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Modest Thoughts

Modest Thoughts

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💭 Simply sharing our thoughts. We are two sisters sharing their thoughts and chatting with you in the hopes of making new friends and making people feel heard and appreciated. 🎧 Come back every Sunday to chat with us. 🎙️Hosted by: Meriem and Hanane.
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Where rhyme gets its reason! In a historical survey of English literature, I take a personal and philosophical approach to the major texts of the tradition in order to not only situate the poems, prose, and plays in their own contexts, but also to show their relevance to our own. This show is for the general listener: as a teacher of high school literature and philosophy, I am less than a scholar but more than a buff. I hope to edify and entertain!
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Published in 1900, Sister Carrie follows its protagonist, Carrie, as she resolutely makes her way through the bustling city of Chicago in the hope of achieving her ultimate goal of a securing a better and more glamorous life for herself. Effectively illustrating his reputation as one of America’s greatest naturalists, Dreiser deviates from the established norms and moral values present in the Victorian era, and instead focuses his attention on accurately portraying the basic instincts that i ...
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Whether you grew up with challah or just learned how to pronounce it, Notes from a Jewish Newbie is your space to explore Judaism with curiosity, honesty, and a good sense of humor. Hosted by Adriana Fernandez (aka @NowJewishNanny), this podcast dives into the questions people are thinking but not always asking—about rituals, identity, community, and everything in between. New episodes drop Monday nights. Come for the real talk, stay for the growth.
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Send us a text I hope you've brought your appetite, because today we're looking at some of Dr. Swift's shorter prose satires (along with a couple of poems) and he certainly gives us plenty to chew on. "A Description of the Morning": https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45266/a-description-of-the-morning "A Description of a City Shower": https://w…
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Send us a text One of the most theologically and liturgically important Christmas carols may contain coded messages against the Throne of England! Additional Music: "Adeste Fidelis" by Bing Crosby with The Max Terr choir; John Scott Trotter and his orch.; Traditional; Decca (BM 03929) Support the show Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on…
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"Beauty stirs us as longing makes reality come into focus and pierces us with a sense that things in this life actually matter." This comes from a wonderful book by Matthew caps called drawn by beauty. And this innocence will be the topic for the next two or three episodes as I challenge you or Wi-Fi fish at all inviting you to wonder. This particu…
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Send us a text In the early 18th century, the public press came to dominate English writing. Pamphlets, newspapers, and periodicals fed the appetite for news and commentary of an ever-hungrier reading public. Richard Steele and Joseph Addison were the great innovators of the periodical essay, a quintessentially English genre of writing. Support the…
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Send us a text On this trip, we're looking at the conventional candidate for the first modern novel in English. Defoe's story of a resourceful man shipwrecked on a desert island is so much more than a ripping yarn: it speaks to the rise of a literary vernacular language, the values of an increasing bourgeois and expansionist society, and of spiritu…
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Send us a text For you today, Trick or Treaters, a discussion of what some critics assert is the first modern ghost story in English: Daniel Defoe's 1705 "The Apparition of Mrs. Veal." The text: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36587/36587-h/36587-h.htm Support the show Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, o…
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Send us a text Well, I probably should have done this episode earlier, since it might have been good for it to precede our other discussions of Resto comedy. But I made a last minute decision and included a second play, which kind of threw off the old chronology. But it's good all the same! The Man of Mode by George Etherege: https://coldreads.word…
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Send us a text For our second episode on John Dryden, we'll talk about two of his plays which marked an innovation in the tragi-comic romance: Marriage a la Mode and Amphitryon. We'll discuss the "split-plot" play, the exorcising of Restoration political anxieties, and why we sometimes mock that which we cherish. Additional sound clip from Monty Py…
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Adina (aka Adriana) sits down for a heartfelt Q&A, answering your anonymous questions about her Jewish journey. From building a daily prayer routine, navigating labels like “modern Orthodox” or “Yeshivish,” to the emotional details of her mikvah and conversion day — nothing is off-limits. She also opens up about nanny life, mental health, dating qu…
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Send us a text Once hailed as the towering literary figure of the Restoration age, John Dryden is little known now by the general reader. Let's take care of that with a close look at his most enduring works, the poetical satires Mac Flecknoe and Absalom and Achitophel. Mac Flecknoe text: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44181/mac-flecknoe Abs…
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In this week’s episode, Adina sits down with Jack, who is also known as @JacksJewishJourney on Instagram. Jack shares his background growing up on a dairy farm in rural Australia, living a simple and secular life, and later moving to Melbourne at age 17 to seek something more meaningful. He recalls feeling a spiritual pull he couldn’t yet name, and…
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In this heartfelt episode of Notes from a Jewish Newbie, Adina opens up about one of the most common questions she receives: “What does your family think about your conversion to Judaism?” From her mother’s surprising reaction to the bumps along the way, Adina shares stories of support, confusion, growth, and love. Adina reflects on the lessons she…
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Send us a text Since they wrote in 17th century Massachusetts, poets Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are often overlooked in surveys of English literature. Today, though, we'll bring them back into the fold as we look at how their puritanical religious beliefs engaged with the pastoral and metaphysical poetic traditions that celebrated "Arcadia,"…
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This episode of Notes from a Jewish Newbie is different. For the first time, Adriana (Adina) brings on a guest: her best friend Sarah Guigue, @Hassidic.Hipster.Girl. This is an unfiltered conversation about friendship, faith, struggle, and the quiet battles that shape who we become. They share how their friendship began during Adriana’s conversion …
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My First Time in Shul: A Culture Shock In this episode of Notes from a Jewish Newbie, Adina shares the full, unfiltered story of her very first time stepping into a shul. From believing she could complete her Orthodox conversion without ever attending services, to an unexpected invitation to sing in a conservative shul choir, Adina takes listeners …
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In episode 3 of Notes from a Jewish Newbie, Adina (also known as Adriana) opens up about one of the most transformative—and frequently asked-about—aspects of her Orthodox Jewish conversion: Tznius (modesty). Adina walks listeners through her deeply personal journey of redefining modesty. This episode explores how she gradually shifted her wardrobe,…
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Send us a text Charles II reopened the theatres in 1660 and inaugurated the second golden age of the English stage. Today's show looks at one of the bawdiest plays to come from the period, a "comedy of manners" whose clever use of language points to the reality of style over substance. The Country Wife text: https://theater.lafayette.edu/wp-content…
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In this episode, Adina (AKA Adrienna, @nowjewishnanny) opens up about her journey into keeping kosher during her Orthodox Jewish conversion – the struggles, the halachic confusion, and yes… all the mistakes along the way. From her “fake kosher” kitchen to accidentally serving treif cookies, to finally building a truly kosher home, Adina shares the …
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Welcome to the first episode of Notes from a Jewish Newbie! In this raw, unfiltered debut, Adina (aka Adriana, aka Now-Jewish Nanny) shares the deeply personal journey that led to her Orthodox conversion, and everything that’s happened since. From the quiet heartbreaks behind closed doors to the joyful chaos of going public with “I’m Jewish now,” t…
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Hi, I’m Adriana — and welcome to Notes from a Jewish Newbie (NJN) This podcast is my space to share what it’s like navigating Jewish life with fresh eyes, lots of questions, and plenty of laughs along the way. In this short trailer, I’m giving you a peek at what’s coming — real talk, honest reflections, and weekly episodes that I hope will feel lik…
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Send us a text Today marks the anniversary of one of the most mythologized battles in Anglo-Irish history: the Battle of the Boyne. In July of 1690, King William III soundly defeated James II and secured Ireland's Protestant supremacy while sowing the seeds for centuries of violent conflict. The battle also marks the debut of one of Ireland's most …
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Send us a text As Americans celebrate Independence Day, I'm here once again to remind them of the debt American independence owes to English literature and history. Stick in the mud. Today, we look at a genuinely weird poem that allegorizes the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (an event that would lay the groundwork for the American Revolution nearly a …
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Send us a text In today's chinwag, we'll explore a candidate for the first novel in English by the first professional female writer in English: Oroonoko by Aphra Behn (1688). It's the story of an African prince and his beloved, who are betrayed into slavery and do not live happily ever after. The novel seems a modest heroic romance, but I think Ms.…
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Send us a text Today we look at the diary, a form of writing that became extraordinarily popular over the course of the 1600s. We'll especially look at famous diarists such as John Evelyn and Samuel Pepys, who not only chronicle details of their personal lives, but also give first hand accounts of the dramatic history of the period: the Restoration…
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Send us a text I'm back before you even had a chance to miss me! Today, a bit of a genealogy of a now little read mock epic -- Samuel Butler's Hudibras -- which takes Chaucer and Spenser and Jonson and Cervantes, mixes them all up into a gloopy goo, and sprays it all over lemon-sucking Puritans! Support the show Please like, subscribe, and rate the…
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Send us a text Put on your comfortable shoes and grab your walking stick because today we're embarking on the most famous allegory in the English language: John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress from 1678. We'll cross plains, endure temptations, descend valleys, fight monsters, and ford rivers in our quest for the Celestial City! Along the way, we'll…
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Send us a text The political upheavals of 17th century England demanded new answers for old political questions: what is the purpose of government, how is power legitimated, and who may wield it? Philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke reasoned from the same premises, but arrived at rather different conclusions. Balancing those conclusions is the…
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This is a little bit of a thought-provoking short episode that helps kind of set up what I'm trying to accomplish as we move through the flyfishing flows series. It's a little deeper than normal, and that's OK. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it makes you think. Let's get at it...right? "...Its the Journey that counts" Website: JOF Instagram : JOF F…
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Here's a great conversation with Brooks Robinson from Cortland line. We discussed his story as well as Cortland story and details about fly line and leader build, and what it means to you and I as fly fishers. Brooks' Facebook Instagram Corland Facebook Instagram Let's get at it...right? "...Its the Journey that counts" Website: JOF Instagram : JOF…
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Let's chat about a brief history of fly fishing and some thoughts on what fly fishing is or isn't. Let's find some inspiration. A new series with guests. History Rods- reel Line - Leaders Flies (guest) Fishery - Water- insects (guests) Casting (guest) Approach - time on the water.... Let's get at it...right? "...Its the Journey that counts" Website…
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Send us a text We often think of science fiction as a particularly modern genre of storytelling, born of the science and technology of the electronic and digital age. But speculative fiction goes back centuries, back to the beginning of what we now call the Scientific Revolution of the 1600s. On today's show, we look at two of the foundational book…
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Send us a text Which is better: the life of ascetic contemplation or one of passionate sensuality? Let's see what the last great poet of the Stuart era, Andrew Marvell, has to say about that. Support the show Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen. Thank you! Email: classicenglishlitera…
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Gary Kell is a master level fly casting instructor. He's a genuine human being who has 50 years of flyfishing experience. There is an amount of wisdom available in this conversation that everybody should be tuned into. He's a funny guy and he's more than willing to share his experiences and flyfishing to help anyone at any level. And as always, tha…
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Wisdom at its best and available for download. That's how I begin to describe this conversation with Mr. Beau Beasley. What a phenomenal man, conservationist, father, fly fisherman… As the director of the Virginia wine and fly fishing show he is passionate about this sport and the people in it. He's got an incredible story. You're gonna wanna avail…
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Send us a text Here's another episode in our foundling series "Out of Time." Today, I correct an oversight from our 15th century literature discussions and survey the very earliest surviving tales of the outlaw and all-around-swell-guy Robin Hood! Let's jump in the Wayback Machine! Here's a link to the Robin Hood Project at the University of Roches…
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Ryan Keene is one of, in my opinion, the best artists in the fishing culture today. He's been around for a while but is art still is cutting edge and speaks to life. And it looks pretty darn good hanging on the wall or sticking on your yeti cooler. WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM Let's get at it...right? "...Its the Journey that counts" Website: JOF Ins…
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Send us a text We return to Milton's magnificent octopus today with an eye toward evaluating the epic's success according to its own mission statement: "to justify the ways of God to men." How does Milton approach the great theological problems of evil and suffering, divine foreknowledge, and free will? Support the show Please like, subscribe, and …
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This episodes a little longer than we normally do but well worth it. Bill Anderson is a legendary conservationist working diligently for many years to clean up and to restore the little Juniata river. He is a very capable instructor, presenter, fly tier, fly fisherman, and the list goes on and on. We talk about his journey in life and fly fishing. …
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Send us a text Sexy Satan, what have you done? You made a fool of every one! On this episode we tackle the rather thorny question of Paradise Lost's charismatic protagonist (?) or antagonist (?) or antihero (?): the hottest guy in Hell. Why does an epic on the cosmic history of Christianity, written by a radical Puritan, present us with so commandi…
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This was a joy for me to record. Areas knowledgeable and kind and very involved in Pennsylvania steelhead fishing. It'll be a blast to listen as you go into your weekend. As always thanks for listening. Ari's info: Facebook Instagram Website Let's get at it...right? "...Its the Journey that counts" Website: JOF Instagram : JOF Facebook: JOF PA Fly …
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Send us a text In 1638, John Milton -- whom many see as perhaps the (second) greatest poet in English -- produced what many think to be his first major poem: the pastoral elegy "Lycidas," written to memorialize the tragic death of a college classmate. Ah! But it's so much more than that! Support the show Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast…
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Jack Barr is a great friend of mine. More than that he is a very successful fly fisherman and knows Steelhead fishing, among other things. You want to know how to fly fish for Great Lakes Steelies? Get a pad and pen and take notes. Website Facebook Erie Steelhead Association LINK 3CU Let's get at it...right? "...Its the Journey that counts" Website…
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Everyone has a story. For those that it involves fly fishing well, that's why this podcast exists. Howie Fischer's story is a beautiful one. It's one the whole world needs to hear. It's a story that will surely inspire you. Take a listen let me know what you think. Thanks for tuning in. Facebook Instagram Howie's website Let's get at it...right? ".…
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