This week we welcome back Nick Polk from the Tolkien Heads podcast to talk about his new book, Tolkien and Pop Culture, Paul Tillich, and how the Lord of the Rings teaches us to endure and overcome.

You can find Nick's work and links to his book here: https://tolkienpop.substack.com/

Has life got you down? Are you really going through it? Then tune in to a special edition of the pod beyond pod. Friend of the show Nathan Patti is back to chat about trauma, friendship, and the merits of learning to suffer well.

That said, Over the weekend, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and other parts of the Southeastern United States experienced severe flooding as a result of Hurricane Helene. The region has been absolutely devastated, with limited access in or out of the communities impacted. Many residents are cut off from all communication and are running low on food, gas, and clean water. The local healthcare infrastructure is on the brink of collapse, ordinary emergency services have been suspended or reduced, and most of the areas impacted have been without power for days with no clear signs as to when it will return again. Please consider donating to the American Red Cross NC, United Way of North Carolina, Operation Airdrop, or any other local non-profit or mutual aid organization serving the mountain communities most impacted.

Tillich Today has returned after a long hiatus! Our first episode features Dr. James McLachlan, a professor at Western Carolina University who specializes in theology and philosophy of religion. We talk about French existentialism, literature, and how well Robert Pattison puts on an Appalachian accent.