I’ve been listening to Diabolical Lies by Caro Burke and Katie Tassin

Last year, a colleague of mine recommended I listen an episode of Diabolical Lies by way of trying to better understand the social and commercial contexts surrounding Instagram and Tiktok. I did.

And I loved it: “A Tale of Two Algorithms“.

Burke and Tassin have a great dynamic. They’re funny. And I have grown to trust their analysis. I’m not a paid subscriber, yet. So I only listen to the free episodes.¹

A few episodes I’ve enjoyed:

• “Ethical Consumption” & the History of “Selling Out”: nice primer on the importance of systems, policy, and the problems with purity tests.
• Why America Can’t See Gaza: good insight into how it is that Israel’s war crimes and acts of genocide go largely unannounced by press and other institutions.
• Biblical Womanhood, MAGA Girlbosses, and the Useful Myth of “Tradition”: this was a really helpful overview of political organizing by the right. If you’re interested in better understanding American, and North American, politics this is a good one.
• Is There a ‘Skinny Apocalypse’ in Hollywood?: an interesting overview on the social and political movements surrounding fat, and skinny, bodies and also what it means to “be woman’d”. (Shownotes.)

1. I have considered paying. I’m a little hesitant to pay because they use SubStack and because they seem to be doing okay and I don’t even listen to all the podcasts I do pay for. I love that they donate a significant chunk of their proceeds to aid in Gaza, and also to various other charities and causes.