21 episodes
Close Minded Podcast Close Minded Podcast
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 8 Ratings
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“Close Minded? Isn't that sort of narrow and negative?”
At first glance, that's certainly a reasonable reaction. (But it got your attention, didn't it?) However, the name of the show is not just a marketing tactic, but rooted in a deep truth.
G.K. Chesterton once wrote the following:
“Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”
A hallmark of maturity is the ability to hold up an idea you don't necessarily agree with and scrutinize it, to evaluate it dispassionately without having to own it for yourself.
Another sign of maturity is one's willingness to engage a wide variety of ideas and topics without being frightened away just because someone shouts “problematic!”–whether it be a Twitter mob, a self-hating Social Justice Warrior on Facebook, or even your own tribe.
So around here we aren't afraid to discuss lots of ideas, regardless of our actual positions:
Political anarchism? Check.
Human sexuality? Check.
Trump as an existential dictatorial threat to Western Civilization? Check.
Darwinism and Intelligent Design? Check.
The intersection of technology and philosophy? Check.
But there's more! We also aren't interested in claims that certain genres of literature are “uncool.” Who cares?
We are readers. Avid readers of wide-ranging works. Readers who cultivate what Tolkien called “the leaf mold” of the mind, the topsoil of our moral imagination and creativity.
We aren't embarrassed to enjoy “kid lit” and YA fiction, or afraid to read sociological & political works that challenge our assumptions. We enjoy classic novels, hard-boiled crime thrillers, controversial works of theology & culture, economics, productivity & personal development. We are not bound by social or political convention.
We “read for pleasure in an age of distraction” (Alan Jacobs). We consume and engage books for stimulation, conviction & enrichment. We want to stretch our minds, grow in empathy, & experience the joys & challenges of reading good books.
We read with an open mind in order to close it on something.
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“But wait! Shouldn't it be CloseD Minded (with a d)?”
Welcome, fellow grammar nerd, to my tortured existence. I do happen to believe that “Closed Minded” is preferable to “Close Minded”–and thus, I die a little bit inside each time I say or write it. HOWEVER, I went with “Close Minded” for two reasons. First, technically both are considered acceptable–see here and here. Second, when I compared the Google search results for both spellings, “Close” had exponentially more hits, so I followed the basic rules of internet marketing and went with what people are actually searching for.
Case close, er, closed.
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Ep 20 – “The Deep Places” by Ross Douthat
This is a reading of my 2021 book review. It holds up.
The post Ep 20 – “The Deep Places” by Ross Douthat appeared first on Close Minded Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closemindedpodcast.substack.com -
Ep 19: What Is Money? The Saylor Series
This episode is my appearance on the “Reformed Financial Advisor” podcast to discuss the “Saylor Series” and the backstory of how I came to be the editor. I’ve been waiting for months to announce this! I have had the immense privilege of working with well-known podcaster Robert Breedlove (who’s “What Is Money?” show...
The post Ep 19: What Is Money? The Saylor Series appeared first on Close Minded Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closemindedpodcast.substack.com -
Ep 18 – The War on Informed Consent w/ Jeremy R. Hammond
My guest for this episode is independent journalist and author Jeremy R. Hammond. It’s been over a year since the last episode, although with COVID it feels like a decade, and I’m coming back to podcasting with a vengeance by wading into some controversial waters. But that’s what we’re about on this show, so buckle...
The post Ep 18 – The War on Informed Consent w/ Jeremy R. Hammond appeared first on Close Minded Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closemindedpodcast.substack.com -
Ep 17 – “Selling Peace” – Commander Dale Brown of Detroit Threat Management
Today I’m talking with Commander Dale Brown, founder of Detroit Threat Management, a private security force that protects businesses and neighborhoods in the Detroit area. He’s been doing this for over twenty years with great success, and his story is particularly timely in this era of riots, protests, and intense social controversy over the role...
The post Ep 17 – “Selling Peace” – Commander Dale Brown of Detroit Threat Management appeared first on Close Minded Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closemindedpodcast.substack.com -
Ep 16 – “Eggs Are Expensive, Sperm Is Cheap” with Greg Krehbiel
In this episode we’re going to talk about some things that will get you kicked out of polite society. It’s progressive and fashionable these days to talk about the Patriarchy and the oppression of women, their hard-won equality from the shackles of home life, and the immense sexual power than men wield over women in...
The post Ep 16 – “Eggs Are Expensive, Sperm Is Cheap” with Greg Krehbiel appeared first on Close Minded Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closemindedpodcast.substack.com -
Ep 15 – Healthcare Insider is Skeptical of the Conventional Wisdom on COVID-19
My guest for this episode is Brady Sorensen, Employee Health Manager at a hospital in Topeka, KS. He has seen the impact of COVID-19 first-hand and he has some thoughts on the virus and the government’s response to it. Brady has also been immune-compromised since he was 8 months old, so he has a unique...
The post Ep 15 – Healthcare Insider is Skeptical of the Conventional Wisdom on COVID-19 appeared first on Close Minded Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closemindedpodcast.substack.com
Customer Reviews
Good stuff here
Wide ranging in content. Thoughtful dialogue. Great podcast to consider the interplay of the beauty, genius, and wonder of the world we live in with the beauty, genius, and wonder of Christianity.
Thoughtful & enriching
The conversations here are great. Seth is well-prepared & asks questions that are beyond the standard interview topics.
Additionally, the books selected for discussion are fully worthwhile reads, but off the beaten path. You may or may not have read them, but the discussions will certainly make you think.
Thoughtful and interesting podcast
I thoroughly enjoy the topics and the host is great at expressing complex topics in an accessible way.