Shows
TEXT AND ROCK.YOU ARE ONLY A WATCHER.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about a philosophy of God that might work for you if simple answers do not. How does human religions actually work in real time? Is God something we can actually name and put in a box? Or it is a moving target of an ideal that humans cast out before themselves to deal with the difficulty of reality?We hope you love it!Here is a link to all our socials and our digital press... we have been quietly busy. Boom boom.https...2025-06-1923 minTEXT AND ROCK.MR. SMITH STAYS HOME.Send us a textMark and Eric talk wealth gap, systemic overhaul, and the scandal of politics in the fading western empire. Along the way, they talk about Jesus as a Second Temple Period human sage, a different kind of kingdom, and how to treat people in hard knock times. We hope you love it!Here is a link to all our socials and our digital press... we have been quietly busy. Boom boom.https://www.https://linktr.ee/txtandrckAnd below is the poem in this episode...2025-05-1723 minTEXT AND ROCK.AWARENESS.Send us a textMark and Eric kick around the idea of awareness as a philosophical pillar for meaning, life, and even divinity, before performing an original poem entitled "Awareness." We hope you love it!Here is a link to all our socials and our digital press... we have been quietly busy. Boom boom.https://www.https://linktr.ee/txtandrckAnd below is the poem in this episode...Heart, Mark and EricAWARENESS.Awareness is the first and greatest gi...2025-05-0735 minTEXT AND ROCK.PEACE.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about how to have peace in a world of uncertainty. We hope you LOVE it!Here is a link to all our socials and our digital press... we have been quietly busy. Boom boom.https://www.https://linktr.ee/txtandrckAnd below is the poem in this episode...Heart, Mark and Eric...PEACE...Peace comes when you are ready,and she is not all that heady—just quietly turns off the newsbecause you...2025-04-3029 minTEXT AND ROCK.I'M TRYING TO QUIT!Send us a textMark and Eric kick talk about consumerist culture and how to cultivate a life that does more good than harm. We also speculate about space archaeologists in 10,000 years, building altars in the back yard, imaginary friends, and why we'd rather be eaten in two-three T-REX chomps than mauled by giant centipedes.We hope you love it! Be good to each other!Heart, Mark and EricFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at ...2025-01-2032 min
Planet Amazon PodcastEmpowering Amazon Sellers Through Financial Freedom StrategiesUnlock financial freedom with our latest episode featuring financial guru and best-selling author, Mark Willis. You won't want to miss Mark's fascinating transition from navigating the economic turbulence of 2008 to pioneering new financial strategies tailored for e-commerce entrepreneurs. From managing cash flow to inventory funding, Mark introduces the empowering concept of "bank on yourself," a method that liberates Amazon sellers from the limitations of traditional banking.Listeners are in for a treat as we break down the differences between term life insurance and whole life insurance, likening it to the choice between renting and owning a home...2024-12-1238 minTEXT AND ROCK.RITUAL... AND A BONUS LIVE SET.Send us a textMark and Eric kick around the theory of rituals in religious traditions, and try to help you focus on the posture of the heart that actually helps. They also introduce their new book HOLY ROLLER and pop a recent live set on the back end. We hope you love it! Be good to each other!Heart, Mark and EricFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. 2024-06-0137 minTEXT AND ROCK.THE DIVINE JOKE.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the upside-downside, good/evil encompassing nature of divinity and how to keep faith while being in on the joke. This one is all about why it is okay to admit you cannot know everything and are free to hold life with levity.We hope you love it! Be good to each other!Heart, Mark and EricFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com.2024-04-2624 minTEXT AND ROCK.WELCOME TO THE REBELLION.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about how to think about fast changing times and cultural systems which often feel out of our control. We hope you love it!Join the TEXT AND ROCK FACEBOOK GROUP by clicking HERE. For a limited time, join our community and get a free digital press item as a free gift.For Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com.Want to support the show, experience our best creative work, buy merchandise...2024-04-1625 minTEXT AND ROCK.PLANETARY MYTHOLOGY.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about how religion has changed in human intellectual evolution and what kind of mythology has its place in the post-modern world. So small potatoes...We hope you love it!Mark and EricFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You can find all of social handles here: TEXT AND ROCK SOCIALS.Want to...2024-03-0326 minTEXT AND ROCK.FOLLOW YOUR BLISS.Send us a textMark and Eric chat about a quote by Joseph Campbell, one of the first to popularize comparative mythology, and introduce a new poem called FOLLOW YOUR BLISS (you can read it at www.textandrock.com/poetry). We talk about how many people feel caught between their passion and just trying to make it...and how to hold it all at once. We hope you love it!Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text a...2024-01-3119 minTEXT AND ROCK.SNAKE BITES AND HOLY ROLLERS.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about how having an internal authority and a righteous mind means having inner peace no matter what life throws at you. We hope you love it!Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You can find all of social handles here: T...2024-01-3118 minTEXT AND ROCK.WIND DOWN OF THE WEST.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the worrisome trends of western production and consumption, and introduce the poem Corporate Future. This is the second of two episodes we filmed at the Dubuque Street skate park in Iowa City. We hope you love it!Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. 2023-11-1716 minTEXT AND ROCK.PEACE PARADOX.Send us a textMark and Eric jam on the power of peace in an age of un-creative violence, asking whether we gave everything around us its living essence, and whether or not we have any right to take it away. This episode suggest the most powerful peace is capable or violence and retaliation, but makes a choice to stand down.Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact M...2023-11-0912 minTEXT AND ROCK.PLATO'S HUMANITY.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the how to pursue cooperation towards moral right in a world of divisive politics and "us and them."Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You can find all of social handles here: TEXT AND ROCK SOCIALS.2023-11-0322 minTEXT AND ROCK.MASTERS IN LIBRARY SCIENCE.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the how religion in the west is evolving and how you can get a Masters in Library Science without knowing anything that really matters. En Garde!Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You can find all of social handles here: T...2023-10-0524 minTEXT AND ROCK.ARE YOU PURSUING JOY?Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the how to pursue joy first and foremost, and how more people need to be okay with questioning corporate slogans, intentions, and groupthink ideas. This one is filmed in front of the skatepark on Dubuque Street in Iowa City, one of the places we like to... show up. Ha!Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, v...2023-09-2812 minTEXT AND ROCK.CHANGE THE TAPES.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the how to take the voices that play in the back of your head like tapes and changed them out, and how it is normal for creative people to have anxiety, elevated highs, and deeper lows.Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You c...2023-09-1528 min
PHILOSOPHER KINGS.11 NORTH STAR. SOUTH STAR.This one is part two of three on the Learner's Path: how to think about being a young professional like a young sage in training.This one is all about attaching yourself to trustworthy guides on your path to professional success.Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and some other ways to discover the Philosopher Kings world:BLOG.www.philosopherkings.net/blogYOUTUBE.Come watch and co...2023-08-0907 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.12 3 KEYS TO THE LEARNER'S PATH.This one is part three of three on the Learner's Path: how to think about being a young professional like a young sage in training.This one has three tactical mindsets to being a learner: Finding trustworthy guides, doing what they say, and reimagining failure.Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and some other ways to discover the Philosopher Kings world:BLOG.www.philosopherkings.net/blogYOUTUBE.2023-08-0910 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.10 THE LAST JEDI AND THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL.This one is part one of three on the Learner's Path: how to think about being a young professional like a young sage in training.If you can learn to think about being a pro like being a humble learner instead of being an accomplished master... you'll actually go way farther way faster and surprise people with your young mastery. Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and some other ways to discover the Philosopher Kings world:B...2023-08-0908 minTEXT AND ROCK.GREAT STRIDES FORWARD!Send us a textMark and Eric kick around a new poem about how to treat people well so they grow to their full potential-- it only takes a little hope for people to make great strides forward.We also talk about how to take a day off as a pirate, Hillel and Shammai, and Socrates' sage advice: "Be who you pretend to be." שלם and enjoy!Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podc...2023-08-0823 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.09 QUALITY OF THOUGHTS EQUALS QUALITY OF LIFE.This one is all about how your thoughts are the lead indicator of your life. Your words and actions only follow (lag indicators) your thoughts. And so, according to Marcus Aurelius, "the happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts..." Here's what that means for next-gen pros and the upcoming three tools we are going to explore for designing our thought life. Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kingsoooh btw here's the Overcoming Overwhelm Survival Guide link______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... 2023-08-0409 minTEXT AND ROCK.DO WHAT YOU LOVE.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the difference between passion and occupation, what to do when something lights you up, and how to do what you love no matter the cost.Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You can find all of social handles here: TEXT A...2023-08-0329 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.07 FAILING IS NOT THE SAME THING AS FAILURE (AND IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU!).In part 3 of 4 in an interview with Joe Martino, Joe explains the difference between failing and failure and what to do with it. Honestly, every "functioning" adult should listen to Joe's ideas on this one... This is one of the most important thought shifts for any professional to make in their early career.You can check out all of Joe Martino's great work at www.joemartino.com.Hope you love the show!Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... 2023-07-2013 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.08 YOU CANNOT BE PERFECT... AND WHY THAT'S OK!In part 4 of 4 in an interview with Joe Martino, Mark and Joe kick around how to shift from perfectionism to the wisdom that you WILL fail. It's okay, and the better question is "HOW will I fail?" when it happens.Honestly, every "functioning" adult should listen to Joe's ideas on this one... This is one of the most important thought shifts for any professional to make in their early career.You can check out all of Joe Martino's great work at www.joemartino.com.Hope you love the show!2023-07-2008 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.05 AN UNEXPECTED UPSIDE TO THE YOUNG-GUN PROFESSIONAL CLASS.In part 1 of 4 of an interview with Joe Martino, professional counselor and entrepreneur in Michigan, Mark asks Joe what he sees as particularly hopeful about nextgen professionals.He talks about the advantages that Covid-19 actually caused for many young professionals coming of age. You can check out all things Joe Martino, and learn a lot about emotional and relational intelligence, by heading to www.joemartino.com.Hope you love the show!Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings ______________________________________________LINKS for your...2023-07-1912 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.06 THE DANGER OF ALL OR NOTHING THINKING.In part 2 of 4 of an interview with Joe Martino, Joe suggests that one challenge facing nextgen professionals is all or nothing thinking. Here's the problem, and how THINK. SPEAK. and ACT differently...You can check out all things Joe Martino, and learn a lot about emotional and relational intelligence, by heading to www.joemartino.com.Hope you love the show!Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings ______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and some other ways to...2023-07-1911 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.03 VIRTUE CAN BE TAUGHT.This one's all about virtue: character qualities which make a person excellent. Here's why pursuing personal morality is worth the effort, and you ignore virtue at your own peril. Also why Tony is on thin ice and why professional colleges are WORRIED about the up and coming next-gen professional class.Remember, you are what you repeatedly do. Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and some other ways to discover the Philosopher Kings world:BLO...2023-07-1306 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.04 YOU CAN REINVENT YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE READY.This episode asks some hard questions about your personal and professional life, only to encourage you that it is never too late to pursue moral excellence.You can start your journey to becoming a philosopher king whenever you are ready.You can reinvent yourself whenever you are ready.Socrates explains, "the best way to be a person of honor is to be who you pretend to be."Mark ShafferPhilosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and some oth...2023-07-1306 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.02 LONG ON KNOWLEDGE, SHORT ON WISDOM AND VIRTUE.Hey Philosopher Kings!This one's all about how professional colleges are excellent at churning out students who are long on knowledge, but short on wisdom and virtue.Here's what happens when you have one out of three of the qualities Plato says makes you a wise ruler of your professional empire.I hope you love it!Remember, we are what we repeatedly do.Mark ShafferFounder of Philosopher Kings______________________________________________LINKS for your growth and progress... ⬇️⬇️⬇️Here are the links from today's show and som...2023-07-1206 minPHILOSOPHER KINGS.01 WHAT IS A PHILOSOPHER KING?Plato argued in his famous work, the Republic, that the ideal society (he called it Utopia) would be ruled not by kings or politicians, but buy a philosopher. His "Philosopher King" would possess three qualities that made this person fit to rule Utopia: Knowledge, Wisdom, and Virtue.At Philosopher Kings, we argue that the modern nextgen professional has their own kingdom, and that they can rule their professional life and practice best at the same intersection of knowledge, wisdom, and virtue.I'm so glad you are here. Your journey to become a Philosopher King...begins...2023-07-1206 minTEXT AND ROCK.HONOR AND HARMONY.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the beauty of everyday kindness and respect for others, and introduce the making of "Beautiful Choices." They humbly suggest that mundane moments are sacred moments when you recognize the divinity and goodness in others. We hope you love it.Text and Rock On.Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. 2023-06-2416 minTEXT AND ROCK.THIS WORLD MATTERS. YOUR LIFE MATTERS.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the frustration of environmental danger and capitalist corruption while unveiling the making of "On My Way to Hell." The silver lining is that 1) this world truly matters and 2 ) so does your life. Along the way, we talk about the responsibility we all have to innocent and joyful children. Most of all, we explore how faith is not about eliminating chaos and suffering, it is about how to endure suffering with grit and determination, even when things feel like a lost cause.We love you TEXT AND...2023-06-0124 minTEXT AND ROCK.GOOD COMPANY. GOOD CHALLENGES.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the importance of great friends and worthy challenges. The big idea is that the human soul travels the best 1) with other people 2) who are headed in our direction, 3) taking on a mission that matters. Along the way, we talk about quality friends over quantity, and the kind of goals worthy of you. Best of all, we let you listen in on the making of this poem in a mini-set. We hope you love it!We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to each...2023-05-1225 minTEXT AND ROCK.BORN IN THE FIRE.Send us a textMark and Eric suffer through a coffee order fiasco (Scooter's Kris Krossed their drinks...which would never have happened at Cappana.. insider baseball for eastern Iowans there...). Because of the mishap and the immense pain it causes, they kick around the TEXT AND ROCK poem entitled, 10TH MUSE. Along the way, we examine how the best literature and art comes from suffering. This means as human beings we will indeed go through pain, but she can be your creative Muse.We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to...2023-04-2723 minTEXT AND ROCK.INVEST IN YOUR SOUL.Send us a textMark and Eric discuss the need to invest in your soul. They talk about the theme of self-care and others care over and against consumption of marketing in the TEXT AND ROCK poem entitled, SPACE THEY CAN'T TOUCH. On the backend we revisit conflict managers from Mark's elementary years. He might have had a lotta chats with them. ...he might have had a lot of conflict. We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Tex...2023-04-1420 minTEXT AND ROCK.THIS TRIP IS A DISASTER.Send us a textMark and Eric discuss the kinds of mistakes that make you grow. They talk about the central imagery of redemption in the TEXT AND ROCK poem entitled, JOSHUA TREE, and Mark fills you in on Eric's ex-girlfriend situation. Otto takes you home by drumming to Susie Q. This one's got it all, and this trip is a disaster.We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or...2023-04-0830 minTEXT AND ROCK.CREATE WITH NO FEAR.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about the fear and scrutiny that simply come with making stuff you believe in. They kick around the connection between gladiators and artists as the central image in the TEXT AND ROCK poem entitled, ARENA, and Eric encourages Mark not to give up on trying to dunk a basketball. ...Mark is like 5'2". It's not gonna happen. Hehe...We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Po...2023-03-2819 minTEXT AND ROCK.WHAT IS THE SOUL? ATREYU AND HOW TO DEAL WITH EXISTENTIAL ANGST.Send us a textMark and Eric drown your sorrows like Atreyu's horse... did you swing at that change up? Ha! They present the thing behind the thing in the TEXT AND ROCK poem entitled, ATREYU, talk about cyclical nihilism in human intellectual history, and present Xenophon's idea of the soul as the part of you that participates in the divine. After the heavy stuff, Mark tells of his childhood foray into professional wrestling and reflects on the genius of one Christ Schwartz, founder of the Wrestling Federation of Champions. Saddle up Artax, this one is hilarious...2023-03-1736 minTEXT AND ROCK.EVOLUTION AND RELIGION. HOW AND WHY RELIGION IN THE WEST IS CHANGING OVER TIME.Send us a textMark and Eric present the ideas and beats behind TRIPLE RIPPLE (including more cowbell) and talk about how human names for God are inevitably changing in light of human discovery and internal evolution. On the road, Eric brings up an interesting idea about God by Hegel the philosopher, and Mark makes playful yet seriously damaging fun of the creation museum in Dumbkentuckistan. Have fun with this one, treat it as a mental map or mind experiment more so than a precise direction forward.We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!2023-03-1128 minTEXT AND ROCK.THE GOAL OF AN EMPIRE.Send us a textMark and Eric present the spoken word and rhythmic strategy of ISHTAR, and talk about the dangers of unchecked marketing and consumerism in western economics. So light stuff. Ha! Along the way, Eric compares an ex-girlfriend to Ishtar, goddess of everything terrifying and Mark challenges you to enter a discussion about defining the dangers of empire and leaving in ways that matter. We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric MadisonFor Text and Rock Poetry, Po...2023-02-2822 minTEXT AND ROCK.THE DEATH OF THE EXPERT.Send us a textMark and Eric talk about what it is to grow as a person and a creator, the dream to combine poetry, rhythm, and performance, and some sick things coming your way. We love you TEXT AND ROCKERS!Be good to each other, Mark Shaffer and Eric Madison☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️For Text and Rock Poetry, Podcasts, and Video Content or to contact Mark and Eric, visit us at www.textandrock.com. You can find all of social handles here...2023-02-2027 minTEXT AND ROCK.63 THE BIBLE AND RACE 08.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is the last part of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get st...2023-02-0717 minTEXT AND ROCK.62 THE BIBLE AND RACE 07.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part seven of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-02-0519 minTEXT AND ROCK.61 THE BIBLE AND RACE 06.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part six of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-01-2419 minTEXT AND ROCK.60 THE BIBLE AND RACE 05.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part four of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-01-2021 minTEXT AND ROCK.59 THE BIBLE AND RACE 04.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part four of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-01-1322 minTEXT AND ROCK.58 THE BIBLE AND RACE 03.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part three of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-01-1120 minTEXT AND ROCK.57 THE BIBLE AND RACE 02.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part two of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-01-0628 minTEXT AND ROCK.56 THE BIBLE AND RACE 01.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This is part one of a discussion with "the Negro Artist," Caleb Rainey. It is some of our best work in the earlier rendition of the Text and Rock Show, and so I wanted to replay it headed into Black History Month. We hope these episodes make you think, but more importantly, make you actively listen, understand, make friends you might not have, and see the immense worth of people you might not understand until you have shared stories together.To get started w...2023-01-0326 minTEXT AND ROCK.55 REFLECTIVE MESSIAH.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is an original poem about following the Jesus way.What is an ethical Christian versus a magic/theological idea of Jesus?How the teaching of Jesus best is summarized in one double-love command.Love God. Love people. That simple. We love you, TXT and RKRS.You can contact Mark and Eric at www.textandrock.com or email mark@textandrock.com.___________________________________________Check out our new YouTube Channel and Click Subscribe.2022-12-2406 minTEXT AND ROCK.54 KING HEROD’S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one has a special announcement and a spoken word poem re-thinking the baby Jesus story.Enjoy friends and family this holiday season!We love you, TXT and RKRS.You can contact Mark and Eric at www.textandrock.com or email mark@textandrock.com.___________________________________________Check out our new YouTube Channel and Click Subscribe.To support the work and world of Text and Rock, pick up your copy of WARRIOR...2022-12-2214 minTEXT AND ROCK.53 KILLING IN THE NAME AND COUNTER-TESTIMONY.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one's all about how we need to keep moving forward in naming God for human thriving to take permanent root.Join us to talk abouthow humanity names divinity at every stage of cultural evolution...an original Text and Rock poem about the Battle of Jericho.what does it mean that the commander of God's armies doesn't pick a side?what is a theophany?the concept of counter-testimony in composite literature.a counter-testimony to violence then and now.We love you, TXT and...2022-12-1312 minTEXT AND ROCK.52 HEART LANGUAGE.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one's all about how humanity creates an ideal in divinity and then lives it out, not necessarily the other way around.Join us to talk abouthow humanity names divinity at every stage of cultural evolution...and then that idea pulls us forward morally and intellectually. what is an ancient idol, and how it informs a lot of texts and artifacts.journey back to grad school with swift-footed Markilles and talk to Dana.how we all have a heart language... and a holy language.2022-12-0922 minTEXT AND ROCK.51 DIVINE IDEAL AND MORAL PROGRESS.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one's all about how humanity creates an ideal in divinity and then lives it out, not necessarily the other way around.Join us to talk abouthow two stories get drawn in to make political point in sacred texts.another combat myth if you're down to clown. the unification of Egypt as the thing behind the thing.what is the Axial Age and how did humanity come to long for justice?how we create our gods and then our gods create us.Mark takes y...2022-12-0216 minTEXT AND ROCK.50 RELIGION AND POLI-TRICKS.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one's all about what happens when you combine religion and politics, in the ancient world and today. Journey back to ancient Egypt with Mark and Eric once again to explore the lore of the Memphis Creation Story.Join us to talk abouthow the thing behind the thing in sacred texts can oftentimes be very political.why there is always a danger in invoking God in politics.how Shabaka started an imperial cult, and how the Bible has a gnarly parallel.all about...2022-11-2922 minTEXT AND ROCK.48 GOD AND GENDER 03.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!Here's the concluding episode on God and gender.Join us to talk aboutwhy it makes so many of us nervous to describe God as a He/Him.how viewing your sacred text as part of an ongoing discussion can set you free from frozen ideas about divinity.the movement from space in the Judeo-Christian tradition of naming God.what most moderns are actually talking about when they talk about God.2022-11-1508 minTEXT AND ROCK.47 GOD AND GENDER 02.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is a quick break from Egyptian lore to talk about God and gender...again. Join us to talk abouthow if you back up a thousand years Iron Age sacred texts may have had a divine feminine instead of a male storm god.how the conception of the male storm god shifts to a loving father of the house by the time of Jesus... but it is trackable.whether we can conceive of a mother-goddess being in the primary text a...2022-11-1107 minTEXT AND ROCK.46 GOD AND GENDER 01.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is a quick break from Egyptian lore to talk about God and genderJoin us to talk aboutwhy God is male in the Hebrew Bible and howthat gets interpreted all the way through the Bible, Talmud, and Quran.whether we should actually think of God as male part one. the Canaanite storm-god combat myth behind the text of the Bible.That's what we've got. much love TXT and ROCKERS!You can contact Mark and Eric at 2022-11-0808 minTEXT AND ROCK.45 THE JOY PARADOX.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is a quick break from Egyptian lore to talk about holding your life and tradition with joy rather than suffering.Join us to talk aboutwhy so many people take their religion so seriously that joy disappears.whether or not following God is supposed to be about suffering.the mystery of sacred moments that are the opposite of progress.Torah embodiment and first century, Galilean sages.could you embody your tradition with joy?puppy Moses sidetracks the show right on...2022-11-0407 minTEXT AND ROCK.44 ATUM-RE 03: GOD IS A MOVING TARGET 02Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is part two of two on the SO WHAT of an old creation story like ATUM RE.Big idea is this: You might be rejecting a very old, Iron Age conception of God.Join us to talk aboutwhat God's ultimate goal for your life is probably not, and what it might be.how some conceptions of God need to be left in the dirt.why you have to take ancient stories about the gods one at a time.how to...2022-10-2808 minTEXT AND ROCK.43 ATUM-RE 02: GOD IS A MOVING TARGET 01Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is part one of two on the SO WHAT of an old creation story like ATUM RE.Big idea is this: the conception of divinity is a moving target.Join us to talk aboutsome notions of God are no longer helpful.how to consider each story where people try to name God, one at a time.how the Hammurabi stele can teach you more about Yahweh than church.divinity in the Iron Age: humans writ large, shiny, animal composites. old g...2022-10-2510 minTEXT AND ROCK.42 ATUM-RA 01. CREATION PATTERNS AND DIVINITY OUTSIDE TIME.Send us a textHey Text and Rockers!This one is all about the Egyptian creation story of Atum-Ra... and how it bounces off of other ancient Near Eastern texts and traditions.Join us to talk abouthow multiple versions of stories and legends sit side by side in the ancient world.all about Atum-Ra creating "the nine" primary or "OG" Egyptian gods.ancient chaos waters as the starting point of ANE creation myths.why it matters that Atum-Ra creates through speech.how this ticks like a song with a cadence just l...2022-10-2118 minTEXT AND ROCK.40 HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE EGYPTIAN GALAXY 01.Send us a textThis one is all about creation stories in Egypt and the broader Ancient Near East.Join us to discuss togetherhow Eric thinks trolls have an uncanny similarity to a certain former president.Mark complains about how sore his is from a Krav Maga wknd.Cicero's alter ego and leaning into your shadow side.An overview on Egyptian creation myths, pyramids, and NOT ancient aliens. Ha!A brief reflection on we have, and more importantly, what we don't have from the sands of time.___________________________________ Borders. What's up with t...2022-10-0615 minTEXT AND ROCK.39 MEDIOCRITY IS A MIND KILLER.Send us a textThis one is all about growing past mediocre ways of reading your story.Join us to discuss togetherthe idea from Mike Herrera that "Mediocrity is a Mind Killer."how most faith leaders only know their sacred text on a very simple level.why striving for great ideas about ancient literature unlocks it for you.a similar observation from Rumi, that conventional opinion kills your soul.Mark's encouragement that you are safe to DIG. SIT. and WONDER. here in the TEXT AND ROCK community.___________________________________ The sound of h...2022-10-0417 minTEXT AND ROCK.34 TEXT AND ROCKERS DIG THROUGH STORIES.Send us a textThis one is the first of three episodes on the core values of the Text and Rock world, taken from some new videos in our facebook group. Listen for puppy Moses snoring... it's a hoot!The group opens in October, but if you want to slide in early, HERE is the link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/439433967697980Join us to discuss togetherwhat it means to be a person who digs through their tradition.how keeping things light allows the heart to go towards the heavy.how...2022-09-1311 minTEXT AND ROCK.33 THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE.Send us a textThis one is all about the beginning of KNOWLEDGE. It's not what you might think.Join us to discuss togetherwhere Christianity fits into ancient Judaism.how finding truth one click away is sometimes better.why the modern assumption of skepticism only gets you so far.whether God was born in a cave in France, or we just finally noticed...how human intellectual evolution is like the Grand Canyon.___________________________________ While many men search for blissI see the vision, it's my interestIntellect can only t...2022-09-0615 minTEXT AND ROCK.32 YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.Send us a textThis one is all about the PAIN and GAIN of leaving common conception for bigger and better ideas about the divine and human thriving.This one is actually two episodes...because Eric asks a great question just as we were wrapping up. So stay tuned after the credits TEXT AND ROCKERS!Join us to discuss togetheranother Swift-Footed Markilles poem called "You Have to Leave."why so many folks are having bigger and better ideas about God and human thriving.how no one is necessarily going to go...2022-08-3018 minTEXT AND ROCK.31 GOOD GOD, GOOD FRUIT, GOOD LIFE.Send us a textThis one is all about a different definition of God and God's goodness taken from the Stoics. How to align a good divinity with good fruit in your life.Join us to talk aboutWhy Christian theology is ultimately derivative of Greek philosophy.the Four-Virtue, or Stoic, canon of virtues.What Jesus is doing when he says good trees bear good fruit.How extreme political leanings cancel out treating people with ethical justice.How you are a fish in a bowl, God is the water inside and outside the fish...2022-08-2622 minTEXT AND ROCK.30 ARROWS AND MOUNTAINS.Send us a textThis one is all about what happens when we flip the arrow of revelation, so that humanity climbs a mountain and points to the divine... not the other way around. Just think on it. We'll help!Join us to talk aboutMark and Eric's poetry and suitcase drum set world tour. Almost. We're getting there Text and Rockers....A poem by Mark called "Arrows and Mountains."The danger of woodenly applying Iron Age laws to modern society.How the model of arrows and mountains from antiquity should be flipped.What h...2022-08-2317 minTEXT AND ROCK.29 EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING'S MAGIC!Send us a textThis one is all about what to take away from the Epic of Gilgamesh series: What to do with what we've learned together.Join us to talk abouthow as bizarre as it is, Gilgamesh was a religious text for a long, long time.why in the world Mark picked Gilgamesh for an expanded series.how deep learning comes after fun and knowing a teacher is "for" you.whether the goal of a faith that actually matters is belief or unity and a better world.how to hold your text...2022-08-1815 minTEXT AND ROCK.28 EPIC OF GILGAMESH 14. YOU CAN REINVENT YOURSELF WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.Send us a textThis one is all about what to do when all seems lost.Join us to talk aboutThe search for immortality then and now.The etymology of snakes/dragons in the ancient Near East.When you have invested so much in a dead end.How death, loss of dreams, and betrayal causes grief...but also a rare opportunity for a new life.how to treat these moments like you're already dead.how to view past success and disaster as a warm up.So long, so long-- and thanks for...2022-08-1717 minTEXT AND ROCK.27 EPIC OF GILGAMESH 13. HOW AN ANCIENT AUTHOR WRITES A STORY.Send us a textThis one is all about how ancients write stories.Join us to talk aboutWolfgang Iser's theory of CULTURAL REPERTOIRE.FLOATING MOTIFS and repeated core storylines in ancient literature.The literary stations, or steps of a floating motif, in the FLOOD STORY.Literature as reaction to event.the RIGHT question to ask about comparative stories.a little bonus rant on what makes the Noah story different and fascinating.um...some dad joke about needing a boat that ends in "I Noah guy!"⛈⛈⛈⛈We hope this discussion of what...2022-08-0913 minTEXT AND ROCK.26 EPIC OF GILGAMESH 12. YOUR STORY AMONG THE MYTHS.Send us a textThis one is all about how to think about your story among the stories of ancient literature.Join us to talk abouthow Gilgamesh's convo with "the Faraway" leads us to a pretty familiar story.why so many ancient cultures have a flood story.how to think about your story and comparative literature.all about how the ancients thought about the founding of ancient cities.your mom built an ark, and so did a lot of other folks.a little Mesopotamian cosmology, if you're down tot clown....2022-08-0212 minTEXT AND ROCK.25 YOUR STORY IS A DIG SITE 02.Send us a textThis one is all about the two key mistakes people make in reading an ancient text.Join us to talk abouthow digging though comparative literature changes everything.why sitting with tradition is the best way to bring a text forward.the example of Jesus as someone who pulls a text forward with brilliance...and what all REAL antiquity scholars do with ancient texts.Mark's FOREVER CRITIQUE of fundamentalism.how digging and sitting results in levity.Your now is not your forever.--John Green...2022-07-2916 min