Hey, Counties!

We've got a bonus episode for you. As you may know, this week the Democratic National Convention is taking place in Milwaukee (and mostly virtually). It's a four night affair stretching from Monday - Thursday, featuring speakers from all walks of life. Highlights include Michelle and Barack Obama, AOC, Bernie Sanders, and of course, the presidential and vice presidential nominees, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

The DNC is formally meant to be a time where the Democratic party nominates their presidential candidate and sets out their platform for the coming four years. It's informally meant to unite the party and bring hope to constituents.

While the DNC is taking place this week, newscasters and radio hosts have been reporting that Trump has been planning to hold counter programming to distract from the DNC's message. We heard this and we thought "Hey! He name-checked our podcast." But more importantly, we are here to bring you counter programming to Trump's counter programming.

In this short episode, we bring you a few fun facts of presidential national conventions of the past. Here's our source.

Our guest today is Jake Feldman, Arielle's across-the-street 10-year-old neighbor. He was very excited to record and learn with us. We hope you enjoy his stories and his questions!

As always, thank you to:
Daniel Tureck, our sound mixer extraordinaire
Jason Shaw, who composed our music
Caio Slikta, for designing our logo
Buzzsprout, the best podcast host in the game.
You!

Catch you next Wednesday with our regularly scheduled programming. In the meantime, check back in our episode archives.

Reach us on Instagram.
Email us here: [email protected]

Hey, Counties!

This week, we discuss sperm & blood count. Disclaimer: Shira and Arielle are not medical professionals. This episode involves research from the interwebs and is not meant to be taken as medical advice. Rather, it should be enjoyed as entertainment. Or else.

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Check back in our episode archives for hours and hours of counter programming content.

Thank you to Melissa for lending your voice for the intro! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

Blood count tests measure the number and types of cells in your blood. This helps doctors check on your overall health. The tests can also help to diagnose diseases and conditions such as anemia, infections, clotting problems, blood cancers, and immune system disorders.
- Medline Plus

According to Healthline Parenthood, A normal sperm count ranges from 15 million sperm to more than 200 million sperm per milliliter (mL) of semen. (that’s a pretty big range!). Anything less is considered low. A low sperm count is often called  “oligospermia.” 

But what is sperm count: sperm count, AKA semen analysis evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained therein.

More links to things we mentioned:
- Girl with the Pearl Earring
- Johannes Vermeer
- Do laptops damage sperm?
- Arielle's old glasses

Shouts to:
- Maculate Conception Podcast*
- The Drop Out

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This week's episode was sponsored by:
- Podcast Movement: attend the world's largest gathering of podcasters for 20% off with code COUNTER.
- Made To Order Podcast: give the gift of a personalized podcast episode
- Relationship Hero: use code "counter" for $50 off of your first relationship coaching session!


Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer. Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer. Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

*Correction: We accidentally referred to Maculate Conception podcast as "Immaculate Conception" in this week's episode. It is Maculate Conception.

Hey, Counties!

This is a *special circumstance episode.* Shira & Arielle didn't have an internet connection for most of the week due to tropical storm Isaias and therefore put together a different kind of episode. Enjoy!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we review the film "You Can Count on Me" and listen in on an interview between Shira and her brother, Ari, who studied combinatorics in college.

Thank you to Ashlee for lending your voice for this section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

Leave us a review on Apple or a comment on Castbox.

Tweet at us. Here’s Shira. Here’s Arielle.

This week's episode was sponsored by:
- Made To Order Podcast: give the gift of a personalized podcast episode
- Podcast Movement: attend the world's largest gathering of podcasters for 20% off with code COUNTER.
- Relationship Hero: use code "counter" for $50 off of your first relationship coaching session!


Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

Hey, Counties!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about COUNTING sheep.

Thank you to Michele and Jacob for lending your voice for this section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

WELCOME to all of our new listeners. Thank you for tuning in!

Counting sheep is a mental exercise used in some cultures to try to put yourself to sleep.

In most instances of the practice, the person who wants the sweet release of sleep will envision an endless series of identical white sheep jumping over a fence, while counting them as they jump. The idea, in theory, is to make yourself bored while occupying your mind with something simple, repetitive, and rhythmic, because all of these things help people fall asleep.

The Serta Sheep Saga

Serta has been using the idea of counting sheep to sell mattresses since 2000. The idea is that the sheep are put out of business by a Serta mattresses’ ability to fix many of the common sleep issues. The sheep appear in many commercials that depict various scenarios where they lose their job -- as counting sheep -- to a couple's recent purchase or a Serta mattress.

According to researchers at Oxford University, Allison G. Harvey and Suzanna Payne, from the Department of Experimental Psychology, counting sheep isn’t super effective. 

Harvey and Payne found that the volunteer insomniacs took longer than usual to fall asleep on the nights they were instructed to count sheep (or were told not to do anything to help them fall asleep). Bottom line: counting sheep isn't really that great a solution.

Here are a few tips & tricks from Sleep Education: 

1. Keep a consistent sleep schedule
2. Get at least 7 hours of sleep 
3. Wait until you’re actually tired to get into bed and if you can’t fall asleep in 20 minutes get out of bed until you’re tired. 
4. Only use your bed for sleeping
5. Make your room quiet and cool 
6. Avoid blue light before bed 
7. Avoid large meals, caffeine, alcohol, and fluids before bed 

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This week's episode was sponsored by:
- Podcorn: learn how to monetize your podcast.
- Podcast Movement: attend the world's largest gathering of podcasters for 20% off with code COUNTER.


Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

Next week... Sperm Count!

Hey, Counties!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about disCOUNTs. We discuss the psychology of discounts -- why do they work?! We discuss extreme couponing (did you know it was a show that aired in the U.S. and Canada?). And we even have a guest on the show who identifies as a Maxinista! Listen in to learn about her tips for saving $$ + a rebuke of the fast-fashion industry.

Thank you to Abby for lending your voice for this section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

WELCOME to all of our new listeners. Thank you for tuning in!

Discount (noun): 1) a reduction made from the gross amount or value of something: such as a reduction made from a regular or list price. 2) the act or practice of discounting 3) a deduction taken or allowance made

Discount (verb): to make a deduction from usually for cash or prompt payment; or to minimize the importance of

Source

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Listen to the Quite Unusual podcast here!


Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

Hey, Counties!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about Counter protests.

Thank you to Remy for lending your voice for this section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

WELCOME to all of our new listeners. Thank you for tuning in!

A counter-protest is a protest action which takes place within the proximity of an ideologically opposite protest.

The purposes of counter-protests can range from voicing opposition to the goal of the other protest to purposefully drawing attention from nearby media outlets away from the other protest toward the counter-protestors' cause to attempting to disrupt the other protest by conflict of a non-violent or violent nature.


Sources:

• https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-400-000-man-march-a-brief-history-of-crowd-counting-1444987800
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/march-our-lives-draws-hundreds-thousands-washington-around-nation-n859716
• https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/policy-and-politics/2018/3/26/17160646/march-for-our-lives-crowd-size-count

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Tweet at us. Here’s Shira. Here’s Arielle.

Listen to the Quite Unusual podcast here!


Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

We've got a special bonus episode for you this week. Arielle is on a farm in Minnesota and she brings us a counting of the farm animals. 

We had promised to bring you an episode of counter protests (it's coming, we promise), but since Arielle is traveling, we didn't have the ideal recording set up. 

Thank you to Naomi for lending your voice for our intro! You can be that type of famous, too! Just record a voice clip and send it to us by email at [email protected]. OR slide on into our DMs at @counterprogrammingpod. 

We'll be back soon with our regularly scheduled episodes!

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our sound engineer. Find his stuff at robotslap.com. 

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it's by Jason Shaw. 

As always, thanks to our host, Buzzsprout.

Hey, Counties!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about Count Chocula.

Thank you to Jeremy for lending your voice for this section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

WELCOME to all of our new listeners. Thank you for tuning in!

The monster cereals are a group of General Mills breakfast cereals. The line was introduced in 1971 and includes five brands, each featuring a cartoon version of a classic movie monster: Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry, Fruit Brute, and Fruity Yummy Mummy.

According to General Mills, the original design for Count Chocula was drawn by George Carn, the same guy who drew the Trix Rabbit.

Sources:
- Cereaoulsly
- Mental Floss
- The Office clip
- Count Chocula image

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Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

Hey, Counties!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about Count Olaf. We're joined by Margot Nissenblatt today.

Thank you to Margot for lending your voice for this section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us: [email protected]. 

Insta: @counterprogrammingpod.

Olaf etymology:
From the Old Norse name Áleifr meaning "ancestor's descendant", derived from the elements anu "ancestor" and leifr "descendant."

Synopsis of Olaf:

• A Series of Unfortunate Events is made of thirteen novels, written by American author Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket. 
• They are classified "children's novels," but the books often have a dark, mysterious feeling to them and have been classified as postmodern and metafictional writing.
• The books follow the turbulent lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. After their parents' death in a fire, the children are placed in the custody of a murderous relative, Count Olaf, who attempts to steal their inheritance and, later, orchestrates numerous disasters with the help of his accomplices as the children attempt to flee.
• The books seem to be set in an alternate, "timeless"[16] world with stylistic similarities to both the 19th century and the 1930s, though with contemporary, and seemingly anachronistic scientific knowledge

NEXT EPISODE: Count Chocula

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Thank you to this week's sponsor, Podcorn. Learn more and sign up for a free account here.

Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.

Hey, Counties!

Each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about Count Negroni.

Thank you to Dawn for lending your voice for the intro section of the episode! You can do the same. Record a voice note saying, "Hi, i'm (your name), and you're listening to Counter Programming with Shira & Arielle." Then send it to us!

You can reach us by email: [email protected]. 

You can also reach us on Instagram @counterprogrammingpod.

Negroni facts:

• A Negroni is a cocktail made of equal parts vermouth, gin, and campari.
• The Negroni was created at Cafe Casoni in 1919 in Florence, Italy 
• Count Camillo Negroni was friends with the bartender Forsco Scarselli and he asked him to make him his normal drink but a bit stiffer 
• His normal drink was an Americano (which has sweet vermouth, campari, and club soda with a lemon garnish) 
• So the bartender replaced the club soda in his Americano with Gin...and the Negroni was born
• The drink became popular around Italy 
• And Count Negroni even started his own distillery that bottled Negronis (and is still open today) 

Video inspiration for this episode

There is some controversy regarding which "Count" "Negroni" is the inventor of The Negroni. More information here. Some believe it was Camillo Negroni, some believe it was Pascal Olivier de Negroni. The debate continues!

NEXT EPISODE: we'll be covering COUNT OLAF!

Thanks for tuning in! Leave us a review on Apple or a comment on Castbox.

Tweet at us. Here’s Shira. Here’s Arielle.

Buzzsprout, y'all, the best podcast host in the game. 

Thank you to Daniel Tureck, our engineer.

Thank you to Caio Slikta, our logo designer.

Our music is called Tennessee Hayride and it’s by Jason Shaw.