Culturephiles: Recent Episodes
Culturephiles
Culturephiles explores the idiosyncrasies of American Culture. From drag queens to vegetarianism, the military to mormonism – we break down what it means to live in America. Nothing is off limits!
Wildfire Risk Reduction (Mitigation) – Many Americans are forced to temporarily evacuate their homes and some lose property – or even their lives – to wildfires. Lisa Hatfield, author of the novel To Starve An Ember, dedicates her time and energy to educating people about wildfire risk reduction. She gives us practical tips for protecting our homes and our families. Join us, then spread the word and starve the embers!
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Meet Stephanie and Tim, a couple who served in the U.S. Airforce simultaneously. Add 3 children to the mix and their lives were a true juggling act! We discuss the challenges they faced and how things are changing, for the better, for women who serve and their families.
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Encounter With The Killer Clown, John Wayne Gacy – Mature Audiences A serial killer, known to his neighbors as Pogo the Clown, famously said, “You know, clowns can get away with murder.” And he did! Our guest, Kammi, had an electrifying encounter with the Killer Clown. She shares her cautionary tale and implores us to listen to our gut instincts and to our children.
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Colorado Vacations – Crested Butte – Hike & Bike That Mountain! Ski It Too! Crested Butte is a mountain biking mecca, and is also home to some of the world’s best hiking, fishing, skiing and snowboarding. Plus, the annual 4th of July Parade is as eclectic and fun as it gets! We have great tips for visiting this quaint, old mining town so you can plan the quintessential vacation.
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FODMAPS, IBS & YOU – Say Goodbye to Gas, Bloating and Worse –Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? Maybe not. We interview Christine, a registered Dietician, whose teachings changed Diana’s life! Find out why healthy foods – like apples and whole grains – might be the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome GI distress. Taking control of FODMAPs improves symptoms in 80% of Christine’s clients. Maybe it’s your turn!
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Broken Plates, Drunken Donuts and Our Favorite Gadgets and Apps – Shawn is joining Culturephiles! Learn about some of his college shenanigans – including pilfered plates, shattered on a street in Milwaukee. Plus, we discuss some of Shawn and Diana’s favorite gadgets – electronic and otherwise – along with some favorite apps.
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Teaching During A Pandemic: Join us for a thought-provoking interview with two K through 12 teachers. These hard-working instructors describe the unique challenges they and their students are facing, due to the pandemic, and provide concrete suggestions for you to positively impact your students’ learning experience.
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Mental Health and Pandemic Fatigue - Family therapist Jean McBride explains why binge-watching TV, mindless activities like bird-watching and simple art projects may be just what your brain needs during stressful times. Join us for a fascinating interview and stop “shoulding” all over yourself!
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Not a Stepmonster – Just a Misunderstood Stepmother Entire movies are devoted to the cliché of the Wicked Stepmother. However, it is possible to be a step-parent and earn the love and respect of your stepchildren. Sarah discusses her experience as the Stepmom of three, and we explore advice from Wednesday Martin’s book, “Stepmonster.”
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The Notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg When she died 9/18/2020, Justice RBG left a huge void, yet her legacy continues. If you’re a woman with your own credit card or a loan that didn’t require a man’s signature, it’s largely due to the work of RBG. We discuss little known facts about RBG’s personal life and a few of her landmark cases – the ones that changed Americans' lives forevermore.
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Self Care – Take Your Power Back: Civil unrest, a pandemic and fires, OH MY! Let’s take a collective deep breath and talk self-care. Life in the year 2020 is forcing us out of our comfort zone. So, let’s focus on quality sleep, socialization and mental health, and creative steps to take our power back.
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Prepperphiles 6 – Has the SHTF?! Previously our resident prepper, Sabine, tutored us on preparing for the end of life as we know it – aka, When The Stuff* Hits The Fan! Is the year 2020 the beginning of the end? Join us for suggestions on how to protect your family – both financially and physically. It’s not too late!
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Coronavirus, Collective Grief and Keeping It Positive Americans are experiencing collective grief as we grapple with life under the Pandemic. Sarah and Diana discuss how the Coronavirus emergency is impacting them and their families, and discuss the stages of grief as related to the Pandemic. Wash your hands, take some deep breaths and settle in for helpful coping tips to get you through this time of national distress.
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Attitude Beats Altitude – A Primer to Hiking America’s Highest Mountains Avid hikers, Diana and Shawn, share tips for conquering some of America’s highest mountains – those above 14,000 feet – aka “14’ers.” We discuss Acute Mountain Altitude Sickness, The Ten Essentials for your backpack and safety tips. To quote Al McGuire, “Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance!”
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Jeffrey Epstein Conspiracies – Suicide or Murder? Or…Is He Alive?! *Warning: Adult Themes" Join us for Epstein 101. You’ll learn how he became THE Jeffrey Epstein, plus we discuss his disturbing past and how he died. Wait! Do we know how he died – or IF he died?! Conspiracy theories abound! And where on Earth is Ghislaine Maxwell?! Don’t miss this episode of “Conspiracyphiles!”
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Unleash Your Inner Artist – An Interview with Author Karen Kane Many people dream of writing a book, yet don’t know where to start. Karen Kane, author of the Charlie and Frog book series, offers tips on developing your craft. She explains the ins and outs of publishing, including her own writing process, the importance of finding an agent and how she approaches marketing. Let your inner artist prevail!
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One Small Step For Man, One Giant Cover-Up By NASA? Meet Walt, an engineer who worked for the government and doesn’t believe American astronauts walked on the Moon. He explains how the astronauts were duped into believing they walked on the Moon and how NASA achieved such a huge cover-up. Don’t miss this episode – you may end up doubting the evidence yourself!
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Gluten Free Living – If You're Tootin', It Might Be The Gluten - People experience a myriad of symptoms due to gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, wheat allergies and related illnesses. Join us for a discussion about each of these dietary struggles. We share real-life experiences that will help you confront gluten issues head-on. You are not alone!
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Conspiracy Theories: Which ones Do you Believe? Jeffrey Epstein is alive! The Denver airport is a cover for the New World Order. GASP! That one might be true! Join this discussion about conspiracies that keep Americans asking, "Will we ever know the truth?"
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Stop Caretaking the Borderline or Narcissist If someone you love has Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder, you may feel depressed and believe your life is out of control. Join us for a fascinating interview with author and Family Therapist, Margalis Fjelstad. We discuss her book, which helps caretakers and others become less dependent on their relationship with the NP or BP, thus ending the drama and restoring a sense of order to their lives.
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Got Money? Did you know 50% of Americans don’t have the funds to cover a $400 emergency? Are you teaching your kids the financial basics of budgeting, saving and paying taxes? Join us for a frank discussion about money and learn about a life-changing budgeting App that can help you save for the vacation/car/home of your dreams.
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Americans and Our Pampered Pets Americans fuel a $72.5 Billion pet industry! We support our fur-babies with toys, treats, pet grooming, and hydrotherapy. Underwater treadmills are just the beginning! There’s also Fur-ternity Leave, i.e. paid-time-off for owners with new pets, and $12,000 bedroom sets meant just for Fido. Join us for this eye-opening podcast and you’ll also learn about the dating app that matches you with the animal-loving mate of your dreams!
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Thanks for the Comedy, Nextdoor If you don’t laugh listening to this episode, you may be missing a funny bone!! Join us, along with a special guest, as we share some of our favorite Nextdoor posts. We love this app! We have found everything from food to dogsitters by relying on our neighbors using Nextdoor. So it’s icing on the cake that some posts are giggle-worthy and/or outright, LOL funny. Warning: Explicit language!
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Parenting….HELP! Moms, Dads and caregivers -- want some help making the right parenting decisions? In this episode, Diana, Sarah and Kelly dissect the top 4 Parenting Styles. We help you identify your own parenting style(s), then tell you which style the experts agree is most likely to lead to a happy, well-adjusted adult. No matter your children’s ages, this episode may help you become a more effective parent!
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Prepperphiles 5 – What Would You Do? Sharing with others is a lesson most Americans learn in childhood. However, if the USA was facing widespread food/water shortages, what would you do for neighbors in need? Or what if your local government ordered you to share your family’s precious supplies? Join us for a provocative discussion with our resident Prepper, Sabine. You’ll learn strategies for sharing with others during a crisis, as well as the importance of being prepared to defend your family and your property.
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Prepperphiles 4 – When the Grid is Down: Medical and Dental Skills + Booze = Prepared. Booze! It’s not just for partying anymore! In a time of crisis, when the electrical grid has been compromised, it’s important to have some basic medical and dental care skills and supplies. Join us for an interview with Sabine, our resident Prepper, and learn what to do when the local hospital is not an option. You’ll also hear some creative ideas for that cheap booze you keep around.
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Prepperphiles 3 – Food, Clean Drinking Water, and the Problem with Bleach. People in Venezuela are learning the hard way that the government won’t always be there to provide in times of crisis. If your community faces an on-going crisis, are you prepared with enough food and clean drinking water for the long-term? Join us for an interview with Sabine, our resident Prepper expert, and learn about hugelkultur, storing and filtering water, and the problem with bleach.
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Episode 1 established the importance of proper training and qualifications for ASL Interpreters. Episode 2 focuses on the basics. Imagine yourself shadowing a professional, freelance ASL Interpreter. What would the day look like? Perhaps you’d find yourself in a college classroom, an accountant’s office and the ER, all in one day. Join us for a back-to-the basics description of what freelance ASL Interpreters do all day and where you’re likely to find them. Because, yes, Sign Language Interpreting is a career!
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Prepperphiles 2 – We’ve had so much interest in Prepping – i.e. making sure you can fend for yourself during a natural disaster or something else that takes out the electrical grid – that we are publishing a series of Prepping episodes. Episode 2 is all about BOB! Who or what is BOB you ask? Listen and find out! Suffice it to say that a man we know who spent 22 miserable hours in his car, during the Bomb Cyclone Blizzard, with nothing more than some crackers and water, would have been well fed and warm if he’d taken along BOB on that fateful day.
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Does the Zodiac sign of your significant other matter? Nancy and Ronald Reagan said it’s important and so does our guest, Cheri. Join us for a fascinating discussion about Astrology, and why the day and time you were born, along with the movement of the planets, may impact your very existence. Take a look inward, and skyward, and marvel at the potential of the sun, moon and planets to determine our future.
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Technology and Parenting – Let’s find the positive side! Cyber bullying, cell-phone addicted kids and “smart” schools often leave parents annoyed with technology. But approximately 75% of American teens own cell phones and technology is here to stay! Sarah, Diana and Kelly discuss the desire of parents to be connected – Columbine anyone? – and how to keep tabs on what kids are doing online. They share ideas for using technology responsibly and even find some positives along the way. (WARNING – episode includes a brief discussion of mass shootings/Columbine.)
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Scientology – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – We may get threats from the leaders of Scientology for this episode - Tom Cruise, are you listening? - but we are airing it anyway! We agree with Leah Remini, host of “Scientology and the Aftermath," that this organization has some explaining to do, like: Why must members pay thousands of dollars to practice this so-called religion, what is Auditing and what’s up with The Hole!? Join Diana and Sarah to learn the history and drama behind what some consider to be a cult masquerading as a religion.
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Your kids' teachers - they teach by day and clerk by night. They get bigger wage increases for coaching than for earning a master's degree. Join Sarah and Diana for an interview with two public school teachers where you'll learn about the reality of choosing this rewarding yet undervalued career.
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You’ve probably seen sign language interpreting videos that have gone viral for the right reasons – The interpreter has skills! And for the wrong reasons – The interpreter is a fraud. Three real-life interpreters -- Diana, Kelly and Sarah -- discuss the good, the bad and the ugly and where you might expect to encounter a sign language interpreter. Wonder why there is a need for Deaf Sign Language Interpreters? Join us and find out.
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Diana, Sarah and Shep continue their Furry discussion and start with the sexual side of the Furry Fandom, answering the age-old question “What does the Fox say?” Shep shares misconceptions faced by Furries – some are down-right cringe-worthy! You will also learn the difference between a fursuit and a murrsuit, and the Do’s and Don’ts of interacting with Furries. For mature ears and eyes only! You’ve been warned - twice!
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Join Diana and Sarah for an interview with Shep, a Furry who helps us understand what it means to have a Fursona, explains Rule 34 of the internet (GASP!), and talks about the unfair perception of Furries thanks to a single episode of CSI and the misconceptions that abound on the internet. Give Furries a chance!
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Which one is more addictive -- alcohol or weed? Is smoking pot detrimental to your respiratory system? Is there such a thing as a violent pothead? Will Sarah exchange a nug for a hug? Join Diana and Sarah for this episode and you’ll learn surprising facts about marijuana use in America.
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Join Diana and Sarah as they briefly discuss Big Brother and cyber-security, then jump into a riveting interview with a gay ex-Mormon. Nate tells us what happened when he came out to his Mormon parents and the Church of Latter Day Saints. He discusses what it means to be “unworthy,“ and dispels myths – Polygamy anyone? And why can’t Diana stop saying “Magic Underwear?!” Listen and find out!
(This episode contains mature subject matter, and some explicit language.)
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If a natural disaster or terrorists take away our electrical grid and/or water supply, how long can you survive without help? Sarah and Diana interview a Prepper (not the same as a survivalist!) so you know how to prepare.
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Social Media and The Fear of Missing Out – Think you know a lot about social media? Why was Donald Trump’s Twitter account briefly suspended? What is Finstagram? Join Sarah and Diana for a Social Media quiz and their discussion of the various social media sites that dominate people’s lives and result in the FOMO epidemic sweeping America.
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What does it take to be a Drag Queen? It means “beating” your face, being “fishy” and wearing layers upon layers of pantyhose. Join us for an interview with Mani Queen as we dispel myths and misconceptions. You will learn about Drag families, how Queens “tuck” and express themselves, and why anyone can be a Drag Queen.
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An officer and an enlisted man walk into a bar…. Join a retired Naval officer and a former enlisted man as they compare their military work experiences. If you don’t know what a GI shower entails, you’re about to find out!
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Don’t be a Sparkle Pony! Diana and Sarah explore a temporary city of radical self-expression erected in NW Nevada for one week a year. A barter system, costumes, and mutant vehicles abound! Join us and feel the Burn!
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Does the smell coming from a fast-food joint make you want to hurl? Join Diana and Sarah as they explore what to some is the obnoxious choice to be Vegan, Vegetarian or, the ever-pretentious, Pescatarian.
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Culturephiles explores the idiosyncrasies of American Culture. Everything from vegetarianism to drag queens, military to Mormonism – we break down what it means to live in America. Nothing is off limits!
Click here for PDF Transcript