Batten Down Podcast Batten Down Podcast
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- Society & Culture
Two friends, podcasting through the pandemic, one recommendation at a time.
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Nina Goes On A Journey Through "Paris, Texas"
Nina's not sure how she feels about Wim Wenders' Palme d'Or-winning film starring Harry Dean Stanton and the guy from Quantum Leap. But she's working through it.
Lauren loved Ethiopiques but, as music dumb-dumbs, she and Nina struggle to say anything about it. -
It's All Steven Yeun's Fault
This week’s Lauren leans in and makes a true Lauren recommendation. Nina’s in thrall to primal astrology (blame Steven Yeun) and switches up her recommendation pattern by giving Lauren a musical offering.
A few notes:
Paris, Texas can be watched on the Criterion Channel : https://www.criterionchannel.com/paris-texas
Ethiopiques, Vol 4: Ethio Jazz 1969-1974 on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/5VKvVk4gaPAJyXjof8NnzX?si=0a5Z6xIwSfW_DHVW7W3rIg
Interview with Mulatu Astatke:
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCgdUD9gdPE
Transcript: https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/mulatu-astatke-ethiopian-knight
Interview with Francis Falceto on NPR:
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5560216
Playlists of music from Italian exploitation/detective movies:
Beretta 70: Roaring Themes from Thrilling Italian Police Films: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1g6qZyfUzMZT1GGoOGJFVp?si=ce_h3AAhSoe-emV66AYIEQ
A crisis is currently unfolding in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Learn more at this link: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/news/widespread-destruction-health-facilities-ethiopias-tigray-region -
The Truth About "George" in "The Palm Beach Story"
Lauren explains what was missing from last week's discussion of "The Palm Beach Story" and from her recommendation of it.
Additional resources:
Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/five-things-know-about-pullman-porters-180959663/
Why are there so few Black directors in the Criterion Collection: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/20/movies/criterion-collection-african-americans.html -
Snoodles
Lauren retracts her earlier statement about The Palm Beach Story lacking offensive cultural stereotypes, and makes an apology. There are a couple, one being a depiction of Pullman porters. Read here to learn their history and influence on the labor and civil rights movements:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/five-things-know-about-pullman-porters-180959663/
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/07/black-railway-porters-civil-rights
Nina continues her run of Preston Sturges films as well as her campaign of telling Lauren how to eat. -
An Orca-Related Incident
We're back! And we're sticking to what we know: Lauren recommends a Preston Sturges film, and Nina tells Lauren what to eat.
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Thanksgiving Special
Our first holiday on the pod, our first Zoom studio guest, and our first listener voicemails—it's our Thanksgiving episode!