JUST FYI POD: Conversations about Culture, Ideas, and Life

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE‘s third season is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: "Does the Future of Catholicism Lie with 'Trad Catholics'?" However, before delving into that topic, Amy and I discuss the recent (and much ballyhooed) "rift" between the White House and the Holy See. In both cases, we see the long-simmering tension between Church and State, religion and politics, bubbling up to the cultural surface. Is this, then, "business as usual," or is something new emerging?Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, plus much (much!) more content. Subscribe for free today! As always, your generosity is much appreciated! Hit the share button; leave a review! We can't thank you enough for your support!

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE‘s third season is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: “Can Christian art be resurrected?” We approach this question in a variety of ways. First, in a discussion recorded prior to last Sunday night’s awards ceremony, we offer an overview of the Oscars, noting that it was a good, if somewhat predictable, year in movies. Indeed, while political themes continue to abound in Hollywood, religious ones do not. Next, we turn to what might be called the “crisis” of Christian art today: like the “information silos” on social media, so it seems that Christian art has been siloed off from popular culture. To be sure, there are niche corners of the Christian art world, but they are ostensibly reserved for “believers.” Third, and finally, we consider the history and nature of Christian art—and why its “resurrection” depends on a rethinking of how contemporary Christians both receive and make art.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, plus much more additional content. Subscribe for free today! As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” On today’s episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will explore the topic: “What is a university for anyway?" This is a wide-ranging discussion, which will touch on student perceptions of university life, different models of higher education, and how twenty-first-century political polarization may very well lie downstream of university culture.Listener pro tip: this episode opens with a fairly long (and very off-topic) discussion about coaching youth sports! If you're not interested--and that would be totally understandable--just skip to the break.Please visit Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today! As ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE‘s third season is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: “What, if Anything, Will Replace Mainline Protestantism?” We approach this question in two main ways. First, we examine a handful of new religious surveys, including (but not limited to) a major study released in December 2025 by the Pew Research Center. They all paint a similar picture: after decades of diminution, American religious affiliation, belief, and practice have begun to level off. But this overarching period of “stasis” comes with a number of qualifiers: markers of diminishment in one quarter suggest pockets of renewal in others. Next, we ponder what these findings tell us about American religious life going forward. If, as political scientist and statistician Ryan Burge has recently argued, the decline of mainline Protestantism is irreversible, then is some other religious institution poised to take its place?Please go to JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for access to this pod and much, much more. Subscribe for free today! As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “’Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” On today’s episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will discuss the topic: “Does It Matter if Students Can’t Read Anymore?” This is an issue that has caused more than a little hand-wringing, both among educators and in the popular media. Indeed, the issue isn’t whether literacy is declining among young people, particularly in the United States. That much is certain. No, the real questions are:Why is this happening?What are its consequences?Clark and I will take a look at the data and add our own observations. Then, in conclusion, we will ponder how this trajectory has impacted and will continue to impact the United States and Western culture in general, paying special attention to religious and political concerns that are already emerging downstream.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today! As ever, your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

Amid the hum and hullabaloo of pre-Christmas activities, Amy Welborn and I found time to meet at Cahaba Brewing Co.in Avondale, where we discussed what we enjoyed (and, well, didn’t enjoy!) about 2025. Though interspersed with firsthand (!) stories about international travel and biker gangs in Pennsylvania, our conversation centers on culture—in particular, our respective “Best of 2025” lists in the following categories:MoviesTelevisionBooksTheaterMusicSo, pour a flute of champagne and join us as we look back on 2025 and get ready to usher in 2026. Te Deum laudámus!Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and a miscellany of engaging content. Start out the New Year right and subscribe for free today! As ever, your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” Today’s episode will approach this overarching topic in two ways. First, my regular cohost Clark Elliston and I will welcome a special guest—Michael Burdett, Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham. Though Michael is well-known for his work on the relationship between religion, science, and technology—in fact, he contributed an excellent chapter to our recent collection Theological Discourses on Social Media—today we will focus on an issue that has garnered headlines in the UK over the last six weeks. In early November, the University of Nottingham announced the suspension of several academic courses, including American and Canadian studies, architecture, music, modern languages, plant biology, and theology. In an accompanying statement, university administrators explained: “[We had to] make tough decisions based on changes in student demand, the cost of delivering courses, and competition from other institutions offering similar courses.” Protests have followed, led by students and faculty. Still, one might wonder, what is really at stake at Nottingham? And who is right? Michael will give us his on-the-ground perspective.Next, Clark, Michael, and I will broaden our scope and discuss how the situation at Nottingham is just one more symptom of an ongoing “crisis” in higher education in general. The nature of this crisis, however, is more than a little controversial. From political partisanship to grade inflation to artificial intelligence, any number of culprits have been identified by commentators. But can we drill down deeper and finally get to the root cause? Such, at any rate, is what we hope to accomplish over the course of our wide-ranging conversation, which will culminate in a few ideas about how higher ed might be fixed—even today!Nota bene: we experienced a few technical difficulties during the recording of this episode. Thankfully, I was able to smooth out some, if not all, of them on the backend. Bear with us! I think the discussion is worth it! As always, please visit Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for additional information, links, and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's third season is: "The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: "Have Pope Leo XIV’s first six months in office told us anything new or surprising about his plans for the Church?" After a rundown of the pope's activities since May, we conclude with "three takeaways and two questions," summing up both Pope Leo XIV's significance so far and what we think may be facing him in 2026 and beyond.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much (much!) more content. So, what are you waiting for? Subscribe for free today! Your generosity and support are much appreciated.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “’Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” On today’s episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will share what life is like in academia today, particularly for professors. Indeed, while commentators and pundits have no trouble decrying the state of the academy, very few touch on, much less comprehend, the day-to-day life of a university professor. Today's episode intends to fill that gap.As always, please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for additional information and much more content. Why not subscribe for free today? Your interest and support are much appreciated!

Boo! It’s Halloween on JUST FYI POD: CULTURE. 👻The overarching theme of Season 3 is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I wrestle with the following issue: “What does the recent uptick in exorcisms (yes, that’s a thing) say about Western cultural and religious life?” Topics include:Recent journalistic accounts of the “exorcism boom.”The popularity of exorcism in film and on social media.The biblical and theological understanding of the demonic and the traditional importance of exorcism in the Christian Church.Potential causes of the global increase in exorcisms, from the mental health crisis in Western culture to the rise of apocalyptic political rhetoric.Why you shouldn't expect candy if you go trick-or-treating at Amy’s house!Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and (much!) more content. Subscribe for free today. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's third season is to discuss "The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I wrestle with the following question: "What does the canonization of Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) mean for our understanding of sainthood and holiness in the 21st Century?" Topics include: the life of St. Carlo (whose feast was celebrated just yesterday), the ambiguous media coverage of his canonization, the nature of sainthood in general, and the Church's relation to, and teaching on, the Internet.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today! Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

Season 3! The first two seasons of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS have focused on the greatest works in theological and philosophical history -- at least as far as my cohost Clark Elliston and I are concerned! Now, however, we will shift from the textual to the topical.Indeed, the main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' third season is to discuss: "'Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?" In today's episode, we will preview the upcoming season and then (possibly against all odds!) try to provide a coherent and engaging discussion how, and why, we got started in academic life.As always, please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for additional information and much more content. Subscribe for free today! Your interest and support are much appreciated.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s third season is to discuss “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” However, on today’s “breakout pod,” Amy Welborn, Clark Elliston, and I discuss one of the most shocking political events in recent memory—the public killing of Republican activist, author, and media personality Charlie Kirk, who was shot in front of thousands of people last week at Utah Valley University. While the criminal investigation into this case has proceeded at a brisk pace, Amy, Clark, and I take a wider view of this event, debating how American politics got to this point and what it means going forward. Topics include: social media and the phenomenon of online polarization, Kirk’s status as a kind of Christian “martyr,” and the role of churches amid this political firestorm. We end by wrestling with the question: will this crime spur a renewal of American public life—or accelerate its disintegration?Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The title of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's third season is "The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions." On today's inaugural episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I preview the upcoming season, both in terms of form and content. Yet, we also take time to catch up after a busy summer. Topics include Italy, road trips, baseball, writing projects, and our favorite Summer 2025 movie releases. With regard to the latter, we pay special to attention to the new mystery-horror film Weapons (Zach Cregger, 2025) and, in turn, to the so-called "elevated horror" movement. What does it mean that America's new generation of auteurs (Cregger, Ari Aster, Jordan Peele, etc.) are largely telling stories about witches, demons, aliens, and vampires?Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode—and at long last!—my cohost Clark Elliston and I wrap up our countdown and explore two very different philosophical works—one that is a classic (and seemingly prescient) analysis of the modern sociopolitical order, and another that exemplifies the so-called “theological turn” in postmodern phenomenology.First up is Søren Kierkegaard’s 1846 treatise A Literary Review (En literair Anmeldelse), which, as I will explain, provides an early and prophetic account of the media, public opinion, and bourgeois conformity in contemporary Western society. Next, Clark will turn to Emmanuel Falque’s The Metamorphosis of Finitude: An Essay on Birth and Resurrection(Métamorphose de la finitude. Essai philosophique sur la naissance et la résurrection), which uses Christian theology to probe a fundamental human reality—that our very existence hinges on the simple, but profound, fact that we have been born at all. Life, in other words, is more about birth than death.As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two massively influential texts from the twentieth century. Yet, before doing so, we spend some time discussing the recent flash floods in Central Texas, which devastated Clark's hometown of Kerrville. In this opening segment, Clark gives a firsthand account of what life is now like in the Texas Hill Country. Next, and not unrelatedly, we pivot to my analysis of Martin Heidegger's famous work The Question Concerning Technology (Die Frage nach der Technik), which was first published in 1954. Finally, Clark offers an assessment of Emmanuel Levinas' 1974 treatise Otherwise than Being, or Beyond Essence (Autrement qu'être ou au-delà de l'essence).As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing -- at long last! -- on the #1 novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining Fyodor Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (Братья Карамазовы, 1880). Next, Amy delves into THE POWER AND THE GLORY (1940), arguably the magnum opus of British author Graham Greene. Both novels are considered classics of world literature. However, as Amy and I discuss, they are also theologically insightful and, in a unique way, spiritually transformative.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #2 (!) novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining what is undoubtedly one of the most important books in the history of world literature--namely, Don Quixote (1606/1615) by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616). Next, Amy delves into Brideshead Revisited (1945), the magnum opus of the great English Catholic novelist Evelyn Waugh (1903-66). Written in different languages and in different eras, these two novels make for a curious pairing. And yet, both force us to grapple with the challenges of earthly life, not to mention the attendant human longing to find meaning thereinPlease visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two recent philosophical texts -- one that is already considered a classic in the field, another that presents a penetrating overview some of philosophy's greatest thinkers. The former is Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory (1981), which, as I will explain, has had a massive influence on the recovery of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas in the tradition of virtue ethics. Next Clark will turn to Stephen Mulhall's Philosophical Myths of the Fall (2007), which probes the ethico-religious dimension in the thinking of Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

Habemus papam! On May 8, Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native and a 1977 graduate of Villanova University, was elected Bishop of Rome at the 2025 papal conclave. He took the (meaningful) name of Leo XIV and is the first pope to be born in the United States. Joining me with instant reaction to this historic election is Amy Welborn, who is currently in Rome and was, in fact, present for the announcement today. See Just FYI (cbarnett,substack.com) for more details, links, and much, much more content!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE'S second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #3 novel on our respective lists. Amy begins by examining Flannery O'Connor's darkly comic debut WISE BLOOD (1952). Next, I explore Cormac McCarthy's fêted late masterpiece THE ROAD (2006). These two works are very different in tone, and yet both ponder the possibility of a godless world -- and why only the eternal can sustain human beings amid their existential suffering. Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much (much!) more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Ideas’ second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two key works from the transformative years of the mid 20th Century. First, I dive into Simone Weil's posthumously published classic The Need for Roots: Prelude Towards a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind (L'Enracinement, prélude à une déclaration des devoirs envers l'être humain). Next, Clark turns to Iris Murdoch's 1970 exploration of moral philosophy entitled The Sovereignty of Good. Two great texts by two of the previous century's most creative and incisive intellects!As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #4 novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining Joris-Karl Huysmans' fascinating (and disturbing!) 1891 novel THE DAMNED (Là-Bas). Next, Amy explores Shūsaku Endō's famous (and controversial!) 1966 novel SILENCE (沈黙). Both works dare to probe the darkest corners of human life, albeit with an eye to rekindling a faith forgotten or misunderstood.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Ideas’ second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." Today's episode, however, will be different. In a wide-ranging conversation, my cohost Clark Elliston and I speak with George Pattison -- one of the world's leading philosophical theologians, who, among other things, has served as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford (2004-13) and 1640 Professor of Divinity at the University of Glasgow (2013-19). The occasion for our discussion is the publication of George's excellent new book Conversations with Dostoevsky: On God, Russia, Literature, and Life (Oxford University Press, 2024). However, George's erudition and geniality allowed us to touch on a number of subjects, including his role as an Anglican priest, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and why drunken football supporters are full of surprises. As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to countdown "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." However, on this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I sat down on a stormy Mardi Gras afternoon to discuss two major news stories, both of which significantly intersect with Christianity in general and the Catholic Church in particular. First, we consider the recent concerns about Pope Francis' health -- as of this recording, the Holy Father has been in hospital for a few weeks -- and we ponder his legacy and what it means for the Church going forward. Second, we breakdown the so-called Ordo Amoris controversy, which erupted when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance (a Catholic) invoked a Catholic theological concept to defend the Trump administration's policy on illegal immigration. Finally, we conclude with a few thoughts about the recent Academy Awards ceremony, which led many viewers to ask the questions: "What is Anora? And can I stream it somewhere?" As always, additional content and links can be found at Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. Your interest and support are much appreciated! Also, please consider following, liking, rating, and/or sharing our work.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two classics from the 19th Century. First, Clark offers an analysis of Democracy in America (De la démocratie en Amérique, 1835 and 1840 ) by the French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59). Next, I turn to the existentialistic novella Notes from Underground (Записки из подполья, 1862-64) written by the great Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-81). As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. Your interest and support are much appreciated! Also please consider following, liking, rating, and/or sharing our work.

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture’s second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown—this time focusing on the #5 novel on our respective lists. Amy kick things off with an examination of Wilfrid Sheed's underrated 1963 book The Hack. Next, I explore Thomas Pynchon's 1997 magnum opus Mason & Dixon. Though different in setting and in style, both novels wryly probe the modern world for signs of meaning, purpose, and even transcendence.Please visit Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown -- this time focusing on the #6 novel on our respective lists. I kick things off with an examination of Walter M. Miller's post-apocalyptic sci-fi classic A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ (1959). Next, Amy explores J.F. Powers' debut novel MORTE D'URBAN (1962). Both books explore the tension between church and society, albeit in different styles and in wildly disparate settings. Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and additional content. Please subscribe for free today, and consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode -- which might be called "Plato Day" on the pod -- I begin with a discussion of arguably the greatest philosophical work of Greek antiquity, Plato's REPUBLIC (Πολιτεία). Next, my cohost Clark J. Elliston turns to Plato's late and massively influential text TIMAEUS (Τίμαιος). As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. Your generosity and support are much appreciated! Also please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

In the last episode before we return to our series "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives," my cohost Amy Welborn and I sit down to discuss the year 2024 -- the highlights and the lowlights, particularly in the arena of culture. After a brief debate about the political "theme" of the year, we turn to our main topic: our favorite movies, TV series, books, and music of 2024. Talking points include, but are hardly limited to: A Complete Unknown, Nosferatu, A Real Pain, The Bear, Shōgun, novelist Julie Schumacher, and singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman. As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives," but today my cohost Amy Welborn and I have something else in mind. With Christmas fast approaching, we have decided to discuss our favorite Christmas movies -- an extension of our December 2023 analysis of Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life (1946) and Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960). And yet, before digging into that topic, we begin by catching up on a few hot-button news items, including the strange drones in New Jersey (and what the story really means) and Cardinal Blase Cupich's controversial December 2024 column " As We Pray...'". So please join us, whether you're out and about doing last-minute Christmas shopping, in your kitchen baking cookies or prepping the "roast beast," or just sitting by the fire sipping on a little mulled wine. Additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated! Please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, I begin with a discussion of THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS (1962), written by the decorated American philosopher of science Thomas S. Kuhn (1922-96). Meanwhile, my cohost Clark Elliston turns to the French critic and philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-84) and his celebrated 1975 study DISCIPLINE AND PUNISH: THE BIRTH OF THE PRISON (Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison). Both of these texts were considered significant, if also potentially transgressive, in their own eras. But it may be that they matter even more today! Additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today. As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated! Please consider following, liking, rating, and/sharing our work.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown -- this time focusing on the #7 novel on our respective lists. Amy begins with THINGS AS THEY ARE (1951), written by the American historian and novelist Paul Horgan. Meanwhile, I dive into THE VIOLENT BEAR IT AWAY, Flannery O'Connor's searing second novel, published in 1960. Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and additional content. If you like what you hear here, please consider supporting our work in any number of ways, whether by reviewing, sharing, or subscribing to our podcast!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston analyzes CROSSING THE POSTMODERN DIVIDE (1992), written by longtime University of Montana professor Albert Borgmann (1937-2023). Next, I follow with an assessment of A SECULAR AGE (2007), the magnum opus of celebrated Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor (1931-). These are two great books, both of which intend to help us navigate the complexity of our current socio-political era. Additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe today -- for free! As always, we truly appreciate your support. Please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

Looking for more Election 2024 coverage? Interested in a point of view that does not coincide with Twitter/X sensationalism or MSM banality? Look no further than Just FYI Pod: Culture.! On today's episdode, Amy Welborn and I take a break from our usual content and offer an analysis of Tuesday's United States presidential election. But this is not just any analysis. Instead of prattling on about "Decision 2024," Amy and I have pithily subdivided our thoughts into various categories, focusing on the people and issues that made this election cycle particularly memorable. Topics include: Butler, PA, Joe Rogan, Ann Selzer, "Joy," French Fries, squirrels, Anthony Fauci, Cornpop, and the 1986 movie Hoosiers. Please visit cbarnett.substack.com for more details, links, and content. As ever, likes, ratings, shares, and "follows" are greatly appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Ideas' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode -- which might very well be called "Nietzsche Day" on the pod -- my cohost Clark Elliston and I discuss two key texts by the (in)famous German thinker Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). After a mutual examination of the background to Nietzsche's authorship, Clark offers an assessment of Nietzsche's 1883 opus Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None (Also sprach Zarathustra: Ein Buch für Alle und Keinen). Next, I follow with a discussion of Nietzsche's polemical 1895 book The Antichrist (Der Antichrist), which puts forward Nietzsche's key concept of the "revaluation of all values" (Umwertung aller Werte). Additional content and links can be found on Substack (cbarnett.substack.com). So click the link and subscribe today for free. As always, we truly appreciate your support. Please consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work.

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown—this time focusing on the #8 novel on our respective lists. Amy begins with Catholics (1972), written by Belfast-born novelist Brian Moore (1921-99), while I dive into Submission (Soumission, 2015), arguably the greatest work by France's literary enfant terrible Michel Houellebecq (1956-). Please visit cbarnett.substack.com for more details, links, and content. As ever, likes, ratings, shares, and "follows" are greatly appreciated!

During the first season of Just FYI Pod: Ideas, my cohost Clark Elliston and I counted down our ten favorite theological texts. On today’s episode, which marks the first of Just FYI Pod: Ideas' second season, we begin to rank our favorite works of philosophy. I will start our countdown with a discussion of the #10 book on my list -- namely, Joseph Schumpeter's 1942 magnum opus Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. Clark will follow with an analysis of Hannah Arendt's famous and controversial 1963 book Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil. Additional content and links can be found at cbarnett.substack.com. As always, we truly appreciate your support. Please consider liking, rating, sharing, and subscribing to Just FYI.

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown -- this time focusing on the #9 novel on our respective lists. Amy begins with Love in the Ruins (1971), written by the great Catholic novelist Walker Percy (1916-90), while I dive into one of the more celebrated novels of the last 50 years, namely, A Confederacy of Dunces (1980) by John Kennedy Toole (1937-69). Please visit cbarnett.substack.com for more details, relevant links, and additional content. As ever, likes, ratings, shares, and "follows" are greatly appreciated!

The main task of Just FYI Pod: Culture's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I begin our countdown -- this time focusing on the #10 novel on our respective lists. Amy begins with Souls and Bodies (also known as How Far Can You Go?), published in 1980 by the English author and critic David Lodge (1935-), while I explore In the Beauty of the Lilies (1996), written by the great American homme de lettres John Updike (1932-2009). Please visit cbarnett.substack.com for more details, relevant links, and additional content. As ever, likes, ratings, shares, and subscriptions are greatly appreciated!

Just FYI Pod: Culture is back for a second season! On a sweltering late August afternoon, amid unexpected technological "upgrades" and loud recycling trucks, Amy Welborn and I sat down to preview our upcoming podcast series: "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." We sincerely hope that you will join us on this project over the next several months. Additionally, given the political tumult of the last six weeks, we couldn't resist also setting aside a few minutes to talk about the unfolding "Election 2024" presidential campaign and how it raises legitimate questions about the viability of the democratic process in an age of popular media.

After a lengthy hiatus, JUST FYI POD: CULTURE returns for a midsummer check-in. This is *not* the beginning of Season 2, which should come out around the first of September. Instead, it’s a chance to discuss a number of recent goings-on, whether personal, political, or cultural. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite refreshment, and join us!

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I have been counting down our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, and after months of deliberation, we turn to the #1 book on our respective lists! In a moment of chutzpah, Clark begins with none other than The Bible itself. Meanwhile, I explore Søren Kierkegaard’s 1849 psycho-spiritual masterpiece THE SICKNESS UNTO DEATH (SYGDOMMEN TIL DØDEN). Additional content and links, not to mention my updated Spotify “Theological Playlist,” can be found at cbarnett.substack.com. As always, we encourage you to support our podcast in any number of ways—liking, reviewing, commenting, sharing, etc. 🙏

Over the last six weeks, there has been a wave of protests on university campuses throughout the country, occasioned by the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. In this “emergency” episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I talk about these protests and their significance for higher education. Our goal here is not to delve into the war as such—an analysis better left to political scientists—but to ask why universities (especially elite universities) have become cultural flashpoints and what this phenomenon means for the future of the humanities. This is something of an impromptu conversation—and yet one worth having all the same. As always, see cbarnett.substack.com for more details and content!

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we turn to the #2 book on our respective lists. I will kick things off with a discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas’s magnum opus the SUMMA THEOLOGIAE (1265-74), while Clark will follow with a deep-dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythopoeia THE SILMARILLION (1977). Additional content and links, not to mention my updated Spotify “Theological Playlist,” can be found at cbarnett.substack.com. As always, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our work!

On our previous episode (April 17, 2024), my cohost Amy Welborn and I wrapped up our countdown of the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” One might expect that we’d now take a long break, but, on the contrary, we’re just getting started! On today’s episode, we assess the upcoming Flannery O’Connor ‘biopic’ WILDCAT (dir. Ethan Hawke), which is set to be released on May 3, 2024. Amy and I were fortunate enough to be granted access to the film in advance, and, as will be discussed, we both found it well worth our time. In addition to our analysis of WILDCAT, we offer a fairly brief (but hopefully useful) rundown of a few films that didn’t make our top-20 list. Consider this our ‘Honorable Mention’ segment! As ever, there is much, much more on cbarnett.substack.com. Check it out and subscribe for free today.

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we turn to the #3 book on our respective lists. Clark will discuss Simone Weil’s WAITING FOR GOD (ATTENTE DE DIEU, 1950), while I take a look at Joseph Ratzinger’s INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY (EINFÜHRUNG IN DAS CHRISTENTUM, 1968). These are very different works, written in very different ways, though their authors share certain theological sensibilities. Indeed, as our conversation will make clear, both Weil and Ratzinger attempt to trace the ongoing presence of God in a rapidly secularizing world. Additional content and links, not to mention my updated Spotify “Theological Playlist,” can be found at cbarnett.substack.com. As always, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our work!

We did it! The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing, yes, on the #1 film on our respective lists. I begin with Terrence Malick’s 1998 war drama THE THIN RED LINE, while Amy turns to Xavier Beauvois’ 2010 drama OF GODS AND MEN (DES HOMMES ET DES DIEUX). These two films are set in different eras, with wildly different casts and modi operandi. But both confront a world broken by political ideology, and both suggest that, amid such corruption, only the search for God is capable of providing “calm,” peace. “Je reste.”

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing on the #2 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Robert Duvall’s 1997 drama THE APOSTLE, while I turn to the Coen Brothers’ 2009 dark comedy/existential drama A SERIOUS MAN. In both films, some of the hardest questions facing human beings are taken up—the problem of evil, the desire for redemption, and the purpose of suffering. And yet, the two movies differ in style and in tone, making this an intriguing “double feature.” As ever, further details are available at cbarnett.substack.com, including artwork, film clips, and more. Likes, ratings, reviews, and shares are greatly appreciated!

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we turn to the #4 book on our respective lists. I will discuss the short, patristic-era treatise THE MYSTICAL THEOLOGY (Περὶ μυστικῆς θεολογίας), written by an unknown author who, for centuries, was identified with an early Christian convert known as Dionysius the Areopagite (Acts 17:34). Meanwhile, Clark will examine Stanley Hauerwas’ 1983 text THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM: A PRIMER IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS. One book, then, is a classic of Christian spirituality; the other is a much newer, yet still highly regarded, book on the Christian moral life. For further details, links, essays, and more, please visit cbarnett.substack.com. And, as ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our work. Enjoy…