that's interesting

bandwidth.productions
  • 4.2 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

a podcast to introduce ideas and spark curiosity. bandwidth.productions

  1. 071_ Conversation: 🎓College is running out of people | Great Recession baby drop has caught up 👼

    06/11/2025

    071_ Conversation: 🎓College is running out of people | Great Recession baby drop has caught up 👼

    The dip in global population is something that's been gaining attention as of late, but mostly in the abstract. Something concrete in that dip is about to come due this fall, a staggering drop in the number of available 18+ year olds for the traditional college path. The first bellwether in what my guest for this episode labeled in a piece that, America is about to go over the ‘demographic cliff’. Journalist Jon Marcus, joins for this episode to explore the intersection of demographic shifts, higher education, and the implications for the workforce. The conversation highlights the decline in birth rates, the resulting impact on college enrollment, and the broader economic consequences of college closures. We also get into the cultural perceptions of the value of a college degree and the challenges faced by institutions in adapting to these changes. Before ending on potential strategies for colleges to navigate the impending demographic cliff and its effects on education and the economy. 📖 Chapters 📖 (00:00) -The Future We Ignore: Human Behavior and Climate Change (03:00) - Demographic Shifts: The Decline in Birth Rates (06:02) -Higher Education in Crisis: The Impact of Enrollment Declines (09:07) - The Workforce Pipeline: Implications of Fewer Graduates (12:13) - Cultural Perceptions: The Value of a College Degree (15:05) - Economic Impacts: The Closure of Colleges and Community Effects (18:07) - Solutions and Strategies: What Can Colleges Do? (27:22) - The Impact of the Pandemic on Higher Education (30:14) - Exploring Alternative Markets for Universities (32:50) - The Economic Burden of Student Debt (34:48) - The Changing Landscape of College Admissions (38:19) - The Future of Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges (41:12) - Reconceptualizing Higher Education for the Future

    51 min
  2. 070_ Interview: 🌍 The Middle East, 5 Year Retrospective | Isræl, Pālestine and what's to come ⛔️

    06/05/2025

    070_ Interview: 🌍 The Middle East, 5 Year Retrospective | Isræl, Pālestine and what's to come ⛔️

    An update on what's happening with expert in the region from UCLA James Gelvin. He's joining us 5 years on from his last episode to give an update on what's occurred, and what's to come. We delve into the complexities of global conflicts, particularly focusing on the Israel-Palestine situation, by exploring the historical context of U.S.-Israel relations, the implications of arms sales, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following the October 7th attack. Professor Gelvin emphasizes the challenges and uncertainties facing the region, with a sobering outlook for the future. 📖 Chapters 📖 (00:00) - Global Conflicts and Their Complexity (05:02) - Understanding the Israel-Palestine Conflict (10:11) - U.S.-Israel Relations: A Historical Perspective (15:00) - The Role of Arms Sales in Middle Eastern Politics (19:52) - The October 7th Attack: A Turning Point (25:10) - The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza (29:48) - The Future of Gaza and the Role of Hamas (36:51) - Israel's Strategy in Gaza (40:04) - Public Sentiment and Media Control in Israel (43:38) - US Support and International Relations (47:48) - The Situation in Syria (55:24) - Kurdish Democratic Experiment (59:09) - Food Security in the Middle East (01:02:00) - US Policy Towards Israel (01:04:47) - Future of the Middle East (01:09:20) - Saudi Arabia's NEOM Project

    1h 16m
  3. 069_ Conversation: 🥱 the banality of everyday things | design, art and our complex reality 🌌

    05/08/2025

    069_ Conversation: 🥱 the banality of everyday things | design, art and our complex reality 🌌

    With only raw materials, could you recreate a toaster? Now could you do it considering the source of your materials, the effect extracting them has on the world, along with the use and inevitable destruction of it. This episode's guest did just that. Starting with the extraction of the materials, including learning 15th century techniques for smelting, created a toaster. Reflecting upon that project in today's world, is the topic of this episode. Where we dive into the philosophy of design needing a refresh in todays world in order to live in better harmony with our reality. Thomas Thwaites, Artist and Designer, joins me for this conversation. Check out his website for all of his projects, his TED talk and the project he's currently working on, a harmless car. 📖 Chapters 📖 (00:00) - The Essence of Design: Function Meets Aesthetics (05:50) - Sustainability and the Complexity of Modern Design (12:04) - The Toaster Project: A Journey into Design and Dependency (24:00) - Fragility of Modern Society: Understanding Interdependence (36:06) - Philosophical Reflections on Self-Reliance and Community (41:05) - Designing for Sustainability: Challenges and Considerations (46:22) - The Complexity of Consumer Power and Market Trends (51:44) - Regulation vs. Art: The Role of Influence in Sustainability (57:30) - The Harmless Car: A Thought Experiment in Design (01:03:08) - Ethics in Design: Choosing Who to Harm

    1h 11m
  4. 068_Interview:🐘The Caesars in context | Adrian Goldsworthy on the legacy of Julius and Augustus🏛️

    03/08/2025

    068_Interview:🐘The Caesars in context | Adrian Goldsworthy on the legacy of Julius and Augustus🏛️

    Here we unpack the legacies of Julius Caesar and Augustus, exploring the complexities of the two, the nature of historical narratives, and the challenges of leadership in ancient Rome. My guest, Adrian Goldsworthy, emphasizes the importance of context in understanding these historical figures and reflects on the lessons that can be drawn from their lives and governance. We also chat about the inevitability of Rome's transition from a republic to an empire, the cultural shock of experiencing ancient Rome, and the lasting impact of Roman civilization on modern society. Before chatting about the importance of personality in leadership, the efficiency of Roman administration, and the enduring legacy of Roman culture and language. Check out Adrian's YouTube channel, or to find his books and what he's been up to. 📖Chapters📖 (00:00) - The Rise of Rome: From Republic to Empire (05:03) - Julius Caesar: The Man Behind the Legend (10:01) - Augustus: The Unsung Hero of Rome (14:49) - The Legacy of Leadership: Caesar vs. Augustus (19:53) - The Nature of Power: Context and Character (24:52) - Lessons from History: What We Can Learn Today (34:48) - The Art of Learning and Succession Planning (40:47) - The Influence of Personalities in Leadership (44:37) - The Inevitable Shift Towards Empire (50:36) - The Administrative Genius of Augustus (57:30) - Cultural Shock: Experiencing Ancient Rome (01:01:40) - The Lasting Legacy of Ancient Rome (01:02:23) - The Fascination with Ancient History

    1h 12m
  5. 067_ Interview: 🦈 The wisdom of Sharks | Cristina Zenato and her relationship with the ocean 🤿

    02/18/2025

    067_ Interview: 🦈 The wisdom of Sharks | Cristina Zenato and her relationship with the ocean 🤿

    When you think of sharks, do you think Jaws? Or a creature with enough understanding to seek help from a person? Would you be surprised to know, that someone has been working with sharks for years to the point, that they allow her to take out hooks lodged in their skin? Given our misconceptions of the creatures, I'd imagine you would be. Cristina Zenato is that person, who's a master diver and expert on sharks. She's built an amazing relationship with the sharks around the Bahamas, creating a deep connection with them, to a degree I can only understand through bonds we build with more familiar animals. In this interview Cristina gives us a deeper understanding of sharks, her ability to work with them, the virtue in knowing a single place deeply, the reality of the marine environment that's facing environmental destruction, and some wisdom from the sharks. Credit to Kewin Lorenzen as videographer and Cristina Zenato for the image and videos accompanying this episode. (00:00) - Understanding Fear and the Unknown (03:14) - Building Trust with Sharks (10:51) - Establishing Relationships with Marine Life (18:06) - The Reality of Shark Encounters (25:07) - The Role of Humans in Shark Behavior (32:36) - Sharks in the Anthropocene (34:11) - Sharks and Human Interaction (37:22) - Shark Population Decline (42:30) - Conservation Efforts and Education (45:30) - Lessons from Sharks (54:22) - Living in Symbiosis with Nature

    1h 4m
  6. 066_ Interview: 🏛️The Rise of the Imperial President | A Sobering Reality of Checks and Balances⚖️

    01/19/2025

    066_ Interview: 🏛️The Rise of the Imperial President | A Sobering Reality of Checks and Balances⚖️

    A reality of our contemporary time, is the American President is increasingly acting as an Emperor. This interview explores the evolution of the imperial presidency, the implications of increased executive power, and a look behind the scenes of the West Wing in how it plays out in the day to day. We also get tangible examples of what can be done to improve the structural gaps existing in the constitution to stop an increased scope of the Executive. Yale Law Professor & Author Harold Koh joins the podcast to give us the context from his book highlighting the state of the Executive, "The National Security Constitution in the Twenty-First Century" With Harold we get into, the role of Congress and the courts, and the systemic dysfunction that has led to a concentration of power in the executive branch, ethical considerations of governance and the future of executive power in the United States. We also get into the evolution of executive power in the United States, examining how historical events have shaped the current political landscape. (0:00) - America as an Empire: Historical Context (3:24) - The Imperial Presidency: Evolution of Power (6:26) - The Role of Congress and the Courts (9:41) - Crisis and the Shift of Power (12:28) - The Synergistic Dysfunction of Government (16:57) - The Consequences of Centralized Power (21:02) - The National Security Constitution: A Historical Perspective (26:44) - The Future of Executive Power (30:08) - The Ethics of Power and Governance (36:19) - Shifting Standards in Politics (38:23) - Historical Context of Executive Power (41:14) - The Pendulum of Presidential Authority (43:44) - The Guantanamo Dilemma (45:12) - The Threat Landscape: Terrorism vs. Pandemics (46:41) - Concerns Over Unilateral Executive Powers (51:31) - The Need for Structural Reforms (54:48) - Checks and Balances in the Executive Branch (1:00:23) - Learning from Global Examples (1:05:36) - The Role of Citizens in Democracy (1:10:52) - Activism and Resilience Against Authoritarianism

    1h 14m
  7. 065_ Conversation: ⚛️ Complexities of a contemporary human | art, change, connection 🔌

    11/25/2024

    065_ Conversation: ⚛️ Complexities of a contemporary human | art, change, connection 🔌

    Giddy up for a fun episode that touches all the right topics to get your noddle going. How can we manage a fast-paced world that seems to increasingly change from what we’ve become used to? What changes when someone has immense wealth, or when someone is homeless? Both living completely different lives outside of the norm of anyone listening to this. We explore the ethical dilemmas in our current global world, and perhaps have a way of being considerate without being a luddite. Humans have changed constantly, and this conversation is all about how two dudes think about changing with it. Complete with a moody rendition of Smash Mouth’s epic hit, “Hey now you’re an all star” at the end. With me in this conversation is David Benjamin, otherwise known as Dudetunes. A Recording Artist - Songwriter - Performer, and co-owner of Black Sheep Makery, a bomb drink purveyor of all things coffee, tea and lemonades with infused flavorings. Find him everywhere @dudeisdead. Check out David’s latest music video for a catchy track. Chapters (00:00) - How to think in the long ~ Intro Essay (06:33) - The Power of Connection (07:04) - Artistic Pursuits and Personal Joy (09:43) - The Depth of Human Connection (12:58) - The Impact of Homelessness on Society (16:22) - Navigating Urban Challenges (20:50) - The Complexity of Human Experience (23:11) - Exploring Spirituality and Reality (27:18) - The Role of Psychedelics in Understanding (35:53) - The Resurgence of Psychedelics in Pop Culture (39:34) - The Dual Nature of Psychedelic Experiences (42:06) - Philosophical Reflections on Wealth and Control (51:39) - The Role of Culture in Governance (01:00:12) - Navigating Technology and Its Impact on Life (01:12:24) - Frankenstein and the Absurdity of Existence (01:15:21) - Personal Responsibility and Community (01:18:12) - The Role of Technology in Human Connection (01:23:36) - Navigating Individualism and Community (01:32:03) - The Paradox of Individualism and Community (01:39:27) - The Importance of Connection and Expression

    1h 46m
  8. [re-release] 013_ Interview: 🏺Israel & Palestine, a brief history | context, consciousness, contingency 💭

    11/25/2024

    [re-release] 013_ Interview: 🏺Israel & Palestine, a brief history | context, consciousness, contingency 💭

    This is my interview with author and historian Dr. James Gelvin , professor of Middle Eastern history at UCLA. [ This episode was originally released in December 2020. Professor Gelvin will be coming back for an episode next season to give an update on what's occurred in the past four years. ] The episode is centered around the Israel and Palestine conundrum, but touches upon the rich and ancient culture of the region known as Palestine and the recent normalization of relations that the Trump administration announced with the state of Israel. There's also a detour into the state of the Middle East as a whole, if the Arab spring has run dry, how the middle east is the most food insecure region in the world, which segued into how neo-liberal policies create much civil and economic unrest. Along with thought provoking ideas on revolutions and nationalism. The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War The New Middle East: What Everyone Needs to Know (0:00) - Episode Introduction (6:24) - Traveling (10:14) - Framing the Israel-Palestine Conflict (16:24) - Identity and Nationalism (20:27) - The Legacy of the Ottoman Empire (34:12) - The Creation of Nations (38:39) - The Six Day War and it's Relevance (46:03) - The Water Wars & The Arab Spring (56:46) - Has the Arab Spring Run Dry? Tunisia as an Outlier (59:27) - Understanding Neoliberalism and its Emergent Effects (1:17:23) - Oslo Accords and Trump's Impact (1:41:05) - Land for Peace Formula, Israel's Policy of Deterrence (1:44:01) - Saudi Arabia's Diversification Efforts

    1h 49m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

a podcast to introduce ideas and spark curiosity. bandwidth.productions

Information

  • Creator
    bandwidth.productions
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    that's interesting