In a technologically-saturated era where nearly everything can be effortlessly and digitally reproduced, we're all hungry to carve out our own unique personalities, our own bespoke personae, to stand out and be seen.
As the forces of social media and capitalism collide, and individualism becomes more important than ever across a wide array of industries, "br ... Show More
Today
Adrienne Domasin ed., "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Last of Us" (Playstory Press, 2025)
The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Last of Us (Playstory Press, 2025) explores the psychological themes at the heart of The Last of Us franchise. Authors from media, culture, and fandom studies explore how trauma, grief, morality, survival, and revenge shape the story’s character ... Show More
15m 54s
Today
Jim Cullen, "1980: America's Pivotal Year" (Rutgers UP, 2022)
1980 was a turning point in American history. When the year began, it was still very much the 1970s, with Jimmy Carter in the White House, a sluggish economy marked by high inflation, and the disco still riding the airwaves. When it ended, Ronald Reagan won the presidency in a la ... Show More
41m 44s
Yesterday
Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy, "Videotape" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Over the span of a single decade, VHS technology changed the relationship between privacy and entertainment, pried open the closed societies behind the Iron Curtain, and then sank back into oblivion. Its meteoric rise and fall encapsulated the dynamics of the '80s and foreshadowe ... Show More
44m 53s
Aug 2024
The Vision of Novelist Zadie Smith (‘The Fraud’)
Last fall, Zadie Smith published her prescient historical novel The Fraud. We return to our conversation with the beloved author this week, on the heels of our latest sit-down with writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner. At the top, Smith details her most recent book (7:48), her instinctiv ... Show More
1h 8m
Sep 3
Living stories: art, space and memory
What does it mean to tell stories through the spaces we live in? And how can architecture be a source of memory and repair?In this bonus episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson revisits a powerful conversation with Kabage Karanja, architect, researcher, and co-foun ... Show More
15m 10s
Jan 2025
“Your Role Models Are Making You Miserable!” - The Hala 135 | Challenges Faced as a Creative, Telepathic Connections, Overcoming Loss & Practicing Gratitude
Hala Abdallah is a Saudi Arabian content creator, entrepreneur, and global influencer. A graduate of OTIS College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. And jewelry design from IGI she combines her passion for art, design, and fashion through her brand, OFA. Known for her striking sty ... Show More
1h 43m
May 2025
“Fight for your happiness, or the world will crush you” -Mustafa Briggs 150
Mustafa is an author, historian, and creator of the acclaimed ‘Beyond Bilal’ lecture series, for a wide-ranging conversation on faith, identity, and the often-overlooked contributions of Black-Muslims throughout history. Mustafa shares the personal story of how his journey into I ... Show More
1h 41m
Aug 13
#13 - Beyond Stereotypes: Najla Said on Art, Culture, and Legacy
In this episode of Tak on the Pod, Andrea sits down with the talented Najla Said, a Lebanese-Palestinian-American actor, playwright, and author whose powerful work in theatre and literature explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexity of cultural narratives. Known f ... Show More
52m 2s
Sep 2024
Talking Shit with Elizabeth Oldfield: On Becoming Fully Alive
<p>In Episode 71, we are joined by Elizabeth Oldfield, a writer, thinker, bridge builder, and Christian working out of the UK. We discuss her new book Fully Alive, and the rich worldview which underlies it. Elizabeth challenges us to live our principles in our daily lives, and to ... Show More
1h 11m