Glass Box Podcast

It’s time to start a new year and new book for our long-form deep dive reviews of terrible Mormon books. And this one is… not terrible? The Givens present a form of Mormon theology which tries to “make sense of life” and we’re here for any Mormon theology that doesn’t include discrimination, sexism, and anything holding it over from its past. We dive into the introduction and first chapter of the book. But, what would a book review be without some due diligence about the authors? We spend the first portion talking about Terryl and Fiona Givens, their histories, publishing careers, and try to get a sense for what we can expect throughout this book.   Terryl and Fiona Givens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Givens https://www.fionagivens.com/about https://www.patheos.com/topics/2014-religious-trends/mormon/joseph-smith-on-mormon-women-and-the-priesthood-fiona-givens-071014?p=2 https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/the-perfect-union-of-man-and-womanreclamation-and-collaboration-in-joseph-smiths-

BYU and SLC anti-vice. We discuss the history of Charles A. Callis, his career in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and politics, and his final assignment before death, creating a sexual purity surveillance and counseling/therapy program for Mormons in the 40s. After his death, Spencer W. Kimball took the reins and vastly expanded the reach and purposes of the program, resulting in The Miracle of Forgiveness. Cleon Skousen was running raids on gay clubs and anybody else seen as commie enemies of god’s country. The systems they created have adapted, evolved, and conformed to the times, but never gone away, as evidenced by the recent SL Tribue piece about BYU’s retrenchment and culture of fear. Then we chat about Minority report, a Tom Cruise sci-fi flick with surprisingly profound concepts. We wrap with happy news about the first openly transgender congressperson in American history.   Show Notes:  https://mormonstudies.as.virginia.edu/gay-rights-and-mormonism/ https://mormonstudies.as.vir

You know the time of year!    Next Live Show: Monday 12/30/24 https://www.youtube.com/@bryceblankenagel7707   Show Notes:  Starship Troopers: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120201/?ref_=tttrv  Movie:  Book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers#  Robert A Heinlein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein#Politics  District 9:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_9  The Island:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_The%2520Island    Viral by Robin Cook:  Robin Cook: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Cook_(American_novelist)  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury : chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://lexiconic.net/english/F451.pdf  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451    Animal Farm: A Fairy Tale by George Orwell: George Orwell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell#  Animal Farm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm  Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon

We are finally finishing up the Huge Niblet! We cover the last two chapters of Approaching Zion by Hugh Nibley followed by our own conclusions about Nibley and what he accomplished. We then finish with some happy news about an environmental lawsuit in North Carolina.    Show notes Approaching Zion, by Hugh Nibley    The Closing of the American Mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Closing_of_the_American_Mind  Haldeman-Julius and their Little Blue Books: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Blue_Book   John Dewey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dewey  Pragmatism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism  Progressive education: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_education  Functional psychology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_psychology  Modern liberalism in the United States: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_liberalism_in_the_United_States  The Muses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muses    Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Here in the USA, it’s right before Thanksgiving and right after a bad election so it’s time to talk about Gaslighting. We discuss what it is, how to spot it, and how to fight it. For Media of Great Price, we talk about the 1944 movie Gaslight, which is where the term originates. We close out with happy news about a new way to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. Enjoy!    Show Notes:    Gaslighting:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting  — https://health.clevelandclinic.org/gaslighting  — https://themendproject.com/gaslighting/  — https://www.helpguide.org/relationships/domestic-abuse/gaslighting  Domestic Abuse Hotline, What is Gaslighting: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/what-is-gaslighting/  What is gaslighting abuse: https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/mental-health/what_is_gaslighting_abuse/  What is Narcissistic Gaslighting?: https://themendproject.com/narcissistic-gaslighting/  History of Gaslighting: https://woventraumatherapy.com/blog/history-of-gaslighting 

Welcome to another Huge Niblet episode. And yes, it’s a bit huge. (You saw the time stamp!) In the A segment, we discuss Hugh Nibley’s 1969 diatribe titled Science Fiction and the Gospel as well as the article that likely triggered his rage induced lecture. Then we move into our penultimate Approaching Zion discussion. Following that, we have some excellent news about Gen Z women leaving religion. Enjoy!  Show Notes:  https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/hugh-nibley/science-fiction-gospel/   Sword of Laman:  Approaching Zion, by Hugh Nibley    Books and poems mentioned:    1984 by George Orwell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four  In the Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Name_of_the_Rose  The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy  Egyptian and Mesopotamian lamentation literature: lamenting lost glories and looking forward to a return of the same under a messianic king Lycurgus by Plutarch

It’s October and so you finally get a Halloween themed media episode to round out the month. First we talk about Robert Louis Stevenson and his book Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. We discuss some of the major themes as well as some of the many, many, MANY movie depictions that have been done of it. Then we talk about the incredibly amazing metal album by A Wake in Providence titled I Write to You, My Darling Decay. And we end with happy news about the increase in early voting. Enjoy and have a happy Samhain!    Show Notes:    Robert Louis Stevenson:    Robert Louis Stevenson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevenson  RLS website: https://robert-louis-stevenson.org/  Fanny Stevenson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Stevenson The Lighthouse Stevensons: https://www.historyhit.com/the-lighthouse-stevensons-how-one-family-lit-up-the-coast-of-scotland/ The Speculative Society: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Speculative_Society  William Henley: https://en.wikipedi

It’s that time of year again! We go through the entirety of General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brad Wilcox was an idiot, Oaks was legalistic, and Bednar fawned over Ezra Taft Benson. But there were so many other talks that slipped through the cracks; that’s why we’re here. Yes it’s long, and yes it’s thorough. And now we don’t have to think about it for another 6 months!   Are you registered to vote?! https://www.vote.org/   Links: Exponent II article by Jen Morrison https://exponentii.org/blog/the-lgbtq-community-and-general-conference/   Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop Or find the merch store by clicking

Fear! What is it? How does it work? How can it be used to control us? That’s our main segment, fear and mind control. Then we dive into the next installment of Huge Niblet and Approaching Zion for 2 essays/talks about fear and Nibley’s envisioned perfect society. We wrap with happy news about coal power taking another hit.   Do you want to help set up and run our discord server?! Reach out to us on social media or email links below! Are you registered to vote?! https://www.vote.org/   Show Notes:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ybzC2wP7Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31wjVhCcI5Y&t=1704s https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7788451/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-main-ingredient/202004/fear-lifesaver-or-manipulator https://lageneralista.com/how-fear-conflict-manipulate-you/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201012/in-groups-out-groups-and-the-psychology-crowds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearmongering https://www.icip.cat/perlapa

Shannon talks about books again! We are back on the subject of dystopian literature today and we deliberate over the 1992 book Children of Men, written by PD James. We also watched the movie based on the book and we talk about the differences and similarities to each. After that we share some happy news about nuclear power. Enjoy!    Show Notes:    The Children of Men, by PD James: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Children_of_Men  PD James: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._D._James    MOGP: Children of Men  Film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/?ref_=ttpl_ov  Where film is streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/children-of-men    Happy News: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/09/climate/nuclear-warheads-haleu/index.html    GoFundMe for Shannon: https://www.gofundme.com/help-shannon-grover-with-medical-expenses    Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductio

The weirdest chapter in Approaching Zion makes for a kinda’ weird A segment about intelligence and genius. We talk about the history of ranking intelligence and its influence on eugenics before discussing more modern conceptions of intelligence and genius from a nature AND nurture perspective. Then we get into Hugh Nibley’s eulogy of Donald Decker. It’s a standalone chapter, very different from every other chapter in Approaching Zion, and provides a wealth of interesting discussion, including why it was even included in the book to begin with. Then we wrap with happy news of Sweden hitting carbon emission targets ahead of schedule while boosting their economy.   Are you registered to vote?! https://www.vote.org/   Utah Fungi Fest https://wholesunwellness.com/utah-fungi-fest/   John Whitmer Historical Association Conference https://www.jwha.info/   Show Notes:  https://www.etymonline.com/word/genius https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/10-child-prodigies.htm https

Yes, it’s time to dissect this horrific document telegraphing the downfall of American democracy. We examine bits and pieces to see what the cabal of Christian nationalists want to turn the nation into over the next conservative presidency. Then we chat about the Mike Judge movie Idiocracy and it’s prophetic warnings. We wrap with happy news about the Harris-Walz campaign polling quite well among voters.   Show notes:    Are you registered to vote?! https://www.vote.org/   Project 2025 links https://www.project2025.org/ https://www.project2025.org/about/advisory-board/ https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf   MOGP: Idiocracy    IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_Idiocra  Where it is streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/idiocracy  The Movie Hollywood Doesn’t Want You To See: Idiocracy, the feel-bad comedy of the year:  https://slate.com/culture/2006/09/reviewing-mike-judge-s-idiocracy.html  Idiocracy: a

Just that! We talk Sunstone because it’s the best Mormon Con around and we want to spread the good word! We discuss a few of our favorite sessions, some fascinating things we learned, and how Sunstone recharges our batteries in the Mormon studies space. Then we talk about Lego helping PTSD sufferers. We wrap with a brief chat about some changes we’re making to the Patreon page; long story short, now is a great time to sign up to financially support the podcast!   Happy News: https://www.thecanary.co/opinion/2024/04/17/lego-trauma/    GoFundMe for Shannon: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-shannon-grover-with-medical-expenses   Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapp

We do a quick dive into moral agency and free agency in Mormon culture. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have recently changed the definition of agency to suit their totalitarian needs. We explore the evolution of the phrase ‘free agency’ into ‘moral agency’ and springboard into a discussion about Ernest L. Wilkinson, the most influential BYU president in the institution’s history. After that we chat about The Last Temptation of Christ, a Scorsese film about a VERY human Jesus. We wrap with happy political news, adoring our new DNC candidate, Kamala Harris. Don’t forget to check our Patreon page to find deets about our hangout during Sunstone on 8/03/2024!!!   Show notes:  “Using our free agency” Delbert Stapley, April General Conference 1975:      https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1975/04/using-our-free-agency?lang=eng  “Weightier Matters” Dallin Oaks, BYU Devotional Feb 1999, reprinted in Ensign March 2000: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liaho

Since this is another Huge Niblet episode, we decided to talk a little bit about philosophy. More importantly, we discuss Diogenes the Cynic and what the philosophical meaning of the word “cynic” is. Then we cover 3 chapters in Approaching Zion, all while keeping the question, “Was Hugh Nibley a modern day cynic?” in mind.  Show notes:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism_(philosophy)#cite_ref-dudley5_8-0 https://www.worldhistory.org/article/740/the-life-of-diogenes-of-sinope-in-diogenes-laertiu/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeCKQnWogxI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EM_cfYcDjY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xl_7Ivi2og Sword of Laban:  Approaching Zion, by Hugh Nibley    Pages from Hopi History by Harry C James: https://archive.org/details/pagesfromhopihis0000jame    The False Gods We Worship, by Spencer W. Kimball: http://www.nauvoo.com/library/kimball-false.html     Black Mesa Peabody Coal controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mesa_Peabody_Coal_controversy 

Happy Pride Month! To celebrate, we interviewed the amazing Shelly Johnson from Latter Day Lesbian podcast. She talked about the balance between navigating tough situations between the church’s control over family and resisting its influence in these family situations. In Media of Great Price, we discuss the book Closeted: My Life As a Gay BYU Student, by Jonathan Alder. After which we tell you about the new campaign headed up by David Tennant and Dannii Minogue to help Trans youth.  Show notes:    Shelly Johnson’s links:  Latter Day Lesbian website: https://www.latterdaylesbian.org/  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/latterdayles  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2311239802538428/  Media of Great Price:  Closeted: My Life as a Gay BYU Student, by Jonathan Alder  Jonathan Alder’s website: https://jonathan-alder.com/  Happy News:  https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/06/18/david-tennant-and-dannii-minogue-remind-trans-youth-they-are-loved-in-vital-new-campaign/

Let's talk about the Law of Consecration. First we will start with the background leading into it, as well as what it means and how it’s applied in early magic and occult before Mormonism. Next, we cover two chapters in Approaching Zion by Hugh Nibley that are on, you guessed it, the Law of Consecration. We end with some happy environmental news that should make everyone feel good. Enjoy!      Show notes:  Frederick G. Williams https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/f-g-williams-co-account-book-october-1833-november-1835/14#full-transcript#12663060396937193650 https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/joseph-smith-and-the-1834-d-p-hurlbut-case/ https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/frederick-granger-williams#15314640672430267174 https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-medical-practice-of-dr-frederick-g-williams/ https://www.benchmarkbooks.com/pages/books/21463/frederick-g-williams/the-life-of-dr-frederick-g-williams-counselor-to-the-prophet-joseph-smith   Francis Barrett’s The Magus

In 1977, a book was published that shocked much of the world. It was an almost instant bestseller and ended up being translated in 20 languages and has sold more than 21 million copies today. The book has been described as one of the most influential novels of the modern feminist movement. The book? The Women’s Room by Marilyn French. We will talk about the author, the book, and the impact it had.    Show Notes:    The Women’s Room by Marilyn French: can be found anywhere books are sold.  List of Feminist Literature: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_feminist_literature  Marilyn French: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_French  LA Times article when she died: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-05-me-marilyn-french5-story.html  NY Times review written by Anne Tyler when book first published: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/04/19/specials/tyler-french.html  You’ve come a long way, baby” published by the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/b

Part 2 of Episode 150! Yay!! And now for something completely different. This episode is a bit of a departure from our regular show. We invite Alex Criddle and Cody Noconi, researchers into the psychedelic origins of Mormonism, to respond to the recent debate on the Mormon Book Reviews channel between ourselves and Mormon apologist, Brian Hales. Brian attempts to provide the apologetic response to the theory that Joseph Smith utilized psychedelics (entheogens) in the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in order to facilitate visionary experiences for the early Saints. Disinformation requires much greater effort than simply stating information so we do our best to debunk his debunking (rebunk the theory?). This one is a long haul so we split it into 2 episodes to make it a little more digestible.   Show notes: Video version: https://youtu.be/3l0L1EHtQOo Support our research and outreach: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions Original here: Psychedelics & Ea

Part 1 of Episode 150! Yay!! And now for something completely different. This episode is a bit of a departure from our regular show. We invite Alex Criddle and Cody Noconi, researchers into the psychedelic origins of Mormonism, to respond to the recent debate on the Mormon Book Reviews channel between ourselves and Mormon apologist, Brian Hales. Brian attempts to provide the apologetic response to the theory that Joseph Smith utilized psychedelics (entheogens) in the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in order to facilitate visionary experiences for the early Saints. Disinformation requires much greater effort than simply stating information so we do our best to debunk his debunking (rebunk the theory?). This one is a long haul so we split it into 2 episodes to make it a little more digestible.   Show notes: Video version: https://youtu.be/3l0L1EHtQOo Support our research and outreach: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions Original here: Psychedelics & Ea