Episode 47: The World of Online Relationships

Above all, Internet dating has helped people of all ages realize that there’s no need to settle for a mediocre relationship.
— Mark Brooks, consultant to online-dating companies, 2011
Let’s be real, there’s nothing wrong in a distant relationship that is honest but we must live in a realistic fact that phone calls are cool, texts are alright, tweets are chill, a Facebook message is okay, but nothing...I mean nothing beats seeing someone in person!
— Kemmy Nola
The market is hugely more efficient … People expect to—and this will be increasingly the case over time—access people anywhere, anytime, based on complex search requests … Such a feeling of access affects our pursuit of love … the whole world (versus, say, the city we live in) will, increasingly, feel like the market for our partner(s). Our pickiness will probably increase.
— Mark Brooks, consultant to online-dating companies, 2011

We're very happy to welcome Phoebe Lewis this week to discuss the nature of online relationships in the modern age. Not restricted to digital tales of romance, we wanted to examine how people behave both online and in reality as it parallels happenings on the Internet. We share our experiences, anecdotes of academic studies and offer insight on how to best navigate the ever-expanding realm of cyber-socializing.

Episode 47: The World of Online Relationships
Kip Clark and Phoebe Lewis

Episode 46: Considering Marriage in Our Lives

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
— Mignon McLaughlin
When marrying, ask yourself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this person into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory.
— Friedrich Nietzsche
Don’t marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can’t live without.
— James Dobson

When we go about our daily lives, we often forget or gloss over the complex systems of relationships and individuals who lead us to be who we are. Marriage, like many other social concepts, binds families and couples the world over. Libby Gardner joins us this week to examine some of the reasons for which people get married and to discuss the option of marriage itself and why some may or may not choose to pursue it. 

*As an important amendment, this episode was recorded before the historic Supreme Court ruling on June 26, 2015 in favor of Marriage Equality.

Episode 46: Considering Marriage in Our Lives
Kip Clark and Libby Gardner

Episode 45: Human Beings and Pet Ownership

An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.
— Martin Buber
Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
— Anatole France
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.
— Josh Billings

This week we welcome Elliot Cromer to discuss some of his experiences and thoughts on pets and pet ownership. Both of us come from families with pets (especially Elliot) and we wanted to examine how people approach household animals. We also discuss some of the responsibilities and tasks necessary to care for the animals we own.

Episode 45: Human Beings and Pet Ownership
Kip Clark and Elliot Cromer

Episode 44: Social Implications of Body Hair

I hit puberty at a really early age and had body hair before a lot of other kids, and was bullied for this ... My mum used to painstakingly pluck and wax my bushy eyebrows for me because I was so worried about fitting in. Now I just let them do their thing.
— Katie, 21, Sydney, Australia
My hair on my head is praised for being so long and beautiful, but my body hair is seen as ‘disgusting.’ Why? They both grow out of my skin.... If someone is offended or disgusted by my natural body hair, then in all honesty, I’m glad it repels them from my life.”
— Elvira, Los Angeles, California

This week we welcome Tim Jurney to discuss ideas surrounding body hair. Scientific research has not concluded its every purpose on the body, though several hypotheses have been put forth. Nonetheless, people and cultures around the globe have made statements of approval or dissatisfaction with gendered and socioeconomic motivations. How do we consider body hair on others and on ourselves? Are our views ever independent of the societies in which we live?

Episode 44: Social Implications of Body Hair
Kip Clark and Tim Jurney

Episode 43: The 2015 Academy Awards

Benedict Cumberbatch: It’s not only the most awesome name in show business. It’s also the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce ‘Ben Affleck.’
— Neil Patrick Harris
When I was 16 years old I tried to kill myself. … This is for that kid out there who feels weird or feels different — stay weird, stay different.
— Graham Moore

This week we welcome Kyle Aaronson, a film major, to explain some of the dynamics of the Academy Awards and the 2015 Oscars in particular. In our discussion, we examine the roles that actors, directors and film-makers play in determining the popularity and relevance of films. We also talk about the Academy as an organization and its tendencies and general composition.

Episode 43: The 2015 Academy Awards
Kip Clark and Kyle Aaronson