Talk Description to Me: Recent Episodes
Christine Malec and JJ Hunt
Where the visuals of current events and the world around us get hashed out in description-rich conversations. J.J. Hunt is an innovative Audio Describer and a natural-born storyteller. Christine Malec is a perpetually inquisitive member of the blind and partially sighted community who’s always wondering about something. In Talk Description to Me, their discussions plunge into current events and topical issues to explore the content of important images, and help place vivid descriptions in their cultural context. Lively, hard-hitting, witty, vibrant, and fun, this is conversation with a view!
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For several years Christine and JJ have been working with Toronto's Luminato Festival, presenting live art, theatre, and dance performances to Blind and Low Vision audiences through the online radio program Radio Lumi. This year, Radio Lumi is expanding its arts and accessibility coverage and shifting its focus to podcasting, which has everyone very excited. On this bonus episode of Talk Description to Me, Christine and JJ introduce you to their Radio Lumi friends, and play description-rich excerpts from episodes you don't want to miss!
For more info about the Luminato Festival, visit the access hub at LuminatoFestival.com/AccessHub.
For the full Radio Lumi podcast catalogue, subscribe to Radio Lumi (spelled L-U-M-I!) in your favourite podcast player, or visit LuminatoFestival.com/RadioLumi.
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Part 2 of 2.
Love them or hate them, AI writing tools like Chat GPT have the potential to change the way we write, communicate, and learn. One group looking to harness the technology with, and for, the Blind community is Be My Eyes, an outfit which connects Blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers through live video calls. Now, Be My Eyes has partnered with OpenAI to create Be My AI, a free app-based service that provides AI-generated descriptions of user photos. The tech is currently being tested and played with by a large group of users, Christine among them. This week, Christine shares illuminating examples of what the service can -- and can't yet -- do, and JJ breaks down the AI descriptions from a Describer's point of view.
Talk Description to Me is not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, Be My Eyes or OpenAI.
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Love them or hate them, AI writing tools like ChatGPT have the potential to change the way we write, communicate, and learn. One group looking to harness the technology with, and for, the Blind community is Be My Eyes, an outfit which connects Blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers through live video calls. Now, Be My Eyes has partnered with OpenAI to create Be My AI, a free app-based service that provides AI-generated descriptions of user photos. The tech is currently being tested and played with by a large group of users, Christine among them. This week, Christine shares illuminating examples of what the service can -- and can't yet -- do, and JJ breaks down the AI descriptions from a Describer's point of view. Part 1 of 2.
Talk Description to Me is not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, Be My Eyes or OpenAI.
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Ravines are a distinctive part of the urban landscape of Toronto. They create a network of natural green space that is one of the city’s defining features. Edited by Christine and introduced by JJ, you’re about to experience a described walk through part of one of them, led by Arborist Todd Irvine, funded by Park People's Ravine Champions program and organized by Katherine Sanders and guest Describer Rebecca Singh, this piece guides and informs as it walks you through the stories that exist in Toronto’s Urban Forest.
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The Star Trek universe is alive, well, and moving at warp speed. To celebrate Star Trek Day JJ joins Christine in her backyard for a casual conversation about the visuals of two Trek shows, the animated series Lower Decks, and the live action prequel Strange New Worlds. Fast-paced animation, and the complexities of prequel aesthetics, are too much for traditional inline description, so with the sound of passing shuttlecraft and starships overhead (ok, maybe they're just planes headed to the airport!) Christine and JJ indulge in a geeky, chit-chatty, description deep dive.
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Christmas is a wonderful time to get in touch with old friends, to catch up over a warm mug of hot chocolate, to say "How have you been? I've really missed you!" Well, we've really missed you!
This year, to celebrate the season, we'd like to make this small Christmas offering: a reading of How The Grinch Stole Christmas by the one-and-only Dr. Seuss. But Christine is Christine, JJ is JJ, and this is Talk Description to Me, so in our reading of the classic Christmas tale, a few descriptions of the picture book illustrations have been woven into the text in playful Seussian rhyme!
Now let's pour that hot chocolate and catch up, shall we?!
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Talk Description to Me is hitting pause -- for the time being! To mark their final episode in this two-year run, Christine and JJ packed a picnic, hopped on a ferry, and headed to the Toronto Islands. Sitting on a park bench, facing the Toronto skyline, the two friends shared one last description-rich conversation before unplugging their mics for a spell.
To all of our listeners, thank you for taking this journey with us! Please stay subscribed so that you don't miss a moment when we plug back in!
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Fuelled once again by Christine's insatiable curiosity, today Talk Description to Me explores the visuals of river systems. How do rivers form? Are the headwaters obvious? Are stream networks visible in satellite images? Does a river in the Amazon look the same as a river in Egypt? With the help of diagrams, descriptions of maps, and tactile primers on continental geography, JJ and Christine dive headfirst into the cool, rushing waters of the world's great rivers.
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Back in May, Christine and JJ began examining and describing the world of virtual reality. Today the intrepid pair wraps up the three-part series, exploring surreal spaces and fantastical experiences, including a trippy meditation realm, and a journey to Jurassic World. Then JJ's in-house tech expert Owen joins the conversation to provide a teenage take on VR.
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Spy movies are perfect for Audio Description. There are subtle clues to describe, exotic and seedy locations to expound on, and often great visual storytelling for the Describer to work with. But what about those moments that whip by too fast for the AD Narrator? Today, Christine and JJ break down the visuals of spy movie tropes: gadgets, lairs, disguises, hacking, and tracking.
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If you live in a city, you have lots of animals as neighbours; squirrels, raccoons, rats, skunks, maybe even foxes or coyotes. But what do they look like? How do they move, eat, and interact? This week, Christine and JJ describe the visuals of urban wildlife. That's right trash pandas -- we're talking about you!
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Slide whistle falls off of cliffs, and twinkle toes powering Stone Age cars were just a few of the sound effects that made Saturday morning cartoons popular with Blind and Low Vision kids in the days before Audio Description. Today, Christine and JJ aim to fill in some visual gaps by describing the look of classic cartoons, from prehistoric gadget gags in The Flintstones, to cutting edge camera work in Snow White, and the colour palette of The Simpsons. So pour yourself a huge bowl of junky cereal and let's dig in!
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Women had been excluded from voting in ancient Greece, republican Rome, and in emerging European and North American democracies. By the mid 19th century, many had had enough and began demanding suffrage; the right to vote in political elections. While some worked within existing systems, others attacked with amazing savvy and ferocity, resulting not only in stunning, even shocking visuals, but eventually great change. This week, Christine and JJ examine the visuals of Women's suffrage, from the media-friendly uniforms and violent actions of militant British Suffragettes, to political marches in the US, and monuments to subversive Pink Tea parties in Western Canada.
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The school year is wrapping up, and students everywhere are gleefully donning their caps and gowns, eager to graduate. This week, to honour the hard work and dedication of students who are Blind and Low Vision, Christine and JJ describe the visuals of convocation ceremonies and regalia. Congratulations, Class of '22!
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The visuals of food prep and cooking can be kind of a mystery, so this week Christine and JJ are donning their jaunty chef's hats and stepping into the kitchen to demystify fancy flambéing, precarious pizza tossing, and curious candy making. Bon appetite!
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It's time for our second annual Pride episode! Last year, in episode 57, we described the visuals of Toronto's Pride Parade. This year we take a look at the historical event that led to the first political (and celebratory!) Pride Marches in North America: the Stonewall riots.
To hear firsthand accounts from those who were at Stonewall, and journalists who have studied the event and its aftermath, check out this New York Times video. It's not described, but the interview subjects are quite descriptive in their recollections.
https://youtu.be/S7jnzOMxb14
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Summer is upon us, so it's time to get outside and do summery things. Today, Christine and JJ take their cues from the weather, the season, and some listener requests, and put their summer hats on. First, they head to the cabin to explore the forest, the trees, and the dappled sun. Then, they journey to the fair to stroll the midway and hit some roller coasters. All through the power of description-rich conversation!
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On this podcast, we have tasked ourselves with "Describing the visuals of the world around us." Right now, the world around us includes mass school shootings. After consulting with Blind and Low Vision community members on various social media platforms, today we reluctantly carry on with the promise inherent in our mandate. In this episode, Christine and JJ describe and discuss the visuals surrounding school shootings, including school security, active shooter drills, AR15 assault rifles, and media coverage of the May 24th massacre in Uvalde, Texas. While no graphic or gory images will be discussed or described, listener discretion is still strongly advised.
If you are struggling to cope with the mental or emotional effects of these events, help is available. In the US, please call the National Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. In Canada, please call the Wellness Helpline at 1-866-585-0445 or the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.
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Christine and JJ just couldn't fit all of their Star Wars talk into a single episode, so today they circle back in their X-Wing to describe ships in the Star Wars universe. Then, having started the new Obi Wan Kenobi series, Christine and JJ go deep on the visual details that inline description doesn't quite have time for: visual parallels, hidden clues, and quickie cameos. Spoiler warning! And nerd alert, too!
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A few weeks back, Christine and JJ began exploring and describing the world of virtual reality. Today, that exploration continues. First they discuss the connection between the visual and physical, then giggle about childhood dreams of a real-life holodeck. Finally, the intrepid pair takes a quick trip to the International Space Station!
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With the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series about to drop, Christine and JJ finally dive into the world of Star Wars! First, they go way back to the 1977 film that started it all to describe the aesthetics of the Star Wars Universe. Then they break down the franchise trilogy by trilogy, describing the evolution of the effects, and the challenges of designing visuals for science fiction prequels. Along the way the pair describes favourite characters like Yoda and Chewbacca, and epic scenes like Kylo Ren vs Luke Skywalker. Plus, some teaser descriptions of characters in the Obi-Wan trailers.
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With theatres opening up again and big productions rolling into town, JJ recently got to see Cirque du Soleil live in the big tent. In hearing about it, Christine remembered a workshop the pair held a few years back, where they described circus performances with the help of tactile action figures. Today, they revisit some of that workshop material, and compare the style and aesthetic of the classic travelling circus to the aesthetic and style of Cirque du Soleil.
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When an Oculus Quest Virtual Reality headset arrived at JJ's house, his first call was to Christine! In this, the first of three VR episodes we will air in the coming months, the pair describes the headset, the experience of donning it for the first time, and how it tricks the brain through exquisite visual detail. They then explore 360 degree videos of the natural world, and scale the side of a digital skyscraper!
Special thanks to our in-house tech consultant for their help in producing this series!
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Ever wonder what a conductor is doing at the front of an orchestra? Or grow curious about those hisses and sputters when you're waiting in line for your morning espresso? Today, Christine and JJ break down the routines, gestures, equipment and actions of people who work in silence.
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Robots have been evolving, both IRL and in popular culture. Today, Christine and JJ break down the look of science fiction robots from the 1950's and 60's, through the 70's, 80's, and 90's; from Robby the Robot to Data and C3PO. Then the pair turns their attention to modern day robots and their wild and crazy lives as groovy dancers and fight-to-the death gladiators!
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Reaching the ripe old age of 100 makes a podcast reflective (and perhaps a bit self-indulgent!). Guided by emails and tweets from listeners, Christine and JJ pull clips from key episodes, share fond memories, and discuss what's been learned through their description-rich conversations.
A huge shout-out to all of our listeners! Your support of this show has been appreciated from day one. We truly value the connection we have with the community, and want you to know how much you, as a listener, are appreciated. Thank you!
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For some of us, puppets are lifelong friends; characters from our youth that teach, comfort, and entertain. For others, puppets are mysterious and even unsettling, represented only by strange, disorienting voices. Today, Christine works through her discomfort with the art form by asking questions about the visuals of puppets and puppeteering. How does Kermit's mouth move? Can a marionette really evoke an emotional response? And what are water puppets and shadow puppets?! Visual descriptions of one of the world's earliest theatrical traditions, today on Talk Description To Me.
Next week we'll be releasing our 100th episode, which is a great excuse to look back on the things we've described, the discussions we've had, and the things that we've learned. If you have any thoughts to share about our first hundred episodes, please reach out! We'd love to hear from you!
TalkDescriptionToMe@gmail.com
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Ready to break free of winter and endless pandemic lockdowns? Us too! Inspired by the fresh spring air, and egged on by listener requests ("egged on", get it?!), Christine and JJ indulge in descriptions of emergence in nature: hatching chicks, caterpillars transforming into butterflies, and bulbs blooming in garden beds. Happy Spring, everyone!
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On a recent trip to Vancouver, Christine met up with some of the great folks at VocalEye, a not-for-profit organization that does amazing and innovative work in the Description world. After a full day of exploring, Christine got a ride home with longtime Describer, and all-around lovely Vancouverite, Ingrid Turk. Full of questions about Vancouver's much-hyped landscape, and not willing to pass up a golden opportunity, Christine switched on her mic and recorded this impromptu episode.
Special thanks to Ingrid, Steph Kirkland, Eileen Barrett, and Amy Amantea, who we'll be hearing in future episodes!
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When Russia invaded Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began connecting with his people, and the rest of the world, through selfie videos and video addresses. This week, Christine and JJ discuss Zelenskyy's social media savvy, and describe the visuals of his regular releases. Then the conversation turns to public art and graffiti that demonstrates international support for the Ukrainian people, and profound anger toward Vladimir Putin.
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For many sighted movie fans, posters aren't just ads; they're a tease, a lure, the first glimpse of an eagerly-anticipated film. This week, Christine and JJ discuss and describe favourite and famous movie posters. From Star Wars to The Graduate , Frankenstein to Pretty Woman, Bill and Ted to Godzilla, if you're a movie fan, Talk Description has you covered.
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Christine is fascinated by gestures, body language, and non-verbal communication. In this fun, chatty episode, the Queen of Curious Questions asks JJ to describe facial expressions, eyebrow acting, and a variety of shrugs. Then the pair discusses the language of subtle eye movements, directional signalling, and everyone's favourite, rude gestures!
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Charts and graphs can be useful for recognizing patterns and comparing data sets. Today, Christine and JJ explore visualizations of case numbers, deaths, and vaccinations from the COVID era. Then, the pair checks in on the Ottawa "Freedom Convoy". When police moved in to shut down the occupation, cell phone cameras were rolling! What they captured were disturbing and contentious images of children on the front lines, and mounted officers clashing with protestors. Christine and JJ try to sort through the visuals in this important follow-up episode.
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In this Breaking News episode recorded the morning of Friday February 25th, 2022, Christine and JJ describe news images and video clips from the first 36 hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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The Underground Railroad was a complex, clandestine network of people, secret routes, and safe houses that helped enslaved African American freedom seekers reach Northern states and Canada. This week, Christine and JJ describe some of the surviving visuals of this extraordinary network, including route maps, hideouts, and code quilts.
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As we all know, Christine is a woman with many questions! What's the appeal of a dramatic view? Do clouds look the same from above and below? What does lightning look like from an airplane? Can you tell if you're being watched by an animal? Or through a camera? This week, Christine lets loose with her best view-related queries. But the question remains: Can JJ keep up?!
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On Saturday January 29th, a self-described "Freedom Convoy" of big rigs rolled into Ottawa to protest cross-border vaccination rules for Canadian truckers. The protestors have parked their trucks in front of the Parliament buildings, taking over streets and dominating the city's soundscape with a constant barrage of horn blasts and rally cries. Within the crowd, protestors have been waving flags and raising hand-drawn signs, some featuring hateful, violent, and racist messaging. Today, Christine and JJ discuss the challenges of covering and contextualizing divisive events, and describe the troubling images that have enraged so many of us.
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Fire has been a game-changer in the story human evolution. It's mesmerizing and romantic, dangerous and terrifying, and utterly compelling. This week, Christine and JJ burn through a box of matches describing the mysterious visuals of fire, from humble candles to devastating wildfires.
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On January 15th 2022, an underwater volcano erupted in the Pacific Island nation of Tonga, sending an ash cloud 100,000 feet in the air. The massive eruption was clearly visible from space, and sparked a tsunami that rocked Pacific coastlines from New Zealand to Japan, Peru to Canada. Today, Christine and JJ describe satellite images of the blooming ash cloud, visualizations of the eruption's shockwave, and videos of the resulting tsunami.
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It's been an exciting couple of weeks for space geeks like Christine. On Christmas Day, with help from the European Space Agency, NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to Hubble. Since then, the telescope has been busy unfolding, preparing itself for a million-mile mission and a lifetime of capturing infrared images of the oldest and most distant objects in our universe. JJ and Christine will have to wait a while before those images are available to describe, but that's ok because there's a more pressing practical question to deal with first: what the heck does an unfolding space telescope look like?!
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"Hello out there! We're on the air! It's hockey night tonight!" - Stompin' Tom Connors.
For some, winter means bundling up, locking the door, and hiding under weighted blankets 'til Spring. For others it means lacing up skates, taping up an old stick, and heading to the nearest patch of ice for a bit of shinny! This week, in a valiant, oh-so-Canadian effort to fight off the post-holiday blahs, Christine and JJ indulge in some nostalgic, description-rich chirping about the best game we can name - the good ol' hockey game!
To hear a live version of Stompin' Tom's Hockey Song, check out this YouTube video, packed with grainy, vintage clips of goals and dustups: https://youtu.be/UxJvrD80nJ4
To hear today's NHL players share their favourite hockey sounds, check out: https://youtu.be/h61mQXXk7IQ
And for more musings on hockey, check out this blog post by Christine, originally published in 2012: https://talkdescriptiontome.blogspot.com/2022/01/christine-on-hockey-few-days-before.html
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Happy New Year everyone! To celebrate the season, Christine and JJ head to Toronto's Distillery District Christmas Market. Wandering the cobblestone streets of the Victorian neighbourhood, they describe the decorations and delicious treats, share a few stories, and some good laughs, too. All the best in 2022!
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Merry Christmas everyone! To celebrate the season, Christine and JJ head to Toronto's Distillery District Christmas Market. Wandering the cobblestone streets of the Victorian neighbourhood, they describe the decorations and delicious treats, share a few stories, and some good laughs, too. All the best to you and yours!
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Late in the night on December 10th and into the early morning of December 11th, a supercell thunderstorm ripped through four Mid-South American states. Multiple tornadoes within the storm devastated towns, cities, and rural areas, and took the lives of at least 90 people, with many more still missing. This week, in an effort to provide contextual information to those profoundly affected by these events, JJ and Christine describe the visuals of tornadoes, and photos of the storm's aftermath. Listener discretion is advised.
This episode discusses items listed on the Facebook group Quad State Tornadoes Found Items. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/752733605686831/
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Ever wondered how the surface of a round planet translates into a flat map? Christine has! This week, JJ answers questions about the visuals of maps, and how those visuals line up with reality. Then, with maps on the mind, JJ and Christine discuss the look of online tracking and navigation, from deliveries to Uber rides, container ships to Santa's Christmas Eve run!
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Love 'em or hate 'em, personal vehicles are everywhere. These days, people are zipping across town on silent e-bikes, delivering takeout on electric kick scooters, and coasting through neighbourhoods on seemingly magic skateboards. In this episode, Christine and JJ describe the visuals of personal transportation devices, from mobility scooters to hover shoes!
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Since our days as cave-dwelling hunter gatherers, humans have been creating and sharing art. Paintings by early humans still adorn the walls and ceilings of hundreds of caves around the world. Far from "primitive" sketches, many of these works of art demonstrate an evolving understanding of colour, form, symbolism, and pictorial communication. This week, Christine and JJ discuss Palaeolithic handprints, cave etchings, and figurative paintings: the earliest human-made art on the planet.
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You just can't escape advertising in the modern world. Even if you've been living under a rock there's probably a tiny billboard there promoting a New and Improved rock cleaner! With Thanksgiving upon us and the Christmas shopping season right around the corner, Black Friday advertising is everywhere. This week Christine and JJ describe viral videos of Black Friday chaos, and discuss the impact of ads on our visual landscape.
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This week, the week of Remembrance Day and Veteran's Day, Christine and JJ examine wartime photos and propaganda posters. In this episode they describe early photographs from the American Civil War, black-and-white snapshots from WWI, and iconic photos and propaganda art from WWII, including The Battle of Iwo Jima, V-J Day in Times Square, and paintings of Rosie the Riveter.
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Día de Muertos is a wonderfully vibrant and joyful Mexican holiday with an extraordinary aesthetic. Family traditions with roots in Aztec rituals are at the heart of the holiday, and are practiced throughout Mexico and around the world. Celebrations continue to evolve, with the alluring visuals of big budget movies like Disney's Coco and James Bond's Spectre adding to the mystique of the holiday. Skeletons, altars, spirit animals, and cemeteries; join us for a descriptive exploration of Mexico's Day of the Dead!
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There's never a bad time to don fishnet stockings and dance the Time Warp, but if you're looking for an excuse, Halloween is it! This week, Christine and JJ breakdown the visuals of the greatest cult movie of all time: the Rocky Horror Picture Show! Sequinned heels, outrageous makeup, hunky musclemen, and more corsets than you can shake a feather boa at; the Rocky Horror Picture Show implores us to give ourselves over to absolute pleasure. With a strong penchant for campy, raunchy fun, Talk Description to Me happily indulges!
This episode was inspired by a wonderful virtual event hosted by Amy Amantea of VocalEye that featured JJ's descriptions of Rocky Horror visuals. To learn more about VocalEye, or to check out their calendar of fun and innovative events, please visit: VocalEye.ca
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Several internet videos featuring strange contraptions and creations have popped up in Christine's social media feed over the last few months, but we haven't managed to slip them into an episode. Then last week, a painting by the mysterious street artist Banksy sold at auction for $25 million. The crazy story of its creation features an epic prank, a hidden contraption, and a viral video, giving us the perfect excuse to pull all these wild inventions into one goofy episode.
The original videos discussed in this episode can all be found on YouTube. For Bansky's video about the painting Girl and Balloon, check out:
https://youtu.be/vxkwRNIZgdY
For the the Rube Goldberg Machine called The Page Turner, go to:
https://youtu.be/GOMIBdM6N7Q
And for the world's longest musical model railway from the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg, Germany, head to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNvZY6cOijo
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Energy infrastructure might not be sexy, but it's vital to our current way of life. These systems bring electricity to your home and transport oil and gas across continents, but what they actually look like remains a mystery to many people. This week, Christine asks about pipelines, rooftop solar systems, and commercial wind farms, and JJ describes the network of wires that lead from power plants, into your city, down your street, right to your home.
This episode was inspired by images from world-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky, and his work with Toronto's Luminato Festival, which Christine and JJ had the pleasure of contextualizing for Luminato's Disability-led pop-up radio station Radio Lumi. To explore the Luminato Access Hub please visit:
https://luminatofestival.com/access-hub/
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How does life look underwater? What's a jellyfish like? How about coral? Are deep sea creatures really that bizarre? This week, Christine and JJ don their virtual scuba gear (but not before describing it, of course!) to answer listener questions about the visuals of the underwater world.
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When tight for time, Audio Describers often use shorthand phrases to sum up rich or complex visuals. Today, Christine and JJ expand on expressions like "futuristic" and "well-dressed" to help description users fill-in their mental pictures. Prompted by online conversations with fellow description users and creators, Christine asks how Describers handle repetitive imagery, antiquated language, B-movie continuity, and even eyebrow acting.
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To boldly describe what no one has described before! Ok, that might be overstating it a bit, but can you blame us for being excited? We’re describing the world of Star Trek here! Inspired by the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ casting of Bruce Horak in the role of Hemmer — a blind actor playing a blind character! — Christine and JJ indulge in a descriptive conversation about the every-changing look of Star Trek. From the soft focus treatment of Kirk’s beautiful alien love interests, to the evolution of Klingon cranial ridges, and the view through Geordi LaForge’s visor, Christine and JJ let their geek flags fly!
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Some of the most iconic pop culture images of our times come from album art. But for many Blind and Low Vision music fans, album covers are little more than cardboard sleeves to protect precious vinyl. Today, Christine and JJ describe art from Billboard’s Top 50 Album Covers of All Time, and throw in some listener requests for good measure.
For Billboard’s complete list, visit: https://www.billboard.com/photos/6715351/best-album-covers-of-all-time/
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It's been a harrowing few months in Afghanistan with the Taliban advancing during the US military withdrawal. In mid August, the Taliban took control of Kabul and the chaos peaked. In this episode, JJ describes some key scenes from the Taliban takeover including the seizure of the Presidential Palace and the desperate evacuation at the Kabul airport. Then Christine asks about ongoing protests by the women of Afghanistan, and how US political cartoonists have responded to these troubling and complex events.
Many news organizations have compiled complete timelines of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. We found this article by The Washington Post helpful in our research despite the inaccessible visuals.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/16/taliban-timeline/
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Constellations are delightful and magical; a curious mix of astronomy and fantasy. They are also a cross cultural phenomenon, with groups from around the world using their own stories to construct and name connect-the-dot pictures in the night sky. This week, Christine and JJ use Astronomer and Data Visualization Designer Nadieh Bremer's innovative "Figures in the Sky" project to explore and describe the look of constellations.
For more on Figures in the Sky, visit: https://figuresinthesky.visualcinnamon.com/
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The Paralympics are underway, giving us a new slate of athletic heroes to cheer on. But ParaSports sports receive limited coverage between international tournaments, and that makes them a bit harder to follow. To help fill in those gaps, Christine and JJ break down the visuals of some popular Paralympic sports, including wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, running events, and goalball. They talk gear, skills, body types, and debate the merits of diving across a gymnasium floor to block bell-filled-balls with your face!
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Why are some bugs considered beautiful, and others considered creepy? What is the visual impact of a spotting a single bug versus a swarm? When you cook an insect, does it still look like a bug? Join Christine and JJ for a description-rich conversation about insects that's so vivid you'll swear they're buzzing all around!
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When summer in the city gets unbearably hot and muggy, many of us dream of a road trip to the cottage. Having just come back from one such weekend getaway, Christine seeks to extend her swim-in-the-lake, sunbathe-on-the-dock, feel-good-buzz with descriptions of a cottage escape. And what road trip is complete without a couple of goofball kids hamming it up in the back of the car? As a special treat, JJ passes his microphone to the backseat so his describers-in-training can read the cottage country signs zipping by. Join us for an oh-so-Canadian summer getaway.
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The Olympics are in full swing, and daily audio description coverage has never been better. This week, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals that don't necessarily make it into the prime time recap, including Olympic memes, protest signs, and slow motion gymnastics. Plus, a few description-rich stories of Olympic sportsmanship.
Audio Description of NBC's prime time coverage and opening and closing ceremonies is being handled by Descriptive Video Works. Check out #NBCOlympicsA11y and #NBCParalympicsA11y on social media to connect and share with others.
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Ok, this is the big one. In this action-packed episode, Christine and JJ go where no Description podcast has gone before: though a carwash! And not just any carwash -- the longest, most sophisticated, full service car wash in North America. And not with any old microphone -- but with binaural mics for full 3D sound. So put on some headphones, lean back in your seat, and join us for a trip to the AutoSpa.
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For some of us walking through a city is a navigational challenge with little opportunity to stop to and smell the flowers. For others, we're so glued to our phones we barely notice what's around us. This week, Christine and JJ take some time to appreciate the wonderful gems hidden around town; from quirky houses and guerrilla art projects, to tiny front yard libraries and secret doorways to the fairy kingdom!
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Tattoos are everywhere. In Canada, the US, and the UK, 1 in 3 young adults have at least one, and lots of folks have many more. But how do they look? And how do they age? What does a prison tattoo look like? Or Inuit skin stitching? And is it true that JJ has the Talk Description to Me logo tattooed on his back? To find out, join us for another description-rich episode!
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The Euros, one of the world's biggest soccer tournaments, is wrapping up this weekend, which has us thinking about the visuals of the planet's most popular sport. As curious outsiders, Christine and JJ describe the particulars of the game, and how they affect the uniforms, the athletes, the celebrations, and the hilarious on-field drama.
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It's the 4th of July weekend, which means there are lots of celebratory visuals for a couple of curious Canucks to talk about. From red-white-and-blue picnic foods, to stars-and-stripes fashions, and fireworks exploding in the sky, Christine and JJ consider it all.
If you are interested in taking your fireworks experience to the next level, check out the innovative verbal description technique we discuss in this episode: "FingerWorks", developed by the good folks at VocalEye. Below are links to an article on the VocalEye website, and a series of workshop videos posted on YouTube. Happy 4th of July, friends!
http://www.vocaleye.ca/fireworks/
https://youtu.be/AajT1Y1R6vA
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There's nothing quite like the delightful, exuberant, emotional, titillating, joyful, emboldening, dramatic, euphoric, dance-tastic pleasure of being at a Pride parade. To celebrate Pride month, Christine and JJ do their best to conjure the glorious vibe of Pride with description-rich tales of Toronto's legendary parade.
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Toppling a statue is a powerful, emotional and symbolic act. Often celebratory, sometimes angry and vengeful, the removal of a statue -- whether by lawful means or mob rule -- is an event rife with potent and dramatic visuals. In this episode, Christine asks JJ how statues are brought down, and what it looks like when they fall.
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From the little dots over lowercase I's and J's in the modern English alphabet, to the evolution of Egyptian hieroglyphics, and fine brush marks of traditional Chinese characters, there's a lot to describe when discussing the visuals of the world's writing systems. Luckily, Christine and JJ have a whole half hour in which to pontificate! This tip-of-the-iceberg episode on the visuals of writing systems will answer some questions, pose a few more, and hopefully leave you appreciating your grandma's lovely penmanship!
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Children’s shoes. Tiny, colourful and empty. In this difficult but necessary episode, we discuss memorials found across Canada that honour the #215Children whose remains were recently discovered on the site of a former Residential School in British Columbia. To recognize the past and current trauma felt by Indigenous communities across Canada, this episode includes descriptions of artworks by Indigenous artists that give expression to Indigenous experiences.
Counselling support for Residential School survivors is available at 1-800-721-0066. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society can be also reached 24 hours a day through their Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.
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Moolah, bread, bucks, scratch ... cash by any name is always sweet! But what does the money you covet and carry actually look like? Today, Christine and JJ break down the visuals of banknotes: the art, the portraits, the security features, and even the cheeky graffiti that's scrawled onto bills and put into circulation.
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May is the perfect time of year for listening to and watching birds. In this episode, we talk about the visuals of our fine feathered friends -- colours, patterns, shapes, nests, and flight. Then Christine asks why sighted people are so transfixed by hawks, and JJ gets picked up by a flashy bird with sweet dance moves!
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This podcast began with the notion that the visuals of pandemic life around the world needed to be described. Many months have since passed, and those visuals have changed. This week, Christine and JJ check in on COVID and lockdown visuals around the world. From anxiety on the streets of Toronto, to India's infection rate graphs, and vacationing goats in North Whales, to vaccinated wales in New York museums, Talk Description to Me has you covered.
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If you go way way up, and look way way down, what you see can be surprising. In this episode, Christine and JJ describe satellite images and discuss the intriguing perspective they provide. From ecology to archeology to a view of ourselves, the big picture has an awful lot to offer!
To explore Google Timelapse, as discussed in this episode, visit: g.co/Timelapse
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This year’s landmark Audio Description of the Academy Awards got us thinking about a hallmark of Oscar night: glamour! What are the visuals of glamour? Is glamour about wearing the right gown and accessories, or is there more to it than just fashion? Has glamour changed over time? And just who gets to be glamorous, anyhow?
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On April 20, 2021, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in the death of George Floyd, a murder which sparked protests across the U.S. and fuelled the Black Lives Matter movement around the world. In this episode, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals surrounding the trial's conclusion, then describe the wave of tribute art, which seeks to honour and memorialize George Floyd.
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In recent days the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent has been buried under ash by volcanic eruptions. Meanwhile, spectacular drone footage of the lava-belching volcano outside of Reykjavik, Iceland continues to intrigue and amaze. This week, Christine and JJ break down the terrifying and mesmerizing visuals of erupting volcanos. Then, set your creep-o-metre to high for a brief description of the aftermath from one of history's most famous volcanic disasters: the haunting ruins of Pompeii.
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For a lot of us, architectural terms like Gothic and Art Deco conjure vague, incomplete mental pictures. Well not anymore! In this episode, Christine and JJ cover thousands of years of Western architectural styles, and describe and contextualize key design elements. Check it out, and prepare to wow them at your next dinner party!
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Last week, the world stopped and gaped when a container ship the size of a skyscraper got stuck in the Suez Canal. Using descriptions of satellite images, news footage, and even memes, Christine and JJ tell the story of what happened, why it mattered, what was done about it, and how social media (as usual) found ways to poke fun.
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With the first of four monthly SuperMoons set to rise this weekend, we’re turning our attention to Earth’s little buddy. If you’ve ever wondered about the look of the moon, its phases, craters, or size, this is the episode for you! Plus, Christine poses questions asked by listeners about the Apollo moon landing, and of course, the famous Moonwalk by astronaut Michael “Buzz” Jackson. Wait, that doesn’t sound quite right…
For audio direct from the surface of Mars check out: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/audio/
And for Visual Descriptions from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, visit:https://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/podcasts/description_audio.html
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Ever wonder what skin looks like under a microscope? How about hair? Or snowflakes, or sand?! This week, Christine and JJ examine award-winning photographs taken through microscopes, and describe a few clickbait closeups, too!
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We've all been cooped up far too long. Let's get out and do some exploring! Today, Christine asks JJ to describe three Wonders of the World: Niagara Falls, the Taj Mahal, and Angkor Wat. Join us for some description-rich virtual travelling!
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What does dancing look like? It's a big question, but it's one that listeners have asked us many times, so we're gonna take a crack at it. The precision and perfection of Ballet, the wild spectacle of Swing, the strutting of Disco, and the mad skills of Hip Hop; we leave it all on the dance floor describing the look, the vibe, the movement, and even the fashions of well-known dance styles.
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To cap off a busy, emotional, and celebratory Black History Month (and to add a bit of pep to a grey winter weekend) let's all journey to Toronto's legendary Caribana Parade, North America's largest street party. Today, Christine hits play on a 2018 parade route video, and JJ live-describes the costumes, floats and dancers twerking by. It's Caribbean Carnival day on this bonus episode of Talk Description to Me!
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Responding to requests from several listeners, Christine and JJ take a look at flags from around the world and describe their symbols, colours, meanings, and histories. Can a simple design inspire patriotism and pride? How literal are the symbols? And can there ever be too many Welsh dragons?!
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It's all about Mars and the Perseverance Rover on Talk Description to Me this week. To enhance the commentary and resources that come directly from NASA, Christine and JJ describe the look of mission hardware, discuss the compelling visuals of the Martian landscape and landing site, and break down NASA’s cinematic representation of a perfect entry, descent, and landing.
For more information, including details on the rover's onboard microphones, check out the mission's official website: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/
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Whether you call it the Spring Festival, Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year - this is a time to celebrate with family and friends. With guidance and listener support, Christine and JJ discuss and describe the visuals of the holiday, from food and clothing, to lanterns and dragon dances. Gong hei fat choy, everyone!
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What’s it like to watch people communicate in ASL? Are the gestures remotely comprehensible to those who don't speak the language? How is tone conveyed? And (apparently) most importantly, what's the sign for "Hamburger"?! This week, Christine and JJ discuss the look of ASL, ask more questions than they can answer, and give a quick described tutorial for the phrase "Nice to meet you!"
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On December 17, 2020 Talk Description to Me hosted a live event on Zoom, giving Christine and JJ a chance to talk shop with long-time listeners and new-found friends from across the continent. Community members from around the world emailed questions in advance, and others switched on their mics and asked their questions directly. In this second of two episodes featuring conversations from that event, curious listeners inquire about Mount Everest, printing fonts, TV in the COVID era, and a harrowing Formula 1 car crash!
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If you heard a gleeful squeal of delight echoing through the halls of podcastdom last week, it might well have been Christine discovering the latest TikTok sensation: Sea Shanties! With JJ describing and Christine singing, it's all hands on deck for this wee musical bonus episode.
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This was an American Presidential Inauguration week like no other. With the nation's capital in lockdown, a field of flags standing in for real-life spectators, enhanced security to ward off further insurrection, and a COVID memorial to honour the 400,000 US lives lost in the ongoing pandemic, the visuals from Washington continue to provoke strong emotions. Join Christine and JJ as they describe the visuals of American history in the making.
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New images and videos concerning the January 6th attack on Capitol Hill continue to be released to the public. Journalists, pundits and investigators have been examining this visual material, and their opinions and interpretations have dominated news cycles around the world. This week, Christine and JJ extend their coverage of the Capitol Building riot to describe these new visuals, and add contextual information to the images and videos discussed in Part 1.
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In this Breaking News episode, Talk Description to Me covers the historic events of January 6th, 2021, in Washington DC. Using images and videos pulled from social media and news reports, be they terrifying, surreal, or gut-wrenching, JJ and Christine seek to follow the visual chain of events that unfolded on this extraordinary day.
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On December 17th 2020, Talk Description to Me hosted a live Zoom event in which listeners were invited to help Christine steer the conversation, and ask JJ their most pressing description questions. In this, the first of two episodes featuring conversations from that event, curious listeners inquire about the famous Charlie Brown Christmas tree, holiday celebrations in New York City, N95 masks, the Kentucky Derby, and wonders of the natural world.
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In this special Christmas episode of Talk Description to Me, Christine and JJ don their masks, put on their parkas, and walk through Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood on a cold winter's eve. Recording face-to-face for the first time in the series, they take in the lights and decorations of the upscale shopping district, and describe the visuals of this most unusual Christmas season.
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At this time of year when the days are cold and the nights are long (and even colder!) many of us turn to fire, food, and festive celebrations to help get through the winter. In this episode, Christine and JJ warm their souls by describing the symbols and celebrations of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice. From socially distanced latke-making and Yiddish hip hop line dancing in neighbourhood alleys, to fire breathers and giant puppets of years gone by, we pack a lot of joy and warmth into this first of two holiday episodes.
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In this episode, Christine and JJ look up; way up, to the Northern Lights. The aurora borealis is a beloved symbol of winter in the northern hemisphere, but it's clouded in mystery for those who have never seen it. Cup your hands around a hot drink, pull on your toque and scarf, and travel with us to the far north.
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Remember when we used to travel, and had to navigated places like airports and train stations? This week, Christine and JJ explore the international language of symbol signs and pictograms, used to help travellers find lodging, taxis, and restaurants, and determine where (and where not!) to relieve themselves. But first, our descriptive elegy to Puerto Rico's Arecibo telescope, and a formal invitation to our upcoming Year in Review Zoom Event. All in one globe-trotting edition of Talk Description to Me.
For more information on our Year in Review Zoom Event, please visit our blog.
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Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all-time. With a blocky, pixelated aesthetic and no clear goal, the world-building pastime holds players captive to their own creativity. But Minecraft is much more than a game. Within the virtual space, real life problems are addressed, and solutions are crafted, block by block, by players around the world. In this week’s episode, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals and surprises found in this international video game phenomenon.
For links to content discussed in this episode, please visit the Talk Description To Me blog.
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So, what does this blasted Coronavirus actually look like, anyway? What is 'Now This News' and why is it clogging up my Facebook feed? And there isn't actually a TV in every dentist's office, is there? This week, Christine's curiosity takes centre stage, and it's JJ's job to keep up!
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Public memorials honouring those lost in war will be quite different this year, with many opting to pay their respects virtually, rather than in person. With that in mind, Christine and JJ describe the memorials where national ceremonies are held in Canada, England, Australia, and the U.S. Then, they shift their focus to instantly iconic images of VP-elect Kamala Harris, and perhaps the most bizarre press conference of 2020: Rudy Giuliani at Four Seasons Total Landscaping
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In this companion episode to our coverage of pre-election visuals, Christine and JJ discuss images of voters casting their ballots, neighbourhood polling stations, and the dedicated election staff and volunteers working in extraordinary conditions. Then they scan the morning papers to see how last night's front page news was covered in the English-speaking world.
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This has been an unprecedented U.S. election campaign rife with political and social drama. In this special election-day episode, recorded at 9am on Tuesday November 3rd, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals of the final days and hours of the campaign, including courthouse clashes in North Carolina, Trump Trains in Texas, fences surrounding the White House, and long lines of voters determined to do their part.
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Has your neighbour's lawn become a graveyard overnight? Do wispy green ghosts float in nearby bedroom windows? Is the little old lady down the block dressed like a creepy, silent serial killer? It must be Halloween! From barfing jack-o-lanterns, to Zoom meeting costumes, and gory DIY illusions using iPads and projectors, Christine and JJ delight in the visuals of Halloween, and share some blood-curdling laughs while they're at it!
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Editorial cartoons have a long history of stirring up emotions by distilling complex societal problems and complaints for the masses. But are today's cartoonists adding to important political conversations, or just preaching to the converted? In this episode, JJ and Christine describe and discuss recent political and editorial cartoons, and discover that neither end of the political spectrum corners the market on hard-hitting, cringe-worthy, dark humour.
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For many of us, Zoom has become a feature of daily life, and can sometimes be a lifeline to the outside world. In this episode, Christine and JJ explore the visuals of the platform, from the Touch Up tool to custom backgrounds, and share uproarious laughs over scandalous scenes captured by Zoom's cameras. Then JJ takes us on a virtual tour of fall colours around the world.
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Many important political and social justice issues have come to a head in 2020, dominating the news cycle and shifting focus from another problem with global ramifications - the climate crisis. In this episode Christine and JJ examine photos and videos of the natural world in distress, and discuss the visualization tools that help us understand and appreciate the scientific data and satellite imagery. Plus witty and empowering protest signs from student climate strikes!
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"Never get into a TikTok battle with the teenage daughter you've just infected with Covid" might not be a common political proverb, but this is 2020! In this short bonus episode we wade into the recent TikTok drama between Claudia Conway and her mother - Trump insider Kellyanne Conway.
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All around the world, kids, parents, and teachers are wading into the school year, figuring it out as it goes. In this episode, Christine and JJ tug at the old heart strings as they discuss the visuals of back to school resourcefulness and resilience. From socially distanced kids in schoolyard lines, to re-imagined desks and forest schools, we look at learning in the COVID present, and dig up photos of education during earlier pandemics and outbreaks to see how they did it “back in the day.”
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“In politics, appearance matters more than truth,” writes American author Robin Hobb. In advance of the upcoming debates, Christine and JJ consider each of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in the 2020 U.S. election, and discuss their looks, expressions, styles, and mannerisms. It's all about the visuals of political personas in this extended episode of Talk Description to Me.
For links to articles and videos discussed in this episode, check out our latest blog post.
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The makers of DC Comics have recently released trailers and concept art for their upcoming offerings, and "Holy melancholy, Batman!", are they ever dark! Meanwhile, fast food advertisers have been changing tactics to sell product in the COVID world. Instead of tempting us with glistening burgers and fresh ingredients, they now soothe and reassure us with images of hand-washing and mask-wearing. In this episode, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals in recent ad campaigns, and how our visual language has been altered by the pandemic.
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The events of 9/11 were shocking and tragic, and the visuals from New York City have become synonymous with national heartbreak and loss. In this extended episode, we look back at the wrenching photos and videos of the attack on the Twin Towers. Visuals that take us from the large-scale devastation to the individual human cost. With this episode we attempt to honour those who died, and those who survived, by broadening access to these vital images. Listener discretion is advised.
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What could be more 2020 than sightings of terrifying fire tornadoes? How about the dismantling of postal infrastructure in advance of an election where mail-in ballots may well determine the winner? In this episode, Christine and JJ discuss the fire tornadoes recently spotted in Northern California, then sort out the mail sorting machines at the heart of US Postal Service controversies. Recorded August 20th, 2020.
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In this Breaking News episode, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals of Hurricane Laura, which was tracked through the Gulf of Mexico by satellite, and made landfall in Louisiana earlier in the day. Then the topic shifts to deadly monsoons in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have left cities, towns, and villages flooded with rain and sewage water.
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It’s a turbulent time, but video, image, and story sharing on social media gives all of us the chance to stay informed of local happenings around the world. This week, Christine asks about the protest footage coming out of Belarus in the wake of a suspect election. Then JJ describes COVID heat maps and infographics, and explains how they can be used to distort and mislead.
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Grab your virtual surfboards and prepare for a wild ride! In this episode, JJ and Christine navigate social media for sighted people - chat bubbles, profile pics, visual overload, and all. Then, take a deep breath as rapid-fire descriptions carry us across the roiling waters of TikTok. You won’t know what hit you!
For further thoughts on JJ's description of TikTok user (and Canadian Political Leader) Jagmeet Singh, check out our blog: https://talkdescriptiontome.blogspot.com/2020/08/episode-8-tiktok-and-look-of-social.html
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Jazz hands, sign of the horns, okay hand - these aren’t just frivolous emojis, they come from oft-used nonverbal gestures. Don’t try listening to this episode while rolling sushi or applying eye-liner, because you’re going to need your hands to follow along as JJ helps us "make it rain", and play the world’s smallest violin.
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On Tuesday August 4th, the city of Beirut was rocked by a devastating explosion. Videos of the disaster quickly flooded social media timelines, and news agencies around the world. In this bonus episode, Christine and JJ discuss and describe the blast and its immediate aftermath.
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When unidentified, armed authorities in full military gear started nabbing citizens off the streets of Portland, protestors of all stripes responded immediately - and in very Portland ways! Christine and JJ discus viral videos and images of the Hockey Stick Brigade, the Wall of Moms, and the Naked Athena, then break down the look and use of projectiles deployed by Federal officers. Plus a quick follow-up on our earlier discussion of sports team mascots and logos. Buckle up for a big episode with some big emotional swings!
For links to the images, videos and information discussed in this episode, check out the Talk Description to Me blog.
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Canned cheers, empty bleachers, and air-fives not high-fives; welcome to major league baseball in the COVID era. And Christine gets her wish when a listener requests descriptions of the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
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With social media flooded with calls to defund the police, and daily clashes with protestors in cities across the continent, Christine asks about the look of modern policing, and the viral videos from recent protests. And what did it look like inside Donald Trump's recent political rally in Tulsa? JJ describes the images and footage released by the Trump campaign, and the visuals outside the frame, too.
For some follow-up thoughts on the accuracy of conversational descriptions, and links to images from Trump's Tulsa rally, check out our Talk Description to Me blog.
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What does Aunt Jemima look like? How about Uncle Ben? Sports teams with offensive names don't have images associated with those monickers, do they? With businesses facing real pressure to change racially-charged logos, mascots and team names, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals of controversial brands. Later, the conversation shifts to descriptions of the COVID lockdown. Join us for an episode recorded days before major announcements by some of the discussed brands!
For links to images of Aunt Jemima, some further reading on the origins of Chicago's NHL team name, and an update on other appropriated names, check out our Talk Description to Me blog.
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Join Christine Malec and JJ Hunt for their first episode of Talk Description to Me. First up is a challenging and sobering look at the George Floyd video, including a full description of the image that sparked protests across the continent. Then the duo discusses and describes the visuals of the Black Lives Matter protests themselves, and wraps up with a fun description of Canadian Prime Minister's COVID lockdown hair!
For links to the George Floyd video, and a follow-up discussion on neutrality in Audio Description, please visit our Talk Description to Me blog.
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JJ Hunt is an innovative Audio Describer and a natural-born storyteller. Christine Malec is a perpetually inquisitive member of the blind and partially sighted community who’s always wondering about something. In Talk Description to Me, their discussions plunge into current events and topical issues to explore the content of important images, and help place vivid descriptions in their cultural context. Lively, hard-hitting, witty, vibrant, and fun, this is conversation with a view!
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