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The Makers Rage Podcast

The Makers Rage Podcast

Darren Koolman 21 Episodes Jul 21, 2026

The Makers Rage Podcast explores the history of ideas and creativity, drawing topics from the arts, sciences, and everything in between. Upcoming episodes will include discussions on enlightenment, Western canons, accidental genius, and a series on muses. Listeners are encouraged to suggest topics via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

Episodes

The Muses: Clio or History
The Muses: Clio or History Jul 21, 2026 4332 In this episode of The Maker's Rage Podcast, we follow Clio, the Muse of History, on an extraordinary journey spanning over 2,500 years of historical thought. Beginning with her classical iconography in the works of Cesare Ripa and Vermeer's The Art of Painting, we explore how the Muse of History evolved from a divine patron of memory into a symbol of historical inquiry itself.From Herod
The Engineered Man: Styles of Victorian Masculinity
The Engineered Man: Styles of Victorian Masculinity Mar 28, 2026 2346  In this episode, I explore how Victorian masculinity was not a fixed ideal, but a fragmented, competing set of identities forged in a time of social upheaval. From Sherlock Holmes to Oscar Wilde to Eugen Sandow, I trace how men attempted to redefine themselves in response to shifting gender roles, scientific doubt, and cultural anxiety. What emerges is not a single model of manhood, but a spectru
Thought Experiments: Relativity and the Quantum
Thought Experiments: Relativity and the Quantum Jan 28, 2026 3126 In this episode of The Maker’s Rage, I follow a simple but dangerous question: what happens when we trust our imagination enough to let it challenge reality?Starting with a 16-year-old Einstein riding a beam of light, I explore how thought experiments—humble acts of imagination bound by physical law—reshaped our understanding of space, time, and ultimately reality itself. Along the way, I revisit
Amadeus (2025): Artistic Licence or Cultural Gaslighting?
Amadeus (2025): Artistic Licence or Cultural Gaslighting? Dec 30, 2025 451 Amadeus (2025) reignites a cultural fault line: who gets to rewrite history, and who doesn’t. Using the new miniseries as a starting point, I challenge the claim that race-swapping white historical figures is “harmless artistic licence” while similar changes elsewhere are branded as propaganda. https://www.facebook.com/TheMakersRage/https://www.instagram.com/themakersrage/Music by LiteSaturation f
The Muses: Terpsichore or Dance
The Muses: Terpsichore or Dance Dec 29, 2025 796 In this episode, I turn to Terpsichore, the Muse who delights in dance, to ask a deceptively simple question: what is dance, really? Is it ritual, seduction, discipline, freedom—or something far older than language itself?I trace dance from the ancient Greek chorus and mythic sirens to nightclub chaos at 2 a.m., from courtship rituals in birds to the whirling transcendence of Sufis. Along the way,
New Years Resolutions: Why We Fail
New Years Resolutions: Why We Fail Jan 18, 2025 540 In this episode, I explore why most New Year’s resolutions fail. Happy New Year! :D#NewYearsResolutions #SelfImprovement #PersonalGrowth #Motivation #Mindfulness #Habits #MakersRagePodcasthttps://www.facebook.com/TheMakersRage/https://www.instagram.com/themakersrage/Music by LiteSaturation from Pixabay
Great Things Series: Christmas
Great Things Series: Christmas Dec 28, 2024 1689 Five and a Half Great Things About Christmas | Maker's Rage PodcastJoin Darren in the Maker's Rage podcast as he explores five fascinating aspects of Christmas and one not-so-great aspect in this seasonal episode. Discover the historical, cultural, and mythological roots of Christmas, from its early Christian origins and pagan influences to the traditions of gift-giving, winter festiviti
Western Canons
Western Canons Nov 27, 2024 2182 In this episode of The Makers Rage Podcast, Darren tackles the concept of the Western Canon—a collection of literature, music, philosophy, and art considered essential to Western culture. What makes a work canonical? Who decides? From its origins in religious texts like the Bible to Harold Bloom’s defense of aesthetic greatness, Darren explores how consensus, selection bias, and cultural politics
The Muses: Urania or Astronomy
The Muses: Urania or Astronomy Sep 25, 2024 1215  In this episode of The Makers Rage Podcast, I explore Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, and her influence on the intersection of art, science, and creativity. From ancient beliefs about the music of the spheres to Johannes Kepler’s view of celestial harmonies, I examine how the study of the stars evolved from mystical art to empirical science. I also discuss Urania’s role in poetry, her symbolism th
Great Things Series: The Olympics
Great Things Series: The Olympics Aug 14, 2024 1341  Welcome to the new series on the Makers Rage podcast, where we explore "Five and a Half Great Things" that have defined the Olympic Games across history. We’ll journey back to 776 BCE, when the Olympic flame was first lit, and the stadion race marked the beginning of an era. Discover how the games evolved, from the introduction of the pentathlon and hoplitodromos to the creation of the
The Hero's Journey
The Hero's Journey Jul 11, 2024 2976 In this episode, we delve into the Hero's Journey, focusing on Joseph Campbell's famous excursus. As an addendum to our previous discussion on epics, we'll explore Campbell's three main stages of storytelling: 'departure or separation,' 'initiation,' and 'return,' which he calls the "nuclear unit of the monomyth." This episode examines ho
The Muses: Calliope or Epic
The Muses: Calliope or Epic Jun 2, 2024 5326  In this episode of The Makers Rage Podcast, I'll be continuing my series on the Muses by discussing the chief of the nine sister, Calliope, who presides over the Epic. I'll therefore exploring this vast and enduring genre in literature and its powerful influence across time. From the ancient verses of the Iliad and the Mahabharata to the groundbreaking narrative techniques in James Joyc

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