The Pod Piper

1. Radiolab - "Update: Eye In the Sky" This story originally aired last year and gave me the creeps.  I'm all for crime prevention, and probably more in favor than most for compromising my individual liberties in favor of increased safety for all.  But implementing a large surveillance system ripe with possibilities for corruption without first meticulously evaluating the implications of this technology seems worrisome at best. On the other hand, the narrative example from Juarez, Mexico clearly demonstrates the life saving potential of such a system.  Shouldn't a decrease in death make this new world of crime prevention worth exploring, regardless of any hypothetical consequences? The update provides some info on a pilot program getting traction in Baltimore, thanks to the underwriting of funds from wealthy donors who heard about the story after it was initially aired on Radiolab .  If this doesn't speak to the growing societal influence of podcasts, I don't...

1. Reply All -  "Lost in a Cab (#76)" Reply All  regularly puts out episodes of their show under the theme of 'Super Tech Support.'  Just as the name implies, the Reply All team tackle an internet-related problem submitted by a listener.  Not only do these shows unravel stories worth following, but they typically resolve in a way that empowers the average person and speaks truth to shadiness on the web.  In "Lost in a Cab" we hear about a man who treads a thin line between being a forward thinking businessman and a conniving scam artist. Host Alex Goldman seeks out justice for a customer/victim and in the process sheds light on a whole world of commerce operating in a misleading manner. 2. The Cracked Podcast -  "How Evolution Made Us Unfit For The Modern World" Cracked operates on a frequency that is both down to earth and incredibly thought provoking.  This episode takes that ethos to a new level and speaks in earnest to the burgeoning pre...

1. 99% Invisible -  On Average (#226) Every once in a while a podcast produces an episode that perfectly encapsulates the ethos of the show.  For 99% Invisible, 'On Average' is that episode. Hidden forces of design that dictate untold amounts of things in your life?  Check.  Rich and quirky evolution of said forces?  Check.  A contemplative takeaway that will make you rethink your surroundings?  Check.  It's all here, delivered in Roman Mar's signature purr. 2. Our National Conversation About Conversations About Race -  Cold Empathy For Nate Parker My recollection of the show (which has been on hiatus for 6 months or so) was conflated with the excellent NPR podcast "Codeswitch" - both tackle stories in the media surrounding issues of race and identity, after all.  While both are nearly always must-listen, "About Race" does a little better with playing devil's advocate or at least presenting ideas from multiple perspectives.  The r...

1. Radiolab -  The Girl Who Doesn't Exist Many people fleeing their home in this world scarred by war must face the perils of finding documentation in their new country.  But what happens when a person who was born in the United States suddenly realizes their existence has never been officially documented?  Radiolab tackles this existential question faced in reality by a young woman whose parents were inspired by the sovereign citizen movement .  In addition to being a compelling mystery, this episode dredged up questions about what exactly parents should be able to foist upon their children and how long any such decisions should affect the child. 2. Reply All -  Making Friends (#74) Reply All does it again, turning over a stone that uncovers some previously unknown niche of internet-reliant culture.  'Tulpas' are apparently like imaginary friends that are more real than not real, and this episode follows the tragic story of a woman who finds a commun...