The Difference Between Watching Violence on the Sopranos and Watching It in Real Life

In what might be Nancy’s favorite Smoke ‘Em episode to date, she and Sarah discuss:

* The mass shooting on May 6 in Allen, TX, where Sarah drove the next morning to check out the scene

* The problem of guns and the moral dilemma of violent real-life pictures: Do they numb us to reality or push us toward action?

* The subway killing of Jordan Neely, including attempts to paint his killing as racially motivated and politicians “gravestanding” for political goals

* Sebastian Junger on “Why Men Seek Danger” and maybe why you should, too

* Our coronation correspondent wonders: What up with Michael Strahan’s lisp?

* When you write something controversial and the subjects who once derided you start looking to you for answers

* The best survival movie Sarah has seen in years

* What is the sexiest quality in men?

* Sarah squirms in her chair as Nancy tells a near-death driving story from Panama

* How we deal with geniuses

And much more!

Also: Mail-call! Send us your compliments, criticisms, suggestions, and desires, and we’ll read them on an upcoming episode. smokeempodcast@gmail.com

We believe in reporting that is calm and compassionate and following our curiosity and our guts. Doing this podcast gets easier when you become a paid subscriber