The internet. It’s never been more important than what it represents today. A truly […]
An early morning pandemic walk to clear my head turned into more than I bargained […]
Shapiro’s League of Seven: “Playing The Blame Game” (Episode #06)
Guests: Jon Reid, Chris Henderson and Marshall Auerback
Hosted by Ari Shapiro
Recorded: April 17th, 2020 (33:25)
With the coronavirus now fully entrenched as a permanent part of our lives, it has become painfully obvious that the most vulnerable, downtrodden and disenfranchised members of society don’t stand a chance in the wake of our lack of empathy and foresight. The League returns after a short hiatus to feature a lively round table where we discuss the concept of attributing and perhaps navigating the reality of how and why this pandemic is proving to be so difficult to overcome.
We discussed the legitimacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) throughout this pandemic, why the old world globallist institutions and post-1948 safeguards failed the world so miserably, the fiasco that reveals how poorly we look after nursing home and special care needs patients, how Donald Trump’s insistence on re-opening the economy has put him in the crosshairs of individual states and their autonomy, and how the cultural rot of media personalities such as Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil has fractured the psyche and innate confidence of all Americans.
Theme: Into The Woods (Tycho, Weather, 2019)
What do you have when you live in a country that has virtually no market […]
Let’s face it – washing your hands during a pandemic is the single-most important thing […]
Shapiro’s League of Seven: “In Search Of A New Normal” (Episode #05)
Guests: Mick Sloniowski, Marshall Auerback and Jason Woodell
Hosted by Ari Shapiro
Recorded: April 4th, 2020 (41:45)
The League gathers a bevy of eminent members to break free from the cabin fever and swirling anxieties we’re all feeling during these surreal times. We discussed conspiracy theories, losing creature comforts, how the perfect wartime analogy doesn’t work when there’s little unity and cooperation between countries of the world, how this pandemic is exposing our supply chain weaknesses and a lack of basic political cognition and will, why Doug Ford looks like gold and Donald Trump continues to pretend it’s all about gold, how 30 million unemployed Americans will likely ensure that domestic abuse, suicide rates and general mental health challenges will likely remain our greatest existential threat. Trust me, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Theme: Peaches (The Presidents of the United States of America, 1995)
Shapiro’s League of Seven: “Bring In The Cavalry” (Episode #04)
League members: Jon Reid and Luke Armstrong
Hosted by Ari Shapiro
Recorded: April 1st, 2020 (29:51)
The League takes a closer look into how we as humans are battling cabin fever as it slowly metastasizes into a grim reality of utter boredom and lingering anxiety. We discussed the psychological toll this pandemic has taken on society as a whole and what to do with the prospect of martial law looming on the horizon in countries which consider themselves democratic. Meanwhile, countless authoritarian populist nations are busy making themselves sick with hubris and misanthropic myopia. Need more? Listen in.
Theme: death bed (Powfu, death bed – coffee for your head, 2019)
1. Play Settlers of Catan Trade. Build. Settle. Oh my. One never forgets Catan after […]
Shapiro’s League of Seven: “No man or woman is an island” (Episode #03)
League members: Jon Reid and Chris Henderson
Hosted by Ari Shapiro
Recorded: March 27th, 2020 (30:32)
Another day, another lockdown.
Most of the western world is losing their respective battles with the coronavirus while other smaller nations continue to impress us with their fortitude, fastidious ways and transparency to their local communities. In lieu of this powerful variance between how different countries have handing this pandemic, it’s abundantly clear that the idealistic notion of cooperative globalism has been reduced to a cynical mantra of everyone for themselves and let’s hope fear and anxiety doesn’t destroy the best laid plans of mankind.
It makes me wonder: what will happen when this period of life is over and is this really an opportunity for humanity’s reboot in the areas of kindness, compassion and empathy while making health care the absolute most important political issue of our time moving forward – or will it be back to business as usual with 2% less humans and significantly less civil rights and freedoms?
Theme: Lovers In A Dangerous Time (Bruce Cockburn, Stealing Fire, 1984)
“No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s.
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.”
-John Donne (1624)
There’s nothing quite like waking up from a deep slumber and realizing you’re stuck in […]
