StarTalk :: The Stars that Guide Us
Discussion of the traditions of celestial navigation used by Polynesian voyagers to traverse wide expanses of the Pacific Ocean.
To The Best of Our Knowledge :: What’s Wrong With Work?
Work is bunk. Find out why employment is meaningless and “work ethic” is just there to control us, along with some more human alternatives.
Another podcast goes in depth on how meaningless work is wearing us down. I sense a theme.
Twenty Thousand Hertz :: Jingles
Catchy tunes have been used to sell things since the early days of radio. This episode also offers a good deep dive into the phenomena of earworms and how to defeat them.
Hub History :: War, Plague, and the World Series
I’ve long been fascinated by the great number of significant events that happened in Boston around 1918-1919. This episode is an interview with Skip Desjardins who wrote a book about what in just September 1918.
99% Invisible :: The First Straw
Drinking straws have been in the news lately as they’re being banned for being a pollutant. This episode explores the origin of straws, their beneficial purposes, and possible alternatives to straws.
99% Invisible :: Double Standards
Yes, a double dose of 99 P.I. this week! This episode discusses blepharoplasty, a controversial cosmetic surgery which makes the eyes of people of Asian descent look more “Western.”
Decoder Ring :: The Paper Doll Club
Paper dolls are a toy that has fallen out of popularity with children, but there are sizable communities of adults who collect and design paper dolls, and a surprising connection with queer identity.
Risk! host Kevin Allison tells the story of how his Catholic high school missionary trip lead him to become a storyteller.
Panorama of the Mountains 