Welcome to the Machine: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds & the Greatest World Series Ever Played
Chris is joined by prolific sportswriter Joe Posnanski to discuss his 2009 book, The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-Stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Reds’ legendary victory, they discuss the personalities, politics, and drama that culminated in what is considered by some to be the greatest World Series of all time. Joe also gives a sneak preview of his next book, tells the story of his career in sports journalism, and shares some thoughts about the current state of sports writing. Show notes: · Joe’s 2009 book, The Machine: A Hot Team, a Legendary Season, and a Heart-stopping World Series: The Story of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds· Joe’s website· Joe and Michael Schur’s forthcoming book, Big Fan: Two Friends, 81,589 Miles, and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love Time stamps: 2:05 – Origins of the “Big Red Machine”16:57 – The Reds’ 1975 season29:41 – The 1975 World Series42:10 – The Machine’s impact and legacy52:08 – Joe’s career and the future of sports writing Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.
--------
1:04:48
--------
1:04:48
Panic on the Podcast!
Chris is joined by Michael Clune, a professor at the Ohio State University’s Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society, and the author of the excellent new novel, Pan. They discuss some of the themes and ideas underlying Pan, as well as Michael’s vision of literary scholarship and its place in the modern university. Show notes: Michael’s new novel, PanMichael’s previous book, A Defense of Judgement“We Asked for It,” Michael’s 2024 essay in The Chronicle of Higher EducationAEI’s recent event, “Literature in Limbo,” for which Michael served as a panelist Time stamps: 1:12 Pan’s origin and its relation to Michael’s criticism7:12 The challenges of portraying mental illness in literature13:51 Ritual and cultural artifacts in the novel27:33 Technology, shared experience, and the 90s40:22 Understanding experience through narrative50:30 The study of literature in higher education Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan and S. Lillywhite.
--------
1:02:31
--------
1:02:31
Pre-mendous!
Chris is joined by Brendan O’Meara, the founder and host of the Creative Nonfiction Podcast and author of a great new biography, The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine. They discuss the life of American distance running legend Steve Prefontaine (a.k.a. “Pre”), including his childhood, the highs and lows of his running career, his untimely death, and his legacy. Show notes:· Brendan’s new book, The Front Runner: The Life of Steve Prefontaine· The 1972 Olympic 5000m final· Without Limits, the 1998 Prefontaine biopic Time stamps:1:33 Early life in Coos Bay, Oregon10:35 Entrée into running and rise to stardom20:57 Pre’s character, on and off the track30:43 College career and “Pre’s people”35:30 1972 Olympics43:20 Post-Olympic comeback and fight against the AAU50:09 Death and legacy Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan and S. Lillywhite.
--------
1:02:14
--------
1:02:14
Creative Catholics: Literature & Theology in the 20th Century
Chris is joined by Cassandra Nelson, an affiliate fellow in literature at the Lumen Center in Madison, Wisconsin, an associate fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, and the author of A Theology of Fiction (Wiseblood Books, 2025). They discuss the life and thought of Sr. Mariella Gable, a Benedictine nun who had an under-appreciated influence on Catholic literary fiction during the 20th century. They also talk about the relationship between theology and literature, the work of Betty Wahl and J.F. Powers, and more. Show notes:Cassandra’s new book, A Theology of Fiction, and the 2022 First Things essay on which it is basedSr. Mariella Gable’s anthologies of Catholic fictionJ.F. Powers’s collected short storiesThe Lumen Center’s websiteChris’s book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven’t Read) Time stamps:2:56 Sr. Mariella Gable’s conception of Catholic fiction23:20 Sr. Mariella’s controversies and influence29:31 A theology of comedy35:15 Betty Wahl and J.F. Powers45:20 Reading as a spiritual practice and the moral dimension of fiction56:55 Cassandra’s recommendations This episode is brought to you by Root & Branch, the only bed linens designed especially for guest rooms. Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan and Otis Wilbury.
--------
59:31
--------
59:31
Summertime Blues: 2020 in Hindsight
Chris is joined by his AEI colleague Thomas Chatterton Williams, whose latest book Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse was published earlier this month. The two discuss Thomas’s analysis of the events and ideas that led to the protests, riots, and all-around madness of the summer of 2020; cancel culture and the importance of free expression; the concept of race and its relation to cultural heritage; and more. Show notes:Thomas’s new book, Summer of Our DiscontentThe Harper’s LetterThomas’s previous book, Self-Portrait in Black and WhiteChris’s book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven’t Read) Time stamps:2:36 Reflecting on the summer of 20206:13 The promises and shortcomings of the Obama era14:32 The “Great Awokening” and the rise of Trump21:07 Cancel culture and the cult of anti-racism36:35 The Harper’s Letter and the fight for free expression42:47 Post-racialism and cultural heritage50:22 From January 6 to October 756:09 Charting a path forward This episode is brought to you by the Rockford Agency. Our trained investigators have specialized in CLOSED CASES since 1968. $200/day + expenses. Call (311) 555-2368 and leave a message. Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist. Produced by Sean Doolan.
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.
USA