Amateur Intellectuals

Oof. What a year. And amid all the chaos, Kendall and Caitlin started a podcast. Well, they wouldn't be Amateur Intellectuals if they didn't reflect on what they've taught each other, so here it is: these two trying to practice what they preach. Enjoy and see you in 2021!

Drink of the episode: The Deep Thinker

• 1 lime
• 1 handful of coriander (a.k.a. cilantro)
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 50 ml (which is a bit less than 2 oz.) Sailor Jerry rum
• 15 ml (which is about half an oz.) Bottlegreen – Elderflower cordial
• This is expensive so if you can get any elderflower liqueur, I’d just use that.

Directions: Muddle first 3 ingredients. Shake with crushed ice and decant into glass.

More Resources:

https://www.thedrinkshop.com/cocktail/1097/deep-thinker

https://www.thekitchn.com/technique-muddling-52628

(Go back to our previous episodes for more)

*In the tune of Carol of the Bells* Da-da-da-da, Da-da-da-da, It's-Christ-mas-time, Twenty-twenty-sucks.

Here it is, the Christmas episode! In the spirit(s) of the season, we're going to make fun of everything from baby JC to Krampus. Please grab a spiked eggnog or a Christmas cocktail and enjoy this episode by the fire because baby, it's cold outside in 2020.

Drink of the episode: White Christmas Hot Chocolate

• 3 oz white chocolate liqueur
• 1 oz vanilla vodka
• 8 oz white hot chocolate

Garnish with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and red & green sprinkles

Directions:

Add white hot chocolate into a glass and pour over white chocolate liqueur and vanilla vodka. Stir well until mixed.

Top with whipped cream, marshmallows and festive red and green sprinkles.

More Resources:

https://tipsybartender.com/recipe/white-christmas-hot-chocolate/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/12/24/why-is-christmas-on-dec-25-it-wasnt-always/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_(title)#:~:text=Christ%20comes%20from%20the%20Greek,one%20who%20is%5D%20anointed%22.

https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/saint-nicholas#:~:text=Saint%20Nicholas%20was%20a%20Christian%20bishop%20who%20helped%20the%20needy,to%20children%20around%20the%20world.

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/12/black-pete-christmas-zwarte-piet-dutch/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2018/12/what_is_the_belsnickel_why_is.html

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees

"The language you are about to hear... is disturbing." -Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle seems to be taking over the end of 2020 with appearances. Hosting SNL, being interviewed by Dave Letterman and Joe Rogan on top of a series of socially distanced shows in cornfields in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio during this pandemic. Taking from pages in the history of one of his favorites, Kendall tries to go to bat for his all-time-favorite comic. Beginning with a guess at the perception of Dave and trying to reveal the kind, careful heart behind the sharp, sometimes off-putting approach at shock-value comedy, this episode is all about ... comedy.

Drink of the Episode: Grape Drink *Spiked

Any purple drink, any hard liquor. Double pours.

More Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappelle%27s_Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoRriOSNmLE&ab_channel=17thVisions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tR6mKcBbT4&ab_channel=NetflixIsAJoke

"Man, I would so give back if I just had..." NOPE. Knock that sh*t off right now. You are more than able to give back at this moment. Let's have a chat about how you're more than able to contribute to yourself, your community and the world. P.S. love you. Hard love is still love.

Drink of the Episode: The Gratitude Cocktail

• 1 oz Wild Turkey 101
• 1 oz Applejack
• 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz Cynar
• 1 tsp blackberry/thyme shrub

Stir and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

More Resources:

https://whiskeythief.net/2018/08/21/the-gratitude-cocktail/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/07/10/the-science-of-giving-back-how-having-a-purpose-is-good-for-body-and-brain/?sh=171468fc6146

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_philanthropists

https://www.rd.com/list/what-can-a-billion-dollars-buy-you/

https://www.npr.org/2015/06/14/414397424/man-with-the-golden-arm-donates-blood-thats-saved-2-million-babies#:~:text=GRAY%2FReuters%20%2FLandov-,James%20Harrison%20was%20recognized%20in%202003%20with%20the%20Guinness%20World,blood%20donated%20by%20one%20person.&text=When%20James%20Harrison%20was%2014,100%20stitches%2C%22%20he%20recalls.

https://www.smartaboutmoney.org/Topics/Holidays-and-Money/Save-Money-on-Thanksgiving/Creative-Ways-to-Give-Back

Shubh deepawali! Join us this week as Kendall gives an introduction to the beautiful Hindu holiday, Diwali. Some may think it coincidence, but the festive celebration highlights the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Grab a chair, bring a drink and let's begin the work of healing the soul of this nation with friendship, learning and laughter.

Drink of the Episode:

Ginger Mingler

45 ml whisky

1 tsp ginger syrup

Club soda/sparkling water  

1 tsp lemon juice

A sprinkling of rock salt

1 green chilli, split (optional)

Ice cubes

For the syrup:

200 gm of fresh ginger (washed and peeled)

4 cups of water

300 gm of sugar

A pinch of salt

More Resources:

https://www.google.com/cameos/YzwR2Uz3/F5DZTi?kgmid=/m/019fpj&hl=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrrW3rO51ak

It's looming three days after Halloween and yet it's still scary as f*ck. November 3, 2020 is a very important date for the future of the United States, so we gonna talk about it. We promise we'll take care of you. You're safe to laugh (and cry) here.

Drink of the Episode: The Jerk

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Gold Rum
• 1 oz Light Rum
• 2 Tbs Grenadine (I used Organic Volcano Grenadine Burst from BevMo)
• 4 oz Pineapple juice
• 4 oz Orange juice
• 2 oz Finest Call Strawberry Puree (BevMo)
• 1 oz 151 Rum, in the straw

In a blender fill with about 20 ice cubes and add all ingredients except the 151 Rum. The shot of 151 goes in the straw. Blend until smooth with no ice chunks. Needs to be very thick!

Pour into a glass and insert the straw. Pour the 151 Rum into the straw and serve. Depending on how fast you want to become a “Jerk”, you can sip the 151 Rum straight out of the straw or swirl it into your drink. It’s up to you!

More Resources:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harris-County-poised-to-reach-1-million-ballots-15670012.php

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/470846-democrats-seize-on-report-of-fedexs-0-tax-bill-to-slam-trumps-tax-plan

https://fivethirtyeight.com

270towin.com

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/

Today we talk about what goes bump in the night to frighten you. Monsters? Lol. Demons? Please. On this episode we tell you what you should really be scared of. It's our Halloween episode, y'all! OOOOooooOOOOOoooo. 😈

Drink of the episode: The Boozy Screamsicle

INGREDIENTS

·       Chocolate sauce, for garnish

·       6 Oreos, finely crushed

·       1 qt. orange sherbet (!)

·       3/4 c. milk

·       8 oz. vanilla vodka

·       Whipped cream, for garnish

·       Orange & black sprinkles, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Pour 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce onto a small, shallow plate. Place Oreo crumbs on a second small plate. Dip rims of serving glasses first in chocolate sauce, then in Oreo crumbs.

Combine sherbet, milk, and vodka in a blender and blend to combine. Drizzle some chocolate sauce on the inside of each serving glass, then fill with milkshake. Garnish with whipped cream, remaining Oreo crumbs, and sprinkles.

More resources:

https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/halloween/a29007809/boozy-screamsicle-shakes-recipe/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Norris_(medical_examiner)

https://www.history.com/news/the-last-american-vampire

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grave-midnight-mary

https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/sarahs-story/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shadow-boxing/201802/winchester-truth-is-better-fiction

https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/immersive-360-walkthrough/

https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-werewolf-legend#:~:text=The%20Bedburg%20Werewolf,-Peter%20Stubbe%2C%20a&text=He%20experienced%20a%20grisly%20execution,the%20belt%20was%20never%20found.

Fly me to the moon!

Join us this week as Caitlin delivers a go-for-launch breakdown of the moon, enriching our minds with the thought what would happen if momma Earth had two moons or maybe even no moon at all. This episode is space-jam-packed with cool info that is good to know and fun to learn. Cheers~

Drink of the Episode:

Supermoon

1 oz tequila

.5 oz triple sec

3 tablespoons cream of coconut

Splash of lime juice

Garnish with coconut flakes

More Resources:

https://phys.org/news/2011-12-earth-moons.html

https://www.history.com/news/7-unusual-myths-and-theories-about-the-moon

https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-really-believe-bad-things-happen-on-a-full-moon-1476719218#:~:text=Research%20shows%20there%20is%20no,once%20did%20it%20boost%20admissions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_magic

https://www.allure.com/story/moon-phases-magic-spells

https://www.space.com/37727-eclipse-superstitions-then-and-now.html

https://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/interesting-facts-about-moon

https://www.nasa.gov/artemisprogram

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/03/02/7-ways-earth-would-change-if-our-moon-were-destroyed/#176f10283852

Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day are both celebrated on the second Monday in October. On this week's episode, Kendall teaches us about Chris, what he didn't accomplish and how America is slowly coming around to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead (you know, the people who actually discovered America first). Most importantly, Kendall explains what Indigenous Peoples' Day is and how you can celebrate it.

Drink of the episode: Ojibwe menwaagamig (Oh-Gee-BWAY Men-Wah-ga-mig)

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups ice water
• 1 cup fruit (Strawberries, Blackberries, or any fresh juicy berry)
• 4 teaspoons honey

PREPARATION

Crush and strain the berries with a sieve or with a cheese cloth bag. Smaller berries without as much natural juice may have to be heated some to produce juice. (Caution berry juice stains!)

Combine the strained berry juice and the ice water then stir in the honey.

More resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/bipoc-meaning

https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus

https://www.npr.org/2019/10/14/769083847/columbus-day-or-indigenous-peoples-day

https://www.livescience.com/16468-christopher-columbus-myths-flat-earth-discovered-americas.html

Houston, we have a problem. 99 problems actually but this episode ain't one!

Amateurs, prepare for launch as Caitlin delivers a flyby and a deep dive on all things space. Contextualizing space as the one of the few remaining places for human exploration and discovery while sipping on the ultra boozy Blue Galaxy cocktail, this episode is a blast!

Let's look up, wonder, wander, get lost in the sauce of the great unknown and have some belly laughs along the way.

Drink of the Episode:

The Blue Galaxy

PURPLE LAYER:

• 30 ml tequila
• 22 ml blue curacao
• 22 ml grenadine
• 30 ml lemonade
• Ice to the top of the blender

BLUE LAYER:

• 15 ml vodka
• 22 ml triple sec
• 22 ml blue curacao
• 30 ml lemonade
• Ice to the top of the blender again
• Lemon slice for a garnish

Instructions:

For the purple layer:

• Add all the ingredients in the blender and top up with ice and blitz
• Put the slushy mixture into a jug in the freezer

For the blue layer:

• Wash out blender. Add the blue layer ingredients, top with ice, blitz

LAYERING:

Pour the purple layer ¼ full in a hurricane glass. Put a spoon on top when you pour in the blue and fill ¼ of the way. Repeat each color. Garnish with a lemon and done.

More Resources:

https://www.loc.gov/collections/finding-our-place-in-the-cosmos-with-carl-sagan/articles-and-essays/modeling-the-cosmos/ancient-greek-astronomy-and-cosmology

https://time.com/5315377/are-zodiac-signs-real-astrology-history/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

https://www.space.com/25126-big-bang-theory.html

https://www.space.com/24781-big-bang-theory-alternatives-infographic.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-inventions-inspired-by-science-fiction-128080674/?page=3

https://www.space.com/31802-star-trek-space-tech.html

https://www.space.com/space-race.html

https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/mars2020/

https://www.indiewire.com/2014/10/13-awesome-things-we-now-know-about-interstellar-68801/

https://www.iflscience.com/space/how-accurate-martian-9-things-movie-got-right-and-wrong/

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars/overview

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/64954/11-out-world-facts-about-carl-sagan