x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Back of the Book

In The Back of the Book, host Christopher J. Scalia interviews writers, scholars, and other expert guests about culture and the arts.Listen to The Back of the Book, along with more than 40 other original podcasts, at Ricochet.com. No paid subscription required.

arts books

All Episodes

59:52

The Arts in America, with Daniel Asia

The Back of the Book ·

2025/01/24

Daniel Asia, a composer, author, and president of The Center for American Culture & Ideas, joins Chris to discuss his musical career (including his new opera), advise newbies on where they can start enjoying classical music (his answer will surprise you), and consider the place of high art in the United States. Is there a tension between democracy and excellence? Is there anything the new administration should do to boost our engagement with opera, classical, music, and the performing arts? From

en

60:37

Classical English, the Socratic Method, and Stoicism:...

The Back of the Book ·

2024/12/20

Author Ward Farnsworth joins Chris to discuss his Classical English series, as well as his books on Stoicism and the Socratic Method. What—and how—can we learn from the style, rhetoric, and argument of great writers from the long 19th century? How are the ancient Stoics comparable to modern cognitive psychologists? And how can the Socratic method be an antidote for stupidity? Plus, Chris explains his father’s theory of the Shakespeare Principle.Ward Farnsworth is professor and W. Page Keeton Chair

en

59:11

The Poetry and Fiction of Sally Thomas

The Back of the Book ·

2024/12/02

Chris’s guest is the poet and fiction writer Sally Thomas, who shares a few of her poems and discusses some of her stories. Sally and Chris also talk about her development as a writer, why she enjoys writing formal poetry, and what she does when her short-story characters won’t leave her alone. Sally is the author of The Blackbird and Other Stories (Wiseblood, 2024) and the forthcoming poetry collection Among the Living (Able Muse Press, TBA). She also co-edits the Poems Ancient and Modern Substack

en

49:30

Ross Douthat on Fantasy Literature and The Falcon’s...

The Back of the Book ·

2024/11/15

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat joins Chris to discuss his serialized fantasy novel, The Falcon’s Children. What inspired one of America’s most important political observers to write a work of fantasy, and to serialize it on Substack? What are his hopes for the project? And why is fantasy such a compelling literary genre?Show NotesRoss’s novel, The Falcon’s Children Ross on Game of Thrones and J.R.R. Tolkien Ross’s fantasy bookshelf Patricia Snow on Hilary MantelCorrection: Bret Easton Ellis

en

51:01

Virtue Ethics and Athletic Excellence with Sabrina B....

The Back of the Book ·

2024/10/31

Chris talks to philosophy professor and competitive trail, road, and ultramarathon runner Sabrina B. Little about virtue ethics, athletics, and her book The Examined Run: Why Good People Make Better Runners. How can distance running—and sports in general—form us into virtuous people? Conversely, what vices can they shape? What does it mean to live the good life? And what’s so bad about “no pain, no gain,” anyway? Thanks to Pre-Pro Guardians for sponsoring this episode.· Sabrina’s book, The Examined

en

71:10

Keith O'Brien on The Life and Legacy of Pete Rose

The Back of the Book ·

2024/10/09

Chris speaks to Keith O’Brien about the life and legacy of Pete Rose. O’Brien is the author of Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball (Pantheon, 2024). Keith interviewed Rose for his remarkable book and has insights about the legend you won’t hear from anyone else. At the top of the episode, Chris shares his memories of Pete Rose, who died on September 30. Then Keith joins to tell us about how Rose, um, rose to fame, what he accomplished on the field, how

en

80:39

Saturday Night Live at 50, with Scot Bertram and...

The Back of the Book ·

2024/10/01

The sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live is about to embark on its 50th season. How has the show lasted so long? How has it reflected and shaped our culture? Who are its best cast members, what are its funniest sketches, and who or what’s been over- or underrated? Find out during Chris’s conversation with Scot Bertram and Christian Schneider, the co-hosts of “Wasn’t That Special: 50 Years of Saturday Night Live,” a podcast dedicated to the show’s history. Show notes:Saturday Night Live, “More

en

56:29

Fr. Damian Ference on 'Understanding the Hillbilly...

The Back of the Book ·

2024/09/26

Father Damian Ference, a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, joins Chris to discuss his new book, Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist: The Philosophical Foundations of Flannery O’Connor’s Narrative Art.What did the great American novelist and short-story writer mean when she called herself a “hillbilly Thomist”—how did the thirteenth-century Catholic philosopher shape her art?Father Damian and Chris also discuss a compelling new movie about Flannery O’Connor, as well as a recent letter from

en

54:36

AEI’s Christine Rosen on 'The Extinction of Experience'

The Back of the Book ·

2024/09/19

Chris talks to AEI Senior Fellow and Commentary columnist Christine Rosen about her new book, The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World. How have new technologies shaped our interactions with each other and the physical world? Have they changed our understanding of what it means to be human? Plus, Christine talks about her favorite science fiction.LinksKeats: “Ode on Indolence”Drew Gilpin Faust: “Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive” (The Atlantic)Commentary podcast: “Our

en

0:54

Introducing 'The Back of the Book'

The Back of the Book ·

2024/09/09

en

30 results

Similar Podcasts

Start The Breakthrough Full Audiobook Now, Thriller Fans!

thebookvoice.com

Get Hooked On The Life-Enhancing Full Audiobook Experience!

thebookvoice.com

西四五条

主播郑捕头

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

On Mic Podcast

Jordan Rich