Editor's notes from this interview:

The Great Depression began in 1929. The emphasis placed on 1933 pertains to the beginning of President Roosevelt's term.

The draft did in fact begin before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The first peacetime draft began on September 16th, 1940 and continued until 1947. (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/draft-and-wwii; https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0408draft/)

My great-grandfather's weekly income was $12 as my Grandma describes. Adjusted for inflation, this would be $252 in today's money for a family of 8! (https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/)

Holey Shoes, Mom-Made Clothes, and Spooky Radio Shows in the Great Depression

The Speech Guys listen to and discuss the North Carolina State University's Coach Jimmy V's speech he gave at the 1993 ESPY Awards, just two months before he died. This is the first episode in the "Speeches Before They Died" series.

Questions and topics explored in this episode ask why "laughing, thinking, and crying" each day is so important, when the last time each of the Speech Guys cried was, how crying is perceived in the West for men and how that might contrast with a more traditional Judeo-Christian perspective, and how modern day people might prefer keeping the material realities of death at a distance and more!

Ross asked me to point you to an episode of "Art of Manliness" that was referenced. Feel free to listen, but be sure to come right back when you're done.

Copy this URL into your favorite browser! https://www.artofmanliness.com/people/relationships/podcast-171-the-dying-experience-myths-and-answers/

'Don't Give Up... Don't Ever Give Up' Said Jimmy V | Speeches Before They Died

The Speech Guys read and discuss excerpts from the final speech given by Father Zossima, in the Russian novel, "The Brothers Karmazov". It was written by Fyodor Dostoyesky in 1879. This is the third episode in the "Speeches Before They Died" series.

Questions and topics explored in this episode consider how sincerity of prayer expresses itself inside and outside of oneself, the extent to which one can be responsible for others' sin, and what each Speech Guy might like to have read to their children at their death.

Special guest host includes longtime friend of the Speech Guys, Sam Mangieri of Fiat Films!

Father Zossima: Sins of the World | Speeches Before They Died

The Speech Guys listen to and discuss excerpts from the 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech given by David Foster Wallace. This is the fourth and final episode in the "Speeches Before They Died" series.

Questions and topics explored in this episode consider the tension between objectivist and subjectivist perspectives expressed in the speech, the role that boredom plays in cultivating self-awareness and introspection, how the empathetic, conscientious vision of the "This Is Water" mindset is cultivated and built up within an individual, and more!

(Be sure to listen through for the post-credits scene ; )

This episode utilizes audio from the "This Is Water" speech posted by Ms. Lynn Skittle on YouTube. No revenue is generated from use of this content.

This Is Water | Speeches Before They Died

The Speech Guys listen to and discuss excerpts from the speech presented by the fictional President in the 1998 film, Armageddon. This is the first episode in the "Sci-Fi Speeches" series.

Questions and topics explored in this episode consider how the Speech Guys thought about the (potentially) apocalyptic turning of the millennium in the year 2000, how the film contrasts with contemporary apocalyptic stories, what the Bible and Catholic and Protestant theology says about the End Times, and much more!

Stay tuned for the post-credits scene. Ross Johnson gives a review of Buffalo Rock State Park.

This episode utilizes audio from the President's speech in Armageddon. The scene was posted by "Speeches HD". No revenue is generated from use of this content.

"The Bible Calls This Day Armageddon..." | Sci-Fi Speeches

Sip your favorite whiskey and think with the Speech Guys tonight as they unpack questions about free will that Marty McFly and Doc Brown bring to the fore in the 1990 film, Back to the Future Part III...

"Son, there are only two things in life that are free... your will... and your last name."

"We wanted to show you movies that wouldn't morally corrupt you."

"Let's just assume we start building nihilistic schools of anti-free will..."

"How could something that influences everyone so dramatically and almost universally be seen as a positive... how could that not exist in some real way?"

"We Don't Belong Here" Marty McFly & Doc Brown | Sci-Fi Speeches

Sip your favorite whiskey and think with the Speech Guys tonight as they unpack questions about scientific ethical questions that Ian Malcolm brings to the social foreground in the book and 1993 film, "Jurassic Park"... the post-credits scene, what is going to be Landon and Lauren's most special stop on their trip to Europe?

"What is the proper relationship between Man and Nature?"
--Matt

"What is the modern day Jurassic Park?"
--Matt

"A man with a car in a world designed for feet is a god. A man with a car in a world designed for cars is in traffic."
--Matt, quoting the article, "Christians Shouldn't Use Smartphones" by Marc Barnes

"Will Newman always be the one to destroy society's metaphorical Jurassic Parks?"
--Mike

"To treat someone as the summation of their genetic prowess is an inherently dehumanizing thing."
--Matt

"No one knows who the first person to have the genetic capacity to run a sub 4 minute mile was."
--Mike

"Ross is going to change the model for Jurassic Park. You can't see them out back in the wild. You're mostly going to eat them like
at a steakhouse."
--Landon

"They Didn't Stop and Ask If They Should" Ian Malcolm | Sci-Fi Speeches

Mike and Ross podcast solo in this special episode before the fourth and final installment of "Sci Fi Speeches". They tell the origin story of half of the Speech Guys that came about on the campus of the University of Illinois, Bradley University, and Illinois' State Parks and Catholic churches.

"I think we talked about dating, romance, and adventure... and I think we've been talking about those things ever since."
--Mike

"Rob knew you for 25 years and only got best man at your wedding. Julie and I knew you for four years and got groomsman and spouse. That's a pretty good rate of return on our parts."
--Mike

"We don't believe in things based on one thing. Science, logic, who tells you it... a lot of different factors. That's why evangelizing the culture is so important."
--Ross

A Speech Guys Short | Mike & Ross's Friendship Origin Story

What happens when the host of the episode loses contact with America and the Speech Guys while in Europe? Nothing good.

Ross, Matt, and Mike struggle to wrap their heads around Hal and the famous speech to his astronaut passenger, Dave, from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey".

Hear remnants from a 25-minute tangent into Bill Barr and COVID, consider how one truly learns about the stars ("Do you learn more about the stars by going outside and looking at them or researching them in a book?") and which Speech Guys might struggle to disconnect Hal.

If you still have some whiskey left in your glass when the episode finishes up, hang around for Matt's recitation of his original poem entitled, "Sculpture", in the post-credits scene.

"This Conversation Can Serve No Purpose Anymore" Hal 9000 | Sci-Fi Speeches

The Speech Guys do their best to stay out of the mansplaining zone for Episode #27 as they discuss a speech given by Dr. Carrie Gress at the Family Institute of Washington. The speech was based upon her book entitled, "Ultimate Makeover: The Transforming Power of Motherhood",

A few Speech Guy nuggets to sip and think on this episode:

"This is what my parents felt."
--Matt

"You're in this water without realizing what it is. Apply this to being in mom-water."
--Mike

"I think motherhood requires a lot of the same muscles as religious faith. It can be awkward at times. Goofy-feeling. But, also meaningful and special. But we all know we can't just invest in religion when it feels good and right, just like with being a mom... or parent."
--Mike

"What are the things in our lives that are so present that we see through it?"
--Matt

"Clare's experience of parenting is just so different from mine. And it's not accidental. I feel like it's very much tied to her being a mom."
--Matt

"Most Christians believe there is some kind of connection between sex, marriage, and family. and the modern world has kind of deviated from that."
--Matt

Post-credits scene... Mike tries his hand at speech-giving... a back-up best man speech for Stephen and Teagan Barany's June 25th wedding

"Motherhood Is Supposed To Be Hard" Carrie Gress | Speeches By Moms

Does art inspire life or life inspire art? Landon, Ross, Matt, and Mike team up for Orson Welles' 1941 campaign "to rid the politics of this State of the evil domination of Boss Jim Gettys".

The thumbnail image comes from https://theasc.com/articles/realism-for-citizen-kane.

"There Is Only One Man... Charles Kane." Citizen Kane | Speeches from Oscar-Nominated Films

We're your newest old friends. Grab a seat around our fire and pour your favorite whiskey (if you're 21!). Let's catch up over life's nagging questions that have never gone away.

Speeches or speech topics you want us to cover in an episode or series? Send your requests to Mike at thespeechguyspodcast@gmail.com!

"There Is Only One Man... Charles Kane." Citizen Kane | Speeches from Oscar-Nominated Films

The Speech Guys

Related tracks