Episode 1: Canada Geese and Diet Dr Pepper.
iTunes: https://t.co/bLoNHNJMPd
SoundCloud: https://t.co/LuvrSH3mYR
Overcast: https://t.co/YhA80MOdGC pic.twitter.com/WJTWt5NVAH— The Anthropocene Reviewed (@anthroreviewed) January 30, 2018
Hannah Soltis; Copy Editor; soltishe@plu.edu
In the last few years, I have discovered that the era of the podcast is upon us—it seems like every possible topic, from murder mysteries to comedy skits to in-depth analyses of popular television shows, is being discussed on a podcast available for free to anyone who cares to listen. Among these multitudes is one both different and similar: a review of the world as we know it.
“The Anthropocene Reviewed” is a short-form podcast (each episode is less than 20 minutes long) in which author and YouTuber John Green reviews aspects of the human-centered planet on a five star scale. For those who don’t know, the Anthropocene is the current geological age in which human activity has had the most impact on the environment.
In each episode, Green reviews two different parts of human life that you probably wouldn’t think of, like cholera or Diet Dr. Pepper. While these may seem at first like odd choices, he shows through his careful explanations why something as simple as the Canada goose is worth caring about and how humanity has affected them.
His reviews blend fact and anecdote to create a vivid picture of the subject, both in terms of physical description and metaphysical resonance, and his steady voice gently reminds you of your place in this world and in history. His thoughts on the world are at times funny, at times distressing, at times beautiful, but they are always thought-provoking.
Only two episodes have been released so far, but Green has several more to come—new episodes are released at the end of each month, and they are available to download or listen to anywhere podcasts are found.
I give this podcast 4.5 stars (because there’s always room for improvement).
