I love this podcast, both its choice of topics and the provocative discussions. After David Lynch died, I was hoping Phil and J. F. would pay tribute to him, and they did not disappoint. Please do an episode on Oscar Wilde’s Salome!

This podcast is obviously top-notch. I’m writing this review to suggest an episode about Ingmar Bergman’s film Persona (1966), the greatest film of all time, and which has enough material to fill hours of conversation. Persona (and Bergman in general) fit this podcast perfectly.

I have listened to almost every episode, and the score by Pierre Yves Martel is always fantastic. Perfect intersection of esoteric philosophy and artistic analysis. In my mind’s eye, Phil Ford and JF Martel look like Toby Ziegler (but with hair and tinted glasses) and Justin Trudeau (but bearded) respectively so I refuse to ever find out what they really look like.

I’d love to hear you discuss Danielewski’s House of Leaves

Very introspective show on myriad topics. My only critic is how often Phil brings up Wagner… as a student of classical music myself I must say it’s getting tedious to hear every single topic brought back to Wagner. He was a great composer but he certainly wasn’t the only one. This podcast has the opportunity to shed light on many an underserved composer.

In my top 5. Very often my number one. A glowing ember of life in a dying culture. Perhaps pointing a way forward out of the rubble, perhaps a seed from which the next one is born. Perhaps a guide to the underworld - a whisper among the disappeared, not hope, but rumor of wisdom and truth among the dark stones at the bottom of the riverbed. Thank you.

This show is a rarity. It doesn’t involve having Wikipedia articles regurgitated back to you and also manages to avoid the typical right wing conspiracy nonsense that infects so many other “weird” media outlets which obsess about imaginary left wing plots from three decades ago while conveniently ignoring the act right wing plots in broad daylight that happened just three years ago! They don’t draw imaginary connections or insult your intelligence. They’re not grifters selling people what they want to hear. The world needs more of this. The “F is for Fake” episode is one of my favorite podcast episodes ever and I’m only halfway though but I had to stop and write this review.

This is the podcast that I have been looking for-deep dives into things that are familiar and mentions of things that I never knew existed. It’s a real meat and potatoes of two people exploring what is true, what is meaningful, and all the things that the naturally curious wonder about. Love it!

Brilliant wide ranging heartfelt conversation— and very, very funny. In particular I take a curtsy to these guys for the recent episode on free expression: much more complex nuanced take on the frightening muting and policing we are seeing right now on every side. And I too (as a woman) find it creepy some lady quantified the times you had female guests/ referenced art by women — some seriously scary totalitarian shizzat. Keep on talking! 💜

Never fails to reframe things well known and introduce things exciting. I so appreciate the dialogue between the hosts - collegial without ever becoming to inside joke-y, and always open to each other’s interpretations. An absolute treasure and must listen.