Why are they cutting down the trees? In our first guest episode listen in to Anthony, Nathan and Adrian discuss Dr Seuss and one of his whimsical children's stories; The Lorax. A story about hyperconsumerism, environmental consciousness and linguistic playfulness. A discussion and full reading of the story is available in this episode.Anthony David Vernon is a professor at Miami-Dade College and St. Thomas University whose love of literature was sparked by the words of Dr Seuss. You can learn more about Anthony and his writing at: https://medium.com/@antmanvernon305Timestamps00:00-Introduction08:04-Growing up with different stories22:11-Reading and Performance of The Lorax38:32-Discussion of The Lorax1:02:56-Closing thoughts
We carry on with Chapter 3, addressing how the animals learn language, history as a broken wheel that keeps turning and some background insight from Orwell's 1984. Timestamps: 00:00-Introduction06:00-Chapter reading begins20:08-Discussion of Chapter 323:59-Animal Farm in the context of religious fundamentalism37:18-Political control of language and the workplace47:39-George Orwell's 1984 and connections to Animal Farm51:01-Closing thoughts
A continuation of our commentary and reading of George Orwell's Animal FarmTimestamps00:00-Introduction03:00-Chapter 2 begins10:00-Brief discussion on Chapter 2 so far15:28-Chapter 2 continues24:35-Discussion of Chapter 2 - Religion30:54-Literary analysis of Chapter 232:44-Our personal stories growing up reading Animal Farm47:45-Animal Farm & Political Philosophy54:38-Closing thoughts
Join Nathan and Adrian as we explore George Orwell's political fable of pigs, horses, dogs, cats, rats and...political rebellion. We explore our own background on reading Animal Farm, George Orwell's authorship and how Animal Farm can be applied to today. Episode 53 - Animal Farm, Chapter 1Timestamps:00:00-Introduction01:44-Our previous experience with Animal Farm09:22-Context, George Orwell and compositional history12:31-Things to know if you are new to Animal Farm14:07-Chapter 1 of Animal Farm reading 31:26-Political discussion of Chapter 147:25-A brief history of Communism51:22-Literary analysis of Animal Farm & closing thoughts
Episode 52 - On the early history of New Brunswick, Canada - Part 200:00-Introduction & first section02:28-Discussion - St John's River & Miramichi River06:05: Where and what is St Ann's Point?08:46:How non-fiction is composed 12:28-Section 2 reading15:58-The Canadian colonies during wartimes 17:51-The history of Canada & Pacifism 22:02-Finnish, Canadian and British education systems
Join Nathan and Adrian on our first non-fiction episode. We discuss a historical account from 1862, how this affected the Maritime province of New Brunswick, and various ways in which we as audiences read and interpret history. Timestamps:00:00-Introduction02:21-Where is New Brunswick?08:02-Context before section reading starts11:10-Section 1 of "...history of New Brunswick" 12:49-Discussion of Section 117:32-Section 219:32-Discussion of phonetics (pronunciations)22:20-Canadiana history25:36-Section 326:32-Ending discussion
Join Nathan and Adrian as we discuss The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S Eliot. We discuss rhyme, how the poem applies to today and T.S Eliot's approach to composing poems. 00:00-Introduction03:45-Social anxiety as a theme of the poem09:45-On learning "etiquette" 11:21-Applying the poem to today's time18:46-What reading T.S Eliot's poetry feels like20:36-Our personal approaches to writing poems25:22-20th Century modernism 29:21-Closing thoughtshttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock
Join Adrian and Nathan for the poem reading of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot. Adrian does a wonderful reading and we continue the discussion of it in the next episode.https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/44212/the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock
Join Adrian and Nathan for the third and final portion of our discussion of Book 9 of The Odyssey by Homer, using Alexander Popes translation. We finish our discussion on the land of the cyclops, and the creature as a character. 00:00-Introduction07:42-Discussion of the Cyclops' scene12:52-Ending section of Cyclops
Join Adrian and Nathan for the second portion of our discussion of Book 9 of The Odyssey by Homer, using Alexander Popes translation. We discuss the land of the cyclops, the structure of this portion of the Odyssey, and our thoughts on the piece as a whole.00:00-Introduction04:50-Story overview and next section10:12-Literary discussion, scene setting & language14:40-Homer's Blindness16:10-Section 3 of Cyclops 20:30-Closing thoughts
Join Adrian and Nathan for the first portion of our discussion of Book 9 of The Odyssey by Homer, using Alexander Popes translation. We discuss the structure of one of the original stories, and discuss how different a performed Odyssey would be from written accounts.00:00-Introduction04:04-Book 9 begins06:41-Discussion of The Odyssey's structure11:28-Odysseus sailing through storms15:32-The Lotus Eaters19:48-How the oral tradition of stories worked25:11-Closing thoughts
Join Adrian and Nathan as we continue with our final portion of Dune by Frank Herbert. We discuss the dynamics of fatherhood and the means to portray a good villain.00:00-Introduction01:05-Dune Part 1 Film Discussion06:21-Duke Leto & Fatherhood10:54-Writing villain characters15:06-Baron Harkonnen's chapter reading begins
Join Adrian and Nathan as we add another portion to our discussion of Dune by Frank Herbert. We discuss the differences between the book and movie, shields, mentors, politics, and prophecy. 00:00-Introduction02:42-Differences between the novel and the movie07:35-Princess Irulan09:05-Dune & Shields11:09-Dune & Causality13:25-Gurney Halleck16:28-The mastery of Frank Herbert19:18-Dune Chapter reading begins, Duke Leto & Paul
Join Adrian and Nathan as we continue our discussion of Dune by Frank Herbert. We discuss the first reading compared to the movie and continue with Paul's training. 00:00-Introduction05:00-Dune & Lord of The Rings17:07-Characters of Dune (Chapter 1)22:44-Religious references of Dune25:09-Chapter reading, Paul & Thufir Hawat45:54-Paul & Gurney Halleck
Join Adrian and Nathan as we discuss Dune by Frank Herbert. We begin by looking at the very first chapter and set the stage for a grand epic adventure. Timestamps00:00-Introduction11:48-Chapter 1 reading begins20:48-Paul Atriedes' test 33:48-Mythology of the Bene Gesserit
Join Adrian and Nathan as we discuss 4 poems concerning war. We look at the Crimean war, American Civil War, and the First World War. We will be covering: 1. The Charge of the Light Brigade, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. 2. The Pride of Battery B, by Frank H. Gassaway.3. More Cruel than War, by W.S. Hawkins.4. Dulce et Decorum Est, by Wilfred Owen.00:00-Introduction06:15-The Charge of The Light Brigade, by Tennyson08:52-Poem analysis and discussion13:30-War and Journalism before WWI18:21-Literary analysis of Poem 124:13-The Pride of Battery B, by Frank H. Gassaway28:14-Poem analysis and discussion 239:11-Literary analysis of Poem 240:55-More Cruel Than War, by W.S Hawkins44:43-Poem analysis and discussion 349:12-Literary analysis of Poem 353:33-Content Warning: Depictions of violence/gore 54:35-Dulce Et Decorum Est, by Wilfred Owen58:18-Poem analysis and discussion 41:02:06-Literary analysis of Poem 41:10:42-The role of poetry in wartime1:15:44-Closing thoughts
Join Nathan and Adrian as we finish Act 5 of Othello. Continuing the discussions by focusing on Othello and the final moments of his part in Iago's treachery. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1531/1531-h/1531-h.htm00:00-Introduction01:04-Othello's solemn speeches02:53-Othello & Desdemona07:51-Othello & Emilia 11:48-Iago & others enter the scene 21:08-Othello's final speech 23:34-Discussion section begins36:20-Our opinions on politics and more46:15-The politics in Othello applied to today 52:46-Closing thoughts
Join Nathan and Adrian as we carry on into Act 3 of Othello. Continuing the discussions of oppression, poetry v prose, and the differences between our time and Shakespeare's. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1531/1531-h/1531-h.htm00:00-Introduction08:24-Our mistakes as men and trying to do better13:00-Performance of Othello, Act 3, Scene 328:31-Discussion of scene start35:36-Linguistic discussion of Othello's "Farewell" speech39:30-Rhyming vs non rhyming poetry, free verse and blank verse42:29-East Cost Canadians; the Maritimes44:53-The internal linguistic rhythm of Othello's speech46:59-The downsides of plays when they are poems too51:43-Nathan being a history nerd53:05-Today's audiences54:11-Othello and racial literary criticism56:16-Closing thoughts
Join Adrian and Nathan as we discuss our upbringings surrounding the holidays. What did we do with our families, and how did we feel about it all? Let's Find out. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Good Will to all. 00:00-Introduction02:00-How did Adrian celebrate the holidays?08:18-How did Nathan celebrate the holidays?12:51-Saying grace at Christmas21:08-If you celebrate the holidays by yourself22:12-Slow cooking a chicken25:41-Incorporating mum’s stare 28:28-Experiencing a campfire for the first time34:16-Tolerance of others in today’s time37:09-Christmas carolling39:18-Mandatory weather report40:27-Christmas family arguments42:20-Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?47:50-Mulled wine at Christmas51:57-The best Christmas presents we got59:40-The spirit of gift-giving1:02:34-Our holiday message from the podcast
Join Nathan and Adrian as we continue with Act 2 and the crux of Iago's plan comes to light. What does he intend to do and why? https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1531/1531-h/1531-h.htm00:00-Introduction03:24-Performance section 113:00-Shakespeare, prose vs verse17:45-Performance section 2 26:10-Being "on watch"30:00-Othello as the general 33:16-Performance section 340:32-Discussion: Iago and jealousy49:03-Closing thoughts