NO SUCH THING

In 1999, Coca-Cola’s CEO floated raising prices on hotter days using new technology in their vending machines. This caused an avalanche of bad press and the company backed off their plan. Today, that sort of variable pricing is commonplace, with companies hiding behind algorithms and economic shocks to shield themselves from malicious price-gouging tactics. This week, we find out how we lost control of the concept of a “fair price.”

Our guest this week is Lindsay Owens, President and CEO of the Groundwork Collaborative and author of the new book Gouged: The End of a Fair Price — and What That Means for Your Wallet. 

For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. 

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

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We’re sharing an episode of W. Kamau Bell’s new show, Who’s With Me?. Kamau—a stand-up comedian, activist, and author—sits down with someone he admires deeply to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him homework on how we can all make the world a better place. Daveed Diggs joins Kamau to talk about his hip-hop career, the anxiety of parenthood, starring in Hamilton, and pursuing creative projects with friends. Find more episodes of Who’s With Me? on Youtube or wherever you get podcasts.

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This week, we have one of the greatest mailbags of all time. Will cracking your knuckles give you arthritis? Should white people use skin-tone emojis? Why do dogs love Lamb Chop? And more plane-related questions, including does the middle seat get both armrests?

Our guests this week are:

• Rachel, E. Hein, M.D.
• Kate Lindsay, listen to ICYMI and follow her Substack Embedded

Check out Kate's Atlantic article: Why Are Dogs So Obsessed With Lamb Chop?

Check out Kate’s other episodes with the NST crew:

• What’s the best way to split the bill?
• Why can’t adults order from the kids’ menu?
• Are outdoor cats happier than indoor cats?

Buy Manny's book “Colored People Time: A Case for (Casual) Rebellion here.

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This week, Manny, Noah, and Devan debate whether there's a such thing as an "ugly tax," social penalties for being unattractive. The more academic term for this is "lookism," which is the discrimination against people for the way that they look. Should less attractive people be a protected class of minority? Manny interviews Thomas Spiegel, professor of philosophy at the Miyazaki International University in Tokyo, and Stephanie Fairyington, author of "Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter."

If you liked this episode, check out: How many people are actually 7 feet tall?

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Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.

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In part 2 of our series on AI music, Devan confronts 1010benja on his use of generative AI on his new EP 1010: Time Has Nothing To Do With What You Choose…

ICYMI listen to part 1: Can AI music be good?

Listen to 1010benja on Apple Music and Spotify and check out his website demetriusproduction.com

Read 1010benja's Hearing Things interview

Tell us your thoughts about 1010benja’s use of AI: Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286.

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On today's episode, the boys discuss the many various goings on in AI music generation. Manny "creates" a few different versions of the NO SUCH THING theme song (that he actually produced without AI) using generative AI, and asks Noah and Devan to compare and contrast original songs with their AI cover counterparts. Finally, we hear from Charlie Harding, audio engineer and host of the Switched on Pop podcast, to learn just how much AI is being used in the music industry today, and where he sees it all heading in the future.

Listen to Part 2 where Devan confronts an artist about the use of AI in his music.

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Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.

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Today’s episode is all about Flock, the controversial nationwide network of artificial-intelligence roadside cameras. Drew Harwell, a tech reporter at The Washington Post, explains his reporting on cops using the technology as a tool for stalking and the victims and advocates fighting for change.

Check out Drew’s reporting: 

• How rogue officers turned a nationwide camera network into a tool for stalking
• Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
• Flock unveils changes after Post report on police misuse of vast camera network

404 Media has also done some great reporting on Flock and The New York Times also recently did a deep dive on the tech.

ICYMI NST 66: Can YouTubers actually hold police accountable?

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Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.

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On this week’s episode, we're revisiting one of our favorite questions: Are suburban dogs happier than city dogs? To find out, we spoke with one of the leading dog cognition experts, Alexandra Horowitz. She heads the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard and is the author of Inside of a Dog. We'll be back next week with a new episode.

The credit song is Big Dog by Maurice featuring Kenny Ning and Certain Self, who also provided additional music for this episode.

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Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

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In a special live-taped episode, the boys discuss Manny's new book "Colored People Time: A Case for (Casual) Rebellion, a collection of humorous essays about the way time wraps itself around all of our lives. If you like this podcast, you'll love this book, and buying it will mean that Manny can finally pay back Devan and Noah in approximately $7 million in sports betting debt.

Buy Manny's book here.

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Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.

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NO SUCH THING is looking for questions for an upcoming LAUNDRY MAILBAG. Leave us a voicemail by calling (860) 325-0286 or email us at [email protected]

We're taking a quick break for August to work on upcoming episodes, so this week we're sharing an episode of Smart Girl Dumb Questions. The show is hosted by our friend Nayeema Raza, who listeners might remember from episode #60: Is recycling a complete scam?

This episode is a lot of fun, we hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Nayeema sits down with evolutionary biologist Dr. Justin Garcia, Director of the world-famous Kinsey Institute, to unpack the science of love, sex and attraction. Why are there more single peoplethan ever? Are we still having sex? Why do breakups … feel like withdrawal? And what do pandas, penguins and pigs have to teach us about modern relationships?

Also on the agenda: if kissing is “normal,” short kings and what makes someone a great long-term partner. For more from Justin check out his awesome book, The Intimate Animal.

Follow Smart Girl Dumb Questions on Apple or Spotify.

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