The final day of 2020 brought with it the news of the tragic passing of one of hip hop’s greatest MCs of all time, MF DOOM. The first week of 2021 brought the unimaginable: a siege of the Capitol and an attempted insurrection lead by the President. Studying the Super Villain helps America's craziness make sense.

Attempting to commercialize one's art has always been difficult. Navigating the highly competitive independent music landscape during the social media era amidst a pandemic might just kill you. 

Doing too much? Under too much pressure? Too much on your plate? Going too hard? You need to moderate muthafucka. Since the days of Aristotle, moderation has been highlighted as a tenant of "virtuous living." The pandemic provides a much difference context, but moderation is still as relevant as ever. 

In a process that feels very counterintuitive, the obstacles we face and the constraints we live through end up being a source for our drive and inspiration. Somehow, the monsters we face and the missions we complete earn badges of honor for our psyche which end up building the armor we use to take on the world. 

Shreve shares his thoughts on the ways that comparisons can affect us both negatively and positively. From keeping up with the Joneses to social media influencers. From debates about Jordan vs. Kobe vs. LeBron to MC top 5s. Americans love to make comparisons--is our sense of joy suffering as a result?

Being able to show gratitude for the little things in life can make a world of difference. Remaining grateful through hardships and staying thankful for small blessings can help provide the glimmer of hope and the thread of strength we need to get through. 

Americans seem to think that a coronavirus vaccine is right around the corner when the simple truth is that it's not. The sooner we embrace preventative measures en masse, the sooner we have a chance to climb out of this. Shreve references Diffusion of Innovations theory and relates it to Americans' hesitancy to adopt known disease spread reduction methods.  

Maybe the ultimate psilocybin cautionary tale. In life sometimes you learn lessons the hard way. C.Shreve the storyteller presents us with his College Story aka the top 5 things you don’t want to experience on mushrooms. Parental discretion advised.

After taking in way too much news coverage during the 2020 election, the Professor highlights the importance of choosing accurate information channels in our decision making. Essentially, what's on your curriculum? The experiences we feed into our life with intention can have powerful impacts on where we go and how we get there. Blindly checking out only half the story will only get you half way there.

Who Needs A Classroom Podcast will be many things. Sometimes a social commentary, sometimes a travel journal / parenting spout off, sometimes a classroom experience. Since Professor Shreve is no longer on campus, he needed a space to speak. An anything but predictable podcast from rapper & educator C.Shreve the Professor.