Everything is Somewhere Podcast

In the century past, I was a committed and even a fanatical player of Dungeons and Dragons, and spent much of my time, especially classroom time, drawing dungeon level maps on graph paper, creating characters, I favored paladins, and memorizing arcane rule books, all so that I and friends could gather together around a table in some basement and roll dice together for a few hours. And why did I devote so much time to this classically geeky hobby? Because in many games, there would be a few magic moments when I would forget that it was a game and get so caught up in the play that my heart would pound as I contemplated the fate of some fictional character that I had created and nursed through several games. And those precious seconds not only made the hours of preparation worthwhile, it enlivened them. And frankly, I sometimes wish there was something in my life today that excited the same feverish passion.

It is sometimes said that the only perfect circles available for the contemplation of early humans were the sun, the full moon, and the iris of the eye. I think this is overstated. The ripples formed by a pebble falling in still water come to mind as do the circles formed in the center of sunflowers, such as sunflowers. But still, the point stands. Perfect circles were unusual in the life of early hominids and seeing as how the best examples ruled the daytime and nighttime skies, circles must have seemed mystical and miraculous, almost godly, worthy of veneration. Since circles were also found in the very sense organ used to observe the perfect circles in the sky, it doesn't seem impossible that these theoretical early hominids might have felt connected to the mystical circles in the sky, part of the divine mystery in a way that plants and mountains and trees were not, as if we were reflections or extensions of the great sun god or wise moon goddess. So imagine the very first hominid, a Neanderthal or Denisovan perhaps, or perhaps it was left for a member of our own species, Homo sapiens, that discovered a method for reliably creating a perfect circle here on earth...

In this episode, Angus talks with returning guest Yodan Rofe about Christopher Alexander's four‑volume magnum opus, The Nature of Order, and its impact on architecture, teaching, and daily life. Rofe, who studied and worked closely with Alexander, explains how early work on pattern language led to the deeper geometric and experiential insights developed in The Nature of Order. The conversation explores ideas such as the 15 properties of living structure, the "mirror of the self," and the challenge of talking about life and transcendence in built environments without slipping into abstraction. Rofe also describes his "Building Beauty" program, where students engage Alexander's work through seminars, studios, and real construction, and how this education can reshape how they see cities, infrastructure, and their own role in making a more livable world.

This episode of Everything is Somewhere pairs hands-on geospatial craft with imaginative worldbuilding across two in-depth conversations. In the first half, Texas surveyor Aaron Burrell walks listeners through the Odessa Stonehenge recreation, from community arts origins and university partnership to site topo, engineered slabs, and crane logistics, culminating in precise summer solstice and 18.6-year lunar standstill alignments calculated with NGS/NOAA resources back in 2004, before widespread archaeoastronomy software was available; the sunrise "crown" over the heelstone drew cheers and set a public art landmark that now attracts visitors, weddings, and school tours, while deepening appreciation for ancient construction feats and intentional stone selection. In the second half, returning guests Dustin Garner and Colin Sellers unveil For the Quest, a GPS-first-person RPG that places dungeon entrances at real survey monuments; players navigate to coordinates, complete geospatial mini-games to earn tokens, and continue on mobile or PC in a classic RPG loop inspired by Elder Scrolls, Borderlands, and Diablo, with monsters and lore drawn from Dustin's Creatures of the Compass and a planned novel trilogy. The conversation ranges to Dustin's Caritas nonprofit work in Cedar City and Colin's scientific literacy advocacy, from flat-earth debunking experiments to Bronze Age catastrophism.

In this expansive episode of Everything is Somewhere, Angus speaks with architect James Maguire, currently Campus Architect and Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning at Boise State University and the University of North Texas System. Maguire studied under Christopher Alexander at UC Berkeley and worked with him at the Center for Environmental Structure. Together they explore Alexander's philosophical and architectural legacy—moving from A Pattern Language to The Nature of Order—and how these ideas can improve real campus architecture and planning. Maguire discusses his Catholic roots, his rediscovery of spiritual life, and how Alexander's teachings helped him bridge architecture, philosophy, mathematics, and art. Along the way, they explore the meaning of beauty, wholeness, and living structure, with anecdotes about clay massing models, campus tree benches, and the search for better design processes. This is a richly philosophical conversation, offering insights for architects, planners, surveyors, and anyone who cares about building more living environments.

In this episode of Everything is Somewhere, Angus welcomes Maggie Moore Alexander and Yodan Rofe—both close colleagues and friends of the late Christopher Alexander, the visionary architect and philosopher renowned for his influential theories on the built environment. Together, they discuss Alexander's enduring ideas, how they continue to shape thinking about architecture and infrastructure, and the mission of Building Beauty, a multidisciplinary program inspired by Alexander's legacy. The conversation explores why these principles matter so deeply for creating both beautiful and functional spaces in today's world, and why wider awareness of Alexander's work could transform the built environment for the better.

In this episode, Angus interviews Colin Sellers, a land surveyor and expert in catastrophism. They explore the concept of catastrophism, which posits that Earth's history is marked by significant, rapid changes due to catastrophic events, contrasting it with the gradualism of conventional scientific views. The discussion delves into historical evidence, the work of Randall Carlson, and the implications of catastrophism for understanding climate change and geological history. The conversation emphasizes the importance of considering all evidence, including ancient myths and modern scientific findings, in understanding our planet's past and preparing for future events. We delve further into various themes surrounding earth curvature, the implications of catastrophism, and the exploration of geological phenomena such as Bonneville Lake and the Yellowstone caldera. The discussion highlights the importance of personal inquiry in understanding scientific concepts, the evidence of catastrophic events in geological history, and the merging of education with adventure through the concept of 'adventurology.'

In this episode, Angus interviews Wendy Lathrop, a pioneering female land surveyor with a rich history in the field. Wendy shares her journey into land surveying, the importance of communication between surveyors and lawyers, and the challenges faced in their interactions. She also discusses the unexpected parallels between her martial arts experience and her work in surveying, emphasizing the need for better education and understanding between surveyors and their clients. In this conversation, Wendy discusses the evolution of research methods in land surveying, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigation and client communication. They share insights on the challenges of writing and the significance of clear communication in the profession. The discussion also touches on the role of AI in surveying, highlighting both its potential benefits and the need for careful verification of its outputs. The speaker reflects on their journey in establishing Cadastral Consulting and the integral role of writing in their career.