Unreliable Narrators

S5E4 - The Merchant of Venice

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:44:26 -0000

Raymond and Sophie return again to one of William Shakespeare's most mysterious and complex plays, The Merchant of Venice. Is this play a tragedy or a comedy? Why is Shylock's famous demand for a "pound of flesh" so interesting? Why do cycles of vengeance always escalate? Why is mercy necessary and true justice impossible? Once again, and most importantly: What could equal the value of a human soul?

Join the conversation in this exciting new episode and learn why "when in the course of justice none of us shall see salvation."

Stay tuned for our next episode on The Wizard of Oz.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S5E3 - Neon Gravestones

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:28:24 -0000

In this episode, Raymond and Sophie try to discuss Neon Gravestones by Twenty One Pilots and somehow end up discussing the entirety of the band's discography. What is the lore behind the 2018 album Trench? Who is Clancy? Is selling out actually a good thing? All this and more in our love letter to Twenty One Pilots.

Our next episode will be William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S5E2 - Jesus in L.A.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 02:56:34 -0000

Alec Benjamin insists that his single "Jesus in L.A." is not a religious song, but the Unreliable Narrators think otherwise. How is the song "Jesus in L.A." like a sequel to T.S. Eliot's "The Cocktail Party"? Are Vienna and L.A. metaphors for Heaven and Hell? do you have to go through the inferno of L.A. to get to the paradise of Vienna? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? All this in more in our first episode of Season 5!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S5E1 - The Nutcracker

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In their 2025 Christmas special, Raymond and Sophie discuss the Christmas classic with the least plot and most music: The Nutcracker. Along the way, we talk about the source of the odd story that inspired the ballet, the importance of imaginative play, and the nature of toys and love. Also, we somehow end up interpreting the ending of Jonah. Don't miss it!

Our next episode will be the song Jesus in LA by Alec Benjamin.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E16 - Till We Have Faces (Part 2)

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 08:40:21 -0000

"What sort of god might he be who dares not show his face?"

In our final episode of apocalypse season, Raymond and Sophie cover the second half of Till We Have Faces. In the second part of the book, Orual undergoes a radical transformation...but what exactly is transformed? And how does this transformation happen? Sophie and Raymond return to some of the deepest stories and practices in the Christian faith: the sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac, the participation of Holy Communion, and the theology of salvation, shedding a unique perspective on these traditions in the light of what many consider to be Lewis's greatest masterpiece.

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S4E15 - Kpop Demon Hunters

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 01:55:53 -0000

In this episode, Raymond and Sophie jump on the Kpop Demon Hunters bandwagon and discuss the 2025 phenomenon that nobody saw coming. Do people become demons because of what they do or who they are? How does a trio of K-pop singers deal with the problem of sin? How many times has Sophie REALLY seen this movie? All this and more in our latest episode.

Our next episode will be Part 2 of C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E14 - Till We Have Faces (Part 1)

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:55:58 -0000

In this episode, Raymond and Sophie discuss the single most influential work of literature ever written (at least to the two of them): C.S. Lewis's final novel, Till We Have Faces. Listen to find out who the god of the mountain really is, how loving and devouring are secretly the same thing, and why Psyche has always longed for death. Or, you know, you could listen to find out why Raymond and Sophie are the way that they are. We won't judge.

Our next episode will be Part 2 of C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E13 - "The Waste Land" (1922) by T.S. Eliot

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 02:47:31 -0000

T.S. Eliot's famous post-war poem, "The Waste Land", revolutionized modern poetry and represented huge shifts in modern consciousness. And yet to this day, it is still one of the most difficult to understand. What is all this about "April is the cruelest month"? and "Fear death by water"? and "Who is the third who walks always beside you"? In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the life of T.S. Eliot, modernism, Arthurian legend, images of baptism, and more. If you've been stumped by this poem in the past, never fear: your trusty Unreliable Narrators are here to help you out.

Stay tuned for the grand finale to apocalypse season, a two-part series on Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E11 - Mob Psycho 100

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Raymond and Sophie end Anime Month with a discussion of the hit anime Mob Psycho 100. We'd like to say that we covered all our bases by discussing the nature of adolescence, Mob's solution to the problem of suffering, and the theological implications of a world where evil spirits run rampant...but we pretty much only talked about Reigen Arataka, the most lovable conman of all time. We regret nothing.

Our next episode will be T.S. Eliot's poem The Wasteland.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E10 - Alice in Borderland

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Raymond learns that Sophie really, really likes the death game genre—and both of them try to figure out why. What does it mean to win a game without losing your soul? Are there any Christological figures in a world of murder? And what does any of this have to do with The Brothers Karamazov? The unreliable podcasters are determined to find out!

Our next episode will be the 2016-2022 anime Mob Psycho 100.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E12 - Weathering With You

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Is the human heart connected to the weather? The star-crossed lovers Hodaka in Hina in Mokoto Shinkai's Weathering with You discover this to be true in more ways than one. In this episode of anime month, Raymond and Sophie discuss the difference between archaic and Christian sacrifice, problems of utilitarian ethics, flood legends from Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh, and even...the secret of the world itself.

Stay tuned for our next episode, Mob Psycho 100.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E8 - Death Note

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Almost twenty years after its glory days, Raymond and Sophie finally get with the times and discuss the cultural phenomenon Death Note. What is the nature of justice in this story? What makes L such a good detective? And what do you do in a world where it's kill or be killed? All this and more in our latest episode!

Our next episode will be the 2019 anime Weathering With You.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E7 - Spirited Away

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Sophie and Raymond kick off Anime Month with a discussion of Studio Ghibli's 2001 film Spirited Away. How is Chihiro's journey a retelling of the Genesis story? What does it mean to remember your own name? Is the spirit No Face a metaphor for the artist? In their search for the answers, rest assured that both of your favorite unreliable podcasters come armed with many, many G.K. Chesterton quotes.

Our next episode will be the 2006-2007 anime Death Note.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E11 - "Right?" Art piece by Banu Cennetoğlu

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:07:10 -0000

In this episode, Raymond reveals that we are in APOCALYPSE SEASON! In the art piece "Right?" artist Banu Cennetoğlu asks the question of how human rights can thrive in a world where the beliefs and narratives which once united us are breaking down. We discuss how René Girard and his theory of how human sacrifice evolves into ritual and ritual into the institution of law, and how this is illustrated in the Greek tragedy Oresteia. The art piece "Right?" gives the Unreliable Narrators an opportunity to discuss the entire history of the human race, the development of human rights, the breakdown of the institution of war, and...possibly nuclear apocalypse?

Stay tuned for a special ANIME MONTH coming up next July! In our next episode, we'll be discussing Hayao Miyazaki's classic Spirited Away!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E5 - Over the Garden Wall

Sat, 03 May 2025 23:56:52 -0000

Elijah Wood (aka Trinity Klomparens) joins Sophie and Raymond to discuss the Cartoon Network TV series Over the Garden Wall. How do the characters (Wert and Greg) wind up in a mysterious wood that seems to resemble Hell? What sins did they commit that got them there? Sophie and Raymond think this show has lots of profound parallels to Pilgrim's Progress and Dante's Inferno. Trinity is convinced there are pumpkin people in her neighborhood.

Our next episode will be the art piece "Right?" by Banu Cennetoğlu (apologies, Raymond announced the wrong episode last time--classic Raymond)****

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E4 - Lord of the Flies

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 02:12:44 -0000

We are FINALLY back again (so sorry) after 4 months of nail-biting, painstaking silence (we know you missed us) to talk about William Golding's harrowing novel, Lord of the Flies.

In Lord of the Flies, a group of English schoolboys survive a plane crash on a desert island. As they struggle to establish political order and cooperate, they are forced to discover the dark side of their own nature. What's going on with pigs in Golding's novel? And what are these constant references to "The Beast"? And are Christians actually all anarchists?

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E3 - It's a Wonderful Life

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0000

One Christmas night, in the little town of Bedford Falls, a man named George Bailey contemplates throwing away God's greatest gift...but through the prayers of those who love him dearest, George learns that he truly lived a wonderful life. In the meantime, the angel Clarence earns a pair of wings.

This Christmas, Sophie and Raymond discuss one of the most beloved Christmas classics of all time, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. What makes George Bailey's life wonderful? How do we convince those who are despondent (including ourselves) that life is truly worth living? How is It's a Wonderful Life like the book of Job? Is the idea of angels "earning wings" in Heaven theologically accurate? The answers the Unreliable Narrators come up with may not be what you were expecting, but who said we were reliable?

Stay tuned for our next episode, where we talk about William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E2 - Anti-Hero (LIVE at WhySpeak 2024)

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:52:57 -0000

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero LIVE at WhySpeak Speech Camp 2024. As Sophie tries to convince Raymond to become a Swiftie, our two favorite unreliable narrators also discuss Flannery O'Connor's moments of grace, the nature of confession, and...you guessed it...Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. All this and more in our latest episode!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S4E1 - Song of the Sea

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 11:57:54 -0000

Dive into the waters and the wild of fairies, selkies, and spirits in our pilot episode for Season 4, The Song of the Sea.

Why have the fairies departed from the human world? Why is preserving these Celtic legends and myths so important? How is director Tom Moore using his art to remind us of the world of the child? Also, why does hair represent the oral tradition?

In our next episode, we'll be sharing with a special podcast recorded LIVE AT WHYSPEAK SPEECH CAMP, where we discuss Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero." Stay tuned for some more earth-shaking episodes this season...

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S3E10 - The Farewell

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:15:02 -0000

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss themes of suffering, loss, and death in Lulu Wang's 2019 film The Farewell. What are the differences between the western and eastern perspectives on death? What does it mean for the collective to carry the burden of suffering for the individual? And how much longer can Sophie keep coming up with excuses to talk about Fyodor Dostoevsky?? All this and more in the SEASON 3 FINALE.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

S3E9 - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:19:20 -0000

In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", the mariner shoots an albatross...and must spend the rest of his life paying penance for his sin. What on earth does this albatross represent? Civilization? Tradition? Christendom? Or is it, as Coleridge would probably insist, just an albatross? In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the Romantic poets' role in the history of art, thought, society, and Christian culture, as well as their special influence C.S. Lewis. We haven't totally come to a consensus on this, but we're pretty sure that Coleridge doesn't want us to kill albatrosses.

In our next episode, we’ll be discussing the Lulu Wang's 2019 The Farewell, a comedy-drama about and young Chinese-American woman who struggles with the ethical dilemma of whether she should tell her grandmother about her terminal cancer diagnosis.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S3E8 - The Persistence of Memory

Sat, 04 May 2024 15:07:25 -0000

Sophie and Raymond are rejoined by special guest Anna Mason as they tackle the topic of surrealism through the lens of Salvador Dali's famous painting "The Persistence of Memory." Was Dali actually a surrealist? Why do all the clerks and navvies in the railway trains look so sad and tired? And is not being sick really the most poetical thing in the world? All this and more in this episode!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2023-2024 Stoa Mars Hill list here:https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Mars-Hill-Topics-2023-2024-1.pdf

S3E7 - The Magic Shop (1903) by H.G. Wells

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:40:42 -0000

In H.G. Wells' classic short story, a father and his son Gip wander into an antique shop run by a curious man who claims to be a magician. But the father feels something is not right. This magician seems he can make anything disappear...even Gip!

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss science, magic, hypnotism, and what it means to have childlike (or childish) faith. Along the way, we compare Wells' short story with Christopher Nolan's film The Prestige, as well as a few notable events in the Bible that could be considered magic as well...

In our next episode, we'll be discussing the art piece "The Persistence of Memory" by Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Stay tuned.****

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast. Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S3E6 - A Charlie Brown Christmas

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 20:20:41 -0000

Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? Sophie and Raymond do! In this VERY BELATED Christmas episode (listen, nobody ever said we were reliable), your hosts discuss the 1965 short film, A Charlie Brown Christmas. What makes Charlie Brown a hero for the masses? What is the difference between a real tree and a poor tree? Can Sophie ever be trusted to edit an episode on time? All this and more in the first episode of 2024!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2023-2024 Stoa Mars Hill list here:https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Mars-Hill-Topics-2023-2024-1.pdf

S3E5 - West Side Story

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 04:40:45 -0000

Raymond may be doubtful about the reality of love at first sight, but it's nonetheless a story that has captured the imagination of people for generations. In this episode, Sophie and Raymond dive into a diverse discussion about the roots of rivalry, racism, and romance in Steven Sondheim's retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

A Prayer to Saint Anthony (A Wedding Poem)

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:27:27 -0000

According to Catholic tradition, Saint Anthony of Padua was the patron saint of lost or misplaced articles. In this episode, Raymond shares a poem that takes a lighthearted spin on that idea, read recently a certain person's wedding.

S3E4 - The Wind Rises

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

The wind is rising!...We must try to live!

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the 2014 Studio Ghibli film The Wind Rises. Are artists and engineers really the same? Does the beauty of art justify the horrors of war? And most importantly, would you rather live in a world with pyramids or a world without them? All this and more in our latest episode!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S3E3 - Barbie (2023)

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:18:27 -0000

She's everything. He's just Ken. Let's talk about that.

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond don pink (metaphorically) to discuss feminism, fantasy, and family in The Barbie Movie. Why does Ken steal the show halfway through? Does Barbie's quest to become a human have surprising theological implications? Can Greta Gerwig's summer blockbuster really be suggestive of a long tradition of classic fairy tales from time immemorial? You may not think so, but for the Unreliable Narrators, anything Ken happen.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S3E2 - Undertale

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000

One of the biggest complaints about modern video games is that they are too violent. But Toby Fox stabs this cliché right in the ribs in Undertale, a game where you actually have the choice to kill…or show mercy. Is pacifism really a possible way of life in our violent world? How are we called as Christians to think about pacifism? How does Toby Fox wrestle with morally ambiguous real-life dilemmas in a virtual environment where you only have binary choices? All of this and more in our latest episode.

For our next episode, wear pink. ;)

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S3E1 - Pixar's "Bao"

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 21:28:33 -0000

The Unreliable Narrators are back! Today, Sophie and Raymond discuss about a recent Pixar short film in which a mother makes a dumpling that unexpectedly come to life. Among other themes, we discuss the character archetype of the "devouring mother," the relation between food, memory, and forgiveness, and...ancient Mesopotamian myths?? Find out how we pull all these ideas together in this first episode of season 3!

In our next episode, we'll be discussing the role-playing video game "Undertale" produced by indie game developer Toby Fox.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E16 - Fullmetal Alchemist

Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

"This is my body, which is broken for you."

What is the Law of Equivalent Exchange? Can you really buy redemption with suffering? What is the price of a human soul...and why is it Edward Elric's right arm? All this and more on our SEASON FINALE.

In our next episode, we'll be discussing the 2018 Pixar animated short Bao.

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E15 - "Always" by BTS

Tue, 16 May 2023 00:49:58 -0000

Kim Namjoon, lead singer of BTS, pens this heartfelt lyric in the song Always: "If I met God, I would tell him that life is a cup of coffee I never ordered." Is this merely a cheesy line from a melodramatic boyband singer or an epithet of such feeling and profundity to equal Shakespeare and King Solomon? For the Unreliable Narrators, maybe it's a little bit of both.

This month, in service of our beloved students at Stoa NITOC, we are releasing TWO episodes in one week! Tune in for our next episode on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood coming out this Thursday. Good luck, NITOC competitors!

Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S2E14 - Perfect Imperfection: The Art of Healing

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

There is a crack in everything...that's how the light gets in. Or is it out? In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the visual art piece "Perfect Imperfection: The Art of Healing," by Billie Bond. Along the way, we run into our old friends Milton, Dostoevsky, Lewis, Homer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and...Stephen Schwartz?? Hopefully they can help us figure out what golden cracks and broken ceramics have to do with the wounds of Christ and the resurrection.

In our next episode, we will be talking about the song "Always," by BTS.

Visit our BRAND NEW PATREON at patreon.com/unreliablenarratorspodcast and consider donating just a few dollars a month to keep our conversation going!

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E13 - Everything I Wanted (Billie Eilish)

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0000

"If I could change the way that you see your self, you wouldn't wonder why they hear 'they don't deserve you.'" Can Raymond and Sophie change the way Billie Eilish sees herself? Maybe, with a little bit of help from G.K. Chesterton. In this episode, we ask the question: for the Christian called to martyrdom, does this entail a desire to die?

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast. Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

Our next episode will be on The Perfect Imperfection - The Art of Healing by Billie Bond.

S2E12 - We Talk About Bruno (Disney's Encanto)

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 20:48:55 -0000

What's going on with this Bruno guy? On the surface, Disney's Encanto seems to be just another typical "save-the-magic" princess story. But Sophie and Raymond think there is more hiding under the rafters of this magic house. In this episode, the Unreliable Narrators discuss scapegoats, innocent victims, cultures of the taboo, and the genius lyrics of Lin Manuel-Miranda, and more. Trigger warning: The subject of Bruno will be broached EXTENSIVELY.

In our next episode, we'll be discussing the song "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E11 - The Picture of Dorian Gray

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 22:28:38 -0000

WE'RE FINALLY BACK with a high-energy conversation about Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. What does Oscar Wilde really think about art? Is Lord Henry the devil in disguise, or just a bad guy? What in the world is up with the ending? We may not have all the answers, but we do have a good time.

In our next episode, we will be talking about Bruno.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E10 - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 23:23:14 -0000

In this CHRISTMAS episode, Raymond and Sophie tackle Simon & Garfunkel's most popular song, Bridge Over Troubled Water. What does it mean to lay yourself down as a bridge over troubled water? Why did Paul Simon write the "sail on, silver girl" verse? What does any of this have to do with Christmas?? All this and more in our latest episode.

In our next episode, we will be discussing Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E9 - The Social Dilemma (2020 Netflix Documentary)

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

We all know social media manipulates us. We know they're tracking out data. We know it's designed to get us addicted. And yet no matter how many times we are warned about what social media is doing to us, we still use it. Can we really have a healthy relationship with social media, or is it inherently detrimental to our mental health? In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the 2020 Netflix Documentary The Social Dilemma, iHeart's street-art piece Nobody Likes Me, the role of social media in the musical Dear Evan Hansen, and the meaning of community and companionship.

In our next episode, we will be discussing the Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Simon and Garfunkel.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E8 - Spider-Man: No Way Home

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

"On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

In this episode, Raymond and Sophie discuss their mutual favorite superhero in Spider-Man: No Way Home. (Mostly because they wanted to discuss Into the Spider-Verse, but they were foiled. So they settled for the next best thing.) What does it mean to be Spider-Man? Should Peter Parker let the villains die? What does a Marvel movie have to do with Racine's Iphigenia? All this and more in our latest episode.

In our next episode, we will be discussing the painting Nobody Likes Me, by iHeart, alongside the 2020 documentary, The Social Dilemma.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E7 - That Hideous Strength (Ft. Cynthia Chung)

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we are joined by editor-in-chief and co-founder of the Rising Tide Foundation, Cynthia Chung. Cynthia has lectured on the topics of Schiller’s aesthetics, Shakespeare’s tragedies, Roman history, and the Florentine Renaissance among other subjects. She is a writer for Strategic Culture Foundation, and is a contributing author to the book series “The Clash of the Two Americas.” In this episode, we discuss C.S. Lewis's concerns about modern education, the threat of scientific dictatorship, the essence of culture, science and magic, and much more as we explore the epic conclusion of Lewis's space trilogy, That Hideous Strength.

Time Stamps: 1:24 Cynthia discusses the Rising Tide Foundation 5:47 Cynthia’s background in molecular biology 7:31 The historical backdrop if That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewis’s contemporaries 12:10 Discussing The Abolition of Man important to understanding That Hideous Strength 18:23 Was Lewis’s critique of H.G. Wells legitimate? 21:39 Mark Studdock and Bracton College: the progressive Element and the Traditionalist School 23:12 Mark’s obsession with the Inner Ring 27:10 How the N.I.C.E. uses “remedial treatment” on people who oppose them 29:51 The final Inner Ring: the “Head” 35:05 Turning attention to Jane, Mark’s wife, who is having prophetic dreams 37:21 Merlin represents something Britain has lost 40:55 Why did George Orwell critique Lewis for including Merlin in the story? 48:37 The epic climax: The Curse of Babel on the N.I.C.E. 1:01:48 Closing thoughts on the Inner Ring and Tolkien’s “One Ring” 1:05:43 Are the “good guys” in this story just another Inner Ring? Why are they different? 1:12:14 Lewis’s “Logres” 1:13:48 Cynthia’s upcoming projects

Rising Tide Foundation: https://risingtidefoundation.net/ Cynthia's Substack: https://cynthiachung.substack.com/ Cynthia's Lecture Series on the Space Trilogy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4W04cnITUI

Part 2 of this episode series can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perelandra/id1594769451?i=1000581106991

Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss Marvel's 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Our sound designer is Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E6 - Perelandra

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

In the second installment of C.S. Lewis' epic science fiction trilogy, Ransom is commissioned by Maleldil on a celestial journey to the planet Venus. There, Ransom meets the Green Lady, who plays the role of a second Eve, and confronts a satanic force that is invading Perelandra through the body of his former colleague Weston. Throughout this episode, Sophie and Raymond debate the successes and failures of Lewis' highly ambitious novel. Is the Green Lady's passive role in the story problematic? Did Lewis succeed in his project to imagine an unfallen world? Is the Space Trilogy science-fiction, fantasy, or a little bit of both? Along the way, we contemplate one of the most pressing theological questions of the book: what plan did God have for the human race if we had not originally rebelled against Him?

Part 1 of this episode series can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-the-silent-planet/id1594769451?i=1000565923862

Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss the final installment of C.S. Lewis' trilogy, That Hideous Strength.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf.

S2E5 - Vienna (Billy Joel)

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 02:21:46 -0000

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond tackle Billy Joel's hit song Vienna. Are only fools satisfied? What does Vienna represent, anyway? And when will you realize that Vienna waits for you? Along the way, we discuss miracle pranks, heavenly McDoubles, and Raymond's Billy Joel impression. Don't miss it!

In our next episode, we will be discussing Perelandra, the second installment in C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E4 - The Four Gospel Frontispieces by Mokoto Fujimura (Ft. Anna Mason)

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Japanese-American artist Makoto Fujimura says, "We have a language for waywardness, but not a language for coming back home.” What does this mean? Anna Mason, art major at Hillsdale College, joins us to explore Fujimura's art series The Four Gospel Frontispieces, confirming for us once and for all that God approves of abstract art!

What is "slow art" and why is it so important in modern times? What does Fujumura mean by "generative reality"? We talk about the history of Christian art going all the way back to medieval illuminated manuscripts from Iona, but wait till the end of the episode where Trinity brings us back home at the last possible second!

Check out "The Four Gospel Frontispieces" on Fujimura's website: https://makotofujimura.com/art/the-four-gospels-frontispieces

In our next episode, we will be discussing Billy Joel's 1977 hit song "Vienna."

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf)

S2E3 - The Seventh Seal

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 22:11:32 -0000

Sophie and Raymond discuss their most depressing topic since Silence by Shusaku Endo: The Seventh Seal, a film by Ingmar Bergman. What is the meaning of silence in the film? Who do the characters represent? How does medieval symbology help us understand this artistic enigma? The Seventh Seal may be nihilistic and full of dread, but your favorite hosts never are.

In our next episode, we will be discussing Makoto Fujimura's art series, the Four Gospel Frontispieces.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S2E2 - THIS IS WATER! By David Foster Wallace

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Trinity joins Sophie and Raymond to discuss absurdism in Gen Z humor, the problems of irony, and deconstructing commencement speeches in the YouTube short film THIS IS WATER!, taken from David Foster Wallace's 2005 commencement address at Kenyon college. Wallace earnestly challenges us to rethink what it means to a human being in the world, even when (especially when) it seems replete with tedium, stress, boredom, and frustration.

Check out David Foster Wallace's full commencement address here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI

In our next episode, we will be discussing Ingmar Bergman's 1957 film The Seventh Seal.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

Check out David Foster Wallace's full commencement address here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI

S2E1 - Knives Out

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 21:23:21 -0000

In the SEASON 2 PREMIERE (!!), Sophie and Raymond tackle Rian Johnson's 2019 film Knives Out. What does it mean to be a passive observer of the truth? Why does Marta Cabrera inherit the earth? And how do you tell the difference between a stage prop and a real knife? All this and more as we kick off Season 2.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss This is Water, a video essay based on David Foster Wallace's 2005 commencement address.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf.

S1E18 - The Tragedy of Othello

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Sophie and Raymond discuss tragedy, psychopaths, jealousy, betrayal, human nature, and more and William Shakespeare's deeply existential and profound play Othello.

This episode marks our last episode of Season 1. Check out the new Mars Hill topics in the link below.

Time stamps: 3:47 - Aristotle’s vision of tragedy 10:31 - The difference between a Greek tragedy and a Shakespearean tragedy 12:37 – What is Othello’s race? 17:18 – The psychopathy of Iago 25:44 – Othello’s lack of respect respect for Desdemona 31:43 – A defense of Othello 38:43 – Lack of communication as a central theme of the play 40:33 – Themes of human nature and violence 46:57 – Shakespeare’s culture and his implicit assumptions about the world 48:33 – Does your exterior define your interior? 52:48 – Augustine’s notion of interiority and the image of God 58:24 – Othello’s cardinal sin is his lack of love

Tune in for our next episode where we discuss Rian Johnson's 2019 film Knives Out.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the NEW Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf

S1E17 - The Danger of a Single Story

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 18:45:27 -0000

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk, "The Danger of a Single Story." How do stories define the way we think? What is the role of representation in popular art and literature? What's the problem with stereotypes? All this and more in this week's episode!

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss Othello, one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E16 - Out of the Silent Planet

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0000

The heavens declare the glory of God...and in the Space Trilogy, C.S. Lewis decided to take this piece of scripture literally. In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss Out of the Silent Planet, the first installment of the Space Trilogy. What is the role of language in explaining and understanding the gospel? Is C.S. Lewis developing a cosmic mythology? What is man that You are mindful of him? All this and more in our latest episode.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss the TED Talk "The Danger of a Single Story," by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E15 - Stranger Things Season 1 (Feat. Jenny Buccola)

Fri, 27 May 2022 16:49:44 -0000

Sophie and Raymond invite Jenny Buccola onto the podcast to talk about nostalgia, the importance of childhood, medieval cathedrals, and Hamlet in relation to the Netflix hit series Stranger Things.

Jenny is currently a student at the University of Notre Dame pursuing a masters degree in theological studies.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss C.S. Lewis's 1938 science fiction space epic, Out of the Silent Planet.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words: by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E14 - Level of Concern (Twenty One Pilots)

Fri, 20 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

I told you my level of concern, and you walked by like you never heard. In this episode, Raymond and Sophie answer the age-old question: Just how concerned should we be? They also discuss the power of words to reshape the world, analyze the connections between Twenty One Pilots and WandaVision, and somehow end up imagining what it sounded like when Jesus rebuked the winds.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode when we discuss the Netflix series Stranger Things.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E13 - Babette's Feast

Fri, 06 May 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Two devout and elderly sisters allow their cook, a French refugee, to prepare a feast in honor of their late father's 100th birthday, despite their spiritual concerns over the sensuality and decadence of French cuisine.

Sophie and Raymond discuss the tension between Gnosticism and hedonism and the symbolism of God's grace in the eucharist, as it is demonstrated in Karen Blixen's short story.

We apologize in advance for our terrible French.

Tune in for our next episode, where we discuss "Level of Concern" by 21 Pilots, coming out May 20th.

Instagram: @unreliablenarratorspodcast E-mail: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com Website: unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com Theme music: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

S1E12 - 1984 (with special guest Connor Daniels!)

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Does 2 + 2 really equal 4? Does love really conquer all? Can Sophie really survive for a whole episode with Raymond?

In this episode, Sophie and special guest Connor tackle George Orwell's novel 1984. We tackle topics like freedom of thought, the nature of love, and the human spirit.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode when RAYMOND RETURNS for our long-awaited discussion of the 1987 film Babette's Feast.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E11 - Man of La Mancha

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Onward to glory we go! In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha, based on the novel Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes_._ Is idealism better than realism? Does Don Quixote live in the "real world"? Are we all living in a prison? Does Christ turn prostitutes into princesses? All this and more in our latest episode.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode where we discuss the 1987 film Babette's Feast.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

The Monday Post: Anthropomorphism and a Defense of Talking Animals

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Hey everyone!

We're adding a new feature to the podcast. Every week, Sophie and I write a "Monday Post" published on our blog, which you can find here: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/blog/ For those of you who prefer to listen rather than read, you can listen to us read our posts, published every Monday. We hope that this portion of the podcast will add some supplementary and entertaining material to the main show.

Read the Monday Post on our blog: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/2022/03/28/anthropomorphism-and-a-defense-of-talking-animals/

S1E10 - "Silence" by Shusaku Endo

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

We return again to Japan, this time in the 17th century, to follow the tragic tale of Jesuit missionaries who struggle with their faith and eventually apostatize under the pressure of Japanese persecution. Central to our discussion is the "Mars Hill" approach--that is, how are Christians to properly employ pagan culture in a way that leads them to the gospel without either destroying culture or compromising the message of the gospel?

BONUS: Is Twilight Redeemable? (Raymond Says No)

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Raymond says no. Sophie says yes. Email us and let us know who's right.

We'll be back in two weeks with regular episodes, discussing Shusaku Endo's Silence! See you then.

Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/ What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf

S1E9 - WandaVision

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

What is grief if not love persevering?

Raymond gets excited about cinematography. Sophie pulls out her copy of C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces. We talk about The Truman Show, grief, Gethsemane, and...memes? Plus, we answer a listener question!

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode where we discuss Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel Silence.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or check us out on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E8 - Jordan Peterson | 12 Rules for Life

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Clean your room. Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street. And, most importantly, act as if God exists. Today, Sophie, Trinity, and Raymond discuss the work and thought of clinical psychologist and philosopher Jordan Peterson and his book 12 Rules For Life.

In this episode, we'll be addressing these questions and more:

Is Jordan Peterson a political figure? How do we respond to the problem of suffering? How can we actually improve our lives if we want to get better? What's the difference between postmodernism and existentialism? What does it mean to say we believe in God?

We're pulling out all the stops on this one: Dante, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, John Bunyan, and last but not least, Pinocchio. Hold onto your hats, it'll be a wild ride.

Here are links to the JP lectures referenced in this episode, for those interested:

"Personality 11: Existentialism: Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, & Kierkegaard" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZ3EsrKPsc

"Who Dares Say He Believes in God?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnUfXYGtT5Q&t=5165s

"The Perfect Mode of Being | Jonathan Pageau - Jordan B. Peterson" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rAqVmZwqZM&t=1437s

S1E7 - And Then There Were None

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

One little Soldier Boy left all alone; he went out and hanged himself...and then there were none.

In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss one of the most popular murder mysteries of all time: Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Along the way, we talk about the nature of justice, law as a villain, red herrings, and scapegoats.

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode where we discuss 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com.

Visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com.

Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E6 - A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000

In Tokyo, Japan, high schooler Shoya Ishida seeks to reconcile a broken relationship with his childhood classmate, Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl he used to bully. But true redemption isn't so simple. Join Sophie, Raymond, and our guest speaker John-Luke Dokupil as we dive into the 2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) based on the manga series by Yoshitoki Oima. In this episode, we'll discuss the power of animation to peer into the human soul, as well as more serious issues like bullying and suicide in Japanese culture. We come across some surprising parallels along the way, including but not limited to Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov!

New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode where we discuss And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com

Visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com

Check out the artist behind our theme music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf

Trailer

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 03:47:20 -0000

Episode Notes

Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/. What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com.

Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E5 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2)

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Raymond and Sophie are rejoined by special guest Trinity Klomparens to discuss U2's hit song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Does Bono's music represent a return to religion? What role should spiritual longing play in our faith journey? What is the problem with evangelism? And what does U2 have to do with C.S. Lewis? We answer these questions and more!

Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse.

Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/. What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com.

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf.

S1E4 - What is an Unreliable Narrator?

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 05:02:40 -0000

In this episode, Sophie and I discuss the historical and cultural background to the phrase "Mars Hill" in reference to the Apostle Paul's sermon on Mars Hill in the book of Acts. We answer the question of what an unreliable narrator is and why we chose it as the title for our podcast. We also explain the piece featured in our cover art and the meaning behind our theme song. We hope you find our discussion enriching, informative, and enjoyable!

Click here to view the O'Neill cylinder by Don Davis: http://www.donaldedavis.com/BIGPUB/DDcylECL.jpg

Click here to see Gustav Dore's art piece "The Empyrean": https://www.wikiart.org/en/gustave-dore/the-empyrean

Click here to listen to more music from Caleb Klomperens: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Questions? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmailcom

S1E3 - The Rise of Skywalker

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 01:44:07 -0000

Episode Notes

Raymond, Sophie, and special guest Trinity Klomparens discuss themes of sacrifice, adoption, and baptism in The Rise of Skywalker, Episode IX of the Star Wars saga. Along the way, we run into topics like the balance between the dark side and the light side, good vs. evil, and the Force as a parallel to Dante's Divine Comedy. We hope you enjoy our discussion!

Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/ What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf

S1E2 - Finding Nemo

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 04:26:11 -0000

Episode Notes

In this episode, we discuss themes of memory, courage, and the imagery of "the abyss" in Pixar's 2003 animated classic Finding Nemo. We also explore Nemo's search for an ideal father figure and Dory's role as the Shakespearean "wise fool." We conclude with discussing the interwoven ideas of luck, grace, providence, miracles, and how they manifest themselves in the film and in our own lives. Our Bible verse for this episode is 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." We hope you enjoy our discussion!

Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse

For further research, please enjoy this resource referenced in this episode. Andrew Stanton: The Clues to a Great Story TED Talk (language warning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxDwieKpawg

Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/ What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf

S1E1 - Hadestown

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 02:46:17 -0000

Episode Notes

Raymond and Sophie discuss Hadestown, the hit musical adaptation of an old Greek myth. Topics include Hades' justice, Orpheus as a Christological figure, and the hope of "singing it anyway."

Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/ What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com

Access the Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mars-Hill-Topics-2021-2022-1.pdf