Spin Cycle

Spin Cycle

Spin Cycle dives into the behaviours and patterns behind what we say, hear, & do - and how they get repeated over time. Join hosts Perry and Mallory as they ask if what we’re seeing is truly unprecedented, or if it's just the newest form of an old story? spincyclepodcast.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Ep 3: Can't Stop the Shimmy

    6 JAN

    Ep 3: Can't Stop the Shimmy

    Before TikTok was invented, did our ancestors have to walk uphill to the bar both ways with no boots on in a snowstorm to learn the hottest new viral dance? Join us on this episode of Spin Cycle to unpack the history of the viral dance and why humans just can’t stop shimmying in sync with others, discover why Al Gore was boogie-ing it down (or not) to the Macarena at the 1996 Democratic Convention, and explore how music and dance has been co-opted for political means throughout history. Show Notes & References: On the history of the Macarena: * Lining Up and Letting Loose : It’s a little hand jive, a little Hokey Pokey and lots of fun. The Macarena is sweeping dance clubs, Dennis Romero, Los Angeles Times * How The ‘Macarena’ Music Video Helped Shape An Iconic ‘90s Dance, Sarah Boboltz, Huffington Post * The night ‘Macarena’ took over Yankee Stadium, Matt Monagan, MLB.com * Watch Madeline Albright getting down like a pro at the UN * Click for a peak of Hillary Clinton clapping on-beat to it at the DNC in 1996 On social contagion and why we’re so influenced: * Social Contagion: How Others Secretly Control Your Behavior, Ronald E. Riggio, Psychology Today * Route of fire: Pregame rituals and emotional synchrony among Brazilian football fans, Dimitris Xygalatas, Vitor Leandro da Silva Profeta Mohammadamin Saraei, Gabriela Baranowski-Pinto To listen to some iconic songs used for political means: * I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier (1915) used by Americans against entering the ‘European War’, later World War I * Sample of an eighteenth-century oratorio chorus as used by Belva Lockwood in her 1884 US presidential campaign * Remake of I Will Always Love You by Syrian singer Mayada Bseliss used by Suddam Hossein in his 2002 presidential campaign To track songs used on the US political campaign trail and ongoing commentary on music in politics: * Trax on the Trail Until next time! Just keep spinning… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit spincyclepodcast.substack.com

    1h 7m
  2. Ep 1: Diving into the Generational Divide

    30/11/2025

    Ep 1: Diving into the Generational Divide

    In the first-ever episode of Spin Cycle we dive into the real story behind generational tensions. Is this butting of generational heads unique, or a worn-in, and worn-out story we just keep telling ourselves? Show Notes & References: * On the comeback of Millennial culture: * The generational tweet heard around the world (or at least, seen across many screens and feeds) * Everything Millennial is Cool Again - The New York Times * Gen Z is falling in love with the charm and ‘cringe’ of millennials, NBC News * To listen to the Millennial-coded song in full: * We Will Never Die (feat. Kody Redwing and the Broken Hearts), by Kyle Gordon * For more reading about how humans use their normal as their means of judging the world around them: * Freaks, geeks, norms and mores: why people use the status quo as a moral compass, The Conversation * Bring that beat back: why are people in their 30s giving up on music?, The Guardian * Interesting generational reflections from the past: * The New Generation Gap, The Atlantic (1992) * American Culture: A Perspective from the Silent Generation, The Monroe Times (2023) * For cultural references of “conflict” between generations: * George Carlin Whining About Baby Boomers (1995) * We Didn’t Start the Fire, Billy Joel (1989) * The Bunkers Host A Draft Dodger, All In The Family (1977) * Generational Blame: A Brief History, Arapahoe Libraries (2024) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit spincyclepodcast.substack.com

    54 min

About

Spin Cycle dives into the behaviours and patterns behind what we say, hear, & do - and how they get repeated over time. Join hosts Perry and Mallory as they ask if what we’re seeing is truly unprecedented, or if it's just the newest form of an old story? spincyclepodcast.substack.com