The Two Tongues Podcast

S3E49 - Empedocles, A Fugitive from God

In this episode we read the surviving fragments of the philosophy of Empedocles and explore the shamanistic and mystical foundations of Western thought. Empedocles carries on the Orphic and Pythagorean tradition in his quest for Ultimate Reality, for which Aristotle grants him the title of 'Natural Philosopher'. But a strange kind of natural philosopher indeed! He speaks of the union of opposites, of the thing that is paradoxically One and Many; he understands it to be eternal and uncreated; the source of the cosmos, the gods and men. And where did this information come from? From logic, rationality, deduction? Not a bit. It came directly from the divine, from the Great Goddess herself.

Enjoy ;)

S3E48 - Parmenides the Shaman

In this episode we explore the fragments of the works of Parmenides that survive to modern times, with a focus on the mystical, shamanistic tradition expressed in them. In Parmenides, like Pythagoras before him, we find a mystic seeking a personal experience of the divine; we also find an honest-to-God Shaman, who visits the divine realm, speaks to "the Goddess" and brings mystical insight back to the living. It is fascinating to see just how closely linked the classical world and Western philosophy are with the pre-historic religious ideas of traditional shamanism.

Enjoy ;)

S3E47 - Toy Photography, Man

In this episode we take a break from religion and current events to reminisce with our old friend Matthew from "Ohio Toy Kick." We discuss old times, the state of art and creativity in modern America, music, professional wrestling, and, of course, Matthew's artistic expression in the form of toy photography. Don't knock it 'til you've seen it. The guys from Ohio Toy Kick create incredible stills using camera perspective, shadows and scale, fast-motion and all kinds of shit. As Kyle put it, "its like creating 3D versions of comic book scenes. 

Enjoy ;) 

S3E46 - C.S. Lewis in Space Part 2 - Perelandra

In this episode we tackle the second novel in C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. We explore Venus as a new and innocent paradise, meet the mirror or our primordial Mother--Eve--and get to watch as she's tempted by the Devil. But this time...this time, there's another presence in the garden, our hero--Elwin Ransom--and he's hungry for serpent! Lewis weaves theological concepts masterfully into the re-telling of the Eden myth. We explore the pros and cons of religious monism, the meaning of evil and contemplate if and how it can be conquered. 

Enjoy ;)

S3E45 - Semiotics, Symbology and a Couple of Langdon’s

In this episode Chris reunites with good friend of the show--Daniel Torridon of the Onion Unlimited Podcast. We had a blast assuming a Robert Langdon persona and delivering the most epic exploration of religious symbols known to mankind.

Enjoy ;)

S3E44 - The Dandelion Trust

In this episode Kyle and Chris host professional trauma counselor Ross Hyslop, all the way from across the pond and through the misty moors of Scotland. A long-time fan of the podcast, Ross, not only reached out to make our connection reciprocal, but journeyed to Cleveland to join us in our studio in-person. We talk about his background, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and the line between psychology and religion. It was an honor to host Ross and we hope this is only the start with much more to come.

The two of us might be the Two Tongues, but the three of us are...The Dandelion Trust.

Enjoy ;)

S3E43 - PopPunk and Terrorism

In this episode Kyle and Chris reconnect after 2 weeks. We catch up on current events, but not before reminiscing about the 2000s Pop Punk scene and exploring ethnic stereotypes. We then culminate with a discussion of the current Israeli-Gaza conflict, demonstrating the importance of history and the destructive power of revenge. 

Enjoy ;) 

S3E42 - Psyche in Antiquity Part 2

This episode rounds out our exploration of Ed Edinger's "Psyche in Antiquity." We cover 200 years of Greek thought from Anaxagoras to Zeno, focusing on their cosmological ideas and chasing the "arche." This chase becomes a Jungian circumambulation around the idea of incarnation. Mind, Form and Soul are all said to incarnate into matter or as matter. They are the divine, numinous element of reality...perhaps the only reality...and they form the bridge between the manifest cosmos and the world of the gods.

Enjoy ;)

S3E41 - Kyle’s Back Baby

In this episode Kyle and Chris reunite after a long hiatus. Two Tongues once again! We talk C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy, touch on Russell Brand and Danny Masterson, drink a few beers and be merry.

Join us won't you?

S3E40 - Seeking the Arche - When Philosophy was Mysticism

In this episode we track the first 100 years of Pre-Socratic philosophy with an eye toward it's insights into human psychology and the origins of religion. We take this tour with the great Jungian psychologist Edward Edinger, through his book "The Psyche in Antiquity." From Thales to Parmenides we trace their search for the "Arche," the generative unity from which all of reality was born--the cosmos and the psyche. Is it Water, Air, Fire...or being itself?

Enjoy ;)