The Colin McEnroe Show

When you think of taxidermy, you may imagine a trophy room in which mostly male hunters have mounted the heads of 12-point stags along wood-paneled walls. If so, your image would be incomplete. Taxidermy has gone through many iterations since gentleman scientists turned to taxidermy to understand anatomy during the Enlightenment. Victorians added a touch of whimsy, decorating their homes with birds under glass and falling in love with Walter Potter's anthropomorphized cats. Later still, Norman Bates shifted the cultural understanding of taxidermy from art to something more macabre after he (spoiler alert) taxidermied his mother in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Today, animal-loving millennial women are taking taxidermy to new levels of artistry and craftsmanship, from rogue taxidermists who mix and match animal parts to the mallard wing bridal veil of a couture taxidermist. In the end, isn't taxidermy about immortality and how we choose to remember? GUESTS: Kristen Arnett - The author of Mostly Dead Things Beth Beverly - A couture taxidermist and the owner of Diamond Tooth Taxidermy John Whitenight - The author of Under Glass: A Victorian Obsession Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired December 5, 2019.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it safe to say that we're not yet ready to kiss and make up with the banks whose reckless behavior led to the 2008 financial crisis? A little contrition would go a long way to helping us forgive and forget. That's not happening, at least not with Deutsche Bank, the preferred bank of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. Deutsche Bank lent money to rogue states that funded terrorist activities that hurt U.S. soldiers. They laundered money for Russian oligarchs, sold securities they knew were bad, gave out multimillion-dollar bonuses, and fired whistleblowers who tried to tell. They lent money to Donald Trump, despite his repeated defaults on his loans, and Jeffrey Epstein long after he was shunned for molesting young girls. You may wonder how this could happen. Basically, a massive lack of accountability on behalf of the Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, shareholders, board members, and the federal government. That's a lot of people. No wonder Elizabeth Warren threatened to take on the big banks. GUESTS: David Enrich - Business investigations editor at The New York Times and the author of Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and An Epic Trail of Destruction Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take a few seconds to reminisce about your childhood "best friend." Maybe it was a boy, a girl, an imaginary friend, or perhaps a stuffed toy. This stuffed toy was your childhood confidant that you dragged everywhere, from the local supermarket to the preschool sandbox, a transitional object that temporarily stood between you and your relationship with your parents. If you still have your stuffed toy, has it managed to maintain its shape, color, and lovable button eyes, despite numerous indignities? Or has it endured frequent trips to the stuffed animal hospital, otherwise known as the washroom and the sewing machine? Why do you still hold onto this friend from your childhood? Our relationship with stuffed toys is a subject of curiosity. While they make act as a child's first companion by contributing to life's teachings, is there an age that children need to let go of their stuffed friends? Some adults continue to hold onto their stuffed animals, either for comfort or retention of their childhood memories, but is there an attached stigma with these comfort objects? This hour, we focus on the allure of these transitional objects, why we continue to hold onto them, and how they are helpful in overcoming trauma. We also speak with a "travel agent" who journeys around Japan to provide stuffed animals with a truly cultural experience. GUESTS: Mark Nixon - Author and photographer of Much Loved Catherine Pisacane - Founder and executive director of Project Smile Sonoe Azuma - Founder and CEO of Unagi Travel Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Katherine Peikes produced this show, and Colin McEnroe, Greg Hill, and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired July 24, 2014.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italians fled northern Italy Sunday after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus Covid-19, which has killed 366 residents to date. The government banned all public gatherings including concerts, sporting events, religious services, and weddings until April 3. Scientists say one of their biggest concerns is preventing the virus from spreading faster than our health systems are prepared to handle. Dr. Anthony Fauci said regional lockdowns similar to the one in Italy could become necessary in America as the virus infects more people.  Are we prepared?  The Grand Princess cruise ship that has been sitting off the coast of California is scheduled to dock in Oakland, CA on Monday. There are at least twenty-one passengers and crew members infected with Covid-19 among the more than 3,500 passengers. The Trump Administration still doesn't have a plan on how to test and treat those on board. Some say the President's mismanagement is making things worse.  Also this hour: panic shopping.  GUESTS: Carolyn Canuscio is Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, Section on Public Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (@carolyncannu) Dan Diamond reports on health care politics and policy for Politico and is the author of Politico Pulse (@ddiamond) Helen Rosner is a food correspondent for The New Yorker (@hels) Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katy Perry dropped a new single and video (which we apparently call a "visual" now) on Wednesday night. The video ends with what's being called "a stunning reveal." And: A pair of new comedy specials caught the Nose's eye. Pete Davidson's Alive in New York on Netflix and Whitmer Thomas's The Golden One on HBO are both kind of... sad-funny? Funny-sad? And maybe in a particularly millennial way. Some other stuff that happened this week, give or take: Public Enemy Fire Flavor Flav After Bernie Sanders Rally Spat"Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav," group says. "We thank him for his years of service and wish him well" James Lipton, Creator and Host of 'Inside the Actors Studio,' Dies at 93 Long-rumored Woody Allen memoir is coming in April, despite #MeToo Knicks, Spike Lee in war of words following incident with Madison Square Garden security A Genesis Reunion Is in the Air Tonight Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Shares One-Year Update on His Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis William Shatner gets horse semen in divorce settlement The Kids in the Hall to Return to Amazon With New Episodes Will Studios Delay Films Like 'F9', 'Wonder Woman 1984', and 'Black Widow' Due to the Coronavirus? Here Are Their Current Plans Pain Check: Ben Affleck’s Press Tour for 'The Way Back' Is an Exercise in BleaknessThe movie, which stars Affleck as a recovering alcoholic in a failing marriage, apparently hits a little too close to him BTS Is Peaking. What Comes Next?"Map of the Soul: 7" demonstrates how the superstar K-pop group has grown into a musical monolith -- and what it might have to leave behind. The Fashion World, Upended by CoronavirusThe growing coronavirus threat chased the luxury fashion world from Milan to Paris. A real crisis looms for designers, retailers and shoppers. 'Light Is My New Drug'The actually convincing science of light therapy. 'Candyman' Trailer: Say Farewell to the Flesh All Over Again GUESTS: Lucy Gellman - Editor of The Arts Paper and host of WNHH radio's Kitchen Sync Mark Oppenheimer - Editor-at-large for Tablet Magazine and host of the podcast Unorthodox, among a bunch of other stuff Mercy Quaye - Founder and principal consultant for The Narrative Project and a columnist with Hearst Connecticut Media Group Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The movie musical died a long, slow death a long time ago. Right? Well, except that there's La La Land. And Moana. And The Greatest Showman and A Star Is Born and Mary Poppins Returns. Oh, and Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. And Frozen II and The Lion King and Aladdin. Those are just from the last five years. And I could keep going, but then I might forget to mention that Steven Spielberg's version of West Side Story comes out this year or that the Hamilton movie comes out next year. This hour, a long look at the long-dead movie musical. Long live the movie musical. (Oh! And In the Heights comes out this summer too. There are just a lot of musicals still right now at this point. Is what I'm saying. Ya know?) GUESTS: Jeanine Basinger - Founder of the Department of Film Studies at Wesleyan University and the author of twelve books on film; her latest is The Movie Musical! Steve Metcalf - Director of the University of Hartford's Presidents' College Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's nice to meet you! When did you move in? How do you like it here in Connecticut after leaving the beautiful weather in Hawaii? Small talk is both the bane of our existence and essential in our existential quest to understand our place in the world. Whether you like it or hate it may depend partly on how we value speech that establishes and maintains relationships, as opposed to speech that is task-oriented or provides information. That may depend on gender. We talk to a humorist, writing teacher, meteorologist, and philosopher about small talk. And we want to hear about your small talk stories.  GUESTS: Alexandra Petri - A columnist for The Washington Post, a punning champion, and the author of A Field Guide to Awkward Silences; her new book of essays, Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why, will be published in June, 2020 Irene Papoulis - Teaches writing at Trinity College Garett Argianas - A forensic meteorologist and Connecticut Public Radio's weather forecaster Agnes Callard - Associate professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago, monthly columnist for The Point magazine, and a contributor to The New York Times Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sanders won big in Nevada. Biden won big in South Carolina. Steyer and Buttigieg are out, Bloomberg is in, and Warren and Klobuchar are pulling up the rear. There will be 1,357 delegates from 14 states up for grabs on Super Tuesday. We try to make sense of it. Also this hour: Iowa and New Hampshire no longer mirror the diversity of America and should let another state lead the way. How about Connecticut? James Surowiecki makes the case. Lastly, The Lifespan of a Fact, the Broadway play based on John D'Agata's book of the same name, relays the many disagreements between a writer and his factchecker over the nature of truth. The play is at TheaterWorks through March 8. John D'Agata joins us in our studio. GUESTS: James Surowiecki - A journalist who has written about business and finance for, among others, Slate and The New Yorker; the author of The Wisdom of Crowds John D'Agata - An essayist, professor of English and director of the nonfiction writing program at the University of Iowa, and the author of several books including The Lifespan of a Fact You can join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quarantine culture is coming. Maybe. So we start with a look at the coronavirus in comedy, COVID in culture, etc. And then: Knives Out is Rian Johnson's fifth feature film as writer and director. It's mostly a howcatchem in the vein of Columbo and an all-star ensemble cast murder mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie adaptations like Murder on the Orient Express. It was nominated for three Golden Globes, including Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), and Johnson's screenplay was nominated for an Oscar. It's out on DVD/Blu-ray/4K and for rental on iTunes/Amazon/etc. this week. Some other stuff that happened this week, give or take: Late-night hosts skewer Trump for coronavirus response Late Night Awaits Mike Pence's Cure for the Coronavirus Quarantine Cooking: Finding Relief From Coronavirus Anxiety In The Kitchen It's Okay to Leave Your Headphones at HomeHow one writer learned an accidental lesson in the joys of silence Jif really wants you to stop pronouncing GIF like its peanut butter Honda Dealer Offers Deal: $900 If You Watch All the Fast & Furious Movies The Most Upsetting McDonald's Candle Scents, From 'No' to 'Dear God'McDonald's is releasing six candles that, burned together, make your home smell like a Quarter Pounder Burger King breaks the mold with new advertising campaign Emergency Backup Goalie David Ayres Has Taken NHL By Storm After Win The Invisible Man, Godzilla, King Kong: A History of the Movie Monster How to Murder Harry PotterIn "deathfic," writers of fan fiction find unexpected comfort in killing off their favorite popular characters. How to Dress Like Larry David, Casual Fashion Icon Every Harrison Ford Movie Performance, Ranked Kobe Bryant's Memorial Brought Out a Side of Michael Jordan I'd Never Seen Before 50 Years Ago Today: Ernie Sings "Rubber Ducky" In the Bathtub Finneas O'Connell Tweeted About Success And Sparked A Ton Of Drama About Privilege And Nepotism"Spoken like someone born to two actors in LA." This Artist Shows Us What Historical Figures Would Look Like If They Were Alive Today, And I Am ObsessedMarie Antoinette as a millennial? Apple Won't Let Villains Use iPhones In Movies, According to Rian Johnson Earth Can Have a New Little Moon, as a TreatAstronomers have spotted a small asteroid that's been captured by Earth's orbit. Clive Cussler, best-selling author behind Dirk Pitt adventure novels, dead at 88 The best chase sequence ever is in Wallace and Gromit in The Wrong TrousersThe original Aardman shorts are available to stream on Amazon Steven Spielberg Won't Direct 'Indiana Jones 5,' James Mangold in Talks to Replace Hank Azaria wants to "make up" for his racist voicing of Apu on "The Simpsons"Hari Kondabolu first called attention to how the portrayal perpetuated negative Indian American stereotypes ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A RIP: Konami Code Creator Kazuhisa Hashimoto Dies The Dark, Chaotic, Utterly Mesmerizing Soul of Modern CelebrityIt was only a matter of time before grabbing a few seconds of a star's life got monetized. But the result is weirder than anyone expected. My Ex-Boyfriend's New Girlfriend Is Lady GagaHow do you compare yourself with one of the most famous women in the world? Taylor Swift, Man Wax. Perm. Tint. Microblade. Glue. How eyebrows became everything David Roback, Co-Founder Of Mazzy Star And Rain Parade, Dead At 61 Why some of the best-known tunes, like 'Happy Birthday,' are the hardest to sing Jungle Cruise Boat Sinks At Walt Disney World Lady Gaga's 'Stupid Love' Is Getting a Lot of Love From Her Little Monsters Should Robots Have a Face?As automation comes to retail industries, companies are giving machines more humanlike features in order to make them liked, not feared. GUESTS: Susan Bigelow - A librarian, a columnist for CT News Junkie, and a science fiction/fantasy novelist Rich Hollant - Principal at CO:LAB, founder of Free Center, and commissioner on cultural affairs for the city of Hartford Helder Mira - Multimedia producer at Trinity College and a Cinestudio board member Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secession is in the air. Britain withdrew from the European Union, Scotland wants out of the UK, Catalonia from Spain, and, wait for it,  California from the U.S. Yes, the days of our country's states being united may soon come to an end. In fact, not only is California home to active secessionist and separatist movements, but so is Texas, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Vermont and several other states. And with the degree to which our nation seems divided, one wonders if this isn't long overdue. On today's show we speak with legal experts and advocates about the growing calls for secession both here and abroad. Would nations be better off if they allowed their citizens to secede, forming smaller, more like-minded sovereign territories? Would the citizens be better off? And, to be quite frank, would any of this even be legal? GUESTS: Francis H. Buckley - Foundation Professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University as well as Senior Editor at The American Spectator,and a columnist for the New York Post; author of American Secession: The Looming Threat of a National Breakup Marcus Ruiz Evans - Co-Founder of the Yes California movement, the largest and most widely-known community of activists who believe that California should be an independent country; author of California’s Next Century Erica Frankenberg - Professor of Education and Demography in the College of Education at the Penn State University, focusing on racial desegregation and inequality in K-12 schools; co-author of several books including Educational Delusions?: Why Choice Can Deepen Inequality and How to Make Schools Fair Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.