#211: Elon Musk, Cynthia Plaster Caster, Jonathan Franzen

We're back after a couple of weeks of adventures, some less pungent than others. And in the time since we last met, Elon Musk has bought Twitter for US$44 billion. We unpack what it might mean for the site, and who benefits from the free speech he touts.

A short read on the (hopeful) death of the handshake has us thinking about what we learned and what we’ve left behind in the pandemic.

And the passing of Cynthia Plaster Caster has us reflecting on one of the world’s most notorious groupies, and singular artists.

We're banging on about heart-warming queer love stories on Netflix, and the epic new novel from Jonathan Franzen.

Show notes:

Elom Musk buys Twitter: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/twitter-elon-musk-buy-takeover-deal-tesla

Grimes’ and Elon’s secret baby: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/03/grimes-cover-story-on-music-and-mars

The handshake is dead: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/22/pandemic-fist-bump-barack-obama-covid

Cynthia Plaster Caster: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/25/cynthia-plaster-caster-the-artist-whose-rock-star-penis-sculptures-asked-big-questions-about-manhood

Heartstopper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHALOizCpf0

Crossroads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55881796-crossroads

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Bang On is an ABC podcast, produced by Double J. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.