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This Is Critical — Society & Culture
This Is Critical

Fearless, sophisticated culture criticism for all generations. Nothing is off-limits, nothing dumbed down. With American culture on the rocks, we’re split into fake “wars” about everything from avocados to bicycles to medical masks. It’s time we took a critical lens to every facet of our shared experience. And that’s what Virginia Heffernan is prepared to do.

Copyright: © Stitcher

Latest Episodes:

Close Shaves Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

How we handle our body hair says as much about us as how we dress. Rebecca Herzig, professor and author of Plucked: A History of Hair Removal, explores the culture of shaving, waxing, plucking—and just letting it be.

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The Dirtbag Wife Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

You can have a decent marriage, and also think your husband is a "snoring heap of meat". Virginia talks with Heather Havrilesky, author of Foreverland: The Divine Tedium of Marriage.

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Getting Off the Brandwagon Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

"Brands aren't really real," argues author and brand savant Debbie Millman. At the same time, Coca-Cola once promised to teach the world to sing and neolibs around the world now consider themselves personal brands. So, what's in a brand — and is there any use left in them?

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I Don’t See a New Episode! Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Don’t worry, we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming next Thursday.

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Two Ways to Stop Putin Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

Fifteen years ago, Bill Browder became Putin's sworn enemy for fighting corruption in the Moscow business world. Now the author, activist, and Magnitsky Act advocate is here to explain how sanctioning Russian oligarchs can help stop Putin.

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Why Are We Still Dieting? Mar 03, 2022

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We have to stop. Ragen Chastain, the prominent Health at Every Size advocate, explains what we get wrong about weight loss, size stigma, and inclusive healthcare.

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Saying Yes to Ulysses Feb 24, 2022

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To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, Virginia’s dad and James Joyce scholar James Heffernan shares his love of the notoriously difficult novel. Open to all, no pre-reqs needed.

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The Red-Pilling of Yoga World Feb 17, 2022

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The namaste folks are just about downward dog and world peace, right? Maybe not. Conspirituality podcast host and former cult member Matthew Remski reveals the sinister rightward lurch of yoga and the wellness industry.

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Work Will Break Your Heart — and You Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

We've all heard that following our passions will lead to a career we love, but labor journalist Sarah Jaffe contends that emotional fulfillment will never come from our corporate overlords, no matter how hard we work for them.

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Game, Set, Vax Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

The world of sports is filled with pointless supplements and miracle cures but what happens when the disinformation—about everything from nutrition to Covid—influences the rest of us? Dr. Nicholas Tiller tells us why we’re so attracted to bad science, and how to avoid it.

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