They’re shiny rocks that we’ve somehow agreed embody romance and eternity. But diamonds, it turns out, are not as rare as we think. And these days, they can be made in a lab. So why do we continue to spend so much money on them? This week, the story of a century-long, international scheme. And the story of how it fell apart.
If you want to see the articles a ... Show More
Nov 12
An Anthropology of Gooners
A reporter spends a year diving into a subculture of young men online who unite around their extreme commitment to constant, unadulterated porn consumption. Why are they doing this, what is it doing to them, and what does their existence tell us about the internet we’re all stuck ... Show More
47m 4s
Jul 2020
Diamond Wars | The Future of the Diamond Industry | 8
<p>Today we conclude our Diamond Wars series.</p><p> These precious stones are known to be undeniably beautiful, rare and a symbol of luxury. But diamonds have also been associated with war, human rights abuses and death. In response, consumers these days are demanding ... Show More
20m 49s
Jul 2020
Diamond Wars | Monopolies Aren’t Forever | 6
<p>It’s the late 1990s and rebel armies in Angola, Sierra Leone and Congo are bankrolling campaigns of mass murder and terror with diamonds. Now, after years of turning a blind eye, the diamond-buying public is starting to notice the bloodshed. </p><p>But as the issue of so- ... Show More
23m 16s
Dec 2019
Lulu tries to become Nike — How Saudi Aramco makes $90B in profits/year — Away’s drama arrives
Oil legend Saudi Aramco is the most valuable company in the world and it just IPO’d, but how does it make money? Luggage brandicorn Away went through a week worse than your worst travel trip, so we’re looking at what actually went wrong. And Lululemon reported earnings, but we’re ... Show More
17m 49s
Mar 2023
Success Can Feel Lonely: Social Media, Comparison, “We Made It”
In this installment of Pretty Basic, the girls talk about how wild this year has been for them, from living out their wildest dreams, to meeting some of their biggest heroes. They also get into the ins and outs of social media and how the romanticization of online life is unhealt ... Show More
45m 37s