Misenchantments

Hosted by Riley & Lorenzo

Technology Religion Spirituality Christianity Society Culture Philosophy

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

About the show

A podcast about Christianity, modernity, and various misenchantments.

Listen to episodes

29 recent

July 15, 2026

29: Ex Machina, Ex Cathedra

We start with a recap our tour of the San Diego Mormon Temple: baptisms of the dead, endless office space, sterile conceptions of heaven, denial of death. Then we talk about Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas. What does it say, how does it relate to the Catholic idea of the whole person, and does it go far enough? Digressions include Lord of the Rings (not even a digression, because Leo cites Tolkien), nihilism, and a convo with Claude.{follow us on Instagram @misenchantments or email us at misenchantments [at] gmail [dot] com, plus subscribe to our substack! :) }

May 2, 2026

28: Church Tour Review

Riley and Lorenzo discuss Lorenzo’s hobby of attending various local churches, and answer the questions we’re all asking: what is “fundie”? What is “evangelical”? What do Catholics think of the American Pope? Other topics and groups discussed: Quakers, Woke Church, non-denominational-ism, Eastern Orthodox, Lord of the Rings, and more.In the opening segment, we wade into the “let people enjoy things” debate again, this time, to discuss whether bullying is justified to prevent women from getting cosmetic surgery. References:“The Anti Cosmetic Surgery Essay Every Woman Should Read” {follow us on Instagram @misenchantments or email us at misenchantments [at] gmail [dot] com, plus subscribe to our substack! :) }

September 24, 2025

27: A Good Book about Online Losers: Tony T’s “Rejection”

Riley and Lorenzo chat about Tony Tulathimutte’s “Rejection” and also, strangely, early 2010s Americana music (aka “stomp clap hey”, or, on Spotify, “stomp & holler”). Lorenzo brings up Cloud Atlas a bunch. Riley wonders how people become addicted to p*rn.References:This tweetThis Tiny Desk ConcertCameron Winter’s song “$0”New Mumford and Sons album that I will not link!!!Tony Tulathimutte’s “Rejection”{follow us on Instagram and Twitter @misenchantments or email us at misenchantments [at] gmail [dot] com, plus subscribe to our substack! :) }

July 13, 2025

26: Enchantment (Part 2 of 2): Karl Ove Summer

Riley and Lorenzo continue their discussion on enchantment – what is it, what is it not, how does technology ruin it, and where can we get some? Topics include myth, liturgy, literature, and cynicism.References:Popular book on enchantment Joseph Campbell’s “Power of Myth”Karl Ove Knausgaard’s “The Re-Enchanted World”{follow us on Instagram and Twitter @misenchantments or email us at misenchantments [at] gmail [dot] com, plus subscribe to our substack! :) }

December 9, 2024

25: Enchantment (Part 1 of 2)

Riley and Lorenzo discuss enchantment – what is it, why should we care, and what does it mean for something to “have juice”? Topics include hireophany, writing as (failed) sacrament, air conditioning as numbing one’s senses.Digressions include pet pigs and why it’s cool, actually, to say “TGIF.” Authors discussed: Max Weber, Charles Taylor, Katherine May, and Jane Bennett

September 23, 2024

24: Ethan Hawke Fan Club (First Reformed)

Riley and Lorenzo watch and discuss Paul Schrader’s 2017 film “First Reformed.” Riley loves it, Lorenzo thinks it does theology right but has other gripes.  Digressions include fall vibes, devotion, whether or not Amanda Seyfried would be Lorenzo’s friend, Riley’s interest in purchasing a Stanley (!?).

June 28, 2024

23: On Exactitude in SEO (Why Media Sucks Now)

What do Noah Kahan, smutty romance novels, and search engine optimization (SEO) have in common? Riley and Lorenzo dive into why so much popular art and media feels so thin. We chat about our recent media favs, Niel Postman’s Epistemology of Technology, and “Rich Men North of Richmond.”Reading:NYT “Why Has Culture Come to a Standstill”

March 19, 2024

22: Overconsumption Part 2: Fully Automated Luxury Satanism

Riley and Lorenzo discuss Disneyland, Satanism, treat acquisition, TikTok microtrends, climate change and purchasing massive SUVs, the imperative to buy, and what we owe each other. Part two of a two-part miniseries on convenience and consumption. References:Cushvlog ‘Polypocalypse’“Against Convenience” “The Easy Way Out”

January 2, 2024

21: Overconsumption Part 1: “Having and Being Had”

Riley and Lorenzo discuss their new mic, ASMR, TikTok “haul” trends, single-use plastic, Christmastime and Advent (Riley doesn’t know the difference between the two), overconsumption, LARPing prosperity, and class consciousness. Part one of a two-part miniseries on convenience and consumption. References:Operation Niki TikTokChelsea Fagan TikTokDe-influencing TikTokEula Biss’ “Having and Being Had”{follow us on Instagram and Twitter @misenchantments or email us at misenchantments [at] gmail [dot] com :) }

November 30, 2023

20: Gripes

Riley and Lorenzo catch up to complain about what has been bothering them in their two months away from the pod: science, acronyms, the internet, women, etc. Let’s call it cultural criticism. {follow us on Instagram and Twitter @misenchantments :) }