Alan Crichton and Buddy Spaulding

Alan Crichton (AC) and Buddy Spaulding (BS) begin by introducing themselves, Chris interjects to go beyond BS being "invited" by AC; BS talks about echo chambers, his engineering background, religious fundamentalism and being on a journey of understanding.

AC shares about his religious upbringing in Christianity and becoming a Scientologist; he discusses Christian values as they relate to a book called Cabeza de Vaca, and remarks/summarizes its premise. They discuss prison system, re-entry, and religion.

Participants read each others' bios, sharing more about their journeys in life. They discuss the idea of society going off the rails, importance of critical thinking and questioning beliefs.

Participants discuss fear of change and people's desire for stability. AC shares about his liberal education and perspective broadening through art school.

AC discusses people who have had major influence on his beliefs, including a book dealer in Pennsylvania who introduced him to artist who demonstrated living off his own wits with his family, making their own way in the world. AC also mentions late friend and artist Joe Ascrizzi. BS's influential people are his father and mother as having modeled honest behavior and being a decent person. Additionally, BS mentions a former pastor who changed his viewpoints and opinions on Barack Obama, which made him reexamine politics and religion.

Participants share personal political values: AC is more "on the left, Liberal," while BS is more in the middle, having disenrolled from Republican party years ago.

BS discusses complexity of issues related to Evangelical church, such as abortion and birth control, remarking on a recent court case, as well as emotions complicating thought processes.

Participants ask if each of them learned something that surprised them about the other, sharing personal stories from their past as friends.