Listen to Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about His Dark Materials! Read along with “The Subtle Knife” as we explore the philosophy, science, and religion that makes this series a classic.
Caitlin and Alan are watching the Netflix hit Lockwood and Co, and want you to listen along! The Problem will cover each episode of the season, in the hopes that the show can find a new home. Just like in Measures of Truth, we will be comparing the books to the show, and trying to figure out what it all means. You can find the podcast page HERE or on any of your favorite providers.
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about the final two episodes of His Dark Materials! Warning: these episodes could make you violently cry! We sure did. We love gay Mary! Metatron was almost human looking enough to be perfect! Will and Lyra’s story was perfectly heartbreaking. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswindram The Podcast @MoTPod Please email us [email protected]...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan finish “The Amber Spyglass!” We debate the nature of Dust. What it means to grow up. If Philip Pulllman planned it all out from the start. We love this book, and we love the bittersweet ending. Sophia is a wisdom thing. Novellas are a thing. Telenovelas are a totally different thing. Teleology is a philosophical thing. You can visit the place Lyra and Will share across worlds. The Hero’s Journey is a mythic thing. Spinoza was a philosopher. Pan settled as an Euro...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan loved episodes 305 and 306 of His Dark Materials. No notes. Just great. There is a His Dark Materials stage play . Amber is a tree thing. No Man’s Sky is a galactic exploration video game simulation. Wheel and axel is a tool thing. Ball Bearings are also a tool thing. Limbo is a liminal thing. Purgatory is a Catholic thing. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswin...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan debate if Will is a Jedi, can’t remember MacPhail’s new title, and are delighted to hear “Everyone is beautiful.” Ruth Wilson is our favorite again- but we still love to hate Lord Asriel. Iorek using a hammer off-screen was the right choice, but changing the Gallivespians was a mistake. The Matrix is a film thing. Innocence is an important idea in Western Culture. Jurisprudence is a legal thing. Brutalism is an architectural thing. Torii Gates are a Shinto thing....
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan debate what exactly happened between Will and Lyra when they confess their love for each other in chapters 33-35 of “The Amber Spyglass.” We also learn about the science of coevolution and the garden of Eden. Who is sex-crazed on the podcast, and are they right? Christian Fascism is a political thing. Marzipan is a dessert thing. Turkish Delight is also a dessert thing. The Problem of Susan by Neil Gaiman Coevolution is a science thing. Replaying Life’s Tape coul...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about the return of His Dark Materials! Why is there so much Lord Asriel? What is Mrs Coulter doing waiting for a man? Why is Father Gomez so hot? And… wow Father Gomez has dreamy eyes… and- hot Father Gomez! Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe performing a poem in sign language. There are lots of sign language . The Swiss Guard dress like the Gallivespians. In skydiving a greenlight does not mean- jump ! It just means the pilot’s job is finished and air traffic control...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about taking the lid off of canned god in chapters 30-32 of “The Amber Spyglass.” Mrs Coulter and Lord Asriel meet their fate, String Theory and Hermes make an appearance, and we argue if Marissa Coulter can be redeemed by one good deed. Tater tots are not archangels. Fragile Masculinity is NOT a thing. And furthermore men are NOT compensating! And are never vulnerable!! Weighing a soul after death as a form of judgement, is an ancient motif in many religion...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about escaping the land of the dead in chapters 26-29 of “The Amber Spyglass.” Lord Asriel reminds us of a certain billionaire. Roger rejoins the universe. We argue about if souls have mass. All of the important stuff. NFTs are a scam thing. Elon Musk’s Hyperloop is a dumb thing. Monism might be a thing. Trepanning is still a thing. The 21 grams Experiment is a famous example of trying to measure a dying human for a soul. Dualism might be a thing. Process Ph...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan discuss chapters 23-25 of “The Amber Spyglass.” We gush about the perfection of chapter 23. Well… most of us do. What will you tell the harpies when you die? Maybe it will be a metaphor, but does that make it a lie? Will it be a buddy cop story with Lord Roke and Mrs Coulter? Because we want that. Modernity is a paradigm thing. “ The Origin of the Universe: Philip Pullman on Stephen Hawking ” by Philip Pullman appeared in the Autumn 2006 edition of Exeter College...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan march into the world of the dead in chapters 19-22 of “The Amber Spyglass.” We rant about the Suburbs of the Dead, learn about Psychopomp Ferrymen, and argue about what Mary’s bliss is all about. Swindon is a (boring) place. Garth Nix wrote “The Keys to the Kingdom” series. Each of the seven books is named after a day of the week. Dark Matter is a thing that doesn’t interact with anything else. Psychopomps are a mythological thing. Bad Faith is a Sartre thing. Th...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan read Chapters 15-18 of “The Amber Spyglass!” Lyra and Will move to The Suburbs of the Dead, and re-forge the Subtle Knife. What kind of rocks did Lyra use for forging? Is the knife an Abstract Machine? Are children fully human? We talk about all of it. The idea of a White Savior appears in lots of Western Art, but is also a harmful political force in society to this day. Gas-rich meteorites are a thing. MIG and TIG Welding are modern techniques for working with m...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about Chapters 11-14 of “The Amber Spyglass.” We talk about the factions that clash over Lyra. What is Africa in Lyra’s world? Does quantum entanglement require violins? We find all the answers. Check out a binaural version of this episode ! The Swiss Guard are the personal security force of the Pope. Meganisoptera are an extinct thing. Quantum Entanglement is a thing. Plato’s Republic is a (novel?) thing? Hardcore History is a good podcast. The Tripartite S...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan read chapters six through ten of “The Amber Spyglass.” For the first time ever we all agree about our Least Favorite Thing- and so we argue about it. We talk about the science of Mulefa evolution, the real-world history of the Consistorial Court, and the morality of hunting children. Stephen Jay Gould proposed the thought experiment of “replaying the tape of life” in his book “Wonderful Life.” Catholic Sex Scandals involving children Senescence is a thing. The Pa...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan are back to talk about the first five chapters of “The Amber Spyglass!” We debate if the book starts too slow, or just right. Should Lyra’s dreams of Roger get edited out? What on Earth is Gnosticism? Are Gallevespians venomous or poisonous? We (do not) have all the answers! Balthazar is a monster-of-the-week demon in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The Three Wise Men are not named or numbered in the New Testament. Kendal Mint Cake is pure energy you can keep in your...
Caitin, Francis, Anya, and Alan loved Æsahættr, even if they can’t pronounce it. We talk about all of Season Two and our favorite parts of the finale. It was mostly people dying. We love it when we cry about characters dying. That is totally normal. Self-harm is a symptom of other struggles that can have many causes. If you or someone you know struggles with ANY kind of self-harm (including psychological) please seek help ! You don’t deserve to suffer and you don’t need to suffer. Winchester rif...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan debate if children deserve hugs in ‘Malice’. Mrs Coulter comes out as a super-hero, we ask ‘do daemons shed’, and Sarafina finally meets Lyra. Do you feel bad for Lord Boreal or do you want more child murder? What kind of choice is that? What kind of podcast is this? Alexandre Dumas was a famous writer, and had a mixed race heritage from present-day Haiti. Fascinators are a thing. ‘ The Epic of Gilgamesh ’ is a thing. Moral Relativism is debated as being, or not ...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan debate about who exactly is The Scholar, does theology enter into science, and is Mrs Coulter out of Lord Boreal’s league? Buckle up your monkeys for a lesson in spiders, snakes, and the Spanish Inquisition. Devon, England is certainly a place… with cottages… Spiders have a body part named Pedipalps which are usually different sizes depending on the sex. Nephila genus of spiders can be large and are known for creating complicated webs. The Holy Inquisitions were ...
Francis, Caitlin, Anya, and Alan break into the Tower of Angels and find a civics lesson on English governance, sacred geometry, and the greatness of Hester. We talk about Metatron- who is NOT an fascist alien robot- and the best translation of a scene from the book into the show. Mary talking to angels!
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan reflect on Theft and disagree about what’s great and what needed more work. But we all agree it has a wonderful moustache. Come fan the hammer with us as we learn about life in an observatory and the philosophy of pedagogy. Bad Wolf makes ‘His Dark Materials’ and does not listen to our podcast. Probably. SciPy is a thing. Fanning the Hammer is a thing. What is a MP 40 ? I Ching Divination Orientalism is a thing Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire introduced...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan explore The Cave. We talk about Mary Malone, Oxford geography, and building a credit score with God. Watch out for the return of our Spoiler Section at the end! Hobnob Biscuits are popular in England, but would be called cookies by anyone in the US. The number of co-authors for Scientific Publications is increasing in every field , but does not necessarily translate in wider collaboration. Merely the sharing of equipment. American listeners (AKA Yanks) might be c...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan talk about witches, submarines, and witches on submarines. We loved the premiere of the second season. And not JUST because of Red-Panda-Pan. OK maybe 95% because of Red Panda love- but be honest! That is a cute daemon. We recorded this episode on Nov 7 2020 when media predictions in the US claimed an electoral victory for the Biden-Harris presidential team over the incumbent. Also- on N7 Day it was announced that Bioware will release a re-mastered version of the...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan finish the second book of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and feel good enough about it to talk for over two hours. Do we finally figure out what Dust is? Does this book have an ending? What is the Alamo anyway? Some of these questions will probably be answered, but no promises. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswindram The Podcast @MoTPod Please email us c...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan discuss chapters 12 and 13 of “The Subtle Knife” by Philip Pullman. We can’t stop talking about Science as Mary Malone steals the show. We talk about Serpents, how Ruta is completely the worst, and question if Dust is Angels. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswindram The Podcast @MoTPod Please email us [email protected]...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan read chapters 9, 10, and 11 of “The Subtle Knife” by Philip Pullman. We remember that we love the witches, that we really missed Mrs Coulter, and we debate how exactly the Subtle Knife works. Are you ready to talk about the Z-Axis? Well get ready! Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswindram The Podcast @MoTPod Please email us [email protected]...
Caitlin, Francis, Anya, and Alan pull a heist as the COVID timewarp continues in chapters 6, 7, and 8 of ‘The Subtle Knife’ by Philip Pullman. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswindram The Podcast @MoTPod Please email us [email protected]...
Caitlin, Anya, Francis, and Alan read chapters 4-5 of’The Subtle Knife’ by Philip Pullman. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya @StrangelyLiterl Cailtlin @inferiorcaitlin Francis @franciswindram The Podcast @MoTPod Please email us [email protected]...
Caitlin, Anya, and Alan welcome Francis to the team as we start Will’s adventure in ‘The Subtle Knife’ by Phillip Pullman. We talk about mental health, willpower, and how much we hate a certain Witch Queen. The Subtle Knife has a very different start and tone to it- which fits our weird pandemic time-capsule perfectly. We recorded the podcast on March 18th 2020 when lockdowns associated with the COVID pandemic became ubiquitous. We were feeling a lot of anxiety… Philip Pullman wrote the Young Ad...
Caitlin, Anya, Francis, and Alan wrap up the first season of His Dark Materials by reading all the emails we’ve gotten. We love Ruth Wilson, pick daemons for each other, love Ruth Wilson, and- oh did we mention we love Ruth Wilson? We go over our favorite moments, music, and knitwear of the season and discuss the letter “U” much more than anyone would have guessed! British Brevity is certainly a feature of Commonwealth shows, as compared to American TV. Musical Episodes are a thing. Lani Diane R...
Caitlin, Anya, and Alan talk about the finale of His Dark Materials! Caitlin doesn’t care about Roger. Anya sees a Buffy connection. Alan can’t stop himself from saying Moses. We love the look of the show, Mrs Coulter, and we want Season Two right now. The Folger’s incest ad is a Holiday Tradition What is heteronormative ? Soldiers actually do parachute with attack dogs . Article about Ruth Wilson leaving The Affair. Our theme song is Clockwork Conundrum by NathanGunn Follow us on Twitter: Anya ...
