John Green reviews teddy bears and penalty shootouts.
The Nod - How We Failed
Brittany and Eric were recently guests on The Upgrade podcast's first ever live show, where the theme for the night was "How to Fail". In this week's BONUS, we are sharing an excerpt from that show, where they discuss each other's biggest failures and play a work inspired game of Never Have I Ever.
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The Boring Talks - #30 – An Underwhelming Christmas
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas, or maybe a magical trip through a Winter Wonderland? Well forget it. Rhodri Marsden explores the disappointing realities of the festive period.
Ho ho ho.
Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Rhodri Marsden Producer: Luke Doran
Brought to you by... - 19: Kentucky Fried Christmas
How did Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken take over Christmas in Japan? PLUS: Household Name Uncut covers some Christmas decorating gone horribly wrong and the curse of the colonel.
Sticky Wicket - Kathleen Blanco And The Katrina Blame Game
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco: a carpet cleaner’s daughter from New Iberia turned school teacher turned stay-at-home mom turned…Louisiana's first female governor. In 2003, her focus was on education reform, juvenile justice, and economic development. And halfway into her first and only term, it looked like she had a good chance at re-election. But that all changed, with Hurricane Katrina.array(3) {
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The Nod - A Star Is Born On Beale Street
"If Beale Street Could Talk" and "A Star Is Born" are two of the biggest films out this year, and they’re both dramatic romance epics. Eric and Brittany dig into a spoiler-free conversation about how these movies get viewers to root for the love at the center of the story.
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Undiscovered - Mini: Cats, Villains At Heart
Undiscovered is back between seasons with a listener question: What saved the cats? If you rewind to the Middle Ages, cats and humans were on bad terms. Cat roundups, cat torture, and even cat murder were common occurrences throughout Europe. But a series of historic events steadily delivered the tiny felines into public favor. In a story that spans centuries and continents, the Catholic Church and the Rosetta Stone, Elah and Annie investigate how the cat’s reputation shifted from devil’s minion to adored companion.
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy - Special Bonus: Santa Claus
Why does Father Christmas wear red and white? It is not for the reason you may think. The story of Christmas and consumerism, with Tim Harford. And we’ll be back with season two of 50 Things in March 2019.
Producer: Ben Crighton
The Boring Talks - #29 – Animal Vaginas
Science has historically studied penises more often than vaginas, but why? Florence Schechter and Emma Parkin attempt to redress the balance by examining some curious genitalia from the female of the species, including those of the two-legged, four-legged, and even eight-legged variety.
Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Florence Schechter Contributor: Emma Parkin Producer: Luke Doran
Sticky Wicket - Dutch Morial And The Police Strike Of 1979
In 1979, Ernest "Dutch" Morial became the first black mayor of New Orleans. He won the election with 95% of the black vote, and just 20% of the white vote. He campaigned on a platform of police reform, but it wasn’t just Dutch who wanted to re-organize the NOPD – they were organizing themselves. They wanted a union, pay increases, and better working conditions. Soon after Dutch took office, the police wasted no time. They staged their first strike, in history. Their bargaining tool? Mardi Gras.array(3) {
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