Spin Cycle

Spin Cycle

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Society & Culture

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

Oct 14

Romanticize me, baby: Why we all can’t stop falling for the past

When it comes to appreciating the present moment we’re in, we’re all a bit challenged. The past is always lurking around a corner, luring us in with the sweet, sweet song of our selective memories. Today on Spin Cycle, join us as we walk back in time to track how our endless longings for the past have expressed themselves over time, from nostalgia’s surprising origins to the AI ‘dreamcore’ content cluttering our feeds today. Show Notes & References: * For more on nostalgia’s medical history, look to: * Nostalgia hasn’t always been a tool for manipulating our emotions – it was once a medical condition, The Conversation, Agnes Arnold-Forster, 2024 * What if Nostalgia Isn’t What It Used to Be?, The New Yorker, Thomas Mallon, 2023 * To explore the social purposes of nostalgia, and its different types, check out Does nostalgia have a psychological purpose? With Krystine Batcho, PhD, Speaking of Psychology, American Psychological Association * To learn more about how nostalgia presented itself in the ‘Colonial Revival’ aesthetic following the trauma of the US civil war, read Nostalgia and Nationalism: The Colonial Revival from the Late 19th to Early 20th Century * To deep-dive into nostalgia prevalent in Grease, read Dr. Barbara Brickman’s Grease: Gender, Nostalgia and Youth Consumption in the Blockbuster Era 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
Aug 26

Why be artistic when you can be efficient?

You know what’s satisfying? A great aesthetic era - the kind that is instantly identifiable as being reflective of a specific period of time and how we framed the lives we lived within it. Today on Spin Cycle, we’re exploring how economic factors can influence or define the rise of an aesthetic movement, from Art Nouveau to the ugly AI flyers of today. Plus: why the rich always win, dating recession indicators, and can uniqueness and self-actualization survive in an economy that kneels at the altar of mass production? Show Notes & References: * To learn more about the profound departure from artisanal excellence and skilled furniture making in favor of mass production and uniformity, read The Decline of Fine Furniture Craftsmanship * To explore more about William Morris, his impact on art nouveau, and his deep concerns about the impact of industrialization, read The Origins of Art Nouveau * Satisfy your most consumerist impulse with PopSugar ‘s guide to recession-core cosplay * Wade into the cosmic bubbles of Fruitger Aero yourself: Frutiger Aero: the Windows screen saver design trend taking TikTok by storm, Ellie Violet Bramley, The Guardian, 2023 * Step back to 2003, vintage Big Mac and all, with photos of the Oxford St Frutiger Aero-inspired McD’s * Track the rise (or return) of the Zine: Gen Zine: DIY publications find new life as a form of resistance against Trump, The Guardian, Mallory Carra, 2025 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
Jul 15

Don't sweat it, just sponsor it!

Few will hold the trophy, most will walk away in defeat. But maybe the real win is all the sponsorship deals they make along the way. Right in time for the world’s favourite tournament, we’re taking a look at the history of brand sponsorships in sport, and what the never-ending appeal of athletes seems to be for marketing teams everywhere. Show Notes & References: * To catch a glimpse of the old cigarette athlete ads: Lou Gehrig Lights Up the Field with Camel Cigarettes, Sothebys * To dig into some of the theory behind athlete associations: Perceptions of celebrity athletes involved in social cause endorsement, Manuela Biz and Mathias Schubert, 2024 * Hunt down old OXO event notices (and more) on the Unilever Archives * To learn more about the fascinating ads around gladiatorial shows - Spectacles in the Roman World * The compare the gladiatorial lore to the real stuff - Not Such a Wonderful Life: A Look at History in Gladiator * To race through a history of how tire and rubber companies used sport to spur their advertising - Michelin and Racing Events as a Tool for Tire Promotion 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
Jun 23

Hysterical mudslingers: a (focused) history

If you’re trying to take someone down for being hysterical, you probably shouldn’t be speaking hysterically yourself. This is just one of the (apparently, not obvious) life lessons that we unpack on the latest episode of Spin Cycle, as we explore the impact (and very dramatic response) to 1962’s groundbreaking book Silent Spring, and the author, Rachel Carson, who penned it. Show Notes & References: To take a wander through the history of DDT coverage and products: * Check out the DDT is good for me! cartoon ad for yourself, circa 1947, or some of the DDT-laced products you could find on shelves * DDT, the Army’s Insect Powder, Strikes a Blow Against Typhus anti for Pest Control, Waldemar Kaempffert, The New York Times, 1944 * Since Silent Spring, Francis W. Sargent, The New York Times, 1970 * DDT - A Brief History and Status, Environmental Protection Agency * Science: DDT Down, 2,4-D Up, Time Magazine, 1949 * The end is nigh for dangerous DDT, Charles Arthur, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, 2024 On Rachel Carson’s legacy and the co-opting of her story: * Rachel Carson, DDT and the Fight Against Malaria, Clyde Haberman, The New York Times, 2017 * Rachel Carson and the legacy of Silent Spring, Robin McKie, The Guardian, 2012 * Rachel Carson, ‘mass murderer’? A right-wing myth about ‘Silent Spring’ is poised for a revival, Michael Hiltzik, LA Times, 2017 * From the Archives: Scientists’ Conversations About Rachel Carson and DDT, 1944 to Today, Katie L. Burke, American Scientist, 2015 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
May 26

Got (blue sludge) milk?

Al Gore may have won the climate discourse (and an Oscar) with An Inconvenient Truth in 2003, and Greta Thunberg might’ve made fighting for the planet cool again fifteen years later… but neither invented the act of caring about the environment. Throughout history, there’s been evidence - and organized movements - proving to the rest of us why caring about the environment matters. Today on Spin Cycle, we hone in on four moments of environmental storytelling from the past to analyze how these messages were conveyed and why society, at that time, was willing to listen. Show Notes & References: For more on the Santa Barbara Oil Spill and Earth Day: * The Oil Spill Heard ‘Round the Country, Miles Corwin, LA Times, 1992 * How an Oil Spill Inspired the First Earth Day, Lila Thulin, Smithsonian Magazine, 2019 On protest songs and Joni Mitchell’s lasting power: * Big Yellow Taxi — Joni Mitchell’s environmental anthem has been recycled many times, Charles Morris, FT, 2019 To get a bigger gulp of blue sludge milk history: * An historical, scientific, and practical essay on milk, as an article of human sustenance : with a consideration of the effects consequent upon the present unnatural methods of producing it for the supply of large cities, Robert Milham Hartley, 1842 * The Surprisingly Intolerant History of Milk, Daniel Fernandez, Smithsonian Magazine, 2018 For more of Seneca’s essays that act as a handbook on Stoicisim: * Moral letters to Lucilius/Letter 104, Wikisource Correction: At 16:00, we say in the 1950’s the related death rate was 8,000 children per year - it should be the 1850’s. 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
Mar 24

Just slap a cartoon on it

Why take advice from a human when you can get it straight from the mouth of an anthropomorphic carrot? Will the story work better if it looks more like a raisin or a prune? Do you think we can convince Tom Cruise to voice the green-haired Earth protector? Today on Spin Cycle, we discover that these are not, in fact, AI hallucinations but instead, real lines of thought that got batted around boardrooms as marketers worked to hide their messages - whether good or unsavoury - within adorable cartoon packages. Join hosts Mallory and Perry as they find answers to these burning questions and explore if cartoon cuteness is the real secret to world (or, at least, communications) domination. Show Notes & References: * To listen to the full Slate podcast speaking directly with the creator of Coalie at OSMRE: Making Coal Cute Again, Decoder Ring * For a breakdown on how Japan dominates the mascot game: Tokyo’s adorable police mascot Pipo-kun is basically cuteness, weaponized, Quartz * To get a taste of Japan’s mascot, beauty-pageant like competition called Yuru Chara Grand Prix, check out: Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2020 THE FINAL * To read more about the creation, and adaptation, of the UK’s ‘Squander Bug’: ‘Squander-bug’: meanings and origin (British usage) * Only YOU can learn more about Smokey Bear here: About the Smokey Bear PSA Campaign * To get a glimpse into Ted Turner’s environmental mind, read: The surprising story behind the making of ‘Captain Planet’, Grist * If you want some light reading on educational value and media theory of animation use: * Does animation enhance learning? A meta-analysis, Sandra Berney and Mireille Bétrancourt, 2015 * “Animation, in Theory” by Suzanne Buchan, from Animating Film Theory edited by Karen Beckman, 2014 * Psychological Impact and Influence of Animation on Viewer’s Visual Attention and Cognition: A Systematic Literature Review, Open Challenges, and Future Research Directions, C K Praveen and Kathiravan Srinivasan, 2022 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
Mar 10

But have you tried needlepoint?

Romanticizing your life content is syrupy, addictive, and everywhere. We’re all guilty of falling for the promise that our problems could be solved simply by thinking more mindfully or by jazzing up our daily routines with a new hobby (watercolours or needlepoint, anyone?). On this episode of Spin Cycle, we trace the romanticize your life trend back in history to see how our ancestors might’ve brought some of this main character energy into their own day to day. Show Notes & References * On the romanticizing your life trend: * The Mundane Thrill of ‘Romanticizing Your Life’, Christina Caron, The New York Times * On Marjorie Hills: * Her book, Live Alone and Like It * The Writer Who Taught American Women How to Live Alone, Joanna Scutts, Time * On the growth of diary-keeping: * Diaries of the Seventeenth Century, Dr Mark Knights, BBC * Private Lives, Public Histories: The Diary in Twentieth-Century Britain, Joe Moran, 2015 * The Mass Observation website 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
Feb 3

The Roman Empire to Ragebait Pipeline

Got beef? Well, with a few sharp social posts, you can take it all the way to the bank. This week on Spin Cycle, we’re looking at ragebait and the economics of anger to discover why outrage is one emotion we just can’t quit. Show Notes & References: * To see how we’ve always been using anger and loose facts to rile the people up, enjoy the first and second speeches of Cicero against Catiline in 63 BC Rome: * Cicero’s first speech * Cicero’s second speech * To read more about the text which enraged the population towards the witch trials, check out Malleus Maleficarum (1486) * For more on the highly sensationalized reporting of the 1890s driven by an infamous feud that dominated newspapers in New York, and the cartoons that inspired the Yellow Journalism name: * The Library of Congress, The Spanish American War and the Yellow Press * History in Charts, The Use of Yellow Journalism by Newspapers in the 1890s For more on the theories behind anger & the impact of our platforms: * Anger is an approach-related affect: Evidence and implications; Charles Carver & Eddie Harmon-Jones, 2009 * Science of anger: how gender, age and personality shape this emotion; Hannah Devlin, The Guardian, 2019 * A useful short primer on technological determinism via EBSCO 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
Jan 6

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
12/23/2025

Ep 2: Nuclear Baby Teeth?

Welcome back to Spin Cycle! On today’s episode, we dive into to the use of concern about children when it comes to trying to make a difference, and explore why this technique keeps popping up over time. Show Notes & References: On the fight for nuclear testing reform through baby teeth: * The Nuclear Testing Tally, Arms Control Association * The Baby Tooth Survey in St. Louis, Missouri Encyclopedia * Scientist-citizen advocacy in the atomic age: A case study of the Baby Tooth Survey, 1958-1963, Ellen Gerl, Ohio University On the power of motherhood anxieties: * In Defence of the Anxious Mother, Yael Goldstein-Love, Slate * Guilt is good: A Mother’s Day affirmation, Douglas Quenqua, Campaign * MAHA is Changing New Motherhood, Emma Goldberg, The New York Times * Taking advantage of a vulnerable group? Emotional cues in ads targeting parents, Julie Stanton and Deirdre Guion, The Journal of Consumer Affairs * MAHA Moms Are Angry at the E.P.A. Lee Zeldin Is Trying to Win Them Back, Hiroko Tabuchi, The New York Times * Group that supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to change media messages on public health, Tal Kopan, Boston Globe Reddit rabbit holes: * How do you stop mom guilt over everything? * First time mom with big time anxiety 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
11/30/2025

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

11 Episodes

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

Creator

Spin Cycle
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

11
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Perry
Show Website

Spin Cycle