The wealthiest man in the Czech Republic just died in an Alaskan helicopter crash. Declassified files reveal a UFO appeared to break the sound barrier without creating a sonic boom. Scientists have confirmed that, just 153 light-years away, an unknown ...thing appears to be eating stars. No one knows what it could be -- and no one's sure what this means for planet Earth. One thing's for sure: You can learn all this and more in this week's listener mail.
It's a match for the ages: Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, boxing heavyweight champions in their own right, will soon vie for the title of the world's undisputed boxing champion. Irish native and current Dubai resident Daniel Kinahan has a life-long love of boxing -- and, according to Irish authorities, he is the heir to a criminal empire stretching from Dublin to Africa, South America, Southeast Asia and beyond. Recently, Fury set off a firestorm of speculation when he thanked Kinahan for brokering the fight. In today's episode, Ben and Matt dive into the world of Irish organized crime, the sport, science and art of boxing, all to ask: Is there Something They Don't Want You To Know?
The Lean Bean Vegan Machine writes in about Oprah Winfrey's recent interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Buddy asks about the bizarre story of the Gulf Breeze Six. Tom calls in for more information about survivors of Romania's notorious orphanage system under the reign of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. All this and more -- including Project 100,000 -- in this week's Listener Mail.
In Season One we asked ourselves, what does it mean “to citizen”? How do we show up and stand up for our community? Coming off the heels of January 6th, 2021, Baratunde starts Season Two by taking a step back with the question, “How can we citizen with so much division?”. In this episode, we speak with author and filmmaker Astra Taylor who takes us back to ancient Greece and reveals how our political and economic rights are deeply intertwined.
Guest: Astra Taylor - writer, organizer, and documentarian
Twitter: @astradisastra
Bio: Astra Taylor is a filmmaker, writer, and political organizer. She is the director of the philosophical documentary What Is Democracy?; the author of The People’s Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age; and co-founder of Debt Collective.
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We are grateful to Astra Taylor for joining us! Follow her at @astradisastra on Twitter. or find more of her work at hiddendriver.com
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How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of iHeartRadio Podcasts and Dustlight Productions. Our Executive Producers are Baratunde Thurston, Elizabeth Stewart and Misha Euceph. Stephanie Cohnis our Senior Producer and Alie Kilts is our Producer. Kelly Prime is our Editor. Original Music by Andrew Eapen. Valentino Rivera is our Engineer. Sam Paulson is our Apprentice. This episode was produced and sound designed by Stephanie Cohn. Special thanks to Joelle Smith from iHeartRadio.
Special thanks to our citizen voices Marie Ture, Glenn Maida, Adan Ayala, and Jennifer Bohmbach.
A new player has entered the strange, often confusing world of Bitcoin -- the non-fungible token, or NFT. This digital token, which can be virtually anything, is technically unique. It's a one-of-a-kind thing existing in an entirely intangible state. Numerous artists, musicians and celebrities have sold NFTs for thousands of dollars, but critics allege this may be anything from a fad to an outright avenue for criminal enterprise. So what exactly is the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know about NFTs? Is this a digital revolution, or another case of The Emperor's New Clothes?
File this under "stranger than fiction": In more than a dozen sites across Gabon, scientists have found evidence of ancient nuclear reactors. How ancient? Try two billion years. But how did this happen? Why? Find out in this classic episode.
15 volunteers spend 40 days locked deep in a French cave, away from all light and time in a bizarre experiment. A plague of mice swarms across Australia. Over in the US, some new homeowners were baffled to learn the man who sold them the house refuses to leave -- and the authorities apparently can't make him. All this and more in this week's strange news.
Since ancient times, human beings have known the sun can be dangerous. Too much exposure to its rays can burn and prematurely age the skin. In fact, the concept of sunscreen may be a non-human invention, as various types of animals coat themselves in protective layers of mud to stave off the at-times brutal effects of heat and sunshine. Fast forward to the modern era -- sunscreen is a huge industry, and people across the planet use it on a daily basis. The science seems sound. Unlike some skin care products, sunscreen actually works... however, it appears sunscreen may also have a dark side. Tune in to learn more.
How do we wield our collective power for the many, not just the few, in order to live together even with our differences?
We feel the dangerous divisions within our democracy daily: the pandemic response, racial oppression, and political violence. In season two of How To Citizen with Baratunde, we focus on ground zero for these divisions: money, capitalism, and the economy. In a time of radical economic inequality, how do we citizen when we can’t pay the bills.
This season we explore the deep roots of wealth inequality in the US, learn how its historic levels impact democracy, and search across the nation for inspiring people working to find solutions. Their stories paint a powerful picture of a new, more inclusive economy that serves the many, strengthens local relationships, and gives people not just stability but the time to truly citizen.
Visit the show's homepage - howtocitizen.com - to sign up for news about the show, to learn about upcoming guests, live tapings, and more for your citizen journey.
How To Citizen with Baratunde is a production of iHeart Radio Podcasts and Dustlight Productions. Our executive producers are me, Baratunde Thurston, Elizabeth Stewart and Misha Euceph. Stephanie Cohnis our Senior Producer and Alie Kilts is our Producer. Kelly Prime is our editor. Original Music by Andrew Eapen. Valentino Rivera is our engineer. Sam Paulson is our apprentice. Special thanks to Joelle Smith from iHeartRadio.