August 28 - September 3, 2016
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 community. Most people quickly label tulpas as a manifestation of schizophrenia, but the faithful participants appear to otherwise be quite normal. Tulpas are certainly a hard sell for me, though I can't help think that if I met one of the people featured in the show I would have no idea what voices they hear or conjure up. Even still, is it possible society is too rigid in diagnosing behavior and sectioning off individuals as crazy?
3. Revisionist History - The Satire Paradox
Malcolm Gladwell's final episode of the excellent "Revisionist History" is here, and it doesn't disappoint. Gladwell explores the idea that satire fundamentally fails to be a form of art that begets societal change. As a person with a deeply held belief about the power of art to shape perspective, I found this argument both troubling and incredibly necessary. Many of our most popular comedians and artists rise to prominence and ascend to thrones atop risk-averse media structures where pleasing the broadest swath of the population is the bottom line. How then can we get to the brutally honest critiques that definitively push the needle to affect change? The bit about Colbert being popular with both liberal and conservatives was maddening, and I wish I had the wherewithal to identify how that brilliant persona could have been more pointed. I'm not an advocate for radicalism in service of shock value, but can't we find a compromise where truth is spoken in plain terms in a comedic medium?
Honorable Mention: Hang Up and Listen - The O'er the Land of the Free Edition
I can't recommend this entire episode, but the first section of the show about Colin Kaepernick and the national anthem is a wonderful listen. These guys always offer a fresh perspective on sports, and it's no surprise that they nailed this increasingly controversial issue.
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 community. Most people quickly label tulpas as a manifestation of schizophrenia, but the faithful participants appear to otherwise be quite normal. Tulpas are certainly a hard sell for me, though I can't help think that if I met one of the people featured in the show I would have no idea what voices they hear or conjure up. Even still, is it possible society is too rigid in diagnosing behavior and sectioning off individuals as crazy?
3. Revisionist History - The Satire Paradox
Malcolm Gladwell's final episode of the excellent "Revisionist History" is here, and it doesn't disappoint. Gladwell explores the idea that satire fundamentally fails to be a form of art that begets societal change. As a person with a deeply held belief about the power of art to shape perspective, I found this argument both troubling and incredibly necessary. Many of our most popular comedians and artists rise to prominence and ascend to thrones atop risk-averse media structures where pleasing the broadest swath of the population is the bottom line. How then can we get to the brutally honest critiques that definitively push the needle to affect change? The bit about Colbert being popular with both liberal and conservatives was maddening, and I wish I had the wherewithal to identify how that brilliant persona could have been more pointed. I'm not an advocate for radicalism in service of shock value, but can't we find a compromise where truth is spoken in plain terms in a comedic medium?
Honorable Mention: Hang Up and Listen - The O'er the Land of the Free Edition
I can't recommend this entire episode, but the first section of the show about Colin Kaepernick and the national anthem is a wonderful listen. These guys always offer a fresh perspective on sports, and it's no surprise that they nailed this increasingly controversial issue.
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