Fight Me with RJ Young

While waiting for the repair man to show up at the house, I recorded this episode about Paul Newman, Shakespeare and Wakanda Forever. I swear it makes sense.

RJ chopped it up with Racing Incident co-host Anna Tarkov about Formula One. They gushed about Lewis Hamilton, talked about the lack of racial and gender representation in the sport, the upcoming Imola and Miami Grands Prix and just what Drive to Survive has done for the sport. Also, RJ reads the prologue of Adrian Newey's excellent autobiography called How to Build a Car where Newey drives the Williams racing FW-15 F1 car around the track at Paul Ricard.

Before winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard, Will Smith really slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith's bald hair cut. Also, I talk through some news and notes about Formula 1 racing including, the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton's social media post, Max Mosley's cause of death according to the coroner's office, Sebastian Vettel's return at the Australian Grand Prix and Formula 1's W Series adding two races. Caitlyn Jenner owns Jenner Racing and signed two-time defending W Series world champion Jamie Chadwick to her team.

In this episode, RJ discusses just what is going wrong for Toto Wolff's 2022 Mercedes Formula 1 team; what's going right for Guenther Steiner and the 2022 Haas F1 team; the fallout of the 2022 budget cap in the sport; how Ferrari, Red Bull and the Merc have won in the past and what the future holds for a sport built on Drive to Survive.

2022 Saudi Arabia Formula 1 Grand Prix: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the 2022 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix after a great fight with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari and Red Bulls have proven to be the class of the field with Sergio Perez taking the pole in qualifying and Carlos Sainz taking the podium next to Leclerc in both grands prix so far. But the question remains what is going on with Mercedes -- particularly Lewis Hamilton who began 15th on the grid on Sunday. Along with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, as well as Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg, the Mercedes power unit has teams and Formula 1 fans asking a lot of questions.

Alfa Romero, Chinese and rookie F1 driver Zhou Guanyu could be the most popular driver in Formula by the end of 2022. I was shocked to find out Lando Norris is the second-most popular driver in the sport. I also pondered whether Sebastian Vettel is as pissed with Ferrari as Niki Lauda was following the 1976 season. Las Vegas is getting an F1 race in 2023, which means there will be three F1 events in the U.S. for the first since 1982. Also, just what the hell is going on at the Jeddah for the 2022 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix practice sessions?!

The 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix was the most-watched Formula One event on ESPN since 1995. RJ talks about what that means and whether it signals a new wave of interest in F1 thanks in large part to the Netflix series Drive to Survive. What's Ferrari gonna follow-up with? --The Scuderia ended its 910-day, 45-race winless streak with an outstanding display of blue blood Mei Mei Turning Red power taking one-two on the podium and opening up a 44-point lead on the Red Bull and 17-point lead on Mercedes. Haven't won a title since 2008. 2020 was a 40-year low (sixth) for the Maranello mean machine team. Can Red Bull get their wings? --RB-powered cars were the four fastest in Bahrain. But only one of those cars finished. --Verstappen (54) and Checo (57) ran at the front all day --Is it really the fuel pump? Can the Haas F1 team keep this up? --Third in the Constructor's --Title sponsor Urkali wanted its money back --Bahrain GP was best finish since 2018 when the team had its best season ever --Was the only team to finish 2021 without scoring a point --Magnussen's best finish was matched by Mick Schumacher's best of 11th

In this episode, RJ talks Formula One racing for the first time on The RJ Young Show Podcast. Starting the season with the first race of the year at Bahrain, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Ferrari had a banner weekend with a 1-2 finish and the Scuderia's first F1 win in years. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were able to steal points. George Russell narrowly held off Alfa Romeo's Valterri Bottas. Red Bull had the fastest car on track but it wasn't enough. American Drive to Survive fans got to rejoice with Haas Racing, Guenther Steiner and Kevin Magnussen.

I read Sara Gay Forden's book, "House of Gucci," so you don't have to. It's the story of how Aldo, Rodolfo and Maurizio Gucci built Guccio Gucci's business into an internationally-respected brand and produced iconic fashion and fashion designers like Tom Ford and how Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli Gucci became the symbol of its undoing. House of Gucci has been adapted into a movie directed by Ridley Scott and starring Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek and Lady Gaga.

RJ and Tyler talk about how The Matrix film franchise owes so much of its inspiration to Frank Herbert's 1965 novel "Dune." They compare characters -- Neo is Paul Atriedes, duh -- and themes that overlap between the two properties as well as what Herbert was actually writing about: his distrust of superheroes, fascism, demagogues and dictators.

Act one, perhaps the best known myth about Loki which involves the creation of Thor's hammer and dwarves nearly chopping off the god of mischief's head for being, well, mischievous and an arrogant prat. Samuel Thompson https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1436&context=yjlh Sif's haircut and Thor's hammer https://norse-mythology.org/tales/loki-and-the-dwarves/ In the second segment, a character study about Loki in the ancient storytelling tradition of the trickster, courtesy an aggressively aggregated Smithsonian I found clicking links in another aggressively aggregated blog post. The Trickster https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/folklorist-explains-lokis-place-pantheon-trickster-heroes-180977935/ Act three, a discussion with my best friend Tyler about the hit TV show "Loki," a genocidal god with an apparent heart of gold. Yes, it's oxymoronic, but that's where the good stuff is. "I think that you could argue that the journey of the season for him is about Loki becoming a hero in a lot of ways, and what's more heroic than doing the right thing for the right reasons and losing anyways? Suddenly, he's in the position that Steve Rogers found himself in after Infinity War, which is really compelling." —Michael Waldron https://www.cbr.com/loki-writer-compares-captain-america-similar/ "I think it's when Alligator Loki ate President Loki's hand that I realized I was in love." --Variety "The Loki finale proves Marvel TV shows are already in a rut. The series remade a charming villain as a dull, passive hero." --Slate

I watched episode No. 1 of "Loki," and I had some thoughts about Disney+ latest effort in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, time and existence and the essence of man and the god mischief. The Time Variant Authority has Glorious Purpose -- we think.

RJ and Katy chopped it up about Kiese Laymon's essay in Guernica called You Are The Second Person. https://www.guernicamag.com/you-are-the-second-person/

RJ and Katy talked about a controversial anti-transgender bill in Arkansas, and the creative brilliance that is Lil Nas X's "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)."

RJ and Katy discussed Tracy Letts' epic response to a New York Times questionnaire about what he made in 2020: nothing. But nothing is important to contextualize in a society powered by production as profit.

RJ and Ron talked about Penny Dreadful, writing, TV and movies.

I watched Coming 2 America so you don't have to. And then I spoke with Noam about movie scores.

In this episode, Katy and RJ chop it up about Judas and the Black Messiah. RJ tries to widen and deepen the discussion when he reads excerpts from "Black Against Empire," and he enthusiastically suggests reading this political history of the Black Panther Party.

RJ and Katy chopped it up about Black Panther and the Black Panther Party's origins here. Your homework is to read Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party, watch the Marvel's Black Panther and watch King in the Wilderness on HBOMax. We'll talk about Judas and the Black Messiah later.

RJ and Katy chopped it up about Texas federal judge William Wayne Justice. Once Earl Campbell ran over one of his own blockers. The fella had committed the sin of falling down in front of him. Longhorns coach Darrell Royal was asked what he thought about that fella’s misfortune. “Ol’ Earl doesn’t believe in taking any prisoners.” He was the first Longhorn to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy in 1977 and is one half of the football field’s namesake at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium today. But if not for Judge Wayne William Justice, Campbell might not have played at UT

RJ and Katy Mullins chopped it up about Super Bowl 55, Black football coaches and RJ opines passing of a Black history icon in gymnastics.

Let's tell some Nick Saban stories and talk about Dabo Swinney's coaches poll ballot (again).

Ron and I chopped it up about the College Football Playoff, and there's at least one good joke in there.

Let the conspiracy theories commence and then be dashed.

The College Football Playoff committee wants to see more games, and so do we. So there's that.

RJ and Ron chopped it up about the debacle at Ohio State, Texas and how LSU might get ruined by Alabama.

Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide is a juggernaut, and we're searching for a worthy challenger in 2020. I went through the AP Top 25 rankings for Week 13 with some notes, news and analysis. Also, there's a bit of Shane Beamer-to-South-Carolina talk at the end.

I spoke about Korey Foreman's recruitment, Nick Saban missing the Iron Bowl, postponement of OU at West Virginia and the problem with Ohio State.

I reacted to the 2020 CFB Playoff rankings in real-time.

212. Playoff this by RJ Young

Let's talk about the latest rankings shakeup. Also: About The Pearl House was founded in 2013 to provide hope for girls in rural Ghana, Africa. By providing physical care, emotional support, spiritual development and life-changing academic/vocational opportunities, we empower our girls to discover their unique identity and purpose in Christ. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for these girls, their communities and their nation. Mission: The Pearl House protects, educates and disciples at-risk young women in underserved communities around the world. We are committed to helping our “pearls of great price” become the amazing women they are meant to be! VISIT: thepearlhouse.org and sign up for The Pearl House Virtual Gala Tuesday, December 1, 2020

With just a few weeks left in the college football season, I took a look at the 13 undefeated teams ranked in the top 25 and dug into the latest LSU football scandal.

Let's talk about Georgia's QB situation, Michigan's coaching situation and talk mad noise about folks who have seen their games canceled because of COVID-19 this weekend -- namely the SEC. Rate and review the show, please. Leave five stars, or don't.

RJ and Ron managed to talk about something other than the NBA.

207. Is this thing on? by RJ Young

RJ and Tyler reviewed HBOMax's Raised By Wolves.

I was joined by my buddy Steve Bullard for this. In lieu of a five-star review, visit thepearlhouse.org

204. The World's Largest Cocktail Party; Clemson at Notre Dame by RJ Young

ESPN Arkansas program director Tye Richardson joined RJ to talk Hawgs, SEC Big Ten and Big 12 football.

202. Kool-Aid v De'Coldest and Ohio State trench warfare by RJ Young

RJ, Laurel, Katy and Ron discussed Susan Choi's "Trust Exercise."

200. Texas has a migraine by RJ Young

RJ and Ron talked at-length about the top 25 and Ohio State's place in it.

Alabama Crimson Tide Nick Saban contracted the coronavirus.

The SEC has been infected with the Big 12.

I spoke with Steven Ngati about his No. 22-ranked Texas Longhorns playing against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2020 edition of the Red River Rivalry.

RJ and Ron take a look at what's on the line for OU-Texas this weekend.

The Vanishing Half ft Katy and Ron | Bookish Club by RJ Young

RJ and Ron lament and laugh at the knowledge that the Oklahoma Sooners and LSU Tigers football teams have been eliminated from the College Football Playoff with their first games played in conference competition.

i spoke with former Ohio State linebacker, NFL veteran and ESPN football analyst Bobby Carpenter about his experiences in high school, college and the NFL.

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