logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
58m 3s

Why are we still buying diamonds?

PJ Vogt
About this episode
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
Up next
Feb 27
Mysteries of Claude
Anthropic hired philosophers to teach its AI to be good. In their tests, the AI blackmailed a human to keep itself alive. Writer Gideon Lewis-Kraus went inside the company to figure out what's going on with Claude, and whether anyone can actually control it. Read Gideon's story h ... Show More
52m 9s
Feb 20
Why don’t we eat people? (classic)
A question from a four-year-old tips us into an investigation of one of our most fundamental taboos: cannibalism. With help from New Yorker food critic Hannah Goldfield and writer Kelefa Sanneh. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacy ... Show More
1 h
Feb 13
How Peptides Conquered the Internet
Two decades ago, bodybuilders on niche internet forums started injecting peptides. Now they're in the secret mini-fridges of some teenage boys. How did they get there? We track their crooked path from Silicon Valley to jaw-smashing influencers. Check out Jasmine Sun's work (and h ... Show More
48m 20s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2020
Diamond Wars | The Future of the Diamond Industry | 8
<p>Today we conclude our Diamond Wars series.</p><p>&nbsp;These precious stones are known to be undeniably beautiful, rare and a symbol of luxury. But&nbsp;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.&nbsp;</p><p>But as the issue of so- ... Show More
23m 16s
Jul 2018
Are Diamonds Really Rare?
Diamonds are considered one of the world’s most valuable gemstones. But what if their prices are high due to brilliant marketing and supply monopoly tactics, not because of their rarity? And if that’s the case, are diamonds just a run-of-the-mill gemstone? Learn more about your a ... Show More
44m 6s
Dec 2018
The Orgasm Myth
In today’s conversation, Nicole Daedone tells us why climax is just like sugar or a drop in the ocean and how to get to the real thing we’re looking for. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about y ... Show More
40m 31s
Nov 2018
The Silencing of Women
Famed Author/Historian Mary Beard explores how women have been silenced throughout history—and why we still are today. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podca ... Show More
44m 16s
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
Mar 2023
"10 Days Away!"
<p>Vicky B asks Sara about her wedding that is happening 10 days from now and all that needs to get done; then they get into the things they do now because they didn't get to do as kids which somehow leads to a conversation of things that are normal in the US, but weird ever wher ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2016
2 | White Rabbits
We learn that everything isn't always what it seems in this case. New figures emerge, and the people of Ocilla are finally talking. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. ... Show More
29m 32s