What makes a person "cool"? We don't mean physical temperature -- instead, we're asking about the swag, the aura, the almost indescribable vibe with a thousand names across time and culture. For most of human history, the concept of what we call "cool" has been a mystery -- perhaps, that is, until now. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore the strange story of how science may have finally cracked the code on coolness. Could you use this knowledge to make yourself cooler? More importantly... is it cool to want to?
The summer of 1945 saw three nuclear explosions that ushered in a new era of experimentation, development, and fear when it comes to the potential for such a powerful weapon. Native people are among those suffering the most from the consequences of that path. The first test of the atomic bomb at the Trinity site in New Mexico, and the subsequent use of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, signaled the U.S. Government’s new push to develop nuclear weapons, fueled by millions of tons of uranium ore mined near Native land in New Mexico and Arizona. And ongoing nuclear tests exposed thousands of Native people in the Southwest and in Alaska to dangerous levels of radiation. We’ll explore the ongoing effects on Native people of nuclear weapons and power development, in this encore presentation.
The info storm continues! Part 1 covered the anatomy of a cyclonic storm, the bizarre histories behind the category system, and where hurricanes come from, but this week’s conclusion with Matt Lanza and Dr. Kim Wood gets you covered on emergency preparation for any disaster occasion, climate change trends and despair, the latest on the government funding drama, if you should trust a waffle house more than a weather person, and literally what is on the horizon in the future. Also: Sharpiegate.
For today’s instalment of Four Letter Word season, we’re hopping from ‘bane’ to ‘bain’ to ‘bath’, via poison gardens, doll’s eyes, alchemists, placentas and waterborne curses.
Visit theallusionist.org/bane for more information about today's topics, plus a transcript of the episode.
Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes info about every episode, livestreams with me, Martin and my ever-growing collection of dictionaries, and the charming and nurturing Allusioverse Discord community, where we're watching the current seasons of Great British Sewing Bee.
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, on the unceded ancestral and traditional territory of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Martin Austwick appears and also composed the music, including his new song 'Poison Garden'. Download his songs at palebirdmusic.com and on Bandcamp, and listen to his podcasts Song By Song and Neutrino Watch.
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James is joined by Karl Kasarda of InRangeTV to discuss the Project Blue data center and the coalition of people who campaigned against its construction in Tucson.
Whether you consider yourself a true conspiracy theorist or a diehard skeptic, you've definitely heard of chemtrails. True believers are certain that, unlike the contrails made by aircraft, chemtrails are insidious chemicals dispersions meant to poison unsuspecting, innocent civilians across the planet. The concept of chemtrails has been more or less dismissed by scientists and the mainstream media, but it turns out that, in at least one country, something like chemtrails was very much a reality. Tune in to learn more.
Another year and another record revenue report for the tribal gaming industry. The annual report by the National Indian Gaming Commission finds slot machines, table games, sports betting, and other enterprises reaped $43.9 billion in 2024. That’s up more than $2 billion from the previous year. But there are potential setbacks on the horizon that could affect gaming, including flagging consumer confidence, confusing foreign trade policies, and federal government’s diminished regard for tribal sovereignty. We’ll get a status update and a look ahead for tribal gaming.
GUESTS
Ernie Stevens Jr. (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association
Derrick Beetso (Navajo), professor of practice and executive director of Indian Gaming and Self-Governance at Arizona State University
Break 1 Music: Happy Sundance (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)
Break 2 Music: The Gift of Life (song) Randy Wood (artist) The Gift of Life (album)
In this episode, Rivers is hangin' at Disgraceland Studios with our ol' pals, comedians Tom Goss and Erik Barnes, and GFTW World Heavyweight Champion, Justin Morales. We kick this one off by testing out Ric Flair's mushroom-powered energy drink, and talking about the death of Hulk Hogan. We also talk about an American man who is so deeply homophobic that he moved to Russia. To the surprise of no one, he was immediately sent to the frontlines of the war on Ukraine. Luke Combs's "Beer Never Broke My Heart" is our JAM OF THE WEEK! Give us a listen, folks. Follow Tom on social media @TomGossComedy Follow Erik Barnes on social media @ErikWBarnes Follow Justin Morales on social media @TheJustinMorales Follow our show @TheGoodsPod on absolutely everything! Rivers is @RiversLangley Sam is @SlamHarter Carter is @Carter_Glascock Subscribe on Patreon for an UNCUT video version of the show as well as HOURS of bonus content! http://patreon.com/TheGoodsPod Pick up a Goods from the Woods t-shirt at: http://prowrestlingtees.com/TheGoodsPod
Hopes to fix the Santee Sioux Nation’s lack of clean drinking water faded as federal funding for a pipeline project is increasingly tangled in government turmoil. Tribal citizens are forced to drink bottled water to avoid the high levels of manganese in well water. They are just one tribe having difficulty solving problems accessing the most basic resource.
GUESTS
Heather Tanana (Diné), initiative lead of the Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities and law professor at the University of Denver
