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  • Season 2, episode 15:

    In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Sickness”. This promises to be an episode of fun discussions, varied readings of pain and hilarity, and a few statistics to boot! They discuss questions such as: why do men not go to the doctor’s? Can prayer really relieve pain? What poems, depressing and funny alike, have they found for you? And what are some funny stories doctors have told about patients? Also, what would Marcus Aurelius say about sickness if he was alive today?

    Men don’t go to the doctor

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1121551/

    Dr Gabor Mate on addiction

    https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/23606-what-ails-us

    Tulips by Sylvia Plath

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49013/tulips-56d22ab68fdd0

    Sick by Shel Silverstein

    https://poets.org/poem/sick

    Funny stories by doctors:

    https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-doctor-patient-stories/

    Stoic response to sickness - an AI Marcus Aurelius response

    https://www.stoicsimple.com/stoic-advice-on-health-problems-illness-ask-marcus-aurelius/#:~:text=Instead%20of%20dwelling%20on%20your,the%20natural%20order%20of%20things.

    On Pain by Gibran Khalil Gibran

    https://poets.org/poem/pain-1

    Assisted suicide In Germany

    https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/1000135?form=fpf

    https://www.dw.com/en/assisted-suicide-germany-weighs-autonomy-and-ethics/a-66111477

    In sickness and in health

    https://www.structuralheartjournal.org/article/S2474-8706(24)00034-4/fulltext

    https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.801752.de/diw_sp1110.pdf

    Walking Around by Pablo Neruda

    https://allpoetry.com/Walking-Around

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Cake”. Listen to them as they discuss their cake eating and baking preferences all while discussing “Let them eat cake!” and why baking shows became so popular. Would you call the sweet little baked goodness Jaffa cake or biscuits? Why does it matter? And of course, here is some poetry in there for you!

    No one said “Let them eat cake”!

    https://www.britannica.com/story/did-marie-antoinette-really-say-let-them-eat-cake

    Betty Crocker cake mix story

    https://cantrell.medium.com/the-myth-of-the-instant-cake-mix-a45aaac8b302

    https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/something-eggstra/

    Chocolate Cake by Michael Rosen

    https://www.uv.mx/personal/jomartinez/files/2011/08/Chocolate-Cake.pdf

    The most difficult cakes to make:

    https://www.findcourses.co.uk/inspiration/hobby-fun-leisure-articles/how-to-make-the-worlds-most-difficult-cakes-17573

    Simnel cake

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simnel_cake

    The Jaffa Cake Story

    https://www.kerseys.co.uk/jaffa-cakes-cakes-biscuits/#:~:text=During%20the%20court%20battle%20between,recognised%20as%20chocolate%20covered%20cakes.

    Cake idioms

    https://www.ihpalermo.com/Cake-Biscuit-Idioms

    Sister’s cake By Eugene Field

    https://www.poetrysoup.com/famous/poem/sisters_cake_605

    Cake by Roger Mcgough

    https://allpoetry.com/poem/14373247-Cake-by-Roger-McGough

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: [email protected]

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  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Betrayal”. Listen to them as they discuss the different types of betrayal whether in relationships, in a relation to one’s country of oneself. They discuss statistics about cheating from different countries as well as how it is regarded in stoicism, the Quran and the Bible. There is poetry from different eras and perspectives too!

    Countries with highest infidelity rate:

    https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/infidelity-rates-by-country

    Is it emotional cheating?

    https://health.clevelandclinic.org/emotional-cheating

    Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy

    https://genius.com/Carol-ann-duffy-medusa-annotated

    Betrayal in the Quran

    https://submission.org/friday_betrayal.html#:~:text=Those%20elements%20might%20be%20summarized,and%20be%20among%20the%20truthful.

    We Who Are Your Closest Friends by Phillip Lopate

    https://poets.org/poem/we-who-are-your-closest-friends

    Dictionary Definition

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Sarcasm”, or should we say wit? Humour? Verbal irony? Listen to them as they discuss the nuances in these terms all while reading poetry, research and some (soft) science and statistics.

    Culture and Social Status

    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0163853X.2023.2252695#abstract

    A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burthen to their Parents, or the Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick by Jonthan Swift

    https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-h/1080-h.htm

    Psychology of Sarcasm

    negatives

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/and-running/202012/behind-the-scenes-sarcasm

    https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/what-sarcasm-means.htm

    positives

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/02/09/a-psychologist-explains-the-irresistible-appeal-of-sarcasm/

    https://www.apa.org/monitor/may05/sarcasm

    https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/why-sarcastic-people-are-more-successful.html

    Sarcastic TV characters

    https://www.storypick.com/hurting-your-stomach/

    A Rational Anthem by Ambrose Bierce

    https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/rational-anthem

    Not Waving but Drowning By Stevie Smithhttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46479/not-waving-but-drowning

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at: [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Trees”. Listen to them as they discuss the fascinating mechanisms trees use to grow and survive. What are the oldest trees in the world? Which countries have the most trees and which countries are planting and cutting down trees? How do trees appear in religion, culture and literature? All these questions (and many more) will be answered.

    When Autumn Came - Faiz Ahmed Faiz 1911-1984

    https://poets.org/poem/when-autumn-came

    Be by Nizar Qabbani

    https://blogs.transparent.com/arabic/nizar-qabbani-the-tree/

    The tree of life in Bahrain

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Life_(Bahrain)

    Oldest Trees in the world

    https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/oldest-tree-in-world

    Deforestation in Syria:

    https://syriadirect.org/under-the-axe-the-fall-of-daraas-forests-and-fruit-trees/

    Dragon Blood tree on the island of Socotra

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/12/saving-dragons-blood-island-refused-let-tree-die-out-socotra-yemen

    Poplar Trees are Happiest – by John Russell McCarthy

    https://woodlandtrust.tumblr.com/post/690916023263789056/poplar-trees-are-happiest-john-russell-mccarthy

    Plant a trillion trees

    https://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/trillion-trees/

    Tree statistics

    https://www.morfo.rest/article/top-30-forested-countries

    Alternative search engine

    https://www.ecosia.org/?https:/www.ecosia.org%3Ftt%3D2044ca88%26tt%3D2044ca88%26gad_source%3D1&tt=2044ca88&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvW2BhDyARIsADnIe-LLHIog-ZQyQyYZpGApzW-nhZ8RU7MHLLlAPYJ5XN2jR-fQU7bwbFoaAjUYEALw_wcB

    When Great Trees Fall Maya Angelou

    https://poems.com/poem/when-great-trees-fall/

    On Marriage (from The Prophet) by Gibran Khalil Gibran

    https://poets.org/poem/marriage-3

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Patience”. Listen to them as they discern one type of patience from another. Can one be stoically patient in one context and impatient in another? Is patience always a virtue? What can we do when we feel impatient? What have poets from different cultural backgrounds got to say about patience?

    Dictionary Definition

    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/patience

    The Patience of Job

    https://www.gotquestions.org/patience-of-Job.html

    Types of patience:

    https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/dam/az/PDF/2020/covid-19-toolkit/Patience.pdf

    Stoicism as a way to learn patience

    https://www.stoicsimple.com/stoicism-as-a-way-to-learn-patience-acceptance-be-calm/

    Laughter and Tears IX - Kahlil Gibran

    https://www.poetrysoup.com/famous/poem/laughter_and_tears_ix_21303

    On his Blindness by John Milton

    https://www.owleyes.org/text/on-his-blindness/read/text-poem

    The marshmallow experiment debunked

    https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/new-study-disavows-marshmallow-tests-predictive-powers/

    Most patient animals in the world

    https://learningmole.com/most-patient-animals-in-the-world/

    Top 10 most patient countries

    https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/top-10-most-patient-countries

    https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cross-country-variation-in-patience?tab=table

    https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2019/0729/Why-wealth-and-patience-appear-to-go-hand-in-hand

    Exposure to disaster causes impatience

    https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-03-today-exposure-disaster-impatience-children.html

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Light”. Listen to them as they discuss how light is perceived in different cultures. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how does it affect us? How did ancient peoples explain the sun and other light-related phenomena? Some great poetry awaits you!

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

    Silver by Walter de la Mare

    https://allpoetry.com/poem/8494557-Silver-by-Walter-de-la-Mare

    The light triad

    https://www.simplypsychology.org/light-triad-personality.html#:~:text=The%20light%20triad%20consists%20of,narcissism%2C%20Mechiavialinism%2C%20and%20psychopathy.

    Myths about Aurora Borealis

    https://www.nathab.com/blog/fifteen-native-tales-about-the-northern-lights/

    Light and darkness in Romeo and Juliet

    https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/subjects/literature/how-does-shakespeare-use-light-and-darkness-in-romeo-and-juliet

    A World of Light - Elizabeth Jennings

    https://www.kidsworldfun.com/learn-english/poem-a-world-of-light.php

    Near death experiences and light

    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-near-death-experiences-reveal-about-the-brain/

    Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu

    https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amenouzume

    Bread, Hashish and Moon by Nizar Qabbani

    https://allpoetry.com/Bread,-Hashish-And-Moon

    Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas

    https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Doubt”. Listen to them as they discuss the useful and not-so-useful manifestations of doubt. They discuss Impostor Syndrome and why it might be more prevalent in females than in males and talk about ways to alleviate self-doubt and its negative impacts. They have some powerful poetry for you too.

    How to overcome self-doubt:

    https://eugenetherapy.com/article/overcome-self-doubt/#:~:text=However%2C%20when%20it%20becomes%20debilitating,self%2Ddoubt%20later%20in%20life.

    Descartes on doubt:

    https://philife.nd.edu/descartes-meditations-doubt-everything/

    Doubt in Islam:

  • After a short summer break, Rama and Tony are back with you with a new episode on this episode of the topic of “Water”. Listen to them as they discuss the different effects of water on us as humans. They discuss the many ways water has been used in different analogies attempting to describe the human experience. How does water feature in Christianity and Islam? What do stoics and mystics say about it? And of course, how does water feature in Shakespeare’s writing, especially Hamlet? How much water are we using for our different purposes and how does water scarcity threaten to affect us?

    Becoming the Ocean by Khalil Gibran

    https://bradwcarr.medium.com/becoming-the-ocean-fb17376975ad

    Stoicism on Water

    https://www.beststoicquotes.com/blog/on-digging-deep

    Global market for bottled water

    https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/non-alcoholic-drinks/bottled-water/worldwide#revenue

    Top 10 countries with freshwater resources

    https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/top-10-countries-with-freshwater-resources-1537440475-1

    Industries that consume most fresh water

    https://2030.builders/world-water-day/

    “Water” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52342/water-56d230b9c3194

    Types of water use:

    https://watercycle.byu.edu/blue-green-and-gray-water-use#:~:text=Blue%20Water%20deals%20with%20human,quality%20issues%20or%20excessive%20heat.

    How much water does it take to make a pair of Jeans?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ckr93c

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Stationery”. Listen to them as they discuss what stationery items mean to them as teachers. There are some interesting facts and statistics about stationery that might surprise you. What are the most stolen items of stationery? Tony also reads you poetry about stationery which we hope you enjoy!

    Stealing stationery from work

    https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180524-the-psychology-of-stealing-office-supplies

    https://yougov.co.uk/economy/articles/21708-what-are-britons-stealing-work

    https://www.furniture-work.co.uk/blog/post/13-eye-opening-statistics-about-theft-in-the-workplace

    The history of pencils (and other stationery)

    https://inkymemo.com/unknown-facts-stationery-tricks/

    Pens Are Better Than Pencils by Dan Brown

    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pens-are-better-than-pencils/

    Most expensive pens:

    https://www.executivepensdirect.com/blogs/fun-stuff/the-ten-most-expensive-pens-in-the-world

    History of BIC biro

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bic_Cristal#:~:text=The%20 BIC%20 Crystal%20(stylised%20as,billionth%20sale%20in%20 September%202006.

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Lying”. Listen to them as they discuss the different types of lies people tell and why we lie. Which nations lie more than others? Which gender? Should one always be honest and what are the most common lies people tell?

    Which country lies the most

    https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/the-most-dishonest-country-is

    https://nypost.com/2015/11/16/the-most-dishonest-country-is/

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6875219/Australia-ranks-list-dishonest-countries.html

    Why Children/teenagers lie or want to lie

    https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/behaviour/common-concerns/lies#:~:text='white%20lie'.-,When%20do%20children%20start%20lying%3F,more%20at%204%2D6%20years.

    https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/restoring-families/why-do-teenagers-lie/#:~:text=Teens%20Lie%20More%20Than%20Any,get%20away%20with%20it%20more.

    The most common lies

    https://www.lawyersmutualnc.com/blog/the-20-most-popular-lies-we-tell-every-day

    White Lies by NATASHA TRETHEWEY

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58265/white-lies

    Sonnet 138: When My Love Swears That She Is Made of Truth

    https://www.poemhunter.com/william-shakespeare/

    8 of History’s Most Destructive Lies

    https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/05/8-historys-destructive-lies/

    Stoicism on lying

    https://dailystoic.com/its-about-what-you-do-and-dont-do/

    Shakespeare and Lies - the 7 degrees of lying

    https://noshitshakespeare.tumblr.com/post/140859299194/the-seven-degrees-of-lying-in-as-you-like-it-by

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Football”. This episode was recorded during the European Championship and it spurred a conversation about why men are generally more enthusiastic about football than women. How is women’s football doing in terms of equality, support and funding? What is the Mohammad Salah effect. They discuss their findings on the history of the game and some interesting facts. There’s poetry, too!

    Why more men are interested in football than women:

    https://time.com/4322947/men-women-sports-evolution/

    Psychology of football supporters - need for identification/belonging:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-of-fandom/202302/why-football-fans-get-so-emotional

    https://neurosciencenews.com/fan-emotion-brain-25236/

    ‘We See You’ by Carol Ann Duffy:

    https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/carol-ann-duffy-womens-football/

    Shakespeare on Football:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1S1GnZzSNft0WpBRK92bW8T/back-of-ye-net

    https://nosweatshakespeare.com/blog/shakespeare-beautiful-game/

    Stoic response to fandom:

    https://modernstoicism.com/stoicism-sports-and-fandom-an-exchange-by-tim-lebon-and-greg-sadler/

    The Mohammad Salah effect:

    https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/can-exposure-to-celebrities-reduce-prejudice-the-effect-of-mohamed-salah-on-islamophobic-behaviors-and-attitudes/A1DA34F9F5BCE905850AC8FBAC78BE58

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Hair”! Join them as they discuss what different hairstyles might say about us, hair loss, wig history and growing market. Should hair be covered? Shampooed? Cut? They read you poetry too!

    Alain de Botton on boldness and hairstyles:

    https://www.theschooloflife.com/article/why-we-think-so-much-about-our-hair/

    For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats

    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-anne-gregory/

    Wigs:

    The Truth About Where Hair Extensions Come From | Shady | Refinery29

    Global hair care market - statistics

    https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/beauty-personal-care/personal-care/hair-care/worldwide

    https://www.skyquestt.com/report/hair-care-market#:~:text=Hair%20Care%20Market%20Insights,period%20(2024%2D2031).

    https://www.statista.com/statistics/824153/market-value-organic-natural-hair-care-global/

    Hair loss shampoos - don’t work

    https://drwilliamlindsey.com/fact-fiction-hair-loss-shampoos-work-stop-hair-loss/

    No-poo

    https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/no-poo#hair-health

    History of hairstyles

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairstyle

    https://www.thehairroutine.com/blogs/journal/hair-through-decades

    https://www.thelovepost.global/decolonise-your-mind/photo-essays/hair-power-exploring-history-and-meaning-hairstyles-across-globe

    Hairstyles and pop music

    https://www.buzzfeed.com/spotify/shaggy-beards-and-curly-hair

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/0125caa8-a00d-4bf8-98e1-089e2dac254f

    Idioms about HAIR

    https://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/body/hair.html

    https://torontohairtransplantclinic.com/the-idioms-of-hair/

    Her Hair - Charles Baudelaire

    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/her-hair/

    Hijab Scene 7 by Mohja Kahf

    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hijab-scene-7/

    Redheads:

    https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2018/04/redheads-pain#:~:text=They%20need%20about%2020%20percent,killing%20analgesics%2C%20such%20as%20opioids.

    Granddad's Got Hair By Graham Craven

    https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/grandads-got-hair

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Cats”. Listen to them as they discuss their experiences with cats. Rama reads some research about the health benefits of having cats, while Tony counters by reading statistics and other science about cat owners. How do different cultures see cats, especially black ones? Which countries have the most cats and which countries are restricting cat owning? Some interesting poetry about cats features in today’s episode as well!

    The physical and mental health benefits of having cats:

    https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-being-cat-lover#4.-Health

    Annual expenditure on cats and dogs USA

    https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/cat-advice/cost-owning-cat

    Needy cat people

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2911381/It-s-official-crazy-cat-ladies-exist-Pet-owners-neurotic-needy-cliams-study.html

    "Quick! quick! ..." BY ANONYMOUS

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42906/quick-quick-

    The Galloping Cat by Stevie Smith(1972)

    https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/the-galloping-cat

    Cat Idioms and Phrases

    https://owlcation.com/humanities/50-Cat-Idioms-and-Phrases

    Famous cats

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individual_cats

    Cat islands:

    https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5031.html

    The Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke

    https://allpoetry.com/The-Panther

    Cats in Shakespeare

    https://www.thegreatcat.org/cat-shakespeare/

    https://www.historyhit.com/the-bizarre-life-of-cats-in-shakespeares-england/

    Black cat superstitions and witchcraft

    https://www.msj.edu/news/2024/02/the-power-of-black-cats.html#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20European%20folklore%20evolved,would%20ultimately%20threaten%20their%20safety.

    February by Margaret Atwood

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47787/february-56d2288025b1e

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this new season of The Words That Make Us, Rama and Tony attempt to shorten the episodes. Listen to them as they discuss the topic of "Shoes". They tell you a little about the history and trends in shoes. Which shoe brand generates the most profit and what are elevator shoes? What does your choice of shoes say about you? There's a story and some poetry about shoes in there too.

    Interesting facts and the earliest shoes:

    https://shuzes.co.uk/blogs/news/10-facts-about-shoes-you-didnt-know

    Cultural Significance of Shoes

    https://www.walkingonacloud.ca/blog/the-cultural-significance-of-shoes/

    https://www.comunitymade.com/blogs/posts/draft-how-footwear-reflects-community-and-culture

    Shoe Traditions

    https://woombie.com/blog/post/shoe-traditions-across-the-globe-that-leaves-tourist-wondering-why

    http://traditionalshoes.com/en/archives/210

    https://mainecrimewriters.com/2016/12/08/christmas-customs-a-shoe-in/

    Sneaker Culture

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/sneaker-culture-sneakerheads-air-jordans-history-expression

    Footwear Industry Trends

    https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/footwear/worldwide

    Bible Quotations and Topics about Shoes

    https://www.bible-topics.com/Shoes.html#:~:text=Deuteronomy%2033%3A25%20Thy%20shoes,so%20shall%20thy%20strength%20be.&text=Bound%20round%20the%20feet%20with,am%20not%20worthy%20to%20unloose.

    Phrases or Idioms with Shoes

    https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/shoe

    My Old Shoes by Amos Russel Well

    https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/amos-russel-wells/my-old-shoes/?utm_content=cmp-true

    The Shoemaker by Evander A. Crewson

    https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/e-a-crewson/the-shoemaker/

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Food”. Listen to them discuss the foods of their childhoods and respective countries. What are some statistics about meat and other foods around the world? How is food seen in stoicism, Islam and Christianity? How is the food industry evolving to keep up with modern trends? They also share with you some poems about food.

    Trigger warning: If you find the topic of eating disorders triggering, be sure to skip the poem “The Diet” by Carol Ann Duffy.

    On Eating and Drinking (from The Prophet) Kahlil Gibran

    https://poets.org/poem/eating-and-drinking-0

    Evolution of Diet / Timeline

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/evolution-of-diet/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_food

    Learning to eat the stoic way

    https://thestoicgym.com/the-stoic-magazine/article/127

    Organic Foods Statistics

    https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/organic-food6.htm

    On US food consumption

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nZxOh7ghMjKeo2Y49_mb98OIzP1GUa2t/edit#gid=2065436962

    Corned Beef and Cabbage

    BY GEORGE BILGERE

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52248/corned-beef-and-cabbage

    “The Diet” by Carol Ann Duffy

    https://poemanalysis.com/carol-ann-duffy/the-diet/

    FUN FACTS ABOUT FOOD!

    https://www.thefactsite.com/100-random-food-facts/

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Holidays”. Listen to them as they discuss the different types of holidays and holiday makers. Which are the most visited countries? Which countries make the most revenue from travel? What is “Paris Syndrome”? What are some poems about travel and the feelings it conjures.

    Country tourism revenue and statistics:

    https://ourworldindata.org/tourism

    Paris Syndrome:

    https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/1850677468/paris-syndrome-troubles-in-tourism#:~:text=Symptoms%20include%20dizziness%2C%20anxiety%2C%20vomiting,in%20Paris%2C%20in%20the%201980s.

    Shakespeare on holidays:

    https://www.folger.edu/blogs/shakespeare-and-beyond/how-william-shakespeare-invented-the-holiday-romcom/

    History and evolution of holidays

    https://www.inghams.co.uk/blog/inghams/the-history-and-evolution-of-holidays-and-travel/#:~:text=31%20BC%2D1484%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Romans,the%20way%20to%20southern%20Egypt!

    https://culturetourist.com/cultural-tourism/history-of-travelling-how-people-started-to-travel/

    https://familyholidaycharity.org.uk/our-story/how-times-have-changed-social-history-holidays

    Holidays - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

    https://poets.org/poem/holidays

    Vacation - Rita Dove

    https://poets.org/poem/vacation

    If Once You Have Slept On An Island by Rachel Lyman Field

    https://allpoetry.com/If-Once-You-Have-Slept-On-An-Island

    Extreme Wanderlust:

    https://www.elitedaily.com/life/culture/damaging-side-effects-wanderlust/610398

    The types of travelers:

    https://travel.earth/different-types-of-travellers/

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “dreams”. Listen to them as they discuss the meaning of dreams and why women dream differently (and more) than men. How do dreams appear in Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sufism? What are the most recurring dreams? Of course expect some poetry too.

    The story of Prophet Yusuf in the Quran:

    https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-7/section-6-kings-dream-yusufs-interpretation

    What are dreams and what do they mean?

    https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dreams-and-dreaming

    What is daydreaming and what does it mean?

    https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/daydreaming-and-concentration-what-the-science-says/

    https://www.verywellmind.com/positives-about-daydreaming-5119107

    Dreams by Langston Hughes 1901 –1967

    https://poets.org/poem/dreams

    Why women dream more than men:

    https://www.dreams.co.uk/sleep-matters-club/women-dream-men

    Recurring dreams:

    https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams/dream-interpretation/recurring-dreams#what-are-the-most-common-recurring-dreams

    Dreams by Langston Hughes 1901 –1967

    https://poets.org/poem/dreams

    The Dream That Must Be Interpreted by Rumi

    https://www.stillnessspeaks.com/dream-must-interpreted-rumi/

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Teachers”. Listen to them as they discuss their experiences with teaching both as students and teachers. They read a range of humorous poems and share some research about teaching.

    My Teacher Wasn't Half As Nice As Yours Seems To Be by Roald Dahl

    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-teacher-wasn-t-half-as-nice-as-yours-seems-to-be/

    Napoleon BY MIROSLAV HOLUB

    https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51047/napoleon

    Stoicism on teaching

    https://www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/stoicism-relevant-teachers/

    The Lesson by Roger McGough

    https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-lesson/

    Mrs Stein By Bill Dodds

    https://www.giggleverse.com/?gv_poem=mrs-steinThe Supply Teacher by Allan Ahlberg

    https://www.poemhunter.com/allan-ahlberg/

    Where in the world are teachers most respected

    https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/12/teachers-where-most-and-least-respected/

    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46063947

    https://www.anefore.lu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/EURYDICE-THE-TEACHING-PROFESSION.pdf

    European teacher salaries and other statistics

    https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/07/05/teachers-pay-which-countries-pay-the-most-and-the-least-in-europe#:~:text=Annual%20gross%20starting%20salaries%20of%20teachers%20(2020%2F2021)&text=Leaving%20aside%20Luxembourg%2C%20the%20annual,than%20half%20the%20German%20figure.

    Maya Angelou about her teacher:

    https://www.boredteachers.com/post/celebrities-teachers-changed-their-lives

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]

  • In this episode of the "Words That Make Us" podcast, Rama and Tony discuss the topic of “Laughter”. Listen to them as they discuss the different kinds of laughter and they affect both the laugher and those around them. Is it the best medicine? What do the stoics say about it? Are all jokes universal and appropriate across time and space? What is a laughing epidemic? Listen to the episode to find out and hopefully catch a few laughs.

    Your Laughter by Pablo Neruda

    https://allpoetry.com/Your-Laughter

    10 types of laughter

    https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/5-types-of-laughter.htm

    Nietzsche: Laughter of the Herd and Laughter of the Height

    https://eternalisedofficial.com/2020/11/28/superhuman-laughter-nietzsche/

    Why do we cry sometimes when we laugh?

    https://www.salusuhealth.com/news/2016/09/why-do-we-cry-when-we-laugh.html

    The sad clown:

    https://fherehab.com/learning/comedians-depressed-mental-illness

    The Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic

    https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/12274127

    If you have any ideas, suggestions or feedback, please send us an email at:

    [email protected]