Long-Distance Call

Ventura is one of my chief intellectual influences. I discovered him in the LA Weekly back in the late ‘80s. His column in the Austin Chronicle was a regular internet stop for me, and I’ve read his novels and books, and he’s turned me on to so many gateways… This show doesn’t disappoint. In some ways, stumbling into it almost a year after it was uploaded has served to remind me of the stakes and emotion of the Pandemic and the Election. But Ventura has a gift for, while he’s being topical, to write about the timeless within a topic. He’s liminal. Why he’s not a huge force of contemporary ideas is beyond me. Highly recommended.

It is so nice to hear a voice that impacted me so much 13 or so years ago. Mr. Ventura as I know him is a writer that uses universal words to express complex and emotional things.... ready for anyone to digest. Brilliant podcast. It is a little bit if needed light in these odd and scary times.

Indeed, we don’t wish to hear the weeping, if only shutting the window would shut out the reality we all know is before us, we could get on with our lives. Thank you for calling us to address the current conditions of our lives through the lens of humanity. And such a rich voice for audio! Love this!