The Speech Guys

"Concerning Hobbits" Bilbo Baggins | Speeches By Small Towners

It's the last Speech(es) By Small Towners--best enjoyed with a Bud Lite, Miller Lite, or Coors Lite at your local American Legion or Knights of Columbus Hall.

"It All Turns on Affection" Wendell Berry | Speeches By Small Towners

The gang's all here. Get cozy. Warm that affectionate heart of yours and learn how to be a Sticker... or Boomer... or a Sticker-Boomer... and look on at Port William with us. The speech was presented April 23rd, 2012 for the Jefferson Lecture as part of the National Endowment for the Humanities. https://events.tvworldwide.com/Events/NEH-2012-Jefferson-Lecture/VideoId/-1/UseHtml5/True Landon's blog post describing his meeting with Mr. Berry: https://ambrook.com/offrange/perspective/wendell-berry-kentucky-clearing-brush

"Labor's Millennium" Jonathon Baldwin Turner | Speeches By Small Towners

I-L-L... I-N-I! The Speech Guys explore the University of Illinois origin story in the words of one of its founders, Jonathon Baldwin Turner. JBT envisioned a class of farmer shaped by experience and informed by agricultural science. Dave Biver, U of I graduate, Freeburg area native, and farmer ("The Straw Boss"!) fits the bill. He introduces the episode.

"Dixon, Place on the Rock River" President Ronald Reagan | Speeches By Small Towners

The Speech Guys find a reason to hang with Ronnie Reagan again--and it's a good reason as they're embarking on the first speech series of the 7th season. Speeches By Small Towners. Reagan gave this speech in Dixon, Illinois on February 6th, 1984.

"The Word Became Flesh" Pope Benedict XVI | Speeches After the Straussian Moment

The whole podcastin' gang is here to close out season six. The task at hand? Weave together Christmas (excuse me, Advent!) and the Straussian Moment (do we even know what that is yet after four episodes?). Ross lines it up with a speech by Pope Benedict from 2010 and Mike, Landon, and Matt take their turns at the tee. Read the speech here: https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/urbi/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101225_urbi.html Episode thumbnail comes from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-01/benedict-xvi-s-last-words-lord-i-love-you.html.