We released this bonus episode on depression and politics in July, and it quickly became a favorite of our Patreon subscribers. A number of them asked us to make it available in front of the paywall so they could share it with friends and family who have experienced depression and other mental-health issues—so that's what we decided to do. Topics discussed include: Matt's review of George Scialabba's memoir about depression; how left and right understand moral desert; and the struggle to build a society based on human frailty, our vulnerability to bad luck and bad breaks, and how much we need each other.
Further Reading:
Matthew Sitman, "Muddling Through: A Depression Memoir Like No Other," Commonweal, July 14, 2020.
Johanna Hedva, "Sick Woman Theory," Mask Magazine, January 2016.
Gabriel Winant, "Coronavirus and Chronopolitics," n + 1, Spring 2020
And Listening:
Steve Earle, "My Old Friend the Blues" (1986)