Didactic SynCast

Eric S. Piotrowski
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An irregular discussion of current events, popular culture, unpopular culture, economics, hip-hop, and killer robots

  1. 08/30/2025

    DS #127: Uncle Harry and Aunt Cris

    This episode is a very special conversation with my Uncle Harry (on my father's side) and Aunt Cris. We discuss their lives, our family, and why it's so important to learn about history and honor each other. I'll be back soon with some thoughts on wedge issues and AI companions. Thanks for listening and enjoy!

    40 min

  2. 07/23/2025

    DS #126: Hold the Line

    As Maria Ressa says, we must hold the line. We should not surrender in advance to authoritarianism in Brazil, South Korea, The Philippines, or the USA. Today — exactly one year after my last episode — I turned on the mic and spoke from the heart about Trump, Musk, DOGE, Grover Norquist, the Department of Education, Israeli war crimes in Gaza, AI, and more. Plus a tiny glimpse of one of the best female MCs in the world today. Enjoy! Want to do something about the horrors of the world? Why not write a letter for Amnesty International? ___________ Current Events Trump and the angry white guys who voted for him [Pew Research: Voting patterns in the 2024 election] Donald Trump and Steve Bannon need angry young men. They’re using Gamergate culture to get them Economics Drowning public schools in the bathtub to promote GOP ideology Education ACLU: Trump's Department of Education Attack Explained In Engaged Buddhism, Peace Begins with You Killer Robots MIT: Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact Hip-Hop Sa-Roc feat. Black Thought: “The Black Renaissance” Quote of the Show Salah Ta’mari is (or was; I can’t find info on him now; this is from a 1992 book) a writer and former member of the Palestine resistance movement. He wrote in his Journey into Hades: Diary of a Palestinian in an Israeli Prison: [At the end, after hallucinating a conversation with his mother] "One million giants stood up in me and began fighting their way to the surface again, with determination, fury, and force. No way to make me give up. I was stronger, I would fight back, I would rise to the challenge." End US arms sales to Israel!

    56 min

  3. 07/23/2024

    DS #125: Lucy Polo

    On this very special episode of the SynCast, I speak with my friend and teaching colleague Dr. Lucy Polo. Her work in sociology has taken her to Colombia, Bolivia, and many other places. For 15 years she worked in the south Mexican state of Chiapas, where the Zapatista movement transformed the way people around the world think about indigenous communities, neoliberal economics, and democracy itself.  Enjoy this discussion about her life and work, the people she met in Chiapas, and how the EZLN raised the consciousness of everybody who came into contact with its unique forms of activism. Wikipedia: Zapatista Army of National Liberation End Song: Matador by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

    1h 60m

  4. 06/11/2024

    DS #124: I Do[n't] Care

    Summer is here and after a year of being Audio AWOL, I'm back with a huge brain full of stuff to dump on you. Now that school is off for three months, I felt the urge to turn on the mic and just word vomit for two hours. Some topics I discuss:  Energy as a resource like time + money UDHR Article 24 Garrett, my best friend of 30 years who passed away in November 2023 Capitalism (feat. Bob the Businessman) Donald Trump (feat. White Guy With Dreads) Education (feat. various characters) Gaza (feat. Annoying Supporter of Israel) Epistemology, Ethics, and (a little) Metaphysics Audio Two's 1988 album What More Can I Say Lots of Other Stuff Enjoy! Lemme know what you think. Send questions and thoughts. (The more I get, the more likely I am to make another podcast sooner rather than later.)

    2h 5m

  5. 08/12/2023

    DS #123: Back At It Like a Crack Addict

    Hawaii's Tragedy, UK Beer, Floreda Psychology, and 50 Years of Hip-Hop ____________________ First Things Hello, Floreda! Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story Current Events Hawaii and climate change Biden administration announces $1.2B in funding for projects to pull carbon from the air IEA flags risk of higher oil prices, cuts 2024 demand view The 2024 US Presidential Election Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running for office until 2030 Coup in Niger Operation Lone Star  Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says: "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." It is not illegal to seek asylum in the US Economics UK alcohol tax changes Linda Yaccarino says brands are coming back to "X"Elon Musk and unions Education Florida now says AP Psychology allowed in schools DeSantis and New College Killer Robots, etc Robotaxis in San FranciscoSEIU Local 87 President Olga Miranda in favor, most other labor leaders against War in the Age of Intelligent Machines The Smart Wife Hip-Hop Kool Herc’s first block party was 11 August 1973Call of Duty “celebrates” 50 years of hip-hop

    1h 35m
  6. DS #122: Nimbus X Ch 1

    03/22/2022

    DS #122: Nimbus X Ch 1

    A special treat on the day before my new scifi novel Delivery to Nimbus X drops. Here's Chapter 1 of the audiobook, exclusively released to my awesome SynCast audience. The other chapters will appear on this feed in the weeks ahead. Thanks for listening, and enjoy!

    21 min
  7. DS #121: Mom and Rob

    11/25/2021

    DS #121: Mom and Rob

    On this very special episode, I give thanks for my mom Linda and step-dad Rob! Listen as we discuss their lives and loves, their jobs and journeys. We recorded these conversations in Florida during the summer of 2021. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

    50 min

  8. 08/09/2021

    DS #120: No Angels, No Demons

    A discussion of fake binaries, the need to resist oversimplification, and how to sustain the complexity. Featuring audio from Alan Watts. Plus: A first look at the Nimbus X book! Links Alan Watts: Prickles & Goo ESP: Resisting Oversimplification Facebook Live video of this episode

    27 min
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About

An irregular discussion of current events, popular culture, unpopular culture, economics, hip-hop, and killer robots

Information

  • Creator
    Eric S. Piotrowski
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2015 . All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Didactic SynCast