Sam, have you read Martin Shaw's Courting the Wild Twin? It's a story-based look at shadow work. I really appreciated it.
I've had a funny relationship with pop music and artists over the years. Currently, I don't think I'd call myself a Taylor Swift enjoyer, I appreciate her music, and how she has tried to use her influence to improve the music making industry. I do think she is a really solid lyricist.
While I'm lukewarm on pop as a genre, I keep finding that the artists making it are very talented people. John Mayer is another that I paid very little attention to, until a friend sent me some blues recommendations and John Mayer was on that list. The man is an incredible guitar player! I've listened to that album enough times that there is a non-zero chance he'll be on my Wrapped this year, which might be my biggest surprise of 2025.
“What if I roll the stone away - they are going to crucify me anyway” (Guilty as Sin)
No surprise that I loved this episode. Not because I’m a pop princess groupie, but because I knew you’d have an introspective, grace-filled perspective on this.
And you gave me validation I hadn’t been able to explain to my Christian-music only sister. I’ve only come to poetry in the last fifteen years and seek writers who are accessible and don’t make me feel stupid. My poet map contains artists who write what they see, and allow the reader to extract the metaphor. It’s what I’ve seen in Taylor from the beginning. “Our song is a slamming screen door…” Lines that don’t give me a headache, but paint a picture (without adverbs!!) and allow me to apply it.
I appreciate the practice of altering music consumption and a deep bow to Sam for going out on a limb. It’s how I discovered Lord Huron , Turnpike Trubadours, The Avett Brothers.
Thank you for continuing to be accessible and open and for grounding your discussions in psychology, theology, and kindness.
Sam, have you read Martin Shaw's Courting the Wild Twin? It's a story-based look at shadow work. I really appreciated it.
I've had a funny relationship with pop music and artists over the years. Currently, I don't think I'd call myself a Taylor Swift enjoyer, I appreciate her music, and how she has tried to use her influence to improve the music making industry. I do think she is a really solid lyricist.
While I'm lukewarm on pop as a genre, I keep finding that the artists making it are very talented people. John Mayer is another that I paid very little attention to, until a friend sent me some blues recommendations and John Mayer was on that list. The man is an incredible guitar player! I've listened to that album enough times that there is a non-zero chance he'll be on my Wrapped this year, which might be my biggest surprise of 2025.
Liv, you should listen to Taylor’s song Dear John and all the pop world music will collapse on itself!
I’m dying!
HA!
I have not read that from Shaw…but I’ll try to find it!
Now I wish I would have kept my big mouth shut more and let Seth talk about some of her songs (specifically).
I suppose the only option is a part two sometime in the future!
“What if I roll the stone away - they are going to crucify me anyway” (Guilty as Sin)
No surprise that I loved this episode. Not because I’m a pop princess groupie, but because I knew you’d have an introspective, grace-filled perspective on this.
And you gave me validation I hadn’t been able to explain to my Christian-music only sister. I’ve only come to poetry in the last fifteen years and seek writers who are accessible and don’t make me feel stupid. My poet map contains artists who write what they see, and allow the reader to extract the metaphor. It’s what I’ve seen in Taylor from the beginning. “Our song is a slamming screen door…” Lines that don’t give me a headache, but paint a picture (without adverbs!!) and allow me to apply it.
I appreciate the practice of altering music consumption and a deep bow to Sam for going out on a limb. It’s how I discovered Lord Huron , Turnpike Trubadours, The Avett Brothers.
Thank you for continuing to be accessible and open and for grounding your discussions in psychology, theology, and kindness.
“If you never bleed, you’re never gonna grow”
I’m grinning from ear to ear. Thank you.
Next up…shadow work??