How Emery can improve

[bebop88]

I can't brag about listening to all 100 podcasts but, I'm quickly getting there. I'm missing about 20 episodes.

Anywho I enjoy the whole cast Emery, Scott, Tony, Norton...yes even F. Turek (nah I'm kidding with the last one).

My only request Emery is for more confusing metaphors and hypotheticals to be used in the discussions. I’m thinking man eating giraffes and spaceships taken to a whole new level—here are some ideas; discovery of a planet with man eating anteaters, discovery of talking lobsters that can sing in Broadway NY, and planet Earth with Nazi zombies. Clearly these topics will push the discussion to an intellectual high and in no way appeal to the video game junkie that I am.
Seriously dude Nazi zombies…pretty epic!

On a side note, what about getting a female speaker for the podcast. I finally convinced my wife to listen to the podcast, and she made mention of this sometime back. Again thanks for all your hard work guys-I love the show!!

[Simplyme]

I have listened to most of the shows. And I constantly cringe when you let some of your host get away with non-valid arguments(to say the least). But I have been called "The Bastard Atheist", I take the opposite approach when discussing religions and beliefs. I am more down your throat in your face. But even while I cringed while hearing how you allow Norton and Scott to be wishy washy....I can see where your kind of atheism (hate that word) comes in play. I honestly wish sometimes I had your patience when discussing with xtians.

Maybe a little about myself......I was brought up in a Pentecostal environment. My father is a pastor, my brother is a pastor. You can say I’m the black sheep of the family. My father has even dedicated one of his sermon to me……Funny story: I was walking home from work one day and out of nowhere a cousin who I have not seen in years comes up to me and hugs me and almost crying said, “I thought you were dead”. I was a little shocked by it and I ask her why she would think I’m dead. She says that she was up in Puerto Rico a few months ago and she visited my father’s church. She claims that my father had a whole sermon about how the devil has taken his son, how i will burn in hell for all eternity for my "choice". So of course hearing how he spoke about me she assumed I was dead. But anyway, sorry for getting of subject. In my many years as a xtian(35 plus years)I have guide many souls to christ and I honestly feel that I have to at least make up for it.

So as I may cringe sometimes listening to the podcast. I do have a smile on my face at your patience. Keep up the great work. I will continue to listen to the podcast, to see if some of your patience rubs off on me.

Sorry for the long post and grammar……

[Emery]

Hi Simplyme, thanks for the feedback. I agree that I could be more aggressive, it is something I struggle with. The trick, however, is to do it skillfully, whereby you press your point more forcefully but without breaking anything. It will be my new year's resolution to do this.

Thanks for listening.

[Keep The Reason]

Maybe a little about myself......I was brought up in a Pentecostal environment. My father is a pastor, my brother is a pastor. You can say I’m the black sheep of the family.

I'd be inclined to say you're the Reasonist of the family. The Christians prefer to be the sheep.

[Moonwood the Hare]

a little about myself......I was brought up in a Pentecostal environment. My father is a pastor, my brother is a pastor. You can say I’m the black sheep of the family. My father has even dedicated one of his sermon to me……Funny story: I was walking home from work one day and out of nowhere a cousin who I have not seen in years comes up to me and hugs me and almost crying said, “I thought you were dead”. I was a little shocked by it and I ask her why she would think I’m dead. She says that she was up in Puerto Rico a few months ago and she visited my father’s church. She claims that my father had a whole sermon about how the devil has taken his son, how i will burn in hell for all eternity for my "choice". So of course hearing how he spoke about me she assumed I was dead. ……

I'm glad you can see the humour in that because it must hurt as well. So what happened after 35 years to make you change your mind?

[Dr Mundo]

Maybe a little about myself......I was brought up in a Pentecostal environment. My father is a pastor, my brother is a pastor. You can say I’m the black sheep of the family.

Or the goat, maybe?

[Kiwi]

I don't have much to say about Emery and Scott because I think you both do a great job with the podcasts. My only comment is that you should continue for as long as you're enjoying it. As soon as it's no longer fun, stop. You've already built up an impressive collection of excellent shows. 100 shows about God's existence is good going.

Not that we want you to stop, of course.

Speaking of fun, why not inject some more of your own interests and passions into the podcast in order to illuminate the opposing world views wherever they differ? If it were me I'd be using movies and music as a ground level springboard for discussion. Why are superhero movies so popular? Is it wrong to cheer when Bond kills the bad guy? Does God's grace extend to George Lucas for making the Star Wars prequels? etc.

[Wald]

Hi! I just registered, and I'd first like to say I love your show! I listen to it when drawing, and it really helps put me in the right "zone." I myself am very much like Emery, the "nice" kind of atheist (former devout Catholic) who tries to understand the other side of things and make arguments in the kindest and least threatening way possible. I'm very non-confrontational by nature, but I also love a good argument. What I love about your show is that you are able to have lengthy discussions that do not devolve into defensive reactions and unflinching positions. You are having actual conversations.

I've listened to probably 90% of your shows over the past year. My favorites so far have been with Emery and Scott. I don't remember exactly the other Christian co-hosts, but there were several that for some reason I just wasn't interested in, and turned off halfway through. I might be able to recall why that is later, for now I'll just chalk it up to personal taste. But to address the things I do remember...

I just listened to episode 95, with Emery and Tony. There were times during that show when I yelled (in my head) to Emery to ADDRESS THIS POINT - YOU'VE GOT HIM! But he always eventually would, so my concerns were unfounded. It was just a couple beats after I expected him to. So it was thorough. I guess my only complaint, then, is that it wasn't quite as fast as I'd like, which isn't really Emery's fault, since these are natural conversations. I think Emery is the perfect host for this show, but, it seems to me, that with someone like Tony, it might be better to get on a guest atheist who is a philosopher. Tony seems to argue from philosophical points, not everyday, reasoned out positions. But the problem with that is that Emery and Tony are often times talking across purposes. I think someone who has studied philosophy thoroughly would be better equipped to handle Tony's more esoteric arguments and point out exactly where the flaws lie.

That said, I loved episode 96 (I listened to them in reverse order). I think having Scott to both agree AND disagree with Tony really opened up the conversation and got past the more abstract arguments. It makes me think that maybe what would make future shows interesting is to continue this kind of dynamic. Not necessarily every time, but to have Christians who don't agree with each other and atheists who don't agree with each other. I think it draws out more of what's lacking in each sides arguments to have them critiqued by people fighting for the same position, but in different ways.

In the end, I guess just keep doing what you're doing. Keep experimenting with different guests and hosts. My only critique of Emery is to be slightly more assertive, but that's really it. I'll keep listening, so keep it up! I love what you're doing.

Also, I hope it's OK to share this here. But I just realized that the latest comic I drew was DIRECTLY inspired by listening to episode 95. Maybe people here will get a chuckle out of it.

Thanks!

[Keep The Reason]

Welcome to the forum. Nice guinea pigs.

[Rian]

Welcome! Love the pigs - my daughter has one - one of those that look like they're having a permanent bad hair day

[Emery]

That's awesome Wald. Great comic strip. I think I recognize which guinea pig is who, but you need to make it more accurate by giving the Scott pig a nice bald spot

Welcome to the forum.

[Wald]

Thanks for the welcomes! That's actually amazing you knew they were guinea pigs. Most people call them hamsters or gerbils.

[Keep The Reason]

You weren't here for the great Guinea Pig / Gerbil schism of aught eight. As you might have guessed, we sent those damned Gerbils where they belong.

[Brad]

Emery,
I can see how you would think your verbal presentation would suffer in some legal contexts, both in and out of a courtroom, owing to your soft-spoken nature, pauses in your speech, and a smattering of unnecessary words like, well, "well."

I have to admit that I haven't heard the last couple of podcasts because I've been incredibly busy and, unusual for me, haven't had a long road trip for a while which is the setting for most of my podcast listening. But next week I'll be on the road again and will listen carefully to the last two episodes for ANYTHING I can spot that I think might make you more effective or persuasive.

But I have to agree with Scott and Jay and others above. In the podcast, I think you're presentation is just about perfect (not that I'm above Monday-morning QBing you now and then). And in legal speaking settings where you can prepare your subject ahead of time, I'll bet you're MUCH more effective than you might think you are - and in considerable part for the very reasons you think your presentation is inadequate. Your strengths are your quiet and thoughtful demeanor and your insightful mind, all of which are apparently more evident to others than to you.

If you're having any difficulties in your law practice so far, I'd wager that experience and time will remedy those far more than any changes to your speaking style.
I'd love to join you as a co-host or something some time, but I'm kind of afraid to do so for reasons I'll not go into here. In that event, I suppose I would be the "bad cop," though no such role need be played, and such a role could be a detriment, too, of course.

BTW, if you want more b'lieving guests, I vote for emailing a couple of the very thoughtful (former?) forum participants like Pseudo and Still Searching to see if they might want to join you (both of you, preferably).



Scott,
I hope you, too, are not "played out" or however you put it in your post above. While I have a couple of religious friends whom I very much respect and admire, hearing you regularly provides an important reminder for me that believers can be fine, decent, and thoughtful people and can even have good humor.
Then, of course, there's that weird theism thing, but nobody's perfect...

[Emery]

Thanks Brad. I can be my own worst critic, but I also know that I have a lot to improve. Hopefully practice makes perfect.