19. Brief Catch-Up

Hello! I feel as though once again I’m back to square one and am trying to figure out my future, so I thought I'd share a brief catch-up in which I speculate about doing a segment called Special Interest Sundays, ramble about recent distractions such as Twitter and 23andMe, and think about returning to grad school. Bonus: I complain about the apocalypse and plastic straw bans. Virtually no transitions between topics. Image by Markus Winkler. Link to transcript (https://pdfhost.io/v/ohh4cEMcL_19_Brief_Catch_Up_transcript.pdf). (First time linking a transcript. I hope this setup works!)

Am I going to rant about capitalism every episode? Maybe. For some reason, audio is quieter than usual. I also talk about large websites and regulation vs. curation, though I feel as though I change my mind at one point. Topics include websites saying their responsibility is to their employees or unpaid volunteers only when trying to abdicate responsibility to their users. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, WEBSITES. Recommendation: the open source book Academic Ableism: Disability and Higher Education by Jay Dolmage, audiobook read by Greg Chun. To Support: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/noellematteson (click "Support") Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/noellevivante  (click "Support")

Recorded before the election, I read book descriptions and rant (more) about capitalism. At around 22 minutes, I recommend the podcast Scam Goddess, hosted by the brilliant Laci Mosley, which is more accurate and insightful than most true crime podcasts. I again mention Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, continue ranting about the scam that is capitalism, and acknowledge that I am a hater. Scam Goddess is great for haters and scammers alike. To Support: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/noellematteson (click "Support") Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/noellevivante  (click "Support") (Photo by Yohann LIBOT on Unsplash)

An update of sorts, recorded towards the "beginning" of the pandemic. I ramble about how I am coping (or not) and rant about how ASD (autism spectrum disorder) is diagnosed. Certainly recorded before the significant and continuous wave of Black Lives Matter protests and before I realized that many around the world and especially Americans 1) don't understand contagion, 2) don't care about harming others, especially if they can't see it, 3) don't believe the coronavirus exists or is dangerous, 4) believe they are invincible. I mostly blame the government here, and still do. But I continue to be shocked at the callousness and carelessness of my compatriots. (Note: not ALL compatriots! Most I know have followed the guidelines. Leaving us rather miserable.) *I keep thinking of the Voyager episode titles Year of Hell, Parts 1 and 2. Will there be a part 2 of this podcast episode? Not necessarily. XD Image created by Natalia Lopes. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives - help stop the spread of COVID-19. Become a supporter: https://anchor.fm/noellematteson/support

I wanted to talk about this since listening to the podcast "The Dropout." I recorded this months later. I edited it months after that. Anyway, here I rant about Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and capitalism. In 2003, the 19-year old Elizabeth Holmes dropped out of Stanford University to found a medical company. She soon named it Theranos and aimed to create a blood testing device that could run hundreds of medical tests from a single drop of blood. Some of the richest, most powerful people in the world invested in the company until it was supposedly worth $10 billion.  But the device never actually worked. Investigative reporter John Carreyrou exposed the company and wrote the book Bad Blood, which detailed the story of Theranos. Lots of people have marveled at this outrageous fraud, apparently forgetting that Donald Trump is president. To be fair, I also find this situation to be fascinating and shocking, but I'm also somewhat surprised at how many people, perhaps completely blinded by the existence of a female businesswoman, didn't understand how something like this could happen in a society that fetishizes overwork, individualism, and unearned confidence. It's the American Dream, baby! *At one point I say, "a lot of big investors weren't warned," but I think I meant to say, "smaller investors weren't warned." I have more sympathy for them. **This was recorded and written up BEFORE coronavirus madness. Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/frolicsomepl-54573/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1291129">Ewa Urban</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1291129">Pixabay</a> It turns out, I am really resistant to accepting sponsorships (especially scripted ones). My inner child screams, "Don't tell me what to do!" So if you want, make a small donation. You can listen and not donate. You can donate and not listen. You can even do both or neither. https://anchor.fm/noellematteson/support

Honestly, this is just a five-minute ramble about missing the podcast which somehow also brings up death, religion, and amputation. A longer episode will be coming soon. Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/422737-422737/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=654963">Hebi B.</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=654963">Pixabay</a>

I talk about a recent bookstore visit, My Struggle, and fan fiction (from 4:40 to the end).Discussion mentions the fetishization of gay men and the q-word. At 7:54, I reference a conversation that was a specific post and discussion I saw online. At 13:24, I should have said those “involved in producing the film” because the director and writer of Jennifer’s Body were women.

I rant about my distaste for flawless, brilliant female villains who are viewed almost exclusively from a male character's perspective. To me, they fall into the "strong female character" trope at its worst: rather than nuanced or at least powerful characters, they are plot devices who end up reinforcing sexist stereotypes. I mostly discuss "genre" movies and TV, including Penny Dreadful and Gotham.

Yeah. More Gotham. I talk about the character Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. Penguin, particularly his need for narcissistic supply and his relationships with his mother, the Riddler, and his employees (eventually "subjects"). His inconsistencies are probably due to problematic storytelling, but my brain wanted to make some sense of them. Features SPOILERS, discussion of Penguin's aesthetic, and rants about homophobia.

Spoilers ahead! I talk about Gotham's popular character Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a Penguin, portrayed by the expressive Robin Lord Taylor. Part 1 of 2 on this iconic crime lord. Mentioned: "Six Ways to Make Your Villain Likable" by Chris Winkle. To donate, search for or noellevivante on Patreon.