Gerrymandering & Big Data: How Software Rewrites US Elections

Gerrymandering & Big Data: How Software Rewrites US Elections

What happens when the constitutional baseline of "one person, one vote" collides with highly sophisticated geographic software? In this bonus deep-dive of Whereabouts Tales, we pull back the curtain on the invisible architecture of American political power. Emily Pabst, who previously managed redistricting data for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, joins us to explain exactly how electoral lines are drawn—and how they are manipulated. We trace the evolution of redistricting from hand-drawn maps to the deployment of complex GIS software capable of slicing demographic data down to the city block. We explore the reality of gerrymandering, the loss of professional innocence when data is weaponized for political gain, and how institutions can implement high-reliability design to survive human flaws. Finally, Emily issues a challenge to our listeners: finding media that maps an optimistic, aspirational future instead of a dystopian one. [Chapters] * 00:00 - The Architecture of Power (Cold Open) * 01:24 - What is Redistricting & "One Person, One Vote"? * 07:43 - Inside the Room: GIS Software & City Blocks * 12:24 - Wiggle Room: Population Limits & Incumbents * 19:24 - From the 90s to Today: The Tech Evolution * 24:28 - Weaponizing Data & The Reality of Gerrymandering * 36:42 - Independent Boards & Remaking the Rules * 42:17 - The Need for Aspirational Futures in Media [Essential Links & Calls to Action] * The Assignment: Have a recommendation for a movie, book, or show that presents an optimistic future? Drop it in the YouTube comments or reach out via our website. * Emily Pabst’s Work: remaketherules.com [https://www.remaketherules.com/] * Upgrade Your Studio: Whereabouts Tales is recorded flawlessly on Riverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9

Fleeing Cartels, a 25-Year Age Gap, and Moving to Mexico Sight-Unseen | Tom & Jenn Kan

What happens when a chronic over-thinker from Texas marries a deadpan Australian who casually travels the world with zero plan? Today on Whereabouts Tales, we sit down with Tom and Jenn Kan to unpack a global love story that defies logic, borders, and a 25-year age gap. After their lives secretly orbited each other through impossible coincidences, they finally collided. We explore their chaotic journey of living abroad, including the sudden cartel violence and bombing that forced them to flee Ecuador, and why they decided to rebuild their lives in Merida, Mexico, completely sight-unseen. If you have ever romanticized the expat lifestyle, Tom and Jenn deliver a masterclass in adapting to the unknown—from navigating feudal landlord systems to realizing that home isn't a coordinate, it's the person you choose to brave the chaos with. In this episode, we cover: * The "illegal" meeting and navigating a 25-year age gap. * Tom’s experience growing up between Chinese and Australian cultures. * The impossible transatlantic coincidences that connected their pasts. * Why Jenn decided she was going to marry Tom before they were even dating. * The cartel prison break and bomb that forced them to evacuate Ecuador. * Culture shock in Mexico: Feudal landlords vs. Cardboard American houses. Powered by Riverside.fm We record Whereabouts Tales across the globe using Riverside. Start recording studio-quality podcasts from anywhere: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9 Connect with Jenn Kan: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenngrayugc [https://www.instagram.com/jenngrayugc] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenngrayugc [https://www.tiktok.com/@jenngrayugc] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Genevi%C3%A8veMyrtille [https://www.youtube.com/@Genevi%C3%A8veMyrtille] * Podcast (Masks Down - Living with ADHD & Autism): * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masks-down/id1769719328 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masks-down/id1769719328] * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/737CafLWcKpNnSIIqwk809 [https://open.spotify.com/show/737CafLWcKpNnSIIqwk809] Connect with Tom Kan: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomkanugc [https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ftomkanugc&authuser=1] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomkanugc [https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40tomkanugc&authuser=1]

Machan Taylor: Touring with Pink Floyd, Sting, and Surviving the 80s

Machan Taylor sang for Pink Floyd and Sting. But behind the stadium lights of the 1980s rock scene, she was battling imposter syndrome and cultural displacement. In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, we sit down with world-class vocalist Machan Taylor to dissect her memoir, Naked Out Loud. We explore her unique origin story—born in post-WWII Japan to an American military father and a Japanese singer mother—and how music became her only anchor while struggling to assimilate in the US. From grinding through four-set nights in the gritty 1970s New York club scene to joining the Jackson Victory Tour, Machan reveals what it actually costs to survive the music industry. We unpack the psychological weight of performing twenty feet from stardom, how the glamour of touring with legacy acts masked her internal trauma, and why teaching at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute has convinced her that the current streaming business model is failing the next generation of artists. Chapters * 00:00 - The Reality of the 80s Music Scene * 00:30 - A Hollywood Origin: Post-WWII Japan to New Jersey * 08:09 - Cultural Displacement & Finding Identity in Music * 15:42 - The 70s Club Scene vs. The TikTok Generation * 27:49 - The Jackson Victory Tour & Networking * 29:23 - Conquering Performance Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome * 35:48 - Glamour vs. Trauma: Touring with Pink Floyd & Sting * 44:13 - NYU & Why the Spotify Model Fails Artists * 55:36 - Destigmatizing Mental Health & Naked Out Loud Clean Links * Read the Memoir: https://a.co/d/0c5r7h7Z * Machan Taylor Official: https://www.machantaylor.com/ [https://www.machantaylor.com/] * Recorded flawlessly on Riverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9

An Alien in Japan, A Local in Romania?

In this episode, I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Miyu and Valentin, a truly captivating couple whose journey spans continents and cultures. Their honesty and openness instantly drew me in, setting the stage for one of the most refreshing conversations I’ve had. Miyu's upbringing alone is fascinating, born in the UK, moving to traditional Japan at 11, and navigating two vastly different worlds. She shared her unique perspective on growing up bilingual and the cultural nuances, like differing senses of humor, that made her feel like an "alien" in her own homeland [4:25]. Her adventurous spirit then led her to Egypt and ultimately to Spain, where fate and Flamenco, would intertwine her path with Valentin's. Valentin, a Romanian who, by his own admission, "never really liked" Bucharest but always finds himself back here, shared his incredible story of discovering Flamenco through a mysterious blank CD [12:08]. His natural ability to pick up Spanish from telenovelas is truly remarkable! It was in the vibrant heart of Sevilla, where their shared passion for Flamenco blossomed, that their love story truly began [15:20]. I loved hearing how Miyu had already heard "crazy rumors" about Valentin before they even met, his reputation truly preceded him! Their decision to move to Romania was deeply personal, driven by Valentin needing to support his family during a difficult time [30:04]. Miyu, despite knowing almost nothing about Romania, bravely joined him. Her impressions of Bucharest, from loving our shawarma to appreciating the unexpected warmth of Romanian people (and even being mistaken for a local!), were both surprising and endearing [39:30, 44:14]. We delved into the stark differences in working cultures, especially the intense work ethic in Japan leading to burnout [49:32], and the subtle (and sometimes hilarious) cultural clashes that arise in a mixed-culture relationship, like the Japanese aversion to unexpected phone calls [1:08:38] or the surprising dynamics of money management in Japanese households [1:12:12]. Miyu even revealed her deepest craving: authentic Japanese sushi, a luxury she misses dearly here [1:14:12]. My key takeaway from their story, and one that resonates deeply with my own journey abroad, is that embracing different cultures broadens your perspective and truly shows you that the "sky is the limit." There are no walls, only the ones we build for ourselves. This conversation was a powerful reminder that simple gestures, like a smile or a hello, can make a profound difference. Join us for an episode packed with laughter, surprising insights, and a candid look at what it means to build a life where cultures don't just coexist, but beautifully intertwine. You won't want to miss this one!

Rockstar: Echoes – Why the NASA Author Ghosted Us | Book of Tales no.3

Zach Taylor, NASA engineer and author of Rockstar: Echoes, ghosted us twice. We dissect his dark music industry novel without him. When a guest goes dark, the text must speak for itself. In this solo "Book of Tales" deep-dive, we maintain our bi-weekly production sprint by turning our analytical focus entirely onto the novel the author couldn't be bothered to show up for. How does a man who manages space flight hardware for the International Space Station write a gritty, cynical exposé of the punk rock scene? We break down the irony of his absence and the thematic contrast between his highly structured engineering background and his exploited protagonists.