Past Present

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the emergence of the cicadas this season. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   After seventeen years underground, billions of cicadas are emerging on the east coast of the United States. Niki referred to this History article about Benjamin...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the current controversy over critical race theory. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   A series of legislative bills seek to ban the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 public institutions. At CNN, Niki looked at how the controversy o...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the gas panic triggered by the recent cybersecurity breach at Colonial Pipeline. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   A cybersecurity breach at Colonial Pipeline caused panic, prompting motorists to line up at service stations up and down t...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the recall of the latest Peloton exercise machine in historical context. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Peloton, the digital fitness company made famous by its internet-connected stationery bike, is complying with a federal voluntary...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history – and future – of office life. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   New York magazine published a sprawling collection of essays about experiences of office life. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article about the persistence o...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the cultural influence of RuPaul's Drag Race . Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Reality show RuPaul's Drag Race has just wrapped its thirteenth season. Niki and Natalia drew on Simon Doonan's book Drag: The Complete Story . Natalia also...

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the parallels between the 1920s and our current moment. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   As "post-pandemic life" becomes imaginable, predictions of a second "Roaring Twenties" are ubiquitous . Niki referred to her article about t...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the debate over school reopening. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   When – and how – public schools should reopen has become a topic of intense controversy . Neil cited this Los Angeles Times piece about the "intractable learning loss" s...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the life and legacy of the late children's author Beverly Cleary. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   At the age of 104, children's author Beverly Cleary has died . Natalia drew on this Bulwark article about Cleary's apolitical appeal, and...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the recent mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado. Listen to our new limited series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe.  Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   As public spaces reopen, so too have mass shootings returned . Neil referred to this Slate piece a...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the calls for Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York to resign . Listen to our new limited series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe.  Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Amid charges that he covered up Covid-related deaths among nursing home residents and sexually harassed mult...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss Oprah Winfrey's interview of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Listen to our new limited series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Perhaps the official beginning of Meghan and Harry's life in America was their interview with Op...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the controversy over the decision to stop publishing six Dr. Seuss books. Listen to our new limited podcast series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe.  Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Theodore Geisel's estate has removed six of his Dr. Seuss books from circulation, caus...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the fight to raise the federal minimum wage. Listen to our new limited podcast series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe.  Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   House Democrats have proposed a federally guaranteed fifteen-dollar an hour minimum wage as part of their coronavir...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the #FreeBritney movement for Britney Spears and the conservatorship that inspired it. Listen to our new limited podcast series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe.  Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   A New York Times documentary about pop star Britney Spears and the conser...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of pornographer and free speech champion Larry Flynt. Listen to our new limited podcast series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe.  Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Larry Flynt, founder of the Hustler empire, died this month . Niki recommended histori...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the controversial tenure of freshman Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast   Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been stripped of her committee assignments due to her outspoken support of ou...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of television and radio legend, Larry King. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   TV and radio legend, Larry King, died last week at the age of 87. We discussed some of the retrospective pieces King's sixty-year career pr...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss "The 1776 Report" issued by the outgoing Trump administration. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   A day before President Trump left office, his administration issued "The 1776 Report" on American history , which President Biden promptly r...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   On January 20, President-Elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated to the office of the President. Niki referred to the book Before the Oath . Neil and Natalia referre...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the January 6 attack 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:   On January 6, armed rioters interrupted the joint session of Congress convened to certify the vote count of the Electoral College. Natalia referred to this Axios...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the attempt by Republicans to undermine the final certification of President-Elect Joe Biden's victory. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   On January 6, Congress will meet in a joint session to formally count the votes of the Electoral Co...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the popularity of Hallmark Christmas movies. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Hallmark Christmas movie is a bona fide super-genre . Niki referred to this New Yorker article about how the form took over cable television, and Natalia...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the popularity of the global evangelical megachurch Hillsong. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Hillsong celebrity pastor Carl Lentz has come under fire for inappropriate behavior, including adultery. Natalia and Neil referred to Taffy B...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit." Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Netflix series The Queen's Gambit has become the pandemic's latest must-see TV. Niki referred to the role of African-American character Jolene, discussed in t...