The Cluttered Desk
We all have a cluttered desk. It's a space that holds what we want to read, watch, and think about. Join the hosts of The Cluttered Desk—Colin Cox and Andrew Hicks—as they talk literature, film, comic books, politics, critical theory, theology, and anything else that might tickle their fancy. The Cluttered Desk Podcast is produced and recorded in Bristol, Virginia, with music by Test Dream.
Episodes
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the intriguing and troubling contours of influence by offering a close reading of the Phoebe Bridgers song "Punisher." Enjoy!
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Coda: Miller Lite (Andrew) Deschutes Non-Alcoholic Fresh Squeezed IPA (Colin)
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Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin return to Westeros to discuss A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Enjoy!
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Coda: Sierra Nevade Springfest IPA (Andrew) Bubly Grapefruit Water (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: Shrinking (TV Series)
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin finish their discussion of Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism. Enjoy!
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Coda: 51K IPA from Blackrocks Brewery (Andrew) Water (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: Key & Peele
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin continue their discussion of Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism. Enjoy!
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Coda: Winter Sangria Sparkling Water (Andrew) Topo Chico (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
<...Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In our annual Simpsons episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the 2007 movie, The Simpsons Movie. Enjoy!
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The Coda: Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale (Andrew) and Topo Chico (Colin)
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Here are links for this episode:
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin begin their book study of Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism. Enjoy!
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Coda: Bell's Christmas Ale (Andrew) Strawberry Peach LaCroix (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: Night in the Woods
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss Andrew's recent conference presentation on Frank X Walker's poem "Amazin' Grace." Enjoy!
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Coda: MI P1LSNER (Andrew) La Croix Limoncello (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (19...
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the far-right's fascination with The Lord of the Rings. Enjoy? Who knows.
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Coda: Miller Lite (Andrew) Cherry Limeade Waterloo (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: Susanna Clarke's novel, Piranesi
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss James Gunn's Superman (2025) and the conservative media response to it. Enjoy!
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Coda: Clawhammer from Highland Brewing Company (Andrew) Water (Colin)
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Andrew's recommendation: Grant Morrison's All-Sta...
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Betsy Cooper joins Andrew and Colin to discuss the new Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic World Rebirth. Enjoy!
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Coda: Sierra Nevada Summerfest (Andrew), Tennessee Hills Blackberry Sage Craft Cocktail (Betsy), and Tangerine LaCroix (Colin)
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Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the destructive nature of the Jubilee debate format as well as the Jordan Peterson Jubilee debate. Enjoy!
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Here's a link to the Peterson debate.
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Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss breakfast cereal (sort of) and heaven or, as Andrew prefers, New Creation. Enjoy!
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Coda: Both Colin and Andrew had Jim's Organic Coffee.
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Andrew's recommendation: A Specter, Haunting by China Miéville
...Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the pilot episode as a unique piece of television media. Enjoy!
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Coda: Fear.Movie.Lions Hazy Double IPA from Stone Brewing (Andrew) and Kolsch Style Non-Alcoholic from Best Day Brewing (Colin)
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Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin examine recent reevaluations of the Star Wars prequel films. To do this, they deploy a rhetorical technique called "steelmanning." Enjoy!
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Source: "You Underestimate Their Power: The Definitive Defense of the Star Wars Prequels" by Eli Lo Re
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the 2024 film I Saw the TV Glow. Enjoy!
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The Coda: Two Hearted IPA by Bell's (Andrew) and Jim's Organic Coffee (Colin)
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Here are links for this episode:
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss teaching subjects and material they love. To do so, they use Stephanie Burt's piece from Vanity Fair, which reflects on her experience teaching a Taylor Swift course at Harvard. Enjoy!
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Here's a link to the Stephanie Burt piece for Vanity Fair
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In our annual Simpsons episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the complex characterization of Marge Simpson. Enjoy!
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Read more
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss Charli XCX's BRAT, both the concept and the album. Then, in a seamless transition, they decide which Lord of the Rings character, film characters only, is the most BRAT.
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The Coda: 19 Crimes Cab Sav (Andrew) and Chai Tea (Colin)
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...Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss an essay Colin recently published on the television show Community. Enjoy!
Here's a link to Colin's essay: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/13/5/117
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The Coda: Oktoberfest from Founders Brewing Co. (Andrew) and Water (Colin)
Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss commercial gyms through the lens of scapegoating practices and ritualistic sacrifice. Enjoy!
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The Coda: Oktoberfest from Sierra Nevada (Andrew) and Water (Colin)
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Here are links for this episode:
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