Tuning in to Y Station: Episode V
Chosen by Chris Henderson, Chief Strategist
Article: “The Mansion on Emerson Street” by Eli Saslow
Housing and finding solutions for people experiencing homelessness is important to our company and we've been lucky enough to do some impactful work on the subject in the last year. As we emerge from the pandemic, around 25% of American's identify as being in imminent risk of losing their homes. This article in the Washington Post examines the complicated relationship of encampments, the people within them, the communities that host them and how cities deal with them. It's an interesting and affecting article that gets into the detail of everyone involved.
Chosen by Emily Mack, Senior Associate
Article: “14 Deepfake Examples That Terrified and Amused the Internet” by Joseph Foley
A new wave of digital editing is proving how far artificial intelligence has advanced in recent years. Deepfake technology is just as amazing as it is frightening in how difficult it is to distinguish what’s real or what’s not.
From audio-spoofing and deepfake video attacks to big box movie editing, this once underground machine learning technology is becoming more accessible and easy to use, which in turn is making it more mainstream. This article goes into how deepfakes are made and some famous examples that have gone viral.
Chosen by Jenny Black, Brand and Content Strategist
Podcast: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Episode: Armchaired & Dangerous: Simulation Theory
In February 2003, a 19-year-old named Joshua Cooke shot his parents in their Virginia home. Cooke told his lawyers that he believed he was living in the Matrix and that his actions would yield no serious consequences. Even more shockingly, he isn’t the only person out there who believes that our reality is artificial and we’re all just living in a simulation.
This episode of Armchair Expert features conspiracy expert David Farrier as he breaks down Simulation Theory, the Mandela Effect and how this thought experiment weaves its way back to the allegory of Plato’s Cave.
Chosen by Alana Williams, CEO
Podcast: The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
This is a go-to podcast when I need something interesting to listen to while puttering in the garden or around the house. It’s interesting to think about how our assumptions about what makes us happy can be so wrong. In the wake of some big lottery jackpots here in Alberta these past couple weeks, it might be a good time to check out the episode “The Unhappy Millionaire” which discusses “why human happiness isn’t defined by these major events in the way we all assume”.
Chosen by Tracy With, COO
Podcast: On Being with Krista Tippett
Hosted by Krista Tippett, an American journalist, author, and recipient of the 2014 National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama, On Being explores the big questions of meaning and life—inner life, outer life, and life together. With well-respected artists, authors, teachers, scientists, and theologians, On Being explores the intersection of spirituality, social healing, science, the arts, community, and poetry.
One particular episode featuring Jane Goodall titled “On what it means to be human” particularly resonated with me and provided a thoughtful break while powering down after a busy week.
Chosen by Anthony Fisher, Junior Associate
Podcast: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) Offstage Episode 8: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Recently nominated for Outstanding Music Series category of the Canadian Podcast Awards, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents a series of podcasts surrounding music and its connection with the local community.
Episode 8 focuses on the history of the ESO and features interviews with several musicians. One in particular, Hope Metszies, discusses her life as a musician with the symphony in 1952 and the interesting case of how she lost a part of her finger.
Chosen by Cameron Dykstra, Senior Research Associate
Podcast: Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Episode: Supernova in the East VI
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History is arguably one of the best and most engaging history podcasts out there. Unlike most podcasts that have maybe half hour or hour long segments released every week, Carlin releases massive 5-hour episodes every 6 months. The space allows him to dive into every aspect of the topic he is exploring and by the end, you are always left wanting to hear more.
Carlin is an amazing storyteller, able to use primary sources and weave in insights from academic literature to make the history informative and engaging. Since 2018 he’s been working through the 1937-1945 Asia-Pacific War which has now finally concluded with its sixth instalment.