12 Comments
User's avatar
Sohomaru's avatar

I’ve been reading both of you during the madness and I’ve found support in doing so because around me people were not aware of the madness and it felt isolating.

It’s good to hear you both dialogue and it kinda is miraculous of some sort.

To comment on the gradualness of the happening, Jung was commenting worries about the mind faculty of the West since the 40-50s at least, and how it is susceptible to psychic infection. Incredible!

Expand full comment
epimetheus's avatar

Hi Sohomaru, thanks for listening and your very kind words.

It's perhaps less than miraculous: while I've been reading Jim's work for a long time, we haven't been in touch before. His is a voice of reason and sanity, no doubts about that.

As to the comment by Jung, well, here we are, I suppose.

Expand full comment
fattigmann@yahoo.com's avatar

Har ikke vaert i Norge paa fast 30 aar, gjekk paa folkehogskole like utenfor Oslo. Jeg hadde masse respekt for det norske folket men foretrekker livstilen i USA. Jeg bor altsaa i ovrige midtvesten og tankegangen her er ikke saa ulikt det som man finner gjennom Skandinavia (og deler av tyskland, etter min erfaring). Ditt fornuftige verdensyn er regelen her i midtvesten; uansettt dollars rolle som verdens peng, vi skal overleve og trives i vanlige dagligdags affaerer. Folke minne er lang, for aa si det saant. Setter pris paa denne intervjuen. Hilsen ifra Wisconsin USA

Expand full comment
epimetheus's avatar

Thank you for your kind words!

I've been living in Norway for 2.5 years now, and I think I understand why you say that: the conformism of the local population--who are all nice, don't get me wrong--and group-think are enormous. Not just 'in Scandinavia (and parts of Germany)', as you intimate, but, as the past three years have shown, virtually everywhere.

I now live on a small farm outside a small town in what my colleagues consider 'the dark side of the moon'. It is way better here, esp. in terms of independence-mindedness and the neighbours' sense of purpose and determination.

Things are way worse, in these regards, in bigger cities, esp. those 'progressive' ones.

Greetings from the Sognefjord, and thanks for listening!

Expand full comment
fattigmann@yahoo.com's avatar

Wonderful Sognefjord! I've often considered how life would be different living in my favorite city, Aalesund! Oslo was for me a "graa masse" (gray mass). We seem to be kindred spirits. I also live "on the dark side of the moon," a short drive's distance from several major American cities, raising my kids in my wife's small home town. I miss the excitement of living in the city in the optimistic '90s, but these seem to be survival times. Not just here but throughout the western world. Glad to be able to connect with like-minded people online. Be in touch and Godspeed - fattigmann@yahoo.com

Expand full comment
Rick Larson's avatar

Words and university degrees are not as important as a small independent farm. Make an income on the words while one can while building personal resilience is a proper response to all this foolish behavior.

Well Stephen, the English is clear and understandable and I get the sense you could talk for hours on a single topic! I'll listen to the rest later, sounds interesting.

Expand full comment
Rick Larson's avatar

Coming back I stopped the podcast once to refill the coffee cup. Interesting discussion.

I brought a map of Bergen up and was enthralled with all the water.

Expand full comment
epimetheus's avatar

Harr, I'm glad you found this interesting.

Bergen is nice, but the Sognefjord is even better (don't tell my colleagues, though).

Expand full comment
Andis Kaulins's avatar

Glad to hear you.

Expand full comment
epimetheus's avatar

You're very kind, Andis!

Expand full comment
Martin Grandaunet's avatar

Dear Stephan, I just had the pleasure of listening to your podcast with JHK, a man I have been following for years and written to on occations. Keep up the good work, it is nice to hear that there still are intelligent academics in Norway (my home country). Keep up the good work, and educate the students of Bergen!

Expand full comment
epimetheus's avatar

Dear Martin,

thanks for the kind words; I'm very glad you enjoyed my musings, and I'm in this fight for the future of our children, because they deserve better. And for my soul, I suppose.

Cheers!

Expand full comment