Overthinking Everything with Josh Brandon

Eww! Gene! Ick!
How genetics and eugenics shape societal views on identity and worth. Episode Description In Eww! Gene! Ick!, Josh Brandon delves into the controversial history of genetics and eugenics, exploring how these fields have been used to justify discrimination, inequality, and pseudoscientific beliefs. By examining their societal implications, Josh reveals how narratives about "superiority" and "purity" have influenced ide...

Coup! Coup! Catch You!
How historical coups reveal patterns in modern political instability. Episode Description In Coup! Coup! Catch You!, Josh Brandon examines historical coups (and attempted coups) and their parallels to modern political instability. By exploring the motivations, tactics, and societal conditions that enable power grabs, Josh uncovers the patterns that repeat throughout history and their implications for contempor...

Viva Y’all’s Resistance
Exploring the forgotten history of the State of Franklin and its political legacy. Episode Description In Viva Y’all’s Resistance, Josh Brandon delves into the intriguing and often-overlooked history of the State of Franklin, an 18th-century experiment in autonomy. By examining its cultural and political impact, Josh reveals how this short-lived territory shaped the region’s identity and contributed to the de...

Murder, Inc.: My Speech to Capitol Hill on Gun Violence
Confronting America’s gun culture and advocating for meaningful reform.

Episode Description In Murder, Inc., Josh Brandon shares a powerful and thought-provoking speech delivered to Capitol Hill, addressing America’s pervasive gun violence and the cultural factors that perpetuate it. By examining the historical, political, and societal roots of gun culture, Josh makes a compell...

Raiders of the Lost Art: How Clinton Killed the Radio Star
How deregulation reshaped media and silenced diverse voices. Episode Description In Raiders of the Lost Art, Josh Brandon explores the impact of Bill Clinton’s 1996 Telecommunications Act on the radio industry and the broader media landscape. By examining how deregulation led to media consolidation, Josh reveals how this shift stifled creativity, silenced diverse voices, and...

(History of Cussing, Slurs, & Offensive Language) Bleeped Out: A History of Profanities
How language evolves to challenge norms and express defiance.

Episode Description In Bleeped Out, Josh Brandon takes a deep dive into the fascinating history of profanities, exploring how they’ve evolved to reflect cultural taboos, challenge societal norms, and express rebellion. From ancient curses to modern slang, Josh uncovers the power of...

Lost in Txtlation: Communications and Relationships in the Modern Age
How digital communication reshapes relationships and understanding. Episode Description In Lost in Txtlation, Josh Brandon explores how digital communication has transformed relationships, creating new opportunities for connection while introducing challenges to understanding and authenticity. From emojis to texting misinterpretations, Josh examines the ways techn...

You Give Love a Bad Name Pt. 3 — Normalized Abnormalities
How toxic language creates and perpetuates harmful norms.

Episode Description In Part 3 of You Give Love a Bad Name, Josh Brandon explores how toxic language and normalized abnormalities shape societal behavior and expectations. By examining how harmful terms and phrases are ingrained in everyday speech, Josh reveals their role in reinforcing stereotypes and sustaining system...

You Give Love a Bad Name Pt. 2 — The Idiocy of Insensitive Identifiers
How labels perpetuate stereotypes and stifle progress.

Episode Description In Part 2 of You Give Love a Bad Name, Josh Brandon examines how societal labels and identifiers are used to reinforce stereotypes and inhibit meaningful dialogue. From gender and race to political affiliations, Josh reveals the ways language can divide and marginalize, limiting opportunit...

You Give Love a Bad Name Pt. 1 — Snowflake and the Seven Deadly Sins
Exploring the cultural impact of hypersensitivity and moral hypocrisy.

Episode Description In Part 1 of You Give Love a Bad Name, Josh Brandon delves into the cultural phenomenon of hypersensitivity and moral hypocrisy, examining how these dynamics influence societal discourse and relationships. By analyzing the interplay between cultural sensitivity and perceived ...

The Black and White of Back the Blue Pt. 2 — Technicolor Blind
Exploring modern policing and the systemic biases that persist.

Episode Description In Part 2 of The Black and White of Back the Blue, Josh Brandon examines the contemporary challenges facing law enforcement, including systemic biases and accountability in a diverse society. By analyzing high-profile cases and the ongoing debates around police reform, Josh uncovers the c...

The Black and White of Back the Blue Pt. 1 — The Great Grand Pa Patrol
Exploring the historical roots of policing and systemic biases.

Episode Description In Part 1 of The Black and White of Back the Blue, Josh Brandon delves into the historical roots of policing in America, tracing its evolution from early slave patrols to modern law enforcement. By examining the systemic biases ingrained in policing, Josh reveals how history shape...

The Algorithm Method
How algorithms shape decision-making and redefine societal norms.

Episode Description In The Algorithm Method, Josh Brandon dives into the pervasive influence of algorithms on personal choices, societal dynamics, and cultural trends. From social media feeds to predictive analytics, Josh explores how these invisible systems manipulate behavior, influence opinions, and subtly dictate the norms of modern life.

This...

Create Your Own Conspiracy Pt. 6b — The Call is Coming From Inside the House
How internal forces drive conspiracy theories and societal mistrust. Episode Description In the final part of Create Your Own Conspiracy, Josh Brandon uncovers how conspiracy theories are often perpetuated by internal forces within communities, institutions, and even families. By examining the role of misinformation, groupthink, and personal biases, Josh hi...

Create Your Own Conspiracy Pt. 6a — The Clock Worked! Orange.
How social media algorithms amplify conspiracy theories and polarization. Episode Description In Part 6a of Create Your Own Conspiracy, Josh Brandon explores how social media algorithms act as echo chambers, fueling conspiracy theories and increasing societal polarization. By dissecting the mechanisms behind algorithmic content delivery, Josh reveals how digital platforms...

The Devolution of the Southern Democrat Pt. B — The Antifederalists’ Fall to Fascism
How cultural and political forces solidified the South’s conservative identity. Episode Description In Part B of The Devolution of the Southern Democrat, Josh Brandon explores how cultural and political shifts in the South led to the rise of a conservative stronghold. From the Civil Rights Movement to the Southern Strategy, Josh examines the factors...

The Devolution of the Southern Democrat Pt. A — The Gold(water) Standard
How the 1964 election reshaped the political identity of the South. Episode Description In Part A of The Devolution of the Southern Democrat, Josh Brandon examines the pivotal 1964 election and Barry Goldwater’s influence on the South’s political transformation. By exploring how Goldwater’s campaign capitalized on racial and cultural tensions, Josh uncovers the...

Create Your Own Conspiracy Pt. 5 — The Great Pyramid Scheme of Geezers
How Murdoch, Trump, and McMahon reshaped culture through kayfabe. Episode Description In Part 5 of Create Your Own Conspiracy, Josh Brandon explores the cultural impact of Rupert Murdoch, Donald Trump, and Vince McMahon, examining how each used the principle of kayfabe to blur the lines between reality and performance. From news media and reality television to pr...

Create Your Own Conspiracy Pt. 4 — California Risin’
How Ronald Reagan’s rise reshaped American culture and fueled conspiratorial thinking. Episode Description In Part 4 of Create Your Own Conspiracy, Josh Brandon examines the cultural and political impact of Ronald Reagan’s rise to power. By exploring how Reagan’s presidency reinforced narratives of economic prosperity and regional identity, Josh reveals how these shifts gave rise ...