The Empire Strikes Back, part two

In part two of this episode, we will be talking about the relationship between fandom and franchise, including the ways profit-making gets in the way of storytelling and the impact that fans can have on casting or the plot of a movie. Then we’ll be turning back to the franchise that started it all to discuss how it directly gave life to the Marvel-ization of the film industry, how the Star Wars fandom continues to affect the “canon,” and the ways that the meaning and reception of this movie has shifted over the past 40 years.

The Empire Strikes Back, part one

In part two of this episode, we will be talking about the relationship between fandom and franchise, including the ways profit-making gets in the way of storytelling and the impact that fans can have on casting or the plot of a movie. Then we’ll be turning back to the franchise that started it all to discuss how it directly gave life to the Marvel-ization of the film industry, how the Star Wars fandom continues to affect the “canon,” and the ways that the meaning and reception of this movie has shifted over the past 40 years.

Your Boss Is An Algorithm Book Cover Image

Your Boss is an Algorithm, part two

In part two of this episode, we discuss how to address the pervasive power of AI-enabled monitoring, the likelihood that the gig-economy model will emerge as a new organizational paradigm, what social partners and political players can do to adopt effective regulations that protect workers, and even what a future without work could look like. Take a listen.

Thinking Through Loneliness, Part Two

This is part two of our episode on Thinking Through Loneliness. We are continuing our conversation with Diane Enns, Professor of Philosophy at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. In part of two this episode, we discuss the ambiguity of loneliness, social media, the ways we can re-focus on the societal, rather than the personal, failures that produce loneliness, and whether there is a political alternative to our isolation. Take a listen.

Thinking Through Loneliness, Part One

Diane Enns is Professor of Philosophy at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada as well as the author of Thinking Through Loneliness, a lyrical and compassionate philosophy of loneliness. Throughout the book, Enns explores the ambiguities of being alone and argues that loneliness needs to be recognised as a political issue as much as a personal one. In part of one this episode, we break down the meaning of the book’s title, the aspects of loneliness that became more apparent during the pandemic, the changing role of the nuclear family, and much much more. Take a listen.

Queer Euripides book cover image

Queer Euripides, Part Two

Sarah Olsen is Assistant Professor of Classics at Williams College, USA, and Mario Telò is Professor of Classics and Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. Together, they are the editors of Queer Euripides, the first volume to reconsider the entire corpus of an ancient canonical author through the lens of queerness broadly conceived. In part two of this episode, we delve into what Euripides play our guests would see in the ancient past, as well as the classic figure they’d bring to a desert island. 

Queer Euripides book cover image

Queer Euripides, Part One

Sarah Olsen is Assistant Professor of Classics at Williams College, USA, and Mario Telò is Professor of Classics and Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. Together, they are the editors of Queer Euripides, the first volume to reconsider the entire corpus of an ancient canonical author through the lens of queerness broadly conceived. In part one of this episode, we delve into what we know about Euripides and what we can benefit from viewing his tragedies and other ancient materials through a queer lens, as well as the process of selecting contributors for this volume and much much more. Take a listen. 

What to listen to this Pride Month

Pride Month is here! And we’re celebrating by showcasing our favorite discussions on gender, sexuality, and identity + 35% off the books from these episodes when you use code Pride21 at checkout. Featuring conversations with Jenn Pelly, Carol J. Adams, and special guest Alok Vaid-Menon.

Don’t forget to explore the rest of our Pride Month Reading List with free digital resources and discounted books through June.

The Future is Feminine

The Future is Feminine with Ciara Cremin, Part Two

We are continuing our conversation with Ciara Cremin about capitalism and what she refers to as the masculine disorder. We explore the relationship between far-right authoritarianism and masculinity, as well as the ways in which masculinity dominates leftist spaces.  Upon that reflection we discuss what it would look like to collectively reject masculinity, and what our future might look like if we all reconciled as a society with the feminine.Â