When cultural and psychological anthropologist Katie Rose Hajtmanek set out to study Crossfit, she knew she had to throw herself into it fully. For seven years, she traveled to “boxes” around the world while committing herself to her local Brooklyn box. What she uncovered was a rabid fan base that deeply values community and a business model that offers a refreshing response to unfettered capitalism—as well as the misogyny, racism, and militarized Christian themes that inform this beloved and despised fitness regimen. She joins Derek to discuss her new book, The Cult of CrossFit: Christianity and the American Exercise Phenomenon.
Show Notes
The Cult of CrossFit: Christianity and the American Exercise Phenomenon
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36:53
253: The Politics of Abundance
"In order to have the future we want, we have to build and invent more of the things we need."
That’s the central claim of Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s new book, Abundance. They argue that Democrat-run cities and states have suffered self-inflicted wounds that are causing a mass exodus to red states, where life is simply more affordable. To stop the bleeding, Dems need to take action on a bold new vision that cuts through red tape to improve people’s lives and address the crises in housing, climate, healthcare and politics.
But many on the left are suspicious. Is this just Reaganomics wrapped up in the intellectualized language of the NY Times? Is Abundance the privileged prosperity gospel for white liberals?
Show Notes
The Abundance Agenda: Neoliberalism’s Rebrand
Abundance: The Left Hates It
Summary of Abundance Critiques
Politico: False Choice Between Abundance and Antitrust
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59:08
Bonus Sample: We Already Know What September Will Bring
It's been quite the week at HHS with Robert F Kennedy Jr in charge. Derek considers what's been going on: Bobby's announcement that he's going to "determine" the cause of autism by September; his social media marketing-driven visit to grieving families in Texas; his pivot on the MMR vaccine; and his recommendation to the CDC that fluoride be removed from public water supplies.
Show Notes
RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September
RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water
What RFK Jr. Told Grieving Texas Families About the Measles Vaccine
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6:06
Brief: Karma & Christ at the NIH
Jay Bhattacharya, Covid contrarian and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, is now the Director of the NIH. The day before beginning his new job, he gave his first official interview to Bari Weiss on her podcast, Honestly. Derek and Julian discuss.
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38:21
252: Netflix vs. Andrew Tate (On “Adolescence”)
There’s a mystery of violence swirling in and amongst the kids these days. Especially boys. What could it be? Snapchat? Video games? Andrew Tate? A hit Netflix series points to issues, and policy. But is it pointing in the right direction?
Today we’ll look at “Adolescence”: the origin story, the strengths and liabilities of its one-take technique, and its deceptively conservative messaging. Should it be shown in Parliament? Schools? Does it tell us much about the kids it is worried about? Does it offload responsibility for misogyny and violence onto ambient internet chaos, when there are so many other causes closer to home? And why, if it is a meditation on violence committed by boys, do we learn so little about the girls who are harmed?
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Correction: In the episode, Matthew said that Axel Rudakabana was of South Asian descent. He was born in the UK of parents from Rwanda.
Show Notes
Brief: Tate Crime
Teachers Warn That Misogynist Andrew Tate Has 'Radicalized' School-Age Boys
180: Is This the Next Andrew Tate?
Stephen Graham shares the heartbreaking stories that inspired Netflix's Adolescence
'Adolescence' Becomes Netflix's Most-Watched Limited Series in First 2 Weeks With 66.3 Million Views
Elon Musk blasted for spreading 'concerning' misinformation about Netflix's Adolescence
Netflix’s Adolescence makes TV history in the UK
“Netflix hit Adolescence has lessons for us all” says Northumbria PCC Susan Dungworth, as she welcomes PM backing for it to be shown in UK Schools
Netflix's Adolescence inspired by true story of Croydon girl's horrific murder - MyLondon
UK experts warn of dangers of violent content being readily available online | Southport attack
Croydon schoolgirl Elianne Andam stabbed in ‘white-hot anger’, court told | UK news
Hassan Sentamu sentencing remarks
Sentencing Remarks: In the matter of the murder of Ava White
Crime in England and Wales: year ending September 2024
The facts about firearm violence
Firearm Violence in the United States | Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Online gangs of teenage boys sharing extreme material are ‘emerging threat’ in UK | NCA (National Crime Agency)
Beyond the Headlines 2024 Summary | Youth Endowment Fund
Spotify takes down Andrew Tate ‘pimping’ podcast after complaints
Kyle Clifford watched Andrew Tate videos before triple murder
The Terrifying Truth Behind Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’
Stephen Graham Netflix series Adolescence inspired by two real-life crimes
"Objective realism," ethnographic cinema, and the classical model of visual-anthropological research
PACE Code C 2023
GCSEs harm our young people. Ministers should have the guts to abolish them – and start again
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Dismantling New Age cults, wellness grifters, and conspiracy-mad yogis. At best, the conspirituality movement attacks public health efforts in times of crisis. At worst, it fronts and recruits for the fever-dream of QAnon. As the alt-right and New Age horseshoe toward each other in a blur of disinformation, clear discourse, and good intentions get smothered. Charismatic influencers exploit their followers by co-opting conspiracy theories on a spectrum of intensity ranging from vaccines to child trafficking. In the process, spiritual beliefs that have nurtured creativity and meaning are transforming into memes of a quickly-globalizing paranoia. Conspirituality Podcast attempts to bring understanding to this landscape. A journalist, a cult researcher, and a philosophical skeptic discuss the stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics tearing through the yoga, wellness, and new spirituality worlds. Mainstream outlets have noticed the problem. We crowd-source, research, analyze, and dream answers to it.
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