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Inquisitive Pontification

Inquisitive Pontification

By Nathan R. Carlsen

Inquisitive Pontification is an exploration of my understandings of different topics like Politics, Religion, Faith, Policy, film, television, popular culture, my crazy Uber rides (I'm a driver) and the people I meet, etc... And, hopefully, along the way, I'll be challenged on my ideas and paradigms of how I view the world and perhaps I'll grow. Maybe, just maybe, you'll want to grow with me too.
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Dune, Matrix and Spiderman - S2E7

Inquisitive PontificationFeb 11, 2022

00:00
01:23:02
Ruth Moen (my great Aunt) Talks About Her Father, the cabin and Family - Carmonel Part 2

Ruth Moen (my great Aunt) Talks About Her Father, the cabin and Family - Carmonel Part 2

Ruth Moen is my great aunt. We sat down at our family cabin on Fish Lake in northern Wisconsin to talk about how wonderful it is to have such an incredible gift as a family cabin and the story of how it came to be and her father's part in it. 

Sep 24, 202230:19
Carmonel Family Cabin 60+ Anniversary - Carmonel Part 1

Carmonel Family Cabin 60+ Anniversary - Carmonel Part 1

This is a recording of the purchase of our family cabin over 60 years ago. At the gathering, multiple family members share stories and reminisce about fond memories that happened at the cabin or other family histories. This is part one of a hopefully multiple-part series exploring my family's incredible family cabin and its many stories. Enjoy.

Jun 26, 202201:18:47
Religious Cult I'SOT Survivor - Zaundia

Religious Cult I'SOT Survivor - Zaundia

In this episode, I talk with an old friend of mine. Her name is Zaundia, she and I met in Duluth Minnesota years ago at a church called The Vineyard. Today she shares a story of a cult that she was able to escape from in California. This religious cult is called I'SOT (In Search of Truth). I wasn't aware of the name of the cult to begin with, as you see. But after some digging during a break on this episode, I was able to find out some more information. 

Below are some links with more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27SOT
https://www.isotsurvivors.info


Jun 17, 202201:41:33
Community after Tragedy with Pastor Michael Houle

Community after Tragedy with Pastor Michael Houle

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin made national news because of the terrible tragedy after Lilly was murdered by her relative. I asked Michael Houle, a pastor for the Vineyard Church in Chippewa Falls, to talk to me about how a community can heal from such a tragedy and what we, as Christians, should be doing and what we should not be doing. 

This episode was recorded before the more recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. I plan on addressing it in a future episode, but the bottom line is that we need to do more than thoughts and prayers. 

May 31, 202248:06
Star Trek Cruise, Oscars, & more with Travis - S2E9

Star Trek Cruise, Oscars, & more with Travis - S2E9

Travis and I talk about his experience on the cruise he went on that had multiple Star Trek actors, including George Takei and other actors he met. We also discuss a few other movies like Coda, Jo Jo Rabbit, The Lost City and Moon Knight and, of course, the slap. 

Apr 24, 202201:28:37
What makes a church a cult? - S2E8

What makes a church a cult? - S2E8

Amanda and I discuss her experience with the Duluth Bible Church. A church in Duluth Minnesota that she says is a cult. We discuss her problems with it, why she says it's a cult, and the differences between unhealthy churches that are cults, or have cult-like characteristics and healthy churches and what makes them healthy. We also discuss gender, sex, orientation, race, politics and film. (so yeah, pretty much one of the best conversations ever :)

Feb 24, 202202:46:52
Dune, Matrix and Spiderman - S2E7

Dune, Matrix and Spiderman - S2E7

Travis and I discuss three new movies we both watched. Dune, Matrix and Spiderman. We also discuss Whoopi Goldberg's recent controversial statements and how that might effect our view of her character in the next Picard season. 

Feb 11, 202201:23:02
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with Travis - S2E6

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with Travis - S2E6

Travis and I catch up on what we've been watching, what we're excited for in series and movies, and try to stay on topic talking about Ten Rings...sometimes we suceed. 

Nov 23, 202101:39:05
The Hope of Star Trek with Travis - S2E5

The Hope of Star Trek with Travis - S2E5

Travis is an old collage friend of mine who shares a love of Star Trek and is also a cosplayer. He and I discuss the hope of Star Trek, specifically the end of racism, sexism, economic disparities, etc...among all the shows and movies. We also talk a lot about Deep Space Nine (because it's both our favorite series). Some of the details that we discuss when it comes to what actor or character did what, when and why might be wrong, so, take the "facts" with a grain of salt I guess. 

Aug 24, 202101:37:55
ELCA Lutheran Pastor Lori Pepper - S2E4
Jun 29, 202101:48:07
Talk with a Libby, a teacher in Minneapolis - S2E3

Talk with a Libby, a teacher in Minneapolis - S2E3

Libby is a friend of mine who lives in Minneapolis and a teacher there. We discuss her experience with the George Floyd protests, Black Lives Matter, and how she responds to it as a teacher in a school district with students who are predominantly people of color. We also discuss church experience and the election, and what she is reading and watching during the pandemic. 

Feb 03, 202101:34:16
Christianity and Fascism: A discussion with Jonathan Miller - S2E2

Christianity and Fascism: A discussion with Jonathan Miller - S2E2

Jonathan Miller served as Dean of Men in MPLS and Center Director in Duluth for Minnesota Teen Challenge for 10 years. He graduated Fuller Seminary with a Masters in Divinity. He currently co-Pastors a small church, The Vine, in Midtown Sacramento.   

The books/ authors I mentioned and their notable books: J. Phillip Newell (Christ of the Celts)/ Richard Rohr (The Universal Christ)/ Justo Gonzalez (Santa Biblia)/ Howard Thurman (Jesus of the Disinherited)/ Terry Wardle/ Karl Batth/ Jurgen Moltmann/ Sarah Coakley/ Catherine Doherty. For a little fun Nadia Bolz-Webber.

Jan 16, 202154:06
Dan Plys - Longboarding Across the Country to Fight Childhood Hunger - S2E1

Dan Plys - Longboarding Across the Country to Fight Childhood Hunger - S2E1

Daniel Plys (an old friend from Duluth) is longboarding the entire length of the Missippi to spread awareness and fight childhood hunger. This was a passion of his father's before he died of cancer and is now something he himself is fighting for as well. Take a listen. 

https://kbjr6.com/2020/09/04/duluth-man-to-longboard-down-the-mississippi-river-for-a-good-cause/

https://www.2500forhunger.com/

https://www.facebook.com/projectjoynorthland

Oct 07, 202053:02
Lost dog found by Neighbor! - S1E11

Lost dog found by Neighbor! - S1E11

Here is the heartwarming story of how I lost my parent's dog on the very first day I was supposed to dog sit for a week...and several hours later my neighbor called me and told me they saw her. Jake and I also discuss what is giving us hope and how we like Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Aug 31, 202001:02:01
Interview with Megan Corse about acting, Chicago, Wisconsin, race, and small mammals named Bob - S1E10

Interview with Megan Corse about acting, Chicago, Wisconsin, race, and small mammals named Bob - S1E10

This episode was recorded a few weeks ago, before the events in Minneapolis and the murder of Goerge Floyd by a police officer. I plan on recording a podcast that directly addresses this with a longer, thoughtful episode. However, in my interview with Megan, she shares some of her thoughts and feelings about race in the United States, and specifically who she has experienced things in Chicago and Wisconsin. She explains that as a descendant of an African American, it is very real to her when black people are mistreated. I hope you enjoy this episode.
Megan Corse IMDb page
Original Music by Anastasia Vishnevsky
Jun 12, 202001:02:53
Conversation with Matt Kendziera on Evangelicism, the Bible and Faith (Part 2) - S1E9

Conversation with Matt Kendziera on Evangelicism, the Bible and Faith (Part 2) - S1E9

This is part 2 of a 2 part episode where I talk with my friend Matt Kendziera. We continue our discussion about God, politics, faith, church, and community.
Matt's "Jesus Never Ran" podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts
May 27, 202028:24
Conversation with Matt Kendziera on Evangelicism, the Bible and Faith (Part 1) - S1E8
May 17, 202032:47
Uber Stories: A Bartender Story - S1E7
Apr 25, 202022:23
Why Allen Kelly came forward about Brian Williams - S1E6
Apr 10, 202033:18
Uber Story - Talk with a Christian Stripper - S1E5
Mar 31, 202013:14
Nate talks with Laura Lieffring (film & tv makup artist) - S1E4
Mar 27, 202035:08
Nate talks with his Uncle Matt who lives in Japan - S1E3

Nate talks with his Uncle Matt who lives in Japan - S1E3

My uncle Matt and I talk about how life is different now that the virus hit the world. We talk about how Japan's government differs from the US government in their response, and how our culture differs as well.
Original Music by Anastasia Vishnevsky
Mar 23, 202001:08:24
Nate talks with his Grandma - S1E2

Nate talks with his Grandma - S1E2

This is my first interview episode, there will be more to come. Recorded this in person a few weeks before the virus hit. We talk about how my grandmother met my grandfather, how our family cabin started, and how she almost died as a child...but was saved because of goats milk.
Original Music by Anastasia Vishnevsky
Mar 22, 202017:20
Edelweiss - S1E1
Mar 20, 202030:57
Preview & Introduction to the Inquisitive Pontification

Preview & Introduction to the Inquisitive Pontification

This isn't episodes 1. This is the introduction to my podcast, Inquisitive Pontification. Which is an exploration of my understandings of different topics like Politics, Religion, Faith, Policy, film, television, popular culture, my crazy Uber rides (I'm a driver) and the people I meet, etc... And, hopefully, along the way, I'll be challenged on my ideas and paradigms of how I view the world and perhaps I'll grow. Maybe, just maybe, you'll want to grow with me too.
In this Preview, I talk about some of the ideas that I'd like to discuss.
Original Music by Anastasia Vishnevsky
Mar 19, 202009:34