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This hour we talk about age in politics, from why our politicians skew older to the impacts of that. And, we’ll learn about how animals pick leaders, and the role age plays in those decisions.

GUESTS: 
Eugene Scott: Senior Politics Reporter for Axios
Lucy Schiller: Writer and professor of creative writing based in Texas
Kevin Munger: Assistant Professor of Political Science and Social Data Analytics at Penn State University, and author ofGeneration Gap: Why the Baby Boomers Still Dominate American Politics and Culture
Jennifer Smith: Studies the evolutionary ecology of social mammals at the University of Wisconsin EauClaire

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

This hour we talk about age in politics, from why our politicians skew older to the impacts of that. And, we’ll learn about how animals pick leaders, and the role age plays in those decisions.
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Eugene Scott: Senior Politics Reporter for Axios</li>
<li>Lucy Schiller: Writer and professor of creative writing based in Texas</li>
<li>Kevin Munger: Assistant Professor of Political Science and Social Data Analytics at Penn State University, and author of <a href="http://cup.columbia.edu/book/generation-gap/9780231553810">Generation Gap: Why the Baby Boomers Still Dominate American Politics and Culture</a></li>
<li>Jennifer Smith: Studies the evolutionary ecology of social mammals at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.

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

In politics, is age really just a number?

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Do we really need politicians? What would our politics look like without them? These are some of the ideas that Yale political scientist Hélène Landemore explores in her work, including in the Connecticut Citizens’ Assembly, taking place this summer. Landemore joins us for the hour.

GUEST:
Hélène Landemore: Professor of Political Science at Yale University. Her new book is Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule

Music featured (in order):
Hands Across The Sea – John Philip Sousa as performed by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart – Stevie Wonder
People Have the Power – Patti Smith
Democracy – Leonard Cohen
Love Is Sweeping the Country – Chris Connor
Of Thee I Sing – Ella Fitzgerald

Do we really need politicians? What would our politics look like without them? These are some of the ideas that Yale political scientist H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Landemore explores in her work, including in the&nbsp;<a href="https://ct-citizens-assembly.org/">Connecticut Citizens&rsquo; Assembly</a>, taking place this summer. Landemore joins us for the hour.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Landemore:&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at Yale University. Her new book is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730879/politics-without-politicians-by-helene-landemore/">Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule</a></li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4x3LFlnfcg">Hands Across The Sea</a>&nbsp;&ndash; John Philip Sousa as performed by &ldquo;The President&rsquo;s Own&rdquo; United States Marine Band</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FWvHBodfoU">Can We Fix Our Nation&rsquo;s Broken Heart</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Stevie Wonder</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPR-HyGj2d0">People Have the Power</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Patti Smith</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU-RuR-qO4Y">Democracy</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Leonard Cohen</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYJ5Hhdmhs8">Love Is Sweeping the Country</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Chris Connor</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_hMdCzecDE">Of Thee I Sing</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Ella Fitzgerald</li>
</ul>

We don't need politicians. Hélène Landemore makes the case

The word "like" has been around for centuries, but it reached a new cultural prominence in the 1980s, partially thanks to Frank Zappa's song "Valley Girl." Since then, "like" has taken on a life of its own, inspiring strong emotions. This hour, we look at the meaning and evolution of "like." Plus, how movies like the now 30-year-old Clueless have impacted our language.

GUESTS:


Megan C. Reynolds: Former editor at Dwell and author of Like: A History of the English Language’s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word


Kory Stamper: Lexicographer and author of Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries


Veronica Litt: English Professor and author of Ugh! As If!: Clueless

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, Dylan Reyes, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Isaac Moss contributed to this show, which originally aired August 20, 2025.

The word "like" has been around for centuries, but it reached a new cultural prominence in the 1980s, partially thanks to Frank Zappa's song "Valley Girl." Since then, "like" has taken on a life of its own, inspiring strong emotions. This hour, we look at the meaning and evolution of "like." Plus, how movies like the now 30-year-old Clueless have impacted our language.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Megan C. Reynolds: Former editor at Dwell and author of <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/like-megan-c-reynolds?variant=43182606647330">Like: A History of the English Language&rsquo;s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word</a>
</li>
<li>
Kory Stamper: Lexicographer and author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/530504/word-by-word-by-kory-stamper/">Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries</a>
</li>
<li>
Veronica Litt: English Professor and author of <a href="https://ecwpress.com/products/ugh-as-if">Ugh! As If!: Clueless</a>
</li>
</ul>
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&nbsp;The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by&nbsp;The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe, Dylan Reyes, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Isaac Moss contributed to this show, which originally aired August 20, 2025.

Why does "like" bother us so much?

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 spousal knowledge, tree sperm, progressive candidates, tree sperm, hitpeople, tree sperm, sleepy bees … Anything. (Seemingly) everything.

These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we’re doing another one.
In other words: Give us a call during the 1 p.m. EDT hour about whatever you want to talk about. 888-720-9677.‌

Music featured (in order):
thank u i guess – forrest nolan
Museum of Idiots – They Might Be Giants
Love Is Salvation – Jesca Hoop
I Don’t Know Anything – Alan Hsiao
Something’s Coming – Laura Anglade
Mary Singletary – Deer Tick
With New Eyes – Simon Lynge

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 &mdash; This hour, the conversation winds around to spousal knowledge, tree sperm, progressive candidates, tree sperm, hitpeople, tree sperm, sleepy bees &hellip; Anything. (Seemingly) everything.
These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we&rsquo;re doing another one. In other words: Give us a call during the 1 p.m. EDT hour about&nbsp;whatever you want to talk about.&nbsp;<a href="tel:8887209677">888-720-9677</a>.&zwnj;
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9ZmP35jWFQ">thank u i guess</a>&nbsp;&ndash; forrest nolan</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcWXRCsknE">Museum of Idiots</a>&nbsp;&ndash; They Might Be Giants</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQkgF9rkyA">Love Is Salvation</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Jesca Hoop</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zIVr9dRFPY">I Don&rsquo;t Know Anything</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Alan Hsiao</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSUysarBS_g">Something&rsquo;s Coming</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Laura Anglade</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/oG5_PejyAVE">Mary Singletary</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Deer Tick</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQP5chmfiFg">With New Eyes</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Simon Lynge</li>
</ul>

In politics, is age really just a number?

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