65 episodes
We Defy Augury Professor G. Truck
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- Arts
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4.3 • 6 Ratings
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Thoughts (loosely) inspired by life, literature, and popular culture.
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Why Shakespeare?
The top three reasons to read Shakespeare, dramatically presented in five acts.
Special Guests: Bill Bryson, Bill and Ted, James Shapiro, Ron Popeil, The Beatles, George and Jerry, Gretchen Wieners, Miles Davis, an articulate homeless man, Stunna Girl, Rollie, Drew, Paapa Essiedu, Tim Minchin, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Tennant, Rory Kinnear, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench, and King Charles. -
The Play's the Thing: A Shakespeare Quiz
A review of Shakespeare's most notable lines, plays and genres-- in the form of a quiz. Good luck!
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Shakespeare: Timeless (But a Man of His Times)
An introduction to Shakespeare's art and how it connects to his life and times.
Thoughts (loosely) based on A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare:1599 by James Shapiro, Shakespeare: The World as a Stage by Bill Bryson, The Elizabethan World Picture by E.M.W. Tillyard and countless years of teaching Shakespeare to high school students.
Special Guests: Tim the Enchanter, Cole Porter, and, of course, the Bard himself. -
Stayin' Alive: Could You Survive the Apocalypse? Would You Want to?
Thoughts (loosely) based on John Wyndham's post apocalyptic sci-fi novel The Day of the Triffids.
Featuring an Auditory Apocalypse Quiz.
Special Guests: Skeeter Davis, Vic and his telepathic dog, Tool, Kent Brockman, The Presidents of the United States of America . . . plus a host of others (which cannot be revealed because-- duh-- there's a quiz). -
What Is It Like to Be a Dog?
Thoughts (loosely) based on Rob Russell's book "The Adventures of JoJo the Small Town Hound: Volume 1, Leesburg, Virginia and the Curious Case of the Dog Money."
Special Guests: Rob Russell, Method Man, and George Costanza. -
Strange Winds: A Meditation on Contamination
Thoughts (loosely) based on Nelson DeMille's Cold War spy novel The Charm School; Dean R. Koontz's 90s tech thriller Dark Rivers of the Heart; Jonathan Blitzer's stellar book on the border situation-- Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis-- and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's horror novel Mexican Gothic.
Special Guests: Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, Dave Chapelle, John Cougar, Phil Connors, Bob Dylan, The Scorpions, Kansas, Sting, Long Duk Dong, General Ripper, General Turgidson, President Merkin Muffley, John Mulaney, Donald Trump, Marco Guttierez, Ivan Drago, and Tommy DeVito.
Customer Reviews
Insightful and entertaining
Great podcast! I always look forward to each new episode. Prof Truck balances book summaries, synthesis, and jokes/stories to engage listeners with quality content. I always learn something new, laugh, and add a new title or author to my TBR list.
Great model of inspired teaching
I got a chance to listen this podcast for the first time today. Great podcast episode! I never liked HS English classes but I think I would like Professor Trucks class. I think a lot about what makes great teaching and it's all in there. Depth of knowledge and backstory to bring it to life, enthusiasm, making it relevant, good story telling, personalizing, tying themes together, inviting critical thinking, humor, challenging students to think in new ways, etc. All in one lesson. Well done!
I'm also looking forward to my next apology that's not an apology and my adjective laden excuse for not showing up at something.
Consistently great podcast!
Each week gets better and better. Professor Truck is never at a loss for insightful connections, witty anecdotes and a trip down the rabbit hole of great literary references. Not just book talk — commentary on the human condition, genre writing and all things cerebral. A podcast that has cameo appearances by God himself can’t be wrong.