The Pod Piper

1. Invisibilia - "Future Self" Everyone has had a moment where actualizing the potential of life has been tantalizing real.  The idea of "the future" is so great at engendering optimism because it seems completely unknown.  But can it ever be dangerous to dream of what your life might one day become?  Can it even be deadly? Invisibilia takes on the question of aspiring to be something more, and the various pitfalls that could snag us along the way.  A must for any educator or mentor who seeks to influence the life of another human. 2. Hidden Brain  - "Rap On Trial" Freedom of speech is one of those topics that seems to have been in the public conscious for ages.  America likes the idea that people have the power to use words in whatever way we see fit.  Of course, as is the case with many things, general privilege becomes subconsciously fragmented.   My words are not dangerous, but that's because I'm a good person.  You may speak your mind, bu

1. Hidden Brain - "In The Air We Breathe" The concept of unconscious/implicit bias has been permeating the news cycle for the past several months.  From being invoked as a topic of debate in the 2016 US presidential election, to surfacing in the discussion surrounding each new incident of police violence against people of color (most recently in the acquittal of the officer responsible for the death of Philando Castile), the psychological has become the political. Cultural forces are entranced with propagating and/or decimating the idea that physical actions are driven by a little understood mental process.  "In The Air We Breathe" reminded me a lot of the politicized science around climate change (see the excellent show from  Only Human,  featured on the blog a month ago ), but with the caveat that the psychological community does seem to be divided over the facts.  Implicit bias has a much shorter history of being in the public eye, and it is fascinating to see t

1. The Cracked Podcast - "A Farewell To Cracked Editor-in-Chief Jack O'Brien" The Cracked Podcast is one of the longest tenured shows in my regular listening lineup, and that is due in part to the amiable genius of host Jack O'Brien.  O'Brien edits Cracked.com, and he brings a humble sincerity to each and every episode of the podcast.  His every-man self-deprecating ethos strikes a perfect balance of humor, insight and respect for humanity, all of which coincides to create a sense that he is incredibly smart but far too humble to ever come out and say it.  On this, the final episode with O'Brien as host, the man who created a revolution in research-based comedy journalism takes a look back at the mountain of topics covered over the years with the ever-expanding list of contributors.  Long-time fans will appreciate the episode for it's nostalgia, but this would also serve as a decent sampler platter to the first-time listener looking for a taste of the sh

1. Invisibilia - "Emotions Part One" Invisibilia is back for its third season, and the debut episode packs a punch.  The subject of emotions has previously surfaced on the podcast (not surprising, as this is one of the most present hidden forces at play in the human experience), but here hosts Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin probe the territory in earnest.  In "Emotions Part One" we hear the troubling tale of a family who is sued after their daughter dies in a car accident.  This forced me to think about legality and morality as being much more multidimensional topics.  As much as we strive to be in control, it is unsettling that the world can obstruct that desire for autonomy.  The real heart of this episode hit me in the form of a question: do we accept a lack of control over our lives, or must we always seek to assign responsibility in the form of someone's actions? 2. Planet Money - "Unspeakable Trademark" Freedom of speech is as quintessentiall