Life for Russians has changed in myriad ways since the start of the full scale war in Ukraine in 2022. It has affected everything from what they can say to what they can buy. But perhaps the most far reaching change is in what Russians learn. Our correspondent in Moscow tells us about a new undercover documentary that shows the changes to Russian schools.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
Lost Debate - The Worst Story of the Year
This episode takes a visit to the goonverse — a strange online world where hundreds of thousands of people spend hours chasing a “goon state,” a trance-like high reached through marathon porn consumption. Ravi talks with reporter Daniel Kolitz, whose Harper’s article on this community has become a viral sensation: horrifying, riveting, and impossible to look away from. Together they explore what this subculture reveals about loneliness, post-lockdown life, and the dangers of instant, unlimited online pleasure crowding out real-world connection. It’s disturbing, darkly funny, and a warning sign about where we’re all heading.
Daniel Kolitz’s The Goon Squad, (Harper’s, Nov 2025)
--
Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084
-
Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta
-
Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/
-
Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com
-
Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia
-
Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785
-
Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F
-
Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/
Motley Fool Money - Don’t Call It a Comeback
Some of the most well-known companies in the world have dropped in 2025, so can they make a comeback? We dig into the fortunes of Chipotle, Target and Crocs.
Travis Hoium, Jon Quast, and Rachel Warren discuss:
- Chipotle’s drop and falling same-store sales
- Target’s lost identity
- Crocs’ value
Companies discussed: Chipotle (CMG), Target (TGT), Crocs (CROX).
Host: Travis Hoium
Guests: Jon Quast, Rachel Warren
Engineer: Dan Boyd
Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.
We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
WSJ Tech News Briefing - TNB Tech Minute: Trump Administration Proposes Screening Foreign Visitors’ Social-Media History
Plus: Investors bet that a higher bid for Warner Bros. is coming. And YouTube TV will offer cheaper, pared-down channel bundles. Julie Chang hosts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Federalist Radio Hour - ’You’re Wrong’ With Mollie Hemingway And David Harsanyi, Ep. 178: Post-Trump Politics
Mollie and David also examine HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's airport gym equipment idea and review It Happened One Night, Daddy's Home 2, and Love the Coopers.
The Federalist is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.
The Bulwark Podcast - Neera Tanden: America’s ‘Daddy’ Is in a Rut
Neera Tanden, at the Center for American Progress, joins Tim Miller.
show notes
- The "Trump's Take" tracker at the Center for American Progress
- Tim and Andrew's 'Bulwark Take' after Trump's rally Tuesday night
- Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code BULWARK
- F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean 15% off with the code BULWARK15 at theperfectjean.nyc/BULWARK15 #theperfectjeanpod
Audio Poem of the Day - A Voluptuous Dream During an Eclipse
By Elaine Kahn
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Song Exploder - Key Change: Rian Johnson on Wagner’s ‘Das Rheingold’
My guest today is director Rian Johnson, which is exciting for me, because I’ve been a huge fan of his ever since seeing his first feature film, ‘Brick,' in 2006. Since then, he’s made six more feature films, including ‘Looper‘ in 2012; ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘ in 2017; the murder mystery ‘Knives Out‘ in 2019; and his most recent movie, another in the 'Knives Out' series, ‘Wake Up Dead Man,‘ which is already out in theaters, and comes to Netflix on December 12. I talked to Rian about a piece of music that had a profound impact on him, which was the overture to ‘Das Rheingold‘ by Richard Wagner.
For more info, visit songexploder.net/rian-johnson.
Big Technology Podcast - AI Is Upending Law. Is That A Sign For The Rest Of Us? — With Melia Russell
Melia Russell is a senior correspondent at Business Insider. She joins Big Technology Podcast to discuss how AI services are already making inroads in the legal profession, helping lawyers dig through countless documents via natural language search and compression weeks long research processes into minutes. We discuss what's happening, how it's impacting legal jobs already, and why it's likely an early indication of what's to come for professional services more broadly. Hit play for a fascinating deep dive into one of the more advanced applications of AI today.
---
Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice.
Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack + Discord? Here’s 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b
Questions? Feedback? Write to: bigtechnologypodcast@gmail.com
---
Wealthfront.com/bigtech. If eligible for the overall boosted 4.15% rate offered with this promo, your boosted rate is subject to change if the 3.50% base rate decreases during the 3-month promo period.
The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable base APY. Instant withdrawals are subject to certain conditions and processing times may vary.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Global News Podcast - Cancer-causing gene found in donor sperm across Europe
A sperm donor who unknowingly harboured a genetic mutation that dramatically raises the risk of cancer has fathered at least 197 children across Europe, a major investigation has revealed. Some children have already died and only a minority who inherit the mutation will escape cancer in their lifetimes. Denmark's European Sperm Bank, which sold the sperm, said families affected had their "deepest sympathy" and admitted the sperm was used to make too many babies in some countries.The sperm came from an anonymous man who was paid to donate as a student, starting in 2005.
Also: the daughter of the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Coria Machado has collected her mother's Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. The new sound therapy offering hope to sufferers of tinnitus. We hear from the border between Thailand and Cambodia as half a million people flee the fighting. The leader of the National Rally in France, Jordan Bardella, who is favourite to win the French presidential election in 2027, speaks to the BBC. We hear from the creator of the typeface Calibri after the US State Department bans it. And why humans are apparently 66% monogamous - far above chimpanzees and gorillas – and more similar to meerkats and beavers.
The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.
Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.
Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
