From fueling some of mankind's most violent events to inspiring your daughter's latest pop star obsession, mania has become an indispensable force in shaping our collective story. This hour we explore a centuries-long flower frenzy and modern-day fanaticism to uncover why we are so drawn to being "totally obsessed."

GUESTS: 
Daniel Durbin: Professor of Communication and Director of the Institute of Sports, Media and Society at the University of Southern California Annenberg School
Sarah Bilston: Professor of English at Trinity College and author of the forthcoming book, The Lost Orchid: A Story of Victorian Plunder & Obsession
Paul Barnes: Pianist and Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music

From fueling some of mankind's most violent events to inspiring your daughter's latest pop star obsession, mania has become an indispensable force in shaping our collective story. This hour we explore a centuries-long flower frenzy and modern-day fanaticism to uncover why we are so drawn to being "totally obsessed."
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Daniel Durbin:&nbsp;Professor of Communication and Director of the Institute of Sports, Media and Society at the University of Southern California Annenberg School</li>
<li>Sarah Bilston:&nbsp;Professor of English at Trinity College and author of the forthcoming book,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674272606">The Lost Orchid: A Story of Victorian Plunder &amp; Obsession</a></li>
<li>Paul Barnes:&nbsp;Pianist and Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

A look at cultural manias from Liszt and orchids to the Beatles and beyond

What does 9/11 mean, 25 years later? This hour, we are joined by Dan Taberski, host of the podcast "9/12", which explores how 9/11 went from a day to an idea, to talk about the failure of imagination, humor and tragedy, and how we remember well.

GUEST:
Dan Taberski Documentary podcaster, writer, director, and producer. His podcasts include “Manifesto”, “Hysterical”, “9/12”, “Running from Cops”, and “Missing Richard Simmons,” among others

Music featured (in order):
Where or When (Live) – Sonny Rollins
Beautiful Day – U2
Safe As Houses – The Weepies
I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore – Lucy Dacus
The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
American Tune – The Jellyman’s Daughter

What does 9/11 mean, 25 years later? This hour, we are joined by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dantaberski.com/">Dan Taberski</a>, host of the podcast "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-12/id1581684171">9/12</a>", which explores how 9/11 went from a day to an idea, to talk about the failure of imagination, humor and tragedy, and how we remember well.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Dan Taberski&nbsp;Documentary podcaster, writer, director, and producer. His podcasts include &ldquo;Manifesto&rdquo;, &ldquo;Hysterical&rdquo;, &ldquo;9/12&rdquo;, &ldquo;Running from Cops&rdquo;, and &ldquo;Missing Richard Simmons,&rdquo; among others</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/Lb3LWlrYQlo">Where or When (Live)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Sonny Rollins</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co6WMzDOh1o">Beautiful Day</a>&nbsp;&ndash; U2</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFBxGktY_RA">Safe As Houses</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Weepies</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88hQgxgqdo4">I Don&rsquo;t Wanna Be Funny Anymore</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Lucy Dacus</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9LpsP0goJ8">The Rising</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Bruce Springsteen</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBr9gQXBC5w">American Tune</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Jellyman&rsquo;s Daughter</li>
</ul>

A look at 9/11 from '9/12' onward with Dan Taberski

Kurt Andersen co-created Spy magazine, which published its first issue 40 years ago next month. And he hosted and co-created Studio 360, which ran on public radio stations for nearly 20 years.

His new novel, The Breakup, follows the unraveling of a marriage … in 2045 … in a version of America that is also splitting apart after a second civil war in the 2030s.

Kurt Andersen joins us for the hour.

GUEST:
Kurt Andersen: The author of 12 books; his latest, The Breakup, is his fourth novel

Music featured (in order):
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes – Elvis Costello
I Get Along Without You Very Well – Nina Simone
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
Was That The Human Thing To Do – The Boswell Sisters
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – Neil Sedaka
Why Should We Try Anymore – Hank Williams

Kurt Andersen co-created&nbsp;Spy&nbsp;magazine, which published its first issue 40 years ago next month. And he hosted and co-created&nbsp;<a href="https://theworld.org/programs/studio-360">Studio 360</a>, which ran on public radio stations for nearly 20 years.
His new novel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kurtandersen.com/work#the-breakup">The Breakup</a>, follows the unraveling of a marriage &hellip; in 2045 &hellip; in a version of America that is also splitting apart after a second civil war in the 2030s.
Kurt Andersen joins us for the hour.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Kurt Andersen:&nbsp;The author of 12 books; his latest,&nbsp;The Breakup, is his fourth novel</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJKt-DhII_4">(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Elvis Costello</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28lwW_QqZzg">I Get Along Without You Very Well</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Nina Simone</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrMGGouem3c">Suspicious Minds</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Elvis Presley</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9f3-80UOIA">Was That The Human Thing To Do</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Boswell Sisters</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbad22CKlB4">Breaking Up Is Hard To Do</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Neil Sedaka</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MPfzaFvXLU">Why Should We Try Anymore</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Hank Williams</li>
</ul>

Kurt Andersen on our possible coming national ‘Breakup’

Billboard

Ten years ago, we aired an episode commemorating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. Ten years later, the show has stuck around—and six more shows have come out in the franchise.

So: 60 years after the first episode of Star Trek aired, we take a look back at its rocky start–and what the future of the series might be. Plus, a look at Star Trek’s fandom and some of the first ever fan conventions!–and what the future of the series might be.

GUESTS:
Stephen Dyson: professor of Political Science at University of Connecticut and is ½ of “The Pop Culture Professors” on YouTube.
Baz Greenland: author and a podcaster based in Cardiff, UK.
Francesca Coppa: professor of English at Muhlenberg College and one of the founders of the website Archive of our Own.

Music featured (in order):
The Nearness of You – Jonathan Frakes
So Fragile, So Blue (Live Version) – William Shatner, Ben Folds, National Symphony Orchestra
Status Report – Strange New Worlds OST
Captain Picard (as time goes by) – Thornbird
Star Trekkin’ – The Firm
Closer – Nine Inch Nails

Ten years ago, we aired an episode commemorating the 50th anniversary of&nbsp;Star Trek.&nbsp;Ten years later, the show has stuck around&mdash;and six more shows have come out in the franchise.
So: 60 years after the first episode of&nbsp;Star Trek&nbsp;aired, we take a look back at its rocky start&ndash;and what the future of the series might be. Plus, a look at Star Trek&rsquo;s fandom and some of the first ever fan conventions!&ndash;and what the future of the series might be.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Stephen Dyson: professor of Political Science at University of Connecticut and is &frac12; of &ldquo;The Pop Culture Professors&rdquo; on YouTube.</li>
<li>Baz Greenland:&nbsp;author and a podcaster based in Cardiff, UK.</li>
<li>Francesca Coppa:&nbsp;professor of English at Muhlenberg College and one of the founders of the website Archive of our Own.</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/bPqcS-Fismo">The Nearness of You</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Jonathan Frakes</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vZ4TSHJs88">So Fragile, So Blue (Live Version)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; William Shatner, Ben Folds, National Symphony Orchestra</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlqC-XpxGBE">Status Report</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Strange New Worlds OST</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic91ahuQsRk">Captain Picard (as time goes by)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Thornbird</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCARADb9asE">Star Trekkin&rsquo;</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Firm</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uxTpyCdriY">Closer</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Nine Inch Nails</li>
</ul>

A look at cultural manias from Liszt and orchids to the Beatles and beyond

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