Let's (TED) Talk About It

In another Black Mirror installment, Apeksha and Zoe explore the messages found in season 2, episode 1: “Be Right Back.” How far will we go to experience our loved ones again after they pass? When is it time to let go, and how will technology eventually dictate those boundaries? Technological advancement once again takes center stage in Beyond the Talk’s discussion in this winter break sign-off episode.

The academic semester is wrapping up, and with that comes a new degree of stress and frustration that can be rather overwhelming. Using multiple TED talks given by Ken Robinson as a guide, this episode centers around the pressure felt when trying to keep up in the “academic rat race,” and the importance of taking a step back when stress is abundant. To all those going through finals right now - keep it up! We believe in you!

Technology, though exciting, can often be frightening if used maliciously. In this episode, Apeksha and Zoe revisit “Black Mirror” in an analysis of episode “USS Callister” to discuss the implications of what it means to take cloning into the gaming sphere and technological abuse in a world that seems to be advancing at a whirlwind pace.

As Thanksgiving passes and the holiday season begins, it’s important to take the time to appreciate what we have. This more personal episode reflects on what we can feel grateful for every day, even when the holidays have passed.

The simple use of the phrase “GMO” has been cause for widespread debate in the last decade, with serious consequences for both consumers and producers alike. But, what does genetic engineering truly mean, and how much of what we know is actually based in fact? In this episode, special guest Dr. Kevin Folta helps debunk and explain the roots of some of the most well-known rumours surrounding the topic of genetic engineering, while providing insight into why open communication between scientists and the general public is so necessary.

A touching animation film that came out in 2014, Big Hero 6 made viewers laugh and cry in an engaging adventure story that incorporated components of healing and working together for a common good. This episode covers the social implications of representation on the big screen, the necessity of displaying healthy coping mechanisms to recover from tragedy, and the importance of sending youth the message that anybody can be a superhero.

Memes - we all know them, love them, share them. But beyond the ridiculous humor these easy-to-share bits of content bring to our online experience, what is else is there to know about them? With the help of special guest Rebecca Ragan, this episode explores the artistic backstory of the meme, as well as its role in the current political sphere.

“Black Mirror” has become a cultural phenomenon that pushes people to think about the less discussed side of technological advancement - the potential societal dangers that can result from technology misuse. This segment focuses on a few episodes of “Black Mirror,” discussing the uneasy feeling that stems from watching dystopian circumstances that seem a little too close for comfort.

The path less traveled often leads to interesting innovations and merges never seen before. In this episode, Morgan Yacoe - VCU graduate and UF graduate student - attests to the importance of the intersection between arts and medicine, and talks about how unlikely, unheard of combinations can be just the breakthrough needed to kick-start something special.