Virtue in the Wasteland Podcast (bonus b-side)

Reflections on first leg of the road trip through the American Southeast, and an interview of three committed Christian kids in the Bible belt who defy easy categorization. Julia, Luke and Calista share their candid thoughts on hot button topics. Not a debate but fact finding. 

virtueinthewasteland.com

1517.org 

Direct download: Expectations_v_Reality_on_the_Road.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT

Jenn Koiter shares her poetry with us as we discuss her nonprofit work in India, the value of poetry, the problems of poverty tourism and cultural appropriation, suffering, sex trafficking in Asia, Zen, and why one might stick with their Western spiritual heritage through it all.  We did not censor this episode, though even grandma should find it tame overall.  This is episode 106.  

 

virtueinthewasteland.com

 

Direct download: Bindis_at_Coachella.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00pm PDT

Philosopher of science Dr. Angus Menuge joins us to talk about the vocation of a scientist, especially that of a scientist who is also religious.  Prof. Dan Deen (Concordia University, Irvine), another philosopher of science is along for the expedition.  We talk about new atheism, virtue, epistemology, science, biology, physics, paradigms, theories, and Motörhead (that's right).  Dr. Menuge is professor of philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin and is the president of the Evangelical Philosophical Society. His research interests include philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, apologetics, and C. S. Lewis. He earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Diploma in Christian Apologetics from the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights, Strasbourg. He is editor of C. S. Lewis: Lightbearer in the ShadowlandsChrist and Culture in Dialogue, Reading God's World and of Legitimizing Human Rights (forthcoming). He is author of Agents Under Fire: Materialism and the Rationality of Science (Rowman and Littlefield, 2004). His most recent work focuses on libertarian free will and the creative powers of agents.

Direct download: ViW71b_The_Vocation_of_a_Scientist_with_Angus_Menuge.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Tucker Kaas, from Kaas Tailored (kaastailored.com) talks about quality, ethical business practices, beauty, reduction of waste, kai zen, continuous improvement, vocation, Design on Stock, and the good life.

Direct download: ViW66b_Furniture_Zen_with_Tucker_Kaas.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We explore the nature and history of evil regimes, their ability to kill people on large scales, and how to oppose such things with Marc Thomas Voss, a historian and German language instructor, who is completing his doctoral work on this topic in Germany.  Hitler, Stalin, Polpot, oh my.  

Bonus b-sides are shows where we go deep into content with a professor or a professional in some specialized field.

Direct download: ViW65b_Regimes_and_Genocide.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Civil engineer and League of Faithful Masks chairman of the board talks about vocation, David's story of deciding to leave seminary for a different, public calling, and the ways in which he has contributed to landmarks throughout Southern California.  It turns out, civil engineers save lives, quietly and behind the scenes.

Direct download: ViW60b_The_Vocation_of_Civil_Engineering.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

This one is just a bunch of fun conversation tossed together like your favorite salad.  But it all revolves around emotional wellbeing and how external factors like the food we eat or our physiology affect our mood.  We learn a bit too about what we are able to do to eat ourselves to a bit more happiness.  Check out this conversation about psychology and happiness. 

We also check with her on the nature of addiction and prisons, following up on our last episode on the War on Drugs.

Direct download: ViW51b_Physiology_Food_and_Emotion.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We explore the beauty of language, classic and contemporary with Dr. Stanley Lombardo, a translator of classics like the Illiad and Aeneid.  Listen even if classic Latin and Greek epics aren't familiar to you.  If nothing else, listen for the first twenty minutes to hear Dr. Lombardo recite poetry in classical Greek.  The sound itself will demonstrate the importance of our topic.  Topics include the art of translation, Homeric legends, Virgil, Zen Buddhism, and poetry in general.  

B-Sides are in depth discussions with professors and professionals about the beauty and importance of their callings.

Direct download: ViW39b_Its_Epic.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 6:00am PDT

Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto has seen it all.  The JFK assassination coverage, the rise of the Nazis, a famous drinking horse in Germany, the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, and of course the Vietnam War.  Uwe talks about getting a doctorate after a not so good high school experience.  We learn why our news media has gone so far away from its original calling or vocation today.  Learn why you should not criticize a German town’s beer. Learn who can drink more beer and not slur: Catholic priests or Lutheran pastors.  Find out how clumsy and immature JFK was, but also how he rose to the occasion when global annihilation loomed.  What should a journalist do when they come across a scandal?  Find out why Uwe wouldn't mind being a horse poop specialist.  By the way, you wish you were as cool as the guy in the picture here.  I suppose you can be.  Just become a journalist in the old school style.  Learn about how Uwe came to study with Peter Berger, thanks to his wife, Gillian's wise sense of Uwe's suitability for the clergy ranks, or lack thereof.  

Direct download: ViW39b_A_Journalists_Vocation.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Veteran journalist, author of a new book on the Vietnam War,  Triumph of the Absurd: A Reporter's Love for The Abandoned People of Vietnam shares a story from his travels, and explains how unethical journalism failed the people of Vietnam.

Direct download: ViW37b_Rethinking_Vietnam.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We discuss the history of immigration in the United States and converse with Joe Laughon, a contributor to Cafeconlecherepublicans.com.  He helps to dispell some misunderstandings about immigration laws and attitudes past and present.  We discuss the use of terms like "illegal immigrant" and "undocumented worker".  What's the virtuous response to todays immigration debates?  Listen in to hear a unique, and arguably sane, perspective.

Direct download: ViW33b_Rethinking_Immigration.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We discuss the ethics, aesthetics, and humanitarian possibilities for those who have the vocation of architecture.  After some banter between our co-hosts, Jeff interviews Ian Lodge, who oversees the Cal-Earth Institute operation, in Hesperia, California.   This is the result of the humanitarian vision of Nadir Khalili, a Persian architect who was influenced by the Sufi mystic Rumi and brought his spiritual values, scientific training, and concern for humanity together through teaching methods of creating sustainable, economical, and artful housing. 

Direct download: ViW22b_Architecture_and_Ian_Lodge_of_the_Cal-Earth_Institute.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We follow up on old emails, messages, and questions.  We tell a story about loose ends, then conclude with two former students: Tim Olson, an ethnomusicology student and world traveler who sets the record straight on the Afghan national sport, and Lauren Yauk who traveled the world to find the best approach to global development.  Her story is helpful for understanding how young adults think about the world these days, and the obstacles they face as they seek to do good in the world.  

Direct download: ViW21b_Loose_Ends.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Filmmaker Lev Anderson joins us to talk about his move from city planning to directing documentaries, "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" and spend the bulk of our time discussing his upcoming project on the history and future of Irvine, CA the safest city in America, a model of urban planning that is copied around the world, and the epicenter for our podcast.  We start by discussing his recent documentary We discuss the ethics and art of city planning, and the ways in which it affects our lives.

Bonus B-Sides are in depth conversations with professionals who join us to talk about why they like what they like and how exercising their vocations can cultivate virtue in our cultural wasteland.

Direct download: ViW19b_Irvine-A_Model_City.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

UFC star and advocate for the Mbuti (Pygmy) people of the Congo joins us to answer the question whether it is virtuous to compete in and watch mixed martial arts competition.  Gladiators or artists?  You'll get a chance to find out the inner details of the sport and decide for yourself.  

Direct download: ViW11b_MMA--Pure_Brutal_Virtue_with_Justin_Wren.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

To help us understand our Muslim neighbors, and the ways in which thoughtful dialog can take place without being disengenous, we brought in an expert in historical and contemporary Christian-Muslim relations, Dr. Adam Francisco.  Adam is an Oxford alumnus, an author of a book on the topic and Assoc. Prof. of History at Concordia University Irvine.

Direct download: ViW6b_Our_Muslim_Neighbors.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Interview with Dan Deen, philosophy prof, on the relationship between virtue and knowledge.  We talk about Dan's doctoral adviser Michael Ruse and ways of doing debate between atheists and theists.  

Direct download: ViW4b_Virtue__Knowledge_Bonus_B-Side.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Dan and Jeff interview Prof. Joel Oesch about his doctoral research on facebook and theology.  

Direct download: ViW3b_Social_Networks__Theology_Bonus_B-Side.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 9:30pm PDT

We interview psychologist, Dr. Betsi Little-Van Fossen about the ways in which social networks, especially technology, affect our lives.  We also follow up on some aspects of evil, garnering insights about important historical experimental work in the field.  

Direct download: ViW2b_Facebook__Psychology.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 2:12pm PDT

We interview documentarian and former radio and television host Zeke Piestrup about his new film Apocalypse Later: Harold Camping vs The End of The World. After attending the premiere, we liked his work.  But we were just as intrigued with the story behind the filmmaker. Zeke exemplifies many of the virtues we are seeking in this podcast, so we are glad to present this as our first Bonus B-Side. Dan and Jeff love B-Sides in music, so we expect these to be some of the most interesting shows we release. Nonetheless, as they go into depth with professionals and professors, listeners can look at each topic to determine and select the in-depth conversations they think are most appealing.

Direct download: ViW1b_The_Apocalypse_according_to_Zeke_Bonus_B-Side.mp3
Category:Bonus B-Side -- posted at: 7:30pm PDT

1