Episode 290: The Agency of Mushrooms

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Have you ever wondered why some things happen? Have you further considered exactly what kind of control other entities have over your life? I've done the same, as I'll share in this Episode 290: The Agency of Mushrooms.

In this episode, I read from: a message from my ad blocking software; A Cory Doctorow Wired magazine article (which he also published on his own web site but with no paywall); a Matt Stoller article from his newsletter Big; and both an NBC poll along with the actual questions and results, some of which they didn't bother to mention.

I play: speech excerpts from three commencement addresses this summer; and the opening to Chuck Mangione's 1970s hit "Feels So Good". More music comes from: KMFDM backing a brand-new intro featuring Chris Ryan; and Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang sing us out with "Over The Rainbow."

Episode 289: Time Bandits and The Curse of Bigness

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Have you ever wondered why so many of your friends feel things in general have deteriorated over the years? Worse, has this been happening more and more at the same time the talking heads seem happier and happier about how bad things were, but how great things are now? You're not alone. I explore possible factors that explain this split in opinion in this Episode 289: Time Bandits and The Curse of Bigness.

In this episode, I read from: a Matt Stoller article from his newsletter Big; Tim Wu's book, The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age; and Matt Stoller's book Goliath: the 100-year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy (for the final Louis Brandeis quote).


From Minnesota Implement

I relate the highlights from at least one video from Minnesota Implement (above), the owner of which was explaining why he was close to closing his doors after 28 years… at least until his videos started going viral. I did the same with an Organized Money podcast episode.

I play: Pee Wee Herman's classic observation about big buts. Musically, Matt Stoller opens the show backed by KMFDM; and Julie & Rolf & The Campfire Gang sing us out with "Over the Rainbow".