As French novelist Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil (Georges Sand) once said "art for art sake is an empty phrase.  Art for the sake of truth, art for the sake of the good and the beautiful, that is the faith that I am searching for." 

What sets apart the music, movies, theater, and visual art that sticks with you?  What is it that makes them so memorable, and what is the ingredient in art that ensures that it affects you, positively, negatively, or both? 

On this episode of The Forum, host Marshall LeMert is joined by Baseball commentator and radio host Adam Hawes, musician and alternative dj Anand Harsh, and reporter Jackson Hephner, in the first ever Roundtable discussion on The Forum, to break down what the most affecting form of art is, what makes art powerful and moving, and share some tips with you for how to enjoy art of any kind on the deepest possible level. 

What type of art moves you the most?  Email host Marshall LeMert at Wlemert@cvillemedia.com   

Host Marshall LeMert shares a version of the presentation he gave in June of 2026 at the Virginia Association of Broadcasters Summer Convention.  He examines the problems tackled by the team he worked on, suggests alternatives, and looks back on the times the Free Press has saved the United States throughout its history.  

Digital Streaming Executive Producer at WRIC in Richmond, Virginia, MaryCatherine Price, a member of the VAB team that presented in 2026, and host of The Rundown on WRIC+, an inside look at news production, checks in to share her experiences in broadcast news, share her rationale and drive to execute the way she does, and theorizes on the future with Marshall. 

Where do you get your news from?  Email Marshall at Wlemert@cvillemedia.com

Use of audio and media clips in this episode is protecting under Fair Use.

Thanks for visiting The Forum, follow the podcast at Cvillerightnow.com! 

Host Marshall LeMert poses the question of why people who have succeeded in spectacular fashion never seem to stay happy when they reach the top of the mountain.  He details The Arrival Fallacy, a psychological phenomenon that explains this, and draws upon the work of Leo Tolstoy to try and answer the question of what truly makes people happy for himself.

2024 US Women's Pole Vault Champion and Paris Olympian Bridget Williams joins the show to tell the remarkable story of her career, what her secrets to success have been, but also where her priorities truly lie, and what makes her happy!

What do you think makes a person happy in the long run?  Email Marshall at Wlemert@cvillemedia.com

Use of audio and media clips in this episode is protecting under Fair Use.

Thanks for visiting The Forum, follow the podcast at Cvillerightnow.com!

Between now and Aug. 28, all VNB clients who use their debit cards on a purchase of $20 or more will be entered into a sweepstakes with a chance to win $250.   Customers can enter the contest as many times as they want during the contesting period, with any purchase over $20 qualifying as an entry.  Entries are also made per transaction, not by account, meaning those on a joint account can both entered into the contest.  While VNB will be contacting winners, VNB will not ever ask for personal information, including your pin or account information, over the phone. If that happens, contact VNB directly. 

Host Marshall LeMert looks at three legendary operas, shows you the fascinating musical moments inside, and gives you a comprehensive guide for you to use as you hopefully explore the world of Opera, without the need for a tuxedo and opera goggles ;)

Decorated opera director Kyle Lang joins the show to chat with Marshall about his career, the challenges of putting on opera for a modern audience, and shares insights into the perspective of an artist keeping the beauty of the art form alive and well!  Kyle's directing The Barber of Seville with The Charlottesville Opera at The Paramount Theater on July 17th and July 19th.  Get your tickets now!

Learn more about opera with the fabulous work of Scores Unstitched HERE!

Are you already an Opera fan?  If not, what's holding you back?  Email Marshall at Wlemert@cvillemedia.com

Use of audio and media clips in this episode is protecting under Fair Use.

Thanks for visiting The Forum, follow the podcast only at Cvillerightnow.com!

Host Marshall LeMert examines what the key components that make up the American "civilization" are, through the lens of Sid Meier's Civilization video game series, and the framework of sociologist V. Gordon Childe's definition of civilization.

George Mason University Professor of History Michael O'Malley joins to discuss Americans' fascination with their ancestry, and shares a wild story from his own family history, detailed further in his book The Color of Family.

Read Karin Wulf's article on Hannah Waterman's family history for Smithsonian Magazine HERE.

What do you think makes Americans Americans?  Email Marshall at Wlemert@cvillemedia.com

Use of audio and media clips in this episode is protecting under Fair Use.

Thanks for visiting The Forum, follow the podcast at Cvillerightnow.com!