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The VSI podcast season two: Homer, film music, consciousness, samurai, and more

The Very Short Introductions Podcast offers a concise and original introduction to a selection of our VSI titles from the authors themselves. From Homer to film music, the Gothic to American business history, listen to season two of the podcast and see where your curiosity takes you!

Homer

Homer: A Very Short IntroductionIn this episode, Barbara Graziosi introduces Homer, whose mythological tales of war and homecoming, The Iliad and The Odyssey, are widely considered to be two of the most influential works in the history of western literature.

Listen to “Homer” (episode 25) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Calvinism

In this episode, Jon Balserak introduces Calvinism, which has gone on to influence all aspects of contemporary thought, from theology to civil government, economics to the arts, and education to work.

Listen to “Calvinism” (episode 26) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Canada

In this episode, Donald Wright introduces Canada, a country of complexity and diversity, which isn’t one single nation but three: English Canada, Quebec, and First Nations.

Listen to “Canada” (episode 27) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Film music

Film music: A Very Short IntroductionIn this episode, Kathryn Kalinak introduces film music, which began as an accompaniment to moving pictures and is now its own industry, providing a platform for expressing creative visions and a commercial vehicle for growing musical stars of all varieties.

Listen to “Film music” (episode 28) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

American immigration

In this episode, David Gerber introduces immigration, one of the most contentious issues in the United States today which has shaped contemporary American life and fuels strong, divisive debate.

Listen to “American immigration” (episode 29) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Consciousness

In this episode, Susan Blackmore introduces the last “great mystery for science”—consciousness and the questions it poses for free will, personal experience, and the link between our mind and body.

Listen to “Consciousness” (episode 30) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

Samurai

Samurai: A Very Short IntroductionIn this episode, Michael Wert introduces samurai, whose influence in society and presence during watershed moments in Japanese history are often overlooked by modern audiences.

Listen to “Samurai” (episode 31) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

The Gothic

In this episode Nick Groom introduces the Gothic, a wildly diverse term which has a far-reaching influence across culture and society, from ecclesiastical architecture to cult horror films and political theorists to contemporary fashion.

Listen to “The Gothic” (episode 32) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

The animal kingdom

In this episode, Peter Holland introduces the animal kingdom and explains how our understanding of the animal world has been vastly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development in recent years.

Listen to “The animal kingdom” (episode 33) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

American business history

American business history: A Very Short IntroductionIn this episode, Walter A. Friedman introduces American business history and its evolution since the early 20th century when the United States was first described as a “business civilization.”

Listen to “American business history” (episode 34) via Apple PodcastsSpotify, or your favourite podcast app.

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Recent Comments

  1. Richard Hennessey

    Re you statement about Canada’s three nations: English Canada, Quebec, and the First Nations: I would suggest that French Canada, rather than merely Quebec, might be a better comparison with the other two groups.

  2. izmir tente

    very good content

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