Front Porch Philosophy

Garrett has recently started practicing Muay Thai and it has got him thinking about stuff like commitment, time, and grabbing onto things. He and Mike discuss some of their ideas around these topics and how some principles of combat sports extend into everyday life.

Garrett and Mike return to the topic of hospitality to discuss how Eckhart Tolle's thoughts on talking to flowers can help teach us about the relationship between attention and hospitality.Peace Lily: Spathiphyllum wallisii

50th episode celebration! If this is the first episode you're listening to or if it's your 50th, thank you! To celebrate the occasion, Garrett and Mike discuss the virtue of hospitality while sitting on the front porch for the first time in 2025.

Mike airs his grievances about Daylight Saving Time and he and Garrett talk about how setting our clocks forward an hour presents a great opportunity to reexaime our relationship to time.

Inspired once again by the show Severance, Garrett and Mike discuss "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", a novella by Leo Tolstoy, and how it shows us what it means to live a full life.

Mike asks Garrett a few questions about technology today, the nature of time, and what love might be.

Garrett and Mike discuss the hit Apple TV show Severance and some of the philosophical questions that the it raises about the Self.

Today, Garrett and Mike drink some new whiskey and think about the impact that the idea of becoming has on their previous discussion of Be, Do, Have.

Garrett and Mike return to The Dream of a Ridiculous Man to see what it may tell us about how experience can lead us to simple truth.

This episode, two ridiculous men, Garrett and Mike, discuss the short story "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Link to the story online: https://gustavus.edu/threecrowns/files/The%20Dream%20of%20a%20Ridiculous%20Man,%20Fyodor%20Dostoevsky.pdf

Garrett and Mike discuss a little Nietzsche and what he thinks about thinking for yourself. You could listen to him. Or not. He'd maybe prefer it that way. Podcast Mentioned: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/philosophize-this/id659155419?i=1000670317546

Garrett and Mike discuss the idea of bare life from Byung-Chul Han's essay "The Agony of Eros" and how thinking about the concept can help us reexamine our "why." Books Mentioned: The Agony of Eros by Byung-Chul Han The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy Movies Mentioned: The Jungle Book

Garrett and Mike talk about how some new golf lessons can apply to everyday life. Speedgolfrob on Instagram His book

Garrett and Mike talk about time. They promise it's not a waste of your time!

Garrett and Mike wrap up their conversation about the idea of "Be, Do, Have." Is it interesting? Yes! Do they provide a concrete solution about how to solve the problem? No! Is that what makes it fun? Yes!

Garrett and Mike embark on part three of their series on the idea of "be, do, have." This time, they talk about why this idea matters through the lens of "On the Shortness of Life" by Seneca.

Garrett and Mike continue to talk about the idea of living a "Be, Do, Have" life, this time with the help of the work of Byung-Chul Hun. Philosophize This! Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/philosophize-this/id659155419?i=1000627026347 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/philosophize-this/id659155419?i=1000630100135

In this episode, Garrett and Mike explore what it may mean to live in a way that follows the flow of "being, doing, having" instead of "having, doing, being." Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Karma-Yogis-Guide-Crafting-Destiny-ebook/dp/B08F4GYK9P/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1696957093&sr=8-1 Article link: https://apple.news/A_jrf4IQdTga9g5lxBriwPA

Garrett and Mike continue their discussion of the show "The Big Door Prize" and the concept of your life's potential.

In this episode, Garrett and Mike discuss a letter Garrett received from a familiar stranger; himself five years ago.

After watching the Apple TV show "The Big Door Prize", Mike asks Garrett that if given the opportunity, would he want to know what his life's potential is.

In this episode, Garrett and Mike talk about their experience doing a three day water fast. Video on fasting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuOvn4UqznU

Garrett and Mike discuss the article "Navigating the Mysteries" by Martin Shaw and how myths and stories are a useful way to reframe our thinking in what many see as an uncertain world. Article Link: https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/navigating-the-mysteries/

Garrett and Mike continue to talk about entanglement and what it might mean for how we interact with the world.

In this episode, Garrett and Mike start talking about the idea of quantum entanglement and what it might mean for philosophy and how we see the world. Nobel Prize Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/science/nobel-prize-physics-winner.html

Garrett and Mike spend some time on the newly chilly front porch to discuss how best to serve yourself and others and whether or not those are different things at all.

Garrett and Mike return to the Front Porch to discuss rewording the question "What do I want to be?" and instead thinking of it as "Why have I come?" and other lovely things.

In a long overdue return to the front porch, Mike and Garrett talk all about the idea and creative power of distance.

Garrett and Mike are back before the end of 2021 to talk about the philosophical questions surrounding the "Metaverse" Peterson Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOgSqHtTtHY

Garrett and Mike convene on the front porch to talk about Mike's dream about espresso and what it might mean about giving.

Garrett and Mike discuss the nature of repentance as discussed by Maimonides in the Mishneh Torah. Link to Maimonides writing: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Repentance.2?lang=bi

Garrett and Mike discuss a CS Lewis quote from the Screwtape Letters and their conception of the future.

Garrett and Mike reunite on the Front Porch to discuss a new theory of consciousness. Article Link: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a36329671/is-the-universe-conscious/

Garrett and Mike talk about The Lonely Man of Faith by Rabbi Joseph B. Solveitchick and how it relates to the way we live our lives. TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_brooks_should_you_live_for_your_resume_or_your_eulogy/up-next?language=zh

Garrett and Mike talk about how changing the way you ask some common questions might open up the opportunity for the thing you're looking for to find you instead.

Garrett and Mike discuss a quote from one of their favorite thinkers, Carl Jung. Quote: "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - Jung

Garrett and Mike discuss how humans are actually useful to the planet and how we can try to be better at not destroying it.

Garrett needs some help and Mike answers the call.

Mike and Garrett belatedly celebrate Garrett's birthday with some conversation and a legal glass of whiskey.

Mike gets older and he and Garrett discuss Seneca's "On The Shortness Of Life" On The Shortness of Life PDF: https://tripinsurancestore.com/4/on-the-shortness-of-life.pdf When Breath Becomes Air: https://www.humbleisd.net/cms/lib/TX01001414/Centricity/Domain/5915/When%20Breath%20Becomes%20Air%20-%20Full%20Text.pdf

Front Porch Philosophy hopes you got out to vote! Garrett and Mike talk about a certain candidate with lots of musical talent of today's episode.

Go listen to the song "Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend and then come back, it'll make more sense if you do :) Jung Quote: “No tree can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell."

After a brief delay, Mike and Garrett are back! They talk about the importance of loving your enemy and how to deal with your feelings towards those who don't think like you.

Mike talks to Parker, our 7 and a half year old next-door neighbor. In their discussion, they find out something about maybe.

Garrett returns and he has a story to share. New discoveries are made as Garrett and Mike talk about how to go about as a human being and not a human "do"ing.

Special guest time! Today Mike talks to our friend Graham about everything from immortality to his passion for anime and the stories it contains.

After a brief hiatus, Garrett and Mike are back! They are joined by Garrett's sister (and Mike's daughter) Kira as they discuss how we get caught up in playing the game of life.

Garrett and Mike discuss some back to school advice, the ideas of Buckminster Fuller, and what it means to think of life as "weightless." Buckminster Fuller video skip to 40 to 46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elVGz_VR3eU&t=2971s

In this episode Garrett and Mike talk about their neighbor's dog, the pursuit of happiness, and how some more thought might be needed into what exactly "the pursuit of happiness" means.

In this episode, Garrett and Mike discuss the Ubuntu philosophy and Agape love. They explore how they are related and how their principles can be applied to our lives.

In the first episode of Front Porch Philosophy, Garrett and Mike discuss what the show is, ramble a bit, and talk about the number 2 and its implication in our lives.