Jussie Smollett - The Power of Infamy

207 - The hosts discuss Jussie Smollett and the various responses to his case. If Smollett is the boundary case, a caricature of how a person can manipulate social forces for personal gain, what other examples exist in 21st century America? Is this a cautionary tale of our culture's preoccupation with race, or a byproduct of meaningful progress?

Part 2: Joe Rogan and the Right to Be Wrong

206 - The hosts continue their discussion of Joe Rogan and his podcast. The conversation opens up from there as they consider the importance of free speech in a functioning democracy.

Part I: Joe Rogan Says What?

205 - The hosts discuss Joe Rogan and the latest controversies surrounding his podcast. They also spend some time talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and do a mighty fine job of tying them together.

Lizzo: Body Neutrality Over Positivity

204 - What’s the difference between honoring our bodies and promoting our bodies? Can we talk about health and wellness and still make room for a variety of shapes and sizes? The hosts talk Lizzo, busybodies, and Joe Rogan. 

The Podcast about the Podcast

203 - Steven asks Seph and Travis to reflect on the podcast itself. Over 200 episodes in, what do the hosts think about what they’re doing. Who do they think is listening? And why don’t they do more to promote their conversations?

Intersectionality: Unfair Bias, Unfair Grievance

202 - Bari Weiss wrote a book on Anti-semitism. The philosopher Judith Butler criticized it. The hosts try to understand that criticism and each other as they work through our unfair biases, and our unfair grievances.

One Degree of White Supremacy

201 - In response to Episode 200, the hosts play a game called “one degree of white supremacy.” Steven and Seph sent Travis a list of major headlines. Travis claimed that with one Google search he would find a connection between that story and the problem of “white supremacy”--regardless of the story. Tune in to hear the results.