Writer and critic Spencer Kornhaber just published a similarly-titled piece in The Atlantic: “Is This the Worst-Ever Era of American Pop Culture?”

According to Betteridge’s law of headlines, the answer to both versions of that question is just, plain, “No.” And maybe it is. Maybe even probably it is.

But maybe it’s more complicated than that, too.

This hour, we wonder just how bad things actually have gotten with our popular culture.

GUESTS:
Taneisha Duggan: Director of arts, culture, and entertainment for the city of Hartford
Xandra Ellin: A producer at Pineapple Street Studios
Spencer Kornhaber: A staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of On Divas: Persona, Pleasure, Power
Bill Yousman: Professor of media studies at Sacred Heart University

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 and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

Writer and critic Spencer Kornhaber just published a similarly-titled piece in The Atlantic: &ldquo;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/06/american-pop-culture-decline/682578/" data-cms-ai="0">Is This the Worst-Ever Era of American Pop Culture?</a>&rdquo;
According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines" data-cms-ai="0">Betteridge&rsquo;s law of headlines</a>, the answer to both versions of that question is just, plain, &ldquo;No.&rdquo; And maybe it is. Maybe even probably it is.
But maybe it&rsquo;s more complicated than that, too.
This hour, we wonder just how bad things actually have gotten with our popular culture.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Taneisha Duggan: Director of arts, culture, and entertainment for the city of Hartford</li>
<li>Xandra Ellin: A producer at Pineapple Street Studios</li>
<li>Spencer Kornhaber: A staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2024-06-28/from-barbra-to-beyonce-a-look-at-the-appeal-of-divas" data-cms-ai="0">On Divas: Persona, Pleasure, Power</a></li>
<li>Bill Yousman: Professor of media studies at Sacred Heart University</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 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

Is this just the worst era of American pop culture … ever?

Brian Wilson was a singer, songwriter, record producer, and a founding member of The Beach Boys. He’s thought of as one of the great geniuses of pop music, and he’s been called the poet laureate of summer. Wilson died June 11 at 82.

On February 1, 2017, we went to Watkinson School in Hartford and put on a show, on stage in front of a live audience, on Brian Wilson’s music and legacy. We’ve never reaired that show.

This hour, to celebrate and remember Wilson and his work, a brand new edit — from the original, full-length, 75-minute live show — of our hour on Brian Wilson.

GUEST:
Steve Metcalf: Founder and director of the Garmany concert series at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School
Jordan Quisno: A singer and actor
Matt Sargent: A composer, guitarist, recording engineer, and assistant professor of music at Bard College
Teri Schrader: Head of school at Watkinson School in Hartford, Connecticut

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, parts of which originally aired February 17, 2017, in a different form.

Brian Wilson was a singer, songwriter, record producer, and a founding member of The Beach Boys. He&rsquo;s thought of as one of the great geniuses of pop music, and he&rsquo;s been called the <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-06-11/brian-wilson-beach-boys-visionary-leader-and-summers-poet-laureate-dies-at-82" data-cms-ai="0">poet laureate of summer</a>. Wilson died June 11 at 82.
On February 1, 2017, we went to Watkinson School in Hartford and put on a show, on stage in front of a live audience, on Brian Wilson&rsquo;s music and legacy. We&rsquo;ve never reaired that show.
This hour, to celebrate and remember Wilson and his work, a brand new edit &mdash; from the <a href="https://soundcloud.com/wnpr/live-from-watkinson-school-what-legacy-of-brian-wilson" data-cms-ai="0">original, full-length, 75-minute live show</a> &mdash; of our hour on Brian Wilson.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Steve Metcalf: Founder and director of the Garmany concert series at the University of Hartford&rsquo;s Hartt School</li>
<li>Jordan Quisno: A singer and actor</li>
<li>Matt Sargent: A composer, guitarist, recording engineer, and assistant professor of music at Bard College</li>
<li>Teri Schrader: Head of school at Watkinson School in Hartford, Connecticut</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 contributed to this show, parts of which originally aired February 17, 2017, in a different form.

Live from Watkinson: The legacy of Brian Wilson

Humans have always been interested in the sky, and astrology has been used as a tool for people in power for a long time.

During times of stress, interest in astrology increases.

But why are we so interested in something that is not considered a science?

This hour, a look at the history of astrology, its relationship with astronomy, and the reasons why people love it so much.

GUESTS:


Julie Beck: Senior editor at The Atlantic, where she wrote “The New Age of Astrology”


Darin Hayton: Associate professor of the history of science at Haverford College and the author of The Crown and the Cosmos: Astrology and the Politics of Maximilian I


Emily Levesque: Professor in the University of Washington’s Astronomy Department and the author of The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers

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.

This episode was produced by Sara Gasparatto.

Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, Cat Pastor, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired April 21, 2022.

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

Humans have always been interested in the sky, and astrology has been used as a tool for people in power for a long time.
During times of stress, interest in astrology increases.
But why are we so interested in something that is not considered a science?
This hour, a look at the history of astrology, its relationship with astronomy, and the reasons why people love it so much.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Julie Beck: Senior editor at The Atlantic, where she wrote &ldquo;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/01/the-new-age-of-astrology/550034/">The New Age of Astrology</a>&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Darin Hayton: Associate professor of the history of science at Haverford College and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://upittpress.org/books/9780822944430/">The Crown and the Cosmos: Astrology and the Politics of Maximilian I</a>
</li>
<li>
Emily Levesque: Professor in the University of Washington&rsquo;s Astronomy Department and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://thelaststargazers.com/">The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy&rsquo;s Vanishing Explorers</a>
</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show&nbsp;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 </a><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">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">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
This episode was produced by Sara Gasparatto.
Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, Cat Pastor, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired April 21, 2022.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/donate">Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today</a>.

Exploring astrology: Do stars really impact us?

Okay, this show comes with a trigger warning.

We talk about things people eat, and some of those things are not for the squeamish.

This hour, a look at disgust — and, specifically, how our reflexive disgust response may get in the way of things we probably need to think about doing.

During the next century, the human race probably needs to eat more insects. And we’ll almost definitely need to convert sewage water into drinking water. A lot of people are not going to want to do that. Around the world, there are people eating things like eggs cooked in the urine of virginal boys. One of our guests made cheese from bacteria taken from human toes, noses, and armpits.

That may sicken you, but it won’t make you sick.

GUESTS:
Christina Agapakis: Microbiologist, writer, artist, founding editor of Method Quarterly, and creative director at Ginkgo Bioworks
Bun Lai: James Beard Award-nominated chef
Paul Rozin: Professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania

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, Jonathan McNicol, Chion Wolf, and Alan Yu contributed to this show, which originally aired January 7, 2016.

Okay, this show comes with a trigger warning.
We talk about <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/how-to-cultivate-disgust/280858/" data-cms-ai="0">things people eat</a>, and <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattortile/23-unexpected-cultural-delicacies-from-asia#.mnP4mMYMA" data-cms-ai="0">some of those things are not for the squeamish</a>.
This hour, a look at <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/10/12/the-science-of-disgust-why-we-most-of-us-hate-liver-brussels-sprouts-and-cricket-flour/" data-cms-ai="0">disgust</a> &mdash; and, specifically, how our reflexive <a href="http://www.sas.upenn.edu/sasalum/newsltr/fall97/rozin.html" data-cms-ai="0">disgust</a> response may get in the way of things we probably need to think about doing.
During the next century, the human race probably needs to eat more insects. And we&rsquo;ll almost definitely need to convert sewage water into drinking water. A lot of people are not going to want to do that. Around the world, there are people eating things like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_boy_egg" data-cms-ai="0">eggs cooked in the urine of virginal boys</a>. One of our guests made cheese from bacteria taken from human toes, noses, and armpits.
That may sicken you, but it won&rsquo;t make you sick.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Christina Agapakis: Microbiologist, writer, artist, founding editor of Method Quarterly, and creative director at Ginkgo Bioworks</li>
<li>Bun Lai: James Beard Award-nominated chef</li>
<li>Paul Rozin: Professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania</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, Jonathan McNicol, Chion Wolf, and Alan Yu contributed to this show, which originally aired January 7, 2016.

Is this just the worst era of American pop culture … ever?

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