Lynx on Life: Recent Episodes
Lynx on Life
Lynx on Life attempts to make sense of the world around us and the many questions that seem unanswerable. What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to love? Why do humans feel an inclination toward a spiritual or divine realm? What does it mean to live in accordance with this realm? Why do we fear death? Just as Henry David Thoreau contemplates life through personal experience, we invite students, faculty, and staff to do the same in their unique lives.
Professor LaRosa is a professor of History and Latin American Studies at Rhodes College. He has published numerous books and articles, especially pertaining to Colombia and immigration.
Time stamps:
(1:00) Growing up in the Northeast
(6:30) Encountering Latin America History
(15:20) War in Latin America
(18:00) Religion in politics
(26:30) Cultural diversity in Latin America
(30:00) Personal religion
(38:30) Problems with religious authority
(42:45) The future of American politics
(47:30) Fidel Castro
(52:50) Professor LaRosa’s personal life
(55:00) The power of books
(58:20) The meaning of life
(1:01:45) Martin Luther King
(1:04:00) Forgiveness
Professor Thomas Goodman is a professor of political science at Rhodes College. We discuss moving to the south, growing up, developing political beliefs, and listening to music. Professor Goodman then ends our episode with some advice for young people.
Click here to view Professor Goodman's YouTube channel
Today, I speak with Kofi Whitehead and Bryce Anderson. The two of them are baseball teammates, roommates, and respectively the President and Vice President of Men of Distinction. In the following, we discuss baseball, parents, race, identity, God, prayer, and the meaning of life.
Today, I speak with Michael Georgescu, famously known as “Gerg.” Whether he’s squatting 500 pounds for reps or walking through an ice storm shirtless, Gerg’s mental toughness is a captivating spectacle of which nearly all Rhodes students are aware. I first noticed Gerg as he put himself through a 3-hour professional level workout in the Rhodes gym, sporting his typical IMG Academy apparel. With an agility ladder, boxes, and a heavily loaded barbell, Gerg proceeded to grind month after month, year after year. Nearly three years later, I have finally gotten the opportunity to talk to him about his drive and life experience. It was a worthwhile conversation.
In the following, we discuss Anime, Family, Creativity, Fitness, Meditation, Comfort, Religion, and Death.
(2:00) Music and Anime
(7:45) Family
(15:45) IMG
(22:50) Free Time and Creative Thinking
(29:00) Working Out
(34:40) Meditation
(40:50) The Comfort Zone
(44:15) Focus
(46:10) Religion, Spirituality, and Truth
(51:45) Death
Today, I speak with Professor Sarah Boyle, Professor of Biology and Chair of the Environmental Science Department at Rhodes College. Her research considers the impact of human behavior on the environment and other species. Specifically, she considers the effects of climate change on primates and plant life.
When she was not much older than I am now, Professor Boyle traveled to South America to study the largest forest in the world. In the wilderness of the Amazon, she studied bearded sakis and watched as their habitat continued to deteriorate. Now, Professor Boyle has made it her life’s work to ensure that people are aware of the harm that humans are not only doing to their own habitats but those of so many other unique lives.
In the following, we discuss the Amazon, primates, climate change, anthropocentricity, compassion, consciousness, health, the limits of knowledge, and love.
Enjoy!
Today, I speak with Professor John Kaltner of the Rhodes College Religious Studies Department. Professor Kaltner has published many books about the Abrahamic Religions, paying particular attention to the overlap between the Qur’an and the Bible. Among his published works are How the Qur’an Interprets the Bible and Islam: What Non-Muslims Should Know. While he does not describe himself as a formal Muslim, Professor Kaltner seeks a pluralistic understanding of religious faith and finds the Islamic notion of “submission” particularly meaningful in living a good, contemplative life. In today’s discussion, Aidan Smith joins us in our examination of Professor Kaltner’s life, his religious beliefs, scripture, gratitude, love, and the meaning of life.
Stay tuned for Aidan’s closing reflection of this week’s episode.
Jeremy Park is the Founder and CEO of CityCurrent, a Memphis organization which focuses on connecting businesses with non-profits in order to give back to the community and “empower the good.” Jeremy is also the author of two books, Giving Back with a Purpose and Giving for Growth. He has received numerous awards including Forbes "40 Under 40" and has devoted his life to helping those in need. In this episode, we discuss family, death, service, faith, and the meaning of life.
Here is a link to learn more about CityCurrent: https://citycurrent.news
Today, I speak with Mallory Mire, chair of the multicultural vision program, vice president of the Black Students Association, and president of the Rhodes College cheer team. Mallory was one of the first people I met at Rhodes, as we happened to sit next to each other during our first Life class called “The Bible and Ethics.” Having then shared many of our ethical views with one another (which certainly have changed over the past two and half years), I knew that our conversation would be worthwhile. Mallory fiercely stands up for what she believes in and follows her every passion to the greatest extent possible. Whether on the topic of diversity and inclusion or on the football field during homecoming, Mallory let’s people know what she finds worthy of fighting for.
In the following, we discuss family, schooling, faith, music, race, and identity. Enjoy.
Today, I speak with Aidan Smith and Peter Bahouth.
I have unfortunately only recently met Aidan, but I knew very soon after meeting him that he would make an excellent guest for Lynx on Life. In fact, his Watson Fellowship project, called Cosmographia, is almost exactly like my podcast. If he is selected for the Fellowship, he will be traveling the world, interviewing artists, religious folk, and everyday people alike, seeking to understand the significant role that art and religion play in the formation of consciousness. His friend, Peter, joins us as well.
Peter's parents immigrated from the Middle East and lived the American Dream, working hard to give their kids the best life they possibly could. Their hard work has certainly paid off as Peter plans to attend medical school next year. He brings with him a plethora of religious and historical knowledge that makes this podcast brilliantly exciting.
In the following, we discuss family, video games, consciousness, religion (monotheism vs polytheism), mindfulness, and "the void." I found our round-table-like discussion exciting and insightful. Enjoy!
NOTE: I made my first concentrated attempt to edit the audio for this recording. As such, some words occasionally become cut-off or distorted. Nevertheless, the audio is much better with the edits. I'm still trying to figure all this out.
Today, I speak with John Howell, a senior political philosophy major, a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, the Student Body President at Rhodes College, and one of the most authentic and intelligent people I have ever met. I am excited that John is my first student guest. I have had multiple classes with him in my time at Rhodes, and seemingly every time he raises his hand, he expresses an incredibly thoughtful question or comment. He is truly a one of a kind student. I tried to keep up with John’s intellect in today’s discussion, as it provides valuable substance for all of us to contemplate throughout the podcast and truly throughout the rest of our lives.
We discuss academia, politics, philosophy (i.e. Plato, Aristotle, and Nietzsche), religion (i.e. Catholicism, Islam, Judaism), art, music, theatre, and love.
I added some house keeping to the beginning, so the show starts at 05:27.
Enjoy!
In our first ever guest episode, I speak with Professor Stephen Wirls. He has published multiple essays, journals, and books, including The Invention of the United States Senate, which he co-authored with his youngest brother Daniel. Professor Wirls has been a member of the Rhodes Political Science department since 1994 and has recently transitioned to the Philosophy Department, where he teaches and researches political morality. He is currently working on a book about Machiavelli, Shakespeare, and the intersection of politics and religion.
I am happy that Professor Wirls agreed to join me on the pod, as he is an astonishing intellectual and insightful mentor to many students at Rhodes (including myself). I can think of no one more worthy of being our first guest. We discuss his childhood, his political awakening, popular culture, spirituality, and love. Enjoy.