October 22 - 28, 2017
THE LIST
1. More Perfect - "Enemy of Mankind"
Typically we don't think about the US Supreme Court (or any national legislative body, for that matter) as commanding power over the international community. Symbolically, sure, the country portends a kind of metaphorical freedom for oppressed people of the world. And there certainly are policies that affect how companies based in the US may alter how they do business outside the country. Yet there are a number of times throughout history when US courts have sought to adjudicate crimes that transpired on foreign soil. This episode of More Perfect details how this doling out of punishment came about and the extent to which it is still at play today, breaking down preconceptions of what a sovereign government means in the modern world.
2. 99% Invisible - "La Sagrada Familia"
Antonin Gaudi's famed Sagrada Familia cathedral towers over the skyline of Barcelona. The ambitious and ongoing architectural project is fraught with contentious history in the Catalonia region that is currently in the midst of weathering a larger crisis of identity. News reports can only do so much justice to a culture with foundations in the 8th century, and no 30 minute podcast can adequately contain a nuanced exploration of the history at play. But this episode carves out a narrative that ably contextualizes the cathedral's gravity in the 135 years since construction began, for the devoted as well as uninitiated Gaudi acolyte.
3. Futility Closet - "Cracking the Nazi Code"
There are many famous code crackers in the history of war. From the Apache Windtalkers to Alan Turing, intercepting enemy communiques is a standard part of any long-lasting battle. For every renowned crypto master there are the unsung heroes that only surface in quirky podcasts plumbing for juicy historical material to highlight. Futility Closet delivers the tale of a brilliant mind that undermined Nazi bluster, serving as a reminder that no one suspects a Swedish mathematician.
HONORABLE MENTION
Terrestrial - "For this teenager, rebellion means suing the government over climate change"
American Suburb - "Chapter 2: Friday Night Lights"
The Turnaround - "Werner Herzog"
SOMETHING NEW
Reading is a universal past-time beloved by many as long as literature has been widely available. Joy-inducing as it may be, reading can be riddled with stumbling blocks. What happens when you fall in a book rut? Is it ever OK to be ashamed of your reading habits? What is the best way to navigate the perils of browsing a shelf of new releases? Thankfully, in a strange marriage of an audio form supplementing an inherently visual activity, Reading Glasses is here to help. Hosts Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara guide listeners through the infinite wonders that have plagued and mesmerized the reading public for years. These problems are relatively miniscule in the grand scheme of things, but it is nice to hear some widespread and not oft-discussed quandaries dissected via podcast
In addition to proffering advice, the shows features author interviews that might serve as a gateway to a new genre. The episodes drop weekly, and land around 30-40 minutes in length. This moderate schedule coupled with the genial personalities behind the mic makes it easy to gobble up each show. Even if books aren't appealing, the hosts are so sincere that it would almost be worth it to hear two people shoot the breeze in a casual and intimate setting. The personalities illuminate the subject matter, and anyone who is interesting in thinking over why we read and how will glean extra pleasure from the tightly-honed tidbits friendly and thoughtfully bantered about. It's all the things to love about literary criticism, minus the pretense that truly good books are only for stuffy intellectuals.
Reading Glasses
Recommended for: Bookworms and muggles alike
Rating: Gotta Have It
1. More Perfect - "Enemy of Mankind"
Typically we don't think about the US Supreme Court (or any national legislative body, for that matter) as commanding power over the international community. Symbolically, sure, the country portends a kind of metaphorical freedom for oppressed people of the world. And there certainly are policies that affect how companies based in the US may alter how they do business outside the country. Yet there are a number of times throughout history when US courts have sought to adjudicate crimes that transpired on foreign soil. This episode of More Perfect details how this doling out of punishment came about and the extent to which it is still at play today, breaking down preconceptions of what a sovereign government means in the modern world.
2. 99% Invisible - "La Sagrada Familia"
Antonin Gaudi's famed Sagrada Familia cathedral towers over the skyline of Barcelona. The ambitious and ongoing architectural project is fraught with contentious history in the Catalonia region that is currently in the midst of weathering a larger crisis of identity. News reports can only do so much justice to a culture with foundations in the 8th century, and no 30 minute podcast can adequately contain a nuanced exploration of the history at play. But this episode carves out a narrative that ably contextualizes the cathedral's gravity in the 135 years since construction began, for the devoted as well as uninitiated Gaudi acolyte.
3. Futility Closet - "Cracking the Nazi Code"
There are many famous code crackers in the history of war. From the Apache Windtalkers to Alan Turing, intercepting enemy communiques is a standard part of any long-lasting battle. For every renowned crypto master there are the unsung heroes that only surface in quirky podcasts plumbing for juicy historical material to highlight. Futility Closet delivers the tale of a brilliant mind that undermined Nazi bluster, serving as a reminder that no one suspects a Swedish mathematician.
HONORABLE MENTION
Terrestrial - "For this teenager, rebellion means suing the government over climate change"
American Suburb - "Chapter 2: Friday Night Lights"
The Turnaround - "Werner Herzog"
SOMETHING NEW
Reading is a universal past-time beloved by many as long as literature has been widely available. Joy-inducing as it may be, reading can be riddled with stumbling blocks. What happens when you fall in a book rut? Is it ever OK to be ashamed of your reading habits? What is the best way to navigate the perils of browsing a shelf of new releases? Thankfully, in a strange marriage of an audio form supplementing an inherently visual activity, Reading Glasses is here to help. Hosts Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara guide listeners through the infinite wonders that have plagued and mesmerized the reading public for years. These problems are relatively miniscule in the grand scheme of things, but it is nice to hear some widespread and not oft-discussed quandaries dissected via podcast
In addition to proffering advice, the shows features author interviews that might serve as a gateway to a new genre. The episodes drop weekly, and land around 30-40 minutes in length. This moderate schedule coupled with the genial personalities behind the mic makes it easy to gobble up each show. Even if books aren't appealing, the hosts are so sincere that it would almost be worth it to hear two people shoot the breeze in a casual and intimate setting. The personalities illuminate the subject matter, and anyone who is interesting in thinking over why we read and how will glean extra pleasure from the tightly-honed tidbits friendly and thoughtfully bantered about. It's all the things to love about literary criticism, minus the pretense that truly good books are only for stuffy intellectuals.
Reading Glasses
Recommended for: Bookworms and muggles alike
Rating: Gotta Have It
sagrada familia is an incredible architecture i have ever seen
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