The Tangentialists

Tangents can't go on forever. Ben, Jonas, and Inès meetup with four very special guests to finish the Tangentialists as it began - with meandering, inconsequential chatter, and a generous sprinkling of laughs. 

Thanks for coming along on the journey with us, we've had a lot of fun, and we hope you have to. Our email inbox is always open if you'd like to say hello - [email protected].

Keep Things Tangential!

- Ben, Inès, and Jonas

- Show Notes - 

[1] Helena's current podcast project is here - tinyurl.com/helenaspodcast

An era is coming to an end. Ben, Jones and Ines take up their microphones for the penultimate time to discuss their journey in podcasting. They discuss about the mistakes (mathematical or otherwise), lessons, and high points of their time hosting the Tangentialists, and throw all their podcasting wisdom to the airwaves. Stay tuned to hear about The Tangentialists alien race, and plans for the Tangentialists to become the first multi-generational podcast. 

BEFORE OUR FINAL EPISODE #30, PLEASE DO SAY HELLO! - [email protected]

- Show Notes - 

[1] You can find information on the longest piece of music ever here - tinyurl.com/jonaslongsong

[2] Thanks for listening to the Tangentialists! Please do contact us to have your comment read out on our final episode (#30)

Spring has sprung this week as Ben, Jonas, and Ines discuss Spring, Easter bunnies, and tooth fairies. Jonas also announces a bold new hair decision. As ever, tangents are not only encourage, but relied upon.

[Apologies for the delay this week. We'll be back on in a fortnight!]

- Show Notes -

[1] You can read about the origin of the tooth fairy here - tinyurl.com/toothfairyorigins

[2] You can find a picture of a faux hawk here, if like Ben you were confused by the concept - tinyurl.com/jonasfauxhawk

Love is in the air (or is it?) as Ben, Jonas, and Ines tackle modern romantic love in this week's episode. We discuss competitive rose giving, whether we put too much emphasis on romantic love, and Ben briefly explores a flawed model for friendship living. There is then a romantic reading of poems. As ever, tangents are not only encourage, but relied upon. 

[We'll be taking a break next week, but will be back in a fortnight!]

- Show Notes - 

[1] Ben mentioned a TED Talk about the perils of romantic love, which you can find here: tinyurl.com/tangentialistslove

This week, Ben, Jonas and Inès dive into the Gamestop saga of 2021, to discuss the value of financial markets to social movements, and then the value of social movements to us all. We end up on sitcoms, and how they're pretty creepy when you think about it. Jonas chills us to the bone with his sitcom guitar sting, and Ben confirms to the world that he's a fair way off being a screenwriter. As ever, tangents are not only encouraged, but relied upon.

- Show Notes - 

[1] Read more about the whole Gamestop case here - tinyurl.com/sagaofgamestop

[2] Jonas mentions a film called The Hummingbird Project (2018)

[3] The paper Inès read this week is here - tinyurl.com/socialmovementpaper

- Next Week's Challenge -

To write a romantic sonnet, in time for Valentine's Day. Or if you're Inès, a romantic haiku.

Inès, Jonas and Ben answer a listener challenge this week. The listener (who may or may not be related to a co-host) suggested the unspeakable - to listen to someone else's podcast. It turns out to be a highly productive prompt, and an interview on wind turbines leads us to the gendered aspects of food, the need to be bold when making societal change, and Jonas' idea for Coronavirus Freedom Day. As ever, tangents are not only encouraged, but relied upon.

If you have a challenge, question, or piece of feedback for us, send us an email here [email protected]!

[1] The podcast episode in question is #172 of Reasons to be Cheerful (title: "Blowin' in the Wind"), found here: tinyurl.com/cheerfulchallenge. Thanks to Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd for their wonderfully cheery podcast, which we highly recommend (a quick point - they haven't endorsed the Tangentialists - yet)

[2] Early in the episode, Ben mentions his "Telling a Story" photography challenge. You can find his works in a folder here (tinyurl.com/benphotostorychallenge), or on Instagram @thetangentialists.

[3] An article detailing the shining story of the rise of the diamond can be found on the Atlantic, here - tinyurl.com/diamondmarketing. It's well worth a read.

- Next Week's Challenge -

Jonas has set us the task of responding creatively to the prompt "a Sitcom character is fed up with the mysterious laughing they hear every day and decide to find out where it's coming from". Find out The Tangentialists' responses next week!

Ben and Jonas are once again flying duo this week, discussing the value of 5 year plans, and the merits of being cheesemakers, hand models, and glassblowers. As ever, tangents are not only encouraged, but relied upon. 

Inès will be back for the recording next week!

- Show Notes -

[1] You can read more about the 'Stanford' plan, actually called the Odyssey Plan, here - https://tinyurl.com/fiveyearhandmodel. In true Tangentialists fashion, we end up taking a loose interpretation of our source material. In reality, the plan is designed to combat the monotony of the 5 year plan (which we end up critiquing), and we'd encourage you take a look and make your own assessment on it (as with anything we say, of course).

[2] Blown Away, a 2-series Reality TV show about Glass Blowing, is available on Netflix.

[3] Jonas mentions the Duchamp fountain/urinal, put in the Grand Central Palace in New York in 1917. You can read more about it here: https://tinyurl.com/fountainurinal

In a very special episode, Jonas, Ines and Ben play lyric-less, personality-encompassing songs they've composed for each other. The results are, well, mixed. It leads to a sweeping trip down memory lane, as well as the devising of an innovative new post-it productivity method. As ever, tangents are not only encouraged, but relied upon.

Ben and Jonas are on their own for this week (don't worry, Ines will be back soon!), and almost immediately get lost down the rabbit hole of social media and the metaphysics of attachment. In the process, Ben inadvertently commits to deleting his Instagram. As ever, tangents are not only encouraged, but relied upon.

We're trialling a shorter episode length this week - let us know what you think by email - [email protected] - or by Instagram (@thetangentialists). Yes, the irony of relying on Instagram in relation to this episode is not lost on us.

- Show Notes -

[1] The orchestra pit scene Ben referred to, from the 2015 film Steve Jobs, can be found here: tinyurl.com/stevejobsorchestra

It's worth mentioning that Ben misquotes the film quite considerably (the line is "I play the orchestra", not "I'm the conductor"), but the point still stands. Roughly.

[2] The 2020 documentary Ben mentioned is called The Social Dilemma, still available on Netflix

[3] 15th of January is official Delete Social Media Day, as ordained by the Tangentialists. You're welcome to take part with us, along with the hashtag #thetangentialiststakedownzuck

Ben, Jonas and Inès wave goodbye to a bumpy 12 months this week, discussing what they learnt, how they grew, and the ways that friendship changed in 2020. Hopefully it provides a cheerier outlook on the year to end all years. As ever, tangents are not only encouraged, but relied upon.

- Show Notes - 

[1] Photos from the photo challenge can be found at @thetangentialists on Instagram, or on Google Drive here: tinyurl.com/21unfamiliar

[2] The questions we asked one another are below. How would you answer them?

1) When did you feel proud of yourself in 2020? What were you doing?

2) What kept you up at night with excitement this year? Was it worth it? Would you want to do more of it?

3) How did you have fun differently in 2020?

4) What is a new hobby or skill you'd like to learn in 2021?

5) How would you rate your personal 2020 out of 10?