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PODCAST

Didactic SynCast

Eric S. Piotrowski

An irregular discussion of current events, popular culture, unpopular culture, economics, hip-hop, and killer robots

news & politics

All Episodes

39:38

DS #127: Uncle Harry and Aunt Cris

Didactic SynCast ·

2025/08/30

This episode is a very special conversation with my Uncle Harry (on my father's side) and Aunt Cris. We discuss their lives, our family, and why it's so important to learn about history and honor each other.I'll be back soon with some thoughts on wedge issues and AI companions. Thanks for listening and enjoy!

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56:08

DS #126: Hold the Line

Didactic SynCast ·

2025/07/23

As Maria Ressa says, we must hold the line. We should not surrender in advance to authoritarianism in Brazil, South Korea, The Philippines, or the USA.Today — exactly one year after my last episode — I turned on the mic and spoke from the heart about Trump, Musk, DOGE, Grover Norquist, the Department of Education, Israeli war crimes in Gaza, AI, and more. Plus a tiny glimpse of one of the best female MCs in the world today. Enjoy! Want to do something about the horrors of the world? Why not write a

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01:59:57

DS #125: Lucy Polo

Didactic SynCast ·

2024/07/23

On this very special episode of the SynCast, I speak with my friend and teaching colleague Dr. Lucy Polo. Her work in sociology has taken her to Colombia, Bolivia, and many other places. For 15 years she worked in the south Mexican state of Chiapas, where the Zapatista movement transformed the way people around the world think about indigenous communities, neoliberal economics, and democracy itself. Enjoy this discussion about her life and work, the people she met in Chiapas, and how the EZLN

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02:05:08

DS #124: I Do[n't] Care

Didactic SynCast ·

2024/06/11

Summer is here and after a year of being Audio AWOL, I'm back with a huge brain full of stuff to dump on you. Now that school is off for three months, I felt the urge to turn on the mic and just word vomit for two hours.Some topics I discuss: Energy as a resource like time + money UDHR Article 24 Garrett, my best friend of 30 years who passed away in November 2023 Capitalism (feat. Bob the Businessman) Donald Trump (feat. White Guy With Dreads) Education (feat. various characters) Gaza (feat

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01:34:54

DS #123: Back At It Like a Crack Addict

Didactic SynCast ·

2023/08/12

Hawaii's Tragedy, UK Beer, Floreda Psychology, and 50 Years of Hip-Hop____________________ First Things Hello, Floreda! Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story Current Events Hawaii and climate change Biden administration announces $1.2B in funding for projects to pull carbon from the air IEA flags risk of higher oil prices, cuts 2024 demand view The 2024 US Presidential Election Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running for office until

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21:19

DS #122: Nimbus X Ch 1

Didactic SynCast ·

2022/03/22

A special treat on the day before my new scifi novel Delivery to Nimbus X drops. Here's Chapter 1 of the audiobook, exclusively released to my awesome SynCast audience. The other chapters will appear on this feed in the weeks ahead. Thanks for listening, and enjoy!

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49:34

DS #121: Mom and Rob

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/11/25

On this very special episode, I give thanks for my mom Linda and step-dad Rob! Listen as we discuss their lives and loves, their jobs and journeys. We recorded these conversations in Florida during the summer of 2021. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

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26:50

DS #120: No Angels, No Demons

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/08/09

A discussion of fake binaries, the need to resist oversimplification, and how to sustain the complexity. Featuring audio from Alan Watts. Plus: A first look at the Nimbus X book! Links Alan Watts: Prickles & Goo ESP: Resisting Oversimplification Facebook Live video of this episode

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14:59

DS #119: Teacher Appreciation Poetry

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/05/04

A short little SynCast, especially aimed at my teacher friends. As some of you know, Teacher Appreciation Week is a sick joke. But I was inspired by Sarah Kay to share some of my teaching-related poems. So … enjoy! Facebook Live video Poem Titles: Shove Yer Appreciation Pandemic Polemic Get Off My Cape! Mental Salary The Hardest Thing I've Ever Done I Should Have Learned By Now

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47:52

DS #118: Epistemological Security

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/04/17

or: How Scientology Helped Me Better Understand #BLM On this episode I dig through a documentary about Scientology, how it connects to my fascination with NXIVM, and what it can teach us about the psychological torment of Black folks (and people of color) all over the United States.

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54:48

DS #117: Ontological Security

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/03/25

On this episode, I discuss how we find purpose, what it means to "be yourself", and how people become convinced that true happiness lies in a cult, a political affiliation, a street gang, a corporate logo, or a social media brand. I'm still trying to master the art of simultaneously broadcasting live on Facebook and recording the SynCast at the same time, so I apologize for any hiccups I didn't fix. Thanks for listening and let me know: How did you figure out who YOU are? (Or maybe you're still

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43:25

DS #116: Masks, Militancy, and Meme Markets

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/01/27

On this episode, for the first time ever, I also broadcast LIVE on Facebook! If — for some reason — you want to see me wave my hands and bumble around with my cell phone as I talk, check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/eric.s.piotrowski/videos/10225133308901262 Otherwise, enjoy a brief discussion of masks, militancy, and meme markets. Special shout-out to JASOGOLLECGHHERR for that last article! Links: DukeSkath on Twitter NPR: Biden To Quickly Sign Orders Mandating Masks, Reversing Trump

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01:43:01

DS #115: Greg DeLacy

Didactic SynCast ·

2021/01/17

In the first SynCast after the insurrection at the US Capitol, I'm speaking with my video game buddy Greg DeLacy. We don't agree on much, but we had a good conversation that debated some important issues and exchanged vital points of view. We started with Trump and wound up discussing Obama, Reagan, the Clintons, South Africa, Sarajevo, East Timor, police brutality, antifa, and dozens of other topics. If nothing else, we proved here that civil discussion is still possible in the US, so long as we

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02:12:03

DS #114: The Wire

Didactic SynCast ·

2020/08/18

On this episode I'm joined by Chinny + Stu from the VeteranGamers to discuss The Wire, perhaps the greatest television program ever made. We dig into every season, lots of characters, and plenty of background info. Obviously there are bad words and beaucoup spoilers. Beware and enjoy! A conversation with Barack Obama and Wire creator David Simon

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43:25

DS #113: The Quality of Mercy

Didactic SynCast ·

2020/08/10

This episode is all about the power of forgiveness, featuring stories from my own life, as well as people from all walks of life — from the Nazi Holocaust to post-9/11 hate crimes. Let us learn from their powerful examples how to live without hatred in our hearts. Links PDF Slideshow CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center Forgiving Dr. Mengele Vox: The Story of Rais Bhuiyan Debbie Morris: How Can You Possibly Forgive? (Part 1) Debbie Morris: How Can You Possibly Forgive? (Part 2) Phyllis

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01:00:42

DS #112: Faith Stevenson

Didactic SynCast ·

2020/07/01

On this episode, I spend an hour with my friend and teaching neighbor Faith Stevenson. We discuss education, literature, race, geography, Waffle House, and a dozen other topics. Enjoy! Links ESP: @DukeSkath Books Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye Arthur Golden: Memoirs of a Geisha Tayari Jones: An American Marriage Movies The Color Purple School Daze 13th (Full feature) Music Bryson Tiller: Exchange

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01:27:47

DS #111: Garrett Crowell

Didactic SynCast ·

2020/05/28

This episode features a raucous and entertaining conversation with my friend Garrett Crowell. He knows more about comics than anybody I know, so I asked him to discuss Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Transmetropolitan, and the movie Bob Roberts in the age of Trump. (Spoiler alert for all of those!) Along the way, we discuss the history of comics, documentary films, and why we enjoy screaming in parking garages. Enjoy! Timecodes: 6:20 - Watchmen 25:50 - V for Vendetta 45:30 - Transmetropolitan 70:20 - Bob

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57:45

DS #110: Vive La Révolution!

Didactic SynCast ·

2020/05/03

After a year and a half, we're back with an hour of coronavirus chatter, economic ranting, and pop culture critiques. In this episode, Eric dives into the armed idiots reacting to Stay at Home orders in the US; French hip-hop; and Michael Moore's dumb new movie. Check it out! Listen now! DO IT LIVE. Links, baby: The Atlantic: Why the Coronavirus Is So Confusing: A guide to making sense of a problem that is now too big for any one person to fully comprehend ESP on Medium: Chaotic Reflections: Mind

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56:20

DS #109: Snow, Students, Stories, Socialism,...

Didactic SynCast ·

2019/01/23

Join Eric S. Piotrowski as he rants and reflects on the MAGA/BHI/Indigenous Drumming incident; marginal tax rates; Donald Trump; what we didn't learn after the 2008 crash; the inactivity of Betsy DeVos; the influence of hip-hop; the political campaign of The Duchess; and a dozen other topics. Send feedback and links to @DukeSkath. Thanks for listening!

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01:42:19

DS #107: Shae Crowell

Didactic SynCast ·

2018/07/19

This episode features a superb conversation with my good friend Shae Crowell. She's a teacher, a singer + choral leader, a union thug, and many other things. She's got great things to say about how education works, why class size matters, what history is, and why music is important. Enjoy! Topic Index: 2:00 - Life as a student 8:30 - Student teaching + early jobs 27:00 - Teaching philosophy 52:00 - African-American History 64:30 - Economics 70:00 - Unions 80:30 - Parenting + education 85:30 -

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