The Pod Piper

1. Invisibilia -  Flip the Script Pacifists are often challenged with hypothetical situations about using a gun to defend their family from imminent danger.  But when confronted with a situation of unplanned agression, do any of us know how we would truly react in the moment?  This excellent episode of Invisibilia speaks to the perhaps surprising effects a non-aggressive response may bring to bare on a hostile circumstance. The anecdotal example of a dinner party with an unexpected guest and the more systematic approach Denmark is taking to fight extremism with love make the old adage about fighting fire with fire seem woefully outdated. 2. Reply All -  Stolen Valor (#70) As the show often accomplishes, this edition of Reply All brought into the light a corner of internet subculture I have neither heard of nor understand.  This week: soldier imposter shaming videos. While revelation didn't flow freely (who are those people who pose as soldiers, and...

1. The Cracked Podcast -  Modern Cults (Are Scarier Than Jonestown) Cracked is the perfect place to talk about cults.  I'm sure there are other podcasts that cover similar subject matter, but I doubt that any show would match the comically tinged interviewing style and level of quality sources that defines the Cracked ethos. Other than being entertained and informed by and about a previously unknown world, the biggest take away from this particular episode was that intelligent people who are entrenched in their beliefs and identity are more susceptible to falling prey to a cult.  This made me consider what we believe without question and the fine line between religions and cults.  It also made me thankful that my interests are so widely spread - the lack of specification I sometimes crave could save my life! 2. Reply All -  Disappeared (#69) Due to an error in divvying up shows between Stitcher and Podcast Addict, I inadvertently left Reply All off ...

1. Revisionist History -  Carlos Doesn't Remember Malcolm Gladwell now has a podcast.  If you're like me, that sentence sells the product - each episode is like listening to a chapter of one of his audiobooks, but with interviews sprinkled in. "Carlos Doesn't Remember" appears not to have much in common with the larger theme of the series as the topic is more current, but it follows the idea that historically America has failed to fully capitalize on the learning potential of it's youth.  Is the system of higher education in bringing the minds best suited for each field of work to the forefront of the requisite industries, or is the timing of reaching out to youth from minority communities not conducive to successful entry into elite institutions? 2. 99% Invisible -  Unpleasant Design (#219) Typically the word 'design' conjures positive and beautiful mental images, much in the way that episodes of 99PI tend to be pleasing to the ear and intellect al...

I've been traveling a lot in the last month, and haven't had the time to write up anything for the shows I've listened to in the previous fortnight.  In order to preserve some kind of continuity with posting, here is the ranked list of all the podcast episodes to hit my ears in the previous two weeks: 1. Flash Forward - Bot For Teacher 2. Invisibilia - The Personality Myth 3. Planet Money - The Future Of Work Looks Like A UPS Truck (#563) 4. Hang Up and Listen - The Kevin Durant Just Broke The NBA Edition 5. Code Switch - "I'm Not Black, I'm OJ!" 6. Startup - 2680 Madison Road 7. Planet Money - Brexit (#707) 8. Criminal - Tiger (#46) 9. 99% Invisible - Remembering Stonewall (#218) 10. Planet Money - Bitcoin Divided (#708) 11. Slate's Culture Gabfest - Independence Duh Edition 12. The Cracked Podcast - 20 Things Sci-Fi Promised Us That We Want Now 13....