Episodes
"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
The woods beckoned Frost as a refuge from the enormous personal tragedies he endured throughout his life. Of his six children with wife Elinor, four preceded him in death - son Elliott from cholera as a young boy, daughters Marjorie from puerperal fever after childbirth, and Elinor Bettina just one day after being born. His wife herself battled heart problems for years before succumbing to breast cancer and heart failure in 1938. Frost...
Published 05/04/24
“A Very Short Story” by Ernest Hemingway. To the Reader. This is a very short story, only 683 words long, which fits our podcast really well. We like short stories that keep a reader’s attention. We also like longer stories that are interesting. But this one is fine. It captures the heart of a soldier during World War One and may be loosely based on Hemingway’s own experience.
You see, during World War One, Hemingway was an ambulance driver and was injured, ending up in a hospital bed. He...
Published 05/04/24
This revised (shortened and commented) edition of "The Great Gatsby" may appeal to contemporary readers seeking a more streamlined and modernized version of the classic novel, making it more approachable and engaging. By condensing the text and focusing on the four central characters—Nick Carraway, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan—the story's essence is sharpened, providing a deeper exploration of their complex dynamics.
Nick Carraway, the introspective narrator, guides readers through the extravagant...
Published 04/18/24
Sunday Morning by Wallace Stevens (1915)
The poem “Sunday Morning” explores the pursuit of finding meaning in life without relying on religious convictions. Instead of engaging in a debate over the existence of a divine entity, the poem suggests that traditional religious frameworks, especially within Christianity, no longer offer the profound significance they once did. So, even though a God may exist and even though religion may be true and correct, the practice of religion doesn’t...
Published 04/18/24
The Mystery of Bulkington, a lesser known character in Moby Dick.
Why was he put in the book? Did Melville have a
larger role in mind for him but kind of forgot about him?
Bulkington's "godliness" stemmed not from any aspiration to being worshipped, but from his commitment to a life at sea. He was heroically indifferent to the temptations of security and comfort on land that entice most sailors after long voyages. While others sought the safe"port" with its "hearthstone, supper, warm...
Published 03/29/24
*The following short story "Soldier's Home," written by Ernest Hemingway and initially published in 1925, falls within the public domain in the United States. Ignoring our own usual standards, we have refrained from abridging or altering this work. It stands independently as a reflective narrative on the experiences of young men navigating life's transitions. The protagonist, Harold Krebs is a young man from Oklahoma who is drafted during World War I to fight in Germany while in college. Upon...
Published 03/29/24
**The Invisible Man: Crusade Against Hitler is a short work of historical fiction - a short story loosely, and very loosely, inspired by H.G. Wells' 1896 classic novel.
"The Invisible Man: Crusade against Hitler," unfolds during the 1940s, at the height of World War II. Both the original novel and our story follow a scientist named Griffin, who renders himself invisible through scientific experimentation, but that is basically where the parallels stop.
Although our short story includes...
Published 03/29/24
To the Reader—
The Book of Mormon is a source of spiritual guidance and inspiration for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and likely many others. This book of scripture has long been revered as a testament of faith and an integral part of the LDS Church’s canon.
In recent years, however, many have sought to gain a greater understanding of the Book of Mormon through the modernization and abridgment of its content. The translation and abridgment of the Book of...
Published 03/29/24
In this new retelling of the Classic Peter Pan, we seek to honor the essence of J.M. Barrie’s original work with a contemporary lens. Just as Peter himself refuses to grow up, the story of Peter Pan has refused to fade into literary history. Instead, it has evolved, adapting to the changing times and capturing the hearts of new audiences.
Through the years, the character of Peter Pan has taken on different shades, resonating with diverse generations. We, the creators of this adaptation, have...
Published 03/29/24
This podcast episode features a modern reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's haunting poem. This modernized re-telling attempts to breathe new life into these timeless verses, so they can be more easily understood. After the poem, the podcast dives briefly into an analysis of key symbols like the ominous raven and the idealized Lenore. It explains their representation of sorrow, mortality, and the frightening power of memory. The line "Is there no balm in Gilead?" highlights the narrator's futile...
Published 03/29/24
A reading of the parable of the prodigal sons with a short commentary at the end (audio produced by ai generated voice).
In his profound book The Prodigal God, pastor Timothy Keller analyzes the famous parable, revealing that there are not just one but two lost sons.
The younger son is the obvious prodigal, rebelling and leaving home for a distant land. But Keller insightfully sees that the elder brother is also alienated from the father's love, despite staying home and following all...
Published 03/29/24
Part One - Left Side of the Bench
In the coastal town of Lincoln City, a horticulture engineer with a unique perspective on life finds unexpected connection with a mysterious, but familiar stranger.
Excerpt:
"Oh hey, how are you?" I responded.
It was the girl. She was beautiful. I adjusted my head
slightly to make eye contact with my good eye.
"I think I know you," she said.
The analytical mind of an engineer quickly deduced that this
girl, whom I slightly recognized, but possibly...
Published 03/29/24
Excerpt from the Short Story:
During a brief lull in the excitement, Lazarus managed to escape with his friend John, yes the disciple.
“I cannot suffer this celebration any longer.”
John was caught off guard by Lazarus. He’d never heard him speak so directly before, especially an expression of discomfort. Yet, considering what had transpired, John did his best to maintain composure.
“Why? What’s going on Lazarus?”
“Have you ever suffered such agony you yearned for it to end? Been so...
Published 03/29/24
Edmund Sears was a quiet hero, lost to most histories but
not to time. He lived an honest, modest life - kind to others, devoted to his family, avoiding unnecessary drama or attention. His life was simply one of goodness. In 1810, Edmund was born on a Massachusetts farm. He came of age in complex times, at least in his personal life. Edmund didn’t fit in, as he thought he should and as his brothers did in school. As he later recalled, “I went to school in an old loose gown, with the head...
Published 03/29/24
Uncover the historical journey of Santa Claus beyond the popular legend. This short story delves into the origins of the tale, starting with St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop celebrated for secret gift-giving. Learn how influential figures like Martin Luther and Clement C. Moore contributed to shaping Santa's modern image, introducing elements like sleigh rides and reindeer.
Charles Dickens played a key role with the first-ever "Ho Ho Ho," giving life to Santa's signature catchphrase....
Published 03/29/24
Bartleby, The Law Clerk
A Modern Adaptation
of the Short Story Bartleby, The Scrivener.
By Herman Melville.
This contemporary retelling of Melville’s short story centers around an unnamed narrator, a lawyer who takes interest in a new legal clerk he hires named Bartleby. Though at first highly productive, Bartleby soon grows lifeless and despondent, preferring not to complete basic work tasks when asked and instead staring vacantly out the office's lonely windows all day. Despite...
Published 03/29/24
Herman Melville created a legend, a life philosophy, an epic tale in Moby Dick. Unfortunately, the language of the original story is so digressive and complex, that it is difficult to finish, or even start.He Called Me Ishmael is the story of Moby Dick, using original ideas, themes and focus. It is a fully developed short story with complex characters and themes.
The story begins as a young man, Ishmael (the lone survivor of Moby Dick and the ship Pequod) chases his dream of being a...
Published 03/29/24
The novel Stoner, by John Williams, follows William Stoner, who was raised on a Missouri farm in a religious Methodist household but loses his strong religious beliefs as he enters academia and becomes engrossed in his scholarly work. Stoner is portrayed as having an internal "religion of the heart," guided more by his personal values than formal doctrine. As a professor, he finds meaning through teaching literature and experiences a "faith in learning." There are suggestions of a vague...
Published 03/29/24
Blake’s contemporaries and modern critics may have regarded him as a heretic or satirist when it came to matters of religion. Some might even consider him irreverent and radical in his views on institutionalized religion, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and thought while critiquing the constraints imposed by religion. However, when it comes to unconventional depictions of the divine, Blake pales in comparison to the prophet Ezekiel.
While Blake’s portrayal of God can be...
Published 03/29/24
The renowned American novelist Herman Melville is best known for literary classics like Moby Dick. Yet throughout his life, Melville privately wrestled with profound questions of faith, belief and doubt.
As his friend and contemporary Nathaniel Hawthorne observed, Melville relentlessly grappled with matters of “Providence and futurity” that extend beyond human understanding. Melville doubted divine providence, frankly acknowledging to Hawthorne that he “had ‘pretty much made up his mind to...
Published 03/29/24
William Blake's poem "The Garden of Love" may subtly allude to the biblical Genesis account of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The combination of these works, "The Garden of Love" by William Blake and excerpts from the biblical book of Genesis. grapple with themes of lost innocence and the consequences of gained knowledge and disobedience. By relating these two works, we gain insight into a layered commentary on purity and corruption, freedom and control.
Blake's poem...
Published 03/29/24