The Blackening: Playing with Race and Racism

020 - C. Travis Webb, Seph Rodney, and Steven Fullwood discuss Comedy Central's recently aired skit, "The Blackening." From dissecting the underlying racial codes, to discussing what constitutes racial "progress," they examine some of the dynamics that allow people to play with their "blackness."

UFOs

019 - C. Travis Webb and Steven Fullwood discuss UFOs. From the validity of their sightings to the possibility that they are a conscious manifestation of an uncanny universe, the subject is treated seriously--and skeptically.

Michelle Wolf: The Comedian's Sacred Responsibility

018 - C. Travis Webb and Seph Rodney discuss Michelle Wolf's performance at the White House's Correspondence Dinner. What is the role of the comedian in a civil society? In what ways are political upheaval's related to social etiquette?

Unwanted Opinions

017 - C. Travis Webb and Seph Rodney discuss whether or not its fair to ostracize intellectuals that have unfashionable opinions. Athletes and entertainers are often given a pass for unpopular opinions, why not intellectuals too?

Trump or Social Progress

016 - C. Travis Webb and Steven Fullwood discuss the perils and the possibilities of a Trump presidency. Does symbolic cultural progress matter, and if it does, what does Trump's election mean for the country?

Being a Middle-aged Graduate Student

015 - C. Travis Webb and Seph Rodney discuss their decision to go back to graduate school late in life. What does it take to participate in the pursuit of human knowledge, and is it worth the cost?

Liberty v. Safety

014 - C. Travis Webb and Steven Fullwood talk about the natural tensions that exist between liberty and safety. You cannot maximize both, so what does the current balance between the two in our society say about our priorities and prejudices.

Madness in America: Part III

013 - C. Travis Webb, Seph Rodney, and Steven Fullwood continue their discussion on madness in America. Is it a kind of madness to focus so exhaustively on race? Why do we so often return to race as a way to categorize ourselves in America?

Madness in American: Part II

012 - C. Travis Webb and Steven Fullwood continue their conversation about what it means to be "healthy" in America. Is it possible to engage politically and maintain a reasonable amount of faith in one's agency?

Conservatives in the Trump age

011 - C. Travis Webb and Seph Rodney discuss writer David Roberts recent take down of the New York Times opinion page, and its attempt to incorporate conservative leaning writers. Is conservatism just a series of "irritable mental gestures" or a vital and coherent worldview?