Podcast Benomtad

"The Pink (Carnation)," by the Brothers Grimm

A queen was without child, and an angel came to her and told her she would have a child who would have the power of wishing.  After she had the child, the cook, who knew of the son’s ability, staged the son’s death and blamed the queen, who was imprisoned by the king for seven years. 
The cook, who was afraid the son would have him discovered, had the boy wish for a palace to live in, and then a beautiful companion.  The cook would go out and hunt like a nobleman every day.  But soon, he was again afraid the boy would tell the truth, and told the girl to kill him, on pain of death.  She refused, but he persisted, and she eventually told the boy of the plan. He had her kill a hind and present the cook with the heart and tongue.  He had the cook turned into a poodle
 
The girl was afraid to accompany him back to his kingdom, so he turned her into a carnation and put her in his pocket, and they walked with the poodle chained behind him.  He visited his mother in the tower, then worked as a huntsman for the king, and during a feast he wished for others to bring up the topic of his mother.  He revealed the truth to the king, who rejoiced and freed the queen.  Hot coals were poured down the poodle’s throat, and then he was executed; the father and queen soon died of grief and relief.  The boy and girl were married.
 
Chapters:
00:00 Reading of the Story
10:25 The Ambivalent Power of Wishing
12:25 Like the Garden of Eden and Corruption of Greed for Power
16:34 The King’s Gullibility
18:40 The Upside Down Kingdom
22:41 The Cook Feels Himself Losing Control
29:21 Why Does the Boy Turn the Cook into a Black Poodle?
36:26 Returning Home and Seeing Mother in the Tower
40:11 Why Does the Prince Refuse to Sit Next to his Father?
43:19 The Prince Wishes His Mother Into the Room
50:33 The Queen’s Virtue
53:32 The Ironic Power of Wishing
54:58 Final Reflections
 
Thank you for watching!  If you’re interested in the full discussion, see below:
 
The full video episode:
https://youtu.be/1a8GjTiQYNM
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
 
Pink Carnation Girl Photo by Alka Rautela on Unsplash

Death Reveals the True Bride

When the false bride finally arrives, the true bride again almost dies.  Ian sees this as a kind of initiation, a test to see if he will finally know who she is and remember his promise--and who he really is.
(From a discussion on the Brothers’ Grimm’s “The Twelve Huntsmen”)
 
Thank you for watching!  If you’re interested in the full discussion, plese see below:
 
The full video episode:
https://youtu.be/-yZySp8Qshs?si=pDyETKJjS7546OZC
 
Audio episode:
https://benomtad.podbean.com/e/on-the-brothers-grimms-the-twelve-huntsmen-the-guys-of-truth/
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vr3DwaH1OZBg239-GJ7AE6x
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
 
Huntsman Photo by Kam on Unsplash
 
Lion Photo by Alexas_Fotos on Unsplash
 
Princess Silhouette Photo by Baran Lotfollahi on Unsplash

On the Brothers Grimm's "The Twelve Huntsmen:" The Guys of Truth

Death of the King
A Prince, betrothed to his Beloved, is called away, for his father the King is dying.  He gives his ring to his love and says he will marry her when he is king.
 
The Promise
At his father’s deathbed, bereaved, he promises to marry the King’s chosen bride for him.  He forgets his previous promise.
 
The Disguise
The princess almost dies of sadness, and her father says he will do whatever he can, and she asks that eleven maidens like herself in form and face be found.  Together with her, the twelve are dressed as huntsmen and presented to the new King, who does not recognize any of them but accepts them as his company.
 
The Tests
However, the wise Lion advises the King that they are no ladies.  Two tests are devised, but another advisor on the ladies’ side helps them pass them, and the monarch dismisses the beast.
 
Truth Revealed, the Prince is Made Whole
The king and the Huntsmen spend time together well, but the soon-to-be Queen arrives, and the true beloved almost dies again.  The king rushes to her and recognizes her, taking off her glove and seeing his ring.  They marry, the other princess is dismissed, and the lion is brought back into the king’s company.
 
Please join us for this tale of disguised truth, true disguises, getting lost at home and finding the truth in the woods!
 
Chapters: 
00:00 Introduction
00:13 Reading of the Story
05:54 The Symbolism of a Dish vs. a Key
08:05 The Dying King vs. a True Love
15:15 Forgetting the Wish
22:20 A Wily Leader in a Sick Social Order
27:42 The Power of Twelve
30:45 The Truth Revealed in a Challenge
34:35 Death & The Prince’s Character
41:35 Suddenly, the Magical Talking Lion
48:29 The Lion’s Relaxed Character
49:45 The Lion’s Tests
55:55 Why the Women are Disguised as Huntsmen
57:55 Why the Princess Almost Dies Twice
1:00:58 Why are the Girls Hunters?
1:05:05 Hunting in Stories and Maturity
1:08:40 The Prince Almost Loses All
1:10:55 Our Suspicion of Instinct and the Narrowing of Rationality
1:21:17 The Truth of a Disguise
1:26:12 True Compassion Leads to Insight
1:30:11 Compassion: The Lifeblood of Society
 
Thank you for watching!  I love and have faith in dialogue.  Please leave a suggestion for new guests, topics, or this conversation.  How I can expand this Open Minded Thought and Discussion?  And if you’re interested, please check out the following:
 
The full video episode:
https://youtu.be/-yZySp8Qshs?si=pDyETKJjS7546OZC
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vr3DwaH1OZBg239-GJ7AE6x
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

People are Alienated from Religion and the Real (Clip)

I summarize John Vervaeke (& Allan Bloom) on problems of religion in modernism.  They often focus on identity, dogma, or stand for nothing.  
 
People don't go to it because it does not speak to them.  So why are people turning more to Orthodox Christianity?
 
(From a discussion on Religious Revival and Renewal)
 
Pew Article: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/12/08/religion-holds-steady-in-america/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
 
Richard Reeves’ Post:
​​https://x.com/RichardvReeves/status/2002400790208463046?s=20
 
AP Article about Modern Orthodoxy:
https://apnews.com/article/young-converts-online-eastern-orthodoxy-eef496dcd83a061d90a0b7aba33b6113
 
Thank you for watching!  I love and have faith in dialogue.  Please leave a suggestion for new guests, topics, or this conversation.  How I can expand this Open Minded Thought and Discussion?  And if you’re interested, please check out the following:
 
The full video episode:
https://youtu.be/LP-tJ1JhOyg
 
Audio episode:
https://benomtad.podbean.com/e/religious-revival-for-cultural-renewal/
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vr3DwaH1OZBg239-GJ7AE6x
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
Cathedral Photo: Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

Religious Revival for Cultural Renewal

Is there a religious revival in America?  We used data from Pew to answer this question, and we talk about cultural malaise and how religion falls on deaf ears, and how it may speak to us again.
 
Chapters:
 
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Meditation & Contemplation
10:09 Key Questions about the Religious Revival
12:46 Religious Decline Has Stopped
15:40 Why are People Turning Away from Religion?
24:34 Traditional vs Liberal Mass
28:23 There’s No Such Thing as Dragons
32:23 Narrow Philosophy
35:42 Strange Philosophies in Our Time
37:21 Where is Our Agora?
42:50 The Need for Community and Meaning
49:15 Why I Started this Podcast 
50:52 A New Religious Way Out of Our Zombie Life
 
(From a discussion on Religious Revival and Renewal)
 
See this doc for description ideas: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ek66Ru4HpNJtYQWP6crrus5-Z_x-3aBKV5RnD7lGcE0/edit?tab=t.0
 
Pew Article: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/12/08/religion-holds-steady-in-america/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
 
Richard Reeves’ Post:
​​https://x.com/RichardvReeves/status/2002400790208463046?s=20
 
AP Article about Modern Orthodoxy:
https://apnews.com/article/young-converts-online-eastern-orthodoxy-eef496dcd83a061d90a0b7aba33b6113
 
Thank you for watching!  I love and have faith in dialogue.  Please leave a suggestion for new guests, topics, or this conversation.  How I can expand this Open Minded Thought and Discussion?  And if you’re interested, please check out the following:
 
The full video episode:
 
Audio episode:
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

But the Divine is Always with You (Clip)

The Carnation is the Prince: The carnation the heroine burns at the beginning of the story IS the prince at the end.  He requires her to speak, but she freezes up, so he has to go into a stone... So she has to go through trials until she can freely express.  But he is always there when she is ready to speak.
 
(Discussion on “The Carnation Youth;” A Clip from the Episode “Perfectionism, Tragedy, and Creative Blocks”)
 
Thank you for watching!  I love and have faith in dialogue.  Please leave a suggestion for new guests, topics, or this conversation.  How I can expand this Open Minded Thought and Discussion?  And if you’re interested, please check out the following:
 
The full video episode:
https://youtu.be/8_o0x6Z7ixc
 
Audio episode:
https://benomtad.podbean.com/e/perfectionism-tragedy-and-creative-blocks/?token=6f91a2f5ea7cd671ae5de554c8681a61
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vq-TnaienDlJJ1ZdTknAqVn
 
“The Carnation Youth” full text:
https://archive.org/details/talesofenchantme00eell/page/22/mode/2up
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.

Perfection in Narcissus (Clip)

The Echo of Orpheus: Narcissus' repulse of Echo reminds me of another vain god, Orpheus, master of music.  Both end up being served by poetic justice.
 
We see perfectionism in this, and in the refusal to join in, to dance in life, leads to destruction.
 
(A Clip from the Episode “The Myth of Narcissus: Seeing Only Oneself”)
 
Thank you for watching!  Please check out:
 
Audio episode:
https://benomtad.podbean.com/e/the-myth-of-narcissus-seeing-only-oneself/
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vq-TnaienDlJJ1ZdTknAqVn
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
Narcissus Flower Photo Photo by Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash

Perfectionism, Tragedy, and Creative Blocks

We read and discuss the Spanish Folktale “The Carnation Youth,” F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tragedy both in life and in “The Great Gatsby,” and Ian’s struggles with the creative writing process.  
 
Chapters:
 
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Reading of “The Carnation Youth”
10:05 Letting the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good
14:25 Why Does She Burn the Carnation in the Fire?
24:33 The Carnation is the Prince
29:10 The Carnation Girl’s Second Chances
33:10 Creation & the Erotic
39:13 Why Are You So Afraid?
49:01 Trust, Do What You’re Supposed to Do…
51:56 Meeting the Impossible Challenge
55:53 Stoic Gods
59:11 F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tragic Life
1:07:05 The Great Jay Gatsby and Hope
1:18:08 Renewal in Death of Tragedies
1:24:59 Attraction to Tragedy
1:30:28 Stoic Framing and Feeling Out of Joint
1:36:18 My Creative Struggle May be Misapprehended
1:41:46 Talking About the Creative Struggle
 
Thank you for watching!  Please check out:
 
The full video episode:
https://youtu.be/8_o0x6Z7ixc
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vq-TnaienDlJJ1ZdTknAqVn
 
“The Carnation Youth” full text:
https://archive.org/details/talesofenchantme00eell/page/22/mode/2up
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
 
Clip Intro Music “A Baroque Letter” - Aaron Kenny

Narcissus’ Pool is the Mind (Clip)

This pool is a metaphor for the mind.  But there is a "healthy narcissism" that is developmentally-appropriate.
 
(A Clip from the Episode “The Myth of Narcissus: Seeing Only Oneself”)
 
Thank you for watching!  Please check out:
 
Audio episode:
https://benomtad.podbean.com/e/the-myth-of-narcissus-seeing-only-oneself/
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vq-TnaienDlJJ1ZdTknAqVn
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
 
Clip Intro Music “A Baroque Letter” - Aaron Kenny

Why Narcissists Don’t Seek Help (Clip)

When you lack a feeling of substance, you need to be propped up by others.
 
(A Clip from the Episode “The Myth of Narcissus: Seeing Only Oneself”)
 
Thank you for watching!  Please check out:
 
Audio episode:
https://benomtad.podbean.com/e/the-myth-of-narcissus-seeing-only-oneself/
 
The Podcast Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vqfEOVgfclRgZNXO4boyP3T
 
The Episode Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIlJwXEK2vq-TnaienDlJJ1ZdTknAqVn
 
For more in this podcast, please go to:
Podbean:
https://benomtad.podbean.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-benomtad/id1748320863
YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/@scissorsandpaper/videos
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/4kJPGlaJjGVyLa9AKhci6t?si=8XXrX9FUT3CU71reCfA5kQ
X:
https://x.com/Benomtad
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benomtad
 
I plan to conduct more interviews with various guests, so please check back later for those.
 
Narcissus Flower Photo Photo by Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash