April 2 - April 16, 2017
Apologies for the gap in posts - I've been traveling for the past week or so and haven't had ready access to a computer. Here is an appropriately lengthy edition of the best shows of the last fortnight.
1. Radiolab - "Nukes"
After finishing a compelling series on police shootings, Radiolab takes on another weighty subject in this story surrounding the nuclear chain of command in the United States. When one man in a position of great responsibility endeavors to probe his conscious, he is met with a resolute order to cease and desist. It's discouraging to hear about someone attempting to do the right thing only to be unjustly punished, but there is a little closure in this story that is highly appropriate for our politically tenuous age.
2. Planet Money - "BOTUS"
I love it when Planet Money sets out on a project to illustrate some kind of financial principle or meandering curiosity about money. This episode continues in the tradition of previous series about a t-shirt and buying oil, but this time the goal is to build something - namely, a bot that automatically trades stock based on the tweets of Donald Trump. The bot has a Twitter handle (@BOTUS) and I'd definitely recommend both the tweets and this episode.
3. I Have to Ask - "The Ethan Sherwood Strauss Edition"This came to me as a podcast extra via the Hang Up And Listen feed, and piqued my interest as a former wannabe sports writer. The world of professional basketball is endlessly enthralling to me, but I think this insightful conversation has something for everyone to appreciate in Mr. Sherwood Strauss' journey from dead end job to dream job.
4. Code Switch - "Changing Colors In Comics"
Comic books may seem like a thing of the past, but the industry is very much alive. It's no secret that many of modern cinema's blockbusters are driven by original content from books, but I hadn't really considered how comic books account for an increasingly large portion of that source material. This being Code Switch, the show focuses on the extent to which the current comic industry (which, to my surprise, continues to churn out new issues) has diversified in its characters and creative staff.
5. Reply All - "Obfuscation"
If you've ever felt like there is simply too much worrying to reasonably be accomplished in a day, Reply All is coming to the rescue with a new segment called "Why Is Everybody So Mad and Do I Have to Be Mad Also?" I know that any form of news media is inherently performing the same filtering function to some extent, but this seems like a promising avenue through which to dissect an issue from an educated layman's perspective. Also, don't forget that E-mail Debt Forgiveness Day is fast approaching!
6. Planet Money - "Pub In A Box"
Have you ever walked into a restaurant and felt its aura transport you to a different time and/or place? If you've ever visited an Irish pub, it's possible there were some very precise calculations that went into engendering that emotional response. Planet Money tells the story of one man and his mission to spread Irish culture to all ends of the earth, one pub at a time.
1. Radiolab - "Nukes"
After finishing a compelling series on police shootings, Radiolab takes on another weighty subject in this story surrounding the nuclear chain of command in the United States. When one man in a position of great responsibility endeavors to probe his conscious, he is met with a resolute order to cease and desist. It's discouraging to hear about someone attempting to do the right thing only to be unjustly punished, but there is a little closure in this story that is highly appropriate for our politically tenuous age.
2. Planet Money - "BOTUS"
I love it when Planet Money sets out on a project to illustrate some kind of financial principle or meandering curiosity about money. This episode continues in the tradition of previous series about a t-shirt and buying oil, but this time the goal is to build something - namely, a bot that automatically trades stock based on the tweets of Donald Trump. The bot has a Twitter handle (@BOTUS) and I'd definitely recommend both the tweets and this episode.
3. I Have to Ask - "The Ethan Sherwood Strauss Edition"This came to me as a podcast extra via the Hang Up And Listen feed, and piqued my interest as a former wannabe sports writer. The world of professional basketball is endlessly enthralling to me, but I think this insightful conversation has something for everyone to appreciate in Mr. Sherwood Strauss' journey from dead end job to dream job.
4. Code Switch - "Changing Colors In Comics"
Comic books may seem like a thing of the past, but the industry is very much alive. It's no secret that many of modern cinema's blockbusters are driven by original content from books, but I hadn't really considered how comic books account for an increasingly large portion of that source material. This being Code Switch, the show focuses on the extent to which the current comic industry (which, to my surprise, continues to churn out new issues) has diversified in its characters and creative staff.
5. Reply All - "Obfuscation"
If you've ever felt like there is simply too much worrying to reasonably be accomplished in a day, Reply All is coming to the rescue with a new segment called "Why Is Everybody So Mad and Do I Have to Be Mad Also?" I know that any form of news media is inherently performing the same filtering function to some extent, but this seems like a promising avenue through which to dissect an issue from an educated layman's perspective. Also, don't forget that E-mail Debt Forgiveness Day is fast approaching!
6. Planet Money - "Pub In A Box"
Have you ever walked into a restaurant and felt its aura transport you to a different time and/or place? If you've ever visited an Irish pub, it's possible there were some very precise calculations that went into engendering that emotional response. Planet Money tells the story of one man and his mission to spread Irish culture to all ends of the earth, one pub at a time.
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