Downers

#149 – Kate went to a night zoo in Singapore. In this episode, we dive into her experience there, and we discuss the sadness of crepuscular animals. Also, we check in with Kate's tonsils! Also, we plan our own night zoo.   Plugs this week: Gloomhaven's 3.25 in^2 box (Jack) Tapir folder (Kate) Melatonin (Hao)   downersradio@gmail.com • /r/downersradio • @downersradio

#148 — We here at Downers are proud to present our official skincare, and it may surprise you to know that it is sometimes a hodgepodge of internet advice and personal anecdotes. Moisturizer, retinol, and sunscreen: we talk about them all! Also, a brief discussion of Hao’s journey into the world of biking.    Plugs this week: Research Triangle Park (Hao) Hammocks (Jack) @foster_kittens (Kate)

#147 – Kate went to Singapore and Cambodia, and we, as custom dictates, discuss. We also assign power rankings to each of the Bon Appétit chefs. It's that kind of episode. Plus, another exciting installment of Downers Tabletop RPG.   Plugs this week: LEDs (Jack) Mariott Hotel (Hao) Viroth Hotel (Kate)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio

#146 – Dungeonmaster Jack and Phlegmy Hao are checking in from the far reaches of outer space (a.k.a. Earth). This week: a distributed filesystem IPFS and a blockchain FileCoin built on top of it. We are suspicious! We also discuss four-word Mandarin phrases (chengyu) extensively, if you are interested in some liberal-arts content.   Plugs this week The bus driver I had (Hao) Going outside, or something, sorry Jack I'm too sick I forgot (Jack)   downersradio@gmail.com @downersradio on twitter & /r/downersradio on reddit

#145 – We might not call them UFOs anymore, but they are still out there. On this day in the year Downers, Jack and Kate break down the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. Some are weather balloons, but some aren't. What would YOU do if you met an alien? What are the long-lasting impact of alien superstition on our culture?   Plugs this week: Coin holder for your car (Jack) Prepping for this segment in advance (Kate) Sweater (Kate) – loose weave   BONUS CONTENT: Kate walks you through how to sail a boat.   @downersradio /r/downersradio downersradio@gmail.com

#144 – We are all simultaneously turning thirty in the next six months. It's time to itemize, prioritize, and scrutinize the many things we have yet to accomplish. JOURNEY WITH US. Also, Christmas decorations!   Plugs this week: Maria (Hao) Going up to the attic (Jack) Decorating for Christmas (Kate)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio

#143 – Who is that at the door going Gobble Gobble? Why it must be Old Man Thanksgiving himself, and – you know what that means – a return to Thanksgiving in an episode we call THANKSGIVING: PART II. Going to potlucks! Leaving the potluck once you have arrived! Sauce! Lack of sauce! All that, and more, on Downers.   @downersradio /r/downersradio downersradio@gmail.com

#142 – Take this New York Times article and add three charismatic podcast hosts, and you might get this episode! We talk Antonio Garza's YouTube channel, metamodernism, and how incredibly small Jack looks on his new webcam.   Plugs this week: Cute Japanese stickers (Kate) Noah Baumbach's MR. JEALOUSY (Hao) San Diego hikes up Iron Mountain (Jack)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio

#141 – Kate went forest bathing! She felt rocks as if they were a lover. She has much to report. We also talk flu shots! Jack has a new video camera!   Plugs this week! Zach Weinersmith-illustrated OPEN BORDERS (Jack) Creative leftovers (Kate) Happy winter, everybody (Hao)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio

Magic! It’s not real. Right? … Right?   Plugs this week: Buying pottery (Kate) Aaron (Hao) Bros and fries (Jack)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio 

#139 – This week, we tackle Lars Chittka and Catherine Wilson's article "Expanding Consciousness." Bees! They're just like us? Should we be more humble about our ability to plan and reflect? We discuss! Also, it's possible that Jack think bees are horny for honey? There's a lot to unpack here. It's a fun podcast.   Plugs this week: Not being able to see a movie (Hao) Monica Lewinsky, who was profiled on Armchair Expert (Kate) James Acaster, comedian (Jack) downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio

#138 – We devote the hour to the Bhagawan Shree Rajneesh's cult. We talk cults! We talk about the streak of individualism in the fabric of America's identity! We talk salad bars!   Plugs this week: /r/AskHistorians (Jack) Living with Yourself (Kate) The parade happening outside (Hao)   downersradio@gmail.com • /r/downersradio • @downersradio on twitter

#137 – Jack and Hao make a spreadsheet! It has three columns: things where you must kill something, things where you might kill something, and things where you won't kill something. We also tackle interesting physics problems, like dropping a knife from an airplane that's turned off its engines.   Plugs this week: Busking (Jack) Donating so much money to a charity that they have to name a building after you (Hao)   downersradio@gmail.com • /r/downersradio • @downersradio

#136 – People in the news are trying to break Facebook up! We, at Downers, feel compelled – compelled – to weigh in on this important topic. In this episode we break Facebook up into a more competitive set of smaller companies: Fads.com, NoIDon'tThinkI'llBeThere.gov, HistoricalImageArchive.org. Also, Jack has a new computer!!   Plugs this week: browsing twitch until you feel bad about yourself (jack) remembering you have a tumblr (kate) 2019's MONOS (hao)   downersradio@gmail.com • /r/downersradio • @downersradio 

#134 – Kate and Hao talk about the myriad of ways we try to make ourselves, to trick ourselves, into feeling better when we're sick. (In this episode, Kate's actually sick, which lends the show a real air of authenticity.) We're also going to talk about Korean food.   Plugs: Corduroy blazers from the back of your closet (Hao) DERRY GIRLS (Kate)   downersradio@gmail.com • /r/downersradio • @downersradio on twittttttttter

#135 – Jack and Hao break down a psychology paper from 1981! It posits that people who announce their intentions are more likely to not complete their goals; that people who know less about a subject are more likely to influence or teach others about it. It is a sassy paper! It makes very little sense!    Plugs: (w/ trepidation) “Sir V”? A white rapper? I was unable to find anything on Google (Jack) I’m sorry Jack BILL CLINTON, PUBLIC CITIZEN by George Saunders (Hao)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio @downersradio

#133 – Fall is here! Speaking of fall, the Vikram moon lander fell to the surface, so we will speculate wildly as to what happened. Also, chess grandmasters now have a team of nutritionists helping them through long tournaments. Then, Kate’s terrible things! Modern human slavery is the topic at hand     PLUGS THIS WEEK: backups (kate) icloud drive (hao) egg tarts (kate) midautumn festival (kate) alfajore cookies (jack)   downersradio@gmail.com /r/downersradio downersradio@gmail.com @downersradio downersradio@gmail.com 

#132 – As corporate interests and so-called "influencers" have co-opted Burning Man, a once-idealistic experiment in constructing a vast, temporary city over the course of nine days, to their own gains, we here at Downers can't help but shake our heads and wonder – can we do it better? After all, city planning and dystopic utopias are our bread and butter. In this episode, an alternative gathering event is constructed IN THE CLOUDS, and we call it Downers Meat Substitute Effigy.   Plugs this week: Uh Hao forgot to write them down and now can't go back to listen and to them   downersradio@gmail.com • /r/downersradio • @downersradio on twitter

#131 – No Downers this week! Here's an episode from a completely unrelated podcast called I HEART* NY by two people named Hao and Veronica!

#130 – How do Kate and Hao back up their files? Computers break, and you better have a Plan B. Find out on this episode! But first, they're going to PLAY THE SIMS and TALK OVER IT. Is there audio from the game? No! Is Hao recording from his normal (good) microphone? No! Such is the lo-fi grunge quality of indie podcasting.   PLEASE GIVE US FREE CONTENT: /r/downersradio • @downersradio on twitter • downersradio@gmail.com   Plugs this week: The Formik React library for making forms in React (Hao) Backing up your computer (Kate0