November 20, 2017

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THE LIST

1. Flash Forward - "Deceptible Me"
What if humans could elect to rid themselves of self-deception? The world would be a more honest and just place, right? But wait, isn't it sometimes helpful to abide by an autobiographical white-lie? What would the ramifications be if only a portion of the population opted for this world-shattering change of perception? "Deceptible Me" left a long-lasting impression generating more self-reflexion than maybe any podcast this year.  The incomparable Rose Eveleth has done it again!

2. The Butterfly Effect with Jon Ronson - "A Nondescript Building in Montreal"
This show has been hyped for a while, and after premiering exclusively on Audible in July it is now available to the masses. Yes, it is centered around the rise and dispersion of the porn industry. But don't let that scare you! At least after one episode, this show is about so much more. Jon Ronson expertly unravels this investigative jaunt through technology and culture, leading listeners through some unique turns on his way to depicting how an streamlining a spurious sector of the economy shaped the world as we know it.

3. Hidden Brain - "Eyes Wide Open: Part 2"
Hidden Brain's two-parter focuses on the incredible importance of sleep. This is certainly not new information. The body needs sleep to survive, and if it didn't, a superior race of sleep-deprived super-people would have overthrown the well-rested ages ago. The episode's centering revelatory thought is that we trick ourselves into thinking that we are more productive when we have more time. Just because some people don't appear as irritable or comatose as others doesn't diminish the residual cost of short-changed sleep cycles. This pairs very well with "Deceptible Me," and has called into question the old collegial spirit of all-nighters.

HONORABLE MENTION
All Songs Considered - "What Makes A Great Album Last?"

SOMETHING NEW

The act of going to war remains a primal rite of passage in cultures around the world. This exists on a sliding scale of gravity from high school football to actual combat in a theatre of battle. We collectively ooze excitement at a chance of reliving the glory days of the state championship run. Speaking candidly about the often violent and always complex realities of bearing arms in foreign lands, however, is much more fraught. As evidenced by the movingly comedic account of Michael Pitre on This American Life (consequently re-airing this week), it can be hard for veterans to tell war stories to civilians. The reflexive "thank you for your service" response to seeing a soldier in uniform or upon learning that someone spent time in the service simply does not do justice to the experience of war. In a new podcast from Panoply, host Thom Tran takes a step in bringing a slice of reality to the masses.

Just two episodes deep at the time of this post, Battle Scars has covered topics ranging from the camaraderie amongst the ranks, PTSD, guilt, God's role in battle, and enlisting as a form of legalized immigration. Tran, as both a veteran and comedian, commands somber conversations with lightness and sincerity. This critical balancing act allows for extremely disturbing stories to be delivered without eliciting fatal grimacing surrender from a lay-audience. Part of the magic sauce that makes this possible is the very medium of podcasting. The form's intimate nature paired with potentially sensitive subject matter builds a measure of trust premised on honesty. As incredible as the stories are, this marriage of form and function might be the real prize behind the show. Issuing a grateful (and presumably usually well-meaning) thank-you for military service glazes over the act with a solemnity that minimizes the vast experiences of so many people caught in the fray of military action all around the world. Battle Scars breaks the tableau of unexamined deferential respect, and begins a much needed frank exploration of war and all its trappings.

Podcast: Battle Scars
Network: Panoply
Recommended for: Everyone living in a country that has a history of war, and/or citizens of neutrality bastions itching for a peek behind the curtain.
Drop Schedule: Thursday, Weekly
Average episode length: 30 minutes
Rating: Gotta Have It

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