How does reality television shape our politics and our opinions? This hour two reality TV scholars join us to discuss how reality TV helps us understand (or sometimes misunderstand) actual reality.

GUESTS: 


Danielle Lindemann: Professor of Sociology at Lehigh University and a Visiting Professor in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Princeton University. She is also the author of the book True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us.


Eunji Kim: Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University and Faculty Affiliate at the Data Science Institute. Her new book is The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy.

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, 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, which originally aired on July 24, 2025.

How does reality television shape our politics and our opinions? This hour two reality TV scholars join us to discuss how reality TV helps us understand (or sometimes misunderstand) actual reality.
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
Danielle Lindemann: Professor of Sociology at Lehigh University and a Visiting Professor in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Princeton University. She is also the author of the book <a href="https://daniellelindemann.com/commuter-spouses/">True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us</a>.
</li>
<li>
Eunji Kim: Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University and Faculty Affiliate at the Data Science Institute. Her new book is <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/ebook/9780691267234/the-american-mirage-pdf">The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy</a>.
</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">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&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on July 24, 2025.

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 reality TV shapes our politics

Billboard

A - The unique neighbor relationship

B - How neighbors help during times of crisis

C - Mr. Rogers

Do you know your neighbors? This hour, we take a look at the role of our neighbors in our lives. We explore the psychological and social benefits of neighbors, hear listener stories, and discuss the role of neighbors in times of crisis. Plus, a look at "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and how he thought about neighbors and community building.

GUESTS:
Julie Beck: Staff writer at The Atlantic and the creator of “The Friendship Files.”
Tricia Wachtendorf: Director of the Disaster Research Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware. She is also co-author of American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos: Sociologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota
Maxwell King: Author of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers. His forthcoming book is Fire in the Night Sky: The Steel Mill Paintings of Aaron Gorson

Music featured (in order):
Then Your Heart is Full of Love – Johnny Costa
Neighbors – Lucius
The People Next Door – Ray Parker Jr.
Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
No One Is Alone – Into the Woods 2022 Broadway Cast
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? – Fred Rogers, Johnny Costa
from ep. 1765 “Mister Rogers Celebrates the Arts”
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? – Benny Benack III

Do you know your neighbors? This hour, we take a look at the role of our neighbors in our lives. We explore the psychological and social benefits of neighbors, hear listener stories, and discuss the role of neighbors in times of crisis. Plus, a look at "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and how he thought about neighbors and community building.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Julie Beck:&nbsp;Staff writer at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/julie-beck/">The Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and the creator of &ldquo;The Friendship Files.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Tricia Wachtendorf:&nbsp;Director of the Disaster Research Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware. She is also co-author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1cc2mvh">American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11</a></li>
<li>Daniel Cueto-Villalobos:&nbsp;Sociologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota</li>
<li>Maxwell King:&nbsp;Author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38656999-the-good-neighbor">The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers</a>. His forthcoming book is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Fire-in-the-Night-Sky/Maxwell-King/9781493092291">Fire in the Night Sky: The Steel Mill Paintings of Aaron Gorson</a></li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/lmZotQlGh3M">Then Your Heart is Full of Love</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Johnny Costa</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0nvAxIn69U">Neighbors</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Lucius</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YojeD-1OOkM">The People Next Door</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Ray Parker Jr.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idXeg1iUw5I">Rescue Me</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Fontella Bass</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYJKGbT4tX0">No One Is Alone</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Into the Woods 2022 Broadway Cast</li>
<li><a href="https://archive.org/details/ipoy143season31/1765.mp4">Won&rsquo;t You Be My Neighbor?</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Fred Rogers, Johnny Costa from ep. 1765 &ldquo;Mister Rogers Celebrates the Arts&rdquo;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJgL18NKHy0">Won&rsquo;t You Be My Neighbor?</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Benny Benack III</li>
</ul>

From Mr. Rogers to Minneapolis, what does it mean to be a 'neighbor'?

A - Pastor A.J. Johnson and Cantor Sierra Fox

B - Sister Mary Ellen Burns

C - Pastor Hierald Osorto

This hour we convene a roundtable of faith leaders to ask: what is their role right now? How is it changing?

GUESTS:
A.J. Johnson: Pastor at the Urban Hope Refuge Church in Hartford. He is also Director for Neighborhood Organizing at the Center for Leadership and Justice, and Deputy Chaplain to the Connecticut House of Representatives
Sierra Fox: Cantor for Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden
Sister Mary Ellen Burns: Executive Director and Attorney at Apostle Immigrant Services
Hierald Osorto: Senior Pastor at Saint Paul Lutheran Church/Iglesia Lutheran San Pablo in Minnesota

Music Featured (in order):
Montgomery Variations (I. Decision) – Margaret Bonds
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around – The Holy Lights
Woke Up This Morning With My Mind on Freedom – Sweet Honey in the Rock
CUT FOR TIME Prayer for Peace (Ose Shalom) – The New York Cantors
Anima Christi – Mary Lou Williams
Calling All Angels – Jane Siberry w/ k.d. lang
Song of a Bernadette – Jennifer Warnes

This hour we convene a roundtable of faith leaders to ask: what is their role right now? How is it changing?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>A.J. Johnson:&nbsp;Pastor at the Urban Hope Refuge Church in Hartford. He is also Director for Neighborhood Organizing at the Center for Leadership and Justice, and Deputy Chaplain to the Connecticut House of Representatives</li>
<li>Sierra Fox:&nbsp;Cantor for Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden</li>
<li>Sister Mary Ellen Burns:&nbsp;Executive Director and Attorney at Apostle Immigrant Services</li>
<li>Hierald Osorto:&nbsp;Senior Pastor at Saint Paul Lutheran Church/Iglesia Lutheran San Pablo in Minnesota</li>
</ul>
Music Featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhFbPxNQgMs1y6nimWi_h-EMGXculHCDO">Montgomery Variations (I. Decision)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Margaret Bonds</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWOw-wJX26w">Ain&rsquo;t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Holy Lights</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLGXzGar7wY">Woke Up This Morning With My Mind on Freedom</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Sweet Honey in the Rock</li>
<li>CUT FOR TIME&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1QGIb2ZPKo">Prayer for Peace (Ose Shalom)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The New York Cantors</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvoZk1AQbc8">Anima Christi</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Mary Lou Williams</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeXgpfWYp-Y">Calling All Angels</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Jane Siberry w/ k.d. lang</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgwaRMdihOU">Song of a Bernadette</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Jennifer Warnes</li>
</ul>

What is the role of faith leaders right now?

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing.

This hour, the conversation winds around to Iran, the second Iraq war, Vietnam, would you rather be a cowboy or a pirate?, The Boston Dad, Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America by Bridget Read, David Greenberg … Anything. (Seemingly) everything.

These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one.

Music Featured (in order):
Only So Much Oil In The Ground – Tower of Power
Masters of War – Joan Osborne
My Muse – Leon Thomas
Something Serious – Bruno Mars
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart – Alice Babs (1% Swedish Content)
Hey Mister – Ray Charles
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Sarah Potenza

You can now watch our calls shows on Connecticut Public’s YouTube. Subscribe and get notified when we go live. Or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

Colin McEnroe, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

We&rsquo;ve been doing these shows where we don&rsquo;t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing.
This hour, the conversation winds around to Iran, the second Iraq war, Vietnam, would you rather be a cowboy or a pirate?, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@officialbostondad">The Boston Dad</a>, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/715421/little-bosses-everywhere-by-bridget-read/">Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America</a> by Bridget Read, David Greenberg &hellip; Anything. (Seemingly) everything.
These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one.
Music Featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GORzhOH3NMs">Only So Much Oil In The Ground</a> &ndash; Tower of Power</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SY8OeL8rfo">Masters of War</a> &ndash; Joan Osborne</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwbfGfm-2w0">My Muse</a> &ndash; Leon Thomas</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsc_qpFplJM">Something Serious</a> &ndash; Bruno Mars</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_8w48kGDCs">I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart</a> &ndash; Alice Babs (1% Swedish Content)</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/TIwJ3_amCVs">Hey Mister</a> &ndash; Ray Charles</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwqO6coI__Q">(What&rsquo;s So Funny &lsquo;Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding</a> &ndash; Scott Bradlee&rsquo;s Postmodern Jukebox, Sarah Potenza</li>
</ul>
You can now watch our calls shows on&nbsp;<a href="https://youtube.com/live/IH5Z0wNbC6o">Connecticut Public&rsquo;s YouTube</a>. Subscribe and get notified when we go live. Or join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Colin McEnroe, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

How reality TV shapes our politics

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