Episode 36: Hillary Clinton's Nomination

“Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times. But the deck is stacked for those at the very top.”
— Hillary Clinton, 2015
“If Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee, then how will she be able to attack the Republican nominee for being a tool of Wall Street — which she will have to do (and do convincingly) in order to beat the Republican?”
— Eric Zuesse, The Huffington Post

This week we welcome Sam Whipple, who joins us to offer some opinions and insight on Hillary Clinton's recent bid as a potential Democratic candidate in the 2016 Presidential Election. We discuss some of the criticisms and concerns facing her and how the political landscape might react to this decision in the long term.

Episode 35: Why Dogs Do That

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.”
— Gilda Radner
“Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.”
— Emily Dickinson

A much more lighthearted episode than our typical fare, we wanted to find a text which was both informative while also being easy to consume. We give a reading from several chapters of Tom Davis' book Why Dogs Do That. The chapters explain and offer a variety of hypotheses for canine behavior including why dogs chase cars and why certain breeds point or fetch instinctively.

Episode 34: The Advent of Vlogging

“The popularity of independent young video bloggers, the ‘vloggers’ who film their thoughts and observations for thousands of followers to enjoy online, is already setting the future shape of marketing and advertising.”
— Dalmeet Singh Chawla, The Guardian

As video-blogging or "vlogging" becomes increasingly popular on sites like YouTube, we wanted to discuss the influence and potential of this new medium. It is simple to use and offers brief glimpses to the lives of others as reality shows have long claimed to do. Unlike reality TV, however, vlogging is edited by the individuals on-screen, who have a much more personal and constant relationship with their various audiences. 

Stephenvlog

Stephenvlog

The Shaytards

The Shaytards

The Vlog Brothers

The Vlog Brothers

Episode 33: "You're Not Special"

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Like accolades ought to be, the fulfilled life is a consequence, a gratifying byproduct. It’s what happens when you’re thinking about more important things. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”
— David McCullough Jr.

A very sentimental episode for a number of reasons. First, this episode will be released during graduation season. To the recent and upcoming graduates, congratulations! Secondly, this marks the first episode with the newest co-host, Caroline Borders. Finally, in addition to the massive attention this received, this was the speech given at Kip's high school graduation in 2012 and he holds this speech and its orator, Mr. David McCullough Jr. in very high esteem.

Episode 32: Why We Study Film

“Movies are not about the weekend that they’re released, and in the grand scheme of things, that’s probably the most unimportant time of a film’s life.”
— Quentin Tarantino
“A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.”
— Orson Welles
“A film is - or should be - more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”
— Stanley Kubrick
“Realism is a bad word. In a sense everything is realistic. I see no line between the imaginary and the real.”
— Federico Fellini

This episode marks Hector's last as a permanent co-host on the show. As such, he wanted his final topic to pertain to his love of film. The following discussion (with guest Iggee Hu) encompasses film as a passion, a medium and a form of expression and communication. Both film majors offer their opinions on how to engage with film, what they personally enjoy about it and call attention to several finer details within film. We also discuss the unique approaches of a few directors as well as the impact of film on the masses.

Michelangelo Antonioni

Michelangelo Antonioni

Federico Fellini

Federico Fellini