The Cluttered Desk

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

September 5, 2025 75 mins

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...

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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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July 4, 2025 84 mins

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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Coda: Andrew had the Oberon Ale from Bell's Brewing Co...

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June 6, 2025 81 mins

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

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May 2, 2025 67 mins

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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Andr...

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March 30, 2025 80 mins

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

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February 28, 2025 64 mins

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:

Andrew's recommen...

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January 26, 2025 59 mins

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

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December 31, 2024 94 mins

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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November 30, 2024 76 mins

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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October 31, 2024 76 mins

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)

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September 29, 2024 76 mins

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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August 31, 2024 56 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Enjoy! 

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The Coda: "Gin and Buch" (Andrew) and Water (Colin)

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Here are links for this episode:

Andrew's recommendation: Die (2022)

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Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the three-part Netflix documentary film Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult (2024). They also return to authorial intent as a framing device to explore the narratives the documentary elects not to entertain. Enjoy! 

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Our full episode on authorial intent is ava...

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June 28, 2024 76 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the final step of Andrew's PhD program. Enjoy! 

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The Coda: HOPPENHEIMER and LaCroix Beach Plum

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Here are links for this episode:

Andrew's recommendation: Dungeons and Dad...

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May 31, 2024 86 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the final five episodes of Season 1 of X-Men '97. Enjoy! 

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The Coda: J.T.S. Brown Bourbon and sparkling water and Jim's Organic Coffee Sweet Love Blend

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Here are links for this episode:

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April 30, 2024 63 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the first five episodes of X-Men '97. Enjoy! 

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The Coda: Hopadillo from Karbach Brewing and Jim's Organic Coffee Sweet Love Blend

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Here are links for this episode:

Andrew...

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March 29, 2024 81 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin each discuss an idea or concept that has recently haunted them. Enjoy! 

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The Coda: Andalusia Whisky Company's Stryker and Saint Arnold's Spring Spring Bock and Jim's Organic Coffee Sweet Love Blend

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Here are ...

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February 28, 2024 81 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the 2018 film Deadpool 2. Enjoy!

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Episode Notes:

Tolkien's essay references in this episode is available here.

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The Coda: Saint Arnold Tarnation Unreasonably Strong Ale...

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January 26, 2024 76 mins

Welcome to The Cluttered Desk! In this episode, Andrew and Colin discuss the 2016 film Personal Shopper. Enjoy!

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Episode Notes:

The Why Theory episode about Freud's "Mourning and Melancholia" is available here.

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The Coda: Winking Owl Wine an...

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