Épisodes

  • The Trolley Problem. IN SPACE!
    Jun 7 2023

    Kare gets mad about, "The Cold Calculations," a short story from the 50's. It was a different time. And there's still no excuse for this fascist bullshit.

    Read the story here: https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-cold-equations/

    Two response stories, we discussed the first one by Don Sakers: https://sfshortstories.com/?p=795 https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ogden_12_21/

    An incredibly in depth response the common criticisms of The Cold Equations:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20131208103213/http://www.richardhartersworld.com/cri_d/cri/1999/coldeq.html

    Cory Doctorow's insightful commentary on The Cold Equations: https://locusmag.com/2014/03/cory-doctorow-cold-equations-and-moral-hazard/ 

    These last two links didn't make it into the podcast, but they're fascinating in their own way. In the first one, someone argues that the actual math in The Cold Equations is wrong. The second is a link to a corporate team building seminar you can book where various short stories are discussed. The Cold Equations is a great option if you need to root out the psychopaths on your team.

    https://sciencemeetsfiction.com/nonfiction-essays/the-real-problem-with-the-cold-equations/ https://www.booksatwork.org/reading-mindfully-tom-godwins-the-cold-equations/

    Miscellaneous Sources:

    https://file770.com/essay-a-fresh-look-at-cold-equations/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cold_Equations

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

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    30 min
  • Depravity All the Way Down
    May 17 2023

    Eric explains teen sex comedies! Kare doesn't admit this on air, but she's had no idea what he's been talking about.

    Movies discussed:

    Gidget (1959) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5suc-Yexpw&pp=ygUOZ2lkZ2V0IHRyYWlsZXI%3D

    Porky's (1981)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWmtDAIK03M&pp=ygUOcG9ya3lzIHRyYWlsZXI%3D

    Revenge of the Nerds (1984)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIZH5TKnEeg&pp=ygUccmV2ZW5nZSBvZiB0aGUgbmVyZHMgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

    Meatballs (1979) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZRcvSfMgj4&pp=ygUWbWVhdGJhbGxzIDE5NzkgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

    Meatballs 2 (1984) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ILPQLKWsY&pp=ygUTbWVhdGJhbGxzIDIgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

    Meatballs 3 (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtTJweR7wjA&pp=ygUTbWVhdGJhbGxzIDMgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

    Earth Girls are Easy (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TnO5gz-1Wk&pp=ygUcZWFydGggZ2lybHMgYXJlIGVhc3kgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

    Pretty Smart (1987)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ethtNqm0NFE&pp=ygUZcHJldHR5IHNtYXJ0IDE5ODcgdHJhaWxlcg%3D%3D

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

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    42 min
  • David DeCoteau and the Squeaky Boobs
    Apr 26 2023

    When Eric goes digging in his terrible movie collection, he finds a director with a unique take on male heterosexuality. Kare loses her mind when she hears one of the movie titles.

    Movies Discussed: Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-o-Rama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RsNo9t299k Nightmare Sisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EKabawj6go Dr. Alien: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB96kQdZ94s

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

    Support We Used to Be the Smart Kids by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/we-used-to-be-the-smart-kids

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    22 min
  • Hi, Eric's Mom!
    Apr 12 2023
    Hi Eric's Mom

    In which Eric does some necessary navel gazing and Kare mocks the bijingles out of him.

    USA Up All Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1om1P8m4Sc

    Zapped Again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDqROn5-sEM

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

    Support We Used to Be the Smart Kids by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/we-used-to-be-the-smart-kids

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    25 min
  • Mr. Beast, Cynicism, & Popcorn Capitalism
    Mar 29 2023

    Kare spends two months watching Mr Beast videos and can't cop to it, so she pretends it was all for a podcast episode. Eric listens and thinks that Kare, capitalism, and Mr. Beast is The Worst Threesome.

    References:

    The Squid Game Video: https://youtu.be/0e3GPea1Tyg Last To Leave the Circle: https://youtu.be/zxYjTTXc-J8 Man Survives 90 Days in a Circle: https://youtu.be/gHzuabZUd6c Curing Blindness: https://youtu.be/TJ2ifmkGGus Colin and Samir Interview with Mr. Beast: https://youtu.be/c8VcUnz3nVc The Wellesley News article on The Rich and Squid Game: https://thewellesleynews.com/2021/12/13/the-irony-of-mrbeasts-squid-game-in-comparison-to-the-hit-netflix-show/

    Support We Used to Be the Smart Kids by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/we-used-to-be-the-smart-kids

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    42 min
  • Eric Goes to a Sci-Fi Con
    Mar 15 2023

    Eric makes Kare reminisce about the sci-fi/fantasy conventions they've attended together, walking through the first experiences Kare had with the greater nerd hivemind. She was not thrilled. But then she was. It's a whole thing.

    Articles Discussed:

    Five Geek Social Fallacies - https://plausiblydeniable.com/five-geek-social-fallacies/ The Geek Hierarchy - http://www.brunching.com/geekhierarchy.html

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

    Support We Used to Be the Smart Kids by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/we-used-to-be-the-smart-kids

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    38 min
  • Kare Bemoans the Potential of She-Hulk
    Feb 22 2023

    Kare finally takes aim at the Marvel Cinematic Universe; She-Hulk's in the crosshairs. Eric quips.

    Legal Eagle's video on the laughable law rep in She-Hulk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c3wdmoQEnY

    Shows discussed:

    She-Hulk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7JsKhI2An0

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

    Support We Used to Be the Smart Kids by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/we-used-to-be-the-smart-kids

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    35 min
  • Kare Gets Mad About Fictional MFAs
    Feb 8 2023

    Okay, maybe not mad, but definitely perturbed. Kare raves about the series Maid and its impact on her. Eric tags along and enjoys the ride.

    Series Discussed:

    Maid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLd0dN25i5g

    Books Discussed:

    Nickel and Dimed - https://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0312626681

    Intro music "Chipper" by Tim Beek (timbeek.com). Outro music by onemansymphony.

    Support We Used to Be the Smart Kids by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/we-used-to-be-the-smart-kids

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    30 min