State of the Pod

601: Sex Sells: But at what cost?

The portrayal of women in media is strikingly one-dimensional, often reduced to either objects of desire or figures to be fetishized. This phenomenon extends across diverse platforms—from your go-to fashion magazines to the grittiest video games, where women frequently find themselves cast as subservient and hypersexualized entities. In this episode, we dive into the pervasive nature of this hypersexualization and its roots in larger patriarchal systems. Through a discussion on various media forms, we unravel the profound impact of these portrayals on consumers. The result? A dire outlook on the world, shaped by the affliction imposed by these depictions. The aim of this episode, therefore, is to provoke a deeper understanding of systemic inequalities ingrained in media and to empower consumers to reshape their perspectives. By doing so, we can collectively strive for a more inclusive and equitable media landscape. Produced and written by Adele Williams, Thoranna Bender, Eve Iulo Edited by Adele Williams Art by Anjelina Gonzalez Citations: [1] PBS NewsHour. (2013, December 21). The sexualization of young girls: What we lose and gain. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/social_issues-july-dec13-sexualization_12-21 [2] UNICEF USA. (2021, January 11). Not an object: The sexualization and exploitation of women and girls. Retrieved from https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/not-object-sexualization-and-exploitation-women-and-girls-0 [3] Blagburn, B. (n.d.). A Feminist Approach to Reclaiming Sex, Sexuality, and Sensuality. Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame IN). Retrieved from https://human.libretexts.org/Courses/Saint_Mary’s_College_(Notre_Dame_IN)/Literature/Chimamanda_Adichie%3A_A_Research_Guide/04%3A_Critical_Analyses/4.01%3A__A_Feminist_Approach_to_Reclaiming_Sex_Sexuality_and_Sensuality_By_Brittany_Blagburn [4] SSAIC. (2022, April 13). Emily Ratajkowski on Taking Back Her Body. Retrieved from https://ssaic.ca/emily-ratajkowski-on-taking-back-her-body/ [5] Hirsch, J. S., & Larson, K. (2020, February 1). ‘Angels’ in Hell: The Culture of Misogyny Inside Victoria’s Secret. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/business/victorias-secret-razek-harassment.html [6] Masters of Media. (2020, September 28). “You Can See Me Naked After the Paywall”: How OnlyFans Transforms the Online Sex Industry. Retrieved from http://mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl/blog/2020/09/28/you-can-see-me-naked-after-the-paywall-how-onlyfans-transforms-the-online-sex-industry/ [7] SpringerLink. (2020, January 2). Back That Sexism Up: An Analysis of the Representation of Women’s Bodies in Music Videos. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-29855-5_5  [8] ScholarsArchive. (2017, May 17). Women in Refrigerators: The Objectification of Women in Comics. BYU ScholarsArchive. Retrieved from https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/awe/vol2/iss2/9/  [9] Tulane University Journal. (2022). The World’s Oldest Profession Gets a Makeover: Sex Work, OnlyFans, and Celebrity Participation. Retrieved from https://journals.tulane.edu/ncs/article/view/3661  [10] Cardoso, & Scarcelli. (2021). The bodies of the (digitised) body. Retrieved from https://recil.ensinolusofona.pt/bitstream/10437/12305/1/CARDOSO%2c%20SCARCELLI%20-%20%20%20The%20bodies%20of%20the%20%28digitised%29%20body_PUBLISHED.pdf  [11] Kite, L. (2011). From Objectification to Self-Subjectification: Victoria’s Secret as a Do-It-Yourself Guide. Retrieved from https://www.morethanabody.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Kite-Lexie-NCA-Paper-Victorias-Secret.pdf [12] ScienceDirect. (2023). Comparing and self-objectifying: The effect of sexualized imagery posted by Instagram Influencers on women’s body image. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144523000980?via%3Dihub  [13] Emerald Insight. (2023, January 17).Sociomaterial influence on social media: exploring sexualised practices of influencers on Instagram. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ITP-03-2022-0215/full/html  [14] Wiley Online Library. (2019, February 19). Sexualized labour in digital culture: Instagram influencers, porn chic and the monetization of attention. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gwao.12354  The post 601: Sex Sells: But at what cost? [http://www.stateofthepod.com/2023/12/07/sex-sells-but-at-what-cost/] first appeared on State of the Pod [http://www.stateofthepod.com].

603: Antibiotic Resistance: A Double-Edged Sword

Nobody likes being sick. Modern medicine and the discovery of antibiotics has turned lethal illnesses into three day colds. We’ve grown accustomed to this prescription lifestyle, but what if one day our antibiotics no longer work? Overuse of antibiotics has uncovered a dangerous problem: antibiotic resistance. In this episode, we dive deep to uncover why resistance develops, its health and ethical impacts, innovative solutions being pursued, and actions society must take before entering an era where antibiotics no longer work. Special Guests: Tobias Doerr & Vincent Fischetti Produced by Isabella Ciocca, Rma Polce, & Matthew Kiewski Edited by Isabella Ciocca Art by Anjelina Gonzalez Citations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 13). National Infection & Death Estimates for Antimicrobial Resistance. https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/national-estimates.html#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20more%20than,resistant%20infections%20occur%20each%20year [https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/national-estimates.html#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20more%20than,resistant%20infections%20occur%20each%20year]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019 (2019 AR Threats Report). (2019, December). http://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:82532 [http://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:82532] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 10). What’s the big deal about antimicrobial resistance? https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html [https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/antibiotic-resistance.html] Antibiotics: Are you misusing them? (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 6, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720 [https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720] Quigley, E. M. M. (2013). Gut bacteria in health and disease. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 9(9), 560–569. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3983973/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3983973/] Sonnenburg, E. D., & Sonnenburg, J. L. (2014). Starving our microbial self: the deleterious consequences of a diet deficient in microbiota-accessible carbohydrates. Cell metabolism, 20(5), 779–786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2014.07.003 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2014.07.003] Ríos-Covián, D., Ruas-Madiedo, P., Margolles, A., Gueimonde, M., de Los Reyes-Gavilán, C. G., & Salazar, N. (2016). Intestinal Short Chain Fatty Acids and their Link with Diet and Human Health. Frontiers in microbiology, 7, 185. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00185 [https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00185] Belkaid, Y., & Harrison, O. J. (2017). Homeostatic Immunity and the Microbiota. Immunity, 46(4), 562–576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2017.04.008 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2017.04.008] Danyi Li, Chunhui Gao, Faming Zhang, Ruifu Yang, Canhui Lan, Yonghui Ma, Jun Wang, Seven facts and five initiatives for gut microbiome research, Protein & Cell, Volume 11, Issue 6, June 2020, Pages 391–400, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-020-00697-8 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-020-00697-8] Euzebiusz Jamrozik, George S Heriot, Ethics and antibiotic resistance, British Medical Bulletin, Volume 141, Issue 1, March 2022, Pages 4–14, https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldab030 [https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldab030] 1.Cirz, R. The world needs new antibiotics. The problem is, no one can make them profitably. The Wall Street Journal (2023). https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/antibiotics-drug-development-business-fda-aa5b4f00. [https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/antibiotics-drug-development-business-fda-aa5b4f00.] The post 603: Antibiotic Resistance: A Double-Edged Sword [http://www.stateofthepod.com/2023/12/07/antibiotic-resistance-a-double-edged-sword/] first appeared on State of the Pod [http://www.stateofthepod.com].

604: The Marvelously Muddled World of Remembering

Chances are, we’ve all forgotten about an assignment or to take out the recycling. What happens when our memory becomes shaky when we depend on it most, like if we serve as a witness in a legal courtroom? Our memory miraculously enables us to do everything–from walking, to learning, to reminiscing. But the human brain is naturally just as imperfect and unreliable, even without aging or disease. In this episode, we delve into the basics of how memories form, distinct types of memory, common memory mishaps, and zoom out to their importance in eyewitness testimony and our criminal justice system.  Produced by Anona Joshi, Gargi Rao, and Sasha Smalls Edited by Sasha Smalls Art by Anjelina Gonzalez Music from Wave Saver @ Epidemic Sound, Creative Commons and Lifestyle by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/ [https://onsound.eu/] Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com] Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US] Special thanks to the Milstein Program and the Investigative biology lab at Cornell University for our recording equipment and software. Sources: > Our Impact: By the Numbers [https://innocenceproject.org/exonerations-data/] The post 604: The Marvelously Muddled World of Remembering [http://www.stateofthepod.com/2023/12/07/604-the-marvelously-muddled-world-of-remembering/] first appeared on State of the Pod [http://www.stateofthepod.com].

605: Unlocking Minds: The Hidden Dimension of Personality

In the intricate labyrinths of the human mind lies a realm as vast and varied as the stars in the night sky.  Imagine a key that could unlock the secrets of why we are the way we are — our quirks, fears, passions, and dreams.  Welcome to the realm of personality psychology, where science meets the soul.  In this episode of State of the Pod, we will unravel the mysteries and venture into the heart of what makes us uniquely human.  Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of personality types! Produced and edited by Amanda Ng, Amanda Chen, & Diego Valdez Art by Anjelina Gonzalez Citations: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/22/asia/south-korea-mbti-personality-test-dating-briggs-myers-intl-hnk-dst/index.html [https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/22/asia/south-korea-mbti-personality-test-dating-briggs-myers-intl-hnk-dst/index.html] https://www.deseret.com/1990/1/7/18840347/negative-labeling-hurts-self-esteem-and-opportunities-for-personal-growth [https://www.deseret.com/1990/1/7/18840347/negative-labeling-hurts-self-esteem-and-opportunities-for-personal-growth] https://digitalcommons.bridgewater.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1342&context=honors_projects [https://digitalcommons.bridgewater.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1342&context=honors_projects] https://nypost.com/2022/12/30/major-2023-astrology-predictions-for-the-entire-world/ [https://nypost.com/2022/12/30/major-2023-astrology-predictions-for-the-entire-world/] https://www.indastro.com/2023-horoscope.html [https://www.indastro.com/2023-horoscope.html] http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/other.html#:~:text=The%20Other%20is%20an%20individual,any%20way [http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/other.html#:~:text=The%20Other%20is%20an%20individual,any%20way] The post 605: Unlocking Minds: The Hidden Dimension of Personality [http://www.stateofthepod.com/2023/12/07/605-unlocking-minds-the-hidden-dimension-of-personality/] first appeared on State of the Pod [http://www.stateofthepod.com].

513: Solar Energy: New York’s Power Move

One problem. Many solutions. Three experts. In this episode, we cover the greatest environmental threat of our time: climate change. We examine New York’s quest to decarbonize, and the rapidly growing field of agrivoltaics. Produced and edited by Ananda Kalukin and Adam Vinson Art by Savannah Flores Music from Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio and Wave Saver @ Epidemic Sound Special thanks to the Milstein Program and the Investigative Biology lab at Cornell University for our recording equipment and software. Sources: https://www.achrnews.com/articles/152636-building-decarbonization-central-to-new-york-states-climate-plan#:~:text=New%20York%20City%20made%20a,%2C%20including%20for%20commercial%20kitchens [https://www.achrnews.com/articles/152636-building-decarbonization-central-to-new-york-states-climate-plan#:~:text=New%20York%20City%20made%20a,%2C%20including%20for%20commercial%20kitchens] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261922017354 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261922017354] https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/solar/what-is-a-solar-battery/ [https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/solar/what-is-a-solar-battery/] https://regenpower.com/articles/why-arent-we-using-the-deserts-for-solar-power/#:~:text=The%20harsh%20environment%20of%20deserts,on%20any%20solar%20panel%20materials. [https://regenpower.com/articles/why-arent-we-using-the-deserts-for-solar-power/#:~:text=The%20harsh%20environment%20of%20deserts,on%20any%20solar%20panel%20materials.] https://climate.nasa.gov/ [https://climate.nasa.gov/] https://www.energysage.com/solar/solar-101/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need/#:~:text=An%20average%20home%20needs%20between,location%20and%20individual%20panel%20specifications. [https://www.energysage.com/solar/solar-101/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need/#:~:text=An%20average%20home%20needs%20between,location%20and%20individual%20panel%20specifications.] > How much solar would it take to power the U.S.? [https://www.freeingenergy.com/how-much-solar-would-it-take-to-power-the-u-s/] The post 513: Solar Energy: New York’s Power Move [http://www.stateofthepod.com/2023/05/09/513-solar-energy-new-yorks-power-move/] first appeared on State of the Pod [http://www.stateofthepod.com].