Is the world really littered with underground military bases? How many are active today? Is it possible to find them on your own? Join Ben and Matt as they dive deep (underground) in today's classic episode.
Some cruise lines begin to reopen. In Virginia, locals were astonished to find a bizarre, potentially immortal creature invading -- the infamous (and alien-like) Hammerhead Worm. Tune in for more in this week's Strange News segment.
From 1977 to 1978 the Brazilian Air Force investigated a series of alleged UFO sightings, with multiple witnesses, in and around a city called Colares, located in northern Brazil. The official investigation closed without concluding anything unusual was afoot -- but that may actually be where the real story begins. Tune in to learn more about the strange claims, the oddly specific commonalities between witness accounts... and the mysterious events that haunted the investigators, inspiring them to continue their own investigation after the official operation was shut down.
A caller shares a strange story of a possible curse. The guys explore the dark side of so-called conversion therapy. And a voicemail inspires the gang to finally begin exploring the controversial, conspiratorial death of the Hip Hop legend, the Notorious B.I.G. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.
Baratunde ends Season One focused on the state of our relationships, a key pillar of how to citizen, and thus the health of our society after the most contentious election in modern history. In conversation with world-renowned relationship expert, Esther Perel, they discuss how to repair relationships in this moment, and how choosing to listen and humanize each other is not only how to citizen, but enlightened self-interest.
Show Notes + Links
We are grateful to Esther Perel for joining us!
Follow her @EstherPerelOfficial on IG or @estherperel on Twitter. or find more of her work at EstherPerel.com.
We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.
Please show your support for the show in the form of a review and rating. It makes a huge difference with the algorithmic overlords!
INTERNAL ACTIONS
What is your model of relationships?
Were you raised to believe in self-reliance and autonomy or interdependence and loyalty? Do you conceive of yourself as an “I” trying to develop a “We” or the other way around?
Take inventory of the relationships in your life.
Identify relationships in your life that are polarized over politics. Determine which make you truly unsafe that you must let go, then focus on those where you are still committed to some level of relationship and you can still see possibility. In those relationships, make the choice to humanize the person, listen, and find common ground, no matter how small. Reflect on your own behavior and language. Can you acknowledge any responsibility for the state of the relationship?
Examine your own perspectives about people who vote differently than you.
What about your view or beliefs about “these people” makes you fearful? If these thoughts were reversed, would they sound fair or accurate to you? Can you imagine another dimension to one of them as to why they vote or behave the way they do?
EXTERNAL ACTIONS
Choose to deepen one or two relationships with people who voted differently from you.
Instead of ignoring how a loved one voted, practice engaging through questions, not arguments. Be curious. Remember the question from Eric Liu in Ep 2: “what are you afraid of?” and add “what do you hope for?” and “what do you care about?”
Build and invest in relationships outside of politics.
We need more excuses to connect with each other beyond politics. In our second episode, Eric Liu asked us to start a club, any club. Do it. If you’re already in one or more, good for you. Stay connected to others through the common interests you share. Invest in those relationships.
If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Humanize in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen.
SEASON BREAK NOTES
Thrilled at the response. - example of quotes about the show, slack, inbox, or reviews in itunes. If you’ve enjoyed, the NUMBER ONE WAY PODCAST GROW are by word of mouth. Tell someone about the show or your favorite episode.
Thanks for riding with us this season. Here’s the news on the future of this show: There’s a future of this show! We will be making a second season and expect to release it in the first quarter of 2021.
We might drop some special episodes during this transition period for our country and our podcast, but here’s some ways to stay connected…
Baratunde and show social @baratunde on socials. @howtocitizenwithbaratunde on IG 202-894-8844 “citizen”
Send us email or voice memo! on what you’ve thought of season 1 and what you’d want to hear in season 2. comments@howtocitizen.com
In this episode, the guys sit down with seasoned conflict journalist Jake Hanrahan to hear his first-hand accounts of covering stories all too often ignored or misrepresented in the west -- as well learning more about his work exploring QAnon in his newest podcast, Q Clearance.
What's the difference between a cult and a religion? What are some of history's strangest cults? Are there any secret cults in the modern day? In this week's classic episode, Ben and Matt are (accidentally) prescient.
Confronted with multiple criminal charges, one New Hampshire woman came up with an innovative -- and bizarre -- plan: she impersonated a prosecutor and dropped the charges against herself. Nabisco has reportedly planned to create their own Oreo doomsday vault. In several cities across the US, Archbishops have performed city-wide exorcisms. All this and more in this week's strange news segment.
On August 19th, 2016 Saudi national and college student Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah was charged with first degree manslaughter for fatally hitting a 15 year old girl named Fallon Smart with his car in Portland, Oregon. Two weeks before his trial, he disappeared from the United States. Today, federal agents suspect he escaped with the help of the Saudi Arabian government -- and it seems he's not the only one. In fact, over the years, it seems dozens of Saudi nationals accused of various crimes in the US and Canada have illegally escaped prosecution, and will likely never see jail time or justice. And the US government hasn't done much to address this ongoing pattern of conspiracy. Tune in to learn more.
Critics allege the rehabilitative program known as Narconon is a front for Scientology. Masons chime in to confirm that yes, you can get kicked out of the Masons. The disappearance of former cruise line worker Rebecca Coriam remains unsolved to this day. All this and more in this week's listener mail.
