Curated interviews–some longer cuts than what aired–on topics that explore who we are and where we’re going.
We’re living through radical changes in the way work gets organized, and that feeds into radical changes in the the language we use around work. A whole lot of jobs–from teaching college to delivering groceries–have gotten worse-paid and more precarious. We’re told to either be grateful for the freedom, or for doing something we love. … Continued
There’s a scientific consensus that alcohol is bad for our bodies. So why do we enjoy it so much? Maybe because the ability to get buzzed makes it possible for large societies to function. Guest: Edward Slingerland is Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. His newest book is Drunk: How We Sipped, … Continued
For the entirety of our lifetimes, the planet’s has been getting more urban. We’ve been making more cities. Moving more people into them. Growing the urban limits in pretty much every direction. So much so, in fact, that a future of ever-increasing urbanism seems almost inevitable. But for a lot of human history, cities were … Continued
Our immune systems are unbelievably complex. There’s still a lot we don’t know about how they work. We usually talk about the immune system using metaphors–it’s boosted like a race-car; or suppressed, like a protest; it’s fighting, like an army. Sometimes it’s helping us. Sometimes it’s the thing that’s killing us. All those metaphors give … Continued
One of the remarkable things about the pandemic was how it gave us a chance to re-consider just about everything. Suddenly health wasn’t something we were expected to address as individuals, in consult with credentialed doctors. Health was something we had to do as a society. Our office spaces were a health issue. Stopping evictions was … Continued
