Stolen Artifacts with J.P. Labbat

Reframing Tragedy Through Comedy (and Tattoos) with Daniel Sloss

Opening up the can of worms that is one’s trauma can be heavy. It's especially daunting when you're unpacking it through the lens of stand-up comedy, a seemingly dichotomous medium to use. This week, Kal speaks with one of his dearest friends, comedian Daniel Sloss, to talk about where power exists in comedy and how it also exists in tragedy and in silence. How do comedians unravel stories in a way that makes audiences relive the experience as if it’s happening to them in real time, and how can this form of artistic storytelling reframe those stories with a powerful message behind them? See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nuclear Dread with Jeffrey Lewis

Every time a new international conflict breaks out, it feels like we might very well be on the brink of World War III. With that comes a low grade sense of anxiety over nuclear weapons. Embroiled in a new war with Iran, suddenly the risk of nuclear war feels very real once again. But that doesn't mean it ever really went away. Jeffrey Lewis is one of the country's leading experts on nuclear weapons policy. How did we get stuck in this cycle of nuclear dread? And is there any chance we'll ever escape so long as nukes are around? See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Politics of Comedy with Vir Das

Comedy is often political. In fact, it's been landing comedians in hot water for years. Take the warrant for George Carlin's arrest after those seven memorable words he said on television. In 1973, a year after Carlin's arrest, the US Supreme Court made it much harder to throw performers in jail for their offensive language, but that doesn't mean comedians in plenty of places don't still end up in jail -- or at least with warrants out for their arrest. Vir Das is an Emmy-award winning actor, writer and comedian, and today he sits down with Kal to talk about the politics of comedy, how it's changing, and satire about the government. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Stolen Artifacts with J.P. Labbat

It's no secret that during acts of war, artifacts get stolen as an old act of dominance. But you may not realize that it's still happening today. In 2024, the Metropolitan Museum of Art physically returned 14 statues to Cambodia when they discovered that they had been looted during decades of civil war. And in 2023, the CEO of Hobby Lobby was indicted when he was found to be at the center of stolen Iraqi pieces that were for his Bible museum. Kal sits down with J.P. Labbat, a retired special agent who worked in the US government's Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities unit. He's spent his career investigating stolen artifacts and returning them home. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

How to Combat Brain Rot with Manoush Zomorodi (Part II)

Last week, you heard about brain rot and its neuroscience. So this week, we wanted to tackle how to combat it. Manoush Zomorodi is a journalist and host of TED Radio Hour. Mostly, she's trying to figure out how technology is changing your body, your brain, and your behavior. She and Kal sit down to talk about how movement and boredom can be vital parts of warding off the more negative effects of scrolling and screentime. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.