Day Trips for Nihilists cover art

Day Trips for Nihilists

Day Trips for Nihilists

Written by: Day Trips for Nihilists
Listen for free

About this listen

A meandering essayistic mix of music, film and literature, field recordings, and humour, all with one goal in mind: to provide a short audio day trip for nihilists wherein they slow down and enjoy the world.


All music clips and recordings are (hopefully) either out of copyright or used under fair usage.


To get in touch: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com or neil-fitzgerald.com.

© 2026 Day Trips for Nihilists
Music Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • On the River as God or Gods
    Feb 16 2026

    Running order of the 'culturescape':

    • Prelude from Das Rhinegold by Richard Wagner (Rudolfe Kempe, Bayreuth performance)
    • opening of TS Eliot's 'The Dry Salvages' from Four Quartets
    • Charley Patton, High Water Everywhere Part 1
    • Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil excerpt
    • Robert Petway, Catfish Blues
    • Pike, Ted Hughes (read by the poet)
    • Má Vlast, 2. Vltava, ou La Moldau, Smetana (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich, 1954)
    • Various field recordings of rivers large and small from freesound.org

    For more info about the curator: neil-fitzgerald.com

    If you have an idea for a theme, or want your music or field recording used in a future episode: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • On Nonsense and Silliness, or why Wittgenstein was right
    Feb 15 2026

    Wittgenstein was right! Being silly is necessary for human happiness.

    NB. This episode contains contextualised use of the 'n' word in a sound clip from a gangster rapper* (see bold and asterisked below)

    1. Photo of Wittgenstein (see below)
    2. A Life in Pieces (BBC), Peter Cook, Ludovic Kennedy, Ep. 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree (1990)
    3. Take The Money And Run (1969), Woody Allen
    4. Annie Hall (1977), Woody Allen
    5. Tim Dog, Phone Conversation with Reporter (1991)*
    6. Play Better Golf with Peter Aliss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGP7V2ezE&ab_channel=kiuvideo (?)

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com


    Photo of a serious-looking Wittgenstein:

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • On Bill Callahan and Authenticity
    Feb 14 2026

    Some reflections on the authenticity that runs like a rich seam of truth in Bill Callahan's songs. How does he do it?

    • 'When It Shows' - an old attempt at song-writing by yours truly
    • 'Say Valley Maker' (live) - from Rough Travel for a Rare Thing (2010) by Bill Callahan
    • 'Jim Cain' - from Sometimes I wish We Were An Eagle (2009) by Bill Callahan
    • 'Cowboy' - from Gold Record (2020) by Bill Callahan

    With huge thanks to Bill Callahan and Drag City Records for permission to use clips from the songs for this audio essay. :)

    Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
No reviews yet