Episode 180: Ecosystems of Information

“This president, like President Obama, will be out of office some day...But this information ecosystem, this is going to be around for the rest of our lives. And I find that more alarming than any particular policy or politician or anything that’s happening right now.”
— Ira Glass, speaking at Third Coast on November 11, 2017.

With an increasingly connected and technologically-developed world, we might expect humanity to share and spread information similarly. But we do not all receive, express or process the same information as our peers. What's more, many of us disregard information that does not agree with our previously held standards and beliefs. This week, we explore a concept described by Ira Glass at Third Coast 2017 as "information ecosystems". How does an ecosystem as an analogy help us to conceptualize the flow of information and ideas? How can we expand and intermingle ecosystems which operate independently of one another? How can we move beyond our own information ecosystems to experience more nuanced perspectives?

Episode 179: Animals, Time and Impulsivity

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?

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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?

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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?

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