Silent Generation

Ep. 105: The Information Age w/ Juniper

The Information Age is a historical period, beginning in the mid-20th century, that is characterized by an accelerated shift from analog technologies to digital ones. On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, the boys are joined by Juniper, a friend of the pod who designed an app called Atopia that coordinates hangouts between like-minded individuals. Together, the three begin by detailing the contributions of two figures that sparked the Information Age: Claude Shannon and Margaret Hamilton. They then survey the history of early computing, eschewing the “Silicon Valley mythology” that jumps from mainframes to personal computers by focusing on time-sharing and the Whole Earth Catalog. After that, they examine the physical infrastructure of the internet and the evolving nature of the web. The episode concludes with a discussion about how culture is shaped by information in the modern era, and how “social computing” can still be found on Discord.    Links: www.atopia.world [http://www.atopia.world] A People’s History of Computing in the United States [https://open.spotify.com/show/6LnaXgjkOMT5rSvSty4x4k] by Joy Lisi Rankin From Counterculture to Cyberculture [https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo3773600.html] by Fred Turner A Mathematical Theory of Communication [https://people.math.harvard.edu/~ctm/home/text/others/shannon/entropy/entropy.pdf] By Claude Shannon How Claude Shannon Invented the Future [https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-claude-shannons-information-theory-invented-the-future-20201222/] by David Tse The Bit Player [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5015534/] (2018) Shannon’s Diagram of a General Communication System [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mathematical_Theory_of_Communication#/media/File:Shannon_communication_system.svg] Evenings at Home: Then and Now - political cartoon [https://imgur.com/a/NOnN8EG] (1938)  Time-sharing - IBM [https://www.britannica.com/technology/time-sharing] Whole Earth Catalog, Fall 1968 [https://monoskop.org/images/0/09/Brand_Stewart_Whole_Earth_Catalog_Fall_1968.pdf] The Verge - Version History Episode [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0v1cWk71xw] infinitemac.org [http://infinitemac.org] A Prehistory of the Cloud [https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262529969/a-prehistory-of-the-cloud/] by Tung Hui Hu Undersea Cables [https://paglen.studio/2020/05/22/undersea-cables/] by Trevor Paglen Photos of the Submarine Internet Cables the NSA Probably Tapped [https://www.wired.com/2016/09/trevor-paglen-internet-cables-nsa/] by Laura Mallonee Revolt of the Elites [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/586994.The_Revolt_of_the_Elites_and_the_Betrayal_of_Democracy] by Christopher Lasch Silent Generation Podcast Listener Submission Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvAxC2sPP82_9V4K8nfHXsz9aDXRky8KTz0VDjM0UN0TlPoQ/viewform]   Artwork: The Univac 1 Computer [https://www.computer-history.info/Page4.dir/pages/Univac.dir/] by George Michael   Recorded on 5/11/2026

Ep. 104: The Clear Craze [TEASER]

Full episode available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration [https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration]   The “Clear Craze” was a marketing fad from the late 1980s to early 2000s that led to an influx of transparent and translucent products. Consumers could suddenly purchase clear versions of electronics, beverages, mouthwash, mascara, deodorant, laundry detergent, and even gasoline. Many clear products were purported to have benefits over their opaque counterparts, such as how clear beverages were marketed as being “lite” or low calorie. But were they actually healthier, as many claimed? And what did they symbolize on a deeper level?    On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Nathan and Sebastien begin by discussing consumer electronics that debuted during the Clear Craze like the Conair Clear Phone, iMac G3, and Gameboy Color. The two then pivot to clear beverages that launched in the ‘90s, detailing why drinks like Crystal Pepsi and Zima flopped. They round out the episode with a discussion about why the Clear Craze is unlikely to ever truly experience a revival due to tech companies’ aversion to the right to repair.    Links: The Clear Craze [https://en.everybodywiki.com/Clear_craze] The Clear Craze & Prison Electronics [https://oddathenaeum.com/the-clear-craze-prison-electronics/] The Clear Craze of Y2K Electronics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ync0JJfE9Qw] Ep. 55: Y2K Futurism [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ce9M6Yu4NIKKnBJFNusnF] Colorless Craze Makes Many Things Clear by Morning Call [https://www.mcall.com/1993/02/15/colorless-craze-makes-many-things-clear-african-role-model-dolls-getting-a-warm-welcome/] (1993) Clear, And Cashing In [https://www.newsweek.com/clear-and-cashing-195254] by Karen Springen (1993) “It Was the Coolest Phone I’d Ever Seen” [https://slate.com/culture/2020/07/clear-phone-baby-sitters-club-history.html?pay=1777384580934&support_journalism=please] by Heather Schwedel Why The '90s Clear Phones Became So Popular [https://www.grunge.com/1408441/why-1990s-clear-phones-became-popular/] by William Kennedy The Mac that saved Apple (and Steve Jobs): Deep Inside the Bondi Blue [https://www.theregister.com/2010/11/29/bondi_blue_imac/] by Rik Myslewski iMac | The Computer of the Future [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaOeO0_W3oY] Why Crystal Pepsi Flopped [https://vapor95.com/blogs/darknet/why-crystal-pepsi-flopped] What Happened to Crystal Pepsi? How the 'Clear Craze' Drink Became No More [https://parade.com/food/what-happened-to-crystal-pepsi] by Kenn C. Bivins Crystal Pepsi 1992: Transparency Without Demand [https://www.headcountcoffee.com/blogs/food-drink/crystal-pepsi-1992-transparency-without-demand] 10 Things You Should Know About Zima [https://vinepair.com/articles/ntk-zima/] by Olivia White The Clear Beverage Craze of the ‘90s [https://open.spotify.com/episode/19dFxPAe75jCokVwIEu92p] by The 80s and 90s Uncensored  This is Why We’re Falling Back in Love with Clear Tech [https://www.fastcompany.com/90995542/why-were-falling-back-in-love-with-clear-tech] by Sushant Vohra   Artwork: スケルトンClear [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc3kUMpBQE5/] by Kazzycom   Recorded on 4/29/2026

Ep. 103: Those Characters From Cleveland

Those Characters From Cleveland, which first launched in 1981, was the character development division at American Greetings. Tasked with licensing existing greeting card characters like Holly Hobbie and Strawberry Shortcake into toys and cartoons, they quickly found success by launching new IPs like the Care Bears. But how did a company based in Cleveland, OH make such a large impact on children’s media during the 1980s? On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Nathan and Sebastien detail how American Greetings and TCFC took a bottom up approach to IP development. They discuss how TCFC lost an early legal battle over Strawberry Shortcake’s copyright, how TCFC designed the Care Bears to break into the 40% of the plush market held by teddy bears, and how several TCFC franchises loosely connect to the Victorian-inspired consumer aesthetic known as Soft Countriana.    Links: Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/those-characters-from-cleveland/ [https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/those-characters-from-cleveland/]  Throughout the Decades - American Greetings History [https://corporate.americangreetings.com/about-us/history/] Barbi Sargent and Strawberry Shortcake [http://www.vintageshortcakeephemera.com/barbi-sargent-and-strawberry-shortcake.html] Barbi Sargent’s design vs Muriel Fahrion’s design [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/423479171234811324/]  Sargent v. American Greetings Corp., 588 F. Supp. 912 (N.D. Ohio 1984) [https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/588/912/1679804/] History of the Care Bears [https://www.saturdaymorningsforever.com/2023/12/history-of-care-bears.html?m=1] by Chris Buchner The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings (w/ Terri Mitchell) [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5t9Dt8swRtPgnV7UCXxMev?si=c0rXeQCZR0mJGDziRe4oew] The Care Bears in the Land Without Feelings [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490832/] (1983) The Care Bears Movie [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Care_Bears_Movie](1985) Cleveland’s Greetings [https://www.theringer.com/2016/07/21/uncategorized/care-bears-american-greetings-cleveland-week-175ff4f065ac] by Clair McNear The Bear Truth [https://clevelandmagazine.com/articles/the-bear-truth/] by Colleen Smitek The Rise and Fall of Care Bears: Why It Was Cancelled At Its Peak [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZReaf_jtA] The Calculated History of The Care Bears [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlmw74b5M2I&t=811s] Potential New Cleveland RTA Rail System Map [https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/1nck72d/potential_new_cleveland_rta_rail_system_map/] Artwork: Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears: Best of Friends Sweepstakes 1980s Ad [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=850838244984764&set=a.850838224984766]   Recorded on 4/23/2026

Ep. 102: Soft Countriana w/ Evan Collins

Soft Countriana is a consumer aesthetic that flourished from the 1970s to early 1990s that is composed of pastels, country geese, storybook creatures, and homages to the Victorian era. It describes the aesthetic that was most popular amongst “conservative grandmas in the 1980s,” though it broadly appealed to suburban women of all ages. The aesthetic was popularized by brands such as Laura Ashley, Hallmark, Paula Vaughan, and Gunne Sax.   On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Nathan is joined by Evan Collins, the founder of the Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute, who first identified Soft Countriana in June 2022. The two begin by theorizing what type of consumer the aesthetic most appealed to and why it first emerged. They then survey the aesthetic’s common motifs before taking a deeper look at the British lifestyle brand Laura Ashley. The episode concludes with a discussion about whether the contemporary aesthetic cottagecore drew inspiration from Soft Countriana.   Links: Soft Countriana Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/soft-countriana/ [https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/soft-countriana/] Evan’s Soft Countriana Are.na: https://www.are.na/evan-collins-1522646491/soft-countriana [https://www.are.na/evan-collins-1522646491/soft-countriana] Evan’s Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute Patreon page [https://www.patreon.com/y2kaestheticinstitute] Evan’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/evancollins90/] Evan’s Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/evan-collins.bsky.social] Soft Countriana Aesthetic’s Wiki Page [https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Soft_Countriana] Gay Nineties Revival CARI Page [https://cari.institute/aesthetics/gay-nineties-revival] The Gay Nineties: An Album of Reminiscent Drawings [https://archive.org/details/gayninetiesbooko00cult] by R. V. Culter  Gaggleville Goose Outfits [https://www.mileskimball.com/shop-goose-outfits] The Talking Mother Goose ad [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/423479171234471035/] Inside Laura Ashley: How Britain's Fashion Empire Was Built and Lost [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbyCpS7Onbs] The Enduring Appeal of Laura Ashley [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/t-magazine/laura-ashley-batsheva.html] by Amanda Fortini Small Firm Design [https://imgur.com/gallery/small-firm-design-by-paula-rice-jackson-sf-county-store-article-NWZtapp] by Paula Rice Jackson (SF county store article) Is Little house on the prairie cottagecore? [https://www.reddit.com/r/cottagecore/comments/16nomz9/is_little_house_on_the_prairie_cottagecore/]   Artwork: The Romance of Paula Vaughan [https://archive.org/details/theromanceofpaul00paul/mode/2up] by Anne Childs (1993)   Recorded on 3/8/2026

Ep. 101: Water Transportation [TEASER]

Full episode available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration [https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration]   For roughly seven decades from 1790 to 1855, water transportation was the dominant form of transportation in the United States. This week’s episode of Silent Generation begins with an examination of one of the most important pieces of infrastructure that enabled it to be so prosperous, the Erie Canal. Nathan and Sebastien then detail waterways that enable freight shipping to remain competitive in the present day like the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Mississippi River. They then transition to discussing what they like about passenger ferry services like the Staten Island Ferry, NYC Ferry, and the Chicago Water Taxi. The episode concludes with a debate about why urbanists don’t typically care about water transportation, and whether urban waterways can be used for purposes other than recreation.    Links: Sebastien’s Survey of Old Erie Canal [https://www.sebastienbowen.com/work] The Erie Canal [https://open.spotify.com/episode/214SOHfVDRoulfOjzy6eLg] - American History Hit Low Bridge, Everybody Down [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep1hi6VBaWg&list=RDep1hi6VBaWg&index=1] The Death and Life of the Great Lakes [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35187180-the-death-and-life-of-the-great-lakes] by Dan Egan The End of the World is Just the Beginning [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58782897-the-end-of-the-world-is-just-the-beginning] by Peter Zeihan The Port of Chicago is not just a scar on the city’s shoreline and a threat to the environment. It’s a drag on economic growth [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/08/27/the-port-of-chicago-is-not-just-a-scar-on-the-citys-shoreline-and-a-threat-to-the-environment-its-a-drag-on-economic-growth/] by John Lippert Ferry Travel in the 21st Century [https://www.creativecompositesgroup.com/blog/ferry-travel-in-the-21st-century] by James Gilcher NYC Ferry Map [https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F0xzq9u92ezi71.png] Big Changes Coming to NYC Ferry [https://www.ferry.nyc/blog/big-changes-coming-to-nyc-ferry/] Chicago Water Taxi [https://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/] Where did all of the American Canals go? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDoOvcYiNV4] - Alan Fisher   Artwork: Washington State ferry, 1960's [https://www.reddit.com/r/Washington/comments/jaq2oc/washington_state_ferry_1960s/]   Recorded on 3/30/2026