Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchNaan Mandarin: Accent, Prejudice, and Uyghur Identity
Season 1 Episode 147
At first glance, the viral jokes about “naan Mandarin” on Chinese social media seem like harmless regional parody—but they reveal something deeper an…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Purgatory of Professional Tennis's Lower Ranks
Season 1 Episode 146
Professional tennis may glitter at the top, but most of the sport lives far from Wimbledon’s pristine lawns. In this episode, we dive into the brutal…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Lost and Found at the Maha Kumbh Mela
Season 1 Episode 145
At the world’s largest religious gathering—the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj—getting lost isn’t an anomaly, it’s an inevitability. In this episode, we…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Predicament of the British High Earner (Henry)
Season 1 Episode 144
Meet the “High Earner, Not Rich Yet”—or Henry—the British six-figure worker who looks wealthy on paper but is quietly being squeezed by the tax syste…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Kollywood: Cinema, Stardom, and Tamil Politics
Season 1 Episode 143
Tamil Nadu is home to a political tradition unlike anywhere else in India—one where movie stardom is the surest path to power. In this episode, we ex…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Dragonfish Economy: Arowana Breeding and Trade
Season 1 Episode 142
In this episode, we dive into the strange, high-stakes world of the global arowana trade—a market where a single shimmering “dragonfish” can sell for…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Intermittent Fasting: Benefits, Risks, and Science
Season 1 Episode 141
Intermittent fasting promises simplicity in a world of complicated diets—but does it actually deliver better health? In this episode, we look at the …
4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Crisis of American Evangelical Prophecy
Season 1 Episode 140
American evangelicalism is facing a crisis of prophecy. In this episode, we look at the explosive rise of self-appointed Christian prophets—many of w…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Venezuela's Ghost Election and Gathering Headwinds
Season 1 Episode 139
Venezuela’s latest “ghost election” tells a bleak story about a country caught between political theater and economic freefall. In this episode, we u…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
The Prepping Business: Fear, Survival, and Community
Season 1 Episode 138
America’s prepping boom isn’t just about stockpiling beans in a bunker—it’s become a fully fledged industry powered by fear, politics, and profit. In…
4 months, 2 weeks ago