Episode 229: Between These Eyes of Ink V

“Politicians depend on good guesswork, not on understanding, in steering the state on the right course. They are just like soothsayers and prophets, who say much that is true but understand nothing of what they are saying.”
— Plato

This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our fifth episode, we welcome Sam Whipple to help explore Plato’s thoughts on how politicians rely upon good guesswork. Do societies expect complete understanding from our leaders? Do we foist it onto them so that we need not pursue the truth? Are leaders who are honest about their ignorance more trustworthy and relatable?

Episode 224: Between These Eyes of Ink IV

“O house-builder, you are seen! You will not build this house again. For your rafters are broken and your ridgepole shattered. My mind has reached the Unconditioned; I have attained the destruction of craving.”
— The Buddha

This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our fourth episode, we welcome Ron Levine to help examine the words of the Buddha, who said "O house-builder, you are seen! You will not build this house again. For your rafters are broken and your ridgepole shattered. My mind has reached the Unconditioned; I have attained the destruction of craving”. What can this quotation teach us about self-deception and truth? How do craving and yearning mislead and how do we correct course?

Episode 207: "Fake It 'Til You Make It"

At various points of uncertainty in our lives, many of us have heard the common encouragement to "Fake it 'til you make it". This week, we wanted to dissect its meaning, intentions and how much wisdom actually lies in these words. Do the pronouns here refer to knowledge, skills, feelings? Perhaps something else is implied? Does false behavior prevent genuine understanding or relationship to one's environment?

Episode 205: Canbeam

Language has a clear impact not only on how others perceive and react to us, but on how we treat and see ourselves. What are our internal narratives of who we are and how we live? How do linguistic distinctions affect these perceptions? This week, we welcome Dan Farina to explore one such verbal line: the difference between using "can be" and "am". How do these and associated terms represent a spectrum of being? Where does language fail to capture the nuances and potential within lived experience?