Stride & Saunter: Recent Episodes
Kip Clark
Stride and Saunter explores insights and inquiries of the human experience through meaningful, thought-provoking dialogue.
It’s a familiar question to many podcasters, but this ask often strikes a particularly vulnerable chord in our comparative and competitive culture. Implied within it is a number worth caring about, a baseline of significance. Unfortunately, this is a belief we typically level at our fellow human beings.
In the many decades since the advent of television, TV shows have prompted all sorts of commentary and critique. Some audiences rave over shows that others never quite get into. Parents perpetually worry about their children’s TV consumption and generational, once-in-a-lifetime events glue many to the silver screen. But, perhaps because of their relative recency in human history, TV shows are rarely discussed or lauded to the same degree as literature, cinema and other narrative forms. How do we juxtapose our private consumption with our public dismissal? What thoughts and feelings do TV shows elicit in us as viewers? How is television a unique medium for stories and other communication?
This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our seventh episode, we welcome Sam Whipple to help explore the idea that “Maturity: the confidence to have no opinions on many things”. What are the implications of this idea in a modern, highly-opinionated world? What is the difference between having opinions and sharing them? Can we engage without opinion?
In spite of the unexpected shifts in recent years, this week nonetheless marks the seventh anniversary of the podcast. It’s a strange time but also quite hopeful. While this is formally Kathleen’s final episode as a co-host, I remain optimistic about how future conversations will further illuminate our grand map of what it means to be a human being. My thanks to those who provide the space, compassion and curiosity to listen. It is a real honor to produce this show for you and I look forward to bringing you more thought-provoking and introspective conversations.
Yours, in shared humanity,
Kip
When tragedy befalls us or our communities, we’re rarely equipped to handle the sorrow, confusion or emotional gravity of the circumstances. In the modern era, this difficulty meeting the most agonizing moments has been illuminated by the utterances of “thoughts and prayers”. Often in response to great losses and acts of violence, the phrase has come to seem hollow and politically-polarized to many. Are there words that can properly carry the appropriate emotions attendant to these circumstances? For those that say so with sincerity, are there other, more convincing words they could say? Do some use these words in lieu of action?
What impact does birth order have on your personality, your life and your abilities? According to some, a great deal. In particular, middle children of history are regarded for their innovation, their shrewd diplomacy and their creativity. But with changing attitudes and preferences in America, families are having fewer children and this demographic is going extinct. This is described in an article from The Cut, which we discuss this week. What could be the long-term impact on our society? Are their skills and experiences endemic to the existence of middle-children from which we all benefit?
Making sense of our world is a profoundly human experience. Some default to artistic pursuits while others take up fulfilling hobbies and yet others still defer to the sciences. When it comes to data, however, those of us without solid understanding can be easily misled or confused. This issue was the subject of an article from Aeon, which we discuss this week with Leland Holcomb. How does the confident certainty of numbers allow for misunderstanding? How are larger figures used to distort our perception of scale?
Six years ago today, in a radically different world needing very much the same things, Hector and I embarked on a discursive journey to explore the human experience and our relationship(s) to it. Though I write this in a challenging moment, I’m optimistic about learning to be done and am grateful to have made the journey with Hector, Caroline, Kathleen and so many others. My sincere gratitude to those who listen, especially in these inconsistent times. I remain of the conviction that this show will continue to improve as its voices and listeners do and I’m humbled to hold such a rewarding relationship with so many.
Love, Kip
In a period where so much has slowed down or ground to a halt, previous definitions and metrics feel strange and irrelevant. Beyond the application of our past perspectives, it seems only natural to conclude that where there was once something, so radical a series of losses must leave nothing. Where there once was someone, doing a series of tasks and pursuing a variety of lives, there must now be no one. This is, however tempting the thought, not the truth - which is something far more encouraging.
How would we each respond to a call for help? Some might say they’d leap to the aid of their fellow person, while others would request more information about the hypothetical. In the era of the internet, given vast distances and anonymity, these circumstances are more complicated than ever before. And over the 2019 holiday season, and elder woman named Carrie from Tulsa, Oklahoma learned precisely how blunt the response can be. Lonely and seeking a family to share the spirit of the season with, her Craigslist ad was primarily met with hostility, suspicion and ridicule. How should we evaluate our social norms and dynamics given the prevalence of vehemence here? What can we learn about the sensitive dynamic between compassion and caution? What might this event indicate about an increasingly digital world?
Straightforward as it is, human silence (especially between or among others) carries a great deal of meaning. Or, perhaps more precisely, a great many possible meanings. Could those of us that are choosing not to voice or express our sentiments prevent or minimize confusion by explaining our silence? Is it always possible? These have been recent musings of mine.-Kip
It’s often said that history is written by the victors. I would at that it is remembered and offered to future readers by those present and observing. And where victorious parties have a necessarily skewed vision, the most powerful and accurate histories will incorporate every possible perspective and story. To that end, I implore you to start writing and allow a history for our successors. Whoever they may be and however they may see us, let’s give them the light to do so.-Kip
While music has been consumed since time immemorial, video games are a much less popular medium by comparison. In this entry of an ongoing series meant for non-gamers, we wanted to explore how music is used in video games to great effect. And - in the circumstances of a global pandemic - what insights we might find within the music of video games. How do their soundtracks ward of the monotony of repetitive tasks? How does music help clarify the tone of a given moment or encounter?
Even in the information-rich twenty-first century, the many mechanisms of the mind remain shrouded in mystery. Our abilities of recollection, creativity and intuition continue to astound and intrigue researchers and civilians alike. Perhaps most curious of all are the origins of our thoughts and ideas. When questioned by others about the seeds of our thoughts, are they asking sincerely? How does our curiosity about the thinking worlds of others impact their own relationships to internal thoughts and feelings?
Some earn the admiration of their peers and followers while others become the subjects of scorn, envy and resentment. This week, we're joined by Jason Cerf to explore this distinction in the comparison of bosses and leaders. What associations - influenced by the working world - do we have with bosses that we don't ascribe to leaders? Is one position more idealized or less realistic than the other? When are these roles necessary, cumbersome or over-complicated?
Anyone with even a cursory experience of language can attest to its power. Words wield the capacity to lift us out of lingering darkness and to drive us into great acts of courage, love and beauty. Most immediately in our lives, we have experiences with names and their personal, varied meanings. New York Times columnist Sarah Miller captures this idea well in her piece satirizing her experience with the name “Karen” and the various behaviors she associates with it. How do we collectively come to associate a single name with such a wide swath of attitudes and beliefs? Do we give a name meaning or does that process flow the other way?
Relationships of all sorts bring up complex emotions tied to esteem, perspective, individual needs and loss. And just like these interpersonal circumstances, our responses to the relationships of others are just as varied and nuanced. In particular, the phrase “their loss,” has become a common refrain to console those after a pitfall or difficult experience. What do these words suggest about our views on relationships? Do we ever use the opposite language to speak in terms of a “gain”? And how does this frame the recipient of these words in an infallible light or as a prize?
For many of us, life is a journey of discovering, tracing or defending the truths we perceive. Truth is a precious commodity and one that seems all at once secure, transient and elusive. Shared truths are especially powerful and often revealed by prominent figures around us. Helen Rosner of The New Yorker shared one such example in her 2018 article on famed chef, Anthony Bourdain. This week, we discuss her ideas about the intersection of fame, food and sincerity that Bourdain represented and continues to represent.
Though people in the professional world lament the stress, energy-drain and overall toll of their jobs on their lives, most adults acknowledge work as a component of their lives. How would the world differ if work dominated every waking moment? What would culture look like and how would we structure our lives? This week, we welcome Leland Holcomb to explore an Aeon article that grapples with these questions. It references the idea of "total work” and examines how this trend would erode our playful moments.
When those around us are grappling with difficult circumstances, our responses can be very revelatory. Do we give them hope in attempts to lift them up, do we hunker down with them in the trenches? Ultimately, what is the distinction between pity and compassion as two reactions to the struggles of others? Is one approach more humanizing and holistic towards the recipient?
“How are you?” is a common refrain in our social lives. It’s the way many of us open conversation and whether we’re seeking earnest answers or simply offering verbal acknowledgement, its familiarity is safe. But how do we adjust when that safety disintegrates? In a brief and compelling article, Dr. Adam P. Stern addresses his struggle with the question during a cancer diagnosis process. So this week, we welcome Bruce Kohl to explore the phenomena underlying the question and its application. What do we really mean when we ask it? Does it reflect some truth in our society and the depth with which we’re comfortable seeing in one another or ourselves?
In the 21st century, digital technology is a core element in the lives of billions. For most, the devices with which we work, play and consume media illustrate this fact. Though we make do with the tools we’re given, the software we employ is designed, curated and eventually abandoned. Yesterday, Windows 7 became one such example. Microsoft formally ceased its support of the decade-old operating system still used on over 446 million machines around the world. This week, a brief and personal tribute from one of its many users.
For all our prognosticating, artificial intelligence is already present and widespread in the modern world. From the online algorithms suggesting news stories or the next songs in our playlists to autofill text, the seeds of this powerful technology have already been planted. As it develops and reaches further into our lives, what will be the human impact? That question was central to an article from Aeon, which we discuss this week with Matt DiBiase. How will the speed of adoption affect our understanding or lack thereof of this technology? What will its applications reflect about human desires, fears and abilities? Will it enhance our best and worst tendencies? Will it guide us down an unexpected path?
What would you send into outer space to commemorate Earth and humanity, to a potential audience of alien life? This week, we continue an interview series to tackle that question. In each entry, we’ll interview someone about the five objects - with a stipulation - they would place in a space capsule to launch into the starry beyond. For our third episode, we spoke with Charles Clark about the five objects that he would launch - all of which had to fall under a weight limit of 17.2 pounds.
Our communicative access to one another has expanded considerably in the digital era. Along with it, so has our ability to reach into the lives of others and influence them with compassion, inquiry, solidarity and unfortunately, animosity, cruelty and distrust. In 2007, Özlem Cekic became the first female Muslim to win a seat in Danish Parliament and experienced this venom firsthand. After a friend encouraged her to reach out to the authors of her hate mail, she took on the project of sharing “dialogue coffee” and coming to share conversational space with these previously-faceless aggressors. In September of 2018 she shared her experience on the TED stage and this week we welcome Lee Ann Song to unpack Özlem’s insights. How does the act of conversation disarm initial charges of rancor? Why do many shift with palpable discomfort when considering said aggressors as equal or as human? Can others help us overcome internal flames of hatred?
In our posturing and jockeying to project an image of ourselves to others, are facades and efforts are sometimes clearly perceived. In these moments, our authenticity is questioned and social conflicts can emerge. But what does this idea, captured in the remark “I can see right through you,” reflect about our nature? Are we so used to falsehoods that even truths unintentionally-revealed become a source of clashes? Are personal truths as meaningful, powerful or valuable when they’re brought to light involuntarily by others?
With the advent of modern plumbing, many depictions of bathrooms now feature standing showers. At a bare minimum, it’s common to have a bathtub with an added shower nozzle. Could the distinction between bathing and showering offer a practical metaphor for different approaches to the dirt and disorder of existence? What associations do we have with bathing - the luxurious imagery of some baths and the concerns of “stewing” in others - that we don’t find in showers? Ultimately, what do rapid and convenient methods of waste-disposal do for our understanding of the waste we produce as individuals and societies?
Curiosity has long been a defining trait of our show and of the human species. Probing questions and persistent explorations are crucial in every field from astronomy to history. But between individuals, the trait isn’t always so welcome. This week, we welcome Dan Farina to explore the questions our culture tends (or tends not) to permit. Why are some topics off the table? What do we gain or lose in disregarding them for discussion? How does it impact our society when we shut off expressions of interpersonal curiosity?
As mobile technologies have proliferated in the 21st century, our technological toolkits have expanded in kind. Specifically speaking, apps like Venmo have allowed for quick and easy transfers of money electronically. But as writers and researchers at Harvard Business School asked in an April 2019 article, “Is the Digital Age Making Us Petty?” This week, we tackle this question in a consideration of how money operates between friends. One interesting find of the research: It’s more preferable in relationships to reimburse with rounded numbers than with specific amounts.
As long as we’ve told stories and communicated with one another, humanity has employed comedy to great and widespread effect, to the delight of many audiences. But what about the perspectives and viewpoints that they offer? How do comedians approach ideas and thought in ways that the everyday person might not naturally? This week, we welcome Vally D to explore this relationship between improv and stand-up comedy. Are they distinct in their methodologies and philosophies?
According to a 2018 report by the EPA, the average American spends 90% of their time indoors. Belonging just as much to the natural, unkempt world as any other species, what does this statistic/idea say about our culture and its relationship to the indoors? What do indoor spaces lack or sacrifice when compared to the vast and unconquered outdoors? How do we idealize indoor spaces? And what might this sequestration say about our human future?
What would you send into outer space to commemorate Earth and humanity, to a potential audience of alien life? This week, we continue an interview series to tackle that question. In each entry, we’ll interview someone about the five objects - with a stipulation - they would place in a space capsule to launch into the starry beyond. For our second episode, we spoke with Wade Roush about the five objects that he would launch - all of which had to contain wood.
While speech and discussion are central pillars in our species’ history and evolution, not all conversations are created equal. This week, Kathleen shares a compliment she once gave a friend who made her “excited to talk”. Examining the phrase, what does it reveal about the relationship between closeness and what we share or say? What would its opposite be? How do we benefit from/respond to this type of influence?
As communication technologies have evolved over the millennia of human history, we’ve adopted new methods of communicating with one another. And with the emergence of the new, we see older approaches reserved for more traditional or antiquated practices. So how do we approach letter-writing, a method which was once the only means of long-distance communication? What role does it play in our modern society and as email, texting and other means increase in popularity, what does the relative decline in letter-writing mean for our ways of connecting with one another?
This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our sixth episode, we welcome Sam Whipple to help explore the idea that “Forgiveness means letting go of the hope for a better past”. How does this quotation distort typical perceptions of forgiveness and time? In what was does forgiveness repair, heal or change our memory? Are we able to pursue different “futures” because of “pasts” we’ve come to forgive?
This week, we return to the tradition of reacting to a book of insights entitled "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff". In particular, we look at chapters encouraging us to become less aggressive drivers, to tell others that we love them, to develop our compassion and to surrender to the fact that life isn’t fair. How do these chapters and their particular insights help us to focus on what truly matters? Are some of these insights more compelling or useful than others? Are some more challenging to implement?
Can we ever quantify the innate curiosity so many of us share? Perhaps unintentionally, the company Thinko did just this in October 2018 when they launched WhoPaid99Cents.com. The function of the site, in beautiful clarity, is simply to record and display who chose to pay 99 cents for access to a list of others who had done the same. Several articles take shots at the site for being useless, wasteful and unnecessary. But what about a different perspective? How might a space like this illuminate the strange tug many of us feel to peek at the activities of others? With its entry point of 99 cents, how might it help us measure (a certain type of) human curiosity?
Five years ago, Hector and I set out to have sincere conversations about the human experience and the countless avenues of curiosity. Week after week, various folks and myself have done our best to make you reflect, challenge conventional thinking and invite discussion. Across various co-hosts and guests, I hope we’ve done something to illuminate even a fraction of the human mosaic. Today, that journey continues with a new co-host, Kathleen Duffy. I’m excited to welcome one of the kindest, most thoughtful and well-informed people I know to be a partner in this endeavor. I’ve long enjoyed learning from her in our friendship and I know that her influence will help craft the show as a space of compassion and earnest, at times challenging, introspection. We’re eager to release the conversations we’ve already prepared and look forward to engaging with you all. Love, Kip Clark
The following episode deals with issues of sexual violence.
Over twenty years ago, Thordis Elva of Iceland shared a teenage romance with Tom Stranger, an exchange student visiting from Australia. After a school dance in 1996, when she was 16 and he was 18, he raped her. After parting ways and independently examining their own feelings and responses to the traumatic event, Thordis got in touch with Tom. The two would go on to correspond for years and later meet in South Africa to navigate the pain surrounding Tom’s actions together. In October 2016, they recorded a controversial joint TED Talk exploring this journey. This week, we’re joined by Nari Malkhasyan to discuss the talk and its implications regarding shame, trauma and humanity. As we felt the original talk pursued, we hope we also touch on the uncomfortable nuance and difficult questions in our conversation. Lastly, like any episode, this conversation is about reflection and inquiry, not conclusion and declaration. What we discuss may clash with your perspectives and similarly, what Thordis and Tom explored (and acknowledged) is not a prescription for all survivors and perpetrators.
As our lives grow more complex and our social ties accommodate different schedules, timezones and obligations, a common refrain for friends (especially in adulthood) is to find the time to “catch up”. This week we welcome Leland Holcomb to explore the phrase and the ideas behind it. In what ways does it acknowledge the sometimes chaotic pace of social life? How does this approach to friendship sculpt a particular lane within which to call someone a friend? Do we limit ourselves to recollection rather than deeper inspection of our experiences? Do these friendships tend towards image over substance?
Creative individuals have been supported in many ways across humanity’s storied history. They’re relied upon generous benefactors, municipal commissions and in modern times, crowd-funding such as Patreon. Some might argue about the value of creative work in our society, but in the belief that they should be supported, how do we nourish that creativity? This week, we welcome Matt DiBiase, a musical artist, to explore the idea. How do friends, family and thoughtful gifts nudge those with the creative spark to make something of their passions and perspectives?
As many of us are encouraged to purchase, acquire and own items and objects around them, how do our possessions affect us? What is our relationship to them and what rationale do we give to keep them around? This week, we welcome Ayelet Ronen to discuss the ways in which our ownership of things may actually work in the reverse: that to an extent, they own us. We create space for them, take out insurance policies, polish, guard and at times personify them. But how do possessions prevent or limit certain actions and lifestyles? Are we at our happiest, best or healthiest because of our belongings?
Of the many great, palpable fears that connect us as human beings, the fear of rejection is high among them. But how often do we have the strange experience of learning why we were rejected? This week, we welcome Ian Cooper to explore and review these ideas as their described by popular YouTuber, Hank Green. Do we ultimately want to know these humbling reasons? Do they help us to grow? How does rejection change when it’s done anonymously?
I’ve missed the show since February and these months since have been invaluable in reflecting and recalibrating how I approach it. Here are my thoughts, coming out of that period.
Today marks a unique day for the podcast. With a few exceptions, the show has been weekly for the last four and a half years and I’ve decided to take a break for a few months. The choice was a difficult one to make, because I’ve taken great pride in putting out a consistent and thoroughly-edited show. But as with anything we pour time and effort into, that energy and dedicated moments have to come from somewhere. And as I try to produce a clean, polished and thought-provoking product, I’ve found myself more taxed by the process in recent months. I hope to use these next few months to relax, reflect and recenter my relationship to every aspect of the podcast. Regardless, I know I will miss various elements of the creative process and I hope you’ll all be patient during this period. -Kip
This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our fifth episode, we welcome Sam Whipple to help explore Plato’s thoughts on how politicians rely upon good guesswork. Do societies expect complete understanding from our leaders? Do we foist it onto them so that we need not pursue the truth? Are leaders who are honest about their ignorance more trustworthy and relatable?
Truth represents a foundational element in human life. Whether religious, personal, psychological or scientific, many of us live our lives in pursuit of or relationship to truths around us. We try to define, contain and create them. But what does it mean to live in a truthful way? Is it as simple as expressing truthful thoughts to others? This week, we’re joined by Dan Farina to reflect upon what it means to be truthful. What do truthful actions look and feel like? Is our society structured in a “truthful” way?
We are each motivated by a bevy of ideas, instincts and influences around us. Some of us have dreams of changing the world while others want to attempt the impossible and still others hope for happiness and humility first and foremost. But what about the downfalls that we avoid in both thought and action? This week, we welcome Eric Cunningham to examine the fear of failure. How does it prevent us from reaching further? Why does it persist? How do others instill it within us?
Recent years have illuminated many of the divides and differences within American society and culture. In particular, as citizens around the world are predicted to congregate in cities in coming decades, rural populations are worthy of consideration and conversation. This week, we welcome Gabe Brison-Trezise to discuss some of the difficulties facing the inhabitants of rural America. From occupational challenges and shifts in cultural attitudes to birth rates and economic pitfalls, there are numerous struggles to contend with. How do literal distances complicate empathy for those living in vastly different ways? What steps can be taken to limit social differences?
In our youth (and often in adulthood), we're asked what we want to be when we grow up. How crucial might "what" be in that framing of our futures and the approach we encourage young people to take? Does it focus primarily on an occupation as a destination rather than a lifestyle or set of values to uphold? This week, we welcome Matt DiBiase to help explore the concept. Do we see this question as a comfortable form of simplicity, easily digestible for young minds? How might these early conceptions of life influence someone’s future experiences?
This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our fourth episode, we welcome Ron Levine to help examine the words of the Buddha, who said "O house-builder, you are seen! You will not build this house again. For your rafters are broken and your ridgepole shattered. My mind has reached the Unconditioned; I have attained the destruction of craving”. What can this quotation teach us about self-deception and truth? How do craving and yearning mislead and how do we correct course?
Released in 2016 to critical and commercial success, Zootopia tells the story of rabbit Judy Hopps in her evolving dream to police the streets of the the titular animal metropolis. Along the way, she forms a partnership with the cunning fox, Nick Wilde. While the film may have catered to younger audiences in its animation style, the strong, articulate commentary it makes on race and racism remains its most impressive feat. This week, we’re joined by Charneil Bush to discuss and review this film that is just as much creative fun as it is earnest reflection. Does an animated film succeed where more raw calls for conversation won’t? How does art help us relate to the world with more compassion, clarity and patience?
What would you send into outer space to commemorate Earth and humanity, to a potential audience of alien life? This week, we begin a new interview series to tackle that question. In each entry, we’ll interview someone about the five objects - with a stipulation - they would place in a space capsule to launch into the starry beyond. For our inaugural episode, we spoke with Leland Holcomb about the five objects that he would launch - all of which had to contain glass.
When sharing words of encouragement or predictions of future success, people will occasionally tell others “You’ll go far”. While the words are certainly well-intentioned and foretelling good fortune, what do they reveal about the value(s) we see in others? This week, we welcome Sam Leder to dissect the compliment. Does the phrase indicate a minimal understanding of the true dreams and aspirations of those around us? What does the distance implied signify and from what or whom do we move away from in our pursuit of success?
At distinct moments in time, our lives are considered and evaluated by figures of authority, sympathy or community. As a result, many of us sculpt our lives to improve the inevitable review process attendant to these moments. So this week, we welcome Richard Pera to compare two of those “documents of self,” one’s resume and their eulogy. How do the traits we associate with each differ? How might a life lived for one’s resume contrast one lived for a more kind eulogy? How do the authors of these texts change their impact or reading?
The act of playing has shown clear benefits for our moods, social bonding and problem solving abilities. In children, play is an invaluable means of learning about the world. In the realm of video games, play can become an increasingly time-consuming and compulsive activity. This week, we’re joined by Yagmur Ugur to explore the intersection of video games and productivity. Where is the line between reward or relief and addictive pastime? How do we make use of recreation to reinvigorate or recontextualize our reality?
In the realm of humanity, our world is often dictated by those who have power and how they wield it around the less-powerful. But are there individuals with whom we can trust power more readily than others? This week, Sam Whipple joins us to explore how the collective places faith or suspicion on those in power. How do we discern and describe moral or just leadership in contrast to people in “wrongful” power? Are individuals who least want power the ones we could most trust to wield it carefully?
In the most basic senses, it is human to move towards pleasure or comfort and away from pain, difficulty and hardship. But where do these impulses and instincts intersect? This week, we welcome Dan Farina to explore the relationship between escapism and happiness. Is it common to conflate or confuse the two? Does a distinction between them require a certain cultural narrative or sense of self? Is one ever a more important focus than the other?
Of the many topics folks try to avoid in conversation, politics is known to cause fierce debate, discomfort and arguments. But as our society attempts to improve itself and explore conflicting or new ideas, discussions of our circumstances will inevitably delve into the political realm. What does it mean when someone perceives “political over-saturation” in our discourse or culture? This week, we welcome Pete Davis to explore precisely that idea. How do we, as a multitudinous public, forget the ways in which past issues or resolutions were previously political? How do cries of complaint suggest a bias for the status quo?
This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our third episode, we're looking at the words of Heraclitus, who said "There is nothing permanent except change”. How does this quotation illuminate the human condition? Are the relationships, creations and ideas we seek to make permanent a response to the perpetual tides of change? What does resistance to change cause and how might accepting it affect us as individuals and as a community?
Especially as we grow older, we'll experience countless introductions to peers, leaders, potential friends, partners and other acquaintances. Despite sharing these moments, we don't always recall those we meet and may eventually hear an apology that someone isn't "very good with names". This week, we welcome Ian Fox to explore this comment. Perhaps our mentality and approach to introductions are the issue, not the fault of human memory. Maybe our introductions too closely resemble one another, maybe we don't offer distinct and memorable information in these moments? Maybe these first points of contact are too brief to establish a true rapport or recollection?
As fallible and flawed creatures, human beings are bound to eventual mistakes and errors. For some of us, the fear of failing stops us in our tracks and stops any momentum whatsoever. This week, we welcome Eric Cunningham to explore how the fear of failure relates specifically to learning. What might this fear prevent us from realizing in ourselves? How does fear affect the way we approach learning or new information as we're exposed to different ideas or circumstances?
In an effort to preserve our various traits and qualities as people, many of us strive for a work/life balance between our professional and personal selves. But in the larger context of our world and its economy, professional (and associated productive) behavior can be treated as more crucial to one’s value. How can professionally-oriented attitudes cast shadows on the practices (unprofessional or otherwise) of our personal lives. Is truly free and personal time threatened by the demands of a professional mindset? Should a workplace extend empathy to it’s employees and their varied lives?
Today (technically two days prior, on the 24th) marks four years of work put into Stride & Saunter. It has been and remains a pleasure to explore the world of humanity and its circumstances with and for all of you. Thank you for all of the listening, reflection and community you provide. I feel a profound sense of honor in producing these conversations to share with all of you.
In love, Kip
Earlier this year, Paul Krugman published an op-ed in the New York Times discussing his perspective that “Politicians Don’t Need New Ideas”. Within it, he elaborates that unlike companies which need to produce new and appearing products, the realm of politics should rely on what is best and tested and not necessarily clamor for “the new”. This week, we’re joined by Sam Whipple to discuss the public expectation that politicians bring fresh thoughts and plans to the table. Where do we anticipate and accept new ideas in our society? How does an intellectual need for instant gratification complicate the process of reflection and consideration?
As issues surrounding race remain painful, complicated and contentious in our society, there are ways in which beliefs and behaviors bubble to the surface, unanticipated. To hone in on a specific topic, this week we’re joined by Charneil Bush to discuss a tendency of referring to one’s black friend and the social pass often presumed within that relationship. How do topics of trust and race manifest in a true friendship? How do pressures or expectations of friendship limit discussions of sensitive issues? How do societal dynamics play out even in private, interpersonal settings?
When we consider the concept of "privacy," we typically imagine what we do or do not share or reveal to the world. But in an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the idea of privacy bears more heavily in communal or mutual spaces than it may have in the past. This week, we welcome Ian Fox to explore how interwoven the idea of privacy has become in modern society. What do recent scandals and revelations teach us about privacy as it relates to courtesy and compassion? What do the topics we want to keep private reveal about us?
At various points of uncertainty in our lives, many of us have heard the common encouragement to "Fake it 'til you make it". This week, we wanted to dissect its meaning, intentions and how much wisdom actually lies in these words. Do the pronouns here refer to knowledge, skills, feelings? Perhaps something else is implied? Does false behavior prevent genuine understanding or relationship to one's environment?
Since time immemorial, competition and contest have been a cornerstone of recreation, identity and society. Alongside cultural and technological development, sports have also evolved over time. With the rise of the Internet and video games, gaming now offers its own, highly competitive and lucrative arena in eSports. This week, we discuss their perception in the mainstream and how they shine a light on the way we define and interact with traditional sports. Can the definition of a sport expand with a society? What function(s) do sports serve that eSports might also satisfy? How do sports influence players and spectators differently?
Language has a clear impact not only on how others perceive and react to us, but on how we treat and see ourselves. What are our internal narratives of who we are and how we live? How do linguistic distinctions affect these perceptions? This week, we welcome Dan Farina to explore one such verbal line: the difference between using "can be" and "am". How do these and associated terms represent a spectrum of being? Where does language fail to capture the nuances and potential within lived experience?
Philosophy and introspection present us with numerous questions, concepts and theories, some of which are far more applicable than others. One such practical question asks "Which is better: To say something and wish you hadn't or say nothing and wish you had?" How do we judge worth in the subjective spaces of conversation and silence? How do social factors judge our speech as we might not? How do different spaces and circumstances treat silence differently?
Many of us approach the realm of art history with degrees of apprehension, uncertainty and intellectual dread. We treat its topics as pedantic and its concepts as cumbersome, but why? This week, we welcome Tamar Avishai to discuss the study of art history and how it might inform the world beyond the field. What can the subject teach us about storytelling or the detachments of the ivory tower? How do we make art history and other topics unnecessarily distant because of our perceptions?
Of all that defines America, our history as a democratic nation that places faith in the people is quite possibly our brightest beacon and most ambitious goal. As recent years have shown us, we are often vocally and sharply positioned against one another in discussions of politics and logistics. Despite the clashes and rancor there are those like Pete Davis, this week's guest, who believe wholeheartedly in the mission of democracy. Specifically, we took the opportunity this week to explore how we might deepen our democracy. Why is that important? How does democracy exist and manifest outside the realm of politics?
Although vulnerability and openness offer rich and meaningful connection to the world, mainstream Western culture appears directly opposed to its philosophy. Concerns about appearances, status, and fame treat vulnerability as a weakness and a non-essential element to life. This week, we welcome Kate Krosschell to discuss the dichotomy and cultural divide. How are these perspectives not only different, but in sharp contrast to one another? What can each worldview learn from the other?
A breadth of paradox: Loss and recollection Light amidst shadow End and origin Sound against silence Many thoughts and one, Peace from pain.
For all the time many of us will spend with others in a workplace, circumstances aren't always positive or healthy. Some work environments deteriorate so thoroughly that health, productivity and interpersonal trust collapse as a result. This week, Ina Coveney joins us to share her insights on the topic of toxic workplaces. How to destructive habits become silently interwoven into work culture? How does work culture make it difficult to change problems we observe and experience?
As long as art has helped human beings go beyond traditional limits, understandings and perceptions, legal systems have attempted to impose order, rules and confines within which to live. At their intriguing intersection, among other concepts, exists Fair Use and other approaches to regulating some artistic practices. But how do limits interact with the realm of the boundless? How do terms like parody and satire muddy the waters and complicate our understanding of unfair duplication or artistic augmentation?
Although friendships often promote compassion, shared perspectives and overall understanding, getting there from a state of non-acquaintance isn't always straightforward. Younger years offer more chances to tumble into lifelong bonds, but as we grow older, the transition from stranger to friend can become more rocky. This week, we welcome Sarah Pruski to explore the nuances of the question "Can we be friends?" What vulnerabilities does it illuminate? How is it uncomfortable for some and appealing for others? How does it create attention where some might prefer subtlety?
The concept of a celebrity crush has become commonplace in our culture - the famed folks after whom we pine, lust and dream. Many of us look to celebrities as icons of romantic or sexual interests. Their fame helps us describe our feelings and attractions. But why does the term have traction? Why do we find it so appealing and accessible? How does the term reflect a tendency towards or preference of the visible?
Of the many near-universal life experiences shared across the world, parenthood is near the top of the list. For as long as humans have roamed the earth, their parents have brought them to the very pale blue dot we all inhabit. But what of the numerous folks who choose not to have children? This week, we speak with Susannah O'Neil about her experiences being judged or confronted by others (including strangers) about her decision. Why do some feel comfortable and permitted to make such remarks? How does a biological interest in procreation give rise to social commentary on others' decisions?
Knowledge and our ability to capture it has lifted our species to great heights. It has been our foothold in scientific discovery, feats of eloquence, community and profound understanding. But we don't all prize the same knowledge or in the same ways. This week, Ian Fox joins us to discuss the ways in which we shame those who do not know what we know and how we approach knowledge in a societal context. How does shame factor into the approach many have to learning? How do cultures distinguish between knowledge and trivia?
Intense emotion has been revered, feared and everything in between since our species began introspecting. When it comes to the intensity we show others, especially in the realm of romance, complications emerge. How do we determine the proper amount of emotion to show? Where does flattery slip into fixation? This week, we explore some of the distinctions between creepy and romantic gestures and behaviors.
Recent films like Black Panther, Wonder Woman and Love, Simon have amplified a desire among moviegoers to promote better representation of our society. In the past year they have been record-breaking films, sparking conversations about topics like gender, race and sexual orientation. Celebrities like Octavia Spencer and Matt Bomer have even purchased full theaters to share these movies with children and those who can't afford tickets. What does the film industry say about issues of representation in contemporary society? How to the identities of these celebrities speak to the roles or expectations of distinct demographics and communities?
In the process of growing up, we learn a great deal about the world and the people around us. Common in all of our experiences are the truths of mortality - our abilities, our frailties and the reality of demise. But we don’t all encounter or sit with this truth at the same moment in life. This week, Dan Farina joins us to discuss the prospect of sharing this fact with a young person. How does this knowledge affect people and their relative innocence? How do we view our time in life differently upon learning about death?
Though we all share public spaces and avenues, we navigate and perceive it in distinct ways. Some notice the ground, some rarely use the sidewalk and others could tell you about every safe place to lock a bike. This week, we’re discussing a particular circumstance tied to Allston, Massachusetts and a footbridge which, previously covered in striking graffiti, has now been painted over with a mural. How do spaces like this designate ownership or artistic intent for a public? How does graffiti draw our attention where it may previously have been absent?
At every stage of life, our communities provide us with shelter, guidance, support and friendship. For millennials in particular, communities, their definitions and boundaries appear to be shifting. Young professionals away from their hometowns and looking to establish connections might resort to recreational sports leagues, book clubs or similar means of creating communities in contrast to "natural" communities. This week, we welcome Callum Melrose to discuss the phenomenon and its implications. How might millennials be more territorial about activities or relationships meant to be more stress-free and enjoyable because of a need for community?
In the pursuit of success, safety, fulfillment and various other achievements besides, people make use of their particular advantages, circumstances and tools at their disposal. Whether they are born with certain talents or seek to improve their lives through sheer effort and will, self-advancement is a relevant topic for all of us. This week, we want to examine the distinctions between talent and hard work as two, oft-compared means of achieving a goal. Does society prefer one over the other? Do we associate either with a certain class or economic background? Does one provide a more compelling story or narrative?
This week, we return to the tradition of reacting to a book of insights entitled "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff". In particular, we look at chapters encouraging us to let others be right most of the time, to imagine those around us as infants and as hundred-year-olds and to tell someone everyday something we like, appreciate or admire about them. How do these perspectives encourage empathy, thoughtfulness and creative approaches to social interaction? How to they define kindness in new ways?
Difficulties and obstacles come from all sides and throughout life. We might envision circumstances surrounding work, survival and relationships as some of the most common. But what about our internal battles with doubt? This week, Ron Levine joins us to discuss the "ego threats" we face as a result of evolutionary selection for negative thinking and anticipation. How might we learn to listen to these thoughts without obeying them? What wisdom or perspective can our doubts and negative thoughts reveal?
This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our second episode, we're looking at the words of Oscar Wilde, who said "I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly". What pressures, personal or external, might exist behind the phrasing of "should like"? Is it even possible to know another thoroughly? Does Wilde imply that this condition is an achievable one?
Despite its essential role in our lives and agency as citizens, many of us consume journalistic works minimally or inefficiently. In particular, study after study in the past decade have shown that 40 to 80 percent of would-be readers only actually consider headlines before sharing posts or moving on. This week, we consider the effects of doing so and the danger posed by "headline culture". How do consumers influence the headlines that journalists will craft and consequently inform consumer perspectives? Where does the attribute of being "well-read" come into play? How can we more deeply and meaningfully consume carefully-crafted and well-researched journalism?
As podcasts have demonstrated for years now, sound and the human voice have a deep and intimate capacity to affect and inspire listeners. Audio continues to inform, entertain and challenge people around the world. What about a precursor of sorts, the voicemail? Though many roll their eyes at the concept, it maintains a certain charm. This week, Tim Robinson joins us to explore the experience of leaving, receiving and considering voicemails as gifts. How do they allow us to share precious tone, information and connection with others? Why don't we more readily embrace them as a form of communication? What can we learn from the awkward and vulnerable feelings that voicemail stirs for some people?
Words and the languages they uphold are among humanity's greatest creations. They allow communication, experimentation and profound self-expression. But how do we adapt to terms whose meaning shifts with different cultures and eras? This week, we look at "salty" and "savage" as prominent words in the online rhetoric/lexicon. How do their 21st century versions reflect their original linguistic roots? What do they reveal about contemporary culture and how we think?
For countless individuals, 2017 was a year characterized by stress, confusion, trauma and exhaustion. Political tensions persist and expand as pop culture also attempts to cope with considerable changes and disparate ideas about our society and how it should function. In such a difficult year, it's worth exploring gratitude as a personal topic. How can gratitude help transform hardships into opportunities for learning and growth? Is it audacious to pursue gratitude when so many continue to struggle and suffer?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
This week, the beginning of a new series entitled "Between These Eyes of Ink," which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our inaugural episode, we're looking at the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., who said "The longer we live, the more we find we are like other persons". Is Holmes referring to all people? Does the word "persons" have particular significance? What does this perspective say about human empathy over time?
Imagery plays a powerful role across all cultures. Whether sculpted, painted, drawn or woven, human creations are often detailed in ways that capture the imagination and the spirit. This week, we look at the visual qualities of Christianity's central image, Christ on the cross. Widely-spread and recognized by billions of people around the world, it is powerful and meaningful in a myriad of ways. How might it strike discomfort in some where many find inspiration and hope? How does it serve as an example of symbol interpretation and meaning reversal?
The phrase "honesty is the best policy" has been a common utterance of parents, teachers and other moral guides in society. It points to a tendency and belief system many hope we might adopt and employ in our daily lives. But what is the philosophy behind the saying and what does it actually request of the individual? This week, we welcome Gabe Brison-Trezise to explore some of the morality and practicality behind the saying. Why does the word policy appear here? What values or behaviors might be more fitting than honesty? How do truth and falsehood permeate our lives in more subtle ways?
We all face choices in how we deal with those around us. Your options can include apathy, hostility, curiosity and countless other variations. When it comes to showing differing levels of courtesy or respect, how might they differ? This week, we welcome Kathleen Duffy to examine the distinctions between being nice and being kind. What can we glean about interpersonal priorities through either expression? Does our society encourage one approach over the other? How do they require different energy, thought and sincerity from each of us?
In a post-Holocaust world, the narrative of humanity is forever changed by the tragedy and atrocity of the period. For the religious among us, particularly the Jewish people, how can these events be understood in relation to an almighty being? This week, we're joined by Adam Bulmash to explore this questions through the lens of the 2008 BBC film, God on Trial, written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. The film takes place in Auschwitz, during World War II, and illustrates the real events of prisoners who put God on trial for the circumstances of the Holocaust. What commentaries does the film make about free will and faith? How has human relationship to a higher power shifted before, during and after the events of the Holocaust?
Ours is a world absolutely brimming with media and the narratives behind their creation and distribution. In particular, photography and the digital revolution have shaped how people are captured and depicted on camera. This week, we explore a New York Times article published in September 2017 which discusses image search trends for "woman" on Getty Images, a popular stock photography site. What do these images individually say about our societal perceptions, expectations and sentiments towards women? What are the narratives that emerge from the images as a series, showing change from 2007 to 2017?
Because of the consistent role war has held over the course of human history, its relevance in culture persists. It's worth considering how we discuss, think about and view war, but equally useful to look at how artists and creators depict it and the effects it has. This week, we welcome Travis Partington to look at the forms of media which illustrate war and how they might fixate on certain elements over others. How could we be more conscientious of non-combatant roles? Why do we fixate on the most violent, energetic moments of war? Whose narratives do we recognize and whose might we neglect?
The knowledge we possess rests clearly upon what, how and when we learn. But what about the spaces in which we learn? How do they affect our comprehension, comfort and perspective of the world around us? This week, we're joined by Harry Kalish to explore the concept of a learning environment. What kind of a "classroom" would be ideal if resources posed no limitation? What do we each prefer in our learning environments? How have we been stifled by antiquated or obtuse approaches to classroom arrangements?
We all perceive and interact with innocence in different ways. It's often written about, illustrated and described at length in cultures around the world. Whether defined by appearance, age, gender or other factors, it has a captivating effect on many of us. How do we engage with it in the border between humans and other animals? A younger Kip made an observation about birds in a parking lot which offers one perspective on the topic. What might the presumption of innocence do to limit our interactions with "the innocent" among us? How might that perspective presume a helplessness rather than a legitimate sense of adaptability?
In a vast and complicated universe, our ability to perceive and interpret our place within it is especially valuable. Some of us passionately seek answers to questions big and small while others prefer to marvel at the deep and unfolding mysteries of our world. This week, we speak to Logan Bialik about her views on wonder and knowledge. How might the two correlate to youth and old age? What are the benefits and drawbacks to each as a set of skills and lenses? When might one be better applied than the other?
Three years ago, on September 24, 2014, we launched Stride & Saunter. I look back with a deep fondness on all that I've learned and everything I've been fortunate to share with the listening world. I feel the show's aim of exploring and describing humanity is as useful and relevant as ever and I am just as excited for the road ahead as I am nostalgic for our previous explorations. I believe humanity to be incredible, and I hope the show can capture even a fraction of that beautiful wonder to share with all of you.
In gratitude, Kip
On August 21st, 2017, millions of Americans flocked to see a total solar eclipse as it ventured across the continental U.S. Beyond the visual and scientific marvel, the event came at a time of great division in our country. The path forward is unclear, and rife with political disagreements, shame and fear for our future. But the eclipse obscured all of that for a while, creating unity and a sense of perspective and place in the universe. This week, we speak with technology journalist Wade Roush about his thoughts and experiences on the eclipse. How might it serve as a metaphor for our current political climate? What is its value as a natural phenomenon?
In various settings, people consider friendship to be a marker of personal success and completion. Friends attend our proudest moments and comfort us in troubled times. But what are the functions and roles of friendships and how do they impact the way we look at friends? This week, we're joined by Jack Quigley to explore some of these questions. Are there specific roles and relationships we allow our friends to take on? How might we limit our perspectives of our friends because of friendship?
Although love represents an ideal that many of us strive for in our personal, romantic and ongoing relationships, it manifests in many forms. Between various cultures, art forms and perceptions, the ways we express love are nearly infinite. But what do we make of the love we feel but do not express? This week, we welcome Sam Whipple to discuss the phenomenon of unexpressed love. How might expressions of platonic love alter our presumptions of romantic love? What might we miss in our relationships when we do not receive expressions of love from those around us?
Many of us interact with employees on a consistent, often daily basis. We may not think much of these moments, or the people with whom we're speaking, but customer service as an intersection between consumers and sellers serves to reveal some of our societal attitudes. This week, we welcome Nick Suyematsu to discuss the philosophy behind customer service. How do employees wield the ability to influence the emotions of customers? What do our expectations of thee interactions say about our attitudes when spending money? What can customer service teach us about general human interaction?
Looking at a culture where news, opinions and often daily conversations can tend towards negativity, a positive outlook can seem miraculous. When looking at performing environments, however, performers are encouraged to embrace new challenges, ideas and forms of expression. This week, Mark Ashin joins us to discuss an improv exercise casually known as The "Yes" Game. In the exercise, pairs of participants stand across from one another. One begins speaking about a source of joy or excitement and their partner simply affirms by repeatedly saying "Yes". What can we learn from the principles behind this game? Why might some of us find it difficult or uncomfortable to embrace? How can the philosophy involved help us be more enthusiastic and encouraging towards one another?
With the proliferation of cameras in modern smartphones, tablets, laptops and more, digital photography has entered the cultural mainstream. Many of us reflexively take selfies during travel and pose for memorable moments with loved ones. In 2016, Om Malik of The New Yorker wrote an article entitled "In the Future, We Will Photograph Everything and Look At Nothing," examining at our photographic tendencies and how the abundance of imagery has altered our relationship to it and to our memories. How do photographs become placeholders for memory? Why do we rely so heavily on imagery to capture and enrich narrative? How might we be missing out on lived experiences because of the cultural capital placed upon pictures?
As one of the most pivotal moments in history, the construction and deployment of the atomic bomb is worthy of many discussions. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese (primarily civilians) and changing the face of modern warfare and international politics forever. This week we welcome Richard Pera to explore the moment in history, what choices and factors preceded it and what we can take away from the decision in the context of the 21st century. How might this devastating power be connected to later peace? What are the ethical entanglements surrounding the issue? How does the use of nuclear weaponry reflect deeper elements of human nature?
The bonds of friendship are central to the human experience. Friends help us as we grow through childhood, weather the storms of adolescence and explore the larger world beyond. But when do people shift focus from the quality of friendships to their quantity? This week, we welcome Michael Duffy to explore the phenomenon of quantifying friendship. How does it diminish our appreciation for the quiet and subtle moments between friends? How might a quantitative perspective alter our approaches to new friends? What societal and cultural institutions encourage an attitude of quantifying friendship?
Language and imagery have intermingled for millennia of human communication and expression. In many cases, pictographs seem to capture nuance that words alone might miss. But how do Emoji function as a form of language? How have they evolved to reflect their users and what types of communication does their flexibility permit. This week we welcome Morgan Jaffe to explore the linguistic impact Emoji have had on our culture. They present numerous, tangible examples with regard to the law, political issues and creative thinking. How do they reflect a human tendency to identify with and cultivate a visual alphabet? What can our use (or lack thereof) of Emoji teach us about our emotional vocabulary and cultural lexicon?
In the past two decades, climate change (previously described as global warming) has been a polarizing and central topic in discussions both political and personal. Some look to governments and organizations to facilitate recycling, curb emissions and reduce waste byproducts. Others invest in individual contributions, like residential solar panels, composting and eco-friendly materials. But rarely do we think about the impact of food production on the environment. In 2014, documentary filmmaker Kip Anderson set out to explore the impact of animal agriculture on the environment. This week we sit down to discuss his film with Leland Holcomb. How have carnivorous habits been internalized on a cultural level? Could we, as a global community, alter our agricultural course for a more sustainable option?
In our cultural lexicon, we often casually note that we're "addicted" to the latest TV show, album or trend that enters our lives. But we rarely discuss the grave reality of actual addiction and the burdens it creates. This week, we examine a 2015 TED Talk given by Johann Hari on the subject. In particular, he looks at common misconceptions about how and why addiction takes hold. What are the social factors at play? What can addiction reveal about our deeper human nature? How might communities and governments better prepare and respond to citizens to mitigate addiction?
Humanity at large has been fascinated, confused and humbled by dreams and the threshold of death since time immemorial. But what would the crossroads of these two phenomena look like and how might it help us better understand our minds and our lives? This week we're joined by Lucy Iselin to examine a New York Times article published in 2016. The thought-provoking article includes insights and perspectives from professionals in hospice care, stories from the terminally ill and those who study end-of-life experiences. How might this article and its subject matter encourage empathy through further observations of dreamers and their experiences? How do dreams of the dying differ from those whose hold on life is firmer? What can these dreams tell us about the most deeply-buried concerns and memories of dreamers late in life?
A few weeks ago, Stride & Saunter ran into some technical difficulties on Apple Podcasts/iTunes and vanished altogether. As a personal endeavor, this was a frustrating time. But more importantly, it led me to reflect more thoroughly on the status of the show, the nature of the intimate connections afforded by podcasts and the value of asking for specific help from those around you. A shorter and different episode than you might expect, but we'll be back to regular episodes next week.
In gratitude, Kip
Modern film has become a dynamo for discussions about our world, our culture and our humanity. This role has been especially prominent with the release of a Wonder Woman film, starring Gal Gadot. Audiences have come out en masse to marvel at her superhuman strength, commitment to justice and to appreciate her role as a female superhero in a comic landscape which often highlights male narratives. As many critics of the film have pointed out, it serves as a tent-pole of sorts, one which may determine the market viability of future female-led superhero movies. This week we're joined by Aayesha Siddiqui to examine the commentaries made by the film and to explore its unique and widespread influence. What does the movie articulate about heroism, gender and personal growth? What arguments does it put forward about the horrors of war and the conflict between bravery and cowardice?
So much of our experiences as people rests upon the spaces and environments we occupy and traverse. In particular, the rooms where we socialize, rest, eat, learn and work have a heavy bearing on who we are and how we live. But when these spaces change, how does that process affect us? This week, Mark Ashin joins us to discuss the phenomenon of rooms shifting in time and how our memories and perceptions are tied not only to rooms themselves, but particular decorations or appearances the room might take on.
Cultures and societies around the world have embraced and leaned upon music since time immemorial and for various reasons. Music can soothe, invigorate and stir deep reflection and profound emotional reactions. But when we introduce lyrics, perspectives and personally-charged stances into songs, how do they change? How does music allow us to communicate ideas that speech or other means of communication might not? This week, we welcome Evan Rasch to work through this concept. What are the dangers that music, as a form of communication, might present? Do we utilize music for messaging out of fear of being more direct?
Many of us point to people, stories or experiences that really make us think or open our minds. But how often do we go to spaces or habits and rituals to actually deviate from the typical or mundane thoughts we have? This week we welcome Liam Leonard-Solis to examine this idea by looking specifically at the bed and the shower as spaces where many of us have time alone at the beginnings and ends of our days. How might that solitude offer us a freer space for thinking? What could we draw from these places and apply elsewhere in our lives?
In living our lives and putting our experiences, creations and selves into the world, we also draw attention for various types of scrutiny and critique. While it's certainly valuable to have feedback - ideally constructively so - many people take an aggressive or hostile tone under the guise of criticism. This week we're joined by Amy Young to explore the distinctions between "the critical" and "the hurtful". How might typical human tendencies presume input to be negative when that may not be intended? How could we avoid the discomfort that many of us associate with criticism by proactively seeking it out? Are there certain figures or relationships which permit criticism more openly or with lower potential for conflict than others?
Many of us who pursue artistic or creative passions look to those who have succeeded in a particular field. Writers inspire the linguistically-inclined, musicians often look to top artists and bands for a model of creative success. But what about the possibility of drawing inspiration across artistic disciplines? This week we speak with Jibri McLean about the phenomenon and discuss the foundations of his creative drive. How does self-confidence help cultivate a sense of personal and artistic liberty? What are the foundations of artistic inspiration that touch something profoundly human?
As we get to know other people, we gradually filter them into distinct boxes or categories. Some we associate with work, recreation or competition. One particular social category worthy of further examination is the idea of a best friend. What makes someone a best friend? Is this title always applied mutually between or among groups of friends? How do these particular individuals shape our lives and growth. This week, we're joined by Jack Quigley to examine how we choose or evaluate friendships that may fall under this label. How do our preferences for best friends change as we grow older?
Since the September 11th terror attacks, the United States has continued to wage a "war on terror". It has been the catalyst for numerous political and ideological shifts around the globe over the past sixteen years and reflects a turning point of sorts. It is important to examine, given attacks in recent years, how democracy plays into the topic of terrorism. This week we're joined by Sam Whipple to look at a 2005 article by F. Gregory Gause III entitled "Can Democracy Stop Terrorism?" and to explore the role democracies play in combating 21st century terrorism. How are democracies organized in ways that prove especially vulnerable to terrorist aims? How does terrorism take advantages of the freedoms permitted under democracy?
When sexual topics are brought into a conversation via joke or interjection, a common response is “Get your mind out of the gutter!” Prevailing cultural attitudes discourage us from bringing up sexual topics unless they are given a substantial and specific context. What are some of the consequences of avoiding these topics and treating them as taboo? This week, we welcome Charneil Bush to examine the underlying meaning behind this common phrase and how dialogue could alter our perspectives on sexual topics. We explore how the absence of such conversations makes it more difficult to broach the subject. What does the current discourse, or lack thereof, indicate about our understandings of one another as sexual beings?
We often take a critical look at cultural elements or sections of our behavior and thinking. Is it possible to apply a similar lens to an entire culture? This week, we welcome Kendall Theroux to talk about reservations of claiming an American identity during her travels abroad in Germany. Are there fair ways to criticize and correct a culture? Is it even possible to conceptualize and properly address a nation of millions with so many subsections and intimate multitudes? Can one be concerned about or embarrassed by a national culture and still claim to be patriotic?
As technology advances at a rapid pace, many have pointed out its effects on our social, professional and personal lives. The intersection of technology and biology is often overlooked in these conversations, but it’s worth further examination. In the 2009 documentary Transcendent Man, futurist Ray Kurzweil plays a key role in describing this intersection. His central thesis leans upon “The Singularity,” in which humanity will merge with technology because of its accelerated pace and progress. He and various experts speak on memory, the possibility of immortality and other influences of such advanced technology. This week we welcome Tim Connolly to review the film’s main arguments and theories. What effect would technological immortality have on our society? How would this new threshold shift our definitions of humans and humanity?
Our interpretations and responses to circumstances and other people say a great deal about who we are. Do we respond with confusion, apathy, fear, delight or any number of other emotions? Time and again, a polarity emerges between those who greet circumstances in jest or solemnity. What does this "Funny/Serious divide," however nascent an idea, say about our personalities? We're joined this week by Yara Farahmand to explore the phenomenon and how it affects our perceptions of others and ourselves. How might our society prefer one of these two patterns of thought and behavior? What might each of these poles misjudge or presume about the other?
Transitions are often interesting occasions in our lives which force us to confront the self on a critical level and evaluate our apparent trajectories. This is particularly true of military veterans, whose transitions home from military operations of all kinds can be jarring given the stark contrast of military procedures and civilian life. We're particularly grateful to speak with Travis Partington this week about some of his experiences as a Marine and his shift out of the military. How can civilians better welcome and support those making this journey? What do our preconceptions of those in the military suggest about our impressions of their times and perspectives? How do we collectively lose stories and insight in failing to ask about their experiences?
The interactions that comprise our world are built upon how we communicate with one another and what we expect of those around us. This is particularly evident in the phenomenon of "The Friend Zone," a state often lamented by those whose sexual or romantic desires are not reciprocated. But what does this expression of dissatisfaction say about our cultural teachings? This week we welcome Chandler Davis to discuss the concept and some of its problematic implications. Why is the term often used by men to describe their relationships with women? How does a reliance upon this belief diminish more nuanced and complex understandings of others? What are other cultural values attendant to a belief in the Friend Zone?
Because of the ever-connected nature of the Internet, 21st century media has the opportunity to be dynamic, iterative and fluid in real-time. Posts on social media can be edited, collaborative documents can be edited by multiple parties simultaneously and even live-stream functions have incorporated comments from the viewing audience. The ubiquity of content iteration also carries over to the world of gaming. This week, we return to our “For Non-Gamers” series and welcome Tom Loughney to discuss downloadable content (DLC) in gaming. Because of modern connectivity, developers are able to add content (including missions, costumes and bug-fixes) to games after the fixed release date. How might consumers react if book chapters were released after a book was published? In what ways does DLC represent a chance for developers to extract as much profit as they can? Would a hard rule on the deadline of a media product produce more “complete” products without the safety net that DLC can provide?
In various areas of our lives and spheres of our society, choice and freedom lead to diverse identities and communities. In the contexts of technology and brand identity, the choices we make can lead to very strong sentiments of allegiance and potential hostility towards those with different persuasions. History shows us various conflicts along these lines in the realms of religion, politics and geographic difference, but what about modern technological allegiances? This week, we welcome Jack Zellweger to discuss the phenomenon of “technological judgment”. How and why do we criticize those who use different software and hardware than us? In what ways to we internalize these arguments as statements on relative progress or stagnation? How might we better capitalize on these distinct communities to better appreciate different approaches to technology?
Numerous cultural and societal fixtures encourage us to seize the day, to reach for what is ours and to trust in the engines of our ambitions. This mentality may benefit us in certain circumstances, but in the realm of developing social connections, the rules change. We are compelled to strike a balance with the friendships we hope to encourage. Too much honesty can scare some away while a more aloof approach may communicate disinterest. But the burden of pursuing and maintaining such a relationship does not always fall evenly. This week we welcome Olivia Sabik to discuss the value of proactivity in friendship. Are certain friends more likely to slip into the "driving" role of a friendship? To what extent does distance impede proactive behaviors? And ultimately, are we allowed to approach those we feel could be more even in maintaining the social responsibility of friendship?
Especially around and after Valentine's Day, it's worth reexamining our cultural definitions of love, how we express it and how we relate to it. In particular, the phrase "I love you" has various connotations and contexts tied to its utterance. It seems to represent gentle, almost habitual moments but also the dramatic, life-or-death circumstances depicted in romantic cinema and literature. It can be said in platonic, romantic and even euphoric circumstances. So this week, we welcome Anna Gomez to talk about how we use this phrase, what we might reduce or obscure in the process and what its cultural functions are. Do we overuse or misuse the phrase in any way? Has it become an emotional substitute for more complicated feelings? We would also like to thank Mark Ashin, Richard Pera, Charlotte Graham and Megan Carr for their written contributions to this episode.
In our respective attempts to understand the world and societies in which we live, many of us turn to journalism and the narratives it helps convey. Some stories illuminate hidden details about our communities while others clarify obscurities surrounding our leaders and icons. But when looking for stories and journalists we find reliable, objectivity becomes key. Can we trust that a story is "fair" if it involves sensitive information and arguments? Does fairness mean equal representation or the acknowledgment of a biased perspective? This week we welcome Gabe Brison-Trezise to discuss his thoughts on the subject. How are journalists required to balance objectivity and gripping stories? How do economic concerns regarding journalism factor in?
A few weeks ago, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) awarded the 74th Golden Globes. As art reflects life and the societies in which we live, the films, shows and their stars and creators were given particular attention in these times of great social and governmental change. We are pleased to welcome Olivia Sanabria to help dissect some of the awards given, the status they confer and the atmosphere of awards season as a statement on our culture. How might recognition through awards actually delay meaningful conversation? What do the winners and nominees suggest about our preferences in the arts? What do their creations indicate about the stories which are and are not told and the tone with which we expect stories to be addressed?
In our daily lives, routines and schedules often demand that we streamline our thoughts and behavior. Especially surrounded by colleagues, friends and peers, we do not always have the chance to spend time alone with our thoughts. But at night, many of us have the freedom to think more openly and with greater freedom to explore our deepest ruminations. This week, we are joined by CJ Clinkscales to discuss our experiences with late night thoughts. How do they help separate us from society in order to think with more clarity? How can they help us to confront buried or layered thoughts in new ways? And how can late-night thoughts translate into more intimate and socially-bonding conversations with those around us?
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?
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?
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?
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.
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?
We often choose our words because of their meanings, whether personal or mutually agreed upon. But in language, we also elect to use certain terms or phrases to directly oppose arguments, ideas or speakers themselves. This week, Spencer Huffman joins us to examine and recreate a poetry class assignment which confronted opposites as they relate to the poetry of Emily Dickinson. How does the concept of "opposites" become more complex and cumbersome as words become phrases and systemic ideas? How might our adherence to black-and-white opposing structures of thought lead us to reduce larger ideas and erase nuance? Does the concept have the power to create opposition within otherwise similar and cooperative groups of people?
Although we often refer to respect as a vital concept in our society, it often becomes an umbrella term, a placeholder. We presume that respect, in a general sense, includes any behavior which treats another person in a kind, morally correct way. But what do our beliefs about respect say about us? This week Milad Momeni joins us to discuss the roots of our respect for ourselves, our environments and others. We also examine what actions and attitudes we employ in demonstrating our respect for the aforementioned groups. How do our languages of respect affect what we interpret as respectful or disrespectful? Why do we hold respect for those we do and are our signals of respect mutual?
As we enter adulthood, we naturally leave behind many of the vestiges of childhood. We outgrow old clothing, our interests evolve and our social circles expand and adapt. But in this process, as adulthood often prepares us to work, we often lose the time and apatite for play. This week, Evan Rasch joins us to discuss the role that playing has in childhood and what it could offer in an adult perspective. Do we close ourselves off to new perspectives and creative problem solving when we abandon play as a lens through which to see the world? Do we limit our own abilities to appreciate the world when we limit play to the youngest members of our culture? At what point do most of us stop playing and what does this signify about our larger beliefs and values?
Especially in recent weeks, many of us have been confronted by the realities which operate in spite of, beneath and because of our beliefs. We have been forced to engage in dialogue with those who do not share our perspectives and the clash of numerous systems of belief has been prominent in our discourse as a society. But even under less confrontational circumstances, many of us do not share our beliefs. This week we welcome Mark Ashin to examine why beliefs represent such vulnerability in us and what we might gain in more honest, respectful discussion of what we believe and why we believe it. How could more open discussion promote more empathy? Are some of our most strongly-held perspectives so deeply woven in our subconscious that we cannot articulate them clearly? Is there a judgment inherent in the crossroads of beliefs that do not align with one another?
Especially in times of shared confusion, disagreement and public unrest, it is worth considering the communities we all belong to. We may be aware of some of their traits, but do we appreciate how communities function as disparate groups? This week we welcome Qossay Alsattari to discuss ideas surrounding entry into a community. As we settle into our respective roles, we do not always appreciate the strange times associated with changing or joining a community. How can we be more welcoming to newcomers and what should we observe and respect in the communities we join? Are we able to enact change after joining a new community?
Though our modern era is filled with sleeplessness and poorly-rested citizens, not all of us suffer from the condition of insomnia, which heavily impedes one's ability to sleep. Because sleep is so essential to our bodily and mental health, it plays a clear role in our survival and success as people. As a result, insomnia presents a curious case of the unnatural - holding us just out of reach of one layer of human behavior and habit. This week, we welcome C.J. Clinkscales, who has chronically dealt with insomnia, to discuss his thoughts. In what ways does insomnia create an element of artificiality? Why might it make us feel unnatural or monstrous? What do we learn about our thought patterns when we're left alone with them for hours in this vulnerable state? And how can we incorporate it into our unproductive views of "heroic" sleep deprivation?
The exhaustion and disillusionment in our country is palpable. This is not about the political decisions made tomorrow, but about how we reflect on the state of our country and what we might learn. This is not an episode about our individual political leanings, but a personal request regarding a societal, national issue.
This week, Phoebe Lewis returns for the third entry in our series "For Non-Gamers". She watched through a series of videos on YouTube known as "Let's Plays," in which content creators will complete a video game while providing commentary, often humorous or insightful. In particular, she viewed a number of episodes from "StephenPlays," produced by Stephen Georg and his wife, Mallory. Let's Playing is a relatively young phenomenon, but draws millions of views on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Is there something particular to video games that encourages ekphrastic work like this? Does commentary substantially change the source material? And how might Let's Plays offer a comfortable point of entry for those like Phoebe who do not consider themselves gamers?
In recent years, Americans and global citizens have been made aware of government surveillance and data gathering programs. But the conversation surrounding the topic has died down for the most part. Many trend towards poles of paranoia or complacency with fewer individuals attempting to parse through the complex modern phenomenon. And admittedly, this would not be an easy task, as much of the necessary information is classified and well-guarded. This week Nico Hargreaves-Heald joins us to explore a particular case of NSA surveillance as used to track and convict Basaaly Moalin, who was found to have financed Somalian extremists. How should American citizens consider the measures taken by agencies such as the NSA? Is there a particular reason that technological monitoring has become such a prominent tool of the US government? How might the approach of sifting through metadata actually overwhelm or distract authorities from legitimate threats and criminal activity?
With over 41 million views, Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk "Do schools kill creativity?" is worthy of the attention. In his profound, sincere and often humorous evaluation of the education system, he explores the effect it has on the self-esteem and creative explorations of children. We react to the points he makes through the lens of our own experiences in education. As Robinson points out, our society has developed a system whose limits and expectations excludes valuable human ability and perspective. Are there ways in which educational standards could shift to appreciate individual viewpoints and creative outlook? How has education evolved to prize correct answers over genuine learning through mistakes?
Especially in times like these, when media and general news seem to be filled with purely negative updates and stories, remaining positive is especially challenging. Science has shown that we have a predisposition to remember negative events more clearly and as the saying goes "misery loves company". Given the ephemeral and rare nature of true positivity, what do we presume of those around us who bear the trait? This week, Leland Holcomb returns to the show to discuss his perspectives on how we judge or analyze positivity in others. Do we allow it to influence or bolster our own? Do we resent those who can manage happiness when we struggle to? How can we correct a "grass is always greener" mentality to understand that happiness and positivity take work and are not a perpetual state for others?
While joke-telling and humor form essential bonds in a community or culture, the types of jokes we tell and those we appreciate or avoid say a great deal about our perspectives as people. In particular, dark comedy or humor approaches socially taboo or emotionally heavy topics in a playful or lighthearted way. This week Mike Jest returns as a guest to help explore the consequences of dark humor and its foundation in personal observation. Some may cringe or present vocal concern or protest, but the presence of dark jokes as both a means and a topic of social commentary is worthy of consideration. Does dark comedy reveal areas in which we are not an empathetic or sensitive society? Do we need dark jokes to cope with the gravity of controversial issues and tragic events? And is dark comedy a label we broadly apply to some subjects which me exclude or alienate us but promote bonds within other groups of people?
While school and the larger education system have become core pillars in the mainstream narrative of our culture, many have emerged to criticize various aspects of modern education. One aspect in particular, the grading system, poses certain dangers and pitfalls that we rarely acknowledge. On the outside, grades appear to provide an objective metric and offer a standardized approach to learning. But the effects of grading on a student's self-esteem, relationship to learning as a form of personal and intellectual development and on how society denotes individual worth are all worthy of consideration. Are we too quick to abandon students who receive low grades time and again? How might our predisposition to grades as an end goal distract from the process and benefits of learning? Could we find a more thorough, human-based means of assessing individual needs, concerns and aptitudes?
Two years ago, we had the distinct pleasure of introducing this podcast to you, our growing audience of listeners. In marking this second anniversary, we would like to thank you for your willingness to engage with our ideas, to help us explore further and to share your own perspectives. The show has always been firmly rooted in a commitment to mutual understanding, community and the profound beauty of genuine conversation. As in our first year, this second year has taught us a great deal and we will make good use of this knowledge in crafting and planning future episodes. As we enter our third year, we have nothing but tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to speak with and to you.
With the various tools and technologies available to many of us in the twenty-first century, how have our habits related to the news changed? Many studies show shifts between among media such as radio, television, online publications and print. How do younger generations behave differently than their older counterparts? This week, we react and respond to a 2014 New York Times article entitled "How Do You Get Your News?" Are there more traditional, socially-minded methods which have been discarded in favor of more convenient and fast-paced alternatives? We examine our own habits and discuss the trends and preferences we observe around us.
As a troubling pattern appears to have emerged, we have long felt it would be necessary to discuss the recurrent issue of mass shootings in the United States. Though there is tremendous controversy surrounding the solutions to the problem, the greater issue draws widespread concern and doubts about our nation as both a political and social entity. This week, we welcome Alex Piper to share some of his perspectives after working with Everytown for Gun Safety, as well as his opinions on the larger issue as portrayed by mass media. Are there solutions to the stalemate in dialogue? Are there cultural factors which allow for these incidents in the United States in particular? How does one cope with the tremendous emotional weight associated with such tragedies and also contribute to the larger conversation or effort?
In an ever-growing and interconnected world, a glimpse outside of our social groups and inner worlds can remind each of us of the vast oceans of strangers in our world. Some consider this idea with understandable fear, but this week Olivia Sanabria joins us to help explore this conception of "the stranger". In what ways is it a mental framework with which to maintain a clear and digestible worldview? Is there are respectful and acceptable manner in which to approach those we would like to know but do not yet? What can our beliefs about those who are strangers indicate about our own perspectives and opinions? To our listeners: How do you define strangers? What is your protocol when interacting with strangers and do you tend to avoid such interactions?
This week, Phoebe Lewis returns for the second entry in our series "For Non-Gamers". She played through the critically-acclaimed success, Gone Home - a narrative exploration of a fictitious Oregonian family set in the summer of 1995. Because of her limited exposure to gaming as a pastime, we asked Phoebe about her initial impressions and discuss the similarities between the game, films and books which all contain similar storytelling elements. We also discuss the biases about gaming which this title helps disprove and how Gone Home helps model games as multimedia experiences and not as narrow entertainment. In what ways does this title illuminate first person experience as conveyed in video games? How do we conceive of the decorations and items in our houses as extensions of our families and our lives?
Because intellectual capability is often a marker of individual value and aptitude, the title of "genius" is a highly complimentary term. But in what ways do we label others and their work as genius only to gloss over nuance and complexity as a result? Are there ways in which each of us possess genius but deny ourselves that pride in the face of more overt and compelling examples? This week we welcome Sam Graf to discuss the idea of alternative genius and it what ways in might expand our conventional definitions of genius. Are there moral components to demonstrating one's genius? Does the genius have an obligation to share their gifts and talents with their society?
Nearly fifteen years ago, members of al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes, killing 2,996 and injuring over 6,000 in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The unprecedented tragedy of the event led many Americans, including politicians, to wonder about the likelihood of similar atrocities in the future. This week, we welcome Sam Whipple to discuss an article written in 2012 entitled "The Terrorism Delusion: America's Overwrought Response to September 11". In the article, authors John Mueller and Mark G. Stewart suggest that the political and security responses since the attacks have been blown out of proportion and imply a false probability and reality of terrorism that statistics do not reflect. In what ways do our communal fears and feelings of empathy lead us to trust in any promise of safety? How do politicians capitalize on emotion rather than facts and statistics? How might we have a healthy conversation as a country and a globe which acknowledges both legitimate fears and consistent evidence?
Given our belief in honest, thoughtful discourse, we must at times cover topics and issues that are politically, emotionally and personally charged. As issues themselves grow more controversial, we tend to internalize these very polarized arguments over critical debates. Our interest in objectivity is therefore more difficult to disentangle from our personal biases, whatever they may be. This week, we welcome Charlotte Graham to discuss controversial TRAP Laws dealing with a woman's right to an abortion. While we are both pro-choice individuals, we do hope listeners who feel differently will feel comfortable sharing their perspectives as well. We examine misunderstandings we perceive in the discussion as well as the political efforts made by those who disapprove of the access to abortion. What are some of the consequences for a woman's biological autonomy? Is the argument related to a quantity of life vs. a quality of life dichotomy? How can we have more respectful and open-minded discussions over such tense issues?
For those who listen to podcasts on any number of applications, software has paved the way to speed up content and consume it more quickly. Various listeners report enjoying shows at 1.5, 2 or even 3 times the recorded rate. While this may seem like a simple choice to some, what might be the long-term outcomes of such decisions? And in looking back, what aspects of our culture, our sense of patience and time and our personal interests might compel us to consume content more voraciously? Should content creators be more conscientious of listener needs and preferences?
As the modern era has developed and expanded various ideas and definitions, notable stigma and presumptions surrounding sex and sexuality still remain. In particular, the sexual freedom of some is cast down as promiscuity, fecklessness and misdirection by others. This led Swedish photographer David Magnusson to pursue stories related to purity balls, emotionally prominent events in which young daughters vow to abstain from sex until marriage, and their fathers promise to protect their purity in return. Certainly, where the realms of sexuality and spirituality combine, people tend to develop very strong opinions. What do purity balls teach us about willpower and personal devotion? How do we negotiate freedom of choice with deeply-held doctrine? Can we navigate these realms with a critical lens without offering judgment and condemnation of one side or another?
For our hundredth episode, I wanted to cover something I felt both universally significant and intimately connected to my personal experience. For as long as I can remember expressing myself and any multitude of thoughts and feelings I've had, others have labelled me as "weird". The term has always truck me as intentionally disparaging, a means by which we keep the herd homogeneous and deter social outliers. But what if our (rather common) use of the term stems from a place of fear of difference? This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Houda El Joundi about the word and its implications. How might those who cast judgment on others for being "weird" actually close doors and prohibit open-mindedness in themselves? How might the term promote a cycle of misunderstanding and a failure to empathize? Although I suspect many may not find the term nearly as hostile or polarizing, I hope all of our listeners will reflect on the profound power such a brief and ubiquitous word can have. - Kip
In the constant whirlwind of tragedy, hardship and struggle in our modern news and throughout human history, some individuals have still managed to stir great emotion and change. Many, though, appear increasingly apathetic, offering only cursory or superficial sympathies in the face of mass atrocities and looming misfortune. Whether widespread or less prominent, what is to blame for this phenomenon of apathy? Have we become inundated with stories exposing failure in our reality? Are we afraid to risk our energy and emotion? Do we presume others might take up the mantle? We welcome Henry Burbank this week to explore this idea and the ways in which we might think about apathy in our world. We also discuss the ways in which our immediate communities and environments affect our relative interest and apathy. Does our human nature dictate whether we are inclined to care or give up?
Of all Broadway shows in recent memory, none has been so critically-acclaimed, insightful and as culturally relevant as Hamilton. Written in a passionate 6 years by Lin Manuel-Miranda, who also plays the lead, the musical tells the story of a lesser-known Founding Father. At a critical time in United States politics today, how do our current political landscape and patriotic sentiments reflect the life and times of the industrious, brilliant and orphaned architect of many systems still in place? This week we welcome Megan Carr to analyze some of the lyrical, social and historical complexity. What does the show's popularity say about our interests today? How do we respond to a racially diverse cast which leaves out prominent figures of color in the American Revolution? How are women characterized and described within the musical? How is Alexander Hamilton portrayed as a heroic protagonist and in what ways is his story altered to reflect a potentially idealized narrative? And in what ways has the musical shed light on the means by which we teach and tell history?
In our daily interactions and social patterns, we might detect categories of humor but rarely consider our individual comedic voices. What are the factors in our lives which determine what we find funny, how we see the world and how we bridge these traits? How do our comedic voices demonstrate our most fundamental characteristics? How do our personal preferences in comedy illuminate inherent tensions in our personalities? This week we welcome back Mike Jest to explore how one goes about finding and sculpting a comedic voice. We discuss the value of clear communication in a refined comedic voice. Furthermore, we explore the roles listening, relaxation and self-reliance play in discovering one's personal tone in comedy.
In an increasingly globalized world, many of us submit to generalizations, misunderstandings and politics of vehemence. Particularly in recent decades, sharp hatred and criticism have been cultivated in the West against the followers of Islam. This week, we welcome Sewar Al-Quraan to discuss a 1993 essay by Bernard Lewis which examines the history and relationship between Islam and the West. It should be noted that these are broad labels applied to billions of lives, and as such they fail to get at personal and nuanced experience. In what ways do we perpetuate these stereotypes? Do we ever treat the religious tradition of Islam as a form of government? Do we ever see religious devotion in liberal democracies like the United States? As ever, our conversation is not final nor declaratory. We will absolutely revisit this and similar topics in the future.
As Americans, we are often faced with news stories regarding mass shootings, fatal accidents and attacks involving guns. The issue has been heavily politicized, discussed and argued, but as a result, we have stopped thinking about why the gun appeals to so many. That's why we spoke with Alex Piper this week, to theorize about the ubiquitous weapon's appeal and relationship to humanity. We discuss the gun as a means of freedom and independence, both personally and politically. As a product of design and engineering, is the gun most powerful as a symbol? Why do some regard guns with fear while others relish and appreciate the gun as a tool?
In a more personal episode, we spoke with Leland Holcomb this week to discuss friendly challenges we have shared with one another for the past two years. Whenever we catch up, we make it a point to push each other to try new activities, adopt foreign perspectives, and to move past our comfort zones. We describe some of our favorite challenges, the impact they've had and how we think challenges like ours could be applied to the lives of others.
In the mid-twentieth century, social psychologists Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo conducted very influential and prominent experiments in the field which have had long lasting implications in our understanding of morality, independent decision making and perceptions of power over others. Though dated, each experiment lends to a discussion of dehumanization, which is rather common in our world today. This week, we welcome Naomi Ali to discuss some of the conclusions of both studies and how they might not be as black-and-white as some people might believe. How might the data be misinterpreted? What role did bias play in either experiment? Are people as helplessly suggestible as the studies might conclude?
With my graduation yesterday, there are some thoughts I feel compelled to share. What I have learned, what the past four years have given me and the role they will play in the greater scope of my life. These are words to myself, for those who have given me the feelings and thoughts to express them. - Kip Clark
Today, as we graduate, we say goodbye to Kenyon College, where this podcast began and where so many voices and thoughts have been recorded in the past two years. To honor our graduating class and to demonstrate the variety of experiences and perspectives, we asked for written submissions from our fellow seniors, which we read aloud. As this episode posts, we are walking across the stage, receiving our diplomas and swimming in the endless tides of memories, feelings and thoughts both nostalgic and forward-looking. Our thanks to our wonderful listeners, as well as to those who contributed to this composite of narratives. To the graduating Class of 2016: Congratulations! - Kip and Caroline
It's hard to put leaving anywhere into words. As many of us prepare to graduate tomorrow, I tried my best at putting some thoughts together. It certainly doesn't say it all, but I've tried to capture the aspects of my time at Kenyon College that were most impactful. This place, its people, its rhythm, its trees, has changed me and I can only attempt to bless it before I go. - Caroline
As we prepare to graduate in three days, we felt it appropriate to examine and analyze another commencement address. This time, we chose to look at a well-known speech from our alma mater (Kenyon College) by David Foster Wallace. In this beloved address, often referred to as "This Is Water," Wallace examines the values of a liberal arts education. He emphasizes the mundane, soul-crushing and depressing realities of adult life, the daily battles and chores which face all of us in adulthood. He adds, however, that he feels the value of a liberal arts education lies in how one learns to think. He discusses the conscious choices one can make in perceiving the environment, social situations and the beautiful freedom in pursuing one's own beliefs through critical thought.
Can you imagine someone without any opponents in life, people who stand in consistent disagreement? If such a person did exist, what would we think of them? This week, we welcome Sam Graf to discuss some ideas surrounding the existence of enemies in our lives. We discuss how we can grow from our relationships with enemies, why and how people identify enemies in their lives and what these relationships of opposition on any scale can teach us about ourselves.
As graduation season begins again, we felt it would be worthwhile to analyze and respond to another popular commencement address. This week we're looking at Jim Carrey's speech to the 2014 graduating class of the Maharishi University of Management. In this address, he discusses his belief that our choices are generally based in either fear or love. He encourages the graduates to have faith in themselves, to follow their passions in spite of negativity and doubt. He also promotes feelings of connection and urges them to express both their desires and skills without hesitation.
Often incorporated into our daily or regular habits after adolescence, body hair becomes relatively mundane to us. We might notice it on occasion or sculpt it in particular ways, ignore it or pay it close attention. What is its relevance in the ways we treat and view one another, as well as our own bodies? How are certain types of body hair policed in some people and not others? This week, we revisit the topic to explore new avenues of discussion and thought.
Without question, sex plays a huge role in our biological, sociological and personal lives. Some treat it with hesitation, others with curiosity and delight and still others find sex to be taboo and unworthy of discussion. But everyone has the right to understand both their sexual identities and the role sex plays in our society. Given its importance, we wanted to examine how it is taught, both in our country and elsewhere. In our conversation, we tackle some of our biases and linguistic choices when talking about sex, as well as some of the dangers of avoiding the topic in conversation with children and young adults. Not only is the issue significant, it is also highly controversial and as always, we welcome alternative perspectives.
Invariably, the societies we establish force us to ask difficult questions and often present equally difficult, nuanced and uncomfortable answers. How do we define "justice"? How will we share or distribute resources? Who will defend us? These questions are particularly potent when describing individual behavior. This week, we react to a Boston Globe article entitled "Is crime genetic? Scientists don't know because they're afraid to ask". Would the answers to such questions make us a better society or might they cause even more stratification and division than already exists? After all, crime is both legally and socially determined and therefore might vary between cultures. Furthermore, how does our seemingly unconditional trust in scientists lead us to believe any conclusions they might draw? We explore the ideas surrounding criminality and how developmental mechanisms might also influence what we define as "criminal behavior".
In a world where nearly everyone seems concerned with weight, health and appearance, many folks are concerned with the foods they eat and the connotations attached to their diets and nutrition. As a result, certain items and contents, such as fat, have been stigmatized. People pursue non-fat options under the banner of good health, unaware of potential consequences. Because of this, many of us fail to understand the dietary and biological roles of nutrients like fats, sugars and salts. Our conversation focuses on our relationship to these ideologies through an examination of fat content in different types of milk.
Improvisational comedy, often termed "improv," is seen by many as intimidating, impressive and surreal. Actors who can come up with answers and scenarios on the spot are treated as superhuman performers when the reality is quite different. As guest Kay Kelley helps describe in this episode, improv and everyday life are not so different. Both reward good listening, creativity and inventive thinking. As improv performers, we wanted to explore some memories we have of the format and how its philosophy can benefit anyone outside of a theatrical context.
Since his passing over two months ago, we knew we wanted to discuss the public response to Bowie and the legacy he leaves behind. He was an artist, a visionary and so thoroughly involved throughout the experimental time in which he lived. But he also made choices during his life that some might question or condemn. We release this episode today because of necessary research and scheduling with our guest, Peter Wear. It is worth considering, given our delay, when we find it appropriate and worthwhile to mourn. How will we remember Bowie? What impact did he have on music and was he truly as singular as many describe him to be? What were his influences and how did he in turn influence spheres of fashion, music, celebrity and personal expression?
In a world where causes and sincerity are increasingly valued, we are very quick to label those who come to stand against as "traitors". Despite our language of simple dichotomies, between heroes and traitors, loyalty and betrayal, these ideas are more complex than they might appear. Can the individual offer their loyalty to more than one cause? Does the concept of loyalty allow for natural and inevitable human growth and change? This week we welcome Gabe Brison-Trezise to discuss some of these nuances and to explore their implications in our lives and the decisions we make.
Given the popularity, influence and relevance of movies in America, the Oscars often present opportunities for cultural and historical consideration. This year, the lack of any black nominees at the Oscars caused massive outcries in response from audiences and actors alike. Social media conversations like #OscarsSoWhite remind us that the discontent is genuine and its roots in issues of race are deep. We chose to explore this issue through a New York Times article discussing black actors and actresses in the history of the Oscars.
In less than a year, Donald Trump has made a profound impact in the political, media and social spheres of the United States. Some are enthralled by his relentless fervor, confidence and promises to "Make America Great Again". Others, understandably are disgusted by the Islamophobia, racism, sexism and derogatory remarks he has made towards journalists, political rivals and everyone in between. Beyond the public reaction, it is important for each of us to consider not only our responses to the current Republican front-runner but our own values, concerns and perceptions. Is hatred an appropriate response to a man who has shown the terrifying influence of hatred? Do our discussions on social media promote recognition of his name? Undoubtedly, we must confront the political juggernaut he has become and the deep-seated problems he has revealed. Will we do so civilly or will Donald Trump's legacy be the spark of a greater conflagration?
Despite the importance of personal representation and its increasing relevance in our public and political discussions, we do not often examine issues of representation on the micro level. In 2016, Mattel has made the decision to now release Barbie dolls in three new body shapes, seven new skin tones, twenty-two eye colors and twenty-four hairstyles. How will consumer preferences dictate purchases of these new models? Will those playing with these new models of Barbie identify with body-types and aesthetics other than their own? How might new skin tones affect (or fail to initiate) conversations surrounding race and racial identity?
Because of their relative youth as a type of entertainment, pastime and as a form of art, video games are often relegated to lower levels of appreciation or even ridicule. In this first episode of a new series, entitled "For Non-Gamers," we want to take a hard look at the criticisms people level at video games, as well as how and why they do so. When compared to media such as television, books and movies, why are video games discarded as wasteful when they can offer more interactive, thought-provoking and complex emotional experiences? We welcome Phoebe Lewis, self-proclaimed "non-gamer," to help us unpack some of these issues. In particular, we hope listeners who are unfamiliar with gaming as a medium will pay close attention to this series and engage our discussions thoughtfully. We also hope to bridge some of the cultural gaps between gamers and non-gamers. We would also like to thank Will Quam, Tom Hoefner, Alexandra Harmes, Ivan Lescanec and Mark Webster for their written contributions.
As we grow older and explore the world we live in, especially in college and the years beyond, we come to reexamine our relationships and the status they hold. Our values develop, our priorities shift and our definitions of love and friendship might also change. In this process, many of us establish chosen families - those without biological ties with whom we share strong bonds of affection and trust. This week we welcome Qossay Alsattari to discuss our expectations and opinions on the concept of a chosen family and its function in our lives.
With so many factors to manage in our daily lives, many of us might forget about the integral role health and systems of government both play. For the people of Flint, Michigan, deliberate neglect, mistrust and abuse of power have led to an atrocious water poisoning at the hands of politicians. Over the course of the past few years, democratic abilities were withheld from citizens and those who protested water discoloration and taste were told the situation was under control. Only now, after details have come to light, has public discourse taken this issue into consideration. Regardless, certain damage has been done to both the people of Flint and their trust.
A country, like any larger system, group or society, should take the time to reflect on its growth, progress and flaws every so often. That is one of the principles behind the State of The Union Address. The American people (like those watching elsewhere) hear about the status of the country from the standing President. Our conversation this week focuses on the tone President Obama took, the attention he gave to certain issues, those he declined to discuss and the values behind his speech. It should be noted that we do not comment from a place of political expertise but rather social observation.
While issues of gender take many forms in our society, some more nuanced than others, cultural bias and opinions are particularly evident in performative spaces and professions. This week we welcome Olivia Sanabria to discuss the relationship between female comedians and culture. What are our underlying expectations and pre-conceived notions of femininity and how do they relate to the societal commentary and entertainment found within comedy? How do confidence, personal voice and critical, resistant response relate to the field of comedy?
As seniors in college, many of us have to grapple with the predictable and agonizing questions about our post-graduate experiences, plans and goals. Although these conversations are invariably personal and rife with uncertainty and hesitation, we find ourselves frequently cornered nonetheless. This week, we welcome Yara Farahmand to explore the various dynamics within these questions, proper responses and how we might best juggle these inquiries for peace of mind and self-confidence.
Although many of us may not think about it, water has always been and continues to be a precious resource for life on Earth - human and otherwise. As the global population has increased, however, supplies of fresh water have begun to dwindle. Various scientists, governments and communities around the world have started to think of solutions in response to the potential problem. This week, we react to an article in The Atlantic which deals with this issue. What are our preconceptions surrounding water and what ends would we consider pursuing for our own survival as a species?
While the distinctions between healthy and unhealthy food products are often evident to consumers, some communities lack the resources to acquire and store nutritious items. This week, we take a look at Englewood, a formerly thriving commercial suburb of Chicago whose prosperity in the 1930's has become a modern food desert in 2015. It is a predominantly black community of approximately 60,000 faced with poverty and high crime and unemployment. The grocery chain Whole Foods sees an opportunity and plans to open a branch in 2016. We thought it pertinent to discuss this complex relationship between food, opportunity and race in our discussion this week.
As we conclude the 2015 holiday season, we felt it worthwhile to discuss our modern commercial relationship with these annual celebrations. How do they affect our relationships and perceptions of compassion, generosity and gift-giving? We reflect upon our own experiences with gifts around the holiday season and what they say about us as individuals and as a larger culture.
This week we analyze and respond to an article written by Dr. James E. Young. He and fellow researchers conducted studies to determine the current sentiments human beings have towards robots. Their research indicates that people have an inherent impulse to personalize robots and imbue them with intentions, emotions, social abilities and attachments. He theorizes that in future, steps should be taken to facilitate productive, prosperous working relationships between people and robots in a variety of settings, including combat and other dangerous environments. We use this article as an entry point to discussions about humanity as it relates to robotics and how robots may substantially affect our lives in the future.
The upcoming release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens offers an unprecedented opportunity to discuss the historic, popular and influential film series as a greater whole. In anticipation of the climactic return to the franchise after 10 years, we welcome Sam Whipple to examine the impact Star Wars has had on global, cultural and generational levels. We explore the past of the franchise and talk about our hopes and expectations of The Force Awakens, as well as the excitement, controversy and mysteries surrounding it. We would also like to thank Trevor Hailey, Chris Katzmann, Nico Hargreaves-Heald and Haleh Kanani for their written contributions.
Established in the 1970's to control population growth, China's One-Child Policy is likely to be repealed in coming months. The decision to end the restriction followed a four-day strategy meeting of senior Communist Party officials at a Beijing hotel in late October. This policy and its potential conclusion have had profound economic, social, psychological and personal effects on the Chinese people. We discuss our opinions on its impact and possible futures it might create. Of course, our primary lens is as Americans living on the outside and we acknowledge this.
With the recent terror attacks in Paris, we felt it worthwhile to discuss their political, social and personal impacts. Various news organizations have covered the details and both citizens and countries around the world have united to mourn and grieve, but several factors appear to be overlooked. Among the responses, Syrian refugees have been blamed, similar terror attacks (like those in Beirut) have been seemingly ignored by the press and ISIS's intentions and goals appear simplified. As always, we do not have the answers to the questions we ask, but we find the dialogue to be both invaluable and necessary. Our thoughts go out to all of the victims of these recent attacks, as well as their friends and families.
This week we discuss a viral video of the past year entitled "Don't Stay in School". It deals with critical flaws in the current educational system, including the lack of practical information, training and life skills given to students. As upcoming college graduates, we felt our simultaneous experience with the educational system and our oncoming endeavors with independence offer a unique perspective through which to analyze the points made in the video.
This week we return to the BBC series Black Mirror to discuss and review its second season. As with the first season, the show continues to deal with topics relating to technology. Specifically, these episodes examine our relationship with obsessive recording, death and technology and modern political candidates. As this conversation spans details from multiple episodes, we spoil plot details and recommend that you refrain from listening if you wish to watch the show first.
While computers of the modern age offer us a tremendous amount of flexibility and function in storing, transmitting and accessing data, they are still fallible. Often, this fallibility manifests in the loss of large quantities or entire regions of data. As a members of a highly-technological generation, we wanted to discuss our experiences with digital data loss and its implications.
This week, we give a second reading of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff and further discuss some chapters in the book, focusing on behavioral habits, criticism of others, understanding and graciousness. As before, if you are interested in getting the book for yourself, we've included some links below.
As Columbus Day concludes its 78th year of official celebration as a federal holiday in the United States, we should consider its broader legacy, the man it honors and his impact on America as a result of his actions. With increasing disapproval and protest from groups of indigenous cultures, we wanted to examine the holiday more closely and consider both sides of the debate.
There are vast swaths of history often untouched and glossed over by most of us. This week we welcome Nick Rogers, who wrote his thesis on Leprosy in the Medieval Europe, one such topic. We discuss some of the approaches to the disease at the time, curious details and misconceptions surrounding it, medical practices in the Middle Ages and how we might learn from this historical period.
This week we take a much more personal approach than usual. Zac Caputo returns as a guest and we discuss our experience at Kenyon College, a small, liberal arts school in rural Ohio. Specifically, we examine the impact student body size has on our social, personal and emotional lives. What are the benefits and drawbacks of small communities respectively? Does this experience distort our reality? Does it help to clarify elements of our lives?
As technology progresses in new, often fascinating and liberating ways, it is worth considering the role it has in our lives. Several works of science fiction have shown these advances and our reactions to them to be somewhat predictable. Black Mirror, a satire and dark comedy made by the BBC, offers many such conclusions in the form of troubling television episodes reminiscent of the Twilight Zone. In this conversation, we discuss our thoughts on the first season of the show which features the episodes The National Anthem, Fifteen Million Merits and The Entire History of You. We will be examining the second season later in November. As a warning, we do cover various crucial plot points in our review. If you would like to watch the show, please do not listen to this first.
It's been a year since we set out on this journey and started Stride and Saunter. We've learned a lot about podcasting, our world and our ever-growing audience. But we've also been fortunate to learn more about ourselves in the process - our ambitions, our capacities and new-found skills. We continue to thoroughly enjoy every aspect of this project and we hope the show continues to please and develop with time. We're very excited with upcoming plans and episodes and we can't wait to share them with you. With sincere gratitude, Kip Clark, Caroline Borders and Hector Marrero
Although cultural and societal ideas of feminine beauty are far too large to tackle on their own, we wanted to take a stab at relevant issues this week. We welcome Logan Bialik to our conversation on personal experiences with female body image, its construction and the impact of college life and mass media on values of feminine appearance. It is of course a sensitive issue and one we intend to revisit and examine in the future. Our special thanks to Caroline and Logan for sharing personal anecdotes and feelings regarding the topic.
With various grocery stores, restaurants and even food delivery services in the world, it is worth considering our food sources and how they affect local agriculture. This week we welcome Charlotte Graham, who has worked as a local food coordinator at Peirce Dining Hall in Kenyon College, to explain the impact of these systems. Our discussion ventures through issues of health, science, civic responsibility and economic considerations.
When we go to sleep, we often pass through countless scenes, images and worlds themselves. Our dreams reveal our unspoken thoughts, our realities and our unbridled fantasies. We stand to learn much from what and how we dream in the privacy of our minds. This week we welcome Zac Caputo to share some personal experiences with dreams. We also discuss our reactions in the real world to thoughts and feelings conjured in dreams.
As the most popular podcast of all time with over 94 million downloads since its 2014 launch, Serial deserves the attention, analysis and general interest it has received. It experiments with podcasting, storytelling and uncovering the "truth" behind the 1999 murder of 17-year-old resident of Baltimore, Hae Min Lee. Much of the podcast follows her supposed killer, former boyfriend Adnan Syed and his whereabouts during the tragedy. The host, Sarah Koenig asks crucial questions in both her interviews and of her audience. This week we welcome Gabe Brison-Trezise to review and discuss this podcast and critique Koenig's efforts and her creation.
In an increasingly global world, we are constantly exposed to new cultures, ideas and perspectives, many of which originate in remote spaces and times. As such, we often risk losing their original meanings and purposes. As peoples encounter new cultures, they often adopt and adapt foreign practices for different functions. This week, we welcome back Joe Walsh to discuss the phenomenon of cultural appropriation as it pertains to the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand and the All Blacks rugby team.
One of Kip's favorite films of 2014, Interstellar, was both highly anticipated and received with various reviews. Some loved it, others found it confusing, drawn-out and illogical. And while some see it as a science fiction film, its themes deal largely with the most innate levels of humanity, our fears and our hopes. It is as much about love, solitude and exploration as it is about space travel. We welcome back Kyle Aaronson to discuss his take as well as the highs and lows of the film.
While most people would point to verbal languages as the focal point of most human communication, the expressive power of the human body (and those of many animals!) cannot be denied. Increasingly, psychologists and other social scientists believe body language holds substantial attention and weight in social interaction. Because of the relevance and interest in the topic, we were happy to welcome Edgar Arceo this week to discuss some of these phenomena with us.
We're very happy to welcome Phoebe Lewis this week to discuss the nature of online relationships in the modern age. Not restricted to digital tales of romance, we wanted to examine how people behave both online and in reality as it parallels happenings on the Internet. We share our experiences, anecdotes of academic studies and offer insight on how to best navigate the ever-expanding realm of cyber-socializing.
When we go about our daily lives, we often forget or gloss over the complex systems of relationships and individuals who lead us to be who we are. Marriage, like many other social concepts, binds families and couples the world over. Libby Gardner joins us this week to examine some of the reasons for which people get married and to discuss the option of marriage itself and why some may or may not choose to pursue it.
This week we welcome Elliot Cromer to discuss some of his experiences and thoughts on pets and pet ownership. Both of us come from families with pets (especially Elliot) and we wanted to examine how people approach household animals. We also discuss some of the responsibilities and tasks necessary to care for the animals we own.
This week we welcome Tim Jurney to discuss ideas surrounding body hair. Scientific research has not concluded its every purpose on the body, though several hypotheses have been put forth. Nonetheless, people and cultures around the globe have made statements of approval or dissatisfaction with gendered and socioeconomic motivations. How do we consider body hair on others and on ourselves? Are our views ever independent of the societies in which we live?
This week we welcome Kyle Aaronson, a film major, to explain some of the dynamics of the Academy Awards and the 2015 Oscars in particular. In our discussion, we examine the roles that actors, directors and film-makers play in determining the popularity and relevance of films. We also talk about the Academy as an organization and its tendencies and general composition.
Although the death of Freddie Gray happened over two months ago, on April 19th, 2015, the tragic event and the riots which followed are a result of deeper problems in human and United States history. We don't claim to have the answers to these substantial and systemic issues, but we ardently believe they are worthy of discussion, however uncomfortable or difficult that may be. This week, we welcome resident of Baltimore, Joe Walsh, to engage in this conversation in the pursuit of further understanding. As always, we hope ours are not the only voices in this discourse. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.
A follow-up to last week's episode on life, we examine various approaches toe the terminus of death, what it represents and how it affects each of us differently. This certainly is not an easy or comfortable topic for most, so we understand reluctance and respect any decision to avoid this episode. That said, we do encourage listeners to consider the episode as a lens to consider death in different contexts. As was true of "What It Means to Be Alive," this episode would not have evolved into this final conversation without the honest, eloquent and substantial support of our contributors, whose work will be available to read below. We want offer our sincerest thanks to Rachel Cunningham, Ali Stamatoiu, Emma Munger, Brett Miller, Maureen Hoff, Sarah Miller, Qusay Alsattari, Atticus Koontz, Kay Kelley, Richard Pera and Tim Jurney for their assistance in this episode.
A different type of discussion which touches on the broad, inexplicable and wondrous nature of Life as a whole. We do not have any particular direction in this conversation, but instead ideas and musings on human life, the life around us, and how we appreciate (or fail to) the complexity and variability of the system which arranges, organizes and defines our existence. This is not a conclusive conversation but rather an inclusive one, which invites listeners to contemplate their own values and approaches to life. This episode is one of a pair, the next of which will discuss Death in a similar fashion. We also want to thank those who were kind and articulate enough to contribute to this episode: Emily Bulik-Sullivan, Hayden Fowler, Patrick Mershon, Will Quam, Sara Carminati and Naomi Ali. We appreciate the knowledge and insight you all shared and this episode is decidedly better for your participation. For those of our audience who would like to read what they wrote, their contributions are available on our website.
This week we wanted to consider something all of us do in this day and age: multitasking. Several studies and experts conclude that it has detrimental effects on both our mental processing abilities and our productive potential. Certainly it does not originate from one source in particular and we address several responses to the issue which permeates various aspects of our lives.
In this episode we welcome Maureen Hoff to discuss a recent sensation in the music industry: Meghan Trainor. We chose to examine some of the lyrics in two of her most popular songs, entitled "All About That Bass" and "Dear Future Husband". Both songs, satirical in their own way, deal with issues of ideas of femininity and masculinity, body image, beauty standards and marriage. We examine some of the issues with her approach and inadvertent issues with her delivery and lyrical choices.
Spurred by an article in the March 23rd edition of Advertising Age, we felt it would be pertinent to work through some of the issues facing the 'Race Together' campaign. While we applaud Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz for his attempt at being progressive, we highlight issues regarding the Catch 22 for workers, the intended speed of fast food and the complexity of commercial influence.
This week we welcome Sam Whipple, who joins us to offer some opinions and insight on Hillary Clinton's recent bid as a potential Democratic candidate in the 2016 Presidential Election. We discuss some of the criticisms and concerns facing her and how the political landscape might react to this decision in the long term.
A much more lighthearted episode than our typical fare, we wanted to find a text which was both informative while also being easy to consume. We give a reading from several chapters of Tom Davis' book Why Dogs Do That. The chapters explain and offer a variety of hypotheses for canine behavior including why dogs chase cars and why certain breeds point or fetch instinctively.
As video-blogging or "vlogging" becomes increasingly popular on sites like YouTube, we wanted to discuss the influence and potential of this new medium. It is simple to use and offers brief glimpses to the lives of others as reality shows have long claimed to do. Unlike reality TV, however, vlogging is edited by the individuals on-screen, who have a much more personal and constant relationship with their various audiences.
A very sentimental episode for a number of reasons. First, this episode will be released during graduation season. To the recent and upcoming graduates, congratulations! Secondly, this marks the first episode with the newest co-host, Caroline Borders. Finally, in addition to the massive attention this received, this was the speech given at Kip's high school graduation in 2012 and he holds this speech and its orator, Mr. David McCullough in very high esteem.
This episode marks Hector's last as a permanent co-host on the show. As such, he wanted his final topic to pertain to his love of film. The following discussion (with guest Iggee Hu) encompasses film as a passion, a medium and a form of expression and communication. Both film majors offer their opinions on how to engage with film, what they personally enjoy about it and call attention to several finer details within film. We also discuss the unique approaches of a few directors as well as the impact of film on the masses.
Often a source of criticism and concern, we wanted to discuss how violence in video games affects our opinions of their entertainment value. We also examine violence as it relates to American culture, what we are willing to tolerate or embrace and actions we do not tend to code as "violent" in nature.
Alex Urist joins us in this episode to discuss his thoughts on language and how it affects our opportunities in life. In particular, we focus on his experiences with China, dialects of the country and his memories of street cuisine and other related stories. We also speak about the best ways to engage with a language and why everyone should pursue skills in multiple languages.
In this episode, we offer an introduction of sorts to Microsoft's latest creation, the HoloLens. First announced on January 21, 2015, the HoloLens is described by Microsoft as a utility which brings "high-definition holograms to life in your world, where they integrate with your physical places, spaces and things". We discuss how the HoloLens integrates long-standing practices of socializing and recording information. We also consider policing and regulation of new virtual and augmented reality technologies. Finally, we examine future uses for the device, including educational possibilities, as well as the dangers of the technology and its effect on our perceptions of reality.
In this episode, Hector gives a reading from Strangely Like War: The Global Assault on Forests by Derrick Jensen and George Draffan. He reads from Chapter 1, "Deforestation" and Chapter 2, "Forest Dwellers". We discuss human impacts on global forests, our various relationships with nature and how different cultures respond to and appreciate our environment.
In this episode, we welcome guest Mike Jest to discuss how comedy and storytelling often work in conjunction with one another. We examine some of the basic forms of comedy, as well as the structure of several sitcoms. We also discuss variations on interweaving story-lines and some of the fundamental rules and tips in comedy. Finally, we look at comedy as a means of social and political satire.
In this episode, we reflect on art as a human product, and the effects it has on us. We discuss the intentions of artists as well as the uses art has found historically and politically.
We are joined in this episode by Issa, who discussed some of his favorite horror movies, his appreciation for the genre, and how they instill and explore various fears. We also examine what these fears say about us as people and what we look for in horror movie experiences.
In this episode, Lucas joins us to express his passions for both hip hop and cooking. In doing so, he also elaborates on what links the two together, how both are social and self-reflective. He describes his personal exploration of both while also offering suggestions on how one could improve either as a craft.
In this episode, we discuss "friendliness" as an idea which refers to strategic kindness and sympathy shown towards others primarily out of interest in social standing rather than genuine concern. We discuss how this phenomenon, conceived by Michael Moffatt, an anthropology professor at Rutgers in the 1980's, operates and what validity we ascribe to it.
In this episode, we discuss some of our memories of home, how we define "home" as a place and as a set of ideas. We also consider how changes in environments affect our perceptions of home and what we seek in a home.
In this episode, we wanted to discuss our introductions to music, how our musical tastes developed and how we pursue new music and share our favorites with others.
Given our shared love of and interest in video games, we wanted to begin talking about some of their characteristics and so we chose to first examine the characters we control - protagonists in video games. We discuss some of our favorites as well as how we relate to or sympathize with them.
In this episode, we give a reading of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" and discuss some topics which Dr. Carlson mentions in his book, focusing on patience, listening in humility.
In this episode we welcome our second guest, Samuel Adam Graf, who was kind enough to speak with us about his experiences with percussion, and his thoughts on the topic.
As we gradually move away from our own experiences and onto larger topics, we wanted to consider the first jobs in our lives, who we worked with and what we learned during those initial experiences.
One of Kip's favorite videos, we felt it would be worthwhile for both of us to watch and consider its implications. We discuss the various ideas brought up in the speech and examine the video as an evocative medium
As we reflect on our respective years thus far, our first a capella and improv performances stand out as defining moments for both ourselves and our groups. We wanted to discuss some of the ideas and preparations that go into the days and weeks leading up to the first shows.
In this episode we welcome our first guest and friend of the show, Armand Hernandez, who wanted us to discuss ideas surrounding censorship. We actually cover self-censorship, some of the benefits of censorship and what we learn about those that restrain or withhold certain ideas.
In this episode, we wanted to continue with some of the Halloween spirit and discuss some of the things which haunt us, both trivial and serious.
In this episode we wanted to examine some of the history of Halloween, which traces some origins back to the United Kingdom. We offer a number of facts about the history and tradition of Halloween while also speaking of our personal experiences and thoughts.
In this episode we wanted to discuss the increasing trend to express ourselves on social media through photography. The argument can be made, however, that we do it too much, to a detrimental degree and we wanted to explore this further.
It is natural to compare yourself to those around you. In this episode, we wanted to discuss what it means to be average or mediocre, how we respond to mediocrity and how we overcome it.
This episode is one of particular importance to us. We've been students for many years and so our teachers have been some of the most influential figures in our lives. We discuss some of our favorites, the work they put in and how teachers impact their students.
With online sales increasing annually, we wanted to look at the trend and discuss some of our own experiences. We also examine some of the positive and negative aspects of shopping online. We’d love to hear what you think, feel free to write us!
In this episode, we felt it pertinent to be a bit more abstract with our discussion. We chose to discuss the spaces we live in and the spaces around us; how we conceive of space and what the relationship is between people and space.
With a new school year well underway, we felt it would be appropriate to discuss first impressions. In our frequent encounters with new names and faces there is a lot to consider when it comes to first impressions, we look at our first impressions and what we think about when we first meet others.
We've both had interesting experiences and thoughts on public transportation. Especially for college students, many of whom will live in or visit cities, we felt this would be a pertinent topic. As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this one. Leave us a comment!
Now more than ever, distractions are an increasingly present element in our lives. We felt it would be worth a conversation. We discuss the distractions in our lives, what role distractions hold and how we interact with them.
With the recent announcement of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+, we felt it pertinent to analyze the cultural impact of Apple's 7-year-old handset and the changes it has made in a modern world. We begin the episode with a discussion of the newest models and then offer our thoughts on the pros and cons of the revolutionary telephone.
In this episode, we discuss our experiences as first-year's in college. We reminisce on our introduction to the college lifestyle as well as our preconceptions about college before our initial moments. We conclude this episode by offering some advice and suggestions to recent and upcoming inductees into the collegiate world.
In this first episode, we discuss and introduce several aspects of Stride and Saunter. We talk about ourselves a bit before discussing how the podcast came to be, what our plans are and how we hope it grows, develops and changes over time. As always, we invite any questions, comments and input on the episode and the show in general. Especially for this first episode, we want to give our audience a clear understanding of the podcast and all of its components.