Épisodes

  • On the River as God or Gods
    Feb 16 2026

    Running order of the 'culturescape':

    • Prelude from Das Rhinegold by Richard Wagner (Rudolfe Kempe, Bayreuth performance)
    • opening of TS Eliot's 'The Dry Salvages' from Four Quartets
    • Charley Patton, High Water Everywhere Part 1
    • Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil excerpt
    • Robert Petway, Catfish Blues
    • Pike, Ted Hughes (read by the poet)
    • Má Vlast, 2. Vltava, ou La Moldau, Smetana (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich, 1954)
    • Various field recordings of rivers large and small from freesound.org

    For more info about the curator: neil-fitzgerald.com

    If you have an idea for a theme, or want your music or field recording used in a future episode: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

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    29 min
  • On Nonsense and Silliness, or why Wittgenstein was right
    Feb 15 2026

    Wittgenstein was right! Being silly is necessary for human happiness.

    NB. This episode contains contextualised use of the 'n' word in a sound clip from a gangster rapper* (see bold and asterisked below)

    1. Photo of Wittgenstein (see below)
    2. A Life in Pieces (BBC), Peter Cook, Ludovic Kennedy, Ep. 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree (1990)
    3. Take The Money And Run (1969), Woody Allen
    4. Annie Hall (1977), Woody Allen
    5. Tim Dog, Phone Conversation with Reporter (1991)*
    6. Play Better Golf with Peter Aliss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGP7V2ezE&ab_channel=kiuvideo (?)

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com


    Photo of a serious-looking Wittgenstein:

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    24 min
  • On Bill Callahan and Authenticity
    Feb 14 2026

    Some reflections on the authenticity that runs like a rich seam of truth in Bill Callahan's songs. How does he do it?

    • 'When It Shows' - an old attempt at song-writing by yours truly
    • 'Say Valley Maker' (live) - from Rough Travel for a Rare Thing (2010) by Bill Callahan
    • 'Jim Cain' - from Sometimes I wish We Were An Eagle (2009) by Bill Callahan
    • 'Cowboy' - from Gold Record (2020) by Bill Callahan

    With huge thanks to Bill Callahan and Drag City Records for permission to use clips from the songs for this audio essay. :)

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

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    23 min
  • On Kathleen Ferrier's Vocal Timbre
    Feb 13 2026

    A meandering exploration of why Kathleen Ferrier's voice is so unbearably moving.

    • 'My Bonnie Lad (trad. Northumbrian folk song)
    • Ca' the Yowes' (trad. Scottish folk song)
    • 'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gerkommen' - Gustav Mahler
    • Symphony No. 4, 3rd movement (Ruhevoll) - Gustav Mahler

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

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    23 min
  • On Emptiness
    Feb 12 2026

    A generally uplifting audio essay on emptiness and its consolations...ideal for day-tripping nihilists, naturally.

    Tracklist:

    • Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu Ayinkash
    • GF Haas - Concerto Grosso No. 2 for ensemble and orchestra
    • TS Eliiot reading an excerpt from 'Burnt Norton' from his Four Quartets
    • Vilhelm Hammershoi, 'Interior in Strandgade, Sunlight on the Floor'
    • Excerpt from GF Haas - Traum in des Sommers Nacht for orchestra
    • Franz Kafka quote
    • John Fahey - Yes Jesus Loves Me
    • Excerpt from GF Haas - Traum in des Sommers Nacht for orchestra
    • Django Reinhardt - Manoir De Mes Rêves
    • Virginia Woolf, excerpt from 'Time Passes', To The Lighthouse (1927)
    • Philip Larkin reading his poem 'Home is so sad'
    • Beethoven performed by the Busch Quartet - String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: II. Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabile
    • Hamlet soliloquy - I have of late but wherefore I know not... from Withnail & I (1987)
    • Macbeth - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow soliloquy - Orson Welles (1948)
    • GF Haas - String Quartet No. 2 (1998)
    • Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu Ayinkash

    All the above used under fair usage rights.

    • Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com
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    29 min