Stride & Saunter

For those who listen to podcasts on any number of applications, software has paved the way to speed up content and consume it more quickly. Various listeners report enjoying shows at 1.5, 2 or even 3 times the recorded rate. While this may seem like a simple choice to some, what might be the long-term outcomes of such decisions? And in looking back, what aspects of our culture, our sense of patience and time and our personal interests might compel us to consume content more voraciously? Should content creators be more conscientious of listener needs and preferences?

As the modern era has developed and expanded various ideas and definitions, notable stigma and presumptions surrounding sex and sexuality still remain. In particular, the sexual freedom of some is cast down as promiscuity, fecklessness and misdirection by others. This led Swedish photographer David Magnusson to pursue stories related to purity balls, emotionally prominent events in which young daughters vow to abstain from sex until marriage, and their fathers promise to protect their purity in return. Certainly, where the realms of sexuality and spirituality combine, people tend to develop very strong opinions. What do purity balls teach us about willpower and personal devotion? How do we negotiate freedom of choice with deeply-held doctrine? Can we navigate these realms with a critical lens without offering judgment and condemnation of one side or another?

For our hundredth episode, I wanted to cover something I felt both universally significant and intimately connected to my personal experience. For as long as I can remember expressing myself and any multitude of thoughts and feelings I've had, others have labelled me as "weird". The term has always truck me as intentionally disparaging, a means by which we keep the herd homogeneous and deter social outliers. But what if our (rather common) use of the term stems from a place of fear of difference? This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Houda El Joundi about the word and its implications. How might those who cast judgment on others for being "weird" actually close doors and prohibit open-mindedness in themselves? How might the term promote a cycle of misunderstanding and a failure to empathize? Although I suspect many may not find the term nearly as hostile or polarizing, I hope all of our listeners will reflect on the profound power such a brief and ubiquitous word can have. - Kip

In the constant whirlwind of tragedy, hardship and struggle in our modern news and throughout human history, some individuals have still managed to stir great emotion and change. Many, though, appear increasingly apathetic, offering only cursory or superficial sympathies in the face of mass atrocities and looming misfortune. Whether widespread or less prominent, what is to blame for this phenomenon of apathy? Have we become inundated with stories exposing failure in our reality? Are we afraid to risk our energy and emotion? Do we presume others might take up the mantle? We welcome Henry Burbank this week to explore this idea and the ways in which we might think about apathy in our world. We also discuss the ways in which our immediate communities and environments affect our relative interest and apathy. Does our human nature dictate whether we are inclined to care or give up?

Of all Broadway shows in recent memory, none has been so critically-acclaimed, insightful and as culturally relevant as Hamilton. Written in a passionate 6 years by Lin Manuel-Miranda, who also plays the lead, the musical tells the story of a lesser-known Founding Father. At a critical time in United States politics today, how do our current political landscape and patriotic sentiments reflect the life and times of the industrious, brilliant and orphaned architect of many systems still in place? This week we welcome Megan Carr to analyze some of the lyrical, social and historical complexity. What does the show's popularity say about our interests today? How do we respond to a racially diverse cast which leaves out prominent figures of color in the American Revolution? How are women characterized and described within the musical? How is Alexander Hamilton portrayed as a heroic protagonist and in what ways is his story altered to reflect a potentially idealized narrative? And in what ways has the musical shed light on the means by which we teach and tell history?

In our daily interactions and social patterns, we might detect categories of humor but rarely consider our individual comedic voices. What are the factors in our lives which determine what we find funny, how we see the world and how we bridge these traits? How do our comedic voices demonstrate our most fundamental characteristics? How do our personal preferences in comedy illuminate inherent tensions in our personalities? This week we welcome back Mike Jest to explore how one goes about finding and sculpting a comedic voice. We discuss the value of clear communication in a refined comedic voice. Furthermore, we explore the roles listening, relaxation and self-reliance play in discovering one's personal tone in comedy.

In an increasingly globalized world, many of us submit to generalizations, misunderstandings and politics of vehemence. Particularly in recent decades, sharp hatred and criticism have been cultivated in the West against the followers of Islam. This week, we welcome Sewar Al-Quraan to discuss a 1993 essay by Bernard Lewis which examines the history and relationship between Islam and the West. It should be noted that these are broad labels applied to billions of lives, and as such they fail to get at personal and nuanced experience. In what ways do we perpetuate these stereotypes? Do we ever treat the religious tradition of Islam as a form of government? Do we ever see religious devotion in liberal democracies like the United States? As ever, our conversation is not final nor declaratory. We will absolutely revisit this and similar topics in the future.

As Americans, we are often faced with news stories regarding mass shootings, fatal accidents and attacks involving guns. The issue has been heavily politicized, discussed and argued, but as a result, we have stopped thinking about why the gun appeals to so many. That's why we spoke with Alex Piper this week, to theorize about the ubiquitous weapon's appeal and relationship to humanity. We discuss the gun as a means of freedom and independence, both personally and politically. As a product of design and engineering, is the gun most powerful as a symbol? Why do some regard guns with fear while others relish and appreciate the gun as a tool?

In a more personal episode, we spoke with Leland Holcomb this week to discuss friendly challenges we have shared with one another for the past two years. Whenever we catch up, we make it a point to push each other to try new activities, adopt foreign perspectives, and to move past our comfort zones. We describe some of our favorite challenges, the impact they've had and how we think challenges like ours could be applied to the lives of others.

In the mid-twentieth century, social psychologists Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo conducted very influential and prominent experiments in the field which have had long lasting implications in our understanding of morality, independent decision making and perceptions of power over others. Though dated, each experiment lends to a discussion of dehumanization, which is rather common in our world today. This week, we welcome Naomi Ali to discuss some of the conclusions of both studies and how they might not be as black-and-white as some people might believe. How might the data be misinterpreted? What role did bias play in either experiment? Are people as helplessly suggestible as the studies might conclude?

With my graduation yesterday, there are some thoughts I feel compelled to share. What I have learned, what the past four years have given me and the role they will play in the greater scope of my life. These are words to myself, for those who have given me the feelings and thoughts to express them. - Kip Clark

Today, as we graduate, we say goodbye to Kenyon College, where this podcast began and where so many voices and thoughts have been recorded in the past two years. To honor our graduating class and to demonstrate the variety of experiences and perspectives, we asked for written submissions from our fellow seniors, which we read aloud. As this episode posts, we are walking across the stage, receiving our diplomas and swimming in the endless tides of memories, feelings and thoughts both nostalgic and forward-looking. Our thanks to our wonderful listeners, as well as to those who contributed to this composite of narratives. To the graduating Class of 2016: Congratulations! - Kip and Caroline

It's hard to put leaving anywhere into words. As many of us prepare to graduate tomorrow, I tried my best at putting some thoughts together. It certainly doesn't say it all, but I've tried to capture the aspects of my time at Kenyon College that were most impactful. This place, its people, its rhythm, its trees, has changed me and I can only attempt to bless it before I go. - Caroline

As we prepare to graduate in three days, we felt it appropriate to examine and analyze another commencement address. This time, we chose to look at a well-known speech from our alma mater (Kenyon College) by David Foster Wallace. In this beloved address, often referred to as "This Is Water," Wallace examines the values of a liberal arts education. He emphasizes the mundane, soul-crushing and depressing realities of adult life, the daily battles and chores which face all of us in adulthood. He adds, however, that he feels the value of a liberal arts education lies in how one learns to think. He discusses the conscious choices one can make in perceiving the environment, social situations and the beautiful freedom in pursuing one's own beliefs through critical thought.

Can you imagine someone without any opponents in life, people who stand in consistent disagreement? If such a person did exist, what would we think of them? This week, we welcome Sam Graf to discuss some ideas surrounding the existence of enemies in our lives. We discuss how we can grow from our relationships with enemies, why and how people identify enemies in their lives and what these relationships of opposition on any scale can teach us about ourselves.