Episodes - In Theory Podcast

Missed us? We’ve been busy…in Maria’s case, making a BABY! (Among other things.) In this mini episode we check in about maternal health numbers in the US (not amazing), the experience of becoming a mother (pretty sweet, but keep yer grains of salt handy), and - of course - hit up some feminist theory about this whole childbearing thing. What’s up, Simone de Beauvoir! If you’ve been watching The Handmaid’s Tale and need another perspective on reproduction, you’ve come to the right place. Mamma Mia! We’re multiplying!

One year is over, another just begun! In this mid-season gab we talk about how to look back over the past year and share strategies for making New Year's resolutions that stick. Discover the official Noorain Khan method for taking stock at the end of a year, hear our goals for 2017, and get some concrete advice on how to make a good resolution courtesy of kids.usa.gov. We also reveal our greatest resolution successes (Maria's involves Mordor, kind of) and swear that THIS is the year we're going to stay active - really!! Ready to take on the new year? Tune in for a chilled-out chat about taking the next steps!

Does the prospect of reading a poem send you into panicked memories of 11th grade English class? FEAR NOT! Poetry doesn't have to be like that! In this episode we find out how it's secretly all around us in the best ways, use theory to kill the author and open up avenues for fun interpretation, and share love for viral poetry by women of color. Maria's pal and colleague Dr. Adhaar Noor Desai helps demo how to unpack a plum(b) poem (the results make Noorain blush!), and we discover how to put more poetry in our lives. Take a moment to listen - and maybe even start to write!

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg" data-image-dimensions="1920x1280" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=1000w" width="1920" height="1280" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 50vw, 50vw" onload="this.classList.add(&quot;loaded&quot;)" srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54ecdd3ce4b0360a498f3d2b/1481162433021-OVZZTRLXW6OS2V09JS91/christmas-gift-box-14109686029mB.jpg?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"> </figure> <h3>Got gift-giving on your mind? You're not the only one to agonize over it! Is exchanging presents a magical practice of reciprocity that leads to stronger human bonds (Team Anthropology!) or is it an inefficient scourge leading to deadweight loss (Team Economics!)? In this episode, we explore these two camps...and in the process get to Japan's extreme gifting culture (Maria’s our in-house expert!), best/worst presents (yay!/ack!), holiday shopping, and registries. Get ready folks, we unwrap gift giving like no one else does<span>—</span>like nerds!</h3><p> </p><p> </p> <h2>Links to Stuff We Talk About</h2><p><strong>Theory</strong></p><p>Bronisław Malinowski, “Argonauts of the Western Pacific: An account of native enterprise and adventure in the Archipelagoes of Melanesian New Guinea” (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1922) <a target="_blank" href="http://wolnelektury.pl/katalog/lektura/argonauts-of-the-western-pacific/">http://wolnelektury.pl/katalog/lektura/argonauts-of-the-western-pacific/</a>&nbsp;[N&amp;M note: &nbsp;Yes, this title is bad, like baaaad.]</p><p>Marcel Mauss, “The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies” (Cohen &amp; West Ltd, 1966).&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://archive.org/details/giftformsfunctio00maus">https://archive.org/details/giftformsfunctio00maus </a>[N&amp;M note: &nbsp;Yes, this one too.]</p><p>Joel Waldfogel, “Scroogenomics: &nbsp;Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays” (Princeton University Press, 2009).&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8972.html">http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8972.html</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Context</strong></p><p>“Why Economists Hate Gifts”. Planet Money. December 11, 2011. <em>NPR</em>.&nbsp;<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/12/23/144195081/the-friday-podcast-why-economists-hate-gifts">http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/12/23/144195081/the-friday-podcast-why-economists-hate-gifts</a></p><p>Caitlin Kenney. “The Most Wasteful Time Of Year.” Planet Money. November 25, 2009. <em>NPR</em>.&nbsp;<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2009/11/podcast_happy_efficent_holiday.html">http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2009/11/podcast_happy_efficent_holiday.html</a></p><p>Shankar Vedantam. "New Study Explores Psychology Of Giving Wedding Gifts." All Things Considered. June 24, 2016. <em>NPR</em>.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.npr.org/2016/06/24/483426485/new-study-explores-psychology-of-giving-wedding-gifts">http://www.npr.org/2016/06/24/483426485/new-study-explores-psychology-of-giving-wedding-gifts</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Bonus</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cloud9living.com/blog/its-outside-counts-japanese-gift-giving-etiquette-101/"><em>On Japanese gift giving etiquette </em></a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Day"><em>On Valentine’s Day &amp; White Day in Japan</em>&nbsp;</a></p><p> </p><p>Music this time by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss">50 Cent</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mipU7DExvwE">The Isley Brothers</a>, Queen <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY">Mariah </a>&amp; <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAwyIad93-c">Natalie Merchant</a>&nbsp;</p>

Want to go out and change the world? Great! WE NEED IT. But how to avoid doing more harm than good, especially when working for people from other contexts and cultures? We dig into this tricky question with Dr. Ryan Richard Thoreson: human rights lawyer, LGBTIQ activist, and one of our personal faves. Along the way we encounter white savior Barbie, grapple with the notion of cultural relativism, and each reveal some of our most facepalm-worthy moments abroad. Ryan also catches us up on the state of international LGBTIQ rights and activism, and we share some real talk about the colonialist legacy of the Rhodes Scholarships that Ryan, Noorain, and Maria all held. Theory helped shape how we approach making positive change, so join us for this ep and then get out there and make a difference where you can!