This week, we welcome back contributor Matt Ruby and, for the first time, new contributor Ester Steinberg to discuss the particulars of a potential Mike Pence presidency should Donald Trump somehow end up out of office and the rise of political perspectives and criticism among late night television talk show hosts. Also, Charles Hinshaw returns to discuss the new movie, Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott; and along the way we hear from Radio Dispatch's John Knefel, who answers the question, “Who Is Robert Mueller;” we hear from a woman named Alice, who tells us about her first crush; and we take an exclusive early listen to a performance by Emel from an episode of BTR Live Studio set to be released next week.

Music composed by and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

Mentioned in the episode:

"Looking Backward On The Presidency Of Donald Trump" // On The Media / The Atlantic

"Jimmy Fallon Was on Top of the World. Then Came Trump." // NY Times

00:00 - Intro

01:24 - President Pence?

23:58 - Late Night Politics

50:25 - 1st Person: Alice // Remembering Her First Crush

52:48 - Movie Review: ‘Alien: Covenant’

55:54 - Movie Chat: ‘Alien: Covenant’

67:50 - John Knefel // Who Is Robert Mueller?

71:16 - “Instant” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - Emel

75:36 - Outro

76:19 - Finish.

This week, we welcome back contributor Matt Ruby and, for the first time, new contributor Shalewa Sharpe to discuss ongoing issues in the so-called “gig economy” and Netflix’s recently released series, Dear White People. Also, Jacqueline Soller returns to discuss the recently released documentary, Get Me Roger Stone. And along the way, we hear from Radio Dispatch’s Molly Knefel with her take on President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey; we learn about a woman named Antonia, who began to believe in ghosts despite who own initial skepticism; and we get an early listen to an exclusive performance by Vagabon from an episode of BTR Live Studio set to be released next week.

Music composed by and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

Mentioned in the episode:

"From #deleteUber to ‘Hell’: A short history of Uber’s recent struggles" // WaPo

"Is The Gig Economy Working?" // The New Yorker

"Can We Talk About This Thing Bothering Me About Dear White People?" // The Root

 

00:00 - Intro

01:05 - Matt Ruby on the Gig Economy

04:32 - The Gig Economy / group discussion

21:56 - Netflix’s ‘Dear White People’

46:12 - 1st Person: Antonia // Encountering A Ghost

48:19 - Movie Review: ‘Get Me Roger Stone’ w/ Jacqueline Soller

49:48 - Movie Chat: ‘Get Me Roger Stone’

66:08 - Molly Knefel // Catching Up On Comey

68:34 - “The Embers” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - Vagabon

72:24 - Outro

73:06 - Finish.

This week, we welcome back contributor Oriana Leckert and, for the first time, new contributor Alexander Augustyniak to discuss the abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey, the most recent version of the American Health Care Act that was passed by the House, and Hulu’s prestige series adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, starring Elisabeth Moss. Also, Charles Hinshaw returns to discuss the recently released movie, Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2, directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, and Kurt Russell. And along the way, we hear from Radio Dispatch’s John Knefel with his own take on the aforementioned AHCA passage in the House; we learn about a woman named Carol, who took a DNA test and found out a lot about members of her family she’d lost track of over the years, including her father, who left when she was nine years old; and we get an early listen to an exclusive performance by Fraidycat from an episode of BTR Live Studio set to be released next week.

Music composed by and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

00:00 - Intro

01:05 - Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey

17:28 - John Knefel // GOP Health Bill Is A Tax Cut

19:53 - Discussion of latest version of AHCA

33:20 - Hulu's 'The Handmaid's Tale'

56:58 - 1st Person: Carol // Learning About Her Estranged Father

61:40 - Movie Review: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2’ w/ Charles Hinshaw

65:11 - Movie Chat: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2’ (spoiler alert)

81:59 - “Cement” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - Fraidycat

85:22 - Outro

86:10 - Finish.

This week, contributor Oriana Leckert discusses ‘Demystifying Government,’ a series of panels she has been involved in organizing since the 2016 election to help people to educate and/or update themselves on civics and governmental issues. Contributor Matt Ruby then joins us for a further discussion of the topic. Also, Jacqueline Soller returns to discuss the recently released movie, The Circle, starring Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, Patton Oswalt, Ellar Coltrane, and John Boyega. And along the way, we hear from Radio Dispatch’s Molly Knefel with her take on newly confirmed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and his first meaningful vote, we learn about a woman named Naya and what’s it been like for her to have an identical twin sister, and we get an early listen to an exclusive performance by Lexie Roth from an episode of BTR Live Studio set to be released next week.

Music composed by and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

Mentioned in the episode:

Demystifying Government: Executive Shenanigans

Demystifying Government: Legislative Illusions

00:00 - Intro

00:55 - Oriana Leckert on her ‘Demystifying Government’ panel series

03:35 - ‘Demystifying Government’/ group conversation

29:40 - 1st Person: Naya // Being A Twin

32:43 - Movie Review: ‘The Circle’ w/ Jacqueline Soller

33:59 - Movie Chat: ‘The Circle’ (spoiler alert)

56:50 - Molly Knefel on Gorsuch’s First Vote

58:51 - “Girlfriend” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - Lexie Roth

62:29 - Outro

63:04 - Finish.

This week, contributor Matt Ruby offers his perspective as a comedian on recent so-called “socially conscious criticism” and “hot take” reviews of recent specials by Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K. Contributor Oriana Leckert then joins us for a further discussion of the topic. Also, Charles Hinshaw returns to discuss the recently released movie, Free Fire, starring Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, and Armie Hammer. And along the way, we hear from Radio Dispatch’s Molly Knefel with her take on President Trump’s first 100 days in office and his record on deportations, we learn about an activist named Yasi and her involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement, and we get an early listen to an exclusive performance by Imaginary Tricks from an episode of BTR Live Studio set to be released next week.

Music composed by and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

Mentioned in the episode:

“What Is Dave Chappelle’s Problem With Gay People?” by Eric Sasson // The New Republic

“It’s Hard To Laugh At Louis C.K.” by Jeff Ihaza // The Outline

“Hot takes and ‘problematic faves:’ the rise of socially conscious criticism” by Jaime Weinman // Vox

00:00 - Intro

00:57 - Matt Ruby on how critics review comedy in the age of the “hot takes”

06:02 - Comedy and critics / group conversation

35:43 - 1st Person: Yasi // Participating in Black Lives Matter

39:19 - Movie Review: ‘Free Fire’

56:11 - Molly Knefel on Deportation in Trump’s First 100 Days

58:55 - “Ease” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - Imaginary Tricks

64:42 - Outro

65:15 - Finish.

This week, we welcome back contributors Oriana Leckert and Matt Ruby to discuss the once again supposedly on the rise power couple of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner as well as the end of Lena Dunham’s Girls after a 6 season run on HBO that brought much criticism and praise. Also, Jacqueline Soller joins us to discuss the recently released Japanese film, Your Name., which is now the top-grossing animé of all time. And along the way, we hear from Radio Dispatch’s Molly Knefel with her take on the Tax Day protests, we learn about how artist and teach Builder Levy learned to express himself through photography, and we get an early listen to an exclusive performance by Fred Thomas from an episode of BTR Live Studio set to be released next week.

Music composed and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

Mentioned in the episode:

“Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump: Pillars of Family-Driven West Wing"

by Peter Baker, Glenn Thrush, and Maggie Haberman // NY Times

“'Girls' Through the Veil"

by Ta-Nehisi Coates // The Atlantic

 

00:00 - Intro

00:55 - Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner on the rise (again?)

19:00 - The End of HBO’s ‘Girls’

40:36 - 1st Person: Builder // Expressing Himself Through Photography

44:12 - Movie Review: ‘Your Name.’

60:13 - Molly Knefel on Tax Day protests

63:07 - “Brickwall” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - Fred Thomas

66:09 - Outro

66:27 - Finish.

For our inaugural episode, we welcome Oriana Leckert and Matt Ruby. With the dawning of “free” four year college in New York State, we discuss the value of a college education, some of the particulars of the plan and who it may or may not benefit, and an alternative to college called MissionU. We also welcome Charles Hinshaw, a Senior Video Producer here at BTR, with his thoughts on the recently released movie, Colossal, directed by Nacho Vigalondo and starring Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudekis, and Dan Stevens. Along the way, we’ll also hear the story of Morticia, a woman who moved to New York to find acceptance she couldn’t find back home and we’ll hear from Molly Knefel’s take on Betsy DeVos and public education weeks into her tenure s US Education Secretary. Finally, we’ll hear a preview of an episode of BTR Live Studio for next week -- “More Romantic,” by the band CLOSENESS.

Music composed and show edited by Hansdale Hsu.

00:00 - Intro

00:52 - “Free” College

19:53 - Streaming Music

43:08 - 1st Person: Morticia // Finding Acceptance In The City

47:52 - Movie Review: Colossal

62:52 - Molly Knefel on Betsy DeVos and Public Education

65:28 - “More Romantic” (BTR Live Studio, 2017) - CLOSENESS

69:38 - Outro

69:56 - Finish.

We're launching a new weekly show that will cover major political and cultural topics going on in the world. It will also feature a regular movie review and discussion, personal stories from people we encounter on the streets of New York City, additional political commentary from the hosts of Radio Dispatch, and n exclusive  preview song from an upcoming episode of BTR Live Studio.

00:00 - Info about the new show

03:54 - Finish.