Things of Interest

How is social media making us all less sociable? Today we talk about social networks, the morally ambiguous things they do, how it served as a manipulation tool during elections, how the economic model of the Internet (advertising) incentivises companies to put up with bad actors, abusive users, and sometimes even lead them to act immorally by themselves. We also touch on the horrific situation on Manus Island, and the #MeToo movement of women coming out against their sexual harrassers and abusers. And of course, how post-capitalism continues to be a nightmare. It's a fun episode!

This episode we talk race, culture and identity in New Zealand with the wonderful Marcelle Wharerau. Did our teachers in high school communicate the importance of NZ history enough? What cultural aspects did colonialism imprint on Māori and what did it erase? How does it affect other non-European New Zealanders, even now? And what is Pākehā culture?

Is self care another mushy fad, or is it underrated and critical to our lives? Does it mean staying in bed and binge watching TV or does it mean going outside for a run? Or both? How do we care for ourselves in this tumultuous world?

Where do we find strength? How do we take care of ourselves when everything feels hopeless? How do we deal with feeling a lot, or nothing at all? How do we deal with feeling overwhelmed? What are our rituals to tune out the world? Also: relationships, found family, and change.

We react to the events of Charlottesville, the danger of white moderates and neo-nazi sympathisers, free speech, the importance of continually interrogating your own beliefs. On the topic of things that infuriate us, we touch on the Google screed. From 32:53 we officially run out of emotional energy and do a 180 and ask each other about the positive things that have happened in our lives lately. We hope this podcast finds you smiling, despite the current state of the world. Take care of yourselves.

Today: the ins and outs of MMP, bicameral parliaments, welfare, political segregation, poverty, and the paradox of choice. And of course: VOTING. Sophia then gives us the low-down on a particularly silly section of the Australian constitution. But yeah. Go vote!

What is a reasonable amount of responsibility to expect from high-visibility individuals? Why are some celebrities so vehemently defended when they've done something wrong, while others shamed for the public's enjoyment? How do we navigate a world that is increasingly intrusive and less authentic? Plus, we gush over our shared love of Suzy Cato. Content warning for chats around suicide and how people respond to it from 28:36 to 35:14.

CONSPIRACIES. What makes people believe them? How do we fight against them? When are they real? Also: fake news, journalism, and the investigation into reality itself.

This week: guest host Leesa Charlotte joins us to chat about communities — from the old to new, organic to artificial, mundane to extreme.

Probably our nerdiest episode to date. Battlestar Galactica, Mass Effect, Star Trek, Animorphs, with the usual distractions and foray into race, gender and identity, and how that manifests differently in different cultures. Also: Mars Trilogy, The Three Body Problem, Orphan Black, Steven Universe, mild Joss Whedon, Gattaca, Gravity, Arrival, good/bad storytelling, and the distribution of the future.