We hear about algorithms all the time, but what is an algorithm exactly? This hour, we learn about how algorithms work, a bit about their history, and how they're impacting our culture.

GUESTS: 
Ed Finn: Author of What Algorithms Want: Imagination in the Age of Computing, and founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University
Bruce Gil: Reporter for Quartz
Liz Pelly: Writer and editor, whose forthcoming book is Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. 

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

We hear about algorithms all the time, but what is an algorithm exactly? This hour, we learn about how algorithms work, a bit about their history, and how they're impacting our culture.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Ed Finn: Author of What Algorithms Want: Imagination in the Age of Computing, and founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University</li>
<li>Bruce Gil: Reporter for Quartz</li>
<li>Liz Pelly: Writer and editor, whose forthcoming book is Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow" data-cms-ai="0">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow" data-cms-ai="0">Twitter</a>.
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters" data-cms-ai="0">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884" data-cms-ai="0">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p" data-cms-ai="0">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzcxZGM0YTBmLWU4Y2EtNDAyMS1hZWM5LWFhMDMwMDI2MDQyZC9iNjk1Y2I4Ny1mNmE5LTRjNzYtOGYxMS1hYTAzMDAyNjA0M2IvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M" data-cms-ai="0">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show" data-cms-ai="0">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/" data-cms-ai="0">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/" data-cms-ai="0">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. 
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

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

How algorithms shape our world, for better and for worse

Marker 01

Marker 03

Shakespeare, it turns out, is not immune to the culture wars, the book banning, the cancel culture (despite his being dead for more than four centuries). So, fine. Cancel Shakespeare, then, one argument goes. Because here’s the thing: Shakespeare’s plays and poems ARE dirty and smutty and gory — and that’s a big part of what makes them so great.

And: Earlier this year, the romantic comedy Anyone But Youbecame the highest-grossing live-action Shakespeare adaptation ever made. So we look at Shakespeare as fertile rom-com IP, from 10 Things I Hate About You and beyond.

And finally, Bardcore is a thing. The one and only Hildegard von Blingin’ joins us.

GUESTS:
Maureen Lee Lenker: A senior writer at Entertainment Weekly and the author of the novel It Happened One Fight
Drew Lichtenberg: Associate director at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC
Hildegard von Blingin’: A singer and illustrator

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe, Meg Dalton, Cat Pastor, and Lily Tyson contributed to this show.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today.

Shakespeare, it turns out, is not immune to the culture wars, the book banning, the cancel culture (despite his being dead for more than four centuries). So, fine. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/13/opinion/shakespeare-canceled-schools.html" data-cms-ai="0">Cancel Shakespeare</a>, then, one argument goes. Because here’s the thing: Shakespeare’s plays and poems <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/10/opinion/canceled-shakespeare-schools.html" data-cms-ai="0">ARE dirty and smutty and gory</a> — and that’s a big part of what makes them so great.
And: Earlier this year, the romantic comedy Anyone But You <a href="https://collider.com/anyone-but-you-global-box-office-189-million/" data-cms-ai="0">became the highest-grossing live-action Shakespeare adaptation ever made</a>. So we look at <a href="https://ew.com/why-shakespeare-plays-make-perfect-rom-com-ip-8622024" data-cms-ai="0">Shakespeare as fertile rom-com IP</a>, from 10 Things I Hate About You and beyond.
And finally, <a href="https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/11/bardcore-shakira-cover-gathering-music-playlist.html" data-cms-ai="0">Bardcore is a thing</a>. The one and only <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Hildegardvonblingin" data-cms-ai="0">Hildegard von Blingin’</a> joins us.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Maureen Lee Lenker: A senior writer at Entertainment Weekly and the author of the novel It Happened One Fight</li>
<li>Drew Lichtenberg: Associate director at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC</li>
<li>Hildegard von Blingin’: A singer and illustrator</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884" data-cms-ai="0">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p" data-cms-ai="0">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show" data-cms-ai="0">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/" data-cms-ai="0">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/" data-cms-ai="0">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters" data-cms-ai="0">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow" data-cms-ai="0">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow" data-cms-ai="0">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe, Meg Dalton, Cat Pastor, and Lily Tyson contributed to this show.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/donate" data-cms-ai="0">Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today</a>.

The Bard’s the thing: A show about Shakespeare

Marker 07

Just in time for your summer vacation, an hour about beach reads. We look at how the term came to be, get some beach read recommendations, and even hear a case against reading on the beach.

GUESTS: 
Meghan Hayden: Owner of River Bend Bookshop, which has locations in Glastonbury and West Hartford, Connecticut
Andrew Limbong: Reporter for NPR’s Culture Desk and Host of NPR's Book of the Day podcast 
Donna Harrington-Lueker: Professor in the Department of English, Communications, and Media at Salve Regina University. She is author of Books for Idle Hours: Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading

Just in time for your summer vacation, an hour about beach reads. We look at how the term came to be, get some beach read recommendations, and even hear a case against reading on the beach.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Meghan Hayden: Owner of <a href="https://www.riverbendbookshop.com/" data-cms-ai="0">River Bend Bookshop</a>, which has locations in Glastonbury and West Hartford, Connecticut</li>
<li>Andrew Limbong: Reporter for NPR’s Culture Desk and Host of NPR's <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510364/daily-books" data-cms-ai="0">Book of the Day</a> podcast </li>
<li>Donna Harrington-Lueker: Professor in the Department of English, Communications, and Media at Salve Regina University. She is author of <a href="https://www.umasspress.com/9781625343833/books-for-idle-hours/" data-cms-ai="0">Books for Idle Hours: Nineteenth-Century Publishing and the Rise of Summer Reading</a></li>
</ul>

Sun, sand, and a book — a look at the beach read

We’vedoneaversionofthisshoweveryyearsince2013. And we did it in 2011. We probably even did one in 2010. (We just can’t prove it.)

So it’s a bit of a tradition. It’s a tradition that … makes some people angry, we realize.

And that has a lot to do with how we define the term “song of the summer.” We use the Amanda Dobbins definition:

Let’s be clear about how this works: There is no such thing as a “personal” song of summer. We do not anoint multiple songs of summer. There can only be one; the Song of Summer, by its very definition, is a consensus choice. It is the song that wrecks wedding dance floors. It is the song that you and your mother begrudgingly agree on (even though your mom has no idea what rhymes with “hug me” and won’t stop yelling it in public). It does not necessarily have to hit No. 1 on the charts, but it should probably be on the charts because it must be widely played. It must bring people together. It must be a shared enthusiasm.

So it’s our job here to figure out what song from 2024 will get added to the long list of song of the summer classics like “Party Rock Anthem,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Despacito,” and “Blurred Lines.”

And if we’re wrong, well, it really just won’t matter at all.

GUESTS:
Sam Hadelman: Works in music public relations and hosts The Sam Hadelman Show at Radio Free Brooklyn
Brendan Jay Sullivan: A writer, producer, and DJ
Cassie Willson: A comedian, musician, and content creator

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe contributed to this show.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2023-06-14/our-maybe-13th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show" data-cms-ai="0">We’ve</a> <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2022-06-08/our-maybe-12th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show" data-cms-ai="0">done</a> <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/arts-and-culture/2021-06-09/our-10th-or-11th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show" data-cms-ai="0">a</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/our-9th-or-10th-almost-annual-song-summer-show" data-cms-ai="0">version</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2019-song-summer" data-cms-ai="0">of</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2018-song-summer" data-cms-ai="0">this</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2017-song-summer" data-cms-ai="0">show</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2016-song-summer" data-cms-ai="0">every</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/song-summer-2015" data-cms-ai="0">year</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/songs-summer-2014" data-cms-ai="0">since</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/summer-songs-2013-wally-joan-and-eric-0" data-cms-ai="0">2013</a>. And we did it <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/song-summer" data-cms-ai="0">in 2011</a>. We probably even did one in 2010. (We just can’t prove it.)
So it’s a bit of a tradition. It’s a tradition that … makes some people angry, we realize.
And that has a lot to do with how we define the term “song of the summer.” We use <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/we-deserve-a-better-song-of-summer.html" data-cms-ai="0">the Amanda Dobbins definition</a>:
Let’s be clear about how this works: There is no such thing as a “personal” song of summer. We do not anoint multiple songs of summer. There can only be one; the Song of Summer, by its very definition, is a consensus choice. It is the song that wrecks wedding dance floors. It is the song that you and your mother begrudgingly agree on (even though your mom has no idea <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%22what%20rhymes%20with%20hug%20me%22&amp;src=typd" data-cms-ai="0">what rhymes with “hug me”</a> and won’t stop yelling it in public). It does not necessarily have to hit No. 1 on the charts, but it should probably be on the charts because it must be widely played. It must bring people together. It must be a shared enthusiasm.
So it’s our job here to figure out what song from 2024 will get added to the long list of song of the summer classics like “Party Rock Anthem,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Despacito,” and “Blurred Lines.”
And if we’re wrong, well, it really just won’t matter at all.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Sam Hadelman: Works in music public relations and hosts The Sam Hadelman Show at Radio Free Brooklyn</li>
<li>Brendan Jay Sullivan: A writer, producer, and DJ</li>
<li>Cassie Willson: A comedian, musician, and content creator</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884" data-cms-ai="0">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p" data-cms-ai="0">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show" data-cms-ai="0">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/" data-cms-ai="0">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/" data-cms-ai="0">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters" data-cms-ai="0">Subscribe to </a><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters" data-cms-ai="0">The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow" data-cms-ai="0">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow" data-cms-ai="0">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe contributed to this show.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/donate" data-cms-ai="0">Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today</a>.

How algorithms shape our world, for better and for worse

In 1 playlist(s)

The Colin McEnroe Show

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips