Ledger is a podcast about the craft of writing, from novels to non-fiction to computer code! Stories are an essential part of life. We need them so we seek them out in every way possible. Ledger features interviews with writers across formats and genres to focus on the craft itself, the thoughts and actions that led to stories being written. How do writers deliver the words from their heads and out into the world for others to find? Give the show a listen!
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Weekly interview podcast hosted and produced by Austin Buckner.
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Confucius and Fresh talk all things hip-hop.
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Will Outkast make it into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame?
41:23
41:23
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41:23Fresh and Confucius discuss whether Outkast has a legitimate chance at making the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. The pair also breakdown Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show and their thoughts on it. The post Will Outkast make it into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.…
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Was Beyonce winning the AOTY a little too late? We also pay homage to hip-hop producer/executive Irv Gotti who passed away last week. The post Did Beyonce Get What She Deserved? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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On this episode Fresh and Confucius discuss the difference between podcasting and radio and if a Jay-Z feature is still worth it to artists. The post Is a Jay-Z feature still worth it? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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What is the issue between old friends, and artists, Jim Jones and Cam’ron? Also we discuss rappers cozying up to Trump’s new presidency. The post Frenemies? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Carys Anderson talks to Confucius and Fresh about the Austin Chronicle’s Music Poll. Plus Fresh and Confucius debate the merits of Drake’s case again UMG. The post A Conversation with the Austin Chronicle appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Confucius and Fresh discuss not being nominated for an Austin music award this year and debate Elliott Wilson’s views on hip-hop journalism. The post Should Elliott Wilson calm down? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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033: Alex Wrekk - Writer, "Stolen Sharpie Revolution," "Brainscan," and more
51:30
51:30
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51:30Alex Wrekk is the writer and creator of Stolen Sharpie Revolution, a fantastic book now two decades into its print run and continuing to influence zinemaking and zinemakers the world over. Alex also creates the zine Brainscan, and, sometimes, a handful of years will go by before a new issue shows up - but! - it’s always being worked on. We chat abo…
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Don’t worry, it’s not a clip show! Confucius and Fresh recap moments from The Breaks that made this year one for the books. The post 2024 Year-in-Review appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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032: Carolyn J. Carpenter - Screenwriter, "You Can't Run Forever"; Script reader
1:03:55
1:03:55
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1:03:55Carolyn J Carpenter is a cofounder of Hollywood Gatekeepers and a story analyst, writer, producer, and script reader, which is how I met her! This is another entry in my “Austin went to a film festival” series (along with Drew Larimore and Jim Burnstein) because I met Carolyn at Austin Film Festival in October 2024. Carolyn has a ton of industry ex…
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Confucius and Fresh talk about the recent rape allegations against Jay-Z. Plus they try and figure out why rap songs are getting shorter. The post How do we feel about Jay-Z appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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031: Jim Burnstein, Screenwriter, "Renaissance Man," "Mighty Ducks 3"
57:50
57:50
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57:50Jim Burnstein, the John H. Mitchell Professor of Entertainment and Director of Screenwriting Program at the University of Michigan stopped by Ledger to talk about his career as a screenwriter. He's written such films as Renaissance Man, starring Danny DeVito and directed by Penny Marhsall, Mighty Ducks 3, a particular childhood favorite of mine, an…
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Confucius and Fresh talk about the implications of Drake’s latest lawsuit, what to expect from Austin hip-hop and R&B going into 2025, and an Unpopular Opinion on the status of regional hip-hop. The post Is Drake going to be okay? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Confucius and Fresh talk about the evolution of R&B’s character over the decades, hip hop and drug usage, and an Unpopular Opinion on Drake’s potential to “fall off”. The post What happened to R&B? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Who benefits more from the marriage: Jay-Z or Beyoncé?
50:39
50:39
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50:39Confucius and Fresh weigh who gains the most from their industry relationships: Jay-Z or Beyoncé and Young Thug or Gunna, plus an Unpopular Opinion on the future of white rappers. The post Who benefits more from the marriage: Jay-Z or Beyoncé? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Playwright Drew Larimore joins Ledger today for a special reason: I read his play UPSTATE in the very first round of submissions as a script reader for the Austin Film Festival, which is THE film festival/contest/conference for writers. I happily put Drew's play through to the next round and also wrote that it had a serious chance of winning the ca…
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Inspired by a recent visit from T.I., Confucius and Fresh talk about how celebrities treat Austin before moving onto the role of Black celebrities in politics and an Unpopular Opinion on 50 Cent. The post Do celebrities respect Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Has GloRilla overtaken Cardi B as hip-hop’s “it girl”?
45:50
45:50
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45:50Confucius and Fresh confer on GloRilla’s growing popularity, check the pulse on Austin’s hip-hop scene, and predict the state of Drill music’s foreseeable future. The post Has GloRilla overtaken Cardi B as hip-hop’s “it girl”? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Episode #005: We're Not Going Back (with Ardith Buckner & Trent Buckner)
1:18:00
1:18:00
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1:18:00"This is the most important election of our lifetime!" "America is more divided now than ever!" Newsreels, political campaign advertisements, and social media posts are filled with phrases like these. But is there truth to any of it? On this episode, I sit down with my grandmother, Ardith Buckner, and my uncle, Trent Buckner, to dissect their feeli…
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Confucius and Fresh are joined by DAWA/Riders Against the Storm’s Chaka and Been There cofounder Aaron Brown to discuss Been There 3: A Party to Support Our Unhoused Neighbors happening November 2nd at Radio East to benefit The Other Ones Foundation. Hear that, a chat on the relationship between hip-hop and Halloween, and an Unpopular Opinion on Ke…
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Episode #004: A Mass Exodus (with Pastor Debby Lingelbach)
1:23:40
1:23:40
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1:23:40In the past 25 years, roughly 40 million Americans have stopped going to church. I am one of them, having left Christianity in the late 2000s and converting to Buddhism in the late 2010s. I know my reasons for leaving the church, but I wanted to find out why so many others have, too. Where are they going? What methods are leaders within the Christi…
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Confucius and Fresh cover both sides of the upcoming Gumbo SmackDown on October 26th through interviews with WWE Hall-of-Famer Mark Henry and Whip My Soul co-founders Antonio & Tia Echols. Hear that and an Unpopular Opinion on BET Hip-Hop Awards choice of venue in this episode. The post The Gumbo SmackDown! appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- P…
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Episode #003: Let The Right One In (with Blaine Burgett)
1:16:46
1:16:46
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1:16:46This is the story of a reformed fuckboy; a man once infamous for his emotional detachment who began to see the error of his ways after a failed marriage. It's the story of a man who changed those ways, and now lives a life that is better in every measurable way. This is a love story, and it's all about the benefits of letting the right one in. It's…
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Confucius and Fresh follow up their Rap Beef series with discussions on hip-hop and violence, Jaguar Wright’s allegations against Jay-Z and Beyoncé, and Logic’s intrinsic objective merits as a lyricist. The post Does Hip-Hop beget violence? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Episode #002: Crybaby Cat Dads (with Dustin Wilson)
1:16:39
1:16:39
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1:16:39A good friend of mine recently suffered the loss of two family pets: a hamster named Squishy belonging to his older son, and a cat named Sox belonging to his younger son. And in talking with him about these losses, I realized I have not yet had to have that conversation about loss with my children; that conversation about death and grief. How is it…
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029: Ryan Claytor - Cartoonist and Teacher; One Bite At a Time
1:13:15
1:13:15
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1:13:15Today’s guest is cartoonist, designer, teacher, and Pinball Wizard Ryan Claytor. I’m one of his stops on the digital (and AFK) book tour for his brand-new book, One Bite At a Time: The First 20 years of Elephant Eater Comics. You can purchase the book at OneBiteAtaTimeBook.com along with more of his work Ryan stopped by to talk about his path from …
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On the finale of the fellas’ series on rap beefs, Confucius and Fresh head to the south for rows in Texas, Florida, and Louisiana from the late ’80s through the ’00s. The post Rap Beef Episode III: Revenge of the South appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Episode #001: Prove Them Wrong (with Austin Fouts)
1:10:19
1:10:19
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1:10:19On September 25th, Netflix debuted "Mr. McMahon," the documentary series detailing the life of Vincent Kennedy McMahon who, in 1982, purchased the World Wrestling Federation from his father and turned it into a worldwide phenomenon. But how do you create a professional wrestling company if you can't inherit one? That's what I wanted to find out whe…
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Confucius and Fresh explore some of the biggest rivalries in the history of West Coast Rap. The post Rap Beef Episode II: Attack of the West appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Nigel McGuinness steps inside a professional wrestling ring against Bryan Danielson for the first time in 15 years. Austin recaps one of sports entertainment's greatest rivalries, explains his personal ties to the feud, and reviews what could be their final match together.…
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Rap Beef Episode I: The East Coast Menace
57:13
57:13
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57:13Confucius and Fresh dive into the first episode of their series on rap beefs by tackling some of the most pivotal rivalries the East Coast ever had to offer. The post Rap Beef Episode I: The East Coast Menace appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Confucius and Fresh talk with Jeffrey McNeill of Thee Phanton and Illharmonic Orchestra ahead of an Austin appearance, do a little more prep leading up to the series on beefs, and unwrap an Unpopular Opinion on Vivica A. Fox’s stardom. The post Thee Phantom Interview appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.…
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Austin R&B singer LARA’ joins Confucius and Fresh in conversation on her new album Luvology and her upcoming tour with Rapsody. Then the fellas weigh why R&B isn’t as profitable as hip-hop and Meek Mill’s status as a top tier rapper. The post LARA’ Interview appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.…
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Confucius and Fresh sit down with August 2021 KUTX Artist of the Month BLK ODYSSY to talk about their newly released album 1-800 Fantasy before setting the stage for an upcoming series on beefs. The post BLK ODYSSY Interview appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Confucius and Fresh break away from the routine chatter for a two-part guest appearance: Shxwnfresh & THEBROSFRESH in Studio 1A ahead of a Stubb’s show on Friday, August 30th and an interview with Staten Island’s Chey. Hear all that plus an Unpopular Opinion on Heavy D this week. The post Shxwnfresh in Studio 1A / Interview with Chey appeared first…
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Confucius and Fresh kick things off by catching up with Austin-based Grammy nominee SaulPaul ahead of his next album Speak Hope, Sing Joy: Change Maker Music for Kids, out August 30th. Afterwards the fellas chat about the authenticity of Atlanta’s ian and navigate an Unpopular Opinion surrounding Kendrick Lamar and Nipsey Hussle. The post Sitting D…
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The discussion kicks off with Drake’s massive data dump before moving onto a debate about the dysfunctional state of Fugees and an Unpopular Opinion on rappers billing themselves as “artists”. The post What’s Up with Drake’s Big Dump? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.By KUT & KUTX Studios, Confucius and Fresh
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Confucius and Fresh contemplate what Hip-Hop’s worst era was before moving onto a modern existential debate over the importance of record certifications, plus an Unpopular Opinion on Lil Keke’s impact on Houston rap and beyond. The post What was the worst period in hip-hop? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.…
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028: Rana Tahir - Author, Heroes and Monsters: The Stranger Things Choose Your Own Adventure novel
58:15
58:15
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58:15Rana Tahir writes poetry, non-fiction, and fiction, and is the author of Heroes and Monsters, the Stranger Things Choose Your Own Adventure novel as well as SPIES: Noor Inayat Khan, a CYOA tale of the eponymous WWII spy. During the interview I reference a chat she had on the Books With a Past show, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/l…
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Confucius and Fresh reminisce on their journey so far over the past eight years and what to expect next before dissecting what makes LL Cool J such a significant figure in hip-hop history, plus an Unpopular Opinion on Drake’s status as a so called “culture vulture”. The post What’s next for The Breaks? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcas…
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Inspired by the recent “Cash Money Reunion” at Essence Music Fest, Confucius and Fresh break down what’s going on behind the scenes with the legendary record label, not to mention an Unpopular Opinion about rappers signing to other rappers. The post What’s going on with Cash Money? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.…
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027: Glenn Stout - Author, The Young Woman and the Sea; Editor, The Best American Sports Writing
59:51
59:51
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59:51Glenn Stout is a writer, editor, consultant, teacher, and more. Perhaps most best known as the series editor of The Best American Sports Writing series, which ran from 1991 to 2020, Glenn has been involved with narrative non-fiction in some form since the late '80s and early '90s. His book The Young Woman and the Sea was recently adapted for Disney…
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Inspired by discourse around the recent BET Awards, Confucius and Fresh discuss why some folks are reacting oddly to what’s perceived as uncouth behavior alongside an Unpopular Opinion Puerto Ricans’ place in the rise of Hip-Hop. The post Is Raunchiness in Rap really that new? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.…
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Interview with Dr. Rosalind Oliphant and Terry P. Mitchell
54:49
54:49
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54:49Confucius and Fresh sit down with Founder Dr. Rosalind Oliphant and Author Terry P. Mitchell to discuss the Austin African American Book Festival and The City We Built: Black Leaders of Austin, happening June 29th, plus Hip-Hop Facts, reactions to the latest headlines, and an Unpopular Opinion on Tyler the Creator’s role as a West Coast representat…
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What does a good album rollout look like today?
57:41
57:41
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57:41Most artists can’t just drop a surprise record, so Confucius and Fresh review press strategies for making a bigger album impact before discussing why the majority of blog site era rappers never made it. Hear that, an Unpopular Opinion on New Edition’s Ralph Tresvant, plus Hip-Hop Facts and the most recent headlines. The post What does a good album …
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Will Austin blow up because of Rap & R&B?
54:21
54:21
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54:21In this edition, Confucius and Fresh debate what genres will continue to put Austin on the musical map before discussing why the South in general is so dominant. Get that, Hip-Hop Facts, Confucius’ reaction to the latest headlines, and an Unpopular Opinion on lyrical positivity in the latest episode. The post Will Austin blow up because of Rap & R&…
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Do Ghostwriting Allegations Hurt Drake’s Reputation?
56:40
56:40
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56:40With the big beef behind us, how do ghostwriting allegations hurt Drake’s status among the GOATs? Hear what Confucius and Fresh have to say on that, plus Jay Electronica’s prospects on being the greatest rapper that never was and an Unpopular Opinion The Alchemist’s ranking in the world of production. The post Do Ghostwriting Allegations Hurt Drake…
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Has Hip-Hop done a good job of making women feel safe?
51:44
51:44
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51:44After reacting to Apple Music’s recent “100 Best Albums” list, Pause/Play producer and co-host Miles Bloxson joins Confucius and Fresh to talk women’s safety in a genre once run by abusers. Catch that alongside Hip-Hop Facts and Confucius Reads the News, plus an Unpopular Opinion on the modern equivalent to What’s Going On? in this episode. The pos…
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After a quick postmortem on the Drake-Kendrick beef, Confucius and Fresh dissect how R&B crept into Hip-Hop’s sonic sector. Get that, an Unpopular Opinion around Kendrick’s de facto influence on the West Coast’s relevance, plus Hip-Hop Facts and Confucius’ reactions to the latest headlines right here. The post When Did R&B and Hip-Hop Become One? a…
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As the Kendrick-Drake beef escalates, Confucius and Fresh are joined by cultural strategist Keys and producer-DJ Mason Flynt for a rare, three-part roundtable discussion on the ongoing exchange. Hear everyone’s takes plus an Unpopular Opinion and Confucius’ reaction to university protests in the latest episode. The post Who’s Winning This Beef? app…
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026: Eugenio Volpe - Author; I, Caravaggio
45:49
45:49
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45:49Eugenio Volpe is the author of I, Caravaggio, out now from Clash Books. Go to Clash Books.com or EugenioVolpe.com to grab a copy and find out more about what Eugenio is up to. We cover the warring halves of an artist, Caravaggio's prescient nature as a thinker/creative, Catholicism, and yes also we talk about civets. This one is NSFW in places so h…
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