Stride & Saunter

In our youth (and often in adulthood), we're asked what we want to be when we grow up. How crucial might "what" be in that framing of our futures and the approach we encourage young people to take? Does it focus primarily on an occupation as a destination rather than a lifestyle or set of values to uphold? This week, we welcome Matt DiBiase to help explore the concept. Do we see this question as a comfortable form of simplicity, easily digestible for young minds? How might these early conceptions of life influence someone’s future experiences?

This week, we return to "Between These Eyes of Ink," a series which dissects and considers quotations and the insights they contain. For our fourth episode, we welcome Ron Levine to help examine the words of the Buddha, who said "O house-builder, you are seen! You will not build this house again. For your rafters are broken and your ridgepole shattered. My mind has reached the Unconditioned; I have attained the destruction of craving”. What can this quotation teach us about self-deception and truth? How do craving and yearning mislead and how do we correct course?

Released in 2016 to critical and commercial success, Zootopia tells the story of rabbit Judy Hopps in her evolving dream to police the streets of the the titular animal metropolis. Along the way, she forms a partnership with the cunning fox, Nick Wilde. While the film may have catered to younger audiences in its animation style, the strong, articulate commentary it makes on race and racism remains its most impressive feat. This week, we’re joined by Charneil Bush to discuss and review this film that is just as much creative fun as it is earnest reflection. Does an animated film succeed where more raw calls for conversation won’t? How does art help us relate to the world with more compassion, clarity and patience?

What would you send into outer space to commemorate Earth and humanity, to a potential audience of alien life? This week, we begin a new interview series to tackle that question. In each entry, we’ll interview someone about the five objects - with a stipulation - they would place in a space capsule to launch into the starry beyond. For our inaugural episode, we spoke with Leland Holcomb about the five objects that he would launch - all of which had to contain glass.

When sharing words of encouragement or predictions of future success, people will occasionally tell others “You’ll go far”. While the words are certainly well-intentioned and foretelling good fortune, what do they reveal about the value(s) we see in others? This week, we welcome Sam Leder to dissect the compliment. Does the phrase indicate a minimal understanding of the true dreams and aspirations of those around us? What does the distance implied signify and from what or whom do we move away from in our pursuit of success?

At distinct moments in time, our lives are considered and evaluated by figures of authority, sympathy or community. As a result, many of us sculpt our lives to improve the inevitable review process attendant to these moments. So this week, we welcome Richard Pera to compare two of those “documents of self,” one’s resume and their eulogy. How do the traits we associate with each differ? How might a life lived for one’s resume contrast one lived for a more kind eulogy? How do the authors of these texts change their impact or reading?

The act of playing has shown clear benefits for our moods, social bonding and problem solving abilities. In children, play is an invaluable means of learning about the world. In the realm of video games, play can become an increasingly time-consuming and compulsive activity. This week, we’re joined by Yagmur Ugur to explore the intersection of video games and productivity. Where is the line between reward or relief and addictive pastime? How do we make use of recreation to reinvigorate or recontextualize our reality?

In the realm of humanity, our world is often dictated by those who have power and how they wield it around the less-powerful. But are there individuals with whom we can trust power more readily than others? This week, Sam Whipple joins us to explore how the collective places faith or suspicion on those in power. How do we discern and describe moral or just leadership in contrast to people in “wrongful” power? Are individuals who least want power the ones we could most trust to wield it carefully?

In the most basic senses, it is human to move towards pleasure or comfort and away from pain, difficulty and hardship. But where do these impulses and instincts intersect? This week, we welcome Dan Farina to explore the relationship between escapism and happiness. Is it common to conflate or confuse the two? Does a distinction between them require a certain cultural narrative or sense of self? Is one ever a more important focus than the other?

Of the many topics folks try to avoid in conversation, politics is known to cause fierce debate, discomfort and arguments. But as our society attempts to improve itself and explore conflicting or new ideas, discussions of our circumstances will inevitably delve into the political realm. What does it mean when someone perceives “political over-saturation” in our discourse or culture? This week, we welcome Pete Davis to explore precisely that idea. How do we, as a multitudinous public, forget the ways in which past issues or resolutions were previously political? How do cries of complaint suggest a bias for the status quo?