Best Tim McIntosh Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 4: Beyond Sentimentality – The Odyssey’s Vision of Wholeness in a Disenchanted World 51:50

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6d ago51:50

51:50

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore Homer’s Odyssey as a foundational story of familial love and longing. They examine Odysseus as the archetypal man of arete, whose journey is motivated by storge—a profound affection for home, wife, and son. From Penelope’s weaving to Telemachus’ awakening…

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Wuthering Heights: Final Chapters 50:00

7d ago50:00

50:00

We’ve come to the end of Emily Bronte’s novel and so we’re here to discuss, well, how it ends. Up first: Sean’s opinion. Then we discuss the impact of the late-stage POV-shift, whether this is a ghost story, the fun-to-discuss questions at the core of the book, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this …

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Episode 3: Antigone’s Stand: Love, Loyalty, and Loss 51:11

13d ago51:11

51:11

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh tackle Sophocles’ Antigone as part of their series on love—specifically, storge or familial affection. They explore how Antigone’s fierce devotion to her brother puts her in direct conflict with the demands of civic duty, embodied by Creon. As the hosts unpack th…

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Wuthering Heights: Chapters 22-28 1:09:13

14d ago1:09:13

1:09:13

Welcome back to our ongoing conversation about Emily Bronte’s novel! This week we discuss whether it’s too melodramatic, Heathcliff’s malevolence, Cathy’s kindness to pathetic Linton, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.subst…

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Episode 2: The Selection Show: Building the Love-Reading Season 40:05

20d ago40:05

40:05

Description In this special episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh unveil the reading lineup for Season 2, themed around love. Drawing from C.S. Lewis’s framework of the four loves—Storge (affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romantic love), and Agape (charity)—they nominate and debate the classic works that best repre…

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Wuthering Heights: Chapters 15-21 1:00:00

21d ago1:00:00

1:00:00

Welcome back to our ongoing series on Emily Bronte’s novel! This week we’re discussing the degree to which the book is a love story, the strange circumstances of a particular character’s death and another character’s birth, the inevitability of the narrative (and it’s structure), and much more! Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd li…

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Mitch Holthus in Kansas City, Mo. (100th Episode) 51:08

21d ago51:08

51:08

Mitch Holthus (hole-tus) is the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs and is the longest tenured and most decorated play-by-play "voice" in franchise history. He was on the call of Super Bowls 54 & 57 when the Chiefs won their second and third Super Bowl championships. He was also on the call of Super Bowl 55 in February 2021. Holthus is also the host of…

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Close Reads Live: A Special Tenth Anniversary Discussion of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" 1:02:19

27d ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Ten years ago, on the first ever episode of Close Reads, we discussed “A Good Man Is Hard To Find,” the famous story by Flannery O’Connor. Last weekend, at our tenth anniversary party, we revisited it and we’re excited to share that discussion with you now. So whether you’ve been listening all along or whether it’s first time, thanks for tuning in …

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Episode 1: The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis: Exploring the Types—and Limits—of Human Love 34:08

27d ago34:08

34:08

Description In this opening episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh kick off Season 2 on the theme of love by diving into C.S. Lewis’s The Four Loves. They unpack Lewis’s taxonomy—Storge (affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romantic love), and Agape (charity)—and explore how each form shapes human life and literature. …

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Brent Stover in New York City 1:00:09

28d ago1:00:09

1:00:09

Brent Stover joined CBS Sports Network in 2010 as a play-by-play announcer, calling football, basketball, and various other Olympic sports. He also serves as a studio host for the Network's coverage of college basketball and college football. Before CBS Sports Network, Stover served as host, anchor, reporter, and play-by-play voice for the Big Ten …

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Wuthering Heights: Chapters 11-14 1:06:55

1M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

Welcome back to our ongoing series on Emily Bronte’s classic novel. This week we discuss the roots of the characters’ various issues, Cathy’s and Heathcliff’s sense of connection to one another, the profound sense that there is nothing solid upon which the characters can stand, Nelly’s seeming disdain for Cathy, and much more! Happy listening? This…

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Damion McIntosh in Fort Lauderdale, Florida 58:26

1M ago58:26

58:26

Damion McIntosh came to Kansas State in 1995 out of McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida. A native of Jamaica, McIntosh began playing football in high school to maximize the potential of his immense size. Playing both defensive and offensive tackle, McIntosh received recruiting interest from all over the country, but picked Kansas State based…

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Wuthering Heights: Chapters 7-10 55:40

1M ago55:40

55:40

Welcome back to our ongoing series on Emily Bronte’s classic novel. This week we’re discussing whether the book includes either a protagonist or an antagonist, how we should interpret the narration of Nelly, who we most sympathize with, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or…

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Joe Tillery in Prairie Village, Kansas 1:04:11

1M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Recent Kansas State graduate Joe Tillery was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was an infant, and his life expectancy meant he wouldn't live to attend college. He did, benefiting from advances in medicine and a positive spirit to live beyond the years of most patients of this deadly disease. Now 25, Tillery finds himself in the hospital less a…

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Wuthering Heights: Chapters 1-6 1:01:37

2M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Welcome to a new series! As we kick off our conversations on Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, we discuss the genius of the Bronte sisters, the somewhat disorienting nature of the book’s framing device, the way Bronte creates atmosphere, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers o…

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Blaine Younger in Nashville, Tennessee 58:52

2M ago58:52

58:52

Blaine Younger is a singer-songwriter originally from Victoria, Kansas. It was in his home state, near his alma mater, Kansas State, where he toured and released several projects throughout the 2000s. In 2016, Blaine won the Nashville Songwriters Association International song contest with his song "PatiOasis," which introduced him into the Nashvil…

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Chad Weiberg in Stillwater, Oklahoma 1:02:47

2M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Chad Weiberg assumed the role of Oklahoma State Vice President and Athletic Director in July of 2021 after having spent the previous four years as OSU's Deputy Athletic Director. The timing of his promotion to athletic director lined up with seismic shifts in the national landscape of college sports. Realignment within the Big 12 Conference and the…

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The Great Gatsby: Q&A Episode 1:30:05

2M ago1:30:05

1:30:05

As always, you had plenty of great questions about our current book and on this episode we did our best to answer a bunch of them. Thanks for tuning in to and participating in this series. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/su…

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Erick Harper in Las Vegas 1:03:43

2M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

Former Kansas State safety Erick Harper is in his fourth year as athletics director at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, or UNLV, after being promoted to serve as UNLV's 14th permanent Director of Athletics on Jan. 1, 2022. Harper served as UNLV's Interim Director of Athletics from August 16, 2021, to December 31, 2021. As UNLV's AD, Harper overs…

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The Great Gatsby: The Final Chapters 1:16:37

2M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

It’s a bit late, but better late than never, right? Apologies for the delay! The upload speeds weren’t great in the English countryside. All the same, we’ve come to the end of The Great Gatsby, which means it’s time to talk about some of the most memorable passages in American literature. Join us as we dig in. Happy listening! This is a public epis…

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Matt Wells in Manhattan, Kansas 1:00:51

2M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Known as a great offensive mind and developer of quarterback talent, Matt Wells boasts over 25 years of coaching experience. He is in his second season at K-State, serving as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and associate head coach since 2025. Last season, he served as co-offensive coordinator. Wells hit the ground running in his fir…

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Shanele Stires in San Luis Obispo, California 1:13:02

3M ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Shanele Stires graduated from Salina Central (Kan.) High School in 1990. That is not only Fitz's alma mater, but he also covered high school sports for his hometown newspaper that year, watching Stires excel in multiple sports for the Salina Central Mustangs. After high school, Stires attended Kansas State on a track scholarship but then headed to …

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The Great Gatsby: Chapter 4-6 55:02

3M ago55:02

55:02

Welcome back to our series on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, in which we discuss his best novelistic skills, including his ability to deal in subtext while also creating mood. Plus: the way the book explores the dissonance between desire and reality, whether any of these characters have any interest in (or capacity to see) higher things, and much mor…

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Hunter Woodhall in Wamego, Kansas 44:02

3M ago44:02

44:02

Hunter Woodhall is an American track and field Paralympian and the first double amputee to earn a Division I NCAA track scholarship, and is married to fellow Olympian and Kansas State assistant track and field coach Tara Davis-Woodhall. In 2024, Woodhall won his first Paralympic gold medal in the men's 400m T62 event in Paris. He also won a bronze …

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The Great Gatsby: Chapters 1-3 1:05:36

3M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Welcome to a new series of episodes on another wonderful book. It’s our first re-read here on Close Reads and it’s timely, too, since The Great Gatsby just turned 100 years old! So join in as we discuss what’s made F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel last a century, what makes Nick Carraway a compelling narrator, the tragic longing at the nostalgic core of…

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A Mailbag Episode 1:26:36

3M ago1:26:36

1:26:36

We’re in between books so we answered as many of your questions as we could—which is to say, this is one of those wide-ranging episodes on a variety of topics. Snack foods, book organization, novels we wish we wrote, protecting the canon, Lewis or Tolkien, and much more. Hope you enjoy! Until next time, happy reading. Up next: Chapters 1-3 of The G…

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Scot Pollard in Carmel, Indiana 1:08:33

3M ago1:08:33

1:08:33

Scot Pollard grew up in San Diego, and after considering Arizona as his college basketball destination, he chose Kansas so he could play for Coach Roy Williams. After a stellar college career, Pollard was selected as the 19th pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, going to the Detroit Pistons. Pollard played for five NBA franchises during his 10-year professi…

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Piranesi: Q&A Episode 1:04:55

3M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

You had questions; we did our best to answer them. It’s the Piranesi Q&A episode. Happy listening! Up next: An ask-us-anything mailbag episode, then we’ll be kicking off a new series on The Great Gatsby. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subs…

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Chris Klieman in Manhattan, Kansas | Season 6 Premiere 58:31

3M ago58:31

58:31

Chris Klieman followed the legendary Bill Snyder as Kansas State's football coach in 2019. In less than three months, Klieman will kick off his seventh season as head coach of the Wildcats. The K-State program has played in a bowl five of Klieman's first six seasons, with only the chaotic pandemic season in 2020 being the exception. Overall, he is …

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Piranesi: To the End 1:24:02

3M ago1:24:02

1:24:02

We’ve come to the end of Susannah Clarke’s novel, which means it’s time to discuss whether the somewhat controversial ending is ultimately satisfying, different ways of interpreting the book, the way it presents it’s myriad philosophical contemplations, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with oth…

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Piranesi: Chapters 4 and 5 1:03:37

4M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Wikipedia rabbit holes. Peacefulness or lack thereof in the world of Piranesi. The source of human goodness and morality. Sudafed fever dreams. These and many other topics are discussed on this week’s discussion of Susannah Clarke’s novel. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access …

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Piranesi: Parts 2 and 3 1:02:54

4M ago1:02:54

1:02:54

Welcome back to our ongoing conversation on Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi. This week we’re discussing the book’s genre-bending nature, Clarke’s extremely allusive approach (from Coleridge to Lewis and others in between), whether the house of a dark place or a peaceful place, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to dis…

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Piranesi: Part 1 1:00:33

4M ago1:00:33

1:00:33

Welcome to a new series! It’s time to dig into Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, a book that’s been requested many times since its release in 2020. In this episode, we’re previewing things and thinking about how to read it before discussing part 1. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces…

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O Pioneers!: Q&A Episode 1:04:23

4M ago1:04:23

1:04:23

You had questions; we did our best to answer them. It’s the final episode on O Pioneers!, and we’re sad to see it go. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribeBy David Kern, Heidi White, and Sean Johnson

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O Pioneers!: To the End 1:13:55

5M ago1:13:55

1:13:55

This week, Sean describes how he wasn’t prepared for the ending of this book and we discuss the precision of the writing in some of the key scenes. Plus: Is it more tragic or comic (in the literary sense), what does the book have to say about justice, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other…

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Episode 23: What We Learned About War: The Hard Truths of Battle 49:05

5M ago49:05

49:05

Description In this final episode of Hot Takes on the Classics’ season on war, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh reflect on the biggest lessons they’ve learned from reading and discussing some of history’s greatest war literature. From the moral cost of battle to the intoxicating nature of the battlefield, they break down key themes that have emerged ac…

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O Pioneers!: Parts 2 & # 1:12:49

5M ago1:12:49

1:12:49

What do we make of Carl’s choices (and semi-pursuit) of Alexandra? Does he have anything to offer her? What makes Marie such a compelling character? Plus, how Marie and Emil are counterpoints to Carl and Alexandra. This and much more are topics of discussion on this week’s discussion of Willa Cather’s modern classic. Happy listening! This is a publ…

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O Pioneers!: Part 1 1:14:39

5M ago1:14:39

1:14:39

Welcome to a new series on another great novel, Willa Cather’s O Pioneers!. This week we’re discussing Cather’s instinctive yet precise writing, the book’s contemplation of imagination and vocation, the relationship between the characterization and the land, and much more. Plus we discuss our 2025 literary bracket. Happy listening! This is a public…

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Episode 22: Modern Music & the Art of War: From Stravinsky to Picasso—20th Century’s Rule Change 1:10:11

5M ago1:10:11

1:10:11

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore how war shaped modern music and art, breaking traditional forms and redefining artistic expression. They dive into Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Picasso’s Guernica, Otto Dix’s War Triptych, and more, unpacking how these revolutionary works capture…

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Episode 21: Mein Kampf: The Blueprint for War & Genocide 1:11:47

5M ago1:11:47

1:11:47

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh tackle one of the most infamous books ever written: Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf. Though poorly written and filled with contradictions, this book remains essential for understanding the ideological roots of Nazi Germany. Emily and Tim examine Hitler’s obsession with…

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A Tale of Two Cities: Q&A Episode 1:02:04

5M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

You had questions; we did our best to answer them. It’s another Q&A and it’s all yours now . . . or as soon as you hit the play button. Happy listening! Note: no video for this one. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.com/subscribe…

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Episode 20: All Quiet on The Western Front by Erich Marie Remarque: The Anti-War Protest Novel 59:37

6M ago59:37

59:37

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque’s searing anti-war novel that captures the brutal reality of World War I through the eyes of a young German soldier. They discuss how Remarque’s own experience as a soldier shaped his portrayal of trenc…

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The Jane Austen Heist Draft 1:05:50

6M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Welcome to the Jane Austen heist draft, in which each of us will build a six-member crew of Jane Austen characters to perpetrate a heist, Oceans 11 style. In this case, we’re stealing back a long lost Turner painting from Captain Rushworth, who has (wrongly) claimed it as his own. Who has the best crew? That’s up to you. Happy listening! Note: The …

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Episode 19: Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: The Last Humane War? 43:59

6M ago43:59

43:59

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel that brings the Battle of Gettysburg to life. They discuss how Shaara blends fact and fiction to create a gripping narrative that captures the heroism, strategy, and fateful d…

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A Tale of Two Cities: Final Chapters 1:15:14

6M ago1:15:14

1:15:14

And so we come to the end of Charles Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities! In this episode, we discuss the sometimes complicated nature of reading and writing historical fiction, the way Dickens ratchets up the drama in the section, the wonderful confrontation between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge, and much more! As always, thanks for listening and happy …

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Now Available to Pre-order: "The Divided Soul: Duty and Desire in Literature and Life" by Heidi White 33:12

6M ago33:12

33:12

In this very special episode we go behind-the-scenes with Heidi on her forthcoming book! What’s the origin story? Why is the topic so important to her? What was it like to write? How’s she feeling now? Plus Tim’s here! What a momentous day. Happy listening! Want to pre-order your copy? Click here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss …

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Episode 18: Joan of Arc: Don’t Send a Man to Do a Woman’s Job 59:24

6M ago59:24

59:24

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh delve into Mark Twain’s Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, an unexpected and deeply admired work from the celebrated author. They explore Twain’s fascination with Joan’s extraordinary life, her divine visions, and her rise from an illiterate peasant to a mili…

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A Tale of Two Cities: Book 3, Chapters 1-8 1:11:36

6M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Welcome back to our ongoing series on Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities! This week we’re chatting about scenes that make this section exciting, the political context of the story, what Dickens’ worldview seems to be based on some of the metaphors he uses in the book, and much more. Happy listening! Click here to support Bandersnatch Book’s book…

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Episode 17: On War by Clausewitz: The Years That War Changed 46:32

6M ago46:32

46:32

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh unpack Carl von Clausewitz’s On War, a foundational text in military theory. They explore Clausewitz’s revolutionary ideas on the relationship between war and politics, his emphasis on total commitment in warfare, and the enduring relevance of his theories. The h…

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A Tale of Two Cities: To the End of Book 2 1:11:43

6M ago1:11:43

1:11:43

Welcome back! It’s French Revolution time (i.e., Dickens does history). Also, Lucy and Darnay discuss Sidney’s sadness, Lucy and Darnay have children, and ultimately Darnay leaves. We discuss. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit closereads.substack.co…