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Articles by J. McVay
Hamsterley Big Dig to uncover village history
Story by D. Carr and J. Mcvay – Archaeology News North East The Hamsterley Big Dig, held on June 8th and 9th, aimed to unearth a deeper understanding of the village’s past through the excavation of 1m x 1m test pits. This method, devised by Carenza Lewis of Time Team fame has proven successful in many archaeological digs up and down the country. The event HBD24, led by Ady Davis, a Hamsterley resident (and avid historian), was meticulously researched and well-organized.
Recommendation: 'Inconceivable Truth'
Plenty of people wonder about their ancestry. And in the age of Ancestry.com and 23andMe, plenty of those people are either confirming long-held beliefs or discovering things about their biological family trees that would have remained uncertain or gone unknown in years past. As Inconceivable Truth touches on, the discoveries some people are now making were sometimes originally constructed as mysteries by design.
Rubyisms... from Kind of a Lot with Matt Ruby
Over the summer, Matt and I recorded a few episodes of his podcast in which we discussed various aphorisms, mantras, and other brief thoughts he's collected that represent lessons he’s learned throughout his life. I thought I'd collect all three episodes in one place, so hope you enjoy! Available on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Rubyisms discussed in the episode: When we ran out of needs to fulfill, they started manufacturing desire.
Kind of a Lot with Matt Ruby Ep 20 // We don't know how to look: On raw power, the jungle, Iggy Pop, and ancient wisdom
Available on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. A recent story about how a Colombian girl managed to help keep her younger siblings alive while lost in the jungle for months because of “ancestral knowledge” begs the question of how most American kids – or adults, for that matter – might fare under similar circumstances.
Ep 16 // Mother's Day was awkward. It always is.
Matt shares his experience as someone whose parents both passed away relatively young. One odd thing about having parents who passed away at a relatively young age is how much you become a downer for the rest of your life when other people bring up parents as a topic. Matt shares his experience as someone who often has to defuse the guilt others seem to have about still having their parents when they’re around him, as well as what it’s like for him on Mother’s Day.
Ep 14 // Screens, filters, and the land of lies…
Matt asks: How long has it been since you last looked at a screen? “Time on screen” has become the metric that tech companies use to measure success. But “time on screen” seems to really be doing something to our brains – and our society for that matter. Matt suggests there’s a different metric of success for your soul: How long has it been since you last looked at a screen?
Kind of a Lot with Matt Ruby
Matt Ruby has kind of a lot to say about kind of a lot of things... Audio essays by the comedian and writer. Join comedian and author Matt Ruby for smartfunny™️ deep dives into topics for modern living. From technology and art to mindfulness and religion, Matt offers up a unique perspective based on his life as a comedian in NYC and his experiences as a musician, writer, and spiritual seeker. Learn more at mattrubycomedy.com.
Ep 197 // ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ / ‘Small Axe: Red, White and Blue’
12/18/20 // Ep 193 // ‘Sound of Metal’ / ‘Small Axe: Lovers Rock’ Two immersive movie experiences available to stream now. Plus music by Dominic Lavoie. | listen 12/4/20 // Ep 191 // ‘Small Axe: Mangrove’ / ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ Two courtroom dramas by Steve McQueen and Aaron Sorkin. Plus music by Jerry David Decicca. | listen 2/21/20 // Ep 150 // Prediction Markets & Elections / ‘Birds of Prey’ Joe Virgillito looks at prediction markets and their relationship to elections.
Ep 196 // American Insurrection
Ep 196 // American Insurrection Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateJan 8, 2021 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Politics Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:25 Summary of recent events 09:00 Open discussion 59:15 “Count To Ten” (BTR Live Studio, 2021) Erin Frisby 63:40 “Stick Figures” (BTR Live Studio, 2021) Gold Connections 66:55 Outro/credits 67:41 Finish. IN THIS EPISODE J.
Ep 195 // Revisiting 2020, featuring ‘Contagion’ (2011)
Ep 195 // Revisiting 2020, featuring ‘Contagion’ (2011) Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateJan 1, 2021 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Politics Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:16 Movie Review: J. McVay on ‘Contagion’ (2011/revisited) 03:27 Movie Chat w/ Jacqueline Soller & J.
Ep 194 // Revisiting 2020, featuring ‘Onward’
Ep 194 // Revisiting 2020, featuring ‘Onward’ Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateDec 25, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:17 Movie Review: Jacqueline Soller on ‘Onward’ (revisited) 03:05 Movie Chat w/ Jacqueline Soller & J.
Ep 193 // ‘Sound of Metal’ / ‘Small Axe: Lovers Rock’
Ep 193 // ‘Sound of Metal’ / ‘Small Axe: Lovers Rock’ Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateDec 18, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Politics Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:06 Movie Review: Jacqueline Soller on ‘Sound of Metal’ 02:12 Movie Chat w/ Jacqueline Soller & J.
Ep 192 // ‘Mank’ / ‘On The Rocks’
12/4/20 // Ep 191 // ‘Small Axe: Mangrove’ / ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ Two courtroom dramas by Steve McQueen and Aaron Sorkin. Plus music by Jerry David Decicca. | listen 11/20/20 // Ep 189 // ‘Dick Johnson is Dead’ / Stories of Healing & Connecting Netflix documentary, ‘Dick Johnson Is Dead.’ Plus stories of healing and connecting. Also, music from Foxanne and KIN.
Ep 191 // ‘Small Axe: Mangrove’ / ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
10/16/20 // "With Baby" by Sad13 at Home Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz returns to BTR Live Studio with her pop-oriented solo project, Sad13, on the occasion of the second album, Haunted Painting. Here, Sadie takes us inside her home studio in… | watch 11/2/20 // West London’s DJ WheelUP Defines Broken Beat Plus, we listen to his newest EP, ‘Wanezi’—insanely danceable & features Alabama rapper Brint Story.
Ep 12: Big Joanie
11/18/20 // Ep 11: Tender Creature Nikkiesha interviews the indie folk duo Tender Creature. We also hear a few tracks off their new EP, ‘An Offering,’ which is available on all platforms. This podcast is produced by Stereoactive… | listen 11/4/20 // Ep 10: Billy Dean Thomas Nikkiesha interviews the rapper Billy Dean Thomas, born in Harlem, but now living in Boston.
Ep 190 // The Biden Transition Begins / Stories of Learning & Growing
Ep 190 // The Biden Transition Begins / Stories of Learning & Growing Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 189 // ‘Dick Johnson is Dead’ / Stories of Healing & Connecting
Ep 189 // ‘Dick Johnson is Dead’ / Stories of Healing & Connecting Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateNov 20, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Politics Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:10 Movie Review: Jacqueline Soller on ‘Dick Johnson Is Dead’ 02:45 Movie Chat: Jacqueline Soller + J.
Ep 188 // 20yr Film Retro: ‘Gladiator’
Ep 188 // 20yr Film Retro: ‘Gladiator’ Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateNov 13, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 00:59 START /// 20yr Film Retro: ‘Gladiator’ 05:05 Did you see this when it came out or had you seen it before watching it this time? 06:25 What was your take on it at the time? 08:52 What’s your take on it now? How does it hold up 20 years later? Has it been influential?
Ep 187 // Election Rundown: Record Turnout, Misleading Polls, & Prospects of a Divided Government
00:00 Intro 00:55 START /// Election Roundup 02:45 The coverage we’ve been following 05:55 Record turnout 09:10 1st time Trump voters 15:48 Misleading polls 29:15 Texas and other state governments didn’t flip as hoped / redistricting 33:55 The Senate / prospect of a divided government 44:50 Biden would offer baseline relief to vulnerable people targeted by Trump 51:55 Media’s response to Trump’s lying and subversion of electoral process 55:45 “Stop the count” or “count the vote?” 57:25...
LISTEN // BTRtoday
Listen Music Discovery + Political and Cultural Discussions Nov 3, 2020 Sam Burton is an indie folk musician originally from Utah, now living in LA, who has just released his debut record, produced by Jarvis Tavernier from the band Woods. I spoke with Sam while he was on the road back from Austin to LA, and we talked about the record, hanging out on a pecan orchard, and the effect that moving to LA has had on his songwriting and life in general.
Ep 186 // Election Countdown: Donald Trump Doesn’t Care If You Live or Die (or if your vote is counted)
00:00 Intro 01:18 START /// Election Countdown (including timeline and polling) 11:52 Polling and high early/mail turnout 22:20 SCOTUS rules Wisconsin mail in ballots arriving after election day don’t count 31:45 Amy Coney Barrett confirmed / court expansion vs.
Ep 185 // Election Countdown: Sasse & Cornyn edge, Biden vetting GOP appointees (maybe), and Rudy meets Borat
Ep 185 // Election Countdown: Sasse & Cornyn edge, Biden vetting GOP appointees (maybe), and Rudy meets Borat Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 184 // Election Countdown: Fundraising Records, Early Voting, SCOTUS, & Failed Smears
Ep 184 // Election Countdown: Fundraising Records, Early Voting, SCOTUS, & Failed Smears Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 183 // Election Countdown: a SCOTUS Seat, Trump’s Taxes, a Terrible Debate… and he’s got COVID-19
Ep 183 // Election Countdown: a SCOTUS Seat, Trump’s Taxes, a Terrible Debate… and he’s got COVID-19 Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 8: Just The Tunes
00:00 Intro/Sponsor 01:11 “Preach” Blxck Cxsper feat. Lucas Charlie Rose 05:04 “What About Us” Blxck Cxsper feat. Nicki Andro 08:49 “Don’t Mess With The King” Blxck Cxsper 12:00 “Big Dick Girl” Blxck Cxsper 14:56 “Bleu Blanc Noir” Blxck Cxsper 17:30 “Bounce” Blxck Cxsper 21:38 “Bye Bye Betty” Blxck Cxsper 25:00 “Pays Des Merveilles” Blxck Cxsper 28:15 “Yours” Blxck Cxsper feat.
Ep 182 // 10yr Film Retro: ‘The King’s Speech’
00:00 Intro 01:03 START /// 10yr Film Retro: ‘The King’s Speech’ 04:05 Did you see this when it came out or had you seen it before watching it this time? 05:17 What was your take on it at the time? 08:07 What’s your take on it now? How does it hold up 10 years later? Has it been influential over the years? 19:15 What, if anything, stands out to you watching it now that didn't stand out to you then (and vice versa: what stood out then, but doesn't now)?
Ep 181 // Meet BTR: Nikkiesha McLeod / ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’
Ep 181 // Meet BTR: Nikkiesha McLeod / ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 180 // Trump Doesn’t Care, Dems Need To Focus, & New Oscar Rules
9/11/20 // Ep 179 // Paul Ollinger w/ Matt Ruby / ‘Buoyancy’ Paul Ollinger on the psychology of money. New movie, ‘Buyoyancy.’ Plus music by Oginalii and HaStyle Rhymes | listen 8/21/20 // Ep 176 // Bold Economic Action vs. COVID-19 w/ L. Randall Wray / ‘She Dies Tomorrow’ Economist L. Randall Wray on bold economic solutions for the pandemic. New movie, ‘She Dies Tomorrow.’ Plus music from Nejma Nefertiti and Carriers.
Ep 179 // Paul Ollinger w/ Matt Ruby / ‘Buoyancy’
00:00 Intro 01:11 START /// Matt Ruby chats with Paul Ollinger / beginning the ‘Crazy Money’ podcast / why people are reluctant to discuss money 03:20 Personal relationship with money and finances as a comedian, then working at Facebook 11:10 Comedians and finances 14:35 Money buys happiness only to a point: about $75k 19:00 ‘Friends,’ Hootie and the Blowfish, and lessons learned 21:30 Happiness in people who win the lottery vs.
Ep 178 // Excellent Adventures, Bogus Journeys, & Music Faced
Ep 178 // Excellent Adventures, Bogus Journeys, & Music Faced Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateSep 4, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:01 Movie Chat: ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ 26:00 Movie Chat: ‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey’ 38:30 Movie Chat: ‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’ 63:57 “Jackie’s Bone Tired” (BTR Live Studio, 2020) BRNDA 67:35 Outro/credits 68:18 Finish.
Ep 177 // The VoiceLove Project / ‘Mr. Jones’
00:00 Intro 01:18 START /// Matt Ruby chats w/ Doctors Tamantha Fenster & Marc Schiffman of the VoiceLove Project / background on their work at beginning of pandemic 09:30 How the “walkie-talkie” works to allow COVID-19 patients to be in better touch w/ loved ones 15:07 Benefits of this communication method for patients, loved ones, and health workers 19:30 Overarching issues around connecting patients to others during “fragile moments” 22:00 VoiceLove’s potential ongoing relevance after...
Ep 176 // Bold Economic Action vs. COVID-19 w/ L. Randall Wray / ‘She Dies Tomorrow’
Ep 176 // Bold Economic Action vs. COVID-19 w/ L. Randall Wray / ‘She Dies Tomorrow’ Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateAug 21, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Politics Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:15 Joe Virgilitto chats w/ L. Randall Wray about economic action that could help deal with the economic consequences of the pandemic.
Ep 175 // Lobbyist Influence at the DNC w/ David Moore
Ep 175 // Lobbyist Influence at the DNC w/ David Moore Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 174 // Best Movies of 2020 So Far + Pandemic First Watches
00:00 Intro 01:00 Favorite movies of 2020 so far… and thoughts on “moviegoing” during the pandemic 08:45 Chuck’s 1st pick 12:00 Jackie’s 1st pick 14:27 J’s 1st pick 17:30 Chuck’s 2nd pick 20:50 Jackie’s 2nd pick 22:55 J’s 2nd pick 25:00 Chuck’s 3rd pick 27:38 Jackie’s 3rd pick 29:15 J’s 3rd pick 31:25 Favorite 1st watches of things that came out before 2020 32:10 Chuck’s 1st pick 35:22 Jackie’s 1st pick 39:38 J’s 1st pick 42:38 Chuck’s 2nd pick 44:20 Jackie’s 2nd pick 45:46 J’s 2nd pick 47:35...
Ep 173 // Medical Professionals Call For Reset / Trump & A Disputed Election / ‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’
7/24/20 // Ep 172 // Rabbi Avram Mlotek w/ Matt Ruby Matt Ruby chats w/ Rabbi Avram Mlotek about Judaism and our current crises–and his new book. Plus music by Worriers and Seán Barna. | listen 6/5/20 // Ep 165 // George Floyd, Protests, and Police Riots George Floyd was murdered on Monday, May 25th. Protests followed, with police riots in response.
Ep 3: Anjimile // BTRlisten
00:00 Intro/Sponsor 01:02 ”Maker” Anjimile 03:58 START /// Interview w/ Anjimile / musical background 05:25 “Maker” and gender identity / coming out moment 08:50 Upcoming album, ‘Giver Taker,’ themes: spirituality and identity / recording process 13:24 Playing live vs. recording 14:39 ‘Giver Taker’ vs. previous work 15:49 Behind the album name 17:08 How has having a deeper voice after transitioning affected the music?
Ep 172 // Rabbi Avram Mlotek w/ Matt Ruby
Ep 172 // Rabbi Avram Mlotek w/ Matt Ruby Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering...
Ep 171 // ‘House of Hummingbird’ / ‘Palm Springs’
7/1/20 // Ep 1: An Introduction ‘When We See Each Other’ is a new podcast hosted by Nikkiesha McLeod that will focus on work by Black, queer, trans, non-binary artists/writers from a broad range of genres. J McVay joins… | listen 6/26/20 // Ep 168 // Fireworks / Rigging an Election / Progressive Wins / Police Violence Quantified / ‘Shirley’ We review the news of the week.
Ep 2: Getting My Feet Wet
Ep 2: Getting My Feet Wet Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateJul 15, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: United Categories Garage Hip Hop Music Pop Rock Playlist 00:00 Intro/Sponsor 00:40 POEM // “When We See Each Other” 01:46 “Black In Amerikkka” Kin4life 04:14 “Hot Honey” Kin4life 08:27 “Regretful” Kin4life 10:26 “Swing A Episode” Kin4life 13:29 Mic Break 14:06 POEM // “Black” 15:59 “Cain’t Git None” Delila Black feat.
Ep 170 // ‘Hamilton’
6/29/20 // Danny Denial Chats New Album & Living In Seattle’s Autonomous Zone The Black & queer musician uses his art for justice, but is taking it to a whole new level. | read 6/26/20 // Ep 168 // Fireworks / Rigging an Election / Progressive Wins / Police Violence Quantified / ‘Shirley’ We review the news of the week.
Ep 169 // Conservative Hypocrisy / Russian Bounties / The Roberts Court / Box Office Loophole
5/26/20 // "Booklet" by Felicia Douglass Prolific producer and songwriter Felicia Douglass is a fierce musical talent, whom you may recognize from her solo project or her work with Gemma, Dirty Projectors, Ava Luna, Baile, and Lip Set. This… | watch
Ep 168 // Fireworks / Rigging an Election / Progressive Wins / Police Violence Quantified / ‘Shirley’
6/5/20 // Ep 165 // George Floyd, Protests, and Police Riots George Floyd was murdered on Monday, May 25th. Protests followed, with police riots in response. | listen 6/9/20 // Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga, Tennessee - based artists are featured on the June edition of Spotlight on the City. | listen 6/9/20 // A Brief History of Punk Rock’s Contribution to Civil Rights & Its Whitewashed Past Pioneering Black punks need to be praised & recognized as founding fathers of the genre.
Ep 167 // Ana Goñi-Lessan on Houston & George Floyd / ‘Da 5 Bloods’
6/12/20 // Ep 166 // Andre Green On Our Current Inflection Point Andre Green joins us to discuss the current inflection point we’re going through as a nation. He also shares his personal reaction and describes the reactions he’s witnessed locally in Massachusetts. | listen 6/5/20 // Ep 165 // George Floyd, Protests, and Police Riots George Floyd was murdered on Monday, May 25th. Protests followed, with police riots in response.
Ep 166 // Andre Green On Our Current Inflection Point
00:00 Intro 01:05 START /// Andre Green on George Floyd, protests, police violence / Introduction 06:03 Personal and local reaction in Massachusetts 09:36 Local cases brought to light in aftermath 14:08 Biggest surprises 17:02 Specific words to use in discussions about protests (or riots, uprisings, etc.) / recognizing white privilege: “people tend to think a game they’re winning is fair” 21:32 Recognizing the struggle of Black Americans as the “true red-pilling” white Americans need /...
Ep 165 // George Floyd, Protests, and Police Riots
IN THIS EPISODE A warning: this episode contains descriptions of police violence… Excerpt from episode: On May 25th, George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. We discussed it on last week’s episode, which we recorded about 45 hours after the killing. We knew some of the details then — enough to recognize the obvious similarities to other killings in the past. In video of the killing, George Floyd can be heard pleading. He can be heard calling for his mother.
Ep 163 // Movies For The Pandemic
5/15/20 // Ep 162 // Pandemic Parenting w/ George Flanagan & Maggie Oliver The ins and outs of what it’s like for two parents to raise children during the pandemic. Also, music by Shana Falana. | listen 3/27/20 // Ep 155 // COVID-19 and the Case for Medicare For All / ‘Contagion’ (2011) Joe Virgillito chats with Prof. Gerald Friedman about COVID-19 and the case for Medicare For All. J.
Adir L.C., Shana Falana, Monteagle, The Beths, Nana Grizol
This past Friday, we released our first “At Home” episode of the BTR Live Studio podcast and video series. It featured Adir L.C. — an artist who previously visited us at the studio back when things were more… “normal.” We’ll be doing these At Home sessions until it’s safe for our team and artists to get together again in person and we’re doing many of them with artists who, like Adir L.C., have previously visited us.
Ep 162 // Pandemic Parenting w/ George Flanagan & Maggie Oliver
00:00 Intro 01:11 START /// Pandemic Parenting w/ George Flanagan & Maggie Oliver 02:27 Setting the stage 10:00 Adapting as the crisis has stretched on 15:00 Just getting through the day / difference between dealing with a 1 and 6 year old 18:19 Does Kiearan’s ability to process information more than others his age make it hard to recognize the threshold of what he can deal with?
Ep 161 // Trump & Kushner Mismanage COVID-19 + Biden’s VP Options / ‘Driveways’
Ep 161 // Trump & Kushner Mismanage COVID-19 + Biden’s VP Options / ‘Driveways’ Your browser does not support the audio element. >buffering... Premiere DateMay 8, 2020 Series Page Download Sponsor: AT&T Categories Culture Film & TV Politics Talk Weekly Talk Playlist 00:00 Intro 01:28 Life During Quarantine: The unwinding task force winds again / Kushner made things worse 17:17 There’s Still An Election: Biden’s VP options + why it matters.. Or doesn’t? Who knows?
Ep 160 // Life During Quarantine + There’s Still An Election / ‘Extraction’
4/4/20 // Previewing SAVAK's Rotting Teeth In The Horse's Mouth w/ Michael Jaworski This week we're kicking off the episode with a preview of the upcoming SAVAK album, Rotting Teeth In The Horse's Mouth, out April 10th from Ernest Jenning Record Company, complete with a conversation… | listen 3/20/20 // "Earth Angel" by Activity NYC band Activity is a supergroup of sorts, with Travis Johnson, Steve Levine, Zoë Browne, and Jess Rees coming from the excellent bands Grooms, Field Mouse, and...
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