Rationalish: Recent Episodes
Wack and Matthews
Two young researchers try to ask the right questions about world events and politics. Episodes every month. Come for the insight, stay for the puns.
Here's a paradox: The best way to fix the House of Representives is have even more representatives in the House. I know what you're thinking: "You want more politicians?!"
Hold your horses, hear us out. We did real research for this one. Here is the article that led to this idea:
U.S. population keeps growing, but House of Representatives is same size as in Taft era
Also referenced in the episode are the following:
Representation in the House: The Wyoming Rule
Many voters say Congress is broken. Could proportional representation fix it?
Election results, 2022: Incumbent win rates by state
Deadpan delivery. Monotonal narration. Provocateur. Brilliant cultural critic of postmodern America. Funniest man alive. Sound familiar? Perhaps you are thinking of one the hosts of this podcast. Or perhaps you are thinking of Nathan Fielder, the Canadian who got his start on "This Hour has 22 Minutes" then went onto the Comedy Central show "Nathan For You" then to the bright lights of HBO for "The Rehearsal". Now he's back with a new show: "The Curse" on Showtime.
Listen to these two handsome men discuss the ouevre of Nathan Fielder. They reference the following articles in this chat:
New Yorker: Don't Worry, Nathan Fielder Also Hates Himself
Vulture: Nathan Fielder Is Out of His Mind (and Inside Yours)
You may be wondering whether this is a movie podcast now. Truth is: We don't know! The important thing is that Martin Scorsese has a new picture out: "Killers of the Flower Moon." It's a formidable film, one that warrants discussion. Please enjoy this conversation between two cinephiles.
We reference the following resources in the episode:
Martin Scorsese: I Said Marvel Movies Aren’t Cinema. Let Me Explain.
Empire's Martin Scorsese Interview
'Killers of the Flower Moon' Sneaks Up on Key Milestone at Global Box Office
Plot summary help from: Killers of the Flower Moon Wikipedia
Christopher Nolan's latest film chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, aka "Father of the Atomic Bomb." Morgan and Eddie, film scholars as they are, reflect on the merits of the film, the life of its protagonist, the oeuvre of Nolan, interspersing witticisms and erudite musings along the way. Some of the materials were reference:
Derek Thompson: Oppenheimer: The Genius, the Film, and the Project that Changed the World
Adam Nayman: The Sheer Scale of Oppenheimer
Like Stories of Old: Why Oppenheimer Should (Not) Have Shown Real Nuclear Violence?
In this episode, your two favorite researchers talk about the Writers Guild of America's strike and some shocking comparisons to the Luddites, courtesy of The Atlantic:
The Luddites of Hollywood - Gavin Mueller
In this episode, our two favorite young researchers discuss how to improve cities through great ideas that are not widespread but should be. We talk about how to diversify police forces, intergenerational housing, proportional representation, publicly funded arts programs and many more ideas. Here are some pieces we reference:
NY Times: Ireland Asks: What if Artists Could Ditch Their Day Jobs?
PBS: Dutch nursing home offers rent-free housing to students
I was too lazy to write cheeky show notes for this episode, so instead I asked ChatGPT (a machine-learning Artificial Intelligence) to write it for me. Here's what the AI wrote:
"In today's episode, we have two brilliant young researchers who have taken it upon themselves to uncover the mystery behind ChatGPT, the language model of the future. After much research and deep diving into the vast expanse of the internet, they have finally discovered the truth about ChatGPT. It's not just a simple chatbot, but a hilarious comedian with a PhD in humor and a master's degree in puns. So sit back, relax and get ready for a dose of laughter, as the duo cracks jokes and puns about ChatGPT, leaving their listeners in stitches. Who says robots can't be funny?"
You scared? Me too.
Ever wonder how film executives find their material? Well, here's a peak behind the curtain. "The Black List" is a compilation of screenplays that are the most-mentioned by film executives. Three hundred film executives to be exact. Turns out, executives might have bad taste. Or maybe it's just really hard to write a great screenplay. Who knows. Gotta say, our socks were not blown off by the plot synopses of these films. But there were some gems.
In this episode, Morgan and Eddie choose their five favorite premises from the 75+ that made the 2022 Black List. See the full list here:
https://blcklst.com/lists/
Blacklist Wikipedia page we quoted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_List_(survey)
Not all evidence is created equal. But in conversation it can appear that way....
In this episode we explore why anecdotal evidence is so appealing to people and how narrative and emotion speaks to human reasoning more than data and cold hard facts.
We discuss the following article by Jens Eger, Sebastian H. Schneider, Martin Bruder and Solveig H. Gleser:
Does Evidence Matter? The Impact of Evidence Regarding Aid Effectiveness on Attitudes Towards Aid
And we quote the Wikipedia highlights of Norman Borlaug:
Norman Borlaug Bio
I anticipate your eye-rolls and sighs of disgust. I get it. You don't think the world needs more Star Wars. Well -- turns out you are WRONG. This show rocks. It's the best thing on TV. 'Andor' is ten episodes of narrative perfection and exhilarating storytelling. Acting is pitch perfect. The scenes are shot on-location; the dialogue is whip-smart.
Withhold your judgment until you watch the first episode. Then, the second one will begin and before you realize it, ten hours of your life will be well-spent with Season 1 in the rearview mirror.
The World Cup is currently being played in Qatar, a country completely undeserving to host the event given that a reported 6,000 migrant workers died to build its stadiums. Also, they criminalized homosexuality. Also, they are terrible at soccer. And yet, here we are with the most important tournament being held in Doha.
In this episode, we discuss Team USA's performance in the group stage and against Netherlands in the round of 16. We discuss the courage of the Iranian players as they demonstrated solidarity with protesters in Iran. And we speculate about the future of USA soccer as we look ahead to 2026...
What's that? You couldn't wait for Morgan and Eddie to break down the new Martin McDonagh flick? Well you are in luck, mister! And we threw in a littel 'Andor' because it's the best thing to grace the small screen since 'Succession.'
Morgan and Eddie descend into a civil war of friendship set on a remote Irish island. Will we leave with our hands? Will Morgan want to quit our friendship to focus more on his arty obsessions? It remains to be seen.
At the end of the episode, we chat about the new Star Wars series 'Andor' which can best be described as 'kickass.' It's about the genesis of a rebellion and you need to watch it.
Qatar is hosting the World Cup next month, human rights abuses be damned. In this episode, we discuss how human atrocities can happen in broad daylight as the Qatari regime bribed their way to hosting the 2022 World Cup. We discuss the term "sportswashing" and how authoritarian governments use a beloved sporting event to promote themselves, attract investors, or bury a negative reputation.
We cover these two Guardian articles in this episode:
Qatar World Cup accused of imposing ‘chilling’ restrictions on media
Forget ‘sportswashing’: Qatar 2022 is about military might and hard sports power
We're about midway through the Formula 1 season. You must be wondering what's going on. You must be wondering what Morgan and I make of the Red Bull dominance and the Mercedes acquiescence. The Ferrari blunders and the Danny Ric/McLaren situation. Well, we touch on each of these in a crisp 35 minutes. Enjoy.
In 2025, Diablo Canyon Power Plant on the central coast of California is scheduled to go off-line. Have we given up too soon on nuclear energy? We debate the dividends and drawbacks of nuclear power as a means of combatting climate change and kicking that nasty fossil fuel habit once and for all!
In this episode, we discuss this insightful article by Ivan Penn:
Nuclear Power Gets New Push in U.S., Winning Converts
We also discuss this helpful video from Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell:
Do we Need Nuclear Energy to Stop Climate Change?
Vietnam vets. German Nihilists. White Russians. Dance quintets. Kidnap. Ransom. Gulf War. The 1998 Coen Brothers' film "The Big Lebowski" has it all. This is one of the greatest American films ever made (but that's just, like, my opinion man). We analyze this absurdly entertaining film through the lens of the Gulf War, which is frequently referenced throughout the film, though often in the background. With this episode, we offer our humble contribution to the burgeoning field of Lebowski Studies (a.k.a. The Dude Studies or TDS). We hope you enjoy.
Fast cars. Big money. International locations. Netflix. No, I am not talking about my personal life, I am talking about the competitive motorsport Formula 1. In this episode, we break down what this sport is and why you should watch it. We talk "Drive to Survive" and discuss all the recent drama. We make predictions and speculate. Join the fun.
[Read the following sentences in the iconic tone of Twilight Zone narrator Rod Serling]:
Are you aware of the fifth dimension?
That of imagination?
The place where 'The Twilight Zone' resides?
In this episode, we discuss "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street," an episode from the first season of 'The Twilight Zone,' an episode where aliens invade and need to only cut the lights for a few hours for families on a quiet suburban street to turn into violent factions.
If you had control of the world’s most powerful force, how would you use it? In this literary escapade, Morgan and Eddie discuss Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “Report on the Barnhouse Effect.” It’s a story about a “superweapon with a conscience.” Does it have espionage? Yes it does. Dynamopsychism? You bet. Bored thesis advisors? Sure thing. On this episode we ask the big questions.
Here's a link to the letter Kurt Vonnegut wrote to his family, which is mentioned in the episode:
Vonnegut Letter
Is history linear? Are we making incremental improvements that are bettering humankind? Or are we repeating the same mistakes in an unending cycle? Morgan and Eddie answer all the big questions once and for all in this definitive episode. Listen to these young lads discuss Francis Fukuyama's theory of the "End of History" as well as what the great works of literature have to say on this question.
Some background that was helpful for the hosts in framing this idea:
History as a linear or a cyclic process : Herodotus, Khaldun and Augustine
Ukraine is being invaded by Russia under Vladimir Putin's dictatorship. We invited Dr. Allyson Edwards, Teaching Fellow at Warwick University, to discuss Putin's rise to power, the formation of Russian democracy in the 1990s, it's dissolution under Putin, and the historic myth-making of Russia's military that led to this moment. We cover the resilience of the Ukrainian people and mention several important voices to follow who are reporting on this war.
The Guardian's reporting on Ukraine was cited in the episode: Ukraine crisis live
Consider following these people on Twitter:
@DrJMankoff
@ksvarnon
@CreativeCorazon
@NKuhrt
@jgmaber
@jeff_hawn
@irgarner
@ntrickett16
@DrJadeMcGlynn
@IAPonomarenko
@terrelljstarr
In 2008, British playwright Martin McDonagh released his first feature-length film ... and the world was never the same. Or, at least, Morgan and Eddie's world was never the same. Listen to an episode where they recount their favorite movie, one that chronicles the time two hitmen spent a Christmas weekend hiding out in Bruges, Belgium, waiting for the wrath of their boss and the atonement for their crimes.
What's the Enneagram, you ask? Well, it's a method for interpreting human personality. And it tracks (in my opinion, Eddie speaking here). In this episode, we give the rundown of the nine Enneagram "types" and the attributes of each, while doing a deep dive on Types 3, 4, and 5. Maybe you have that weird uncle who always starts conflicts and no one knows why and you just think he's crazy. Or maybe he's an unhealthy Type 8 and gets energy from conflict. Listen to learn more....
Here are some Enneagram resources we reference in the episode:
Your Enneagram Coach
Enneagram Institute
Enneagram Wikipedia
In this episode, Dr. Niko Switek joins us to discuss the transition of power Germany is currently experiencing. After 16 years of Angela Merkel as German Chancellor, there's a new sheriff in town, Olaf Scholz, with a new coalition government. Dr. Switek is an expert in Germany's green party and gives us some background on what this election means for the future of Germany.
So grab your nearest Schnitzel or Bratwurst or Käsespätzle and settle in for a scholarly discussion.
In this episode, Morgan and Eddie discuss Facebook's rebrand as "Meta" a company that is seeking to create the next iteration of the internet, which they call the "metaverse." If you're as scared about Mark Zuckerberg being on the frontlines of the next wave of tech innovation, then you're in good company. We discuss the implications of what this means for society and for technology. We read and referenced the following article, which gives a good recap of what Meta is and what this could portend:
NY Times - The Metaverse is Mark Zuckerberg's Escape Hatch
Drawing off an excellent article from Joshuah Bearman, Eddie and Morgan welcome special guest Carson Wack onto the podcast to discuss the trials and tribulations involved in Ross Ulbricht's development of the Silk Road. Along they way they touch on details about libertarianism, morality on the internet, and ... Solyndra?
Is drinking heavily an American phenomenon? No. Is drinking alone an American phenomenon? Perhaps. Morgan and Eddie discuss The Atlantic article titled "America Has a Drinking Problem", an essay that walks us through the historical use of alcohol as a socialization tool. They also discuss the 2020 Academy Award-nominated Danish film "Another Round", a movie with a fascinating premise where four middle-aged friends test out a Norwegian philosopher's theory that mankind was born with a BAC that is too low.
Here are the links to the sources we discuss:
The Atlantic - America Has a Drinking Problem
Another Round - Trailer
Musician and composer Jonny Pickett joins the podcast to tell the story behind his new album "Made in China." During the episode he tells the story behind the last song on the album, "John Rabe", named for a Nazi living in China during WWII who saved approximately 200,000 lives during a massacre by the Japanese army.
Listen to the song here: John Rabe
You can support Jonny's music here: Patreon
Morgan and Eddie speak with special guest and Portland resident/aficionado Tyler Green about gentrification and its impact on parks, businesses, and the local community.
Morgan and Eddie reflect on Trumpism and political activism and the implications this holds for American democracy moving forward.
Eddie and Morgan are joined by Stanford immunology PhD student Hunter Martinez to discuss epigentics, vaccines, and collaboration in academia.
There are plenty of seemingly inhabitable planets, so why no evidence of other life? On this episode, Morgan and Eddie discuss the Fermi Paradox.
Joe Biden won. And so did Mitch McConnell. So now Morgan and Eddie have to deal with what this means.
Morgan and Eddie talk about academia, something they love like a relative they can't get rid of.
What happens when there is the biggest financial data leak in history? Listen to find out...
What is virtual environmentalism? Could it help with climate change? Listen & find out...
What is the rightful name of the country north of Greece? Listen to this episode to find out...
In this episode, you get: a story of Tinder love, an update on Eddie's love life, and a memorable song.
Morgan and Eddie discuss what we might learn from millions of Americans working from home.
Morgan and Eddie are joined by a special guest to discuss corruption in international soccer.
Morgan and Eddie discuss a NY Times op-ed about declining fertility rates among Millennials.
Morgan and Eddie update their top 5 presidential candidates based on the September debates.
Eddie and the guest host, Oliver, discuss Tarantino's newest film: "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".
Morgan and Eddie discuss their experience using dating apps and the impact on dating culture.
Morgan lets Eddie vent about his frustration regarding good 'ole Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.