Shows
Geeky StoicsDeconstructing "Balance" of the Force in Star WarsMay the Fourth be with you!What better way to celebrate than to watch a very special, video edition of the Geeky Stoics podcast.In this episode, Stephen Kent and Riley Blanton get into it! It is a Star Wars philosophical battle royale (ok, maybe thoughtful discussion) on the ever-controversial concept of "balance” of the Force. Balance is a big deal in Star Wars - it's basically the main job description of the Chosen One. But leave it to a couple of philosophy nerds like us to find 7 ways to interpret exactly what that means. ...2024-05-0432 min
Geeky StoicsWhat Anxiety Is Telling YouI am constantly anxious about the future. What about you? This is a state of being that is entirely natural and is a gift human beings have been given to contemplate what’s coming tomorrow and plan accordingly. It’s also torture. Never is our mind 100 percent in the moment, focused on where we are and what we are doing. This was Luke Skywalker’s problem in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back as he trained to be a Jedi with Yoda. And it had always been his problem, even when he was back home on Tatooine. His mind wander...2024-03-0307 min
Rule The Galaxy PodcastChapter 249 - Riley Blanton and Stephen KentIn this episode of Rule the Galaxy Joe is late...DDoc, Alfie and Brent lead the way with special guests: Riley Blanton and Stephen Kent.
These two are friends of the show and run Geeky Stoics (YourTube, Podcast, Substack)
Go back and check out Riley on his old show Star Wars Report
Go check out Stephen on old episodes of Beltway Banthas and in his book, How the Force Can Fix the World
The crew covers so many topics, LOTR, GOT, West Wing, Dune, and so many more.
We...2024-03-011h 29
Geeky StoicsStar Wars For Real LifeStar Wars is chock full of real-world wisdom and insights on life, death, control, love, and change. In this podcast, Riley Blanton of Geeky Stoics breaks down the 5 essential quotes from Star Wars that you can live by. Thank you for listening to Geeky Stoics.More on this at geekystoics.comAnd find the videos on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@GeekyStoics/videos This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.geekystoics.com2024-01-1711 min
Geeky StoicsWhat Geeky Stoics Is Really AboutThis is what Geeky Stoics is all about. Identifying and celebrating those moments in modern stories that were in a sense, gifted to us. It’s an inheritance, one we’re grateful for. We focus on that rather than the predictable, angry, and shallow entertainment commentary that defines so much of our online lives. Even in movies we don’t particularly love, our attention is on finding the meaning or kernel of wisdom worth holding on to. It’s been a process of transformation and finding just the right message for this Substack. You might remember that this new...2023-12-1801 min
Geeky StoicsIn Prison Wherever You GoI’ve never met a person who wanted to not live free. The trick with human beings is that we’re all seeking freedom from different things, people, places, and ideas. One man’s prison is another’s retreat. In last week’s edition, What Sets You Free (paywall is now down) I outlined how the Jedi and Sith differ on what defines freedom, and how it relates to our own struggles with living the kind of lives we’d like to live. Today I have something else for you to consider, a controversial point — no doubt. Which is that...2023-11-1305 min
Geeky StoicsIt's Okay To Say LessQui-Gon Jinn is a quote machine. Probably more than any Jedi Master in Star Wars, even more than Yoda. During his one film, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon delivers a quip to Jar Jar Binks that is more important than you may realize. Jar Jar almost gets them both killed. Qui-Gon is a tad flustered by this and asks, “What are you, brainless?” Jar Jar says back, “I can speak”Qui-Gon responds, “The ability to speak doesn’t make you intelligent.” Many of you receiving this email today are new to This Is The Wa...2023-11-0705 min
Geeky StoicsStart Small on your Heroic JourneyMy friends, we are now podcasting directly out of Substack. Riley Blanton had a great point when he called me to suggest that we should be making This Is The Way the HQ of all our activities. I want you to get the most possible out of your subscription to this newsletter. What you can expect from our podcast, Walk The Way, is 1-2 “wake up and go” podcasts that borrow from the written articles, and expand a bit on them. If you read When You're Consciously Incompetent, this podcast is the companion audio to that piece. I hi...2023-09-1808 min
Beltway BanthasWalk The Way: A New Podcast from Stephen KentIf you loved Beltway Banthas, you can still keep learning from Star Wars. Stephen Kent has a new podcast with co-host Riley Blanton, it's called Walk The Way. Inspired by the writing from How The Force Can Fix The World and This Is The Way, Walk The Way is dedicated to building a community around popular fiction and self-improvement. Myth can make us better, George Lucas knew that.
Find WALK THE WAY on your favorite podcast app today and Subscribe
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/23aR2KZ1r8l65...2023-07-3002 min
Geeky StoicsRediscovery: Star Wars, Iceland, and the Birth of a New PodcastShow notes:Introduction and Background (0:00-1:00)Riley Blanton, the founder and long-term host of The Star Wars Report podcast, announces the new podcast "Walk the Way" co-hosted by Stephen Kent.Both hosts have a long history of Star Wars podcasting and intend to create a space that focuses on the philosophy and stories that define who we are.The Concept of "Walk the Way" Podcast (1:01-2:05)The podcast aims to delve deep into the stories and mythologies that inspire us and shape our identities.We hope to move beyond the surface-level Star Wars news...2023-07-0913 min
Beltway BanthasTHIS IS THE WAY: How Kylo Ren, Rey and love brought balance to the ForceWhy were the Jedi so obsessed with the prophecy of balance being brought to the Force? And why did they clearly fail so badly? It's because balance is easier said than done, and their moral commitments were out of step with the principle of what balance really is. This episode is an explainer on how Rey and Kylo Ren eventually brought balance to the Force, and why the Jedi and Sith both fail when it comes to having a healthy relationship with the emotion of LOVE.
This reflection is a new line of episodes leading up to t...2021-11-0517 min
Beltway BanthasTHIS IS THE WAY: Rey Skywalker and your power to chooseDo we have free will and the power to choose our own destiny? Star Wars is clear eyed about both the power and reality of choice, but also the gravity of choices that were made FOR us. How have you had choices in your life limited by circumstance for the actions of others? We've all been there. But you can do something about it. In this Beltway Banthas miniseries, Stephen Kent offers a reflection on how to find and preserve your free will to shape the life you want to have. This reflection is a new line of episodes...2021-11-0419 min
Beltway BanthasSearching for Star Wars after an insurrectionAmerica was attacked on January 6th, 2021 from within. A sitting president fulfilled his many years of promising to not concede a lost election and did so by sicking his craven supporters on Congress. Beltway Banthas is a Star Wars and politics podcast, but sometimes Star Wars is hard to find in the moments when history is being written on TV. In this episode Stephen Kent, Danielle Adams, Nick DiCo and Riley Blanton convene the day after an insurrection at the Capitol building and unload their thoughts.2021-01-081h 10
Beltway BanthasStar Wars, Court-Packing and Mike Lee vs the Galactic SenateIn this special broadcast of Beltway Banthas, host Stephen Kent and producer Riley Blanton react to Republican Senator Mike Lee's mention of Star Wars' Galactic Senate to describe Court-Packing. Why did he say this? Slate seems to suggest it's a lowkey expression of Lee's disdain for diversity and pluralistic government, but does that sort of miss the point?
We break it down in this short episode of the podcast!2020-10-1819 min
Beltway BanthasStar Wars in the Middle Kingdom, China and Hollywood censorshipWelcome back for another great show! This week Riley Blanton of The Star Wars Report and Mouse & Castle joins the show for a whirlwind of political chatter about a galaxy, far, far away. If you noticed the international controversy surrounding the NBA and their handling of political statements about the Hong Kong protests, this issue extends far beyond pro basketball. Disney actively makes some of the same calculations and accommodations for the Chinese Communist Party.2019-10-171h 00
Geeky StoicsStar Wars in the Middle Kingdom, China and Hollywood censorshipWelcome back for another great show! This week Riley Blanton of The Star Wars Report and Mouse & Castle joins the show for a whirlwind of political chatter about a galaxy, far, far away. If you noticed the international controversy surrounding the NBA and their handling of political statements about the Hong Kong protests, this issue extends far beyond pro basketball. Disney actively makes some of the same calculations and accommodations for the Chinese Communist Party, as does every other American company operating there. Riley Blanton and Stephen Kent mix it up on how Star Wars fares in C...2019-10-171h 00
Beltway Banthas: Star Wars, Politics & MoreStar Wars in the Middle Kingdom, China and Hollywood censorshipWelcome back for another great show! This week Riley Blanton of The Star Wars Report and Mouse & Castle joins the show for a whirlwind of political chatter about a galaxy, far, far away. If you noticed the international controversy surrounding the NBA and their handling of political statements about the Hong Kong protests, this issue extends far beyond pro basketball. Disney actively makes some of the same calculations and accommodations for the Chinese Communist Party, as does every other American company operating there. Riley Blanton and Stephen Kent mix it up on how Star Wars fares in...2019-10-171h 00
Geeky StoicsEp #11: Make Star Wars Great Again ft. Riley BlantonWelcome back to another installment of Beltway Banthas! This week in the world of Star Wars we all got to experience the amazing trailer for the upcoming Rogue One film. In this weeks episode we dive into the politics of Nostalgia. We discuss the polarization between original fans and prequel fans and how that relates to our politics today. With the help of special guest Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report, we pose questions regarding the greatness of America and it's connection to our galaxy far, far away. Stay connected with the show on twitter @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso...2016-08-2547 min
Beltway Banthas: Star Wars, Politics & MoreEp #11: Make Star Wars Great Again ft. Riley BlantonWelcome back to another installment of Beltway Banthas! This week in the world of Star Wars we all got to experience the amazing trailer for the upcoming Rogue One film. In this weeks episode we dive into the politics of Nostalgia. We discuss the polarization between original fans and prequel fans and how that relates to our politics today. With the help of special guest Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report, we pose questions regarding the greatness of America and it's connection to our galaxy far, far away. Stay connected with the show on twitter @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso...2016-08-2547 min
Beltway BanthasEp #11: Make Star Wars Great Again ft. Riley BlantonWelcome back to another installment of Beltway Banthas! This week in the world of Star Wars we all got to experience the amazing trailer for the upcoming Rogue One film. In this weeks episode we dive into the politics of Nostalgia. We discuss the polarization between original fans and prequel fans and how that relates to our politics today. With the help of special guest Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report, we pose questions regarding the greatness of America and it's connection to our galaxy far, far away. Stay connected with the show on twitter @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso...2016-08-2547 min
Geeky StoicsStar Wars Celebration Roundup: Chats with Bryan Young & Riley BlantonSurprise! We have a bonus episode this week from Star Wars Celebration London! Our senior foreign correspondent, Swara Salih, attended the convention and spoke with Bryan Young of Full of Sith, and Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report about politics & Star Wars. They are really nice people and fun chats so check this out. You can follow Swara on Twitter at @SwaraSalih1 Full of Sith podcast at @FullofSith and Bryan @Swankmotron and the Star Wars Report at @StarWarsReport and Riley @TheRileyGuy Norma episode next Thursday is on the way! Have a great week. This is a public...2016-07-2132 min
Beltway Banthas: Star Wars, Politics & MoreStar Wars Celebration Roundup: Chats with Bryan Young & Riley BlantonSurprise! We have a bonus episode this week from Star Wars Celebration London! Our senior foreign correspondent, Swara Salih, attended the convention and spoke with Bryan Young of Full of Sith, and Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report about politics & Star Wars. They are really nice people and fun chats so check this out. You can follow Swara on Twitter at @SwaraSalih1 Full of Sith podcast at @FullofSith and Bryan @Swankmotron and the Star Wars Report at @StarWarsReport and Riley @TheRileyGuy Norma episode next Thursday is on the way! Have a great week. Get on the email...2016-07-2132 min
Beltway BanthasStar Wars Celebration Roundup: Chats with Bryan Young & Riley BlantonSurprise! We have a bonus episode this week from Star Wars Celebration London! Our senior foreign correspondent, Swara Salih, attended the convention and spoke with Bryan Young of Full of Sith, and Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report about politics & Star Wars. They are really nice people and fun chats so check this out. You can follow Swara on Twitter at @SwaraSalih1 Full of Sith podcast at @FullofSith and Bryan @Swankmotron and the Star Wars Report at @StarWarsReport and Riley @TheRileyGuy Norma episode next Thursday is on the way! Have a great week.2016-07-2132 min