Episode 128: The Influence of Gift Cards

“The holidays are over. The presents are unwrapped. And you have a pile of gift cards that you may never use. You’re not alone. According to CEB TowerGroup, nearly $1 billion in gift cards go unused each year.”
— Zack Friedman, Forbes, January 10, 2017
“November and December now account for less than 21 percent of annual retail sales at physical stores, down from a peak of over 25 percent, and experts believe it’ll keep dropping. Those extra percentage points would have translated into an extra $70 billion more in buying for last year, says Michael Niemira, principal at The Retail Economist.”
— NBC Report by The Associated Press, December 24, 2016
“We treat money like it’s unseemly and gauche to exchange, but what’s more perverse: handing someone valuable, but unappreciated plastic or handing them a guaranteed-to-be-useful, one-size-fits-all cash money gift? Year after year, studies show that gift cards are great gifts ... if you’re a retail business (actually, it’s a bit of a problem for them too, because the government often takes a portion of unused sums under laws regulating unclaimed property). But in general gift cards usually guarantee that the user will overspend.”
— Debra D. Bass, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 14, 2017

Though we might have the tendency to overlook them as mundane or commonplace, gift cards play an interesting role in our gift-giving practices. Increasingly, they are more popular than tangible gifts and present a comfortable middle ground between the effort of finding a gift and the impersonal association we have with giving cash. We are grateful to have Leland Holcomb return this week to discuss these and other ideas about gift cards. And though their convenience is undeniable, how does it affect our gift-giving culture and by extension, our relationships? Does convenience stifle our otherwise creative and arduous journeys to find perfect gifts? Do we distance ourselves further from in-person shopping experiences? What might gift cards suggest about our knowledge of the recipient?

Episode 127: For Non-Gamers — Let's Play Controversies

In the 21st century, many content creation tools are increasingly accessible and user-friendly. As a result, platforms like YouTube have become especially popular as means of distributing music, news commentary and other video content. Fans of video games have gravitated towards "Let's Plays" which feature extensive playthroughs of games that are popular, fascinating or under the radar altogether. This week, Phoebe Lewis returns to help us examine the gray area surrounding Let's Plays. They represent content created by video game developers but altered by gameplay and additional commentary and information. Why do we judge those who watch gamers and not those who watch sports or other reproducible events? Do creators have a right to claim revenue and ownership of this new multimedia product? Is it an authentic means of advertising an interesting product? How can our understanding of video games as non-linear media be applied to creations like films and books which often have a straightforward means of consumption?

Episode 126: Being Raised in a Biracial Family

In a country that has and continues to struggle with issues of race in our society, the topic is all at once heavily debated and rarely discussed in patient, honest forums. It is simultaneously sensitive and necessary to talk about so we thoroughly appreciate Conor Tazewell for joining us to speak about his experience being raised in a biracial family. What do the circumstances of biracial identity permit or prohibit in our culture? How can a biracial perspective illuminate thinking of those who identify with a single race? How might discomfort surrounding discussions of race perpetuate misunderstanding and generalization?

Episode 125: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff III

This week, we give a third reading of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff and further discuss some chapters in the book, focusing on minding one's own business, paying attention to the snowball effect of our thoughts and embracing the problems in our lives rather than avoiding them outright. If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to our first or second reading from the book. As before, if you are interested in getting the book for yourself, we've included some links below.

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Episode 124: The Appeal of Podcasts

“Under the old rules, a gatekeeper who owned the airwaves would never give you a radio show if you didn’t have the credentials he deemed necessary. So, your story would go untold.
Times have changed. We now live in a time in which we can control our own platforms and tell our own stories. We no longer need approval, so don’t wait for someone else to tell you to start.”
— Jon Nastor, Copyblogger, March 10, 2016
“Since the beginning of time (and the advent of humans), oral storytelling has served a critical role as the sole means of abstracting experiences and emotions in narrative form. Ancient oral storytellers were revered keepers of local knowledge, history, and traditions in their communities.”
— Chris Giliberti of Gimlet Media on Forbes, March 31, 2016

Every week, we share our thoughts and feelings with you in the form of this podcast. But why do we rely upon this medium? What sets it apart and what do we find most appealing about it? Edison Research indicates that 21% of Americans listen to at least one podcast a month, reflecting a positive trend (up from 9% in 2008 and 12% in 2013). Big players like the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and others are entering the young market which also contains podcast-focused groups like Gimlet Media and Radiotopia. This week Kendall Theroux joins us to share some of her thoughts as an avid podcast listener. But how should the medium expand and what are its current limitations as a means of human and artistic expression?