October 2023

In this episode, I reflect on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, focusing particularly on (and reading a large portion of) the chapter titled "Through a Glass, Darkly." (I also talk a little bit about the origin and meaning of that strange phrase.) Bauby had a massive stroke in 1995, at the age 43, and as a result was totally paralyzed (except for his left eyelid) and rendered mute. After exploring his memoir, I then totally change gears and talk about Russell Brand, by way of really talking about civil discourse, or what Dr. Robert Nash calls "moral conversation." I discuss a 1996 article that Nash wrote on the topic and which still very much applies to the modern day.