Notes from Underground

Justin Hall
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ARTS

Notes from Underground is a limited series of long-form conversations devoted to enduring questions across art, theology, history, and culture. Each features artists and thinkers who work within living traditions, who continue to speak with clarity about truth, beauty, and goodness. Rather than lamenting the loss of our heritage, Notes from Underground proceeds from the conviction that these things are not so easily extinguished. The light endures, often quietly, through disciplined attention, artistic excellence, and the refusal to live by lies. This publication serves as the home for the full archive of the series, along with transcripts and related materials. It is offered for listeners and readers who are willing to listen closely—and to think slowly—about what has been handed down, and what remains worth carrying forward. nfuseries.substack.com

Episodes

  1. The Unfolding of the Human Soul | Stephen Blackwood

    12/19/2025

    The Unfolding of the Human Soul | Stephen Blackwood

    Dr. Stephen Blackwood is the founding president of Ralston College—a new institution of higher learning, dedicated to freedom of thought and to a new renaissance of the humanities. Dr. Blackwood is a philosopher, a visionary, and an expert on the Roman philosopher Boethius. This episode moves beyond the familiar (even cliché) criticisms of higher education to ask more fundamental questions: What is education? Who is it for? How can I become what I am meant to be? From the quiet winters of Prince Edward Island to the metaphysical pillars of the ancient world, Dr. Blackwood offers a vision of learning that is not merely about information—it is about the unfolding of the human soul. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nfuseries.substack.com

    1h 7m
  2. The Crisis of Confidence | Ignat Solzhenitsyn

    12/17/2025

    The Crisis of Confidence | Ignat Solzhenitsyn

    How does a civilization continue when it loses confidence in its own fundamentals? This episode welcomes Ignat Solzhenitsyn—world-renowned conductor, concert pianist, and son of author and dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Growing up in exile in Vermont, Ignat’s musical life was discovered by the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who famously sheltered his father against Soviet persecution. Ignat moves from from those early days of exile to the "saving ambiguity" of music. He also confronts the present "crisis of confidence" in the West. From the academic deconstruction of Beethoven to the physical destruction of monuments, Ignat offers not only a defense against the cynicism of our age, but also the crucial path forward for us—to Live Not By Lies. _______ 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Growing up in Exile: Ignat’s first steps in music 03:49 – The Mentor: How Mstislav Rostropovich ("Slava") discovered Ignat’s talent. 5:30  – Protecting the Music: The deep friendship between Slava and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. 11:13 – Setting the Record Straight: Did Solzhenitsyn and Shostakovich hate each other? 16:23 – The "Crisis of Confidence": Why the West is afraid to honor its own culture. 21:01 — The Myth of Genius: The deconstruction of the past 24:49 — Deconstructing Beethoven: The "idiocy" of resentment. 31:25 – "Saving Ambiguity": The secret language of Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony. 41:05 – Words & Music: How literature informs the conductor’s baton. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nfuseries.substack.com

    48 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

Notes from Underground is a limited series of long-form conversations devoted to enduring questions across art, theology, history, and culture. Each features artists and thinkers who work within living traditions, who continue to speak with clarity about truth, beauty, and goodness. Rather than lamenting the loss of our heritage, Notes from Underground proceeds from the conviction that these things are not so easily extinguished. The light endures, often quietly, through disciplined attention, artistic excellence, and the refusal to live by lies. This publication serves as the home for the full archive of the series, along with transcripts and related materials. It is offered for listeners and readers who are willing to listen closely—and to think slowly—about what has been handed down, and what remains worth carrying forward. nfuseries.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Hall
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Justin Hall
  • Show Website
    Notes from Underground