No Cure for Curiosity
40 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 19 ratingsA podcast for curious people! Shanny Luft, administrator and professor of religion at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, talks with experts about a broad range of topics from the sciences, pop culture, media, politics, and the arts.
"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." - Dorothy Parker
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Episodes
Our Dopest Episode Yet: Slang!
March 15, 2024 01:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBThis bodacious episode of No Cure for Curiosity was supported by Magic Mind. Magic Mind really helped with my productivity during this cold, dank Wisconsin weather. You can receive 20% off your next order by going to magicmind.com and entering the fly promo code "curiosity20". Support the show Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. And tell your friends who might also enjoy No Cure for Curiosity! It helps other people find the show. And continue the co...
2023 in Media News + Our Favorite Content!
January 28, 2024 22:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBIf you are in a show hole, this episode is for you! Shanny talks with several guests who share their favorite movies, tv shows, and books from 2023. He also continues his conversation with media studies professors Kelly Wilz and Cary Elza about the biggest media news from last year. Movie and TV Suggestions: "Past Lives," a romantic drama film written and directed by Celine Son "Anatomy of a Fall," a French legal drama thriller directed by Justine Triet "Godzilla Minus 1" directed, wr...
Podcast Barbie
January 20, 2024 23:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBShanny Luft is curious about Barbie so he invited professors Cary Elza and Kelly Wilz in Media Studies at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, to talk about it. Why was Barbie the most successful movie of 2023? We also talked about the films that inspired Greta Gerwig's directing, the doll's effect on body image, our favorite (and least favorite) scenes. This episode of No Cure for Curiosity was supported by Magic Mind. I tried Magic Mind myself and found it really helped with my...
The Biggest Film of 2023: Barbie!
January 20, 2024 23:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBOn this episode, Shanny Luft was curious about Barbie, and invited his colleagues, professors Cary Elza and Kelly Wilz in Media Studies at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, to join him. Why was Barbie the most successful movie of 2023, and the highest grossing film ever directed by a woman? We also talked about the films that inspired Greta Gerwig's directing, the Barbie doll's effect on body image, our favorite (and least favorite) parts, and more! This episode of No Cure for ...
The Exorcist 50th Anniversary!
October 31, 2023 15:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBThe power of curiosity compels you! On this episode, we talked about William Friedkin's The Exorcist with Cary Elza, (Associate Professor of Media Studies from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point) and Kathryn Lofton (the Lex Hickson professor of American studies and religious studies, professor of history and divinity at Yale University.) Whether you are an Exorcist fanatic, or hate horror movies, this episode will have something for you. We talk about why The Exorcist caused a fren...
God the Bestseller: with Stephen Prothero
September 22, 2023 23:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBOn this episode of No Cure for Curiosity, I spoke with Stephen Prothero, author, religion scholar, and now retired professor from Boston University. Throughout his career Stephen Prothero has promoted thoughtful public consideration about religion. He has been published in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street, and many other newspapers and magazines. He’s been a guest on network television, NPR, CNN, The Daily Show with John Stewart and The Colbert Report. Prothero publi...
God the Bestseller: with Stephen Prothero!
September 22, 2023 23:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBOn this episode of No Cure for Curiosity, I spoke with Stephen Prothero, author, religion scholar, and now retired professor from Boston University. Throughout his career Stephen Prothero has promoted thoughtful public consideration about religion. He has been published in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street, and many other newspapers and magazines. He’s been a guest on network television, NPR, CNN, The Daily Show with John Stewart and The Colbert Report. Prothero publi...
Our Favorite Things
August 26, 2023 20:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBOn this episode of No Cure for Curiosity, I asked five people to share their favorite media of the last year! If you are in a show hole or looking for a new novel for your book club, this episode is for you! Lauren Gantz, Associate Professor English at UWSP Everything, Everywhere All at Once (Movie) Reservation Dogs (Streaming on Hulu) What We Do In the Shadows (Streaming on Hulu) Our Flag Means Death (Streaming on HBO Max) Monstress written by Marjorie Liu, drawn by Sana Takeda (Grap...
James Cameron and his Avatar Pentalogy!
February 06, 2023 20:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBIn our first episode of 2023, Shanny talks with Cary Elza and Kevin Obsatz, two media studies professors at UWSP, about the career of James Cameron and his latest movie, Avatar: The Way of Water. We talked about the themes that have dominated Cameron's career, his particular skill for getting audiences pumped up, and what we thought of the second film in the Avatar Pentalogy! Support the show Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. And tell your friends...
It's the Great Podcast, Charlie Brown!
December 25, 2022 16:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBNovember 2022 would have been the 100-birthday of Charles Schulz. To wrap up the second year of No Cure for Curiosity, we were curious about Schulz and his strip, Peanuts with Rob Stolzer, Professor of Art, and Neil Prendergast, U.S. Historian, from UWSP. What made Peanuts such an iconic comic strip in the second half of the 20th century? What is Peanuts' vision of mid-century America? And why did NBC think that "A Charlie Brown Christmas Special" was going to be a disaster? If you want...
Snakes on a Podcast
October 30, 2022 19:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBFor Halloween, Shanny Luft speaks with Robert Jadin, an evolutionary biologist, and Chris Diehm, an environmental ethicist, about SNAKES! How did snakes evolve? Why do they scare us? What do snakes taste like? (Plus, we talk about snake sex if you're curious about that sort of thing.) Check out this creepy episode of No Cure for Curiosity! (And tell your friends about NCFC!) Support the show Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. And tell your frie...
When Robots Rule the World
October 04, 2022 22:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBShanny Luft speaks with Vera Klekovkina (Department of World Languages), Joshua Horn (Department of Philosophy), and Tomi Heimonen (Department of Computer Science) about their thoughts and concerns about robots. This episode was inspired by UW-Stevens Point College of Letters and Science Community Engagement series, "When Robots Rule the World." From the futuristic portrayal of robots in film to robots in the operating room, from the daily use of artificial intelligence (AI) in mundane tas...
The Importance of Being Ernest Hemingway
March 24, 2022 20:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBIn 2021, Ken Burns released a 3-part documentary about Ernest Hemingway, which inspired my conversation about Hemingway with English professor Ross Tangedal and PhD candidate Katie Warczak. Should we still care about Hemingway? Or should he be canceled? If you do not learn new things about Hemingway from this conversation, you can have your money back. That's our podcast guarantee. Plus, can Ross and Katie convince Shanny to reconsider The Old Man and the Sea, his least favorite book fr...
The Matrix Resurrections
March 01, 2022 17:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBIn December 2021, writer and director Lana Wachowski delivered the fourth movie in the Matrix universe, The Matrix Resurrections, after a 20-year wait. Shanny invited Kelly Wilz, Professor of Communications, and Cary Elza, Associate Professor of Media Studies, to chat about the the new film and the entire Matrix saga. What made the original film so impactful? Why did Lana Wachowski return to the world she co-created with her sister? Which narrative themes have changed, and which have sta...
The Narratives and Rituals of Professional Sports
February 07, 2022 23:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBWith the Super Bowl a week away, and the Olympics playing out now, Shanny invited Robert Sirabian, professor of English at UWSP, and Art Remillard, professor of Religious Studies at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania, to talk about sports, community, narrative, heroes, transcendence, and politics. Readings referenced in this podcast: Arthur Remillard, "Steelers Nation and the Seriously Religious Side of Football," The Marginalia Review (2013). Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell, Wh...
The Stories We Tell About Sports
February 07, 2022 23:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBWith the Super Bowl a week away, and the Olympics playing out now, Shanny invited Robert Sirabian, professor of English at UWSP, and Art Remillard, professor of Religious Studies at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania, to talk about sports, community, narrative, heroes, transcendence, and politics. Readings referenced in this podcast: Arthur Remillard, "Steelers Nation and the Seriously Religious Side of Football," The Marginalia Review (2013). Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell, Wh...
Stories About Sports
February 07, 2022 23:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBWith the Super Bowl a week away, and the Olympics playing out now, Shanny invited Robert Sirabian, professor of English at UWSP, and Art Remillard, professor of Religious Studies at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania, to talk about sports, community, narrative, heroes, transcendence, and politics. Readings referenced in this podcast: Arthur Remillard, "Steelers Nation and the Seriously Religious Side of Football," The Marginalia Review (2013). Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O'Connell, Wh...
A Curious Christmas, with Lewis Black!
December 24, 2021 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBOn the final episode of our second semester, Shanny got a chance to chat with comedian, writer, and actor Lewis Black. We talked about Christmas, religion, and his thoughts about the next generation. Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. Five-star reviews help other people find No Cure for Curiosity! Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden and our logo is by artist and graphic designer Ryan Dreimiller.
Could Ranked-Choice Voting Fix American Politics?
November 09, 2021 16:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBShanny talks with Andy Felt, mathematics professor at UWSP, about ranked-choice voting. What is it? How does it work? Where is it already being used? And how would it change the culture of extreme partisanship in the United States? Share your thoughts about the video on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Send comments to [email protected]. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden. The No Cure for Curiosity logo was design...
The Unkillable Popularity of Zombies
October 18, 2021 23:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBShanny talks about Zombies with Kelly J Baker, a religious studies PhD, editor, and award-winning author of five books, including The Zombies are Coming, and Cary Elza, professor Media Studies at UWSP, who teaches courses on screenwriting, film and media analysis, history and genre. Share your thoughts about the video on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Send comments to [email protected]. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Ca...
World Renowned Chinese Firework Artist Cai Guo-Qiang
October 04, 2021 18:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBShanny talks with Cortney Chaffin, an art historian at UWSP, and Ellen Larson, a PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, about Cai Guo-Qiang. Cai is a Chinese artist renowned for his firework art you have to see to believe. We watched the documentary Sky Ladder, available on Netflix, which documented Cai's effort to complete an art piece he has worked on for decades. We talk about what it takes to create firework art displays, the tension between art and propaganda, and whether see...
Famed Firework Artist Cai Guo-Qiang
October 04, 2021 18:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBShanny talks with Cortney Chaffin, an art historian at UWSP, and Ellen Larson, a PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, about Cai Guo-Qiang. Cai is a Chinese artist renowned for his firework art you have to see to believe. We watched the documentary Sky Ladder, available on Netflix, which documented Cai's effort to complete an art piece he has worked on for decades. We talk about what it takes to create firework art displays, the tension between art and propaganda, and whether see...
"Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang" a Chinese Firework Artist!
October 04, 2021 18:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBShanny talks with Cortney Chaffin, an art historian at UWSP, and Ellen Larson, a PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, about Cai Guo-Qiang. Cai is a Chinese artist renowned for his firework art you have to see to believe. We watched the documentary Sky Ladder, available on Netflix, which documented Cai's effort to complete an art piece he has worked on for decades. We talk about what it takes to create firework art displays, the tension between art and propaganda, and whether see...
Lizzo's Rumors: The Art of Body Positivity
September 20, 2021 01:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBShanny talks with Kimiko Matsumura, an art historian, and Chad Seales, a scholar of religion and culture, about Lizzo and the video for "Rumors." Why was the video set in an ancient Greek and Roman visual world? How does the song and video reflect Lizzo's message of body positivity? And did Cardi B have her baby yet?! All this and more is covered on today's episode. Share your thoughts about the video on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Send comments to ...
Lizzo'a Rumors, Classic Art, and Body Positivity
September 20, 2021 01:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBShanny talks with Kimiko Matsumura, an art historian, and Chad Seales, a scholar of religion and culture, about Lizzo and the video for "Rumors." Why was the video set in an ancient Greek and Roman visual world? How does the song and video reflect Lizzo's message of body positivity? And did Cardi B have her baby yet?! All this and more is covered on today's episode. Share your thoughts about the video on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Send comments to ...
Lizzo's Rumors, Classical Art, and Body Positivity
September 20, 2021 01:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBShanny talks with Kimiko Matsumura, an art historian, and Chad Seales, a scholar of religion and culture, about Lizzo and the video for "Rumors." Why was the video set in an ancient Greek and Roman visual world? How does the song and video reflect Lizzo's message of body positivity? And did Cardi B have her baby yet?! All this and more is covered on today's episode. Share your thoughts about the video on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Send comments to ...
The Colbert Report and Catholicism
September 06, 2021 21:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBIn the first episode of the second semester, we are curious about Stephen Colbert and American Catholicism. So we invited Stephanie Brehm, author of America's Most Famous Catholic (According to Himself): Stephen Colbert and American Religion in the 21st Century. And joining us is Mary Ellen O'Donnell, author of Ingrained Habits: Growing up Catholic in Mid-Twentieth Century America. Support the show Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. And tell your f...
Season 2 is Coming!
August 04, 2021 02:00 - 2 minutes - 1.94 MBJoin our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast/. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected]. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden and our logo is by artist and graphic designer Ryan Dreimiller. Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. Five-star reviews help other people find No Cure for Curiosity! Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden and our logo is by ar...
The Supreme Court (2021)
May 25, 2021 18:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBShanny talks with Political Science John Blakeman about the Supreme Court. What have been some of the most interesting and important cases from this past term? How have the three new justices impacted the rulings of the Supreme Court? Shanny is curious. How would you rule in these cases? Continue the conversation on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Share comments to [email protected]. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek ...
Godzilla vs Kong (2021 film)
May 10, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBSupport the show Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. And tell your friends who might also enjoy No Cure for Curiosity! It helps other people find the show. And continue the conversation on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden and our logo is by artist and graphic designer Ryan Dreimiller. You can send comments to [email protected].
The Classic Films of Godzilla and King Kong
April 27, 2021 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBIn our fifth episode of Season 1, Shanny talks with Cary Elza and Valerie Barske about Godzilla and King Kong. We had such a great and wide-ranging conversation, we're splitting it into two parts. In part I, we primarily focus on the original Godzilla and King Kong films. In part 2, which will be released May 10, we focus on the new film, Godzilla vs. Kong, released in March 2021. Support the show Please rate and review No Cure for Curiosity in your favorite podcast app. And tell your ...
Godzilla vs. King Kong: History, Politics, and Cinema
April 27, 2021 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBIn our fifth episode of Season 1, Shanny talks with Cary Elza and Valerie Barske about Godzilla vs. King Kong. We had such a great and wide-ranging conversation, we're splitting it into two parts. In part I, Cary, Valerie, and Shanny primarily focus on the histories of Godzilla and King Kong in cinema. In part 2, which will be released March 10, we focus primarily on the new film, Godzilla vs. Kong, released in March of 2021. If you are enjoying No Cure for Curiosity, please tell a frien...
Godzilla and King Kong: (Classic Films)
April 27, 2021 00:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBIn our fifth episode of Season 1, Shanny talks with Cary Elza and Valerie Barske about Godzilla and King Kong. We had such a great and wide-ranging conversation, we're splitting it into two parts. In part I, we primarily focus on the original Godzilla and King Kong films. In part 2, which will be released May 10, we focus on the new film, Godzilla vs. Kong, released in March 2021. If you are enjoying No Cure for Curiosity, please tell a friend about us. It helps other people find the s...
Netflix's Big Mouth
April 11, 2021 15:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIn our fourth episode of Season 1, Shanny talks with Kelly Wilz and Cary Elza, two UWSP professors in The Department of Media Studies, about Netflix's Big Mouth! If you are enjoying No Cure for Curiosity, please tell a friend about us. It helps other people find the show. And please continue the conversation on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. You can send comments to [email protected]. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek ...
Nick Kroll's Big Mouth and Sexual Identity
April 11, 2021 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBIn our fourth episode of Season 1, Shanny talks with Kelly Wilz and Cary Elza, two UWSP professors in The Department of Media Studies, about Netflix's Big Mouth! If you are enjoying No Cure for Curiosity, please tell a friend about us. It helps other people find the show. And please continue the conversation on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NoCureforCuriosityPodcast. You can send comments to [email protected]. Our intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek ...
Episode 3: Deep Ecology
March 29, 2021 20:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBIn our third episode, Shanny talks with Chris Diehm, Professor of Philosophy and program director of Environmental Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Ella Janson, a UWSP alum who holds degrees in Environmental Ethics, Drama, and History. In this episode, we talk about the study of Deep Ecology, our own relationships with nature and the environment, and I ask Ella how her Humanities degrees helped her with her life and career after graduation! If you are enjoying No Cu...
Deep Ecology: Our Relationship with Nature
March 29, 2021 20:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBIn our third episode, Shanny talks with Chris Diehm, Professor of Philosophy and program director of Environmental Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Ella Janson, a UWSP alum who holds degrees in Environmental Ethics, Drama, and History. In this episode, we talk about the study of Deep Ecology, our own relationships with nature and the environment, and I ask Ella how her Humanities degrees helped her with her life and career after graduation! If you are enjoying No Cu...
Bad Words
March 16, 2021 00:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBIn our second episode, Shanny talks with Dona Warren, the Director of the Critical Thinking Center at UWSP, and Ross Tangedal, Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Cornerstone Press at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, about swear words. In 1972 (49 years ago!) George Carlin released his famous bit "Seven Dirty Words." I wanted to talk about this subject to emphasize that college is a place where we can explore anything we are curious about. And I am very curious ab...
Wonder Woman 1984
March 01, 2021 16:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBIn our first episode, Shanny talks with Lindsay Bernhagen, the Director of the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning at UWSP, and Wyatt Cross, a graduate from UWSP, about Wonder Woman 1984. Send your comments to [email protected]. Some texts referenced in this podcast: Allison Bechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic Jill Lapore's The Secret History of Wonder Woman Our snappy intro music was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden. Our bright logo is by artist and g...
No Cure for Curiosity: Trailer!
February 25, 2021 18:00 - 1 minute - 1020 KBNo Cure for Curiosity is a podcast promoting educational curiosity. Every two weeks, Shanny Luft, Associate Dean of General Education at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, will invite friends and colleagues to talk about things we are curious about, from Netflix's Big Mouth to the Supreme Court, from God to Godzilla. Send your comments to [email protected]. Our snappy song was written by UWSP music student Derek Carden. Our lovely logo is by artist and graphic d...