Oh Tranquility!

On this Remembrance Day episode, your humble host reads a modern First World War poem, and waxes semi-eloquent about war art, evocative skies, the Battle of the Somme, and what all of that has to do with a woman flipping off drivers at an intersection. Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will the world as we know it still exist on release day? Your humble host contemplates that question and the US midterm elections in the context of politically-inspired new music by Dan Mangan and Bryan Adams, and waxes semi-eloquent about political fatigue, populism, and leadership as outlined in the Tao Te Ching. Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the offer of a free record player be the voice of God? Your humble host contemplates the question this week, and waxes semi-eloquent about the subtle clues life sometimes gives to encourage you on your path.Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you do the positive talk show when you're not feeling all that positive? Your humble host contemplates that question from within an unplanned hiatus, and waxes semi-eloquent about an inclination to disappear, directing energy in positive ways, the iHeart Top Host competition, stepping tentatively into life coaching, and the future of the show.Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a few rough weeks on the pickleball court, your humble host confesses to consulting The Inner Game of Tennis to address his mental fragility, and waxes semi-eloquent about pickleball as a crucible for confronting self-consciousness, detachment, getting out of your own way, and new music by Earth Tongue.Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com.Donate to the Mary Jennifer Payne cancer fundraiser here.Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, your humble host contemplates the musical phenomenon that is Angine de Poitrine, and waxes semi-eloquent about happy accidents, synchronicity, joyful escape, the Dadaist art movement, and acting on strange creative impulses. Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, your humble host suggests four ways of withdrawing from modern culture, and waxes semi-eloquent about social media habits, sunk cost fallacy, decluttering, being authentically yourself, and new music by Grace Cummings. Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, your humble host further laments his audience's preference for pancakes over personal development, and waxes semi-eloquent about strategies for coping with difficult circumstances, new music by Chez Kane, and trivia from The Terminator. Join us on Substack. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, your humble host contemplates anxiety, and waxes semi-eloquent about dark thoughts as a catalyst for personal inquiry, separating the thoughts from the thinker, questioning our stories, and real reality versus fake reality, all in the context of the song Monsters by Mountain Boy. Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com.Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, your humble host contemplates cynicism, and waxes semi-eloquent about how cynicism keeps people stuck in life, Greek dog philosophers, how to take responsibility and shift to a more positive focus, and new music by Röxxi Red. Join us on Substack at semieloquentpodcast.substack.com. Listen to the Referenced on the Podcast 2026 playlist here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.