faceintheblue

How has political speechwriting adapted to the need for soundbites in the modern media and social media landscape? Very few speeches are listened to in their entirety by the majority of the audience these days, but isn't every speech vulnerable to being cut up into pull quotes to the point where the message is lost?

Oh, could I ask a second question, this one about your book? I'm a big history nerd, and I wondered if you had any insight into Apollonius Molon. Both Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Tullius Cicero travelled to Rhodes to study rhetoric from him. How did he become such a famous orator that two of the soon-to-be-most-famous Romans of all time went to learn from him? What was he doing in Rhodes for a living that would make him a world famous public speaker? Why wasn't he giving speeches (and public speaking classes) in Rome or Alexandria? Do we know anything about why he was so well regarded beyond his two most famous pupils?

Hello, Elaine and Brennan! My fiancée and I will be honeymooning in Ireland in late October and early November. We're planning it out now with the starting point of renting a car and driving around for ten days or so. I know how much you both love Ireland. (I've heard Brennan speak about it on several podcasts.) Is there someplace you would recommend my future wife and I go that is off the beaten path and that we wouldn't likely find on our own that might end up being a highlight of our trip?

Thanks very much, sorry my question isn't about Starstruck, but wishing you all the best with that too!