The Sociology of Everything Podcast

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss introduce listeners to a noteworthy work in early classical sociology that often gets oversimplified for what it argues and observes about a key aspect of the process of modernisation. Georg Simmel’s noted essay on The Metropolis and Mental Life, originally published in 1903, provides varied insights about what effect living in an urban/metropolitan environment has on individuals and their psychologies, which includes the blasé attitude exhibited by many urban dwellers. Unpacking this text leads Eric and Louis to talk about the Will Ferrell classic Christmas film, Elf and what it means to do a ‘mainy’ in rural Australia. Eric and Louis also take sides in a hypothetical ‘punch-up’ in  a country Australian town (Eric is Team Joe, while Louis is Team Frank), alongside other musings and reflections about the ideas Simmel puts forward.Music and sound effects used in this episode are licensed under a CC 0 License, the CC Attribution License 3.0, or by a SFX (Multi-Use) License Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/1313038b-b628-47c1-b974-bb75b64c099d/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/e430cef0-e9f1-41b0-b68a-2d98b7d92c39/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/3dd2a7c0-7363-428b-918f-bb729286fba8/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4c8596c2-6064-4ec4-b82e-e2a46763ce08/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bc333bec-1d67-4019-b369-9ddb194aa1c1/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/2aa1ade1-1548-4259-8038-008fd88e1b6c/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/9c5dc20d-86ad-31c3-b5e6-4ded89b7028d/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/A2V5xRtt5S/The views and opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers, and do not reflect any of the involved institutions.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In the second part of their series on Gaza, Genocide, and Social Theory, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss welcome Ernesto Verdeja onto their podcast to talk around an article Ernesto has written in the Journal of Genocide Research, titled ‘The Gaza Genocide in Five Crises’. In this wide-ranging discussion, Ernesto makes some very powerful points about why it is meaningful and apt to categorise the recent major loss of life in Gaza as a genocide, while also unpacking what the broader ramifications of the Gaza case are to international governance. Eric and Louis feel strongly that this episode is not to be missed.  Ernesto Verdeja is Associate Professor of Peace Studies and Global Politics at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. He is currently the Executive Director of the human rights non-profit Institute for the Study of Genocide. For more information about his work, you can visit Ernesto’s website: https://everdeja.weebly.com/Music and sound effects used in this episode are licensed under a CC 0 License, the CC Attribution License 3.0, or by a SFX (Multi-Use) License Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/1500ce5a-ec15-3d83-ac57-de83ecc3166d/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/50028bdf-8888-3bd1-8089-0999e89b61fd/The views and opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers, and do not reflect any of the involved institutions.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss look to social theory to try to make better sense of the tremendous loss of life in Gaza since October 2023. They appeal to an article written by Bradley Campbell, titled ‘Genocide and Social Control’, which was published in 2009 in Sociological Theory.  If indeed developments in Gaza constitute a genocide, as bodies like the International Association of Genocide Scholars have asserted, then Campbell’s account of genocide is useful because it spells out what it means sociologically for a genocide to occur. That is, Campbell applies Donald Black’s pure sociology approach to tease out what the contributing social configurations to genocide are.This episode is the first of a two part series on Gaza, Genocide, and Social Theory. Part 2 with Ernesto Verdeja is available now.Music and sound effects used in this episode are licensed under a CC 0 License, the CC Attribution License 3.0, or by a SFX (Multi-Use) License Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/392778fc-e958-44bf-9a4b-e7671ae2aa57/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/45e4a974-0361-3816-997e-6a7c7e77674c/https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/50028bdf-8888-3bd1-8089-0999e89b61fd/The views and opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers, and do not reflect any of the involved institutions.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss celebrate their podcast reaching a quarter million downloads by spotlighting a work that has significantly developed the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS): Donald Mackenzie and Judy Wajcman’s influential introductory chapter in their anthology on The Social Shaping of Technology, first published in 1985, and later updated in 1999. This text develops an oft cited critique of technological determinism, which posits that technology is an autonomous force in society, which is the primary driver of social change. Discussing this work leads Eric and Louis to talk about the Trump branded smartphone, Labubu, and the discontinued BlackBerry phone line, which Louis still feels sad about 😞. In the second half of the episode, Eric and Louis welcome onto their podcast Judy Wajcman herself. Judy draws from her four plus decades of work within and beyond the field of STS to elaborate on the many themes and topics found in her co-authored chapter with Mackenzie. If Judy were to offer an updated 3rd edition of the work, what new scholarly discussions would she look to include? What keeps Judy up at night with the ways technology is transforming? Judy’s response to these and other questions are offered here to our listeners.Music and sound effects used in this episode are licensed under a CC 0 License, the CC Attribution License 3.0, or by a SFX (Multi-Use) License Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nmWIurJwyW/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/XuASNiizaE/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/9xA55nmzC3/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/9bms0Xvzb6/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/pmkciSTsC3/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/49eBs9LhPB/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/8sZv9s0Kgi/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jqkXfeWiLg/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uFaC3mLnZH/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/buOh7KtGgd/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/mNiHfAoXYS/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/0CdtmVatFG/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/FAsSj9DDpF/https://freesound.org/people/flood-mix/sounds/413342/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/A2V5xRtt5S/The views and opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers, and do not reflect any of the involved institutions.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss take the elevator to the severed floor of where they work so that their innies can talk about the sociological aspects of a television show they both really like, Apple TV+'s Severance. Partly drawing from a chapter written by Palmer and Schueths in the edited volume, Reintegrating Severance, Eric and Louis explore how ideas found in classical sociology can be used to ‘illumonate’ aspects of what we see unfolding in the show's first two seasons. Eric and Louis warn listeners that spoilers for the show are aplenty, so if you haven't watched Seasons 1 and 2 of the show, you might want to sit this one out.Music and sound effects for this episode come from various sources and is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License, the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, EFF Open Audio License, or is covered by a SFX (Multi-Use) License or a Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yrihocqESJ/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/aa2f842f-1dc6-487c-b35d-932422721468/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/OcH616ujET/https://freesound.org/people/djlprojects/sounds/413641/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/49eBs9LhPB/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7pXD5Vw3m9/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Ge4zoQrQS6/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/A2V5xRtt5S/The opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else at UniSA or the institution at large.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss spotlight the sociological concept of medicalization and Peter Conrad’s influential understanding of this idea, as captured in Conrad’s chapter in Medical Sociology on the Move. Eric and Louis’s coverage of Conrad’s account of medicalization perhaps unsurprisingly leads them to talk about some pretty weird topics. These include Tucker Carlson’s interest in testicle tanning, how Louis asks his GP friend to take his blood pressure until he gets the reading he wants, and Eric and Louis both still having full heads of hair.Music and sound effects for this episode come from various sources and is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License, the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, EFF Open Audio License, or is covered by a SFX (Multi-Use) License or a Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/mNiHfAoXYS/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/49eBs9LhPB/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Auyt43gJVD/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/fde11e40-68a3-4b46-b987-e6ae070cf6dd/https://freesound.org/people/ChunaawChika09/sounds/581807/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/A2V5xRtt5S/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/buOh7KtGgd/The opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else at UniSA or the institution at large.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss launch the fourth season of their podcast by examining a concept that sociologists continue to engage with to produce insightful understandings of how social life is gendered. They use Connell and Messerschmidt's article in Gender & Society and an earlier piece by Connell in Teachers College Record to explore how the concept of hegemonic masculinity has been theorised, applied, critiqued, and refined in various sociological discussions. Louis does three things of note in this episode. He recounts a time he felt pressured to get in a fight at a nightclub. He admits he's never seen Back to the Future. And he wonders why he isn't receiving more cash in envelopes from podcast listeners. Music and sound effects for this episode come from various sources and is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License, the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, EFF Open Audio License, or is covered by a SFX (Multi-Use) License or a Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xO2QwSlKHf/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/81383ee2-40cf-4750-a20b-95b9ea28ec58/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Auyt43gJVD/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/A2V5xRtt5S/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/4364b350-da9c-4fb1-9bb8-2073d91e7625/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Gicq7Ti4tJ/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/f2c96e92-c270-4238-ac59-b5d846c3b2af/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/3164c95a-57c2-4b6f-9dd7-5dc244262316/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/L4nmsegX0X/The opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else at UniSA or the institution at large.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss have a discussion about the idea of the Anthropocene, a concept that was originally developed within the field of Geology. Despite it not being formally recognised as a defined geological period in 2024 by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the Anthropocene continues to feature in various discussions across different fields and sectors of society. But how might sociologists contribute to some of these conversations? Eva Lövbrand et al.'s article in Global Environmental Change put forward some compelling proposals, which Eric and Louis seek to make sense of. Notable in this episode is Eric's retelling of a time he ordered a very small side salad when he was out with friends during high school. Music and sound effects for this episode come from various sources and is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License, the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, EFF Open Audio License, or is covered by a SFX (Multi-Use) License or a Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/e1b22011-03a7-45b5-be21-7930691156d9/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/f08d5262-f8b9-4ca1-8d9a-790e04372f73/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/f45b4ad6-19af-43db-891c-88caa1182189/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/e7f2c7bc-824d-428b-aedc-11ad6691d3e4/https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/a5e152a8-7983-4637-b54f-5cd7dd7e9da6/https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4pM4ldz5RD/ https://freesound.org/people/JPMusic82/sounds/415511/The opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else at UniSA or the institution at large.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss shamelessly self-promote Louis’s monograph, Digital Mobilities and Smart Borders: How Digital Technologies Transform Migration and Sovereign Borders (2024), published by DeGruyter. They want listeners to know that there is a special 20% off discount code they can use, ‘DGBMOBILITIES’, if they want to purchase this work through the following link: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110714050/html. (Aren’t Eric and Louis some of the most generous sociologists you know?) Eric and Louis cover some of the key arguments Louis’s book advances. They talk about why it’s important to study and theorise borders from a sociological viewpoint and why it’s necessary to investigate how digital technologies have transformed the ways borders are socially constituted and experienced. By the end of the episode, it will be hard for any listener not to arrive at the conclusion that Louis has truly produced a work of great intellect and brilliance.Music and sound effects for this episode come from various sources and is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License, the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, EFF Open Audio License, or is covered by a SFX (Multi-Use) License or a Commercial License from Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com). Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/ https://freesound.org/people/Fupicat/sounds/607207/ https://freesound.org/people/colorsCrimsonTears/sounds/562296/ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W._A._Mozart_-_Don_Giovanni_-_01._Ouverture_(Josef_Krips,_Wiener_Staatsoper,_1955).ogg https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/e07ddd01-fa00-4a5a-955a-3e5a3361dc73/ https://freesound.org/people/smokinghotdog/sounds/584230/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ukZ3rlZria/ https://freesound.org/people/komit.wav/sounds/402295/ https://freesound.org/people/JPMusic82/sounds/415511/The opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else at UniSA or the institution at large.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss mark their 10,000th follower on Spotify by giving the people what they want, which apparently means exploring a prominent sociological account of the (perplexing) appeal of Donald Trump. By focusing on an essay by the noted American sociologist, Arlie Hochschild, published in 2016 in Contemporary Sociology, they discuss how sociological analysis of emotions can shed new light on various aspects of Donald Trump as a cultural phenomenon. Eric and Louis caution listeners who do not particularly enjoy Eric's bad Trump impersonation to consider sitting this one out. For everyone else, you've been warned. Music and sound effects for this episode come from various sources and is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License, the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0, EFF Open Audio License, or is covered by a SFX (Multi-Use) License. Tracks include:https://freesound.org/people/Tuben/sounds/272044/https://freesound.org/people/Fupicat/sounds/607207/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W._A._Mozart_-_Don_Giovanni_-_01._Ouverture_(Josef_Krips,_Wiener_Staatsoper,_1955).ogghttps://freesound.org/people/JPMusic82/sounds/415511/The opinions expressed in the Sociology of Everything podcast are that of the hosts and/or guest speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone else at UniSA or the institution at large.The Sociology of Everything podcast | www.sociologypodcast.com