In which one of confesses to not having read a common, well known work--and gets ridiculed. Plus, John drives Miss Daisy, and none of us praise famous men.

We're BACK. Vaccinated, Biden-ed, and with a new co-host to inject more humanities antibodies. We discuss where the humanities fits into a post-Trump world, if there's any such thing.

We're joined by Anthony Wilson, expert on all things swamp, to discuss the importance of swamps and wetlands. The Trump administration is rolling back protections of these important spaces, and we sink deep into why these landscapes are so captivating in American culture. Swamp Thing, Swamplandia, Peanut Butter Falcon, Harriet Jacobs, and more!

We explain why you too should be mad that Green Book won Best Picture. The film carries on a long--and ugly--history of viewing racism through white eyes, asserting that all that's needed to end it is biracial friendship. Actually just one biracial friendship. Plus the movie's not very good.

Elizabeth compares this to the myth of white heroics in the Underground Railroad, while Andy breaks down other films, including 12 Years a Slave, Django Unchained, and Driving Miss Daisy.

Film buffs, listen up!

We talk to Terressa Benz and Cedric Taylor about the Flint water crisis. Professors Benz and Taylor both draw on their scholarship to inform their social justice work in different ways. 

Then, Andy discusses recent hurricanes in the global South and the ways that environmental racism affected Americans' political and cultural responses. Elizabeth talks about environmental injustice in relation to historic African American sites.

And then we talk Weezer and tiki bars.

Please check out Cedric Taylor's film Nor Any Drop to Drink.

Andy and Elizabeth discuss the news surrounding the complete removal of Silent Sam. Why should anyone outside of UNC care? What does this tell us about monuments to the Confederacy? Who should we thank?

Andy also interviews Hilary Green at the University of Alabama, who has created pop up museums and enhanced walking tours to elucidate the relationship between slavery and America's colleges.

Plus, TV rec's!

While editing some heavier episodes, we recorded this "hot takes" of our favorite albums of 2018.

We only talk in detail about records we haven't talked about on the podcast before. This includes bonding over Lucy Dacus, making up with Jeff Tweedy (at least for Andy), crushing on Soccer Mommy, breaking down Robyn's "beats," and extolling the many virtues of The Glands.

Listen!!!!

A mini-ep series on small news stories we have to talk about.

Andy compares the Trump Resistance Hero to our favorite creepy narrator. And Elizabeth breaks down a troubling Gettysburg Address reference.

To celebrate the Fourth, we talk the Jeremiad. What is it? Why should you care? We promise it won't be boring.

Elizabeth talks Puritans, sinfulness, self-hatred, and the problems with American exceptionalism. Andy talks nostalgia and author anxiety.

Also appearing: Frederick Douglass, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Alan Ginsberg, and WEB Dubois.

We break down the history of Juneteenth--where it happened, what it meant, and who was there. 

We explore how it's celebrated today and examine why it's so hard for white Americans not to co-opt stories of liberation. We also explore how it's been represented in literature and TV, including Black-ish and Atlanta.