Best Tim McIntosh Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 15: Anna Karenina: The Marriage Plot 48:25

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4h ago48:25

48:25

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh close out their episodes on Eros with Leo Tolstoy’s monumental novel Anna Karenina. They explore how Tolstoy intertwines two contrasting marriage plots—Anna’s tragic affair and Levin’s redemptive union with Kitty—to illuminate the tension between passion, virtue,…

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A Farewell to Arms: Book 5 1:09:45

2d ago1:09:45

1:09:45

Is A Farewell to Arms pure tragedy? Is there any hope in the denouement? What should we do with Hemingway’s alternate endings? These and many other questions are the focus of this week’s episode. 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…

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Episode 14: The Making of a Great Marriage: Pride and Prejudice 47:58

2d ago47:58

47:58

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh unpack Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, exploring how this beloved novel redefines what makes a good marriage. The hosts trace Elizabeth Bennet’s spirited self-knowledge and Mr. Darcy’s humbling transformation to show how love matures through mutual respect, tr…

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Episode 13: Romeo and Juliet: The Wisdom of Young Love 39:55

9d ago39:55

39:55

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh revisit Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, asking what makes this story so enduring and how it reshapes tragedy. They trace Romeo’s shift from infatuation to eloquent devotion, highlight Juliet’s prudence and wit, and map the play’s pivot from sparkling comedy to sw…

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A Farewell to Arms: Book 4 1:03:41

10d ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Sean calls this the happy section of the book, so in this episode we discuss the book’s conception of happiness, engage in a close reading of the scene between Frederic and an old billiards player, and contemplate the question of cynicism in this book. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers o…

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A Farewell to Arms: Book 3 1:01:34

13d ago1:01:34

1:01:34

After an unfortunate delay, we’re back with further conversation about Hemingway’s twentieth century classic. This week we discuss the harrowing nature of this section, the bad moral luck of the characters, the rich spiritual contemplations at the heart of the novel, and much more. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss…

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Episode 12: The Divine Comedy: Disordered Eros 56:31

16d ago56:31

56:31

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh dive into Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, one of the most ambitious works in world literature. They examine how Dante portrays love—especially eros—when it becomes disordered, destructive, or distorted. From Francesca and Paolo in Inferno to the purifying fl…

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Episode 11: The Phaedras: Love is a Madness 1:00:51

24d ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore Plato’s Phaedrus, a dialogue that weaves together questions of love, rhetoric, and the soul. They trace Socrates’ speeches on the nature of desire, his paradoxical claim that love is both divine madness and a path to truth, and Plato’s broader concerns ab…

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A Farewell to Arms: Book 2 (Chapters 13-24) 51:42

28d ago51:42

51:42

Welcome back to our ongoing series on Hemingway’s classical novel. This week we discuss the turn the book takes in book two, the nature of Hemingway’s contemplation of love, and a couple of key scenes that reveal his genius as a storyteller. As always, happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers o…

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Episode 10: The Wind in the Willows: A Classic Tale of Friendship 49:28

1M ago49:28

49:28

By Emily Maeda & Tim McIntosh

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A Farewell to Arms: Book One (Chapters 1-12) 1:05:51

1M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

By David Kern, Heidi White, and Sean Johnson

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Q&A: The Princess and the Goblin + Ask-Us-Anything 1:07:28

1M ago1:07:28

1:07:28

This week is one part Q&A about The Princess and the Goblin, one part ask-us-anything. That means we’re discussing George McDonald’s plot devices, Irene’s grandmother, and goblins but also cooking, Shakespeare, new book releases, and the Muppets. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get …

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Episode 9: Huckleberry Finn: Can a Man and Child be Friends? 53:56

1M ago53:56

53:56

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim and Emily explore Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, asking whether a man and a child can truly be friends. They unpack the novel’s uneven yet profound legacy, including its powerful portrayal of Huck and Jim’s unlikely bond, its place in the tradition of banned books, and its …

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Episode 8: Cicero, On Friendship: Virtue–The Basis of Friendship 38:24

2M ago38:24

38:24

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh turn to Cicero’s On Friendship, a dialogue exploring what makes friendship possible, lasting, and good. They unpack Cicero’s conviction that friendship is only possible between those committed to virtue, and that true friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts—se…

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The Princess and the Goblin: To the End 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

This week we discuss the delightful conclusion to George McDonald’s classic children’s novel, how it compares to classic fairy tales, why books like this matter more than ever, 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.substack.com…

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Episode 7: Epic of Gilgamesh: Superhuman Friendship 38:39

2M ago38:39

38:39

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda journey into the world’s oldest surviving epic, The Epic of Gilgamesh. They explore how the story dramatizes philia, or friendship, through the bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu—a friendship that transforms a tyrant into a true man. From their first clash to thei…

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The Princess and the Goblin: Chapters 1-14 57:03

2M ago57:03

57:03

Over the next few weeks we’ll be discussing George Macdonald’s delightful nineteenth century children’s story, The Princess and the Goblin. In this episode we discuss its similarities to (and influence on) Lewis and Tolkien, why books like this matter more than ever, and where it’s most delightful. As always, thanks for tuning in and happy listenin…

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Episode 6: East of Eden, John Steinbeck: The American Epic 54:29

2M ago54:29

54:29

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh dive into John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, exploring how the novel wrestles with the tension between familial affection (storge), honesty, and moral responsibility. The hosts examine Steinbeck’s portrayal of family bonds marked by both tenderness and devastation, p…

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The Great Winnowing of 2025 (for 2026) 1:11:20

2M ago1:11:20

1:11:20

It’s that time of year! You’ve probably seen the posts revealing the books we’ll be discussing on the show in 2026 , but now you can tune into the process of making those determinations. 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/subs…

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Wuthering Heights: Q&A 1:00:28

2M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

You had plenty of great questions; we did our best to answer them. So join in as we conclude our series on Emily Bronte’s classic novel. 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/subscribe…

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Episode 5: Sorry, Professor – Jo’s Heart Belonged to Laurie All Along 45:23

2M ago45:23

45:23

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily and Tim dive into Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, a quintessential American novel exploring the power of familial affection, or storge. Through the domestic world of the March sisters, the novel celebrates love that is rooted in everyday acts of care, sacrifice, and support. Tim and …

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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

6M 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

6M 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 …