Talk Description to Me

New images and videos concerning the January 6th attack on Capitol Hill continue to be released to the public. Journalists, pundits and investigators have been examining this visual material, and their opinions and interpretations have dominated news cycles around the world. This week, Christine and JJ extend their coverage of the Capitol Building riot to describe these new visuals, and add contex...

In this Breaking News episode, Talk Description to Me covers the historic events of January 6th, 2021, in Washington DC. Using images and videos pulled from social media and news reports, be they terrifying, surreal, or gut-wrenching, JJ and Christine seek to follow the visual chain of events that unfolded on this extraordinary day.  Send us a quick note! Support the show

On December 17th 2020, Talk Description to Me hosted a live Zoom event in which listeners were invited to help Christine steer the conversation, and ask JJ their most pressing description questions. In this, the first of two episodes featuring conversations from that event, curious listeners inquire about the famous Charlie Brown Christmas tree, holiday celebrations in New York City, N95 masks, th...

In this special Christmas episode of Talk Description to Me, Christine and JJ don their masks, put on their parkas, and walk through Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood on a cold winter's eve. Recording face-to-face for the first time in the series, they take in the lights and decorations of the upscale shopping district, and describe the visuals of this most unusual Christmas season.    S...

At this time of year when the days are cold and the nights are long (and even colder!) many of us turn to fire, food, and festive celebrations to help get through the winter. In this episode, Christine and JJ warm their souls by describing the symbols and celebrations of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice. From socially distanced latke-making and Yiddish hip hop line dancing in neighbourho...

In this episode, Christine and JJ look up; way up, to the Northern Lights. The aurora borealis is a beloved symbol of winter in the northern hemisphere, but it's clouded in mystery for those who have never seen it. Cup your hands around a hot drink, pull on your toque and scarf, and travel with us to the far north.  Send us a quick note! Support the show

Remember when we used to travel, and had to navigated places like airports and train stations? This week, Christine and JJ explore the international language of symbol signs and pictograms, used to help travellers find lodging, taxis, and restaurants, and determine where (and where not!) to relieve themselves.  But first, our descriptive elegy to Puerto Rico's Arecibo telescope, and a formal...

Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all-time. With a blocky, pixelated aesthetic and no clear goal, the world-building pastime holds players captive to their own creativity. But Minecraft is much more than a game. Within the virtual space, real life problems are addressed, and solutions are crafted, block by block, by players around the world.  In this week’s episode, Christine and...

So, what does this blasted Coronavirus actually look like, anyway? What is 'Now This News' and why is it clogging up my Facebook feed? And there isn't actually a TV in every dentist's office, is there? This week, Christine's curiosity takes centre stage, and it's JJ's job to keep up! Send us a quick note! Support the show

Public memorials honouring those lost in war will be quite different this year, with many opting to pay their respects virtually, rather than in person. With that in mind, Christine and JJ describe the memorials where national ceremonies are held in Canada, England, Australia, and the U.S.  Then, they shift their focus to instantly iconic images of VP-elect Kamala Harris, and perhaps the most biza...

In this companion episode to our coverage of pre-election visuals, Christine and JJ discuss images of voters casting their ballots, neighbourhood polling stations, and the dedicated election staff and volunteers working in extraordinary conditions. Then they scan the morning papers to see how last night's front page news was covered in the English-speaking world. Send us a quick note! Support...

This has been an unprecedented U.S. election campaign rife with political and social drama. In this special election-day episode, recorded at 9am on Tuesday November 3rd,  Christine and JJ discuss the visuals of the final days and hours of the campaign, including courthouse clashes in North Carolina, Trump Trains in Texas, fences surrounding the White House, and long lines of voters determined to...

Has your neighbour's lawn become a graveyard overnight? Do wispy green ghosts float in nearby bedroom windows? Is the little old lady down the block dressed like a creepy, silent serial killer? It must be Halloween! From barfing jack-o-lanterns, to Zoom meeting costumes, and gory DIY illusions using iPads and projectors, Christine and JJ delight in the visuals of Halloween, and share some blo...

Editorial cartoons have a long history of stirring up emotions by distilling complex societal problems and complaints for the masses. But are today's cartoonists adding to important political conversations, or just preaching to the converted? In this episode, JJ and Christine describe and discuss recent political and editorial cartoons, and discover that neither end of the political spectrum...

For many of us, Zoom has become a feature of daily life, and can sometimes be a lifeline to the outside world. In this episode, Christine and JJ explore the visuals of the platform, from the Touch Up tool to custom backgrounds, and share uproarious laughs over scandalous scenes captured by Zoom's cameras. Then JJ takes us on a virtual tour of fall colours around the world.  Send us a quick no...

Many important political and social justice issues have come to a head in 2020, dominating the news cycle and shifting focus from another problem with global ramifications - the climate crisis. In this episode Christine and JJ examine photos and videos of the natural world in distress, and discuss the visualization tools that help us understand and appreciate the scientific data and satellite imag...

"Never get into a TikTok battle with the teenage daughter you've just infected with Covid" might not be a common political proverb, but this is 2020! In this short bonus episode we wade into the recent TikTok drama between Claudia Conway and her mother - Trump insider Kellyanne Conway.   Send us a quick note! Support the show

All around the world, kids, parents, and teachers are wading into the school year, figuring it out as it goes. In this episode, Christine and JJ tug at the old heart strings as they discuss the visuals of back to school resourcefulness and resilience. From socially distanced kids in schoolyard lines, to re-imagined desks and forest schools, we look at learning in the COVID present, and dig up phot...

“In politics, appearance matters more than truth,” writes American author Robin Hobb. In advance of the upcoming debates, Christine and JJ consider each of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in the 2020 U.S. election, and discuss their looks, expressions, styles, and mannerisms. It's all about the visuals of political personas in this extended episode of Talk Description to Me....

The makers of DC Comics have recently released trailers and concept art for their upcoming offerings, and "Holy melancholy, Batman!", are they ever dark! Meanwhile, fast food advertisers have been changing tactics to sell product in the COVID world. Instead of tempting us with glistening burgers and fresh ingredients, they now soothe and reassure us with images of hand-washing and mask-w...

The events of 9/11 were shocking and tragic, and the visuals from New York City have become synonymous with national heartbreak and loss. In this extended episode, we look back at the wrenching photos and videos of the attack on the Twin Towers. Visuals that take us from the large-scale devastation to the individual human cost. With this episode we attempt to honour those who died, and those who s...

What could be more 2020 than sightings of terrifying fire tornadoes? How about the dismantling of postal infrastructure in advance of an election where mail-in ballots may well determine the winner? In this episode, Christine and JJ discuss the fire tornadoes recently spotted in Northern California, then sort out the mail sorting machines at the heart of US Postal Service controversies. Recorded A...

In this Breaking News episode, Christine and JJ discuss the visuals of Hurricane Laura, which was tracked through the Gulf of Mexico by satellite, and made landfall in Louisiana earlier in the day. Then the topic shifts to deadly monsoons in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have left cities, towns, and villages flooded with rain and sewage water. Send us a quick note! Support the show

It’s a turbulent time, but video, image, and story sharing on social media gives all of us the chance to stay informed of local happenings around the world. This week, Christine asks about the protest footage coming out of Belarus in the wake of a suspect election. Then JJ describes COVID heat maps and infographics, and explains how they can be used to distort and mislead. Send us a quick note! Su...

Grab your virtual surfboards and prepare for a wild ride! In this episode, JJ and Christine navigate social media for sighted people - chat bubbles, profile pics, visual overload, and all. Then, take a deep breath as rapid-fire descriptions carry us across the roiling waters of TikTok. You won’t know what hit you! For further thoughts on JJ's description of TikTok user (and Canadian Political...