A show where we use Robert Jordans' Wheel of Time series and Characters to explore philosophy, ethics, gender dynamics, mythology, and above all narrative as a means of exploring ourselves and what it means to be human. Our host, Kelly Eaton, is a long time reader and fan of the series, while Lianna is a new reader. Lianna comes from a background of English Literature education at a university level while Kelly has been working in film production for nearly a decade. The series will be broken down into seasons, each of which will focus on a single book of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series, each episode focusing on a specific theme our hosts have recognized and set out to explore further.
In season 1, exploring The Eye of the World, the first few episodes began as a read along, but episode 5 made the transition to exploration of the following themes and how they relate to the real world and other art:
Ep. 5) General review of the book
Ep. 6) Personal Story and the formation of myth and legend
Ep. 7) Identity
Ep. 8) Friendship
Ep. 9) Gender Dynamics
Ep. 10) The Call of Duty and Responsibility
Ep. 11) Skill and Knowledge
Ep. 12) The Fate/Free Will Dichotomy
Ep. 13) The Architecture of Good/Evil
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the nature of good and evil especially in relation with the characters and themes of The Eye of the World. We also explore the concepts of moral relativism, moral absolutism, and the defining of the self in opposition with something else. Time stamps below:
00:32 - 01:29 (00:56) _ Episode Intro
01:29 - 04:10 (02:40) _ Spectrum of Good / Evil in TEotW
04:11 - 17:44 (13:32) _ Defining a Thing Through Opposition
12:54 - 15:00 (02:05) _ Minority Report Ethics
17:37 - 22:12 (04:34) _ Moral Absolutism / Relativism Argument
22:12 - 24:19 (02:07) _ Compelling Villains
24:19 - 26:24 (02:04) _ The Story of Lilith
26:24 - 30:13 (03:49) _ Ba'alzamon's Motivations
32:14 - 35:19 (03:04) _ Writing Through Character Perspective
35:19 - 39:49 (04:29) _ What if There is a Universal "Good"?
39:50 - 45:26 (05:35) _ Ethics in Combat
45:26 - 50:26 (05:00) _ Trust in Authority
50:30 - 58:10 (07:40) _ The Image of Evil in Fiction
58:16 - 1:08:03 (09:47) _ Hierarchy of the Shadow
1:08:08 - 1:10:20 (02:11) _ Good for Me May Be Evil to You
1:10:26 - 1:11:11 (00:45) _ Episode Wrap Up
1 Jul 2022
Fate & Free Will
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the nature of the Pattern and each individual's ability to navigate it through acts of Will. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to parsing out the various constraints that limit a person's free will, both external and internal, as well as considerations of the abstract for what is inherently implied in any structure with alternate possibilities: the multiverse. Time stamps below:
00:32 - 01:08 (00:36) _ Episode Intro
01:08 - 03:51 (02:42) _ Robert Jordan's Vision of the Whole Series
03:51 - 06:48 (02:56) _ Discussion Overview
06:48 - 14:36 (07:48) _ Lianna's Interpretation of the Pattern
14:36 - 19:23 (04:46) _ Library of Babel
19:00 - 24:35 (05:35) _ Unravelling the Pattern
24:35 - 27:41 (03:05) _ The Dark One's Servants
27:41 - 51:55 (24:13) _ External & Internal Constraints
47:42 - 51:55 (04:13) _ Rand's Naivety and Ignorance
51:55 - 53:46 (01:50) _ Next Episode Projection
17 Jun 2022
Luck, Knowledge, & Skills
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the nature of our being born into our situation and largely having a world defined by luck. What are the means one has for hedging their bets against the odds life throws at us? The knowledge and skills we acquire that allow us to navigate this world. Lan in particular demonstrates this facet of approaching the world and we discuss it at length toward the end of the episode. Breakdown as follows:
00:32 - 01:59 (01:26) _ Episode Intro
01:59 - 04:12 (02:13) _ Definitions for Knowledge and Skills
04:12 - 16:02 (11:49) _ Hard / Soft Skill Distinction
16:06 - 19:05 (02:59) _ Defining Luck
19:05 - 23:10 (04:04) _ Being Aware of What You Don't Know
23:10 - 27:02 (03:52) _ Intelligence Segway
27:02 - 32:58 (05:55) _ The Power of Luck
32:58 - 37:36 (04:37) _ Skill / Knowledge Hierarchy
37:35 - 56:04 (18:28) _ Analyzing These in the Context of The Eye of the World
56:05 - 01:01:00 (04:54) _ Next Episode Forecast
3 Jun 2022
Duty, Responsibility, and Leadership
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the nature of duty, responsibility, and leadership and their appearance in the books. The conversation covers many real world scenarios and abstraction, including a discussion of a Japanese WWII veteran that continued fighting for 30 years after the surrender of Japan.
20 May 2022
Gender Dynamics
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the relevance of gender in how characters interact with each other in Robert Jordan's world as well as certain elements of the mechanics of his Universe in relationship with the gendering of a soul. Timestamps below:
00:32 - 02:53 (2:20) _ Episode Intro
02:54 - 06:43 (3:48) _ Lianna's Overview of Gender Dynamics in The Eye of the World
06:43 - 11:57 (5:13) _ Machiavellian Politics
11:57 - 14:07 (2:10) _ Sex / Gender Distinction
14:07 - 20:29 (6:21) _ Dialogue with the Past
20:29 - 26:12 (5:43) _ Contemplations of the Soul and The One Power
26:12 - 33:13 (7:01) _ Relationship Between Books and Real World Politics
33:13 - 36:39 (3:25) _ Women Have To Buy in To Society for It To Last
36:41 - 43:20 (6:39) _ Moiraine & Lan's Relationship
43:20 - 51:24 (8:03) _ Defining Power
51:24 - 55:41 (4:16) _ Kelly's Definition of Power in Relationship with the Soul
55:42 - 58:12 (2:30) _ Kelly's Takeaway of Gender Dynamics in The Eye of the World
58:12 - 01:01:52 (3:39) _ Episode Closure
6 May 2022
Friendship
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the concept of friendship both as an abstract and its specific representation in The Eye of the World. Timestamps below:
00:33 - 01:35 (01:02) _ Episode Intro
01:35 - 04:36 (03:00) _ Lianna's Definition of Friendship
04:36 - 11:05 (03:06) _ Chosen / Circumstantial Friendship Distinction
07:42 - 11:05 (03:22) _ Types of Friendships
11:05 - 14:45 (03:39) _ Soul Connection
14:45 - 18:57 (04:12) _ Placing Others in Roles
18:57 - 22:23 (03:25) _ The Cost of Being a Good Friendship
22:23 - 27:56 (05:33) _ Responsibility in Friendship
27:09 - 30:36 (03:26) _ Fated Friendship
30:36 - 36:01 (05:25) _ Shifting Friendship Roles
36:01 - 40:26 (04:24) _ Analysis of Moiraine & Lan's Relationship
40:33 - 42:40 (02:07) _ Only Actions Speak
43:12 - 49:15 (06:02) _ Loial Friends
49:33 - 51:51 (02:18) _ The Impact of Friendship On Identity
51:51 - 01:02:41 (10:49) _ Rand's Friendships After Channeling Saidin
01:02:41 - 01:12:14 (09:33) _ Gender Dynamics in Friendships
22 Apr 2022
Identity
In this latest episode of the HaaMWoT Podcast, Kelly and Lianna explore the nature of identity as it relates with Rand, the rest of the main cast, Emmonds Field, the Aes Sedai and their relationship with the world, and even loftier explorations on the identity of an infinite soul. Time stamps below.
00:32 - 01:19 (00:46) _ Episode Intro
01:21 - 02:13 (00:52) _ Lianna's Observation of Rand's Self Identity
04:20 - 06:33 (02:13) _ Age Context of the Main Cast
06:42 - 08:37 (01:55) _ Observation of Rand's Values & Worldview
09:34 - 10:11 (00:36) _ Coming to the Realization That You Can Channel as a Man
10:11 - 14:07 (03:55) _ Thirst for Power
14:07 - 16:20 (02:13) _ The Emmond's Field Identity
16:20 - 20:50 (04:30) _ Heritable Identity
20:50 - 24:31 (03:40) _ Identity of the Soul
24:31 - 26:38 (02:07) _ Alternative Paths of a Soul's Life and the Relationship Among All Paths
26:38 - 31:14 (04:35) _ Infinity and the Divine
31:14 - 34:09 (02:55) _ Multiple Turnings of the Wheel
34:09 - 38:41 (04:31) _ Rand's Relationships with Others and their Impact on His Identity
38:41 - 47:18 (08:36) _ Power Dynamics in Group Identity
47:18 - 52:13 (04:54) _ The Way Our Identification of Others Constrains Our Ability to See Them
52:13 - 53:47 (01:34) _ Episode Wrap / Projection of Next Episode
8 Apr 2022
The Hero's Journey
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the nature of story and what we can draw from it as a means of inspiration and guidance in our own lives. We look at myth and storytelling as a tool and discuss how the tools have been used historically and how we are able to alter the we we individually interact with the world and culturally through the power of story.
00:00:32 - 00:02:04 (01:32) - Episode Intro
00:02:04 - 00:04:32 (02:28) - The Function of Story
00:04:32 - 00:08:45 (04:12) - Western Approach to Story
00:08:44 - 00:09:53 (01:08) - Entertainment As An Unhealthy Escape
00:09:53 - 00:11:11 (01:18) - Reintegration of Story Into Education
00:11:11 - 00:12:45 (01:34) - Religion and Mythology
00:12:45 - 00:16:02 (03:17) - The Wheel of Time as a Mythos
00:16:02 - 00:18:23 (02:20) - Mirrored Traits in Book Characters
00:18:23 - 00:24:51 (06:28) - Truth vs. Fact
00:24:51 - 00:27:11 (02:20) - Deriving Understanding of Truth from The Eye of the World
00:27:11 - 00:34:16 (07:04) - The Power of Story in Shaping the Future
00:34:16 - 00:40:14 (05:57) - The Hero's Journey
00:40:14 - 00:52:58 (12:44) - The Heroine's Journey
00:52:58 - 01:03:17 (10:18) - Timelessness / Relatability Dynamic
01:03:17 - 01:06:34 (03:16) - Personal Narrative Arc
01:06:43 - 01:10:29 (03:46) - Birth / Death Cycle
01:10:29 - 01:11:39 (01:09) - Takeaway Thoughts
25 Mar 2022
The Eye of the World, General Book Review
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss the book in general, covering their favorite characters, some of the mechanics of the universe, a definition of Grim Dark and how the Wheel of Time does not fit that sub-genre, among other topics. Time stamps listed below:
0:00 - 0:39 (0:39) _ 30 Second Intro
0:32 - 1:04 (0:32) _ Episode Introduction
1:04 - 6:03 (4:58) _ Kelly's Favorite Character
5:57 - 9:37 (3:40) _ Loial is Robert Jordan
9:37 - 16:51 (7:13) _ Lianna's Favorite Character
16:51 - 24:09 (7:18) _ Aes Sedai and Power
24:09 - 27:39 (3:29) _ Fate / Free Will
27:39 - 33:23 (5:44) _ General Feelings of the Book
33:25 - 37:15 (3:50) _ Ta'Veren
37:10 - 41:31 (4:21) _ Grim Dark
41:41 - 46:15 (4:34) _ Nynaeve is Annoying
46:15 - 47:52 (1:36) _ Saidin / Saidar
47:52 - 54:16 (6:23) _ Perrin, Elyas, & the Red Ajah
53:05 - 53:42 (0:37 ) _ Definition of Aes Sedai
53:42 - 54:16 (0:33) _ Conclusions on Saidin / Saidar Balance
54:16 - 55:42 (1:26) _ Lianna's Interpretation of Mat
55:43 - 58:12 (2:29) _ Lianna's Predictions
58:12 - 58:51 (0:39) _ Future Episodes
58:51 - 1:00:00 (1:09) _ Next Episode
11 Mar 2022
Book to Film Analysis
In this episode Kelly and Lianna offer their thoughts on the film series season 1 and how it portrays Robert Jordan's beginning of the epic saga that is The Wheel of Time. Their analysis covers everything from Logain, to romances in the series, to the rules of Saidin and Saidar, among general praise and criticism for the film adaptation. Below is a detailed time stamp for the topics found in this episode.0:27 - 2:05 (1:37) _ Format Change2:05 - 3:07 (1:02) _ Episode Overview3:07 - 7:36 (4:28) _ Positives of Film Series7:36 - 12:13 (4:37) _ Differences Between Books / Film12:13 - 16:25 (4:11) _ Saidin/Saidar and the Soul Connection16:26 - 20:21 (3:55) _ Romance20:21 - 24:30 (4:08) _ Rules of Circles24:30 - 27:26 (2:55) _ Logain27:26 - 30:30 (3:03) _ General Criticism30:30 - 32:12 (1:42) _ Wrap Up
25 Feb 2022
Chapters 6-8 Discussion
In this episode Kelly & Lianna discuss Rand's escape to Emmond's Field from his farm after Tam has been wounded. The bombshell that Tam drops on Rand, that he is not Tam's biological son. Rather, he was found as a babe on the slopes of Dragonmount near his dead mother and taken in by Tam and raised by him and his wife, Kari al'Thor. The conversation between our podcast hosts is centered on the concept of identity. Kelly makes a claim as to how he interprets identity as a definition and the forces that govern it. Lianna accepts the core premises and proceeds to elaborate on some nuance she believes important, offering personal experiences that relate with her current understanding of how her identity and interpretation of what identity is were formed. Kelly and Lianna have disagreement on the strength of identity and its ability to withstand oppressive and malicious forces, especially as it relates with prolonged and continual exposure. They explore examples of real world situations in which a person's identity may have eroded and in others where a person may not have developed any strong opinions and how those situations relate with identity integrity. All of their discussions on the topic are related back to Rand and his current struggles with this new information dropped on him by his delirious father.
11 Feb 2022
Chapters 3-5 Discussion
In this episode Kelly and Lianna discuss their impressions of chapters 3-5, separated in segments discussing each chapter individually. Lianna expresses her curiosity over the Aes Sedai and Kelly shares some world building history about that organization and the One Power.
28 Jan 2022
Prologues Ravens and Dragonmount, and Chapters 1-2 Discussion
In this our first episode of the Heavy As A Mountain Wheel of Time Podcast Kelly, our longtime fan of the Wheel of Time Series, and Lianna, our first time reader backed with a wealth of experience in English Literature education at a university level, hold a discussion inspired by reading together both prologues (Ravens and Dragonmount) and the first two chapters of The Eye of the World. The conversation roams a variety of topics ranging from Christian and Buddhist symbolism, the Yuga Cycle, moral relativism and moral absolutism, and others.
Contact Heavy as a Mountain
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Heavy as a Mountain?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
