Episode 41: Balloon Guy

It’s 1999, and sixteen years after its original release, a new Star Wars is finally coming. Fans have been camping out in front of theaters across the country just to be the first to see it. The beloved intergalactic saga is set to debut a slew of brand new characters, one of whom is a revolutionary CGI creation named Jar Jar Binks. Whispers begin to spread about big changes coming to the galaxy far, far away – and not everyone’s happy about it. Transcripts for The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks are available at go.ted.com/jarjar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jar Jar Binks became one of the most polarizing figures in cinematic history when he made his debut in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in 1999. He was even named “the most annoying movie character of all time” by Complex Magazine. After the release, Ahmed Best, the man who played Jar Jar, was hit with the full force of the backlash — and it nearly destroyed him. The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks is a six-part journey through the early internet to understand how one of the first-ever online hate campaigns began, and to right what we got so wrong about Jar Jar the first time around. Coming June 28 from the TED Audio Collective. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A conversion therapy survivor speaks to the man who ran the conversion therapy clinic he escaped from. (Part 3 of 3)Order Conversations with People Who Hate Me (the book!) here: https://tedtalks.social/398oDrsSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdSign up for Dylan's newsletter: https://tedtalks.social/3vOs1zqTranscript for this episode: dylanmarron.com/podcast/episode-guide/episode-46Conversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Smid recounts how he came to run a well-known conversion therapy clinic. (Part 2 of 3)Conversations with People Who Hate Me The Book is out now! Get it here: https://tedtalks.social/3HUsF3mSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdConversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garrard Conley, a survivor of conversion therapy, recounts his experience. (Part 1 of 3)Conversations with People Who Hate Me The Book is out now! Get it here: https://tedtalks.social/3HUsF3mSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdConversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is... NOT an episode of Conversations with People Who Hate Me. We're taking a week off, so instead we're sharing an episode of another podcast from the TED Audio Collective called How to Be a Better Human. It's a show hosted by comedian (and good friend of Dylan's) Chris Duffy, about how we can all learn to be a little less terrible. Dylan was interviewed by Chris last year and shares what he’s learned about apologies, forgiveness, and the benefits of taking the time to explore and establish our personal boundaries. If you want to hear more episodes, you can find and follow How to Be a Better Human wherever you're listening to this. And great news—they're hard at work on a new season and will be back weekly in June. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dylan speaks to a friend who has been openly critical of this project since it began.Conversations with People Who Hate Me The Book is out now! Get it here: https://tedtalks.social/3HUsF3mSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdTranscript for this episode: dylanmarron.com/episode-guide/episode-43Conversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A listener who is scared of the COVID vaccine speaks to Dylan's doctor about the vaccine's benefits.To learn more about the safety of COVID vaccines, check out the CDC's website here.Find Dr. Keith Roach on Facebook and Twitter.Preorder Conversations with People Who Hate Me (the book!) here: dylanmarron.com/bookSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdTranscript for this episode: dylanmarron.com/podcast/episode-guide/episode-42Conversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dylan tries (and fails) to produce a conversation for Michael James Schneider, a popular artist who is derisively known to some as "balloon guy.”Preorder Conversations with People Who Hate Me (the book!) here: dylanmarron.com/bookSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdTranscript for this episode: https://www.dylanmarron.com/podcast/episode-guide/episode-41Conversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two colleagues speak for the first time since their falling-out in a text message.Preorder Conversations with People Who Hate Me (the book!) here: https://tedtalks.social/3HUsF3mSubmit an episode idea: https://tedtalks.social/3oTuTsdTranscript for this episode: https://www.dylanmarron.com/podcast/episode-guide/episode-40Conversations with People Who Hate Me is part of the TED Audio Collective. Credits: Dylan Marron (creator, producer, host), Vincent Cacchione (audio mixer), Phillip Blackowl (logo designer), Mindy Tucker (logo photographer). Theme song: "These Dark Times" by Caged Animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.