Show Notes In which we laugh our way through a podcast about the world’s greatest humor website: homestarrunner.com. Why is it still funny? How does “funny” (of all things) manage to endure? What role does humor play in culture? How do things become timeless(ish)? An image of the main cast of the website. Chapters Intro (0:49) White People Making Rap Videos (0:49–6:26) An Episode of Ishes (6:26–16:43) Put Things in Slow Motion to Make Them Awesome (16:43–26:26) Conclusion (26:26–28:06) Bloopers ...
Oct 31, 2014•29 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Note: if you downloaded this episode before 8:45pm Eastern time on October 21, 2014, you should re-download it. Chris made an error in mixing it together, leading to his and Stephen’s audio being slightly out of sync for the entire episode (!), which has since been fixed. If you downloaded it after that time, you’re good to go! Show NotesIn which we ask: “Who funds the arts? And how does that impact the artist ethically?” Corporations, individuals, and governments all have distinct downsides as ...
Oct 22, 2014•30 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Show NotesIn which we talk about new social media player Ello —some initial impressions, venture capital’s influence in Silicon Valley and its distinctive shape there vs. elsewhere, and thoughts on business model and communication. Chapters Intro (0:44) Definitely Still a Beta (0:44–5:27) That’s Not a Gift (5:27–14:02) How People React to News (14:02–22:32) A Working Business Model (22:32–28:32) Conclusion (28:32–30:04) Outtake (30:04–30:10) Music “Aldebaran Serpent” from Tower by Falcon Arrow. ...
Oct 14, 2014•30 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Show NotesIn which we start with a look at some really neat apps designed to ease political engagement in the United States and then branch out to talk about the limits of political engagement, the importance of valuing other forms of public life, and what it means to be fully-realized human beings. CorrigendaChris said that Countable addresses local politics; it does not. It focuses on national bills in the House and Senate. Also, he mentioned the Westminster Confession but meant the Westminste...
Oct 07, 2014•26 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Show NotesIn which we geek out about Doctor Who… and do our best to say something meaningful about the necessity of people who can tell us what we’re getting wrong in life, and who can be strong where we have weaknesses. Correction We said only one episode of new Doctor Who has won a Hugo. We were dreadfully wrong: the show has won six Hugos since the revival in 2006. Whoops. Recommended Moffat Episodes of Doctor Who “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances” “The Girl in the Fireplace” “Blink” “...
Sep 23, 2014•27 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Show NotesIn which we talk about something Apple did this week… but not the thing they announced, and almost certainly not what you’d expect. Namely: the death of the iPod Classic: Apple’s oldest consumer product outside the Mac, and a veritable gamechanger for the music industry. It’s gone, and Stephen is upset. (Chris, not so much.) Chapters Intro (1:32) It’s Probably Pastel White (1:32–9:45) You’re Probably in my Hundred Friends (9:45–14:45) What the Corporate Overlord Giveth (14:45–19:45) Ho...
Sep 16, 2014•28 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Show NotesIn which we talk about the recent celebrity nude selfies leak from just about every angle: the people who hijacked the photos, those who took the photos, the technology used to store the photos, and society at large. We talk about what individuals’ relationship with technology should look like, how we should view those who behave wickedly, and where there might be hope for solving these kinds of problems in our society. Chapters Intro (0:58) The Internet is Not “Safe” (0:58–07:23) Degr...
Sep 09, 2014•29 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Show NotesIn which we talk about the drive to publish all the time and the value of publishing more substantive content at a slower pace. We talk about the way the internet has driven us toward rapid-fire publishing models and how long-form and high-quality content is difficult (if not impossible) to publish on this model. We look at how to build an audience via quality and the slow route instead of the click-driven model, note that this is difficult to sustain as a means of income, and even thi...
Sep 02, 2014•25 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Show NotesIn which we talk about Taylor Swift, Twitter, and changes in expectations. We admit that Chris is a Taylor Swift fan and that Stephen is a hipster. Then we get down to the business of talking about how these two changes differ both in messaging and in contente, and look at the ways that both consumers and Chapters Intro (1:20) Haters Gonna Hate (1:20–07:40) Turning Itself Into Facebook (07:40–16:33) Artists and Corporations Are Not the Same (16:33–24:15) Social Media of Record (24:15–2...
Aug 26, 2014•30 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Show NotesIn which we discuss the necessity of extending charity to each other in our conversations, especially conversations on controversial issues. Springboarding from public/internet reactions to Christian musician Michael Gungor’s discussion of his views on Genesis, we talk about the necessity of charity, Chris’ Rules for Argument, the importance of taking a long-term view on friendship and persuasion, and what to do in the face of serious disagreement about important issues. Chapters Intro...
Aug 19, 2014•32 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Warning: this episode touches on some very difficult topics, including both death in general and suicide in particular. If these are especially sensitive topics for you, we recommend you skip this episode. Maybe go back and listen to Superhero Movies! instead. Show NotesIn which we talk about The Collection’s new album, Ars Moriendi (“The Art of Dying”). We cover the musicality of the album itself, then dive into the way it wrestles with hard topics in a faithfully Christian way without either s...
Aug 12, 2014•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Show Notes In which we talk about superhero movies as context for dealing well and poorly with success and failure. And geek out about superhero movies. (Honestly, we mostly just geek out about superhero movies.) But along the way, we do note that DC, Marvel, Sony, and Fox have dealt with their successes and failures in some radically different ways, and note some ways in which we might all learn from our superhero friends. Also, we unabashedly make mistakes ourselves, own them, and laugh at the...
Aug 05, 2014•30 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Show Notes In which we look (rather critically) at the tech sphere’s tendency to assume everything not only can but should be disrupted. Snarky asides on smartwatches and smartshoes segue into a discussion of the necessity of humility and the importance of recognizing what technology cannot do and what it should not do. Note: by “disruption” we are focused not on the particular concept developed by Clay Christensen, but on the popular view of the word. We are aware of the distinction, but decide...
Jul 29, 2014•29 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Show NotesIn which we talk about one of the longest views: family. In particular, we look at the ways that all our pursuits—especially those having to do with family—force us to make choices about what we value most and to allocate our time accordingly. After all, one’s impact on one’s family is far more long-lasting than nearly anything else we do. We also spend some time thinking about the responsibilities of corporations to develop expectations that support families as genuinely valuable to c...
Jul 22, 2014•32 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Show Notes We talk about Facebook’s much-discussed study of user responses to variations in their News Feed: what did Facebook do, exactly? Was it ethical? What responsibilities do users and consumers of different media (social included) have? What reponsibilities do companies have to their users? Chapters Intro (1:08) Facebook’s Social (Network) Science (1:08–12:02) User Responsibility (12:02–17:46) Corporate Ethics (17:46–27:00) Conclusion (27:00–30:00) Music “Summerooms Social” , from Summero...
Jul 15, 2014•30 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Show Notes In which we talk about how watching companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook try to “pivot”—that is, attempting (and usually failing) to do something outside their core areas of competency—highlights the difficulty of institutional change in general. We apply this idea to everything from the strengths and weaknesses of different Christian denominations to the way structural change occurs in the government. A few explanatory comments: Yes, we’re fully aware that the PCA (of which Ste...
May 20, 2014•24 min
Show Notes In which we talk about App.net closing down, how even good business models do not guarantee successful businesses, and the future of paying for things on the internet—especially whether social media will ever be the kind of thing people are willing to pay for. Chapters Intro (0:53) Follow-up: Fixed and Marginal Costs (0:53–1:44) What Happened to ADN? (1:44–7:26) Paying to Socialize (7:26–17:41) Free or Not Free (17:41–23:00) Conclusion (23:00–24:47) Music “Mountain Song” , from Lion’s...
May 13, 2014•25 min
Show Notes In which we talk about headline-writing in general, click-bait headlines in particular, and why we don’t think that click-bait headlines are a “best practice”—or really a good thing at all. How these realities shape all sorts of discourse, not just headline-writing, including political stances. Note: Chris kept talking about Slate when he meant not Slate (and specifically “Pajiba.com”). His bad. Chapters Intro (1:26) Headline-Writing (1:26–6:58) Whether Ends Justify Means (6:58–12:30)...
May 06, 2014•22 min
Show Notes In which we tackle copyright (or left, as you like), barely touch on patents, and generally try to think about how to handle questions of intellectual property as consumers and creators thereof in the brave new world of digital economics and cheap copies of everything (even Nike shoes). Chapters Intro (1:02) The Reason for Copyright (1:02–8:22) Valuing Products in Different Ways (8:22–19:55) “Pay Me For This Thing” (19:55–26:55) Conclusion (28:10) Music We know. Pretty sweet sounds. E...
Apr 29, 2014•28 min
Show Notes In which we talk about how anyone with a camera can be a “photographer,” anyone with a laptop can be a “musician,” anyone with a SquareSpace account can be a “designer,” and so on—and how these things are both beautifully empowering and incredibly frustrating for the pros in these fields. Chapters Intro (2:54) Prosumerization (2:54–12:42) I’m-Trying-To-Be-A-Professional Buttons (12:42–20:15) The Digital Economy (20:15–27:51) Conclusion (27:51–29:08) Music “Old Foes” , by Yaquina Bay. ...
Apr 22, 2014•29 min
Show Notes In which we take seventeen minutes (on the dot!) to have a really great time explaining why there was no Episode 0.08. Basically: because it ended up being terrible by dint of having completely gotten away from us. The net result: a lesson in the difference between blogging and podcasting, a bit more humility, and a lot of laughter at our own expense. Chapters Intro (1:06) It Got Away From Us (1:06–5:56) [Don’t Blink! (3:54)] Different Media, Different Beast (5:56–11:55) A Humility Le...
Apr 15, 2014•17 min
Show Notes In which we talk about the Affordable Care Act and how implementation—both at a technological level and at a general political level—public perception, and policy combine in strange and surprising ways. Chapters Intro and Overview (2:45) Technology Failure (2:45–8:36): on how the initial failure of HealthCare.gov shaped public perception of the ACA. Implementation Matters (8:36–15:58): on how policy in general is always dependent on how it is put in place. Conclusion (17:28) Music “Co...
Apr 01, 2014•17 min
Show Notes In which we talk at length about art and the arts in the context of Christianity, taking the three religiously themed movies in theaters right now as our jumping off point. Chapters God’s Not Dead (2:56–10:09) – propositions in movie format, a.k.a. a tract. Son of God (10:09–18:45) – moving higher on the art scale, and not trying to be big (in contrast with e.g. The Passion of the Christ ). Noah (18:45–26:06) – all art, not so much on the textual fidelity. We might be okay with that. ...
Mar 25, 2014•32 min
Show Notes In which we try out a 15-minute show format (and manage to run to 22 minutes, of course—you’re not really surprised, are you?) on one topic: Kickstarter hitting a billion dollars funded. Chapters Kickstart All The Things (0:40–13:57): Kickstarter hits a billion dollars, so we wax eloquent about just how neat the whole project is. Ungreedy Capitalism (13:57–22:05): We talk about how Kickstarter’s business model and company structure are different in really good ways, and the history an...
Mar 19, 2014•23 min
Show Notes In which we talk about what happens when people yell at each other about what they should and shouldn’t be writing, how musicians’ attitudes toward “making a career of it” seem to have shifted in the last few decades, and why not having a business plan is a bad plan. Chapters Beating Up Writers (1:57–17:35): everyone from tech startups to Nicholas Kristof has an opinion about what you should be writing—and so do we… sort of. Musical Careering (17:35–28:50): an interview with Future Is...
Mar 11, 2014•43 min
Show Notes In which we talk about how greedy pricing schemes an and will run you right out of business (by running you right out of customers), how the Ken Ham-Bill Nye debate raises questions about Christians in the public square, and how incredibly weird it is that we can (and do) lose parts of the internet. Insane pricing schemes: Network Solutions ripping off its customers (1:07–13:05) Ken Ham vs. Bill Nye, the “culture war”, and having the wisdom to decide when one ought to opt for politica...
Feb 25, 2014•43 min
Internet Radio, Pastor-Authors, and Trade Agreements Show Notes In which we talk about doing “content” right—whether that content is streaming radio, books published by Christian pastors, or massive trade laws. Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes Radio: thinking about the ups and downs of each service Pastor-authors: thinking about “plagiarism” and whose names end up on books The Trans-Pacific Partnership: or, how making laws in secret as fast as possible is bad for democracy Music Opening music: "Time...
Feb 11, 2014•46 min
Show notes In which we talk about how context shapes (or should shape) our decisions regarding technology, with three big topics: Christian author and former pastor John Piper and Pope Francis on Twitter Google acquiring Nest and the ensuing internet freakout Intentionally unprofitable bands and the changing shape of music industry, as highlighted by miniature label Controlled Burn Records and band Nonagon Links Sometimes we mention things in our show. When we do, we link them here. Makes it eas...
Jan 28, 2014•43 min
