<description>&lt;p&gt;By now, you&amp;#39;ve most likely heard of Sydney Sweeney&amp;#39;s controversial ad for her American Eagle genes (whoops-- I mean jeans). While some may think the ad&amp;#39;s critics are &amp;quot;too woke&amp;quot;, I argue it exemplifies the far-right slope the United States has dove headfirst down. I share other historical examples of how companies align themselves with political and social trends, such as the unexpected rise of the disposable diaper and women&amp;#39;s fashion trends-- from flapper dresses to the&amp;quot;sad beige mom&amp;quot; aesthetic. &lt;em&gt;Every&lt;/em&gt; advertisement has a hidden message, and this episode reveals some of the most telling.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

By now, you&#39;ve most likely heard of Sydney Sweeney&#39;s controversial ad for her American Eagle genes (whoops-- I mean jeans). While some may think the ad&#39;s critics are &quot;too woke&quot;, I argue it exemplifies the far-right slope the United States has dove headfirst down. I share other historical examples of how companies align themselves with political and social trends, such as the unexpected rise of the disposable diaper and women&#39;s fashion trends-- from flapper dresses to the&quot;sad beige mom&quot; aesthetic. Every advertisement has a hidden message, and this episode reveals some of the most telling.

"too woke" or an ominous warning? a history of advertisements' entanglement with american politics

<description>&lt;p&gt;A double edged sword. Literally, it can attack your opponent at the risk of harming yourself. Metaphorically, it refers to something with both positive and negative consequences-- just like the topics listed above. In this episode I elaborate on these consequences while introducing ideas like the Technological Advancement Parabola and the 'Casual' Instagram movement (which, I decide, isn't really casual at all).&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

A double edged sword. Literally, it can attack your opponent at the risk of harming yourself. Metaphorically, it refers to something with both positive and negative consequences-- just like the topics listed above. In this episode I elaborate on these consequences while introducing ideas like the Technological Advancement Parabola and the 'Casual' Instagram movement (which, I decide, isn't really casual at all).

chat GPT and 'aesthetics culture': double edged swords

<description>&lt;p&gt;After my first semester as an official college student, I have a lot to reflect on: thought-provoking things I learned in my classes (like how climate change came to be controversial in the US), a tentative answer to 'Should college be the best time of your life?', and unexpected takeaways about Duke's political culture and social trends, to name a few. &lt;/p&gt;
</description>

After my first semester as an official college student, I have a lot to reflect on: thought-provoking things I learned in my classes (like how climate change came to be controversial in the US), a tentative answer to 'Should college be the best time of your life?', and unexpected takeaways about Duke's political culture and social trends, to name a few.

expectations vs. reality: my 1st semester at duke university

<description>&lt;p&gt;It&amp;#39;s T-5 days until I drive to Duke and begin the next four years of my life. With that comes lots of excitement and worry that I reflect upon in this episode. First, however, I share interesting stories and lessons learned from my recent trip to Austria and Italy, as well as the most surprising culture shocks I discovered while there.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

It&#39;s T-5 days until I drive to Duke and begin the next four years of my life. With that comes lots of excitement and worry that I reflect upon in this episode. First, however, I share interesting stories and lessons learned from my recent trip to Austria and Italy, as well as the most surprising culture shocks I discovered while there.

culture shocks & college thoughts

<description>&lt;p&gt;Biden dropped out of the Democratic nominee race for the 2024 election: now what? In this episode, I share my personal opinions about Biden dropping out (and why I believe it is a smart decision), explain what&amp;#39;s at stake this presidential election, evaluate the devastating effects of core elements in American politics, and examine the rise of far-right political parties within the US and Europe. If you remember one thing from this episode, remember to VOTE!&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Biden dropped out of the Democratic nominee race for the 2024 election: now what? In this episode, I share my personal opinions about Biden dropping out (and why I believe it is a smart decision), explain what&#39;s at stake this presidential election, evaluate the devastating effects of core elements in American politics, and examine the rise of far-right political parties within the US and Europe. If you remember one thing from this episode, remember to VOTE!

let's talk politics at the dinner table

Life is confusing and seemingly not relatable at times. Luckily, opinionated teenager, shopping fanatic, and Pinterest lover, Maylah Marcus, has lots to say and advice to give to help us feel a little less crazy. Join her every other Sunday (or whenever her busy college schedule allows) for an introspective conversation on realizations she’s had, interesting (or not) stories from her 19 years of living, and everything in between.

And Everything In Between

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