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PODCAST

Electric Enthusiasm

Katie Cobalt and Alexander Kjerulf

The podcast that celebrates unironic enthusiasm. Your hosts, both highly experienced enthusiasts, take each you on tours of topics that are fun, fascinating and exciting. Topics include music, science, movies, books, comics, historical figures and much more. There are detours into even weirder topics, as the fancy strikes us. Listen for the three words you love to hear: "By the way..." New episode weekly.

society & culture

All Episodes

00:44:21

Weird Animal Mating Habits - Do It Like They Do On...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/06/22

Most species have sex but some have found VERY innovative, funny, strange or just downright bizarre ways of doing it and for some reason, Katie knows a LOT about this weird world. So does Jo, an animal keeper and trainer and our first ever repeat guest. Learn why giraffes drink pee, what terrifying shape a duck's penis has, why anglerfish males are the ultimate clingy boyfriends and much more. Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.

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00:49:26

Ella Fitzgerald - From Street Child To First Lady Of...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/05/19

What a voice. What an incredible musical talent. She came out of total poverty and a life as a Manhattan street child. Ella Ftizgerald – the greatest jazz singer ever? Hear how she got her greatest hit that time she completely forgot the lyrics to Mack The Knife in Berlin. BTWs include Chick Webb, racism, Marilyn Monroe and Alex’s new favorite expression for something really quiet. In the moment of meta Alex talks about letting go of enthusiasms. Get more information and links or leave a comment at

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00:45:07

Lise Nørgaard - Writer, feminist and UTTER BADASS

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/05/11

Lise Nørgaard is a bad-ass Danish journalist and author who discovered her superpower (writing) and has used it tirelessly to promote women’s rights and social justice. She also created Matador, the best Danish TV show EVER, and (maybe most importantly) had a pastry named after her. BTWs include implanted memories and swing dancing. In the moment of meta Alex Katie shares a story of how she used enthusiasm to defuse an online feud. Get more information and links or leave a comment at

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00:48:11

Body Disposition - Wanna Be A Tree When You Die?

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/05/05

We hate to break it to you, but you are going to die. What do you want people to do with your corpse? The most popular options in the west, cremation and burial, are both terrible for the environment, so in this episode Katie talks about better methods for body disposal. BTWs include capitalism and cannibalism. In the moment of meta Alex talks about enthusiasm for… pigeons? Get more info and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.

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00:49:44

The Ig Nobel Prize - The Nobel's Funnier, Dorkier Cousin

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/04/27

Everyone knows about the Nobel Prize but the Ig Nobel Prize is WAY funnier and dorkier. It is given out for science that "makes you laugh and then makes you think." The science it awards is cool but the annual ceremony held at Harvard is the funniest thing ever. Especially how they weaponized adorable 8-year old girls to stop speakers from going over time. BTWs include bee stings, kidney stones and how to hide gold from Nazis. In the moment of meta Alex talks about enthusiasm for... pigeons? Get

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00:45:51

Steven Universe - Awesome Songs And Healing Spit

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/04/20

Katie brings you some more Hopepunk For Squishy Marshmallows. This adorable kids’ cartoon has superheroes, great songs, healing spit and tons of gags. It also subverts masculinity and promotes queer normativity. BTWs include Florida’s “don’t say gay” law. In the moment of meta Alex issues a new challenge. Get more info and links or leave a comment at https://electricenthusiasm.com/steven-universe/.

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00:55:31

Rollercoasters - Puke, Screams, Fear And... Fun?

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/04/07

Rollercoasters are scary. And there's an arms race between theme parks to come up with bigger, faster and wilder rides every year. So why do we love them? Alex talks about the history, the technology and the fandom of rollercoasters and explores the intersection of fun and fear. BTWs include puke and syphilis. In the moment of meta we follow up on last week's challenge: Get a magazine about something you don't normally care about and find something cool in it. Get more info and links or leave a

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00:47:30

Hamilton - Hip-hop History Of The American Revolution

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/04/01

How can you not love a hip-hop musical about the American revolution where all the founding fathers are played by people of color??? Katie is not just a fan of Hamilton - she is self-proclaimed Hamiltrash. In this episode she talks about what makes the music so great (obviously!) but also about the huge cultural impact that the show has had. BTWs include Tom Waits, Encanto and the KGB's hilariously failed attempt to blackmail the president of Indonesia. In the moment of meta Alex issues a challenge

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00:52:59

Tom Waits - The Weirdest Human In Showbiz

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/03/22

"Is Tom Waits for real?" That is the question that pops up when you google him. In this episode Alex gushes over the weirdest man in showbiz and tries to get Katie to appreciate his music, his acting, his life and his voice. That last one is an especially hard sell. Also: THIS IS OUR 25TH EPISODE!!! Not bad for a couple of hosts whose strengths do not include things like perseverance, planning and general sticktoitiveness. BTWs include artists who play a persona and why Shrek 2 is the best sequel of

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00:49:12

The Jewel Box Revue - The First Ever Mainstream Drag...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/03/14

This stage show presented 25 men performing as women and one woman MC dressed as a man. It started in 1939 and made drag mainstream with high production values and incredibly talented performers. But most of all: Meet Stormé DeLarverie, MC of the revue and the butch lesbian whose scuffle with police was the spark that ignited the Stonewall riots. The word badass doesn't even begin to cover her. BTWs include: Why the "Mr." in front of the performers' names was SO important The Stonewall Rebellion

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00:53:38

Bioshock - Our Grossest Episode Yet

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/03/08

Bioshock is much more than a computer game, it's also a cracking story, a philosophical exploration of free will and a devastating critique of libertarianism. It's also gross, scary, intense and a buttload of fun to play. Alex would know, he's played it for well over 200 hours. BTWs include: What is art and what is not Exploding cans of... human droppings The intense competition to be the dumbest US congress member (Watch out for the Gazpacho police!) Each host's favorite Cards Against

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00:53:35

Marine Animals - Meet The Gods, The Goddesses And The...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/03/01

Guest enthusiast Jo Gudman Rasmussen shares her passion for all kinds of marine animals from nudibranchs (giggle!) to whale sharks. Alex has all his dreams shattered when he learns that sea otters are NOT adorable - they are in fact the assholes of the ocean. BTWs include: Quitting your job to follow your enthusiasm, the fly named after RuPaul and how to eat a still-living octopus (hint: chew it REALLY well). Get more information and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.

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00:54:21

Olympic Weightlifting - First you clean it, then you...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/02/22

Alex LOVES weightlifting but Katie is completely uninterested in sports. Will he manage to infect her with any of his enthusiasm? Hear about the athletes who do it and the drama, the poetry and the history of this niche sport. It's also probably the most corrupt sport in the world and is trying to go clean after decades dominated by a man who was almost cartoonishly evil. But how can you not love a sport where the two lifts are called the snatch and the clean and jerk. In the moment of meta Katie

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00:48:55

Chinese New Year - 3 Full Weeks Of Food And Traditions

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/02/15

Gong hei fat choy! Or 恭喜发财 if you prefer. It's Chinese New Year and we dive into all of the great traditions around it, including what to eat, what to wear, who to give money to and why you should NOT get a haircut. With guest enthusiast Sarah Chua. In the Moment Of Meta we talk about how to be hopeful and enthusiastic about the future. Get full show notes and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.

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00:35:55

The Wayfarer Series - Hopeful Sci-Fi For Squishy...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/02/08

The Wayfarer Series is a trilogy of four(!) science fiction novels by Becky Chambers - and Katie's all-time favorites. They are a great example of Hope Punk, i.e. works that make you feel positive and optimistic about the world. In the Moment Of Meta we introduce a new enthusiandment: You don't have to be an expert in X to be enthusiastic about X. There's also a corollary: But usually, diving into a topic only deepens your enthusiasm. Get links and more information or leave a comment at

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00:49:56

The Vorkosigan Saga - The EPIC Book Series by a...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2022/01/31

In this episode Alex talks about his absolute favorite sci-fi book series, The Vorkosigan Saga by American writer Lois McMaster Bujold. This series is thrilling and creative but so is a lot of other science fiction. What really sets it apart is how progressive and ultimately hopeful Bujold's books are. That and the amazing characters. BTWs include Hope-punk, vegan gravy and the world's longest running sci-fi series which started in 1961 and is still going strong. In the moment of meta we talk about

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00:49:34

Christmas Food - Traditional Weirdness From Around...

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2021/12/22

Food is amazing and Christmas is amazing – so it just makes sense that Christmas food is all kinds of amazing! In this episode Alex and Katie team up to talk about their favorite seasonal dishes plus also weird Christmas foods from all over the world. BTWs include traditions, commensality and Slovakian bathtub carps. We keep the theme going In the moment of meta and talk about being enthusiastic about eating (as opposed to being ashamed about it). Get links or leave a comment at

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01:06:37

Billy Strayhorn - The Unsung Hero Of Jazz

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2021/12/16

Everyone who knows jazz knows Duke Ellington. But did you know that many of the Duke's most famous songs were actually written by a gay black musical prodigy called Billy Strayhorn? In this episode Katie celebrates the life and music of Strayhorn who received little recognition (or even money) for his work but who still lead a "lush life." BTWs include the Baader-Meinhoff effect. In the moment of meta we share a tip on how you can use enthusiasm to meet new people. Get the links for this episode or

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00:51:21

Piet Hein - Poet or pirate? Why not both!

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2021/12/09

Piet Hein was a Danish philosopher, mathematician, designer, poet and all-round smart cookie who did amazing work in both science and arts. Be warned: This episode has POETRY!!! BTWs include Piet Hein (the awesome pirate) and why Danish is the worst language. In the moment of meta, Katie talks about closing feedback loops and proposes a new enthusiandment: Thou shalt always tell your friends what you like about them. Get the show notes and links or leave a comment at electricenthusiasm.com.

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00:43:27

The Art Of Drag - Blowing up gender in STYLE

Electric Enthusiasm ·

2021/11/30

Drag is not just men dressing as women - it's a playful and enthusiastic art form that messes with our preconceived notions of gender and identity. Katie - who is about to do drag herself for the first time - shares the history of drag, the most iconic performances and which seasons of RuPaul's drag race to avoid. BTWs include best drag names, backronyms and why there is nothing more fake than reality TV. In the moment of meta Alex proposes a new enthusiandment: It's OK to be enthusiastic about

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54 results

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