEMIC Assorted thoughts on a how 40-year old I’m married to has handled being quarantined with her husband and four children. 47:02 THE END.

02:00 EDUCATION / PARENTING Two thoughts on “educational content” and screen usage 07:05 MUSIC Franz J. Haydn 09:15 CONVERSATIONS I speak with a nine-year old about shooting time lapse videos, books, politics, part-time jobs at SNL, and pandemics. 18:30 GREEK & LATIN “Ex post facto” 20:30 HISTORY A mini-biography of Alaric the Visigoth 28:30 SCIENCE A prologue to Astronomy and what we’ll be learning over the coming episodes. 31:20 CONVERSATIONS WITH A 12-YEAR OLD I speak with a 12-year old girl about coping mechanisms during her first pandemic, various fears, and book and film recommendations. 39:55 RELIGION Introduction to Judaism (chapters 1-2) 44: 45 PARENTING, DADS, CHILDHOOD Being the age you’re at. Stories, anecdotes, musings on fatherhood and being a kid. Or a human. Also, there’s some stories about nose-picking and effective hand washing in the age of pandemics. 49:50 CONVERSATIONS WITH ADMIRAL JAMES. I speak to my brother over the phone, and we discuss actors, politics, and the natural segue of pediatric neurosurgeons to leading Housing and Urban Development. 55:25 POETRY ”No Man Is An Island” by John Donne 57:00 OUTDOORS Musings and stories on camping and children. 1:02:50 CURRENT EVENTS Thoughts on our first family pandemic and such.