Nate and Maria discuss Anna Sorokin’s (AKA Anna Delvey) spin on Dancing with the Stars. Then, they debate the merits and limits of voting in your self interest, and Nate explains why Nebraska has his attention on the election map.
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Robert sits down with Mia and Gare to discuss the recent Mossad attack on Hezbollah using pagers and radios impregnated with explosives. It turns out this is an incredibly easy thing to do, an attack that opens a massive pandora's box with the potential to change daily life for all of us in terrifying ways.
In this episode, Wits University media researchers Samuel Olaniran and Iginio Gagliardone guide an audio tour into the complex world of conspiracy theories in the era of social media and global crises.
Drawing from multiple research findings and expert dialogues, Andile Masuku (host) grapples with the complex function of conspiracy theories in our society. Rather than dismissing them solely as social ills, he investigates their potential as tools for challenging authority and frameworks for understanding our social environment.
This approach acknowledges that conspiracy theories can serve as a means for marginalised groups to question power structures and make sense of confusing or threatening events.
Key themes:
- Historical context of conspiracy theories
- Impact of social media on the spread and study of conspiracy theories
- The role of global events like the COVID-19 pandemic in shaping conspiratorial narratives
- Technological advancements in studying conspiracy theories in real-time
- Conspiracy theories as a form of social commentary and sense-making
- The balance between critical thinking and supporting conspiratorial claims
Learn more:
Click here to discover more ongoing research and work being conducted in Wits University's Department of Media Studies: https://www.wits.ac.za/mediastudies
Production credits:
Produced by Andile Masuku and Iginio Gagliardone
Co-produced by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Written and hosted by Andile Masuku
Recording, editing, sound design and mixing by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Voice acting by Nkululeko Sibiya and Damilola Oladokun
Editorial Note: The Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series is made possible through support from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand. Views expressed by the host and contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of African Tech Roundup or the University of the Witwatersrand. All rights reserved by the University of the Witwatersrand.
In the third and final episode of the Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series, titled "The Gig Economy's Hidden Costs", Wits social scientist and researcher Fikile Masikane guides an exploration of the complex realities facing gig workers in the Global South, particularly food courier riders in Africa.
Featuring insights from a study conducted with Edward Webster, Andile Masuku delves into the challenges and contradictions of the gig economy, examining how promises of entrepreneurship and freedom often lead to harsher working conditions and increased precarity.
Key themes:
- Expansion of e-hailing and e-delivery platforms in the Global South
- Promises vs. realities of gig work entrepreneurship
- Impact of profit-driven policies on driver conditions
- Vulnerability of migrant and economically disadvantaged populations
- Contrast between company narratives and worker experiences
- Long-term implications of gig economy practices on labor rights and social equity
Learn more:
Click here to discover the ongoing research and work being conducted in the field of labor studies and inequality by visiting the Wits Southern Centre for Inequality Studies: https://www.wits.ac.za/scis
Production credits:
Produced by Andile Masuku and Iginio Gagliardone
Co-produced by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Written and hosted by Andile Masuku
Recording, editing, sound design and mixing by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Editorial Note: The Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series is made possible through support from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand. Views expressed by the host and contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of African Tech Roundup or the University of the Witwatersrand. All rights reserved by the University of the Witwatersrand.
In the opening episode of the Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series, titled "Touching Brains", Wits University research collaborators Sahba Besharati and Victoria Williams let us in on their multidisciplinary exploration of the complex impact of COVID-19 on human interaction and touch.
Featuring insights from various studies and discussions around the experiences of parents and caregivers during the pandemic, Andile Masuku (host), examines the significance of physical contact, the resilience of human beings and the potential long-term effects of altered social interactions.
Key themes:
- Perception of touch across societies: We pose the question: Is touch perceived differently across cultures? This episode examines how various societies interpret and engage in physical contact, influenced by factors like cultural norms and societal structures.
- COVID-19 and proximity: We discuss how the pandemic has reshaped perceptions of proximity and touch, as health protocols and safety measures have altered traditional practices and interactions.
- Humanities and neurosciences connection: The episode connects the humanities and neurosciences, demonstrating that a greater understanding of localized experiences can enhance rather than challenge universal principles. Most of the world is not 'WEIRD' (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic), yet much research in fields like psychology and neuroscience has historically been conducted in WEIRD contexts. This raises questions about the applicability of such research to diverse populations.
- Resilience of families: Despite the challenges, we explore the resilience of families in fostering connections during the pandemic and how lockdowns may have strengthened bonds.
- Long-term implications of touch: We address the significance of touch in maintaining social relationships and contemplate the potential long-term effects of social deprivation on mental health and development.
Learn more:
Discover the ongoing research and work being conducted in the field of humanities and neuroscience by visiting the Wits Neuroscience Research Lab: https://www.witsneurl.com
Production credits:
Produced by Andile Masuku and Iginio Gagliardone
Co-produced by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Written and hosted by Andile Masuku
Recording, editing, sound design and mixing by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Residents on Florida's Gulf Coast prepare for Hurricane Helene, expected to make landfall tomorrow as a major storm. Israel threatens ground invasion in Lebanon against Hezbollah. House votes to avert government shutdown. CBS News Correspondent Jennifer Keiper with tonight's World News Roundup.
So what exactly are PBMs and how do they work? In an episode that aired two years ago, we explain how the answer involves secret deals and double agents.
Related episodes: Who can and cannot get weight loss drugs (Apple / Spotify) New drugs. Cheaper drugs. Why not both? (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Lovett and guest host Errin Haines break down Kamala Harris's efforts to close the gap with Donald Trump on the economy, and what might be behind Trump's deranged new appeal to women voters. Then, Fox News's Jessica Tarlov, cohost of The Five, stops by to talk about what it's like to be a Democrat on the network Democrats love to hate, and how she survives her daily confrontations with Fox's most opinionated conservatives.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
Next week, JD Vance and Tim Walz will face off in the only confirmed vice presidential debate ahead of the election. As voters look ahead to what their economic policies might be, we look back to see what they have said and done, and how it turned out.
Planet Money's newsletter author Greg Rosalsky has spent some time combing through the economic records of Vance and Walz, and has some knowledge to share. Why does Walz support universal free school lunches, and why do some criticize him for it? Why have some called Vance a "Khan-servative?" And, how much do these candidates represent a break from the past?
This episode was hosted by Nick Fountain and Greg Rosalsky. It was produced by James Sneed and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Meg Cramer. Sierra Juarez fact-checked it, and it was engineered by Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's Executive Producer.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, the U.S. military is keeping a close eye on how drones are changing the conflict. They are used by both Russia and Ukraine to watch troop movements, identify targets and drop bombs. We go to the woods of Louisiana to see what lessons the U.S. Army is incorporating into its training and understand what it might mean for future wars.
