The David Giardino Podcast: Recent Episodes
David Giardino
David Giardino mixes storytelling with the social sciences to deliver fresh perspectives on pop culture, politics, business, and sports. Each episode, take a second look at something we may have misunderstood, or discover hidden connections between stories that, on the surface, appear to have nothing in common - all backed by prevalent, fascinating research from psychology.
About the creator: David studied psychology at the University of Southern California. He received the 2018 Tenopyr Award for a study on fandom. He consults on brand positioning, DEI, and organizational design.
Reflections on the "Jurassic Park" episode. Who is the true villain in the film? Plus, a quirk in the script that might actually reveal another powerful message.
Reflections on the "Millionaire" episode, including a counter-argument to the episode's original thesis. What if "present bias" - the tendency for us to overvalue short term rewards, while putting less worth in long term consequences - is actually a winning strategy in some instances?
Reflections on the "Peloton" episode, including a story about gender bias in an iconic American television show that was cut from the original recording. Programming Note: the next bonus clip from Season 1 will drop on August 19.
Reflections on the "Monopoly" episode. Should we be upset with Parker Brothers for concealing the true origin story of the board game for decades? Plus, the details of a study on irony and emotion that was cut from the original recording.
What if one of Pixar's least remembered films teaches us a profound lesson about how we can find happiness in our future? More than a decade ago, the studio released a daring conceptual project, one that advanced a host of introspective themes about humanity, nostalgia, and personal fulfillment. Take a second look at Wall-E - and the messages within it that we might have originally missed - in the Season 1 finale.
A scene from an episode of House, Fox's critically-acclaimed medical drama, serves as a jumping-off point for a conversation about moral luck. How do we judge the actions of others? How do we determine what's right and wrong? What if there are contradictions in how we pass these judgments? Ultimately, our inconsistencies in assigning blame (or praise) to people and institutions might affect everything from how we think about NFL quarterbacks to the 2014 Grammy-winning Song of the Year.
Three different short stories. Three unique lessons. So what do Robert Frost, the Chicago Cubs, and Uber have in common? On the surface, absolutely nothing. But there might be an intersection that surprisingly weaves the lessons of all three stories together - one that connects to a present-day debate raging across our country.
In 1993, Jurassic Park stunned audiences with its visual effects, offering a thrilling peek into a world where dinosaurs roamed our planet alongside us. The film spawned a multi-billion dollar empire, but it's rarely recognized for anything other than its technical achievements. What if we've missed the film's underlying messages? Welcome to Jurassic Park - The Podcast Episode, where you'll be met with two unique interpretations of the film. Perhaps this movie isn't a window to our prehistoric past, but rather, a warning alarm sounding about our imminent future.
When Inception debuted in theaters in 2010, Christopher Nolan's cerebral science fiction thriller blew audiences away. And for a decade, viewers have questioned what actually happened in the film's ambiguous, emotional ending. This is an interpretation of the film's ending, and the surprising way that Nolan's dream-layered blockbuster actually relates to our everyday lives.
In the not-so-distant past, Blockbuster was the quintessential video rental business, a chain as synonymous with weekend entertainment as it was known for its iconic blue and yellow store aesthetic. But one missed opportunity in the year 2000 would go on to haunt the company, as Netflix ultimately eviscerated the brick-and-mortar retail store on its way to global streaming dominance . . . or did it? What if Netflix didn't kill Blockbuster? Forget everything you think you know about the Blockbuster/Netflix saga.
Seinfeld was a revolutionary television series, and one that remains popular with new audiences today. Whether you've seen every episode or are only modestly aware of it, you probably know that it's often billed as "a show about nothing." But have we all overlooked what the show is really about? This is Seinfeld, contemplated in a way you've probably never considered, with a contention that the show's real message might help explain . . . our nation's growing political divide.
In 2019, Peloton broke the internet with a new holiday commercial that many perceived as sexist and classist. But others - including the company's loyal consumer base - passionately disagreed. This viral ad, the one that launched a thousand memes and scorched the Earth on its ascent to late night talk shows, never actually got its rightful day in court. It's time to take a second look at the Peloton commercial; to hear arguments from both sides of the debate; and ultimately, to discover why it mattered so much.
In 1985, Back to the Future was released in theaters, and instantly became a generation-defining film - but it almost never made it to the big screen. The major film studios rejected it countless times because, in many ways, the screenplay appeared fatally flawed. How did this zany, sci-fi flick manage to break the rules of cinema storytelling and resonate with audiences of all ages? It may be because Back to the Future is a parable; one that teaches us a lesson about how we view ourselves, and how we think about our future.
Monopoly is one of the best selling board games ever created - and one of the most misunderstood. The little known origin story of the game explains why you (probably) hate playing it. In fact, there's a good chance you have never understood how Monopoly was intended to be played. This is the fascinating story of why we often confuse our environment, from failing to spot messages in board games to one of the most misinterpreted songs in American rock music history.
Can you guess what television series holds the record for the highest season ratings in the past 22 years? The answer may surprise you. The story of its rise and fall demonstrates a critical decision-making bias that we all fall prey to - a bias that also finds itself at the heart of a little-known story about the most significant American architectural achievement of the twentieth century.
Could two stories - separated by more than one hundred years - demonstrate why we're susceptible to conspiracy theories? Misinformation and conspiracy theories aren't a new phenomenon, but we often fail to understand why they spread - and why, in an effort to combat them, we tend to make the problem worse.
In 2012, JC Penney conducted, arguably, the worst sales experiment in retail history. The company hasn't been profitable since. But this story deserves a second look. What motivates us to buy something? How do retailers take advantage of our biases? And could professional wrestling possibly teach us a lesson about the JC Penney pricing disaster?
How did one play in a 1998 NFL season irrevocably change the future of sports? The peculiar story of instant replay, video doorbells, and what it all reveals about the shortcomings in how we make decisions.
Is it a magic trick? An illusion? Sort of. The Straw Man is a clever debate strategy, whereby someone reframes their opponent's argument in a way that makes it easier to strike down. It's pervasive in politics, sports talk, and yes, even around your dining room table. In this episode, check out two examples of The Straw Man Fallacy circulating the news today - plus, how to spot these arguments in real time, and how you can fight back against them.