Podcasts about vonnegut

20th-century American writer

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Best podcasts about vonnegut

Latest podcast episodes about vonnegut

Torg Stories Podcast
AI in the Writing Classroom with a side of Vonnegut

Torg Stories Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 64:46


Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. I’m usually joined by my sister Anne from Los Angeles, but she’s in London and taking this one off. In this episode, I tell the story of how I came to use AI in the writing courses I teach at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Who is this … Continue reading "AI in the Writing Classroom with a side of Vonnegut"

Signposts with Russell Moore
Books with Ashley Hales: Tolstoy, Carr, Vonnegut, Worthen, and More

Signposts with Russell Moore

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 50:01


It's time for another books episode. Russell Moore is joined again by Ashley Hales, the former producer of the show and now CT's editorial director for print, in a discussion about what they're reading now and about how reading as a practice is necessary and helpful in a windblown world.  What books are you loving? And which books would you be sure to pack if you were planning to be marooned on a desert island? Email us: questions@russellmoore.com.  Books/essays mentioned in this episode: Learning in War-Time by C. S. Lewis War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Superbloom by Nicholas Carr Digital Future in the Rearview Mirror by Andrey Mir Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Silas Marner by George Eliot  Spellbound by Molly Worthen The Theological Imagination by Judith Wolfe Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Altmania
Breakfast of Champions (1999)

Altmania

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 147:56


In 1973, Kurt Vonnegut releases his much awaited follow up to Slaughterhouse-Five. Just one year later, off the tails of Buffalo Bill and the Indians, Robert Altman tasks Alan Rudolph with writing him a script based on this book, Breakfast of Champions. His one direction being, "don't follow the book", advice that would be echoed by Kurt Vonnegut himself. The project slowly fizzles away into the dustbin... until 1999. This week we're talking Alan Rudolph's BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS, starring Bruce Willis as Dwayne Hoover. We take a trip to Alan-Town to talk about the new Choose Me 4K, this film's recent 4K restoration, then we get into Vonnegut talk, how this film and the book find common ground, car dealers in the Bush era, late capitalism and the "self-made" owner class, and also a lot of joking around! Write in to the mailbag for our finale episode! Follow Altmania: Linktree estebannoel.com Altman / Rudolph archive Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/altmania

Stuff You Missed in History Class
Live From ICC: Kurt Vonnegut

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 40:52 Transcription Available


Holly is joined by guest host Bryan Young for a live show at Indiana Comic Con, focused on the life and work of the author Kurt Vonnegut, known for his dark humor and dystopian visions of the future. Research: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Kurt Vonnegut". Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kurt-Vonnegut “Kurt Vonnegut Lecture.” Case Western Reserve University. 2004. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_RUgnC1lm8&t=551s Manikowski, Amy. “The Legacy of Kurt Vonnegut.” Biblio. https://www.biblio.com/blog/2022/11/the-legacy-of-kurt-vonnegut “Meet Kurt Vonnegut.” Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library. https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/biography/ Shields, Charles J. “And So It Goes: Kurt Vonnegut, a Life.” St. Martin’s Griffin. 2012. Strand, Ginger. “How Jane Vonnegut Made Kurt Vonnegut a Writer.” The New Yorker. Dec. 3, 2015. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/how-jane-vonnegut-made-kurt-vonnegut-a-writer Sumner, Gregory D. “Unstuck in Time: Kurt Vonnegut’s Life and Novels.” Seven Stories Press. 2011. Weide, Robert B. and Don Argott. “Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time.” IFC Films. 2021. Vonnegut, Kurt. “Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage.” Dial Press. 1999. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Afford Anything
Sahil Bloom: Which of the Five Wealth Types Are You Neglecting?

Afford Anything

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 86:33


#584: Think about how you spend an average day. Would the 10-year-old version of yourself be impressed? What about the 90-year-old version? These two powerful questions frame our conversation with Sahil Bloom, founder and managing partner of an early-stage venture fund with investments in over 60 startups and author of The Curiosity Chronicle, a newsletter that reaches more than a million readers worldwide. Sahil shares the story of his own wake-up call. While living in California and earning massive money as a venture inventor, he had a drink with an old friend who asked how often he saw his parents. When Sahil answered "about once a year," his friend asked how old they were. Learning they were in their mid-60s, his friend calculated: "So you're going to see your parents 15 more times before they die," assuming they'd live to about 80. That gut-punch realization led to massive change. Within 45 days, Sahil had left his job, sold his house, and moved across the country to be closer to family. This shift represents the core of Sahil's philosophy about the five types of wealth: 1. Time wealth: Control over your calendar and priorities 2. Social wealth: Deep, meaningful connections with others 3. Mental wealth: Curiosity, purpose, and personal growth 4. Physical wealth: Health and vitality 5. Financial wealth: Traditional money and assets Most of us focus exclusively on financial wealth because it's easily measurable. But Sahil argues that true wealth encompasses all five domains, and we should intentionally invest in each one. Sahil shares practical exercises for building each type of wealth: - For time wealth, create an "energy calendar" by tracking which activities energize versus drain you - For social wealth, map your relationships based on how healthy and frequent they are - For purpose, ask yourself what your world (family, community, etc.) needs from you - For physical wealth, focus on movement, nutrition, and recovery through simple practices - For financial wealth, clearly define what "enough" looks like for you These five domains aren't meant to be balanced perfectly every day. Instead, Sahil suggests thinking in seasons — some periods might emphasize financial growth while others prioritize family time. Sahil also discusses powerful concepts like goals versus anti-goals (what you're unwilling to sacrifice to reach your goals) and "Memento Mori" — the ancient Roman practice of remembering one's mortality to inspire present action. The conversation ends with a reminder that "your life has seasons" just like the weather — you don't expect to experience all four seasons in a single day, so don't expect perfect balance in every area of life simultaneously. For more from Sahil Bloom, find him on major social platforms or visit fivetypesofwealth.com. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. # Episode Timestamps (0:00) Would your 10-year-old self be impressed with your life? (1:46) Sahil's wake-up call: seeing parents only 15 more times before they die (4:19) The Tail End: visualizing how few books and moments remain in life (6:56) Small changes that dramatically increase time with loved ones (13:26) The tension between ambition and presence; why "later" becomes "never" (17:42) Why we measure financial wealth but not other forms of wealth (19:47) The five types of wealth: financial, time, social, mental, physical (30:09) Creating an "energy calendar" to track what energizes vs drains you (38:09) Relationship mapping: evaluating connections by health and frequency (42:33) Goals vs anti-goals: what you're unwilling to sacrifice for success (51:17) Why your purpose doesn't need to be your work (54:46) The 30-day health challenge: movement, nutrition, recovery (57:05) Vonnegut and Heller on having "enough" vs wanting more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Space-Biff! Space-Cast!
Space-Cast! #43. Unstuck in Time

Space-Biff! Space-Cast!

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 64:08


In 1956, not-yet-famous author Kurt Vonnegut unsuccessfully attempted to publish a board game. That game, GHQ, was then stored in a box for decades until designer Geoff Engelstein read about it in a biography and began the long process of restoring this historical artifact. On today's Space-Cast!, we sit down with Geoff to discuss how GHQ traveled across time, its surprising innovations, and what it might say about Vonnegut's efforts to contextualize his wartime experiences.

Podcasts – First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Curing Loneliness: How Humanism Can Bring Us Closer Together, And How We Build Bridges to Humanism

Podcasts – First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 19:29


“The most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” – Kurt Vonnegut How can the practice of humanism act as an antidote to America’s crisis of loneliness and purposelessness? And how can the humanist movement catalyze Vonnegut’s dream of “stable communities” for the tens of… Read More »Curing Loneliness: How Humanism Can Bring Us Closer Together, And How We Build Bridges to Humanism The post Curing Loneliness: How Humanism Can Bring Us Closer Together, And How We Build Bridges to Humanism appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis.

Racconti di Storia Podcast
Perche' DRESDA?

Racconti di Storia Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 21:48


Inizia l'anno nuovo con il piede giusto e acquista il piano biennale di NordVPN per iniziare a proteggerti online, otterrai 4 Mesi Extra e come al solito 30 giorni di soddisfatti o rimborsati Vai su https://nordvpn.com/dentrolastoria Il nostro canale Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1vziHBEp0gc9gAhR740fCw Il Nostro SITO: https://www.dentrolastoria.net/ Sostieni DENTRO LA STORIA su Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dentrolastoria Abbonati al canale: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1vziHBEp0gc9gAhR740fCw/join Il nostro store in Amazon: https://www.amazon.it/shop/dentrolastoria Sostienici su PayPal: https://paypal.me/infinitybeat Tra il 13 e il 15 febbraio 1945 la città di Dresda viene colpita da numerose ondate di bombardieri alleati che scaricano migliaia di tonnellate di esplosivi e ordigni incendiari. La tecnica sperimentata ed adottata dal maresciallo Arthur "Bomber" Harris colpisce il meraviglioso centro abitato che è ridotto in cenere causando tra le 25mila e le 40mila vittime, tutte civili. Testimone di questo agghiacciante spettacolo di morte è un soldato americano, Kurt Vonnegut jr., prigioniero di guerra che sopravvive assieme ad alcuni commilitoni perché rinchiuso nella grotta sotto il mattatoio cittadino. Da quell'esperienza scioccante Vonnegut ricaverà un libro, "Mattatoio n.5", che attraverso gli occhi del protagonista Billy Pillgrim denuncerà tutte le assurde atrocità delle guerre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tanze wild und frech Podcast
Die wahre Magie der Kunst – über das Werden, Wachsen und das Leben selbst

Tanze wild und frech Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 11:43


061: In der heutigen Folge des Tanze Wild & Frech. Podcasts geht es um das Thema: Die wahre Magie der Kunst – über das Werden, Wachsen und das Leben selbst Diese Tage habe ich eine wunderschöne Rede von Ian McKellen gehört, in der er einen Brief von Kurt Vonnegut vorlas. Die Worte von Vonnegut haben mich so sehr berührt, dass ich sie mit Dir teilen wollte. Kurt Vonnegut schrieb diese Zeilen als Antwort auf einen Brief von Schülern der Xavier High School in New York City und seine Botschaft ist unglaublich zeitlos: ”Übe jede Kunst aus, Musik, Gesang, Tanz, Schauspiel, Zeichnen, Malen, Bildhauerei, Poesie, Belletristik, Essays, Reportagen, egal wie gut oder schlecht, nicht um Geld und Ruhm zu bekommen, sondern um das Werden zu erfahren, um herauszufinden, was in Dir steckt, um Deine Seele wachsen zu lassen…"Tauche ein in die neueste Folge des Tanze Wild & Frech PodcastMEINE ANGEBOTE FÜR DICHWenn Dich die Bedeutung von Kunst und Kreativität genauso bewegt wie mich und Du Kindern die Möglichkeit geben möchtest, Kunst durch Tanz zu erleben, dann könnte meine Tanzpädagogik Ausbildung für Kinder & Kindertanz etwas für Dich sein.Finde heraus, wie Du Deinen eigenen künstlerischen Fingerabdruck in die Welt bringen und Kindern das Geschenk von Tanz und Kunst machen kannst. Erfahre hier mehrgrow with heART – der einzigARTige Club für Tanzpädagoginnen für Kinder & KindertanzDich erwarten im Club Inspirationen für Dich und Deinen Tanzunterricht mit den Kids. Jeden Monat werden neue Mentoring-Videos zum Thema Tanzpädagogik für Kinder und/oder growth mind-und heARTset für Dich veröffentlicht. Natürlich auch meine magische Schatzkiste meiner Videofortbildungen… Schau gerne mal rein. Erfahre hier mehrDANKE Solltest Du jemanden kennen, der wie Du von meinem Tanze Wild & Frech Blog oder Podcast profitieren könnte, dann freue ich mich aus tiefstem Herzen über Deine Weiterempfehlung. SHARING is caring. STERNE Wenn Dich dieser Podcast in irgendeiner Weise inspiriert hat hinterlasse gerne bei Apple Podcast oder bei Spotify eine Bewertung; so unterstützt Du meine Arbeit. Einen RIESIGES Dankeschön fürs Zuhören Deine Stefi

The Megan & Whitney Show
Rise of AI, Occult Mysteries, and a Cheddar Heist (Epi. 78)

The Megan & Whitney Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 46:14


*00:00 – 00:00* Intro *00:06 – 00:09*  *CES & AI Everywhere*  Discussion of new tech at CES (Consumer Electronics Show).  Joking about AI ovens, AI guitars, and the feeling that everything is suddenly “smart.”*00:09 – 00:12*  *NVIDIA Supercomputers & Exaflops*  Awe at how new hardware can process “the entire internet.”  Talk of energy consumption, fossil fuels vs. nuclear, and whether AI will force an energy revolution.*00:12 – 00:15*  *Industrial Revolution Parallel*  Comparing AI's potential impact to the Industrial Revolution.  Concern about environmental strain, greed, and unstoppable progress.*00:15 – 00:18*  *Vonnegut's *Player Piano & Self-Driving Cars**  Reading a Kurt Vonnegut quote on technology replacing humans.  Rant about driverless cars, personal autonomy, and why society resists better public infrastructure.*00:24 – 00:27*  *Roman Empire & Modern Parallels*  Drawing lines from Ancient Rome's “bread and circuses” to today's consumer culture.  Government structures modeled on Greek/Roman systems.*00:33 – 00:36*  *New “Religion” Idea: PFG*  “Powerful People for Good”—recognizing your decisions have a ripple effect.  A playful framework for making better choices that benefit yourself and others.*00:36 – 00:39*  *Council of Nicaea & Jesus' Divinity*  A quick historical aside about the year 325 CE, Arianism, and the “election” of Christ's divine status.  Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) allegedly slapping Arius—fun historical tidbit.*00:39 – 00:42*  *Cheese Heist at Neal's Yard Dairy*  News of a massive cheddar cheese theft.  Speculation on how thieves offload that much specialty cheese.

Raising Cinephiles

It's the holiday season on Raising Cinephiles! Jessica sits down with returning guest and holiday enthusiast Lily Vonnegut for a relaxed, festive chat about family movie traditions, favorite holiday flicks, and finding the right balance between cultural identity and seasonal fun.This episode is all about cozy vibes, laughter, and the magic of movies—whether it's Christmas lights or Hanukkah donuts, there's something for everyone to enjoy.What's Inside the Episode?

Philosophy at the Movies
Slaughterhouse Five

Philosophy at the Movies

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 40:26


How does this 1972 film, based on the Kurt Vonnegut novel, play with the notion of involuntary and random time travel, and force us to consider what impact such a life would have on one's attitudes toward pain, suffering and tragedy? What do the Tralfamadorians think about death, and how does Billy Pilgrim's attitude mirror it after he has been abducted and held by this alien race? How does the film represent time as a fourth dimension, on par with the three spatial dimensions, all parts of time, all periods in history, already existing? How does this film compare to the film Arrival, which also toys with this view of space/time? How does the novel and film reflect Vonnegut's own experiences as a POW during the bombing of Dresden Germany in the last months of WWII? How does it reflect attitudes toward the then contemporaneous Vietnam war? Why does Vonnegut claim Dresden had been declared an open city when it was not so declared, and why does he believe that hundreds of thousands were killed during those raids when ten to twenty thousand was the actual number?

Whad'ya Know Podcast
Kurt Vonnegut on WYK, December 2, 1999

Whad'ya Know Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 125:16


Vonnegut: " . . . to feed my G-d family!"

Head-ON With Bob Kincaid
Pray-Louder-MAGATS, Head-ON With Roxanne Kincaid, 20 November 2024

Head-ON With Bob Kincaid

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 200:22


Another day in the Monkey House. Hi, Mr. Vonnegut! Let's Get Ready To . . . educate? pray?  My pal Tara and I do Superfriends again! 

Following Films Podcast
Alan Rudolph on Breakfast of Champions

Following Films Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 50:42


Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast, today, we're taking a close look at a true cult adaptation by one of indie cinema's most fearless filmmakers. That's right--we're diving into Alan Rudolph's take on Breakfast of Champions. Now, for those who don't know, Breakfast of Champions is one of Kurt Vonnegut's most satirical and surreal novels, a whirlwind exploration of American culture, consumerism, and the absurdity of modern life. The novel has long been considered “unfilmable,” with its meta-narratives, wild characters, and existential commentary. But in 1999, Alan Rudolph took on the challenge, casting Bruce Willis as the unraveling car dealer Dwayne Hoover in a film adaptation that swings for the fences, capturing the novel's surreal humor and chaotic energy. So, how did Rudolph tackle the impossible? What did he capture from Vonnegut's world, and where did he veer off in his own direction? And, perhaps most importantly, how did audiences and critics react to this strange, audacious take on an American classic? Today, we'll explore all of this and more, from the casting and visual style to the legacy of this unique adaptation. So, whether you're a die-hard Vonnegut fan, an Alan Rudolph admirer, or just curious about ambitious cinema, join us as we explore Breakfast of Champions, Alan Rudolph's unforgettable ride through satire, surrealism, and Americana. Breakfast of Champions will be playing on Nov 15th at the Alamo Drafthouse in Los Angeles, at SIFF Cinema Uptown on Nov 24th, and at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago IL. on Dec. 13th. I hope you enjoy the show. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/followingfilms/support

Book 101 Review
Harry Harambee's Kenyan Sundowner by Gerald Everett Jones.

Book 101 Review

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 31:59


Winner of 7 Book Awards in Literary Fiction - Included in the Prize-Winning Literary Fiction Series from LaPuerta Books and MediaIntrigue on the white sands of the Indian Ocean. From the award-winning author of Clifford's Spiral. A lonely widower from Los Angeles buys a tour package to East Africa on the promise of hookups and parties. What he finds instead are new reasons to live. Aldo Barbieri, a slick Italian tour operator, convinces Harry to join a group of adventuresome “voluntourists.” In a resort town on the Indian Ocean, Harry doesn't find the promised excitement with local ladies. But in the supermarket he meets Esther Mwemba, a demure widow who works as a bookkeeper. The attraction is strong and mutual, but Harry gets worried when he finds out that Esther and Aldo have a history. They introduce him to Victor Skebelsky, rumored to be the meanest man in town. Skebelsky has a plan to convert his grand colonial home and residential compound into a rehab center – as a tax dodge. The scheme calls for Harry to head up the charity. He could live like a wealthy diplomat and it won't cost him a shilling! Harry has to come to terms with questions at the heart of his character: Is corruption a fact of life everywhere? Is all love transactional? Harry Harambee's Kenyan Sundowner is an emotional story of expat intrigue in Africa, reminiscent of The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene and The Constant Gardener by John le Carré. Praise for Clifford's Spiral (Independent Press Awards 2020 Distinguished Favorite in Literary Fiction) We've seen and noted the comparison of this author by other reviewers to literary giants like Roth and Vonnegut. And we can't disagree. Yet we feel there may be yet another strata for Gerald Everett Jones, who arguably is doing the best work of his career. We predict that he lacks only a mention in the The New York Review of Books or, better yet, Oprah, to become a nationwide best-selling author. Five-plus stars to Clifford's Spiral, a true literary novel if ever there was one. We say in all seriousness that if you only read one novel this year, this should be it. - Don Sloan, Publishers Daily Reviews Preacher Finds a Corpse (NYC Big Book Awards 2020 Winner in Mystery, IPA 2020 Distinguished Favorite in Mystery, Eric Hoffer 2020 Finalist in Mystery) This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm, and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley. - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

Arroe Collins
Breakfast Of Champions With Bruce Willis And A Huge Score Of Others Is Back From Alan Rudolph

Arroe Collins

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 20:06


25 years after its initial release, Kurt Vonnegut's biting portrayal of America's mad chaos, BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS returns in a restored 4K version, the perfect film for our complicated times. Directed by Alan Rudolph, and starring Bruce Willis, Albert Finney, Nick Nolte, Glenne Headly, Barbara Hershey, Omar Epps, Luka Haas and many more, the incisive comedy has been overlooked for far too long. And, in conjunction with the comedy's 25th Anniversary, there's no better time to rediscover Rudolph's unique cinematic vision and the timeless relevance of Vonnegut's work in a pristine restoration ready to provoke thought and captivate audiences all over again. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS tells the story of car dealership titan Dwayne Hoover (Bruce Willis), the most respected man in Midland City. His smiling face appears on every local channel and billboard - a shining symbol of the American success syndrome. His message is "You Can Trust Dwayne Hoover." And so they do. But Dwayne Hoover is not smiling inside. Nor can he be trusted. Dwayne's shady prosperity, picture-frame family, and small mind are cracking. His television commercial-addicted wife (Barbara Hershey) may or may not be physically present when he's with her. His son (Lukas Haas) resides in a bomb shelter aspiring to be a lounge singer. His paranoid sales manager (Nick Nolte) has a significant sex secret. A Dwayne Hoover worshipper (Omar Epps) has taken up residence on his car lot. And his adulating secretary/lover (Glenne Headly) wonders if Dwayne Hoover has changed. The reeling business titan needs to find something or someone immediately to tell him the truth, to guide him out of this punishing, yet well-deserved, self-doubt. Simultaneous to Dwayne expanding breakdown, an impoverished and nonsensical science fiction writer, Kilgore Trout (Albert Finney), is making his way to Midland City's Fine Arts Festival, hailed as the world's greatest author by Midland City's wealthiest cultural leader. Once Hoover discovers Trout's impending arrival, he is maniacally determined to meet the author and receive the message that will restore his confidence and well-being. But when their orbits finally collide, neither Dwayne Hoover, Kilgore Trout, nor Midland City is prepared for the inexplicable and volatile results.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Arroe Collins Like It's Live
Breakfast Of Champions With Bruce Willis And A Huge Score Of Others Is Back From Alan Rudolph

Arroe Collins Like It's Live

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 20:06


25 years after its initial release, Kurt Vonnegut's biting portrayal of America's mad chaos, BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS returns in a restored 4K version, the perfect film for our complicated times. Directed by Alan Rudolph, and starring Bruce Willis, Albert Finney, Nick Nolte, Glenne Headly, Barbara Hershey, Omar Epps, Luka Haas and many more, the incisive comedy has been overlooked for far too long. And, in conjunction with the comedy's 25th Anniversary, there's no better time to rediscover Rudolph's unique cinematic vision and the timeless relevance of Vonnegut's work in a pristine restoration ready to provoke thought and captivate audiences all over again. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS tells the story of car dealership titan Dwayne Hoover (Bruce Willis), the most respected man in Midland City. His smiling face appears on every local channel and billboard - a shining symbol of the American success syndrome. His message is "You Can Trust Dwayne Hoover." And so they do. But Dwayne Hoover is not smiling inside. Nor can he be trusted. Dwayne's shady prosperity, picture-frame family, and small mind are cracking. His television commercial-addicted wife (Barbara Hershey) may or may not be physically present when he's with her. His son (Lukas Haas) resides in a bomb shelter aspiring to be a lounge singer. His paranoid sales manager (Nick Nolte) has a significant sex secret. A Dwayne Hoover worshipper (Omar Epps) has taken up residence on his car lot. And his adulating secretary/lover (Glenne Headly) wonders if Dwayne Hoover has changed. The reeling business titan needs to find something or someone immediately to tell him the truth, to guide him out of this punishing, yet well-deserved, self-doubt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

The Fast and the Fictitious
S2 Ep. 15: "EPICAC," by Kurt Vonnegut

The Fast and the Fictitious

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 19:02


Welcome to The Fast and the Fictitious. In each episode, students in English 2410, a Dual Enrollment Fiction course, will deep dive a story, highlight key takeaways, and relate the themes of the story to their lives. In this episode, Ayla, Jaydon, and Sean talk about “EPICAC,” by Kurt Vonnegut. In the story, a man uses a supercomputer to help win the affections of a woman, but as a result, the computer itself falls in love with the woman. Vonnegut wrote the story decades ahead of current innovations in artificial intelligence, yet the story remarkably sheds light onto how we use and rely upon machines to do what should be very human activities. We hope you enjoy. Email the show! carlilelcba@gmail.comMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/party-rock License code: 77JKG6ITA09KQZX0

Engines of Our Ingenuity
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2350: Dystopia

Engines of Our Ingenuity

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 3:51


Gank That Drank: A Supernatural Drinking Game Podcast
The Monster at the End of This Book

Gank That Drank: A Supernatural Drinking Game Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 46:12


Grab your salt and holy water, because Krissy Lenz and Nate McWhortor are diving deep into Supernatural's meta madness! In this episode of Gank That Drank, our hosts tackle Season 4, Episode 18, "The Monster at the End of This Book" – a game-changing installment that introduces the enigmatic Chuck Shurley and turns the Winchester brothers' world upside down.Krissy and Nate unpack the mind-bending revelation that Sam and Dean's lives have been chronicled in a series of pulp novels. They explore the hilarious meta-commentary on fandom, including Sam and Dean's reactions to slash fiction and their own rabid fanbase. The hosts dissect Chuck's role as a "prophet" and debate whether the writers always intended for him to be more than he seems.The episode's exploration of free will versus destiny takes center stage as Sam and Dean struggle against Chuck's prophetic visions. Our hosts discuss the tension between the brothers as they grapple with Sam's demon blood addiction and Dean's mistrust. The showdown with Lilith and the tantalizing hints about the impending apocalypse set the stage for the season finale.Other topics covered:The brilliant fourth-wall-breaking moments and Easter eggsChuck's "Vonnegut" writing style and literary referencesCastiel's revelation about prophets and archangel protectionThe mysterious final scene with ZachariahDrinking game rules and their effectiveness for this episodeFrom comic book store shenanigans to cosmic stakes, "The Monster at the End of This Book" delivers laughs and thrills in equal measure. Krissy and Nate's witty banter and insightful analysis make this episode of Gank That Drank a must-listen for any Supernatural fan. So pour yourself a drink, settle in, and join the hunt as we unravel the mysteries of Chuck, prophecy, and the Winchesters' destiny. Don't forget to tune in next time as our hosts tackle another classic Supernatural episode – same demon-hunting time, same demon-hunting channel! ---Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.

Songwriters on Process
Jake Duzsik of HEALTH

Songwriters on Process

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 65:07


Send us a textHere's a sampling of the authors and artists that Jake Duzsik of HEALTH mentioned in our conversation: Pascal, T.S. Eliot, William Blake, Vonnegut, Joan Didion, Truman Capote, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Pynchon, Camus, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Cormac McCarthy. And somewhere along the lines, we discussed postmodern prose. To be clear, Duzsik was not name checking. It reflects how deeply his creative mind operates. HEALTH's latest album Rat Wars is out now. And shameless plug: if you're a fan of HEALTH, you might also be a Lamb of God fan. So buy Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir by Mark Morton with Ben Opipari (me)!

Money is Not Evil Podcast
Mind over Matter: Why You're Capable of More Than You Think

Money is Not Evil Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 26:54


Paneez Oliai discusses the importance of reframing our thinking in overcoming obstacles. She discusses the value of changing our thinking in order to change our reality. Paneez Oliai (COL ‘23) is in love with people. Studying History and Psychology with a minor in Government, she spends her time learning about and from the people she encounters as an award-winning speaker, mentor, and speech critic at the Philodemic Society; as the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetown University Undergraduate Law Review; and as the first host for Georgetown University's production of Survivor. Having worked with judges, defendants, and non-profit organizations in her quest to improve public access to justice, she is grateful to have witnessed firsthand the immense potential within each of us. In her free time, Paneez is an avid cook, mushroom forager, and reader of Vonnegut, Bradbury, and Dostoevsky. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/getu-chandler/support

Beautiful Illusions
EP 34 - Icy Hot Takes on Artificial Intelligence

Beautiful Illusions

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 60:03


Visit our website BeautifulIllusions.org for a complete set of show notes and links to almost everything discussed in this episodeSelected References:2:10 - Listen to Beautiful Illusions Episode 33 - The Post-Entertainment Culture of Addiction from June 2024,  in which Dopamine Nation (2021) by Anna Lembke, MD is referenced and the idea of a “dopamine fast” is discussed.8:28 - See “The State of the Culture, 2024” by Ted Gioia (The Honest Broker, 2024)8:56 - According to Russian literary theorist and critic Victor Shklovsky, “Art makes the familiar strange so that it can be freshly perceived. To do this it presents its material in unexpected, even outlandish ways: the shock of the new” and “Art exists to help us recover the sensation of life; it exists to make us feel things, to make the stone stony. The end of art is to give a sensation of the object seen, not as recognized. The technique of art is to make things 'unfamiliar,' to make forms obscure, so as to increase the difficulty and the duration of perception.”10:40 - See “What is AI?” (IBM) for a good general overview10:55 - See “What Are Large Language Models?” (IBM) and the relevant LLM Wikipedia entry16:20 - Suno and Udio are two popular generative AI-powered music creation tools that work based on prompting17:40 - Listen to “Beautiful Illusions” or “Beautiful Illusions” which are two initial alternate song versions created by Suno (in about 1 minute) using the following prompt and no additional iterating beyond the original output: An early 60's style acoustic folk song called Beautiful Illusions with lyrics about how we all live our own perceived reality, solo acoustic, guitar, strumming, harmonica, folk, coffee house 20:30 - See “Detecting AI fingerprints: A guide to watermarking and beyond” (Brookings Institution, 2024)25:43 - See “Bias against AI art can enhance perceptions of human creativity” (Nature, 2023)28:10 - See Darron's “Vonnegut-Style Quotations Challenge,” which was expressly created to test Jeff's thesis here and see if he can identify genuine Vonnegut quotes versus ones that AI generates30:58 - See “Humans in the Loop: The Design of Interactive AI Systems” (Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, 2019) and “Artificial Intelligence and Keeping Humans “in the Loop”” (Center for International Governance Innovation, 2020)31:35 - See “What are AI Agents?” (IBM) and “What is Strong AI?” (IBM) for good overviews 34:46 - See Artistree or MadeMay for examples of online spaces where art can be commissioned directly from artists36:15 - See “Glue in Pizza? Eat Rocks? Google's AI Search Is Mocked for Bizarre Answers” (CNET, 2024) and “Google Search Is Now a Giant Hallucination” (Gizmodo, 2024) and “What are AI hallucinations?” (Google Cloud)40:30 - See “In Experiment, AI Successfully Impersonates Famous Philosopher” (Vice, 2022) and “Creating a large language model of a philosopher” (Mind & Language, 2023)41:18 - See character.ai42:48 - Read the op-ed “ChatGPT is at odds with what education is for” (The Boston Globe, 2024)49:31 - Listen to “If I Were A Carpenter” by Tim Hardin54:41 - Watch “The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse” by Rick BeatoThis episode was recorded in June 2024The “Beautiful Illusions Theme” was performed by Darron Vigliotti (guitar) and Joseph Vigliotti (drums), and was written and recorded by Darron Vigliotti

Inner States
Nanette Vonnegut: Self-Portrait at 14

Inner States

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 52:00


Nanette Vonnegut grew up in an artistic household. Her father painted, her sister was “born drawing,” as Nanette put it. And her mother believed in all of them, and that creative work, especially writing, could save lives. When Nanette was 14, she did a painting that kind of changed her life. We hear about that, how art can help you deal with neuroses, about growing up with her father, the writer Kurt Vonnegut, and more. Then we remember Kurt Vonnegut's friend, the writer Dan Wakefield, with excerpts from a 2016 interview. He talks about Indianapolis in the 1950s, spiritual writing, and his friendship with Kurt.CreditsInner States is produced and edited by Alex Chambers. Our social media master is Jillian Blackburn. We get support from Eoban Binder, Mark Chilla, LuAnn Johnson, Sam Schemenauer, Payton Whaley, and Kayte Young. Our Executive Producer is Eric Bolstridge.Special thanks to producer Yaël Ksander for not one but TWO interviews this week.Our theme song is by Amy Oelsner and Justin Vollmar. We have additional music from the artists at Universal Production Music.

RazzleFrat
Chapter 49: Like It Was Like...

RazzleFrat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 62:19


Welcome back to Razzlefrat! This week, while Ashtin lazes on the beach, Allie runs a half marathon. Then, we travel back and forth in time with Vonnegut and Slaughterhouse Five. We chat about the construct of time, time travel as a metaphor for PTSD, the inevitability and omnipresence of war, and lots of other fun stuff! Be sure to follow us in between episodes on our booksta accounts @grapes_of_ash and @theresinkonmyhands and also our joint account @razzlefratpod! Until next time, we bid you farewell. xoxo, Razzlefrat Books/authors mentioned this episode: The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake Wild by Cheryl Strayed Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut House of Mirth by Edith Wharton Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Catch22 by Joseph Heller The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange There, There by Tommy Orange Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/razzlefratpodcast/support

Noon Edition
Bloomington's fifth annual Granfalloon Festival and the legacy of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Noon Edition

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 52:34


Bloomington kicked off its fifth annual Granfalloon Festival last month, more than sixty years since Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s novel Cat's Cradle was released.An Indiana native, Vonnegut defines a granfalloon as a proud and meaningless association of human beings; part of the made-up religion in his book.The Granfalloon Festival in Bloomington celebrates art, music, and Vonnegut's work. This year features a line-up of local and touring performers like Amy O, The Linda Lindas, Sleater-Kinney, and Young@Heart Chorus.It also includes art exhibitions and discussions related to Vonnegut.His writing is known for its satire, social commentary, and dark humor. Researcher Christina Jarvis says his work's honest tone and sense of humor continue to resonate with people.This week on Noon Edition, we'll talk with guests about the Granfalloon Festival and the life and work of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.You can follow us on X @WFIUWTIUNews or join us on the air by calling 812-855-0811 or toll-free at 1-877-285-9348. You can also send questions for the show to news@indianapublicmedia.org.You can also record your questions and send them in through email.GuestsBob Cilman, Young@Heart Chorus co-directorAnita Shumway, Young@Heart Chorus memberChristina Jarvis, Fredonia State University of New York, author of Lucky Mud & Other Foma 

A vivir que son dos días
La píldora de Leila Guerriero | La vida que da sorpresas

A vivir que son dos días

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024 4:51


"En 1966, Vonnegut le envió una carta a uno de sus alumnos de Iowa que decía: 'Escribe como un humano. Escribe como un escritor'. Eso hace Juresa: escribir como un humano, escribir como un escritor"

Smiley Morning Show
Open Mic: Vonnegut Hardware Part 2

Smiley Morning Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 4:29


They're a band with a great name!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smiley Morning Show
Open Mic: Vonnegut Hardware Part 1

Smiley Morning Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 6:51


Check em out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drunken Pen Writing Podcast
#163: The Shapes Of Stories With Kurt Vonnegut

Drunken Pen Writing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 37:00


We kick off the episode with a quick correction from last week. After that, we discuss a lecture series by Kurt Vonnegut that features his master's thesis about the shapes of stories.  To add to what Mr. Vonnegut talked about in his lecture, we also revisit the seven kinds of stories and do our best to fit them into Vonnegut's shapes theory.  You can check out his lecture at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOGru_4z1Vc You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com. 

Otherppl with Brad Listi
Bud Smith on Jersey, Childhood, Cop Cars, Libraries, Heavy Construction, Suburbs, Bands, Vonnegut, Rage, Seinfeld, Boredom, Blogs, and Universality

Otherppl with Brad Listi

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 26:19


In today's flashback, an outtake from Episode 373, my conversation with author Bud Smith. The episode first aired on July 29, 2015. Bud Smith works heavy construction and lives in Jersey City, NJ. He is the author of Teenager (Vintage), Double Bird (Maudlin House, 2018), Dust Bunny City (Disorder Press, 2017), among others. His fiction has been published in The Paris Review, The Believer, The Baffler, and The Nervous Breakdown, and many others (collected below). He is also a creative writing teacher and editor. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch @otherppl Instagram  TikTok Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Double Threat with Julie Klausner & Tom Scharpling

Clip Commander Cool Brett opens up the Double Threat Clip Vault this week so that Tom and Julie can pick their own clips, including - William Friedkin talking crap about Al Pacino! Resort Christians singing about coffee! Plus Julie tells a Frank Zappa story and Brett tells a new Big Chicken story. Also The Joy of Sex, dIrty diapers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the Indigo Girls documentary, the Big Chicken, OJ in Little Shop of Horrors, Marcy Playground, Dan Brown books, mass market paperbacks, Wallace Shawn is jacked now, the Vonnegut documentary, Balsa Woody Harrelson, and more! CLIPS FROM THIS EPISODE: *William Friedkin Hates Al Pacino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VaLXr71LA *Java Jive Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0qXldxFof4  SUPPORT DOUBLE THREAT ON PATREON  Weekly Bonus Episodes, Monthly Livestreams, Video Episodes, and More! https://www.patreon.com/DoubleThreatPod   WATCH VIDEO CLIPS OF DOUBLE THREAT  https://www.youtube.com/@doublethreatpod   JOIN THE DOUBLE THREAT FAN GROUPS  *Discord https://discord.com/invite/PrcwsbuaJx  *Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/doublethreatfriends  *Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/doublethreatfriends   DOUBLE THREAT MERCH https://www.teepublic.com/stores/double-threat   TOTALLY EFFED UP T-SHIRTS  https://www.teepublic.com/user/dttfu   SEND SUBMISSIONS TO  DoubleThreatPod@gmail.com   FOLLOW DOUBLE THREAT  https://twitter.com/doublethreatpod  https://www.instagram.com/doublethreatpod   DOUBLE THREAT IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/double-threat    Theme song by Mike Krol  Artwork by Michael Kupperman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SuperDataScience
766: Vonnegut's Player Piano (1952): An Eerie Novel on the Current AI Revolution

SuperDataScience

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024 8:13


Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano" delivers striking parallels between its dystopian vision and today's AI challenges. This week, Jon Krohn explores the novel's depiction of a world where humans are marginalized by machines, reflecting on the impact of automation on society and the ethical considerations it raises. Tune in as we unpack the timeless relevance of Vonnegut's work to the AI era. Additional materials: www.superdatascience.com/766 Interested in sponsoring a SuperDataScience Podcast episode? Visit passionfroot.me/superdatascience for sponsorship information.

Raising Cinephiles
What We're Watching: Jessica Kantor & Lily Vonnegut

Raising Cinephiles

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 30:30


In a new regular monthly episode format, What We're Watching, Jessica Kantor and Lily Vonnegut discuss the movies they are watching with their children of varying ages (2, 8, and 10) and how their children are reacting. They also share what they are watching and what's inspiring them. Lily's Picks for Wyatt (10) and Jack (8):Father of the Bride: Both boys loved it, especially Martin Short's character.Parent Trap: A favorite inspired Jack to want to go to sleepaway camp.My Girl: They liked the soundtrack and the innocence of the 70s setting.The Breakfast Club: Lily plans to show this next, exploring themes of adolescence and relationships.Jack's Movie Preferences:Interested in filmmaking and movie history.Enjoys classic movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off.Wants to watch Jaws, but Lily is hesitant due to the intensity.Jessica's Picks for Miles (2):Monsters, Inc.: Helped him overcome his fear of monsters.Elemental: A new Pixar movie they enjoyed watching together.Winnie the Pooh: Jessica sees a deeper meaning in the Heffalumps storyline.What Lily's Watching Herself:Anne of Green Gables: A nostalgic revisit from her childhood.What Jessica's Watching Herself:Killing of a Sacred Deer & Poor Things: Elevated horror movies for research.War Games: Considers showing this to Wyatt and Jack due to its relatable teenage protagonist.General Discussion:Kids' movies today are longer and lack the tight storytelling of older movies.Trailers reveal too much, diminishing the mystery and excitement of movies.Importance of exposing children to a variety of films, including older ones.Lily recommends Now and Then for her kidsLily suggests Curious George  for Miles.Key Takeaways:Movie choices should consider the child's age, interests, and maturity level.Classic movies can offer valuable lessons and entertainment for children.Sharing movie experiences with children can be a bonding activity.  New Episodes Every Wednesday!EPISODE CREDITS:Host, Producer, Editor: Jessica KantorBooker: Noelia MurphyBe sure to follow and tag Raising Cinephiles on Instagram

Yeah-Uh-Huh
YUH 164 - Between The Covers Chapter 5 - The Sirens of Titan with Mike Hilbig!

Yeah-Uh-Huh

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 89:54


YUH 164 is the fifth installment (or chapter) of our book club, "Between The Covers". Our favorite living author Mike Hilbig helps us review the second novel of Aaron's favorite all time author Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan. It is the story of Malachi Canstant and his intergalactic travels through the Chrono-synclastic Infandibulum! Considered by many to be the greatest writer of the 1950's and 60's, Vonnegut's vision of the future was deeply effected in all his works by the past, both geo-politically and personally.  #kurtvonnegut #thesirensoftitan #chronosynclasticinfandibulum #malachiconstant #indianapolis #unk #timetravel #scifi #lewisblack YUH Theme by David T and Mojo 3 https://www.amazon.com/Insanity-Sobriety-Blues-David-Mojo3/dp/B091N8BJNB The Sirens of Titan on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sirens+if+titan&adgrpid=1346903437500223&hvadid=84181740996459&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=91994&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-84182498674000%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=6619_13182999&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_6os9xndfk9_p Purchase "Judgement Day and Other White Lies" at Madville Publishing https://madvillepublishing.com/product/judgment-day-other-white-lies/ Mike Hilbig on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@mikehilbig Butthole Surfers on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ButtholeSurfersMusic/ Independent Worm Saloon on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/74xinIrhpnjl3XdynXAUOo?si=weZdMThxTNaQVrirUGtOsw Yeah Uh Huh Social Stuff: Yeah Uh Huh on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@yeahuhhuhpod Yeah Uh Huh on Facebook https://facebook.com/YeahUhHuhPod Yeah Uh Huh on Twitter https://twitter.com/YeahUhHuhPod Yeah Uh Huh on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7pS9l716ljEQLeMMxwihoS?si=27bd15fb26ed46aa Yeah Uh Huh on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yeah-uh-huh/id1565097611 Yeah Uh Huh Website: https://yeah-uh-huh.wixsite.com/yeahuhhuhpod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yeah-uh-huh/message

Fighting For Ukraine
The Crusade of Parents and Grandparents - January 29th 2024

Fighting For Ukraine

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 4:00 Transcription Available


January 29th 2024 Yuriy reflects on the war and shares his experiences as one of the younger soldiers in a unit of parents and grandparents. Join us as he explores the sacrifices and determination of older generations in protecting the younger ones during wartime. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send him a message of support: fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com    You can help Yuriy and his family by donating to his GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-yuriys-family   Yuriy's Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy   Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat  ----more---- TRANSCRIPT: (Podbean app users can enjoy closed captions)   It is January 29.  Many years ago, before the war, I used to read fiction books. Then I switched to nonfiction and almost stopped reading anything fictional. Because here since 2014, from the beginning of Russian invasion, we have been so many tragedies, so much pain and despair that there was no point in sympathizing with book characters. How can one take fiction seriously? When thousands of real life King Lears are abandoned on the streets, scores of Odysseuses are left far away from where homes and countless Ophelias are driven mad by despair.  I stopped reading fiction a long time ago, but some of those books still live in my memory. For example, I vividly remember Kurt Vonnegut's book, 'Slaughterer House Five' or 'The Children's Crusade'. Vonnegut a US Army soldier during Second World War was captured by the Germans and sent to Dresden where he survived with the allied bombing of the city. He escaped death by hiding in one of a deep underground meat lockers an experience that inspired him to write the book about his war experiences. Hence the first part of the book title- Slaughterer House five.  The second part about the Children's Crusade is a quote from  Vonnegut's wife. She described her husband and his comrades' participation in the war emphasizing where youthfulness when they went to the front. Most of them barely reached adulthood with they were in fact, children sent into real bloody war against the monstrous evil. In our army too, there are very young girls and boys, but they are minority compared to the older soldiers. Men under 27 years old are not conscripted for war, those younger when that age come to the Army only as volunteers. However, even among the volunteers, the majority are people over thirty or even forty. At 43. I am one of the youngest in my unit, we have people aged 50 and even 55, and all of us volunteered.  We have been at war for over 700 days and no one knows how much longer it will last. In our free time conversations about what each person will do after the victory used to be common. However, these discussions now contain fewer concrete plans and more abstract dreams. People no longer talk about finding specific jobs or taking certain positions. They just express a desire to live, to see victory, and finally rest.  In ordinary life, I did not feel my age. There was no occasion to. But in the Army you immediately realize that you are not 20 anymore. Your back, legs and neck constantly remind you that they are not very happy with the burden of body armor, helmet, and heavy backpack. You can't run as fast as the young ones, you can't jump as high, and you have to stop more often for a break. But you still do your job. Hundreds of thousands of adults and even almost old people do everything for the sake of victory, despite bad knees, joint pain, high blood pressure, and other unpleasant things that come with age. It's a crusade, not of children, but of their parents and grandparents. And I think that's how it should be. We must protect the younger generation, ensure their safe future. They should not die under shell and freeze in trenches or yearn far from home and familiar things. All of this is our responsibility now. 

Audience of One
#051 - Nathan Baugh on Storytelling, World Building, Fiction, & The Internet

Audience of One

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 66:58


Nathan Baugh writes fiction and the World Builders newsletter. We talk about writing, non-fiction vs. fiction, storytelling and world building devices, Kurt Vonnegut and other authors, getting the most out of technology and the internet, and more. — (00:47) Why writing (02:46) Loops & closing the curiosity gap (04:05) The combination of short form non-fiction & long form fiction (09:54) Storytelling & world building; Virgil Abloh's 3% Rule (14:30) Tradeoffs of traditional publishing vs. self-publishing; going direct-to-audience (21:54) Tech and magic; AI (28:26) His most influential authors (31:08) Favorite opening sentences (34:25) Vonnuget's shape of stories & promise, progress, payoff (49:11) Why not go all in on fiction? (44:41) Writer's self limiting beliefs (52:54) Biggest fear as a writer: not living up to expectations (55:33) Balancing technology and the internet with deep work (59:58) What's one work of fiction that has stuck out? — Nathan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathanbaugh27 Nathan's Newsletter: https://www.worldbuilders.ai/ Vonnegut's Shape of Stories: youtu.be/oP3c1h8v2ZQ Spencer's Twitter: https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R Spencer's Blog: https://spencerkier.substack.com

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - GOBI, the world's most aptly named desert!

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 15:42


There was one TYPEO in today's grid, but that was by design and quite amusing (20A, What's tolerated by every body?), as we can count on one hand (without resorting to any phalanges chicanery) the number of genuine TYPEOs in the NYTimes Crossword.Some real gems lay lurking in the grid, from subtle clues such as 61D, Its ways are numbered, RTE (lovely!), to  the minor head scratcher (for some of us), 12D, One of the Astaires, ADELE (no, not that one); and one that we mentioned in the episode, but it deserves repeating, "Magic that works", per Vonnegut, SCIENCE

The Lives of Writers
Mike Nagel [Host: Kevin Maloney]

The Lives of Writers

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2024 77:37


On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Kevin Maloney interviews Mike Nagel.Mike Nagel is the author of Duplex (Autofocus Books, 2022) and now the author of Culdesac (Autofocus Books, 2024). He also wrote the music for this podcast and a column called The Unintentionalist for the literary magazine Little Engines.Kevin Maloney is the author of The Red-Headed Pilgrim (Two Dollar Radio, 2023), Horse Girl Fever (CLASH Books, 2024), and Cult of Loretta (Lazy Fascist, 2015).____________Full conversation topics include:-- a new temporary living situation-- writing junk mail for a living-- Vonnegut-- writing the Unintentionalist column for Little Engines-- starting in music early and writing later-- early influential books-- Mike's surprise breakout hit DUPLEX-- quitting drinking after publishing the book-- the new book CULDESAC, a sequel of sorts to DUPLEX-- the troubling titling the new book-- following up a first book that gets some attention-- writing as a way to bring meaning to mundanity-- thinking about health in mid-life and in the new book-- the comedy in Mike's work -- revising and not knowing if something is working-- seamless drifting and losing the point-- unintentionalism-- Jamba Juice as character--  the high stakes of the every day____________Podcast theme music also provided by Mike Nagel. Here's more of his project: Yeah Yeah Cool Cool.The Lives of Writers is edited and produced by Michael Wheaton.Episode and show artwork by Amy Wheaton.

Mazan Movie Club
"Arrival" MMC

Mazan Movie Club

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 65:02


The Denis Villeneuve directed "Arrival" comes to the club and returning guest Comic Mark Christopher is here to discuss it all with Host and COmedian Steve Mazan.  Is this a new Sci Fi Classic? Does it all make sense? Does it need more women? Is Renner good or servicable? What's it got to do with the Simpsons? All these questions and more get answered on this week's Mazan Movie Club Podcast. "Arrival" on IMDB Home of the Mazan Movie Club Steve Mazan on Instagram Home of Corporate Comedian Steve Mazan

Kurt Vonnegut: Reporter on the Afterlife
Vonnegut: Reporter, S1, Ep-03 - Revolutionary Women

Kurt Vonnegut: Reporter on the Afterlife

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2023 28:21


Kurt Vonnegut interviews Joan of Arc and Mary Quant. Living 600 years apart, they were both in their own way instrumental in defining how women are perceived today. Not just equals, but leaders on the battlefield and in the business world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kurt Vonnegut Radio with Gabe Hudson
35. Dave Eggers Part I

Kurt Vonnegut Radio with Gabe Hudson

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 27:07


Gabe and Dave Eggers have been friends for the last 25 years: since Dave first popped up on the national stage, with his memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. And his indie publishing juggernaut: McSweeney's.  This interview is, in part, to support Dave's new novel, The Eyes and the Impossible. A novel that's for all ages. And for the ages. This book is written in the first person, from the perspective of a dog named Johannes. (Go ahead, take a second to reread that last sentence.) This book is wondrous, beautiful, hilarious, and somewhat heartbreaking. It also has gorgeous illustrations. And some editions have a wooden cover. Dave Eggers quotes On having lunch with Kurt Vonnegut Gabe: Vonnegut was obsessed with the idea, and I know you know this because I have always known that you love him, too –Dave: I met him.Gabe: You met him? Well can you tell me about that?Dave: in New York. His wife, Jill Krementz, reached out and she was a photographer. So she did a photo thing of me in Central Park. And she said, Oh, you know, you've got to come over. And it was a lunch, I think, in their house in the twenties. And it was me. This was 2002. And it was me and Colson Whitehead and, I think John Leonard. And then there was a jazz writer. And then Vonnegut and Jill. And what was funny was… (click the above podcast device to hear the rest)On early McSweeney's event with David Byrne We did one “happening” in San Francisco at a place called Cell Space. Which is this cavernous sort of event hall slash living environment. It was like a pirate ship, with people living in the rafters and under the stage. It was really old timey San Francisco hippie space, but most of the people there were youngish. And we had an event there where David Byrne might have been out here for his book, The New Sins, that we published.We said it would be a panel. And it was Byrne and I on the panel. And then we got an FBI agent, who I don't know why or who he was. I can't remember how we found him. And then a local professor who was an expert on ancient Sumerian iconography, I think.And we planted a bunch of people in the audience, so that the Q&A – because I think we went straight to Q&A – was all directed to the Sumerian iconography experts. So that you have David Byrne sitting there, silent, for an hour. Because every last question was somebody like, “Well, in AD 540, the Sumerian, poet…” We had all of these questions written by the expert himself beforehand.And then the whole thing ended, we had booked, I think with David Byrne's knowledge, but maybe without. We had booked a band called the Extra Action Marching Band, which was a big sort of anarchic marching band with tattoos and piercings and weird clothes. But drums and a majorette and everything. And they broke into the place and then just shut the whole event down by playing in the crowd until it was over. So the event was crazy. Buy Dave Eggers' new novel The Eyes and the Impossible (with wooden cover) from McSweeney's Buy Dave's new novel (without wooden cover) from Bookshop Rate/review Kurt Vonnegut Radio on podcast platform of your choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast
Adapting Kurt Vonnegut

Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 19:19


Award-winning playwright and Lifeline Theatre ensemble member John Hildreth wrote an adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's satirical sci-fi novel Cat's Cradle, now enjoying a spectacular revival at Lifeline through October 22, 2023. John discusses the origins of his adaptation and reveals the sources of his inspiration (including and especially the great comic actor Paul Lynde); how director Heather Currie not only "gets it" but is able to communicate it; the value of ignoring the passage of time; the shared experience of navigating multiple theatre worlds; and how his adaptation of Vonnegut's novel about the fictional inventor of the atomic bomb achieves a perfectly-timed Barbenheimer level of synergy. (Length 19:19)

The David Alliance
They will never notice... so why?

The David Alliance

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 7:50


The David Alliance   TDAgiantslayer@Gmail.com    MingleMateMarry.com podcast youtube and website for the perfect marriage material and swag. They got a great hoodie called its a great day to be married… after today maybe some of you will want to wear purchase it… because many of you are not loving the days you are married…      John D. Rockefeller, the founder of the Standard Oil Company, the first billionaire of the United States of America and once the richest man on Earth was asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He calmly replied, “Just a little bit more”     Kurt Vonnegut Jr. who wrote Cats cradle (I loved reading Vonnegut and  and other books the concept of ice 9 was mind blowing)… any way - he was at a party and his friend Joseph Heller was there who also wrote Catch 22.. both widely successful as far as authors go… Vonnegut leaned over to Heller and said Our host, who was a hedge fund manager has made more money in one day then you or I have ever made all together… in which Heller replied… yes, but I have something he will never have… enough.   And isn't that the truth… I have a question for you… the last 4 really expensive cars you saw… what did the people inside look like?… I bet you can't remember more than one… why do I ask? Because so much of our lives is thinking if I had this or that or both… it would make me happy and people would be impressed… but the truth is, no one will notice you- they will be too busy thinking I wish I had that it would make me happy… but again the irony is… no one can tell if a new italian sports car or a new house is making you happy. I would again imagine you never looked at a person with a new watch, new car, new house or a loaded bank account and said to yourself “wow you can really tell THAT made him happy.   NOPE you are thinking… wow that would make me happy… but all of us know things don't make us happy. But Greed says otherwise….   there's a story that goes There once was a man who was hit by a Beautiful new Mercedes car, but he was not hurt. Even though he was all right he faked being hurt to get some money so that he could by a new Mercedes out of the deal. So he proceeded to lie on the ground fantasizing about “his” new car. As he laid there waiting for someone to come to him another car came along and hit him and he was paralyzed for life.  And this is what  Greed and Covetousness does to us.  Our desire ends up paralyzing us.   Matthew 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul. Forfeit = GK Punish, suffer loss or damage NOW THIS IS NOT TALKING ABOUT AFTER A MAN DIES HE FORFIETS HIS SOUL… this is talking about what he does right now ON EARTH.  if you spend your life running after things, accolades, money, trophies, applause, fame, fortune, attention, sex or whatever… you are punishing and damaging your soul because that is not what it is made for. you sacrifice all that your soul was meant to be, all that your soul was meant experience and all that your soul was meant develop into… but instead you starve it with greed.  Have you ever seen a kid with the crazy genetics.. 6'4, big boned, fast twitch muscle fibers, sharp mind a true specimen… but he wastes it by letting his appetite get the best of him. he eats incredibly delicious tasty  crap…. so his body is left to develop on sugar and starch… he ends up obese, but worse than that he could have been one of the all time best NFL players of our generation… He starved his soul to feed his desires… Maybe you are doing the same… Leo Tolstoy tells the story of the a peasant farmer who was never satisfied… he was given a novel opportunity in that for just 10000 rubles he could buy all the land he could cover in a day. But he had to be back at his starting point before sun set. So he heads out… starting at a brisk pace… mid day his greed gets the best of him he starts try go faster… get more, get ahead… what will his neighbors think of all the land he gets… by late afternoon he is worried he will not make it back in time… that he will not get everything he wants…so he now is running back, forcing himself to push through the exhaustion.. he will get all the land that is coming to him… with just minutes left before the sun sets he makes it back….He immediately collapsed, blood streaming from his mouth. In a few minutes he was dead. Afterwards, his servants dug a grave. It was not much over six feet long and three feet wide. The title of Tolstoy's story was: How Much Land Does a Man Need? 

Sofa King Podcast
Episode 722: Kurt Vonnegut: So it Goes…

Sofa King Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 102:34


On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the greatest authors and popular culture figures of all time, Kurt Vonnegut. With the release of his 1969 book Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnegut became an overnight sensation. He was something we lack today—a celebrity author who was witty enough to dominate late night and literary enough to be studied by scholars. One of the key moments of his life was being captured the Battle of the Bulge in WWII and then surviving the firebombing of Dresden. His life, his pain, his humor, and his madness, all play out in his wildly original novels, and hopefully we do him some justice with this little episode of ours. We might even laugh inappropriately as he would have wanted. So it goes ***     Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/writer/kurt-vonnegut https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/biography/ https://www.famousauthors.org/kurt-vonnegut https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/kurt-vonnegut-slaughterhouse-five https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?cc=mqr;c=mqr;c=mqrarchive;idno=act2080.0049.111;rgn=main;view=text;xc=1;g=mqrg https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/88215/13-humanizing-facts-about-kurt-vonnegut https://bookanalysis.com/kurt-vonnegut/facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_II https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/books/interview-with-joseph-heller-and-kurt-vonnegut-1992-by-carole-mallory/#:~:text=We%20were%20both%20sort%20of,didn't%20meet%20you%20then.

Selected Shorts
A Point of Honor

Selected Shorts

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 57:29


On this SELECTED SHORTS, we celebrate Memorial Day.  Host Meg Wolitzer presents two stories that feature men in uniform, codes of honor, and how conflicts can sometime lead to connection.  Maile Meloy's “Red,” performed by Keith Szarabajka, takes place in London during the Blitz, where a man and woman find a rare moment of peace.  In Kurt Vonnegut's “The Cruise of the Jolly Roger,” a retired army man searches for the next chapter in his life.  The reader is Teagle F. Bougere.  We also hear Vonnegut's “Letter Home,” written to his family after being a prisoner-of-war.  It's read by Jordan Klepper.

The Daily Stoic
How To Become Rich | Watch Over Your Perceptions

The Daily Stoic

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2023 8:53


The writers Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five) and Joseph Heller (Catch-22) were at a glamorous party outside New York City. Standing in the palatial second home of the billionaire host, Vonnegut began to needle his friend. He described the exchange in a poem published in the New Yorker in 2005:I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel to know that our host only yesterday may have made more money than your novel Catch-22 has earned in its entire history?”And Joe said, “I've got something he can never have.”And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”And Joe said, “The knowledge that I've got enough.”--And today's Daily Stoic Journal reading, Ryan discusses what the Stoics teach us about keeping constant watch over the flood of perceptions that fill our minds.