Carolina Snowflakes Podcast

This week on the Carolina Snowflakes Podcast we’re wading deep into the muck of life, liberty and uh…other smelly stuff.

Recent events in the country have left us bloated with questions and possessing very strong urges to push those questions out. Who will answer these explosive inquiries? Well, no one really, but perhaps we’ll get a sense of relief once they’re flushed.

So many questions, so little toilet paper. Can someone pass the plunger?

That’s right. We’re going in and we aren’t coming back until the clog is gone. So hoist up your waders and light a match because this week we’re Knee Deep in It.

References:

CNN Article: https://www.cnn.com/.../capitol-hill.../index.html

Lavin, Talia. (2020) “Culture Warlords: My Journey into the Dark Web of White Supremacy”

This week on the Carolina Snowflakes Podcast we invite you to join us as we take a close look at Dolly’s private parts. Country music legend and Tennessee native Dolly Parton has seen a recent up tick in attention lately due in large part to her generous contribution towards the research and development of the Moderna vaccination against Covid-19. Much of the attention has come from the larger media, but admittedly a lot has come from us too – we are in awe. What an incredible lady. So, we decided we couldn’t put off talking about her because the woman is amazing.

Not only is Dolly a philanthropist working to save humanity from its own demise, but she’s a prolific song-writer and singer too. We were stunned and are thoroughly impressed to learn of her many awards and accolades over the last 57 years in the music business. And they just keep coming!

Dolly Parton is an American badass and we’re here for it. She’s also a southerner with a kind heart and we’re here for that as well. You don’t even have to like country music to know and understand how important she is. So Tune in to hear which parts of Dolly we found most compelling as we discuss her rise to fame and all that followed.

It’s story time this week on the Carolina Snowflakes Podcast as Amanda and Jason give an Appalachian analysis of anxiety. The snowflakes begin this episode by sharing their own, often humorous, experiences living with anxiety. We can safely say the brain is a funny thing and how it causes us to respond to perceived threats can be even funnier, especially when those threats are not remotely real. 

In fact, humor has been paramount in providing a coping mechanism for both of us through the years as we’ve struggled with bouts of social and generalized anxiety. If we can’t laugh at the absurdity of how our bodies still respond to stress as if we’re running from mammoths, what can we laugh at?

We also take a look at how anxiety affects the body, particularly when endured for a great length of time. The hormones and chemicals involved in stimulating the fight or flight responses have real impact on our physical health as well as our over all well-being and even our relationships with others.  

There’s even a cultural element involved in how anxiety is addressed. We found that in particular, the south tends to be less receptive and understanding than other areas of the U.S. towards mental health treatment. Not to mention, lack of funding creates an even more pronounced barrier for many rural southerners getting help with mental health. Strikingly, we found that folks living in southern Appalachia are less receptive than even other southerners to seeking or receiving counseling. In fact, there is a strong correlation between Appalachian residency and the justification or excusing of erratic behavior caused by poor mental health. The saying “Here in the south we don’t hide crazy, we parade it on the front porch and give it a cocktail” is rooted in at least some amount of truth.

We close this week’s episode with a funny recording you don’t want to miss. It all happened quite organically when the mics were on in another room and picked up Amanda ranting on the phone about an awful woman she dealt with at work. Jason seized the moment by turning the ranting audio clip into a hilarious ditty.  It’s now a staple song in our household.

Although this week's topic is a more serious one, we’ve approached with humor and there’s lots of laughter throughout. We hope you enjoy!

References:

Sapolsky, Robert M. (2004). “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Third Edition”

Hauenstein, Emily J. (2003) “No Comfort in the Rural South: Women Living Depressed”. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 17(1), 3-11. https://doi.org/10.1053/apnu.2003.6

Happy Holidays from the Carolina Snowflakes! In this week’s bonus episode we cut loose and get jolly with it. Tune in as we chuckle and reminisce during a hilarious Christmas –themed Q & A. You’ll get a kick out of it, we promise.

We wish you a safe and healthy holiday, whatever you may (or may not) celebrate. Be safe out there.

-- Amanda & Jason

What do you know about the dark web? Have you ever visited?

In this week’s episode of the Carolina Snowflakes podcast we explore the dark web step-by-step. We look at how the darkest part of the internet was formed, it’s origins and examine a slew of facts versus fiction on what exactly constitutes “the dark web”. 

It probably isn’t what you think.  

In fact, to the average internet user, the dark web is a total mystery. And naturally, with mystery comes misunderstanding.

This week we are uncovering the mystery and sharing everything we know about what the dark web is and isn’t. We discuss both the good (yes, there’s actually good) and the bad. We talk of how the dark web has helped victims get away from their abusers and how would-be criminals have been brought to justice thanks to the actions of people using the dark side of the internet. We also talk about some of the more practical uses of visiting the dark web and how to do so safely. And of course, we tell the story of the guy who called himself Dread Pirate Roberts and his Silk Road drug emporium.

There’s a lot to unpack this week, but it’s good. We also poke fun at the Libertarians so if you’re into that, stick around. ;-)

So grab yourself a snack and tune in cause we’re taking you to the dark web.

Reference:

Bilton, Nick. (2017). “American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road”.

What happens when the chips are down and measures to protect are not enforced?  In many ways we see the behavior of most Americans over the last few months as being much like that of the character Walter White from the show Breaking Bad; a likeable person doing unlikable things.

The struggle between good and bad, right versus wrong, etc is so intense right now that it’s palpable. To us it seems the motivations to continue to “do the right thing” in the midst of a global pandemic are waning and as a result, the virus is ripping through our country at an alarming rate. Needless to say this year has been eye-opening in terms of better understanding the human condition.

This week on the Carolina Snowflakes Podcast we sit down for a conversation on the current state of America’s massive dumpster fire in the handling of Covid-19. It’s been a while since we last dedicated air time to talk about Covid-19, but we both felt it was relevant given that so much has changed in the last 9 months. Plus, we’re living “that pandemic life” like everyone else and a cathartic release of thoughts and feelings was warranted in order to free up space in our minds for more creative endeavors. Plus, we know we’re not the only ones feeling these frustrations and we hope our listeners are able to feel connected. You’re not alone.

So grab your mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer and join us for our very moving Covid Conversations.

This week on the Carolina Snowflakes Podcast we poke fun at how classic rock has become the default sound of American waiting rooms. Why is it that whenever you step foot into a mechanic shop or other small business, you’re almost always guaranteed to be greeted by the sounds of a local classic rock radio station?

Better yet, WTF even is classic rock and how did it come to be?

We take a deep dive into all of this and more as we talk about our own experiences listening to classic rock, plus we look at how regional demographics and even immigration have shaped the playlists of major stations around the US. For example, the classic rock tunes in played in New York differ significantly from what you might hear in Los Angeles.

Plus, we’re pretty sure no band starts out intending to be labeled “classic rock” so how the heck do they wind up there? The answer might surprise you!

And lastly, how did classic rock become synonymous with “safe”? From what we gather, people turn the station to classic rock because it’s presumably less offensive than other available genres and more palatable to the general public. Is it though? When’s the last time you really listened to the lyrics of “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd or “Summer of 69” by Bryan Adams? Things are not always what they seem; including these great hits.

So tune in and get ready to rock (and laugh) with us as we venture down the rabbit hole of WTF Classic Rock?

Reference:

Hickey, Walt. (July 7, 2014) Why Classic Rock Isn’t What It Used To Be. FiveThirtyEight. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-classic-rock-isnt-what-it-used-to-be/

Guess what? Pets are returning to the White House for the first time in 4 years! We don’t know about you, but we’re very excited to have some furry first pets again.

It’s hard to imagine a president without a pet, but the Trump family had none; not even a gold fish.  In fact, Donald Trump is the first president since James K. Polk to not have any pets while in office. For those wondering, that’s over 150 years.

The return of presidential pets to the White House got us thinking about the fact that there are a lot of animals around the world that have, and have had, more clout than us (and you).  

This week on the Carolina Snowflakes Podcast we take a look at some of these animals and their corresponding rise to celebrity status. Naturally our first stop is with presidential pets. We’re all familiar with the more recent pets in the White House, but did you know about Benjamin Harrison’s alligators or Martin Van Buren’s tiger cubs? How about the pygmy hippo kept by Calvin Coolidge? Or the raccoon named Rebecca kept by Coolidge’s wife? There have been a slew of various animals housed by previous administrations; some tame, some insane. Some were even forced out of the White House by congress.  

Even among the more tame presidential pets there’s interesting tidbits of famous firsts. For example, did you know that George W. Bush’s dog Spotty was the only pet to reside in the White House under 2 different administrations? Or that Rutherford B. Hayes was the first person in the U.S. to own a Siamese cat?

After wandering the fur-covered halls of the White House, we hop across the pond to Great Britain where we take a look at a cat named Larry, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. Yes his name is Larry and yes he has a title. Larry is not only famous, he’s got a very important job and it’s a job that has been around since the 1500s!

It’s not all cats and dogs this week, however. In fact, we wrap up this very special episode with a look at some of history’s most beloved and heroic hoofed animals--including the Korean War horse named Sergeant Reckless. Reckless was a decorated war horse who held official rank in the United States military. She clearly had more clout than any of the rest of us and her story is one you don’t want to miss.  

So snuggle up with your favorite fur babies and tune in to hear all about these amazing animals (and more!) in this week’s episode, “Animals With More Clout Than You”.  

On this week's episode we give thanks to the people, places and things that have shaped our lives. In many cases these very things still continue to shape who we are and who we want to be. Laugh along as we reminisce on our childhood Thanksgiving day celebrations and find out how we've learned to navigate the weirdness of family gatherings filled with far too many casseroles.

Of course this year we'll be gathering with only ourselves and we suspect some of you will be doing the same. We're thankful for you, btw. So grab your favorite Thanksgiving snacks and tune in as we unfold our Snowflakes Snow Thanks!

On this week’s episode we take a look at the grossest house in NC. They say a person’s home is a reflection of their personality and general state of being, but what if a home is a reflection of even more? What if the home is also a reflection of the atmosphere of the community where they live and their community’s willingness (or lack thereof) to help?  

Such would be the case of Pazuzu Algarad, a self-proclaimed Satanist from the small Winston-Salem suburb of Clemmons, North Carolina. Pazuzu’s home was his horror-filled castle and what it contained was so disturbing that no one wanted to intervene; not even the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.  Deeply held religious beliefs and fear of a literal Devil kept most everyone away.

That is, until the bodies were discovered. Pazuzu’s story made national news when bodies were found buried in the yard of his suburban home. Bodies that remained undiscovered for years despite multiple reports to law enforcement and families missing loved ones and fearing the worst. Despite national news attention, the story of who Pazuzu Algarad really was and what he represented within the community of Clemmons, NC was unknown until the premiere of a 5-part documentary series called “The Devil You Know”.

Through the combined efforts of filmmakers, journalists and local newspaper reporters, the real story of Pazuzu Algarad began to unfold. Interviews with neighbors and friends paint a picture of a troubled young man who fell through the cracks of every protective system designed to stop bad things from happening.

Listen in as we tell the story of the grossest house in NC and how a community systematically failed to prevent it from becoming a graveyard.

References:

“The Devil You Know” documentary. Directed by Patricia Gillespie, narration by Chad Nance, Viceland/ViceTV,  August 2019.

Nance, Chad. “John Pazuzu Lawson…The Boogey Man Cometh”. Camel City Dispatch, October 6, 2014.

McDowell, Ian. “Devil in Pazuzu Algarad case wasn’t Satan: Viceland Miniseries criticizes Forsyth law enforcement”. Yes Weekly, August 27, 2019.

Chad and Carissa’s upcoming work:

“Life in the Sacrifice Zone” documentary. Anticipated release in late 2021. Trailer: https://youtu.be/qTcCybFHtFo

“America’s Hometown” documentary. Currently in post-production.

Special thanks to Chad Nance for answering our questions.