Past Present

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the historical significance of the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Capitol riots, pundits have reflected on how much of a turning point it was....

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of Christmas cards. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Holiday cards have remained popular amid the digitization of many other print products. Neil referred to this Washington Post article by Peter Manseau about the trend of C...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss Dr. Oz running for the U.S. Senate and the history of celebrity politicians. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Celebrity doctor-entertainer Mehmet Oz is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, as a Republican . Niki drew on historian Kathryn...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of cookbooks and the question of recipes as intellectual property. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   As online recipes and cookbooks become big business, issues of plagiarism and copyright are becoming more common. Natalia re...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the history of #GivingTuesday. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Giving Tuesday has become as familiar a Thanksgiving holiday ritual as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Natalia referred to political philosopher Rob Reich's book, Just Givin...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of gratitude. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Thanksgiving is upon us, but gratitude is a virtue celebrated in American culture all year long. Natalia and Niki referred to Barbara Ehrenreich's book Bright-Sided: Why Positiv...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of diversity workshops and sensitivity training. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   As conservative attacks on a supposed takeover of American institutions by proponents of critical race theory escalate, many on the political...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the return of the New York City Marathon and the history of long-distance racing. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The fiftieth New York City Marathon was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus, but the race has returned this year. Nat...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the Democratic Party's "Build Back Better" bill. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Biden administration's proposed spending package contains some potentially transformative legislation : especially around childcare. Neil referred to...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the life and legacy of Colin Powell, the United States' first Black Secretary of State. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Colin Powell died earlier this month of complications from the coronavirus, prompting discussion of the legacy of h...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the inflation currently affecting the U.S. economy. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   " Shadow inflation " is affecting many American industries, in which services are being scaled back as prices remain the same or increase . Niki referr...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Congressional testimony of whistleblower Frances Haugen is raising new questions about the social effects of Facebook's global market domination. Niki referred...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of veganism in light of an eviscerating review of the new plant-based menu at the New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Innovative fine dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park has earned mix...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the disappearance of Gabby Petito and the media frenzy that has ensued. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The disappearance and death of aspiring influencer Gabby Petito has set off a national media frenzy, sparked in part by social medi...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the popularity of the drug Ivermectin as a treatment for the coronavirus – despite lack of evidence of its effectiveness. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Ivermectin, a drug commonly used to treat parasitic infections in livestock, is f...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the implications of the new restrictions on abortion rights in Texas. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Supreme Court has failed to strike down a Texas law that drastically restricts abortion rights . Natalia referred to this Vogue a...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the past and present of U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   After nearly two decades , President Biden announced that all American troops were leaving Afghanistan, which quickly fell to the Taliban...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the rise – and fate – of the "ethnic food aisle" at the American grocery store. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The New York Times published an article about the debate over the ethnic food aisle , which is both undeniably ethnocentric...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the pandemic. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for a year, are in full swing despite the ongoing pandemic . Natalia mentioned this NPR piece about the unfair treatment...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the mass protests in Cuba. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The streets of Cuba are filled with protestors enraged by the poor handling of the pandemic and the excesses of the police state. Natalia mentioned Cuba scholar Rebecca Bodenhe...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the tragedy of the Surfside condominium collapse and what it means for Miami. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   On June 24, a security camera captured the collapse of much of the Surfside condominium complex , killing a still untallied l...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the Supreme Court decision to allow education-related payments to student-athletes. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA's restrictions on providing "education-related perks" to college athletes. Nat...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the history of the Internal Revenue Service and why the uber-wealthy pay so little in income taxes. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ProPublica released a searing report revealing how little the richest Americans pay in taxes – and that...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of LGBTQ+ Pride. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Controversy has flared over the presence of police at this year's New York Pride March. Neil drew on this Time retrospective on the more than 50 years of Pride protests and p...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the controversy over tennis champion Naomi Osaka's decision not to participate in post-match press conferences. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Citing mental health concerns, tennis champion Naomi Osaka decided not to participate in po...