One of humanity's key markings, be it real or simply pursued, is our distance from those in the animal kingdom. We marvel at our structures, technologies and behaviors as signs of a profound difference. But what do we share with animals? What could we learn from them? This week, Leland Holcomb joins us to explore how our knowledge of time as a concept affects our impulsivity and correlates or differentiates us from animals. Where does being impulsive serve or hinder our ultimate goals? How does impulsivity aid animals in their joy, survival and perception?
Episode 178: Why I Hate Interviews and Love Conversations
Language and speech present a myriad of communication options, styles and preferences between and among people. Some enjoy small talk, others feel comfortable in monologue or staccato volleys of ideas and information. Looking at two broad categories, conversation and interview are terms typically used to describe podcasts and adjacent media. This week, we're joined by Eric Francis to speak on the values and ideas associated with theses terms. Where might conversation and interview approaches fit specifically? What might each command that the other lacks? How do "conversational" and "interview" cultures or attitudes differ from one another?
Episode 177: "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?"
Alongside the meteoric rise, popularity and societal influence of smartphones, many have voiced concern about their impact - especially on younger users. This week, we examine and respond to a September 2017 article in The Atlantic by Jean M. Twenge which looks at several topics surrounding the smartphone's cultural ramifications. In particular, she pursues issues tied to teenage smartphone users. How might today's teens be less social, more risk-averse and less independent than those of yesteryear? What can we learn about human or adolescent nature by observing smartphone use or overuse?
Further Reading:
The Atlantic, "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?"
Episode 176: "Fall In"
So long as humans have wandered the earth, we have been contemplated and received the seasons in our lives. Though all of us could point to ways in which our lives change with the seasons, how might we reconsider seasonal time? This week, we explore an article written by Matthew Thomas on his blog, Submitted For Your Perusal, entitled "Fall In". We often use metrics of days or years to measure progress and achievement, why not seasons? Are there seasons in which we feel more whole, productive or aware than others?
Further Reading:
Submitted For Your Perusal, "Fall In"
Episode 175: Is Acting Selfish?
As acting has persisted as a vessel of storytelling, expression, catharsis and so much more, its allure has also grown over the centuries. Pursuing a career as an actor is one of the quintessential risks taken by creative types. But how does this career path, so tied to individual skill, identity and appearance, relate to selfish behavior? Does the arrogance that some actors exhibit come from the field or from another source? How does the public clamor for great performances feed the egos of actors?
