Circle the Wagons

E5 2026: Around the Political Horn

Josh, Diane, and Joe take on a wide range of topics, from local to international politics and everything in between.

E4 2026: Everything is Political

Joel is back! The gang is reunited, with Joel back from his adventures across the seven seas (or at least one of them). Joel, Josh, Diane "Momma D," and Joe take a circuitous journey around numerous topics, all with political underpinnings. They discuss the Oscars (Joe believes Sinners was robbed), how fiction helps readers gain empathy, healthy male (as opposed to "macho," "alpha male") representation in literature, racism and its impact on society, cultural family dynamics, and the power of cultural representation in media. In what may be the final episode of Circle the Wagons [https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZyClQ0mgO8CIlP6i9nvTN?si=d7704729c5004fdc] recorded at Patchouli Joe's Books & Indulgences, this episode gives you some insight into just how close this group has grown since the start of this project.

E3 2026: Political Potpouri

Josh, Diane, and Joe discuss local (Texas) politics, early/primary voting, the State of the Union address, Joe's campaign, and more. Vote in our poll: Crockett or Talarico?

E2 2026: Election Front Lines

With Joel out to sea, Charlie awash in a sea of homework, and Jon lost in sea of diapers, Josh, Mama D, and Joe take on the local election scene in north Texas. In a spicy, sometimes contentious discussion, the trio calls out the mistakes of the Democratic party, acknowledges the effectiveness of the GOP election machine, and try to find the best path forward for moving the nation forward. Josh is a Denton County Democratic Precinct Chair (Precinct 3134, District 63) and Joe is the Democratic candidate for Texas State House District 106. Both are on the front lines, on different flanks, of the local election world. Aside from breaking down the process and structures of the local election systems, the crew discusses the importance of safety during winter storms, as well as the most effective way of clearing armadillos from the road. For the record, armadillos are not indigenous to Vermont. Just like ice and snow are not indigenous to Texas.

E1 2026: Mayhem to Start 2026

Charlie, Joel, Josh, Mama D, and Joe kick off 2026 by taking a deep dive --- including a few side trips and tin-foil hat moments --- on Venezuela, the game of global Risk that seems to be going on, and the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. Joe shouts out Haley and the crew at Hive Bakery and a group of Moose shalle henceforth be known as a "flock of Meesen," thanks to Joel.