Y’all heard about Game Stop and stocks and trading, right? Well, for this week’s episode, Nic and James dive into the messy worlds of political economy, the dead, and the new semester’s possibilities. And, when we say “messy,” we mean “messy messy.” The duo talk through the limitations of financial institutions under the current iteration of capitalism, as well as the gatekeeping at institutions of higher education. They’re similar. Yet, different. Ultimately, both sectors make promises they can’t keep and keep poor people poor. *deep, deep sigh* Also, WATER! James and Nic end with some notes on their current reading lists and offer up some advice for how to effectively approach the semester.

Further Reading:

How a Dead Professor is Teaching a University Art History Class, Slate

California Water Futures Begin Trading Amid Fear of Scarcity, Bloomberg

Hedge Fund Melvin Sustains 53% Loss After Reddit Onslaught, Financial Times

How to even explain this one? How about this:

Joe Biden has been President for five days and already he's uncovered a lost episode of this show from back in September. Thanks, Obama!

And it is surely Robinette(!)'s fault that this episode (originally the second recorded, back in September) went mysteriously missing until JUST THIS WEEKEND. Yeah right, Joe. Stop the Steal!

There are some decidedly spicy takes about the start of the fall, the limitations of online learning in an uneven economy, and if you can believe it we had even less of a sense of what we were doing back then, Oh to be young again. But we're treating this as an important lesson in how it's never too late, the time is always right to do right, and it really pays to double-check your inbox when you're looking for important files. All valuable lessons, learned.

...even if Q told you to do it. Even if all your friends online are doing it. Even if that guy from Celebrity Apprentice thinks it might be cute. It's not, and you definitely should not be involved. 

This week we have thoughts about the new year, the new semester, and honestly mostly just the coup. How do we reconcile meaningful calls to #DEFUNDTHEPOLICE while simultaneously deriving unmitigated joy from watching white terrorists discover they're on the No-Fly List? Can this circle be squared or nah? And is it healthy to spend as much time thinking about Parler as James has? Plus some thoughts about what it feels like on the other side of the job market (Nic has the power!), the moral imperative to revisit the student loan debt conversation, and why the price of books, much like the rent, is TOO DAMN HIGH. Yes, we do recommend some readings, but honestly we mostly just recommend staying off the internet for a bit. Except for this show, obviously. It's a safe space.

Further reading:

"Forgiving Student Debt by Executive Action is Ilegal, Trump Lawyer Says", Wall Street Journal

This week, James and Nic discuss the complications of moving into the new calendar year as the world remains ablaze in its own undoing. The conversation is not all fire and brimstone, however. We share our thoughts on the upcoming Spring 2021 semester, devising plans to deal with all the mixed messages from the University, and offer commentary on how the various gatekeeping mechanisms inhibit rather than enable the pursuit of equitable education (it costs so much money to do anything!). James and Nic round out the conversation with their thoughts and cruelly optimistic attitudes toward the new year. 

2021 is here and we’re queer, my dear!

In this episode, we prepare for the end of the semester while bemoaning the state of the nation. In case you needed more reasons to be concerned about the state of higher ed, we've got thoughts on the Felber situation (do better, Mississippi) and the stunning disrespect Jill Biden ('s team of staff) was subjected to by some nobody from nowhere. Thoughts on the white ga(ys)ze and the holidays. And a bit of retrospection about what queer survival looked like in 2020. Momma we made it!

For more on the Felber case, check out the Chronicle article: https://www.chronicle.com/article/his-university-celebrated-his-success-then-it-fired-him

And instead of more on that asshole who disrespected Jill Biden, maybe just read some Morgan Parker: https://www.theparisreview.org/poetry/7094/the-high-priestess-of-souls-sunday-morning-visit-to-the-wall-of-respect-morgan-parker

Something about effort, who knows. Anyway this one is something of a soft-reboot, or not at all depending on your feelings re: time as a flat circle. We think through the demands of academic labor, the curious politics of personal responsibility in the pandemic, and how educators (present company excluded) should maybe get a bit of a break "during these unprecedented times". It's a lot, but in a good way. Also there's some book recs if you stick around to the end.

In exciting news that will mean nothing to anyone, we broke the even number lesson curse! Also other things happened.

A really thoughtful conversation about labor, exploitation, and irony occurs, bookended by more musings on the election, the state of the nation, and what forward looks like from here. Also we have to write, like a lot. It's all very much.

Happy Stacy Abrams Day!! This one was recorded the Friday after election day and we did some celebrating. Some might say it was a bit premature at that point, but those people hate joy and should be ignored. Thoughts about teaching in an election/pandemic and the ethics of doing better. Reading suggestions you know you want. What's not to love?

In their third episode, James and Nic speak to the bizareness of living through and working in a pandemic world. They reflect on the University’s response to expectations about teaching and faculty life amidst COVID-19. Nic and James come to a point of acceptance about how much learning is equally (and more importantly) about un-learning.

Welcome to the Show! We figure out how to podcast, talk about transitioning to a new job, and make something like a plan for the next year. What a place to start!