Why does it seem so common that modern sculptures of iconic figures look so bad? Soccer star Ronaldo, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, and even the great Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. have been frankly disgraced by sub-par and strange renditions. Is creating a great statue a lost art, or are we being unfair? This week, we talk to a real sculptor to find out. 

Our guest this week is John Belardo. 

To follow along with the sculptures in the episode, check out our newsletter or Instagram.

Some exciting news, we’ve been nominated for two (2) Signal Awards: Best Buddy Podcast and Activism, Public Service, & Social Impactfor our episode about Online Pedophile Hunters. If you’re feeling generous, head over to those links and vote for us :))

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

Why does it seem so common that modern sculptures of iconic figures look so bad? Soccer star Ronaldo, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, and even the great Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. have been frankly disgraced by sub-par and strange renditions. Is creating a great statue a lost art, or are we being unfair? This week, we talk to a real sculptor to find out.&nbsp;
Our guest this week is <a href="https://www.johnbelardo.com/">John Belardo</a>.&nbsp;
To follow along with the sculptures in the episode, check out our <a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/p/why-are-modern-statues-so-bad">newsletter</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO-qyC3kR4x/?img_index=1">Instagram</a>.
Some exciting news, we&rsquo;ve been nominated for two (2) Signal Awards: <a href="https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/shows/genre/buddy-podcast">Best Buddy Podcast</a> and <a href="https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/individual-episodes/genre/activism-public-service-social-impact">Activism, Public Service, &amp; Social Impact</a> for our episode about <a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/p/inside-the-violent-world-of-online">Online Pedophile Hunters</a>. If you&rsquo;re feeling generous, head over to those links and vote for us :))
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan — three best friends and journalists — as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. 

Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.

NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can’t agree on. If you’ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.

New episodes on Wednesdays.

For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show.

And if you have any questions you’d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

NO SUCH THING

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Why are modern statues so bad?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1a2238fd-809b-4c22-bc07-b35c0117fefb/transcript

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