Laura Dower, a children's book author celebrated for her "From the Files of Madison Finn" series, dives deep into her nostalgic exploration of early internet experiences. Joining her is Magal Jannardin, a friend of the show, who guides the conversation about how Madison Finn shaped young readers’ understanding of navigating the online world. They discuss the dramatic shifts in digital interactions from the early days to today, reminiscing about the optimism of the past and the complexities young people face online now.
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insights INSIGHT
Disconnecting
Connection is the internet's main ideology, pushing for constant linking.
Disconnection is an afterthought, with limited options for retreating.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Blocking as Self-Care
Embrace the block feature on social media platforms as self-care.
Blocking reclaims power by controlling who accesses your information.
insights INSIGHT
Blocking Mechanics
Blocking is a required safety feature on app stores.
Each platform implements blocking differently, offering varying levels of disconnection.
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This series revolves around Madison Finn, a seventh grader dealing with typical preteen issues such as school, friends, enemies, and crushes. The stories are told through Madison's files on her computer, which serve as her diary. The series explores themes of friendship, family dynamics, and personal growth, with Madison facing various challenges and learning valuable lessons along the way. The series includes 22 books and three super specials that delve into special events in Madison's life.
Legitimate dangers
Cate Marvin
Michael Dumanis
Computer Music Tutorial, Second Edition
Computer Music Tutorial, Second Edition
Curtis Rhodes
Moby Dick
Herman Melville
Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature[2][3][5].
Mike talks with artist, researcher and online harassment expert Caroline Sinders about blocking people online. What’s it for, and what kinds of feeling do we have when using it? Then, friend of the show Meghal Janardan speaks to children’s book author Laura Dower about her series “From the Files of Madison Finn”, an early exploration about what it was like being young, and online, at the turn of the millennium. Also: ssshhhhhh library asmr
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Never Post’s producers are Audrey Evans, Georgia Hampton and The Mysterious Dr. Firstname Lastname. Our senior producer is Hans Buetow. Our executive producer is Jason Oberholtzer. The show’s host is Mike Rugnetta.
The soft rumor of spreading weeds. The sound of things ruined by the wind. The come to me as if I were the heart of all that exists. I would like to be dead, and also to go inside another’s hear