In this episode Andrew recaps a trip to his old stomping grounds in Columbia, MO to see Perry West and Fr. Reginald, covering college towns, a proper bookstore, a surprise hit coffee from Myanmar, the second best sushi he’s ever had, and good times had by all. The, after a brief look at the books in his life currently, he rants on the current state of the political divide using a topic in a debate between McKaskill and Hawley in MO to call for more conversation and a movement away from the fringes, with the obligatory plug for Catholic Social Teaching. Finally, Andrew does a deep dive muse on empathy, what it is, why we need it, its role in conversation and personal connection, its distinction from sympathy, and its relationship to humility, and so much more.