Modern Notion

On todays show Dr. Philip Zimbardo joins us to talk about his famous Stanford Prison Experiment from 1971. Zimbardo, a psychologist, designed an experiment in which 24 college-aged men lived in a prison simulation for two weeks. Twelve played the role of guard, while the other 12 were the prisoners. Zimbardo planned to observe how circumstances affect a persons moral compass. The experiment is dramatized in a feature film, The Stanford Prison Experiment, which premiered last week.

We also revisit our interview with Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent and author of Dangerous Personalities: An FBI Profiler Shows How to Identify and Protect Yourself from Harmful People (Rodale Books, October 2014).

Music this hour:

“Forgiven Not Forgotten” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

Retired Lt. Col. Dan Hampton joins us on todays podcast to talk about his new book, The Hunter Killers: The Extraordinary Story of the First Wild Weasels, the Band of Maverick Aviators Who Flew the Most Dangerous Missions of the Vietnam War (William Morrow, June 2015). Wild Weasels are known for their deadly air missions, and Hampton was one himself. That status gave him unparallelled access when he interviewed the first generation, who were instrumental in the Vietnam War. Later in the hour, we talk to contributing editor Erin Blakemore about the invention of Betty Crocker.

Music this hour:

Dory Honey by Jahzzar, from the album Message

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

On todays Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Helen Scales, author of Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells (Bloomsbury, July 2015). A marine biologist, Scales decided to explore the science of shells (theyre made from calcium carbonate) and their symbolism throughout human history.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“wherever” by Jahzzar, from the album Sketches

“Superconductivity” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel

On todays show, were talking with Blake J. Harris, author of Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation (Dey Street Books, June 2015). Harris explores the tense competition between Sega and Nintendo, two Japanese video game companies, in the early 1990s. Nintendo dominated the market so thoroughly in 1990 that no one expected any rival to wrest power from them. But when Tom Kalinske joined the American division of Sega, he used innovative tactics, trying to corner a different segment of the market to make the company a major player. Later in the hour, contributing editor Erin Blakemore talks about the spiritualist origins of the Ouija board.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“get out” by Jahzzar, from the album Sketches

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Brian Murphy, author of 81 Days Below Zero: The Incredible Survival Story of a World War II Pilot in Alaskas Frozen Wilderness (Da Capo Press, June 2015). Leon Crane was a test pilot in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, stationed at Ladd Field outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. On a cold winter morning, Crane went up on a B-24 heavy bomber airplane to do a prop feathering test. But in Alaska, no flight is routine: the plane started in a downward spiral many thousands of feet in the air. Crane managed to eject himself, but his journey to safety was far from over. Later in the hour, contributing editor Erin Blakemore brings us the origin story of the humble TV dinner.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Theme M” by Steve Combs andamp; Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)

“Theme E” by Steve Combs andamp; Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)

Author Janice Nimura joins us on todays episode of Modern Notion Daily to talk about her latest book, Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back (W. W. Norton andamp; Co., May 2015). In the 1870s, Japan was in the midst of the Meiji Era—a time of great change, when the country opened its physical and cultural borders to the rest of the world. As part of this movement, the government sponsored three Japanese girls to go to America for ten years, living with American host families and learning western ways. Nimura chronicles this story in her book. Later in the hour, contributing editor Erin Blakemore tells us the story of Princess Caraboo, whose false story in some ways parallels the three Japanese girls of Nimuras book.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

Kajiyadefu Bushi

Takai-Yama

When it comes to octopus adventures, Sy Montgomery has seen it all! She joins us today on Modern Notion Daily to talk about her new book, The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Explanation into the Wonder of Consciousness (Atria Books, May 2015). Montgomery talks about the proper plural of octopus (hint: its not octopi) and then gets into tales of the strange animal: how they get trapped in locked boxes, how they escape from their tanks at aquaria all over the world, how they turn white when relaxed—you name it, the octopus does it. Montgomery, all the while, just adores them. And we think you will adore Sy Montgomery.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

Octopus by Jahzzar, from the album Sunlight

Author and palliative care physician David Casarett joins us on todays episode of Modern Notion Daily to discuss his new book, Stoned: A Doctors Case for Medical Marijuana (Current, July 2015). When a patient with advanced cancer asked Casarett about the effects of medical marijuana (positive or negative), he realized that he actually didnt know anything about it. So he decided to investigate the real medical implications of the drug for himself, by reading studies, talking to patients, and a little self-experimentation.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Forgiven Not Forgotten” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Mark Haskell Smith, author of Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudists Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World (Grove Press, June 2015). Haskell Smith decided to take on the role of gonzo journalist and find what nudism was all about, from the inside. His research took him to a nudist resort in Palm Springs, a clothing-optional city in France (and its attendant nude supermarkets and banks), and a nudist cruise. And he answers the question weve all been wondering: do people check each other out at nudist retreats? Later in the hour, contributing editor Emma Bryce talks about arugula grown in . . . space?

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Quasi Motion” by Kevin MacLeod, from the album Global Sampler

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Kristen Green, author of Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County: A Family, a Virginia Town, a Civil Rights Battle (Harper, June 2015). Green grew up in Farmville, Virginia, where the school district refused to desegregate for five years after they were ordered to do so. White community leaders opened an all-white private school, supported by grants from the government. Meanwhile, black children were left without options for education. After more than a decade as a reporter, Green returned to her hometown to find out the real story behind the refusal to desegregate. Later in the hour, staff writer Josh Hrala tells us about the tradition of giving someone keys to a city, and about a German town that was wiped off the map by an internet prank.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Private Hurricane (Instrumental Version)” by Josh Woodward, from the album Breadcrumbs