This is the Long Version, episode 014 : Micro-musings

I talk about the challenge of being an Artist, which means having enough singular confidence to believe that what you have benefits the world in ways that can be difficult to measure, and the challenge of being a Parent or Teacher, which means having enough humility to believe that you must pass along the very best of your knowledge, skills, experience, and character to those who will likely surpass you - if you do your job well.

Micro-musings

These are partially-formed thoughts and ideas about life. Here is a sampling below:

If you’re on a really tight budget, then one idea that sometimes works is to buy a house on top of a mountain, and then spend a couple years carefully cultivating a strong relationship with a neighbor who has a flatbed truck and ramp, and when the moment seems right, you ask her if she’d be willing to load your car up every evening on the way up the mountain so you don’t have to pay for gas, and then the next morning you coast down in neutral, and then voila, evening rolls around and you’re all set and your gas bill is way better. Cycle continues. Tip: have your neighbor sign a contract committing to the plan for at least seven years. Win-win: you save money and she has a good friend for life. Or seven years.

(more below)

Joseph LongMarch 16, 2021podcast, 2021Comment

This is the Long Version, episode 013 : Christmas

I tell some stories about being a dad, being a kid, and experiencing the holidays

CONVERSATIONSJoseph LongDecember 24, 2020podcast, 2020, Christmas, dadsComment

This is the Long Version, episode 012 : Election

The election is almost here. I tell a couple stories about conversations with various strangers and people about race, politics, and reasons why Donald Trump should probably not be reelected.

Some of it may be humorous and illuminating. Other portions may be ponderous and rambling. And other portions may simply sound like the final attempts of someone thoughtfully trying to help just one more person vote in next week’s election. Also, my one-year is sleeping on my back for most of the episode, until he wakes up and joins the conversation. Also, I briefly refer to that one guy from the New Testament that had a lot of great ideas about people and relationships. Jesus was his name.

I also come up with a nifty acronym for the qualities I especially desire our next leader to possess:

CONVERSATIONSJoseph LongOctober 29, 2020podcast, 2020, politics Comment

This is the Long Version, episode 011 : Socrates

Three big topics in this episode, amidst discussing my dad and his baking skills. The big three are 1) a mini-biography of Socrates, 2) theories and thoughts on Earth’s origins and the challenges of reconciling reason and faith, science and religion, and 3) my Ten Commandments of Homeschooling (or any kind of schooling).

CONVERSATIONSJoseph LongOctober 1, 2020podcast, 2020, parenting, politics, Lanessa Cherie LongComment

This is the Long Version, episode 010 : Lanessa

CONVERSATIONSJoseph LongSeptember 4, 2020podcast, 2020, parenting, politics, Lanessa Cherie LongComment

This is the Long Version, episode 009

STORIES, SCIENCE, HISTORYJoseph LongAugust 4, 2020podcast, 2020, dads, parenting, controversy, politicsComment

This is the Long Version, episode 008 : “Kubrick”

STORIES, SCIENCE, HISTORYJoseph LongJuly 3, 2020podcast, 2020, dads, parenting, controversy, politicsComment

This is the Long Version, episode 007 : "We are janitor"

I speak about our relationship and understanding of race in America and how we educate and learn difficult things alongside our children.

POLITICSJoseph LongJune 12, 2020podcast, 2020, dads, parenting, controversy, politics Comment

This is the Long Version, episode 006 : “Jonny”

My brother Jonny and I speak of the world’s worst film (“The Mist”), privacy and location tracking, social media, and Jonny’s experience the last four months being a new dad. There’s a lot of arguing, bantering, and disagreeing, and in the end we hug. If you listen carefully, you can actually hear us embracing awkwardly in the front seat.