Guest June Thomas discusses the self-awareness of TV show 'The Bear' and reviews the film 'Fancy Dance'. The hosts explore their relationships with apps and address listener questions on staying open to new experiences. Plus, they share cultural endorsements and reflections on recent elections and poetry readings.
Critique on the evolving self-awareness and thematic shifts in 'The Bear' season 3
Praise for the emotional depth and authenticity of 'Fancy Dance' film portrayal
Concerns raised on app culture's impact on autonomy and workloads
Deep dives
The Bear Season Evolution and Critique
The podcast discusses the evolution of the acclaimed comedy-drama series 'The Bear' from a family-owned sandwich joint to a high-end restaurant in its third season. The season explores the challenges faced by the characters as they navigate newfound success, leading to mixed critical reception. The show's increasing self-awareness and thematic shifts are critiqued, with a focus on pacing issues, ad-libbed dialogue, and excessive montages.
Fancy Dance: Exploration of Indigenous Narratives and Family Dynamics
The podcast delves into the critical analysis of the film 'Fancy Dance,' highlighting its portrayal of Native American characters and family relationships. The movie follows Jack as she embarks on a journey with her niece, exploring themes of cultural identity, loss, and resilience. The aunt-niece bond and Lily Gladstone's performance are praised for their emotional depth and authenticity, with a nuanced depiction of white characters and the impact of historical trauma.
Integration of AI in Business Operations
The podcast episode features a segment on AI in business operations, emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing finance teams' efficiency. The discussion explores how AI can analyze financial data, streamline decision-making processes, and accelerate insights generation. The potential benefits of AI in simplifying complex functions and enabling faster decision-making for businesses are highlighted, providing expert advice on leveraging AI technologies for operational efficiency.
Impact of Digital Technology on Daily Life
The podcast episode delves into the influence of digital technology, exploring the overwhelming presence of smartphone apps in our lives. It raises concerns about the increasing coercion to use apps for various functions, from travel updates to accessing services. The discussion touches on the loss of autonomy and the imposition of additional work on users due to app dependency, highlighting the frustration felt by individuals experiencing this digital shift.
Critique of App Overuse in Business and Daily Life
Furthermore, the episode criticizes the saturation of apps in businesses, emphasizing their diminishing value and impact beyond major platforms like Airbnb or Uber. The commentary suggests that many businesses adopt apps unnecessarily, leading to high abandonment rates and non-beneficial outcomes. The conversation extends to the invasive nature of apps, highlighting issues with data privacy, monetization strategies, and the commodification of user information for profit.
On this week’s show, June Thomas (co-host of Slate’s Working podcast and the author of A Place of Our Own) sits in for Julia Turner. The panel first explores The Bear, now in its third season, and questions whether Christopher Storer’s beast has become too self-aware. Then, they discuss Fancy Dance, a profoundly moving film by Native writer-director Erica Tremblay starring Lily Gladstone that’s equal parts road movie, crime procedural, and family drama. Finally, the trio dives deep into their personal relationships with app culture, inspired by Mark Hill’s essay for Slate, “I’m Tired of Using An App For Everything.”
In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel answers a listener question from James: “As you get older, how do you keep yourself open to new interests, experiences, and ideas? To put it negatively, how do you avoid becoming an old crank?”
June: A particularly moving video that's making the rounds on social media, in which a large crowd of supporters gather at Carmarthen Railway in Wales to send off Plaid's Anne Davies and sing her the Welsh national anthem.
